Christopher James

Here’s a quick look at the five remaining area challengers in the state wrestling tournament:
Greenback
Jeremy Miller, 145 pounds: The junior captured Greenback’s only individual wrestling state title as an eighth grader (103 pounds in 2007) but has finished second (135 in 2009) and third (119 in 2008) the last two years. His 3-2 loss in the state final last year was probably the match of the tournament.
Tyler Dailey, 285 pounds: The senior has never made it this far, losing in the first round the last two years. He’s been money this season, though, losing just once to Bradley Central’s Patrick Benson. Benson is also through to the quarters, but the pair wouldn’t meet until the championship match.
Heritage
Keagan Matlock, 152 pounds: The freshman is through to the second day of championship play in his first appearance for the Mountaineers. The rookie shouldn’t look like on today, though. Matlock was 65-9 as an eighth grader for Heritage Middle last year, winning the Tennessee State AAU title at 145 pounds.
Nathaniel Molina, 135 pounds: Molina went out in the first round last year at this weight, so it’s new territory for the junior. He gets a familiar face in Seymour’s Michael Raimondi this morning. Seymour defeated Heritage, 54-22, in the Region 3-AAA duals earlier this season
Maryville
Tyler Wilson, 215 pounds: Wilson fell in the second round last year. Not an easy draw today, as he gets Hendersonville’s Brett Jaeckel who was sixth at this weight last year.

FRANKLIN — I think there’s more than a little disappointment in the minds of Greenback’s wrestlers today.

The Cherokees were ousted from the championship bracket last night after losing to defending A-AA state champion Hixson in the quarterfinals of the TSSAA state dual wrestling tournament. The event’s blind draw meant what played out like a championship-type matchup was contested in the first round.

“I had some people, some refs, come up to me after and say that should be the state finals match,” Blackmon said. “It just goes to show us that one match could’ve gone the other way and we could’ve been sitting in the state finals.”

Greenback has bounced back from that 36-33 loss and is in position to grab third in a few moments, the bare minimum first-year coach Bryant Blackmon said he would accept last night.

Assistant coach Justin Ridge, who took the Cherokees to the semifinals last year in Clarksville before being derailed by Hixson, echoed that same sentiment. Ridge, who stepped down to focus on his duties as head football coach, saw his team fail to win a single consolation match after losing to the Wildcats last year.

He said he’d make sure Greenback found itself into the consolation championship this time around. The ‘Kees kept their coach’s word by defeating Montgomery Central, the same team that ended their tournament in the consolation rounds last year.

FRANKLIN — Both Maryville and Greenback seem comfortably bound for the second round of consolations here inside the mammoth Williamson County Expo Center.

And what a place it is. Ten mats on the arena floor make for plenty of space and lots of simultaneous action during the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s state dual wrestling tournament. Last night, Rebels coach Mark Humphrey told me moving the tournament from Clarksville High School was a good decision.

Wrestlers go at it in the TSSAA state dual wrestling tournament in Franklin

“There’s so much more space here,” Humphrey said. “In Clarksville we had to run from gym to gym. They got a lot of space. … The view is as good as Clarksville. I don’t think the seats are quite as good as Chattanooga just because they don’t go up very steep.
“It’s a little hard to see everything. There’s so much space. I’d say this arena is 100 yards long.”

That appears to be the general sentiment with the only complaints concerning some viewing angles. The sheer size of the arena makes it difficult to keep track of mats that aren’t adjacent. That will come into play more during the individual tournament, slated to start here in two weeks, which moved from UT-Chattanooga’s McKenzie Arena.

For now, this place has the feel of a wrestling festival.

Wrestling season is now officially over in Blount County, and Blake Ridenour finally has that state championship for Maryville. The senior dominated Chris Sinsheimer of Independence, taking him down early and often en route to an 8-0 major decision in the 152 pound final.
The win means the Rebels’ top wrestler went the entire season without allowing a takedown, Maryville coach Mark Humphrey said. Ridenour’s next challenge will be surgery after suffering that hernia early this week. As you’ll be able to read in Saturday’s recap, Ridenour won despite a couple injury issues that caused him breathing problems, a hernia being one. Humphrey said the senior told him “I feel like crap” after every round in Chattanooga.
Ridenour wasn’t feeling so bad tonight though. He is now the first Blount County champ since Everett’s Doug Overly in 1964 and Ron Wilson in 1961. (Hear Ridenour moments after his win)

Jacob Holley almost joined Ridenour on top of the podium, but a shoulder injury originally suffered at this tournament last year was his undoing. The William Blount senior said he has almost no cartilage or ligaments in his right shoulder now. When it popped out in the 125 pound final, he couldn’t recover.

Finally, Greenback goes home with three medals, two for third and a second place finish for Jeremy Miller. The Cherokees finish eighth overall and first among A/AA schools. 

Tennessee Wrestlers now enter an offseason which has become as important as ever. Ridenour announced Friday he’ll wrestle on a full ride at Carson Newman. For the area underclassmen, Humphrey said Ridenour showed them what it takes to be a state champ.

“Wrestle a lot,” Humphrey said.

CHATTANOOGA — Ridenour def. Sinsheimer, MD 8-0
Blake Ridenour wins Maryville’s first state wrestling title, 8-0.

Graham def. Miller, 3-2
Jeremy Miller loses a narrow 3-2 decision at 135 pounds, leaving Blake Ridenour as the only area shot for a state title.
The Greenback sophomore locks horns with Bradley Central’s David Graham for five minutes, keeping the match scoreless. With 53 seconds to go, Miller gets caught and rolled over, registering a near fall before a quick reversal pulls him within one. Stuck on top of Graham, Miller can’t get the turn and loses the state championship by a point.

Lewis pins Holley, 0:34
Jacob Holley gets pinned 34 seconds into the 125 pound championship match. Soddy Daisy freshman Campbell Lewis takes down the William Blount senior for the state title, rolling Holley on his back 15 seconds into the match before getting the final pin.
Govs’ coach Matt Talley said Holley’s right shoulder popped out on impact, sinking his chances. Holley has dealt with shoulder problems all year, Talley said.

CHATTANOOGA — Three area wrestlers are set to compete for a state title here within the hour. Greenback’s Jared Browning and Jackie Miller already earned third place medals at 112 and 189 pounds earlier today.
The medal winners are just marching onto the floor at McKenzie Arena now. Finals are slated to start at 6 p.m. Jacob Holley from William Blount will lead off the local trio in the 125 pound title match. Greenback’s Jeremy Miller is next at 135 followed by Blake Ridenour at 152 when he attempts to become Maryville’s first ever wrestling state champion.
A win for Holley would be just as monumental. It would also be quite an accomplishment for first year Govs’ coach Matt Talley. The teacher at William Blount’s ninth grade academy fell into the position this year and now has a wrestler on the verge of a state title. After speaking to Talley, you can tell he’s passionate about wrestling having spent his youth on mats in West Knoxville. Yet nothing compares to what he said last night on the phone from Chattanooga. (Hear Talley)