from Chattanooga Times Free Press
by Patrick McCoon
CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Wrestling flows in the veins of Bradley County.
And for No. 1-ranked Cleveland High School looks extremely capable of a third straight sweep of the Class AAA state dual and traditional tournaments.
The Blue Raiders wasted no time asserting their power Thursday night, opening a crosstown rivalry match with four consecutive pins on their way to a 42-27 road win over third-ranked Bradley Central.Senior Nate Schilling brought an end to his 160-pound match in just 32 seconds.
“Nate is one of our huge success stories,” Cleveland coach Joey Knox said. “He would go wrestle every weekend and get his butt whupped when he first got here. But he stared adversity in the face and has worked his tail off. He’s been behind some really good guys, and now it’s his time. I would not be surprised if he won state as a first-time starter.”
Cleveland’s Arlo Laxton, top, works against Bradley Central’s Easton Lipsey. Laxton won the match 7-0 and the Blue Raiders won by the score of 42-27 on the road Thursday. / Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon
Cael Laxton opened the match by racking up nine first-period points before his second-period pin. Senior Zach Brezna followed Schilling with a pin in the last four seconds of the second period after building a 12-4 lead.
At 182, Te’toe Boyd carried on the streak as he stuck his opponent in the final period to build a 24-0 lead for the Blue Raiders.
“We had some hammers open up the match (at 152),” said Brezna, a four-year starter. “We wanted to go out there and set the tone of the match, and we were able to. This program has shaped me into the man I am today. It’s shown me heart and what hard work and dedication can bring.
“We are a family, and that’s how we roll. Everyone pushes each other harder at practice, and we want to keep it rolling one after the other.”
Cleveland has an overall record of 80-3 under Knox and is 11-1 this season with the loss coming out of state to a team in Georgia.
With reigning state champion Jackson Bradford (120) sitting out Thursday’s match, there is still room for improvement.
“Our guys are always buying in and seeing what they need to be doing,” Knox said. “Zach has been a tremendous leader. He’s not scared and went out there after his guy tonight. We have a lot more in the tank still, though. We have to take care of business and get our guys back from injury so we can take care of a state title.”
Despite the big early deficit, Bradley Central did not pack things in as a program with 26 team state titles all-time won four of the next six matches.
Tyrone McDonald started that flurry with a 7-2 decision at 195, and heavyweight Austin McClure registered a second-round pin for the Bears.
some textBradley Central sixth-ranked heavyweight Austin McClure pins Cleveland’s Growin Wilson in Thursday’s dual match. The Blue Raiders won 42-27 and forfeited one of their last two matches. / Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon
In a showdown of No. 1- vs. 2 state-ranked wrestlers at 106 pounds, top-ranked Ethan Wilson held a 4-0 lead and survived a late takedown by Cleveland’s Bentley Ellison for a one-point decision.
Luke Belcher cut the deficit to 30-18 with a third-period pin after leading 10-3 over Jax Godfrey in the 120-pound match.
But Blue Raiders reigning state champion and Army commitment Trae McDaniel sealed the victory as a strong cradle earned a second-period pin and 36-18 lead. Senior Garrett Stevenson ended the match with his team’s sixth pin.
“This team has a bunch of hard workers, and we all have the drive to win,” McDaniel said. “Everyone works hard in the weightroom. We lost seven seniors, but there has been no fall-off at all.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Prep Wrestling: Walker Valley Wins Two, Loses Two
Sunday, January 12, 2020
WALKER VALLEY 45, STONE MEMORIAL 35
106 – Cole Lester (SM) pinned Brett Harris, 2:37;
113 – Joshua Bramlett (WV) won by forfeit;
120 – Aubrey Thomeson (SM) won by technical fall over Alex McCord, 4:00;
126 – David Cantrell (WV) pinned Aidan Benjamin, :59;
132 – Jacob Howe (SM) pinned Andrew Miles, :40;
138 – Jordan Howe (SM) pinned Markus Rich, 5:36;
145 – Zachary Alegria (SM) pinned Jackson Davis, 1:01;
152 – Michael Teasley (WV) pinned Devon Singer, 3:38;
160 – Michael Phipps (SM) pinned Joshua Van Wyk, 1:56;
170 – Caden Decker (WV) pinned Xander Ricks, :44;
182 – Heath Tanksley (WV) won by forfeit;
195 – Kallum Lowe (WV) dec. Doug Howe, 12-6;
220 – Jacob Anderson (WV) pinned Austin Norris, :11;
285 – Jadon Langford (WV) pinned Cameron Garrett, 1:32.
