About a third of the way through the championship semifinals, defending champion Baylor found itself behind Montgomery Bell Academy in the Division II East/Middle wrestling tournament.
But as they have done all season, the Red Raiders hit their stride starting at 138 pounds, regained the lead and rolled to victory in the division's second such qualifying tournament.
Baylor ran away from the field, scoring 240.5 points. MBA was second, 44 points off the pace, and McCallie placed third with 188. The next closest team was Battle Ground Academy with 91.5.
All 14 Red Raiders competitors qualified for the DII state tournament this Friday and Saturday in Franklin. McCallie qualified 12.
Both Chattanooga teams forfeited one of the championship finals -- Baylor's Cole Holloway at 182 pounds and the Blue Tornado's Ethan Dendy at 138.
Individual champions were Baylor's Mason Reiniche (126), Michael Murphy (138), Donovan Sutherland (160), Cayman Seagraves (170), Ryan Parker (195) and Cooper Reiniche (285); McCallie's Brock Herring (132), Sam Harelson (145) and Will Patton (152); and MBA's Thomas Bellet (106), Gabriel Elkin (113), Michael Elkin (120), Cole Euvarard (182) and D'On Coofer (220).
Team Scores
1. Baylor (Bay) 240.5; 2. Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA) 196.5, 3. McCallie (McC) 188, 4. Battle Ground Academy (BGA) 91.5, 5. Franklin Road Academy (FRA) 31.5, 6. Knox Webb (KW) 24, 7. Pope John Paul II (PJP) 10, 8. St. Andrew's-Sewanee (SAS) 4.
Medal rounds
106 pounds
For 1st: Thomas Bellet (MBA) dec. Hayden Hartline (Bay), 4-2 SVI; For 3rd: Tiy Reed (BGA) dec. Zack Tieng (KW), 5-0.
113 pounds
For 1st: Gabriel Elkin (MBA) major dec. Trev Milling (Bay), 10-0; For 3rd: Kolton Grimsley (BGA) pinned Mason Hughes, 1:24.
120 pounds
For 1st: Michael Elkin (MBA) pinned Addison Cornell (McC), 5:52; For 3rd: Jack Reynolds (Bay) major dec. Alex Linthium (FRA), 13-4.
126 pounds
For 1st: Mason Reiniche (Bay) dec. James Westbrooks (McC), 5-1; For 3rd: John Michael Glover (MBA) dec. Jonah Neuman (BGA), 13-4.
132 pounds
For 1st: Brock Herring (McC) dec. Alex Atchley (Bay), 5-0; For 3rd: Conner Mitchell (BGA) dec. Perry Matthews (MBA), 4-2.
138 pounds
For 1st: Michael Murphy (Bay) won by forfeit over Ethan Dendy (McC); For 3rd: Sam Bellet (MBA) major dec. Easton Cornelius (FRA), 9-1.
145 pounds
For 1st: Sam Harelson (McC) dec. Blake Solarek (MBA), 4-2; For 3rd: Caleb Powell (Bay) pinned Braxton Kinney (BGA), 2:11.
152 pounds
For 1st: Will Patton (McC) pinned Caleb Canada (Bay), 2:32; For 3rd: Jacob Telli (PJP) dec. Will Tansil (FRA), 7-3.
160 pounds
For 1st: Donovan Sutherland (Bay) pinned Eric Olson (BGA), 3:13; For 3rd: Thomas Rowland (McC) major dec. Tracey Mathis (MBA), 15-6.
170 pounds
For 1st: Cayman Seagraves (Bay) pinned Carter Heckle (MBA), 1:16; For 3rd: Ariel Bong (McC) pinned Louis Smith (KW), 0:36.
182 pounds
For 1st: Cole Euvarard (MBA) won by forfeit over Cole Holloway (Bay); For 3rd: Jacob Simpson (BGA) pinned Wyatt Lindlau (SAS), 3:28.
195 pounds
For 1st: Ryan Parker (Bay) major dec. Trel Phillips (McC), 8-0; For 3rd: Hugh Wheeler (KW) won by forfeit over Ben Kelly (MBA).
220 pounds
For 1st: D'On Coofer (MBA) dec. Jay Roberts (McC), 5-4; For 3rd: Jon Schmissrauter (Bay) pinned Tymon Mitchell (FRA), 2:00.
285 pounds
For 1st: Cooper Reiniche (Bay) dec. River Henry (McC), 5-4; For 3rd: Joseph Scowden (MBA) dec. Seif Waly (BGA), 3-0.