For the first time in at least two decades of Central wrestling, and perhaps for the first time in school history, the Purple Pounders improved to 14-0 on Tuesday by winning the Roger Vandergriff Duals at Hixson.
“If it happened, it happened before I was around,” Central coach Steve Price said. “If it was done, it would have been in the early [19]90s when the Johnson brothers were wrestling.”
Central was primed, looking for a payback from last year’s semifinal loss in the Class A/AA state duals meet, and got its revenge by beating the defending state champions 46-14.
“We’re young and trying to replace five or six solid seniors, but Central has gotten better, a whole lot better,” Wildcats coach Garrick Hall said.
The Pounders won nine of the 14 bouts and held a 24-0 lead after five thanks to pins from Samuel Sledge (189), Cody Bowman (103) and Anthony Rice (112). Seven of their victories produced bonus points, including also a major decision from Logan Griffin (130), another pin from Larry Dickerson (160) and a forfeit victory for Terry Thompson (171).
Vandergriff Duals ChampionshipCENTRAL 46, HIXSON 14(Meet started at 189 pounds)103-Cody Bowman (C) pinned Marcus Armour, 1:19; 112-Anthony Rice (C) pinned Grayson Lane, 1:59; 119-Sean Borders (H) won by tech. fall over Logan Duckett, 5:22; 125-Cody Stacks (C) dec. Logan Vandergriff, 10-6; 130-Logan Griffin (C) major dec. Isaiah Hawthorne, 13-2; 135-Gio Palacio (H) dec. Mike West, 6-2; 140-Ameer Jibrin (H) dec. Ethan Hickman, 9-5; 145-Gary Cosey (H) dec. Zac Fordham, 3-1; 152-Michael Frazy (C) dec. Aaron Alemany, 7-2; 160-Larry Dickerson (C) pinned Albert Armstrong, 2:19; 171-Terry Thompson (C) won by forfeit; 189-Samuel Sledge (C) pinned Thomas Crowder, 2:09; 215-Antonio Brooks (C) dec. Christian Varner, 7-1; 285-Zachary Calhoun (C) dec. Andrew Branham, 8-4.Records: Central 14-0; Hixson 8-4.
There also was a mild upset at 125 pounds as Cody Stacks got his first victory over Wildcats senior Logan Vandergriff.
Price, whose team will face some stiff challenges after Christmas, including Ooltewah, said the Pounders’ streak has been built on heart.
“There’s a lot of it. These kids have so much heart, and the root of that heart comes from the assistant coaches,” he said.
Those assistants are former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standouts Josh Edmondson and Joey Knox.
“I put together the practice plans, but all the technique and all the emotion comes from the assistants,” Price said.
The heart leads to dedication, and Price has taxed the Pounders with extreme conditioning drills.
“We’re not the most skilled team, so we try to get our opponents into the third period,” he said. “That’s one reason you see our guys fighting off their backs in the earlier periods – to get to that third period. We feel it belongs to us.”
Thus far the plan has worked to perfection. Central won Knoxville Catholic and Yellow Jacket Classic invitational titles, the latter last week by 130 points.
Price knows there are challengers to Central’s plan of winning this year’s state duals title, something a Pounders team has not done since 1990.
“Notre Dame is better. We’ll have to get by them, and East Hamilton is [improving],” Price pointed out. “Once we get there, I think heart and determination will take over, but I’m still focused on getting there. I know every team we face will present a challenge.”
The Pounders don’t compete again until Dec. 30 in the Alcoa Duals.