CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- For the first time this season, it appears that Bradley Central will go into a wrestling event with a clear upper hand on rival Cleveland. At least at first glance.
Bradley's Bears were accorded seven top seeds at the Region 4-AAA coaches' meeting Tuesday, while the defending state champion Blue Raiders received five.
All told, the two powers, fresh from state duals tournament competition, collected 18 of the 28 championship finalist seeds.
"The seeds went about like I thought they would," said Cleveland coach Jake Yost, who was concerned about the number of byes his team might wind up receiving. "The byes -- there's no good fix. If you win, you still get the advancement points, but you have no shot at bonus points (for major decision, technical fall or pin), and bonus points are going to be important."
The tournament is a one-day event at Bradley Central. Teams joining the Bears and Blue Raiders are East Hamilton, McMinn County, Ooltewah, Rhea County, Soddy-Daisy and Walker Valley. Wrestling starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and price of admission is $10 per person. Those attending only the 5 p.m. championship and consolation finals will be charged $6.
Top-seeded wrestlers are Bradley's T.J. Hicks (106), Toribio Navarro (113), Ryan McElhaney (120), Knox Fuller (126), Donnie Beyer (145), Brett Brown (182) and Ed Elkins (195); Cleveland's Chris DeBien (132), Ezra Taylor (138), Robert Hicks (152), Aaron Oliver (160) and Koran Kennedy (285); Soddy-Daisy's John Williamson (170); and Walker Valley's Ric Kennett (220).
Top four place-winners in each weight class will advance to the traditional state tournament Feb. 12-14 in Franklin.
Cleveland is riding high after securing its third straight state duals championship, and the Blue Raiders are now on a mission for their third consecutive traditional title.
They were favored in the team's regular-season dual meet, yet Bradley pulled the upset. Then the Blue Raiders broke a 31-all tie with a last-match victory to win the region duals title. The anticipated Cleveland-Bradley rubber match in the state duals never came after Bradley's semifinal swan dive against eventual runner-up Wilson Central.
"It will have to be because we didn't make the duals finals," Bears coach Ben Smith replied when asked if the traditional tournament might serve as the rubber match between the two.
His reply was throwing salt on an open wound, which he hopes his team can at least scab over with a quality weekend performance.
Cleveland Head Coach Jake Yost"I think it will be Bradley/Cleveland/Soddy-Daisy showdown with a few of the others sprinkled in, and I think we and Cleveland can put 10, 12, 14 in the state tournament. It could be interesting."
Yost ducked the rubber match query, saying, "This tournament is totally different than a dual."
He has a point, but it's still an environment where Bradley and Cleveland are competing in the same venue with the same goals.
"It's not like we don't care whether we win (the traditional region), but this is not the prize we're really after," the Blue Raiders coach added.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.
Region 4-AAA first-round pairings
* Legend: Bradley Central (BC), Cleveland (Cl), East Hamilton (EH), McMinn County (MC); Ooltewah (Ool), Rhea County (RC), Soddy-Daisy (SD), Walker Valley (WV). * 106 pounds: T.J. Hicks (BC) vs. Gavin Howington (Ool); Chandler Davis (WV) receives bye; Cody Mathews (Cl) receives bye; Charles Wheaton (SD) receives bye. * 113 pounds: Toribio Navarro (BC) vs. James Jr (WV); Bryce Pond (Cl) vs. Marcus Hall (MC); Chase Payne (SD) received bye; Briar Potter (EH) received bye. * 120 pounds: Ryan McElhaney (BC) vs. Josh Alonso (RC); Tucker Passons (Ool) vs. Grant Lundy (EH), Zane Smith (WV) received bye; Justin Taylor (SD) vs. Tristian Blansit (Cl). 126 pounds: Knox Fuller (BC) received bye; Edward Johnson (WV) vs. Matt Meks (EH); Jacob McClure (SD) vs. Naftali Rodriguez (Ool); Brodie Miller (MC) vs. Colton Landers (Cl). * 132 pounds: Chris DeBien (Cl) vs. Alex Roberts (MC); Geddes Sherrell (Ool) vs. Joseph Munoz (WV); Joshua LaCoe (BC) vs. Drew Locklear (EH); Austin Houser (SD) received bye. * 138 pounds: Ezra Taylor (Cl) received bye; Liam Golden (EH) vs. Austin Gregory (WV); Stephen Scott (BC) vs. Karl Marcellus (Ool); Josh Owens (Mc) vs. Emory Holcomb (SD). * 145 pounds: Donnie Beyer (BC) received bye; Joseph Bowers (Cl) vs. Andrew Sturdivant (EH); Mikel Gregory (WV) vs. Vance Ives (RC); Jordan Massengill (Ool) vs. Tucker Russo (SD). * 152 pounds: Robert Hicks (Cl) received bye; Josh Brooks (Ool) vs. Dionte Richardson (WV); Joshua Stiles (SD) vs. Timothy Ry Stoika (MC); Tyler Green (EH) vs. Caleb Adkins (BC). * 160 pounds: Aaron Oliver (Cl) vs. Andrew Velasco (RC); Kevin Siniard (EH) vs. Hunter Rogers (SD); Jordan Chafi (Ool) received bye; Justin Rowland (WV) vs. Jack Bandy (BC). * 170 pounds: John Williamson (SD) received bye; Kendell Scruggs (RC) vs. Jonathan Martin (Cl); Tyler Reid (Ool) vs. Peyton Spaulding (EH); Corey Gatlin (BC) received bye. * 182 pounds: Brett Brown (BC) vs. Matt Pankey (WV); Nick Lett (Ool) vs. Walker Moats (MC); Samuel Garcia (Cl) vs. Gavin Hubbard (SD); Chuck Sanders (EH) received bye. * 195 pounds: Ed Elkins (BC) received bye; Tyler Vamadore (MC) vs. Riley Stevison (Cl); Victor Bednarski (Ool) vs. David Bohn (EH); TBA (SD) vs. Jaylon Martin (WV). * 220 pounds: Ric Kennett (WV) received bye; Jacob Cranfill (RC) vs. Elijah Cartwright (SD); Jacob Keltch (Ool) vs. Elvin Cosme (EH); Timothy Lawson (BC) vs. John Gaither (Cl). * 285 pounds: Koran Kennedy (Cl) received bye; Ashton Watson (Ool) vs. Jesse McNew (SD); David Adams (BC) vs. Blake Carson (EH); C.J. Schwark (WV) received bye.