Baylor state champion Cole Hayes (in red) battles for control with Brandon Westerman (McEachern) in the 130 pound finals. Westerman, a three-time Ga. state champ, pinned Hayes in 4:49 for his second McCallie Invitational title.
photo by
Greg Davick
Add another first place trophy to the Baylor trophy case in the Luke Worsham Wrestling Arena.
Baylor has now captured the once illusive McCallie Invitational title to go along with trophies from past seasons at Knox. Catholic, Greenville, Last Man Standing, McEachern, Chattanooga Central (state's oldest traditional), and Scottsboro to name a few.
The Red Raiders of coach Jim Morgan had 10 wrestlers climb the medal stand late Saturday afternoon, including three champions, and scored the most points, 238, since Al Miller's Cleveland Blue Raiders posted a tournament record of 252.5 with five champions in the event's inaugural year of 1981.
"I am pleased with how we are wrestling after three weeks into the season,˜ said Morgan who will take the team to the Scottsboro (Ala.) Duals on Tuesday. "Each of our 14 guys won at least one match which says a lot about our depth."
Father Ryan placed second with 158 points (two champions), followed by Brentwood Academy (143), McCallie (139.50) and LaFayette (239) to complete the top five.
Six through 10 showed Pope (131), Northwest Whitfield (117.50), Wesleyan (113), Montgomery Bell Academy (102.50) and Walton (97.50). Defending champion Harrison finished 19th with 70 points and two runners-up in the 26-team field.
Baylor champions were Zach Watson (112), Alex Manley (119) and Chanse Hayes (145).
OW: 130 – In a battle of defending state champions, Brandon Westerman (McEachern) pinned Cole Hayes (Baylor) in 4:49 in the finals … Westerman is a three-time Ga. state champ.
Best Match: 135 finals - Father Ryan’s Cody Austell (No. 3 seed) defeated No.1 seed and defending champion Phil Holloway (Walton), 7-5, on a takedown in the first overtime period. Austell earned an escape at the end of regulation to tie the match at 5 to force the extra period.
Pins Award: 285-pounder Ryan Carrethers (Brentwood Academy) earned the award for most pins in the least time with four falls in 2:43. The four pins were in 1:00, :15, :25 and 1:03
Tourney Record: Carrethers’ cumulative time of 2:33 shatters the previous mark set by Derrick Laney (LFO) who had four pins in 6:24 in 2007.
State Finals Preview: Father Ryan’s Patrick Marchetti, who was a state champ at 140 last season in Division II, defeated D-II 151-pound champ Justin Cash (Brentwood Acad.), 4-2 They could meet in the D-II state finals in February.
Take A Bow: Jonathan Taylor (Red Bank) posted five impressive wins (four falls, one technical fall) on the way to the 140-pound title and took a well deserved bow at center mat after posting a 16-1 technical fall against Kenny Michael (Northwest Whitfield) in the title match. Taylor is recovering from an ankle injury and has practiced less than a week. The Lion junior was a McCallie finalist last year.
Red, White and Blue National Anthem: 2001 McCallie champion Patrick Simpson sang the national anthem prior to the finals. The West Point graduate won three state championships (2000-01-02) and is currently based at Fort Campbell, Ky. as a 1st Lt. in the U.S. Army. He has been to Iraq and will train at Fort Campbell for the next 18 months before his next assignment. His younger brother, Mark, was 2-2 in the tournament at 135 and reached the consolation quarters.
Harvard or Northwestern?: Jeff Olsen (Walton) has been accepted to Northwestern, but is waiting to hear from Harvard, his first choice. His brother, Andy, wrestles for The Crimson and he would like to team with his brother next season. Andy was a two-time Ga. state champ and won McCallie in 2005.
Senior Twins: Seniors Phil and Al Holloway of Walton wrestled. Phil was second at 135, while Al finished third at 145. Phil won the McCallie tournament in 2007 and a state title last February. Both are Greco-Roman All-Americans.
High GPA: 160 pound winner and MBA sophomore Daniel Todd carries a 4.7 GPA in honors courses.
Last Time: Prior to this year, Red Bank’s last champion – Eric Collins 1998. LFO’s last champion – Tommy Alexander, 1994.
