Other than losing wrestlers before the start of the day, events went pretty much as scripted for Baylor and McCallie in the Division II East/Middle region tournament Saturday.
The host Red Raiders won it, scoring 233 points, and McCallie finished second with 213.5.
McCallie’s Zachary Ward, the top-seeded 106-pounder, didn’t even make it to weigh-ins due to pneumonia, and Baylor lost both of its 113-pounders: Hayden Hartline, who finished third last year, and eighth-grader Grant Slye. Hartline has been out with a broken arm and had to have it recasted this past week. Slye suffered a concussion in practice on Wednesday.
“Hayden’s arm hasn’t completely healed,” Baylor coach Ben Nelson said. “And Grant, well, I’m just glad they’re taking care of kids with concussions these days – unlike it used to be.”
Even with the handicaps, the two local private school powerhouses easily outdistanced the field. Montgomery Bell Academy was closest but still finished 47.5 points behind the runner-up Blue Tornado. Those were the only three to top the century mark. Battle Ground Academy had 59 points, Franklin Road Academy 49, Knoxville Webb 48 and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee 16.
“We had a really good day,” Nelson said. “The guys were fighting and going to great lengths to do all they could in every match. I was proud of them.”
The champions were Baylor’s Jack Reynolds (132), Austin Atchley (138), Michael Murphy (145), Mason Reiniche (152), Caleb Powell (170), Khamari Whimper (182) and Ryan Parker (195); McCallie’s Brock Herring (126) and Judah Duhm (160); MBA’s Joseph Torquine (113), Gabriel Elkins (120), D’On Coofer (220) and John Kelly (285); and BGA’s Ian McCullough (106).
“The guys that are supposed to be our hammers did their jobs, and then we knew there would be some rematches that were pivotal, especially from the McCallie dual, and those guys stepped up,” Nelson said.
The top four in each weight class advance to the Division II state tournament – an eight-man bracket – beginning Friday in Franklin.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfree press.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett