FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Bradley Central and Cleveland moved a step closer to their second meeting of the Tennessee high school wrestling season Friday.
Both teams from the city of Cleveland won by lopsided scores in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals of the Class AAA state duals to reach the semifinals at 2 p.m. today.
Standing between a repeat of the 2009 championship meet were Science Hill and Collierville. Science Hill will wrestle defending champion Bradley while Collierville takes on Cleveland, last year’s runner-up.
“From what I’ve seen, Cleveland is the best on their side of the bracket. If we make the finals, I think they’ll be the team across from us,” Bradley coach Steve Logsdon said.
“I expect and hope to see Bradley if we get to the finals,” Cleveland coach Eric Phillips said. “It’s a neighborhood thing. I want to win it, but if we don’t I’d like to see them win it.”
Hixson moved to the A/AA championship meet with a 40-20 victory over Central, which rolled over Cheatham County in the first round while Hixson struggled to get past Greenback.
“I don’t think there could have been a tougher first-round opponent,” said Hixson coach Garrick Hall, whose team is trying to repeat its 2009 championship showing.
The Chattanooga area won’t sweep the championship hardware for the first time in years. Both McCallie and defending state champion Baylor lost in Friday’s semifinals, McCallie 34-33 by Father Ryan and Baylor 29-22 by Christian Brothers.
“We did all we could. The kids fought valiantly and we just didn’t have enough,” Baylor coach Jim Morgan said. “We’re not going to hide behind the injury excuse. There were a couple of matches we thought we might have a shot to win, and it didn’t materialize.”
The Red Raiders are still missing three starters due to injury, but Zach Watson (119/ankle) and Adam Shuford (160/shoulder) did return for the Christian Brothers meet. It was somewhat bittersweet considering that the Red Raiders lost but Watson’s win was the 100th of his career.
McCallie fell behind 24-0, losing crucial matches at 103, 112 and 119, but rallied and made up the difference to tie before falling late.
“All four of those first four matches (including heavyweight) were great matches,” McCallie coach Mike Newman said.
Both Newman and Father Ryan coach Pat Simpson felt the first three lower weights would decide the meet, and Father Ryan captured all three.
“We got great fight from all the kids, but Father Ryan has improved since we wrestled them earlier in the season,” Newman said, “and they were pretty good then.”
If Baylor and McCallie rebound with wins this morning, their rewards will be a third-place showdown repeating Monday’s dual meet that Baylor won 38-36.
Hall, meanwhile, has a special reward planned for Hixson, the first team to claim a championship berth. The Wildcats won’t wrestle until 6 p.m., when they’ll take on athletic East Literature from Nashville.
“We’re going to get up and go to weigh-ins, and then I’m going to let them go back to the hotel and sleep,” Hall said. “Me? After weigh-ins I’m headed to Cracker Barrel.”