Pigeon Forge Wins Second A-AA State Duals Title

Hixson Finishes Second After Falling 36-23 In Championship Match

Saturday, January 31, 2015
John Hunt

Hixson High School earned a runner-up finish in the Division I-A/AA State Duals tournament in Franklin Saturday evening, losing to a very strong Pigeon Forge squad, 36-23.
photo by Dennis Norwood

FRANKLIN – Pigeon Forge won the Class A-AA State Duals title for the second straight year as they beat the Hixson Wildcats in the final, 36-23.

Hixson had finished in third place the last four years and Wildcat coach Garrick Hall was happy to not finish there again, but he would have liked a better result than the runner-up finish.

The Tigers bolted to a 17-0 lead with a pin, a technical fall and two regular decisions in the first four matches.

Jonas Shackleford and Landon Goforth put the Wildcats on the board with back-to-back decisions at 145 and 152, but a major decision and a pin from Pigeon Forge stretched the lead to its biggest margin of 27-6 following the 170-pound match.

Hixson was able to win four of the last six matches, but the lead was simply too much to overcome.

“I never have to question the heart and desire of our kids, but Pigeon Forge was able to get the bonus points and we didn’t,” Hall said while the team awards were being distributed.

“It’s nice to finish second with such a young team, but I’m certainly not satisfied. Our goals never change and I’m never pleased with finishing as the runner-up, but it’s a lot better than finishing third. We have seven guys who have never been in a situation like this before and I hope they’ll learn from it,” Hall added.

Pigeon Forge coach Greg Foreman was like a kid in a candy store after his team had won its second straight state title and 38^th win in 42 matches.

“All 14 of those guys did the job tonight, but it went even better than I had planned. I keep telling them that if they wrestle to their capability, they’re going to win most of the time. Winning here is just a reward for all of their hard work,” he added.

Dylan Bargerstock and Jacob Newman were Hixson’s only winners by pin while Brody Gregory and Chris Nicholson joined Shackleford and Goforth as winners by regular decision.

Hixson is now 29-5 following Saturday night’s loss.

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

PIGEON FORGE 36, HIXSON 23

(Match began at 120 Pounds)

106 – Jacob Newman (Hix) pinned Dymond Smith, 2:54;

113 – Gavin Hutchins (PF) pinned Bruce Wilson, 1:06;

120 – Jacob Ruiter (PF) pinned Spencer Groves, 1:01;

126 – Elias Bond (PF) won by technical fall over Konnor Ziegler;

132 – Matthew Kieata (PF) dec.

Isaac Yates, 10-5;

138 – Gary Reagan (PF) dec. Cederick Harris, 5-1;

145 – Jonas Shackleford (Hix) dec. Seth Workman, 3-0;