February 5th, 2021 | by Patrick MacCoon | Copyright © 2021

Patrick MacCoon / Hixson senior wrestler Parrish Pacetti, top, won the TSSAA Class A/AA 220-pound championship last season, and he helped the Wildcats in football the past four years as a standout offensive lineman and defensive end.

Parrish Pacetti may have his sights set on playing Division I football, but the Hixson High School senior wrestler admits that on the mat is where he has been challenged the most.

Pacetti won the 220-pound title at last year’s TSSAA Class A/AA state traditional tournament, stacking up a pin and 7-0 and 6-2 decisions to wrap up a 46-5 record for his junior season. However, that came only after a fifth-place finish as a sophomore and a freshman season in which he lost at state in the round when a victory would have guaranteed a top-six finish and a medal.

“I love football, but wrestling has had the biggest effect on my character and mindset,” said Pacetti, who is being recruited by Austin Peay to play offensive line for the Governors. “You have to be a tough dude to excel in this sport. You have to be mentally there every day to work. Each day you have to reach your breaking point in practice to really get better. That’s how you get better and cross that plateau.”

He will try to help Hixson (12-0) win the A/AA state duals championship Saturday at Nolensville High School, with the Wildcats facing Fairview (20-3) in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Eastern, when Signal Mountain (8-1) and five-time state champion Pigeon Forge (24-5) will also face off. The championship and third-place duals are set for 4:30.

In Class AAA, Cleveland (12-0) will hunt for its fourth straight state title in an eight-team field, with the Blue Raiders meeting Dobyns-Bennett (15-2) in a quarterfinal at 1 p.m. Eastern at Independence High School in Thompson’s Station, where Oakland (23-3) and Summitt (19-1) will face off at the same time. In quarterfinals at the same time at Centennial High School in Franklin, Bradley Central (10-3) will take on Wilson Central (28-0) and Collierville (10-2) faces Science Hill (15-3).

AAA teams will remain at the same sites for the semifinals that follow, with the championship and third-place duals set for 6:30 at Independence.

In the Division II semifinals at Mill Creek Middle School in Nolensville, back-to-back state champion Baylor (2-0) will face Father Ryan (12-6) while Christian Brothers (10-0) wrestles Montgomery Bell Academy (12-4) at 4:30 Eastern. The championship and third-place duals are set for 7.

Hixson’s Pacetti quit after his first wrestling tryout in sixth grade because he said he was not tough enough yet for the sport. He has come a long way since then with gains in strength, technique and mindset.

He built character as a steady leader the past four years for Hixson’s football team. Although the Wildcats won only four games during that time, with all of those victories over the past two seasons, Pacettit worked hard and became standout offensive lineman and defensive end.

As a wrestler, he enjoys being able to control his own fate in one-on-one matchups that test more than strength and talent. He is 13-0 overall and was one of nine Hixson wrestlers who won individual region championships as he easily pinned his way to victory Thursday at Alcoa High School.

“Honestly, what helps me in wrestling is the hunger to be at the top,” Pacetti said. “I have a beat the best to be the best mentality. If you don’t win, it means you didn’t work harder than the other guy. That’s the biggest thing wrestling comes down to. You have to want it more than the other one does.”

Pacetti, Trevor Lewis (126 pounds) and Caleb Miller (132) are team captains for the Wildcats, who finished third at state duals last season. Lewis — a state champ two years ago — Jonas Vandergriff (152) and Kobe Smith (160) are also undefeated this season, and Miller, Logan Woodall (195) and Landon Moore (285) each has won loss for coach Todd Worley’s deep lineup.

As for Pacetti, football may be in his future, but wrestling will remain with him even after he steps off the mat for the last time.

“My coaches have really been role models for me because I didn’t grow up with a whole lot of great role models,” Pacetti said. “But I got into school and sports and they really pushed me. Coach Worley helped me really prepare hard for my state championship run last year, and he is a really great coach and friend to me. He is just a great dude who has been a big influence on me and my success.”

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.