Soddy-Daisy’s Jacob Stevens, right, controls Cleveland’s Austin Stevison toward the mat and won the match 8-4 Thursday at Soddy-Daisy.With his team down by six points, Jacob Stevens decisioned fellow defending state champion Austin Stevison and started an eight-match win streak for the fifth-ranked Soddy-Daisy wrestling team Thursday against second-ranked Cleveland.
The Trojans’ blitz produced a 35-16 victory and surprised visiting Blue Raiders coach Jake Yost, who was back at the school where he competed and served as an assistant coach.
“They reeled off win after win, and I wasn’t expecting that,” he said.
The 120-pound bout between Stevens and Stevison had grudge written all over it. Both wrestlers were at 113 pounds last year and Stevison got the best of Stevens at the McCallie Invitational. Looking for his second state title, Stevens wound up moving to 120 and got that championship. Stevison survived the 113-pound bracket to earn his first state title.
“It’s all practice till February, but after last year [at McCallie], yeah, I wanted to win,” said Stevens, who improved to 10-1. “It’s as tough a match as I’ve had all year.”