In today’s list, Patrick MacCoon ranks the top five high school wrestlers in the Chattanooga area who stand a great chance of climbing to the top of the podium in the upcoming TSSAA state traditional tournaments.
1. JoJo Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain (120 pounds), sophomore
The youngest member of perhaps the greatest wrestling family in the country when it comes to winning state championships, JoJo should be the undisputed top wrestler in the state for any weight class. His national success so far in his young career has separated him from the pack, which includes being a three-time NHSCA national champion and a 2023 Michigan Grappler Fall Classic national champion.
JoJo is ranked fifth in the country at his weight class by FloWrestling. His second place finish at the Powerade Wrestling Tournament last year in Philadelphia was the highest finish ever by a Tennessee wrestler, while he also was runner-up at the Beast of the East in Delaware. In addition, he placed third at the freestyle national tournament last summer in Fargo, North Dakota, while he was fourth in the toughest high school tournament in the country, the Super 32.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Only a sophomore, Signal Mountain’s JoJo Uhorchuk is well on his way to becoming a rare five-time TSSAA individual wrestling champion.2. Logan Fowler, Cleveland (165), senior
Fowler solidified himself as a Cleveland wrestling legend when he became the second Blue Raider to ever win the National High School Coaches Association tournament at Virginia Beach last March. The only other was University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout and four-time TSSAA state champion Chris Debien back in 2015. Ranked as the nation’s No. 15 wrestler at 165, Fowler is always a step ahead of his opponent and dictates the match from start to finish. The Air Force signee is well on his way to becoming a three-time TSSAA state champion for a program that soon will have won the past seven state duals as well as traditional tournaments.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Cleveland’s Logan Fowler is a favorite to win his third TSSAA individual wrestling championship next weekend.3. Ethan Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain (132), junior
Fast-forward a couple of years, and I can see the UTC returning to its glory days in large part due to the contributions of Ethan Uhorchuk. He is the most athletic of the Uhorchuk family, as he starred in baseball at a young age before turning his primary focus to wrestling. You can’t blame him as Ethan has a great chance to become the fourth ever five-time TSSAA state champion. Ethan went 50-0 last season and should once again pummel his competition on the way to landing his fourth state title next weekend for the Eagles, whom he helped win the 2022 TSSAA state duals for the program’s first team state title.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Signal Mountain’s Ethan Uhorchuk is seeking his fourth TSSAA individual wrestling title.4. Carson Gentle, McCallie (285), senior
Before Gentle heads to Rocky Top to wreak havoc in opposing backfields for the Tennessee Volunteers, the Hulk of a teenager is set on accomplishing a dream he set out for in middle school: to become a TSSAA individual state champion. The heavyweight already helped the Blue Tornado end their team state title drought, which dated to 2006, with an instant classic victory over Father Ryan earlier this month at the Division II-AAA state duals. I believe there is not another heavyweight in the state who will get in the way of Gentle climbing to the top of the podium this weekend. After back-to-back third-place finishes at state the past two years, this will be a storybook finish to Gentle’s dominant prep career at McCallie.
5. Ryder Smith, Chattanooga Christian School (215), sophomore
The CCS dual-sport star athlete has a chance to become the first TSSAA individual state champion this weekend at Montgomery Bell Academy. Smith, 38-0 this season, won this past weekend’s Division II East Region individual championship with a 13-2 major decision over McCallie’s Cooper Gentle, while he also beat Heritage’s Evan Wingrove, a state title favorite in Georgia this weekend, to win the McCallie Invitational championship. After a state-runner up finish last season, Smith should be able to elevate and claim his weight bracket at MBA.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.