CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The eventual result on the Raider Dome scoreboard read “Guest 39, Home 15,” but those in attendance at Cleveland High School’s wrestling meet Monday night against visiting Bradley Central can attest that the final score wasn’t indicative of how close it really was.
And they get to do it again in two days.
Bradley’s third-ranked Bears won 10 of the 14 matches, but three matches went into overtime and six were decided by three points or less. The crosstown rivals will meet again Thursday in the semifinals of the Region 3-AAA duals tournament at Walker Valley, with Soddy-Daisy and Walker Valley battling in the other semi.
Bradley coach Steve Logsdon said the win was the Bears’ “best team effort” all season.
“I was real pleased with how the team came together and wrestled like a brotherhood,” Logsdon said. “The final was 39-15, but tonight was about close matches. I know how close it was and [Cleveland coach] Eric Phillips knows how close it was.
“If those matches go the other way, the outcome could change.”
Bonus points were at a premium Monday, with Bradley (19-1) earning only nine on pins by Bradley Colbaugh (152 pounds), A.J. Shelton (171) and Tucker Bolton (215). The Blue Raiders (17-4) had a pin by Austin Stevison (103) and a major decision by Jesse Jones (189) for four extra points.
Phillips cited the overtime matches as an indication of how close his team really was.
“We’re a pretty young team,” he said. “If nothing else, those matches helped our guys realize they could beat their opponents when we wrestle them again.
“What was broke wasn’t totally broken, and I think we can fix it. We just have to do it between now and Thursday. That’s the one that matters.”
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