Four prep wrestlers from the Chattanooga area recently gained All-America status based on their results at national tournaments.
Bradley Central's T.J. Hicks placed third and teammate Knox Fuller was fifth in the FloNationals in Indiana, Pa., while Soddy-Daisy's Ty Boeck and Rhea County's Jay Graham were recognized at the Lee Pamulak National Duals in Des Moines, Iowa.
Both Bradley wrestlers entered the tournament unseeded. Wrestling at 106 pounds, Hicks beat the No. 2, No. 4, No. 7 and No. 12 seeds and became the first Tennessee wrestler to medal at the FloNationals.
Fuller, who won a TSSAA state title this past season as a junior, knocked off the No. 3, No. 10 and No. 12 seeds in his 126-pound bracket in Pennsylvania as he finished with four pins and a major decision while going 6-2 .
In order to gain All-America status in the Pamulak duals, wrestlers had to win at least five matches, and Boeck (182) and Graham (160) each went 5-3.
They helped Team Tennessee to a 4-1 record on the first day, which put them in the elite Gold Division against two Iowa teams and a team from Illinois.
Dates, teams set for Best of Preps hoops
Christmas will come just a bit early for area prep basketball fans this year.
The dates for next season's annual Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament have been moved up one week so that all three days' games will be played before Christmas.
The tournament, set for Dec. 21-23, will continue to be hosted by Chattanooga State. This year's lineup includes four teams that played in their respective state tournaments and eight teams that won either district or region championships. Six of the eight boys' teams won 20-plus games last season, with two having won 30-plus.
Baylor's girls and McCallie will return to defend the tournament titles they won last season.
"Our kids loved the experience of the Best of Preps last year and are very excited to be in it again," Blue Tornado coach John Shulman said. "Looking back on it, everything about it, from the crowds to how it was run, it all really prepared us for the big-game atmosphere we had later in the season."
Besides McCallie, the boys' bracket will be highlighted by Class AA state runner-up Brainerd and include Arts & Sciences, Baylor, Central, Meigs County, Soddy-Daisy and Tyner.
Joining Baylor's girls will be Arts & Sciences, Central, GPS, Notre Dame, Red Bank, Soddy-Daisy and Tyner.
"This is the best overall group of teams, and it's by far the best boys' bracket we've ever had," said Chattanooga State basketball coach Jay Price, the tournament's director. "Every single boys' game will be a matchup of state tournament teams, so that should be something that really gets fans excited."
Weather changes plans for baseball tournament
The Central Invitational games for Thursday were postponed due to inclement weather. The plan is to eclipse those games from the schedule and pick up today and Saturday with the original schedule. Games are being played at Central and at Hixson.
Help needed for area track and field statistics
All Chattanooga-area track coaches who want to include their athletes' results in the Times Free Press statistical leaders should email those to Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com.