FRANKLIN, Tenn. – It was no surprise that Bradley Central advanced nine wrestlers to the Tennessee Class AAA state quarterfinals or that the Bears scored 83.5 first-day points.
It was a shock, however, that Soddy-Daisy senior 160-pounder Tucker Russo, a two-time state champion, won’t be among the quarterfinalists.
The unbeaten Russo, who has yet to give up an offensive point this season and who was making a strong bid for the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award, was dropped into the consolation bracket on a questionable illegal-slam call.
“I’m gut-sick,” said longtime Trojans coach Steve Henry, who is filling in with Brad Laxton for head coach Jim Higgins. “I went to the table – knew I had to fight for him – but I went knowing there was nothing I could do. I just hate the principle behind the call.”
Russo was up 5-0 in the first period, and when his opponent – Smyrna’s Tyrone Johnson – stood up, Russo took him back to the mat. The referee determined that Russo used too much force, and he awarded a penalty point to Johnson.
Although cleared by a trainer, Johnson was not allowed by his coach to continue. The rule is that if a wrestler is injured with an “illegal hold” such as a slam and cannot continue, then that wrestler is awarded the win.
According to Soddy-Daisy parents, Johnson later approached them and apologized, saying he had wanted to continue and didn’t want to win that way. He also said he got overruled by his coach.
Henry has known Russo for years and actually got him started in wrestling years ago in the Trojans’ kids club program.
“In all the years I coached, the two most emotional matches for me were when Tucker lost in the semis his freshman year and tonight,” Henry said. “All I could tell him was people that know the sport know what happened.”
Bradley Central, in a night that otherwise wasn’t very kind to Region 4 teams, positioned itself nicely for both individual and team championships.
“Not ready to relax yet,” Bears coach Ben Smith said. “I remember years as a wrestler and as an assistant when we had pretty sizable leads and then stumbled a little in the quarterfinals.”
Bradley led its nearest competitor by nearly 30 points, as Region 8 champion Arlington scored 54. Maryville Heritage, Tennessee High, Gibbs and Beech were in a four-point spread from Heritage’s 52 to Beech’s 48. Cleveland and Soddy-Daisy were tied for seventh with 47.5, and Wilson Central and Independence were deadlocked in ninth with 43.5.
Walker Valley had 32 points and was tied for 18th.
Eight of the nine Bears twice scored bonus points via major decision, forfeit, pin or technical fall. Those advancing were T.J. Hicks (113 pounds), Ryan McElhaney (120), Josha LaCoe (126), Hunter Parker (132), Knox Fuller (138), Austin Mathews (145), Donnie Beyer (152), Brett Brown (195) and D.J. Adams (285).
Cleveland had four wrestlers advance – Bryce Pond (106), Triston Blansit (126), Colton Landers (132) and Jack Hicks (170) – and Soddy-Daisy had three in Charles Wheaton (106), Emory Holcomb (138) and Ty Boeck (182).
Walker Valley has two quarterfinalists in Joseph Munoz (132) and Mikel Gregory (152), as does Ooltewah in Tyler Reid (195) and Victor Bednarski (220). The only other Region 4 wrestler still in the championship round is Rhea County’s Jay Graham (152).
Contact Ward Gossett@wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.