Semifinal shootouts likely in state duals

Red Bank wrestling coach Shane Turner, left, talks with Lions wrestler Gage Evans during a match last month. Red Bank faces Notre Dame in the first round of the Class A/AA state duals, which start today.
Red Bank wrestling coach Shane Turner, left, talks with Lions wrestler Gage Evans during a match last month. Red Bank faces Notre Dame in the first round of the Class A/AA state duals, which start today.

Today’s schedule

(All times Eastern)Class AAA› Bradley Central vs. Bartlett, 4› Soddy-Daisy vs. Independence, 4Class A/AA› Notre Dame vs. Red Bank, 6Division II› McCallie vs. MUS, 6› Baylor vs. St. Benedict, 6

By this evening, following a first round of Class AAA meets, the TSSAA wrestling state duals' fat will be dripping into the fire at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo in Franklin.

"Soddy-Daisy has an interesting first match with Independence, but I think everybody is looking forward to that Soddy-Daisy - Wilson Central showdown," offered Ben Smith, coach of pre-tournament AAA favorite Bradley Central.

"There'll be some interesting semifinals," McCallie coach Mike Newman said of the anticipated Division II matches between his Blue Tornado and Father Ryan and Baylor and Christian Brothers.

The same could be said for the Red Bank/Alcoa semifinal in A/AA - that is, if Red Bank gets past first-match opponent Notre Dame.

"Regulations only specify that teams from the same region cannot appear on the same side of the bracket," TSSAA assistant executive director Mark Reeves said. "Red Bank and Notre Dame are not in the same region."

The Lions were a blind draw into the bottom half of the bracket, and it just happened that their first match is with a team from the same county. Notre Dame is representing Region 3, with Red Bank from Region 4.

"It's a good match for us, a chance to get a feel for the environment, and I feel we have the better chance in that matchup," Red Bank coach Shane Turner said.

Red Bank all but swamped Notre Dame early in the season.

"A lot of our guys, this is their first time to go to a state tournament of any kind," Turner added. "This is a good match for them to be in front of a crowd and to get acclimated."

He hopes then to turn his attention to Alcoa.

"It's going to be close between Alcoa and Red Bank. I just don't know if Alcoa has enough bullets to beat them," said duals veteran Garrick Hall, whose Hixson team failed to qualify for state for the first time in nine seasons.

The eight-team A/AA bracket is one school shy after Stratford, which won its region, was disqualified.

"They were removed from the tournament for having four wrestlers who competed at a weight class they were not eligible for in the region duals," Reeves said.

Region 4's Soddy-Daisy faces a challenge against Independence in the first round.

"You get to this point, everything is going to be competitive," Soddy-Daisy coach Jim Higgins said. "Some regions are a little weaker than Region 4, but we're planning to stay in the middle of the road and not take anyone too lightly."

Speaking of the road, Soddy-Daisy didn't plan to hit it until this morning, while others departed Thursday. Bradley left Thursday morning after an early workout and worked out again in the afternoon. Others were planning to leave after practice.

"Two of our coaches were involved with a middle school meet (Thursday)," Higgins said, "and we darn sure weren't leaving without them."

Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.

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