Cleveland’s Chris DeBien traps Soddy-Daisy’s Austin Houser underneath him during their 106 weight class match Thursday. Cleveland High School wrestled against Soddy-Daisy at Cleveland High on Thursday night.CLEVELAND, Tenn. — In one of Tennessee’s biggest dual wrestling meets of the season, second-ranked Soddy-Daisy fired on all cylinders and third-ranked Cleveland fired blanks.
The visiting Trojans smoked the defending state champions 43-15.
“There were six or seven swing matches — matches we could have won or should have won — and they won all six or seven,” most disappointed Cleveland coach Eric Phillips said.
By a draw from a hat the meet started at 170 pounds, almost right into the teeth of the Trojans’ upper-weight strengths, and they made the most of it with a 21-3 advantage. The bulk of the points came on pins from meet-opener Blaike Henry, Brett Ervin (195) and heavyweight Alex Seeley.
“We got on a roll and it snowballed,” Soddy-Daisy coach Steve Henry said. “I’m always pleased to get a win. They’re not just people we compete against. They’re friends and that intensifies [the meet]. The gloves come off.”