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Bradley Central, Father Ryan claim state wrestling titles

By Ward Gossett February 21, 2016 11 min read

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Baylor, Red Bank fall short of matching Bradley with state titles

Medals set arranged on a talbe awaiting the champions. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Sequatchie County's Katie Brock controls Caitlyn Green of Northeast in the 105 pound Girls class. Brock won the state championship and finished 31-0 for the year. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Charles Wheaton of Soddy-Daisy (top) controls Brayden Palmer of Beech in the 106 pound class. Wheaton won the state title. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Soddy-Daisy head coach Jim Higgins hugs Charles Wheaton after Wheaton won the 106 pound class. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Bradley County's T.J. Hicks (top) takes William Blount's Calvin Martin down to the matt. Hicks won the 113 pound class. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Red Bank's Blake Reichel (left) works to turn Forrest's Dylan Pendley in the 113 pound class. Reichel won the match. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Ryan McElhaney of Bradley Central (top) turns Bearden's Kyle Burns in the 120 pound class. McElhaney won the match. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Walker Valley's Joseph Munoz (top) drives Cleveland's Colton Landers to the matt in the 132 pound class. Munoz won the match. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Hixson's Landon Goforth (top) pins Red Bank's Gabe McDuffie in the 145 pound class. Goforth finished the year undefeated. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Hixson head coach Garrick Hall (left) reacts as Landon Goforth wins the state championship, at right is assistant Casey Thompson. Goforth's title was the first state championship for a wrestler under Hall's coaching. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Central head coach Johnny Lennon (right) talks to Alonso Heyward before Heyward's 152 point match. Heyward won the state title. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Baylor's Mason Reiniche (right) tries to get his foot around Drew Nicholson of Christian Brothers in the 152 pound match. Reiniche won the title. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

McCallie's Judah Duhm (right) looks for an opening against Christian Brother's Tommy Bracket in the 160 pound class. Duhm won the match. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Wrestlers wait on the arena stairs to be announced to the crowd. The finals of the TSSAA State Wrestlings Championships were held at the Williamson Agricultural Center in Franklin, Tn. on February 20, 2016.

Tennessee state wrestling Top Tens

Tennessee state wrestling Top TensClass AAA1. Bradley Central 244.5; 2. Tennessee High 121; 3. Cleveland 117; 3. Beech 117; 5. Soddy-Daisy 98.5; 6. Wilson Central 95; 7; Gibbs 92.5; 8. Heritage 92; 9. Independence 80.5; 10. Walker Valley 80.Class A/AA1. Pigeon Forge 177.5; 2. Alcoa 159; 3. Red Bank 152.5; 4. Greeneville 108; 5. Hixson 91.5; 6. Notre Dame 68.5; 7. Sullivan East 68; 8. Page 64.5; 9. Signal Mountain 55; 10. Central 51.Division II1. Father Ryan 247; 2. Baylor 238; 3. Christian Brothers 170; 4. McCallie 167.5; 5. MBA 140; 6. St. Benedict 51; 7. FRA 34; 8. Knox Webb 26; 9. St. George’s 22; 10. Ensworth 19.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – While Bradley Central and Father Ryan completed state wrestling domination in their respective divisions by capturing traditional championships Saturday night, Pigeon Forge blocked Red Bank’s drive for the same type of credentials.

Bradley locked up its championship four matches into Friday’s semifinals. Father Ryan wasn’t so fortunate and actually entered the championship finals down by a point to Baylor, whom it embarrassed in the Division II duals championship two weeks earlier. The Purple Irish, though, secured a tie with the 220-pound victory and won the title outright on an ultimate tiebreaker decision from heavyweight Jeremy Darvin.

“It was fun – wasn’t as much fun as it could’ve been,” Baylor coach Ben Nelson said. “But this is the most gratifying state tournament I’ve ever coached. The heart and effort was incredible. We couldn’t have asked for any more. The kids gave us all they had.”

Red Bank had a fabulous run from what coach Shane Turner termed “a bunch of overachievers.” The Lions were very much in the title hunt until Saturday morning’s consolation semifinals, when they managed just one win in five tries.