Bradley Central is back.
Tennessee Duals Wrestling
(At Williamson County Agricultural Expo, Franklin)Area participants' opening matchupsDiv. II - Baylor vs. Brentwood Academy; McCallie vs. Christian Brothers, 4:30A/AA - Hixson vs. Forrest; Notre Dame vs. Alcoa, 4:30AAA - Cleveland vs. Summit; Bradley Central vs. McGavock, 6:30ScheduleToday2 p.m. - Gates open4:30 - Division II, A/AA championship quarterfinals6:30 - AAA round of 168:30 - AAA quarterfinals; A/AA, DII semifinalsSaturday7:45 a.m. - Gates open10 - AAA Round 1 consolations; A/AA, DII consolation quarterfinalsNoon AAA Round 2 consolations; A/AA, DII consolation semifinals2 p.m. - AAA championship semifinals, consolation quarterfinals; A/AA, DII for third4 - AAA consolation semifinals; DII for third6 - AAA for third8 - AAA, A/AA and DII championships
Getting back to the wrestling state duals in Franklin is an accomplishment, but getting there isn't enough for the winningest team in the tournament's history.
"This will be my first as a head coach," Bears coach Ben Smith said. "We're proud that we're back, glad we're back and happy to have accomplished this goal."
Bradley is one of six Chattanooga-area teams making the trip, joining Class AAA rival Cleveland, A/AA qualifiers Hixson and Notre Dame and Division II representatives Baylor and McCallie.
Bradley, which has won a dozen state duals championships in the last 20 years, has its sights set on a rematch with Cleveland, and that won't happen unless the Bears and the defending champion Blue Raiders get to the championship match.
"We're pumped," Smith said. "It's a shot in the arm and it's been fun getting back. The fan base has been revitalized."
However, none of the current crop of Bears have competed in the state duals, so this week Smith started practice by showing video from past Bradley performances.
"They're from what I think were dominant years," he said. "Bradley did have some swagger. I want us to get back to when we take the mat we control it."
His team will have to win three matches to reach the final, and based on rankings and performances throughout the season the Bears' biggest challenge will be from Wilson Central, runner-up to Cleveland each of the past two seasons.
"I'd think Bradley and Wilson Central, based on how well each has done this season," Cleveland coach Jake Yost said in assessing favorites. "They have beaten us, but we have also beat them."
Wilson Central came out ahead of Cleveland at the season-opening Ooltewah Invitational, and Bradley beat the Blue Raiders in the teams' regular-season dual meet.
When asked if he had seen any hint of a ho-hum attitude among his wrestlers, Yost shook his head.
"I think they're comfortable, but I don't think they believe it's a cakewalk," he said.
While Bradley has the most duals championships, it's Hixson that has the longest attendance streak among the area's public school teams. This will be the Wildcats' seventh straight trip, a number that encompasses the tournament's final year at Clarksville, and they've never finished worse than third in A/AA.
The Wildcats made no changes in preparations or travel plans.
"We just continued what we have been doing -- normal practices," Hixson coach Garrick Hall said. "We want to try to keep things as stress-free as possible."
For that reason, Hall and his team made the trip Thursday, just as all the other area teams did.
"I know where they are, what they're eating and what they're doing," Hall said. "There's no sitting in a vehicle for two to two and a half hours, and we have 24 hours if there are travel issues. We'll work out when we get there, and then when we get up Friday we have time if anybody has any weigh-in issues."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.