Although still missing a couple of likely starters, McCallie's wrestling team put together its best showing of the year to win the unique Soddy-Daisy Showdown.
The tournament format was changed this year and each of the nine entrants was allowed to enter two wrestlers per weight class, although just one could accumulate points toward the team championship.
"I wish it was possible to do all the tournaments, especially in November and December, with this format. It gives you a much better perspective of your own wrestlers when they're going against common opponents," McCallie coach Mike Newman said.
The Blue Tornado came from behind with a solid championship semifinals performance and wound up outlasting host Soddy-Daisy and Cleveland. McCallie had 226 points, Soddy-Daisy 194 and Cleveland 181.
Gibbs (150) was fourth, Independence (115) fifth, Centennial (111) sixth, Dobyns-Bennett (93.5) seventh, Cookeville (51) eighth and Chattanooga Christian (16) ninth.
Soddy-Daisy got permission from the TSSAA to allow two wrestlers from each school in each weight class, and although there were no huge brackets, the format was fairly well received.
"I hope more tournaments adapt this format," said coach Jake Yost of defending champion Cleveland. "Obviously you have to tweak it some and see what works best, but I think the idea of getting more kids more experience in the early months is a good thing."
Jim Higgins, coach of the host Trojans, hadn't had much feedback as the tournament approached the championship finals.
"I think it's worked out well," he said. "We had some junior varsity kids step up and win against varsity competition. I think it proves that we're proceeding in the necessary fashion to get where we want to go."
Individual championships went to McCallie's Brock Herring (126), Ethan Dendy (145), Will Patton (152), Judah Duhm (170), Isaac Roberts (195) and River Henry (285); Soddy-Daisy's Charles Wheaton (106) and Tucker Russo (160); Cleveland's Logan Whiteside (120) and Colton Landers (132); Centennial's Leffrey Iler (138); and Gibbs' Phillip Maxwell (113), Hunter Fortner (182) and John Lawson (195).
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.