From: Bristol News

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The impossible has become the inevitable for Tennessee High in the Best of Bristol wrestling meet.

The school that couldn’t win has transformed into the program that can’t be beat in the annual duals showdown for city supremacy as the Vikings secured their seventh straight win at the event Thursday with comfortable triumphs over local rivals Sullivan East (66-18), Virginia High (46-24) and John Battle (52-30).

While Tennessee High has the biggest enrollment among the four schools and is generally the favorite in matchups across all Bristol-area sports clashes, success on the wrestling mat long proved elusive.

Current fifth-year THS head coach Tim Marshall was in his first year as an assistant when the streak began for the Vikings.

“It shows how serious it’s gotten since Tim’s been over it and we’ve brought different coaches in,” said THS senior Logan Ferguson.

“That’s basically what it is at this point, just another trophy to take home, but it’s gotten more challenging as we’ve obviously lost a lot of good seniors over the past few years.”

The Vikings weren’t quite as dominant as in 2018 – when they lost only two contested matches all evening – but they still had plenty of firepower to prevail once again.

“I think the team’s coming together really good this year,” Ferguson said. “Everybody gets along good – it’s a good situation.”

Ferguson wrestled in the first contested match of each of the first two duals for Tennessee High, winning both matches by pin, before ending the night with a forfeit victory to close out the team win for the Vikings over Battle.

“Definitely you’ve got to set the tone if you’re the first match,” Ferguson said. “It has a big determining factor in how other people wrestle.”

Tennessee High indeed followed Ferguson’s lead as eight Vikings turned in unbeaten performances on the night.

Gavin Hurley (182 pounds, three pins), Perry Roller (113, two pins, one major decision), Reece Nelson (120/126, two pins, one forfeit), Dillon Pendley (138/145, two pins, one forfeit), Xander Harris (120/126, one pin, two forfeits), and Kevin Martin (106, one major decision, two forfeits) were the other THS competitors that wrestled in at least one contested match to go unbeaten.

Roller and Harris are freshmen as the Vikings feature a nice mix of new talent and experienced veterans.

“If it wasn’t for conditioning at practice I don’t think I would have been able to hold in there,” Roller said.

Junior Cooper Fayler had a banner night at 220 pounds for the Bearcats, winning all three of his matches via first-period pins.

“I’ve got to thank my coaching staff and my partners every day,” Fayler said. “I’ve been working harder in the wrestling room, weight room, everything – trying to get better.”

Fayler said his victory over Tennessee High’s Tyler Fields, which came via pinfall in 1:04, was a particularly meaningful triumph.

“That was my first match in middle school [against Fields] and it’s great to re-live,” Fayler said. “It’s back and forth [in the head-to-head matches].”

AJ Krumtum (132 pounds), Gage Richard (170) and Travis Williams (285) joined Fayler in being named the top wrestler in their respective weights on the night for the Bearcats.

Battle’s Luke Henegar (145) and East’s Kolby Rutledge (195) also each earned individual honors in their weight class.