Today’s openers (times EST)
(All winning teams will wrestle twice)Class A/AAMat 2: Notre Dame (17-3) vs. Stratford, 4Mat 3: Hixson (17-3) vs. Greeneville, 4Division II-AAMat 5: Baylor (10-2) vs. Memphis Univ. School, 4Mat 7: McCallie (12-6) vs. Brentwood Academy, 4Class AAAMat 4: Bradley Central (19-2) vs. Knoxville Halls, 6Mat 6: Cleveland (19-0) vs. Maryville, 6
Chattanooga-area state duals championships
Bradley Central 14, Baylor 9, Cleveland 6, McCallie 5, Soddy-Daisy 4, Central 3, Notre Dame 3, Hixson 2, East Ridge 1, Red Bank 1
Domination by the Chattanooga area in Tennessee’s wrestling duals championships, especially in the A/AA classification, has dwindled, and for teams elsewhere qualifying is no longer enough.
Class A/AA competitors may still respect the Chattanooga area’s tradition-rich wrestling prowess but they no longer fear it, and that has led to a free-for-all championship chase this weekend.
The state’s duals championships for A/AA, Class AAA and Division II begin this afternoon at Franklin’s Williamson County Agricultural Expo.
“The tournament this weekend is one of the deepest in recent memory. There are several teams that have a legitimate shot at leaving with a state championship,” said Greeneville coach Randy Shelton, whose team enters the event as the A/AA front-runner.
Former champion Hixson, another of the favorites, will face Greeneville in the opening round.
“The majority of teams are pretty even,” Hixson coach Garrick Hall said.
Greg Foreman, whose Pigeon Forge teams won titles in 2014 and 2015, voiced an even stronger opinion.
“This is the first time since the A/AA state was established that you have eight teams capable of winning,” he said. “We could win it all or we could come up short and not place.”
Notre Dame joins Hixson, Greeneville, Pigeon Forge, Alcoa, Page, Stratford and Greenbriar.
Baylor and McCallie are in the Division II field, and Cleveland and Bradley Central are favorites in the AAA tournament.
Seven teams have won Tennessee’s A/AA duals wrestling championship over the past 13 seasons with Red Bank taking last year’s crown. Hixson didn’t qualify last year but has been a finalist four times with two titles, most recently in 2010. Notre Dame has a rich tradition also, winning the 2007-2009 titles.
“Hixson and Notre Dame are so improved since last year,” said Alcoa coach Brian Gossett. “Hixson has good balance throughout the lineup. I look for them to be a tough out. Hixson always wrestles a tough, physical style. Notre Dame overwhelms you in their lower weights. They have filled some holes in their lineup and they have some good athletes in the upper weights.”
Most AAA followers are anticipating a Cleveland/Bradley Central rematch for the championship.
“This is where every team in Tennessee wants to end up on the first weekend in February,” Halls coach Shannon Sayne said.
Sayne’s team opens against Bradley, the defending champion.
“The draw is what it is. If you are going to win a state title in Tennessee you are going to have to beat Bradley, Cleveland or Soddy(-Daisy),” Sayne said. “That’s just the way it is. We are just lucky enough to get first crack at them.”
Cleveland opens against Maryville, which is looking to place for the first time since 1997.
Championship matches in each division are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. EST Saturday.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.