Without wrestling a match, more than a half-dozen East/Middle Region wrestlers already are qualified for next week's Division II state tournament.
Those are in brackets with no more than four competitors. The top four in each weight class advance to Franklin.
"We have some weight classes with three wrestlers, but at some weights like 170 there are five guys that could win the tournament," McCallie coach Mike Newman said.
The tournament will begin at 10 this morning at Baylor, and the only stop in action will be if participants haven't received their mandated 45-minute rest period between appearances. The plan is to use two mats at Duke Arena.
Baylor is the defending champion and heads into the tournament as the favorite.
"Until somebody beats them they're the favorite, and they finished ahead of MBA and us in the duals," Newman reminded.
Baylor also has the most No. 1 seeds with six: Jack Reynolds (132 pounds), Michael Murphy (145), Mason Reiniche (152), Caleb Powell (170), Khamari Whimper (182) and Ryan Parker (195).
McCallie has four top seeds in Zachary Ward (106), Brock Herring (126), Judah Duhm (160) and River Henry (285), and Montgomery Bell Academy has three: Joseph Torquine (113), Gabriel Elkins (120) and D'On Coofer (220). The other No. 1 seed went to Battle Ground Academy's Conner Mitchell (138).
In this eight-team tournament - other teams with entries are Franklin Road Academy, Knoxville Webb, Pope John Paul II and St. Andrew's-Sewanee - there are no sure things.
"Sure, you get somebody like Ryan Parker that's a heavy favorite, but anything can happen," Newman said.
Parker, a three-time state champion already, has yet to be beaten in 40-plus matches this year.
Yet there is the history of McCallie 195-pounder Trel Phillips, who pulled off an upset in the region quarterfinals on his way to a state championship two years ago.
"There are good wrestlers, good coaches, and it doesn't take much to slip up," Newman noted.
Although Baylor is the favorite, McCallie came very close in the teams' dual meet, and the Blue Tornado showed no interest in waving white flags.
"We're going in it to win it, no doubt about that," Newman said.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.
Division II East/Middle pairings
LegendBay—Baylor; BGA—Battle Ground Academy; FRA—Franklin Road Academy; KW—Knoxville Webb; MBA—Montgomery Bell Academy; McC—McCallie; PJP—Pope John Paul II; SAS—St. Andrew’s-Sewanee.106 poundsZachary Ward (McC) vs. John Pettway (Bay); Carter Coughlin (KW) vs. Ian McCullough (BGA).113 poundsJoseph Torquine (MBA) vs. Lucas Farr (KW)-Trent Maddox (McC) winner.120 poundsGabriel Elkin (MBA) vs. Jared McCallister (McC)-Mark Austin (FRA) winner; Tiy Reed (BGA) vs. Trevor Milling (Bay).126 poundsBrock Herring (McC) vs. Johnathan Stoaxtill-Diggs (FRA)-Zack Tieng (KW) winner; John Glover (MBA)-Henry McLeod (PJP) winner vs. Andy Atchley (Bay).132 poundsJack Reynolds (Bay) vs. Drew White (FRA)-Devin Badgett (KW) winner; Thomas Bellet (MBA) vs. Bailey McLeon (SAS); Dolan Eckhart (BGA) vs. Trent Walliser (McC).138 poundsConner Mitchell (BGA) vs. Thomas Sell (McC)-Braeden Wirthwein (KW) winner; Avery Daniels (FRA)-Benjamin Dotye (MBA) winner vs. Austin Atchley (Bay).145 poundsMichael Murphy (Bay) vs. Alex Linthium (FRA)-Kolton Grimsley (BGA) winner; Perry Matthews (MBA) vs. Charlie Morton (KW); Joseph Cole (PJP) vs. Ethan Dendy (McC).152 poundsMason Reiniche (Bay) vs. Camden Frankfather (FRA)-Christian Taylor (SAS) winner; Mark Floyd (MBA)-Teddy Holloway (BGA) winner vs. Will Patton (McC).160 poundsJudah Duhm (McC) vs. Clay Garstin (MBA)-Preston Wilson (KW) winner; Riley Westlake (Bay)-Brandon Rowe (BGA) winner vs. Drake Mitchell (FRA).170 poundsCaleb Powell (Bay) vs. Will Tansil (FRA)-Eric Olson (BGA) winner; Thomas Rowland (McC) vs. Michael Schaerer (SAS); Eli Davies (KW) vs. Carter Heckle (MBA).182 poundsKhamari Whimoer (McC) vs. Jake Maloof (BGA)-Wyatt Lindlau (SAS) winner; Walker Davyherty (McC)-Evan Davis (KW) winner vs. Sam Curry (MBA).195 poundsRyan Parker (Bay) vs. Malcolm Hogan (PJP)-Jake Wiley (SAS) winner; Sam Sullivan (MBA) vs. Trel Phillips (McC).220 poundsD’On Coofer (MBA) vs. Colby Neal (PJP)-Sam Wheeler (FRA) winner; Tyree Tolliver (Bay) vs. Isaac Roberts (McC).285 poundsRiver Henry (McC) vs. Seif Waly (BGA)-Tymon Mitchell (FRA) winner; Cooper Reiniche (Bay) vs. John Kelly (MBA).