Garrison Dendy knows the significance of the task at hand, but Baylor’s 138-pounder is not the least bit nervous about stepping onto the mat this weekend in Nashville.
The Red Raiders have a unique opportunity to add to their illustrious and in many ways unrivaled wrestling history when they compete Friday and Saturday at the TSSAA Division II state traditional tournament at Montgomery Bell Academy.
Baylor is seeking to add to its state record with a 31st all-time team title – the program won its 13th duals championship two weeks ago and is going after an 18th traditional crown – but as coach Rex Kendle’s team tries to sweep the D-II duals and traditional events for the fourth year in a row, the Red Raiders are also trying to become the first team in state history to have three wrestlers win their fourth individual state title in the same season.
Dendy is a three-time champion, along with fellow seniors Nick Corday (113) and David Harper (195).
“Honestly, there is not much pressure for a lot of us when we get to the state tournament because we have even higher ambitions. I have dreams to be a national champion,” Dendy said. “When we go out there, we can feel free and confident since we’ve been doing this for so long. Winning a fourth state title would be awesome, but if we can beat the state record for individual titles, that would be even better.”
While Baylor has a state-best 122 individual state champions since 1971, Father Ryan has the D-II record for most champions in a single season with seven.
Seven is the same number of seniors the Red Raiders have in a loaded lineup that qualified all 14 wrestlers, including nine region champions, for this weekend’s brackets at MBA. As Corday, Dendy and Harper go after a fourth title, classmate Jackson Bond (126) will seek his third.
“This group of seniors is really special,” Kendle said. “They have helped Baylor go from a household name in the Southeast to sort of a household name nationwide for wrestling. Baylor has always been good and had amazing coaches, but I don’t know that we have ever had a class this talented. This program can never thank them enough for what they have done.”
Harper has never lost more than one match in a season since his freshman year, and he put on a show in last year’s traditional state tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center, winning matches by pin in 16 seconds, 41 seconds and 1 minute and 12 seconds.
The bond between Dendy and Harper helped shape Baylor’s current roster, and they will be teammates at the University of Wyoming next fall. They first started wrestling together for Team Minion, a select club in Georgia.
“David and I have been great friends since we were in second grade,” Dendy said. “I remember calling him and saying you have to come up here and wrestle for Baylor in high school with me. I told him it would be the best experience and platform possible for us both. We were able to get a lot of buddies to join us from Team Minion. We hope our mark leaves Baylor in a spot where they can be the big team in the South for years to come.”
Corday, who was also part of Team Minion, is headed for West Point to wrestle for Army in college. His 98-9 record as a high school wrestler includes a 47-2 mark and no losses since his sophomore year, when he arrived at Baylor from Georgia’s Buford High School.
“I came here knowing Baylor was going to help me get to that next level and have national recognition. Garrison helped us all get on board,” Corday said. “This year has been the most challenging yet. I tore both my labrums along with my bicep tendon and rotator cuff, and I didn’t wrestle a match until the state duals this season. I was out for 8 1/2 months, but I kept my head clear and knew I would come back strong. I am so grateful for this sport, my teammates and coaches.”
If all falls into place, Baylor could have 10 wrestlers in its history to win at least four state championships.
There are only 20 wrestlers in TSSAA history who have accomplished that feat, and all but three are from the Chattanooga area.
“I think we have set the tone,” Harper said. “Our whole team has been a bright spot, and being a part of it all has been so great. To see our high school careers come full circle is pretty special. We have fought to get here and want to enjoy it one last time.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Staff photo / Baylor wrestling coach Rex Kendle celebrates a 138-pound victory during a home dual against Bradley Central on Dec 8, 2020.BEST OF THE BEST
As Baylor’s Nick Corday, Garrison Dendy and David Harper seek their fourth individual state titles, here’s a list of the wrestlers who have finished atop the medal stand more than three times at the TSSAA state traditional tournament, with 17 of 20 from the Chattanooga area.Five titles: Baylor — Zach Watson (2008-12); McCallie — TJ Duncan (2007-11), Alex Whitworth (2017-21).Four titles: Alcoa — Samson Evans (2014-17); Baylor — Stuart Doster (2008-11), Noah Horst (2018-21), Jordan Leen (2001-04), Michael Murphy (2013-16), Ryan Parker (2013-16), Bailey Whitaker (2005-08); Bradley Central — Knox Fuller (2014-17), Matt Keller (1999-2002); Cleveland — Chris DeBien (2012-15); Father Ryan — Eli King (2014-17); McCallie — Ryan Scott (2001-04), Emory Taylor (2017-21); Montgomery Bell Academy — Phillip Simpson (1998-2001); Notre Dame — Martin Francis (1969-72); Signal Mountain — Daniel Uhorchuk (2017-21); Soddy-Daisy — Campbell Lewis (2009-12).