WALKER VALLEY 60, RED BANK 24
106 – Malikhi Johnson (RB) pinned Brett Harris, :56;
113 – Joshua Bramlett (WV) pinned Kyle Harper, 1:53;
120 – Alex McCord (WV) won by forfeit;
126 – Brady Montgomery (WV) pinned Jayce Cordero, :47;
132 – David Cantrell (WV) pinned Wyatt Maharrey, 2:22;
138 – Aidan Maharrey (RB) pinned Markus Rich, :47;
145 – Jackson Davis (WV) won by forfeit;
152 – Michael Teasley (WV) won by forfeit;
160 – Caden Cline (RB) pinned Joshua Van Wyk, 1:16;
170 – Caden Decker (WV) pinned Hayden Tate, 2:27;
182 – John Elbakidze (RB) won by forfeit;
195 – Kallum Lowe (WV) won by forfeit;
220 – Jacob Anderson (WV) pinned Seth Lacy, 2:26;
285 – Jadon Langford (WV) pinned Gabriel Welch, :28.
SUMMITT 48, WALKER VALLEY 28
106 – Cody Agnell (Sum) pinned Brett Harris, :13;
113 – Jackson Masters (Sum) pinned Joshua Bramlett, :54;
120 – Austin Grooters (Sum) pinned Alex McCord, 3:32;
126 – David Cantrell (WV) major dec. Tristan Winters, 14-3;
132 – Maguire Scruggs (Sum) pinned Andrew Miles, 1:01;
138 – Markus Rich (WV) pinned Miguel Lopez, 3:29;
145 – Jack Hill (Sum) dec. Jackson Davis, 8-4;
152 – Miles Grady (Sum) dec. Michael Teasley, 10-8;
160 – Luke Justice (Sum) pinned Joshua Van Wyk, :50;
170 – Caden Decker (WV) won by forfeit;
182 – Joseph Lukens (Sum) won by forfeit;
195 – Kallum Lowe (WV) pinned Maddox Reed, :19;
220 – John Sloan (Sum) pinned Jacob Anderson, 1:31;
285 – Jadon Langford (WV) pinned Ryan Smith, 1:08.
CHATTANOOGA CHRISTIAN 42, WALKER VALLEY 33
106 – Tyler Haga (CCS) pinned Brett Harris, :56;
113 – Joshua Bramlett (WV) dec. A.J. Jolly, 10-6;
120 – Evan Rominger (CCS) dec. Alex McCord, 9-2;
126 – Brady Montgomery (CCS) pinned Eli Sutherland, 1:13;
132 – Ryan Duble (CCS) pinned David Cantrell, 2:13;
138 – Jack Bennett (CCS) dec. Markus Rich, 6-2;
145 – Josh Willing (CCS) pinned Jackson Davis, 3:09;
152 – Michael Teasley (WV) pinned Andrew Adams, 4:42;
160 – Lachlan Brandt (CCS) pinned Joshua Van Wyk, 1:16;
170 – Conrad Bamgarner (CCS) pinned Caden Decker, 3:15;
182 – Jacob Barham (CCS) won by forfeit;
195 – Kallum Lowe (WV) won by forfeit;
220 – Jacob Anderson (WV) pinned Sawyer White, :16;
285 – Jadon Langford (WV) pinned Raymond McDevitt, 1:13.
The Chattanoogan
———-
UTC now 2-0 in Soucon…
Chattanooga 34 – Gardner-Webb 5
McKenzie Arena – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Sunday – Jan. 12, 2020
149: No. 23 Tanner Smith (UTC) over (GWU) (For.)
157: Tyler Shilson (UTC) over Taylor Parks (GWU) (Dec 10-4)
165: Rodrick Mosley (GWU) over Drew Nicholson (UTC) (Dec 4-2)
174: Hunter Fortner (UTC) over Sam Mora (GWU) (Dec 6-5)
Gardner-Webb -1 for questioning official
184: No. 20 Matthew Waddell (UTC) over Christian Salter (GWU) (Fall 5:58)
197: Rodney Jones (UTC) over Roderick Davis (GWU) (Dec 8-4)
285: Grayson Walthall (UTC) over Gabriel Picket (GWU) (TF 15-0 5:27)
125: No. 20 Fabian Gutierrez (UTC) over Michael Pappaconstantinou (GWU) (TF 15-0 4:00)
133: Colton Landers (UTC) over Trevon Majette (GWU) (Dec 4-0)
141: Brandon Bright (GWU) over Aidan Murphy (UTC) (Dec 7-5)
