Hixson High School wrestler Justin Mathieson, top, grapples with Tyner’s Chase Daugherty during a match at the 4-AAA division wrestling tournament at Soddy-Daisy High School.Turbo Smith had one bowl of soup too many and yet managed to survive.
The Soddy-Daisy wrestler, top-seeded at 145 pounds, advanced to this afternoon’s Region 4 wrestling championship round but only after pulling out a 6-4 victory over Tyner’s Antonio Walton.
While Smith escaped an unwanted fate — having to fight his way back through the consolations just to get into the state tournament, the 2011 state runner-up was more fortunate than fellow top seeds Chris Palacio (Red Bank, 106) and Jay Rudwall (Ooltewah, 220). They lost championship semifinal bouts to Soddy-Daisy’s Austin Houser and Red Bank’s Paul Horne, respectively.
The tournament resumes at 10 this morning with the third round of consolations, followed by the consolation semifinals. Championship matches are scheduled to begin at about 12:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.
Palacio and Rudwall will be in the consolation semifinals.