No Losses: Baylor 9th grader Zach Watson (112) has not lost a varsity match in two seasons. Watson was 47-0 last season and is 11-0 this season. He wrestles in the Scottsboro Duals on Tuesday and the Collins Hill Duals on Saturday.
Double Wins: McCallie’s Kendall Ray pinned Austin Woods (Franklin), twice. Ray won in the quarters (3:59) and for third place (2:20).
Interested Spectator: UT-Chattanooga coach Chris Bono was on hand for the finals to observe possible recruits.
Several of the current Moc wrestlers medaled are past McCallie champs: Josh Condon (Harrison), Kelly Felix (Franklin), Carson Fields (Parkview), Matt Lettner (Soddy Daisy), Jason McCroskey (Soddy Daisy), Tyler Roberson (Soddy Daisy) and Cody Sliger (Ooltewah).
Repeat Performance: Several matches this weekend were repeat performances from earlier this season - here are two:
145 Finals: Chanse Hayes (Baylor) handed Zach Hopkins (Heritage) his first loss of the season, 7-6. Hopkins defeated Hayes, 4-2, in a dual match last Friday.
135: Matthew Stanfield (LaFayette) dec. Trey Stavrum (Baylor), 7-5, for third place. Stavrum defeated Stanfield, 11-6, last Friday.
Knocking Off Seeds: Unseeded Chris Agnew (Father Ryan) finished 6th at 145. Along the way he defeated No. 2 Al Holloway (Walton), No. 6 Dustin Fuqua (Ringgold) and No. 12 Michael Chapman (Peachtree Ridge). No. 10 Jonatan Rivera (Kennesaw) defeated Agnew, 6-1, for 5th.
Seeding: McCallie co-head coach used a seeding point system used by the state of Pennsylvania to seed wrestlers. The system includes results from various tournaments including, national (Fargo, etc.), state and McCallie.
No.1 seeds: Ten of the 14 No. 1 seeds reached the finals and four of those won a title.
Eight No. 2 seeds reached the finals and five of those won championships.
Perfect Seeding: At 189, the top five seeds finished in that order: (1) Jeff Olsen (Walton) 2. Ethan Blackstock (Alexander) 3. Sam Kuntz (Peachtree Ridge) 4. Max Jarrell (MBA) 5. David Helton (Baylor).
Jarrell defeated Helton, 9-8, in the quarters. Olsen tech falled Jarrell, 15-0, in the semis. Blackstock edged Kuntz, 4-2, in the semis. Olsen dec. Blackstock, 8-2, in the finals. Kuntz dec. Jarrell, 6-4, for third. Helton pinned Cole Watson (Wesleyan) for fifth.
Administration: Tournament director Luther Killian and his staff (table workers, hospitality, etc.) ran a near flawless tournament as the finals began 3:30 p.m. (on time). High praise came from several coaches on the event.
Quality Program: Graphic designer (Adam Smith), Trey Tucker (editor) and Jamey Smith (ad sales) produced a top-of-the-line tournament program which was given to fans with purchase of a tournament ticket. The program won national first place awards in 2003-04-05 from Wrestling USA magazine.
Team Standings:
1. Baylor (238) 2. Father Ryan (158) 3. Brentwood Academy (143) 4. McCallie (139.50) 5. LaFayette (139) 6. Pope (131) 7. Northwest Whitfield (117.50) 8. Wesleyan (113) 9. MBA (102.50) 10. Walton (97.50) 11. Peachtree Ridge (93) 12. Soddy Daisy (90.50) 13. Alexander (88) 14. Hillcrest (83.50) 15. Heritage (82) 16. Franklin (79) 17. Murray County (74.50) 18. Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (74) 19. Harrison (70) 20. Kennesaw (69) 21. Red Bank (62.50) 22. McEachern (52) 23. Ringgold (35) 24. Oakland 25) 25. East Ridge (12) 26. North Quinnett)
Championship Finals:
(seeds in parentheses)
103: (8) Chad Starnes (Alexander) pinned (3) Carlos Calloway (Brentwood Academy, :42.
