Bradley, Soddy-Daisy, Cleveland battle for Region 4-AAA wrestling title

Bradley Central's Donnie Beyer muscles Cleveland's Manny Ospina for the take down and eventually the pin at 3:22 Thursday night at Bradley.
Bradley Central's Donnie Beyer muscles Cleveland's Manny Ospina for the take down and eventually the pin at 3:22 Thursday night at Bradley.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - A year ago the Region 4-AAA wrestling tournament proved a stumbling block for Cleveland High School, although the Blue Raiders rebounded to capture their third consecutive traditional state championship.

Meanwhile, Bradley Central had to rearrange its wrestling trophy case to make room for the 2015 region championship, and the Bears finished second to their old rivals a week later in Franklin's Williamson County Agricultural Expo.

The two state powers will be in the thick of a 2016 region scrap that will include Soddy-Daisy, which last week finished runner-up to Bradley in the state duals championships.

"We have Cleveland and Soddy-Daisy in one tournament, and you throw in Walker Valley and the rest of the region and it's going to be one tough tournament," Bradley coach Ben Smith said. "I think Cleveland is a strong traditional (tournament) team, as is Soddy-Daisy. Hopefully we don't knock ourselves out too much."

Just who and how many will make the trek to Franklin for the Feb. 18-20 state tournament will be determined Saturday at Cleveland Middle School. Weigh-ins are at 9 a.m. and wrestling should begin about 10. Blue Raiders coach Jake Yost said championship finals should begin at about 3 p.m.

Based on the bracket draw Tuesday, Bradley is expected to advance 13 wrestlers, Soddy-Daisy 11, Cleveland nine, Walker Valley eight and East Hamilton and Ooltewah seven each.

The Bears also have the most No. 1 seeds: T.J. Hicks (113 pounds), Ryan McElhaney (120), Knox Fuller (138), Donnie Beyer (152), Brett Brown (195) and David Adams (285).

Soddy-Daisy's top-seeded wrestlers are Charles Wheaton (106), Tucker Russo (160) and Ty Boeck (182), and Cleveland's are Triston Blansit (126), Colton Landers (132) and Jack Hicks (170). The other top seeds are Ooltewah's Jordan Massengill (145) and Victor Bednarski (220).

Team scoring takes a back seat to individual accomplishments starting this weekend.

"Every wrestler is fighting for a chance to reach his individual goals," Yost advised. "That's what we lean on this time of year. We always preach if individuals take care of their goals, then team goals take care of themselves."

Based on past performance, Region 4 coaches feel good about just having state qualifiers that include the top four in each of the 14 weight classes.

"The cool thing about this region - we think it's one of the toughest," Yost said. "If you can come out of this region as a third or a fourth, we think we're just as good as some of the ones and twos from other regions."

"I firmly believe that," Soddy-Daisy coach Jim Higgins said. "The competition level here is pretty stiff. I definitely think there are three legitimate (championship) teams in this region and you could go as far as saying four. From a coaches' standpoint you can feel good about a kid finishing third or fourth, because it is really tough competition."

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

Region 4-AAA pairings

(Tournament begins at 10 a.m. Saturday)LegendBC — Bradley Central; Cl — Cleveland; EH — East Hamilton; McCo — McMinn County; Ool — Ooltewah; RC — Rhea County; SD — Soddy-Daisy; WV — Walker Valley.106 poundsCharles Wheaton (SD) bye; Haiden Dill (Ool) vs. Chandler Davis (WV); Bryson Bishop (BC) bye; Bryce Pond (Cl) bye.113 poundsT.J. Hicks (BC) bye; Parker Hicks (Cl) vs. Gatapun Jur (WV); Cade Meeks (EH) vs. Cameron Russell (Ool); Chase Payne (SD) bye.120 poundsRyan McElhaney (BC) vs. Joseph Taylor (McCo); Jacob Kilgore (SD) vs. Tucker Passons (Ool); Logan Whiteside (Cl) vs. Wyatt Stumbo (RC); Cameron Dwyer (WV) vs. Briar Potter (EH).126 poundsTriston Blansit (Cl) bye; Garrett Hall (McCo) vs. Grant Lundy (EH); Zane Smith (WV) vs. Slater Daniel (SD); Seth Wortman (Ool) vs. Joshua LaCoe (BC).132 poundsColton Landers (Cl) bye; Tay Paris (Ool) vs. Tony Wilson (SD); Hunter Parker (BC) vs. Hayden Apps (EH); Brodie Miller (McCo) vs. Joseph Munoz (WV).138 poundsKnox Fuller (BC) vs. Scott Miles (Ool); Dillon Clark (WV) vs. Matt Meeks (EH); Cody Matthews (Cl) vs. Jose Simon (RC); Graydon Colbaugh (McCo) vs. Emory Holcomb (SD).145 poundsJordan Massengill (Ool) vs. Tristan Hamlin (McCo); Austin Sweeney (Cl) vs. Nicholas Barnett (WV); Joshua Stiles (SD) vs. Liam Golden (EH); Caleb LaCoe (RC) vs. Austin Mathews (BC).152 poundsDonnie Beyer (BC) bye; Kenneth Rogers (SD) vs. Andrew Sturdivant (EH); Jay Graham (RC) vs. Caleb Eachus (Cl); Maxamilian Klischies (Ool) vs. Mikel Gregory (WV).160 poundsTucker Russo (SD) vs. Danny Nguyen (WV); Tyler Bayless (EH) vs. Henley Headrick (BC); Jordan Chafi (Ool) vs. Gavin Morrison (RC); Matthew Gossett (McCo) vs. Greg Wilson (Cl).170 poundsJack Hicks (Cl) vs. Cameron Conry (McCo); Kirby Sailors (EH) vs. Blake Wright (Ool); Billy Rogers (SD) vs. Ben Gates (WV); Kendell Scruggs (RC) vs. Ed Elkins (BC).182 poundsTy Boeck (SD) vs. Patric Williams (RC); Dylan Jones (Cl) vs. Nicholas Lett (Ool); Kevin Siniard (EH) vs. Kevin Gentry (BC); Walker Moats (McCo) vs. Jaylon Martin (WV).195 poundsBrett Brown (BC) bye; Huichan Yun (EH) vs. Seth Garcia (Cl); Dylan Aslinger (SD) vs. Dakota White (RC); Tyler Reid (Ool) bye.220 poundsVictor Bednarski (Ool) bye; Garret Smith (RC) vs. Caleb Flickner (Cl); Devin Gibson (BC) vs. Clinton Davis (WV); Garren Gilreath (EH) vs. Dakota Ables (SD).285 poundsDavid Adams (BC) bye; Elijah Isaac (Ool) vs. Blake Cason (EH); Trace McNew (SD) vs. Colton Edwards (RC); Michael Lewis (Cl) vs. C.J. Schwark (WV).

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