112: (2) Zach Watson (Baylor) major dec. (5) Anthony Aponte (Hillcrest), 12-0
119: (1) *Alex Manley (Baylor) major dec. (3) Peter Mosher (Harrison), 11-3
125: (4) Ben Winiarczyk (Pope) pinned (2) K.J. Bell (Harrison), 3:23
130: (1) * Brandon Westerman (McEachern) pinned (3) Cole Hayes (Baylor), 4:40
135: (3) Cody Austell (Father Ryan) dec. (1) * Phil Holloway (Walton), 7-5 OT
140: (12) Jonathan Taylor (Red Bank) tech. fall (6) Kenny Michael (Northwest Whitfield), 16-1
145: (2) Chanse Hayes (Baylor) dec. (1) Zach Hopkins (Heritage), 7-4
152: (2) Patrick Marchetti (Father Ryan) dec. (1) Justin Cash (Brentwood Academy), 4-2
160: (3) Daniel Todd (MBA) dec. (1) Collin Genthert (Wesleyan), 8-2
171: (2) Matt Chapman (Peachtree Ridge) dec. (1) Michael Douglas (Wesleyan), 5-3
189: (1) * Jeff Olsen (Walton) dec. (2) Ethan Blackstock (Alexander), 8-2
215: (1) Derrick Laney (Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe) pinned (2) Taylor Brasher (Brentwood Academy), 1:30
285: (2) Ryan Carrethers (Brentwood Academy pinned (1) Chase Duke (Heritage), 1:03
* past McCallie champion
3rd Place:
103: (6) Cole Mosley (Ryan) major dec. (5) Chase Hale (LFO), 10-0
112: (9) Russell Royal (NWW) dec. (1) Preston McCalmon (LaF), 6-4
119: (4) Kendall Ray (McC) pinned (5) Austin Woods (Frank), 2:20
125: (1) Stuart Doster (Bay) dec. (5) Jake Gamble (SD), 2-1
130: (2) * Michael Hooker (McC) pinned (4) Chase Brannon (BA), 2:40
135: (2) Matthew Stanfield (LaF) dec. (6) Trey Stavrum (Bay), 7-5
140: (1) T.J. Duncan (McC) major dec. (10) Andrew Mallard (Pope), 14-4
145: (2) Al Holloway (Walton) pinned (4) Joe Franks (LaF), 1:53
152: (4) Chase Martino (McC) default win Jamarcus Mobley (RB)
160: (5) Alan Gigolaev (PR) dec. (2) Justin Gilbreath (LaF), 9-2
171: (3) Wes Wesley (Father Ryan) dec. (4) John Floyd (MBA), 2:30
189: (3) Sam Kuntz (PR) dec. (4) Max Jarrell (MBA), 6-4
215: (5) Andy Uria (Wes) pinned Charlie Farr (Pope), 2:53
285: (4) Tyler Watson (Bay) pinned (3) Jake McConathy (Murray), 1:51
5th Place:
103: (12) Hayden Nichols (Ringgold) dec. Josh Webb (Murray), 4-3
112: (6) Jonathan Herrera (Kenn) major dec. (7) Ryan Gardner (SD), 14-3
119: Brooks Spraetz (Wesleyan) dec. (2) * Dustin Gardner (SD), 2-1
125: (3) Brandon Wallin (LaF) dec. (12) Allen Logan (Kenn.) 4-2
130: (9) Dexter Bushart (Pope) tech. fall (7) Dustin Stewart (SD), 16-1
135: (4) Nathan Payne (Pope) dec. (12) David Lewis (NWW), 6-3
140: (3) Collin Horgan (Hillcrest) pinned (2) Derek Murdock (LaF), 4:10
145: (10) Jonatan Rivera (Kenn) dec. Chris Agnew (Father Ryan), 6-1
152: Sean Aghai (McE) pinned Tyler Ortiz (Frank), 1:52
160: (7) Dakatah Young (LFO) dec. (10) Garrett Henderson (NWW), 8-6
171: Mac Ferguson (Bay) pinned (11) Blake Swartz (Pope), 2:44
189: (5) David Helton (Baylor) pinned Cole Watson (Wesleyan), 3:37
215: John Mackay (Bay) pinned (4) Wes Younts (Hillcrest), :53
285: (9) Ryland Browner (MBA) pinned (8) Thomas O’Reilly (Pope), 2:04
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
Ben Winiarczyk of Pope earns some back points.
photo by
Greg Davick