Christian Brothers (TN)

Head Coach: Derek Harrison (entering year 6 at CBHS)

Staff: Mike Letts, Ben Bowers, Brian Baucke, Daniel Baucke, Rudy Smout, Quinn Thomas

Always one of the top teams in Tennessee as well as the Southeast, Christian Brothers will look to some new faces in 2022-23 after graduating some hammers this past year. State Champs Aidan Bowers and Gervacio Gonzalez are both gone as well as Cameron Cavins, Timbrook Hodge, Luis Ramos, and Mario Robledo. Graduation really impacted the top of the Brothers lineup and it will be interesting to see who steps up - particularly up top - this season. State Placers Wills Bronson, Mason Butler and Alex Ropski lead the way. All three will be looking to claim an individual title in 2023. CB also return State Qualifiers Hudson Salvaggio, Drake Bowers, and Collin Tobin … all three will be hunting a spot on the podium this season as well. This is a fairly young squad and if Christian Brothers is going to be in the hunt for the top spot with Baylor and Father Ryan they will need some new faces to step up and make some noise.

Keep an eye on Erasmo Cortez, Jack Branson and Austin Williams. Especially Branson and Williams up top where Christian Brothers will need some help if they are going to be in the hunt. Down low Christian Brothers will welcome back Iggy Smout who missed last year due to injury as well as the addition of freshmen Wilson Jamison and Findley Smout. Keep an eye on Robert Hutton and Halton Donnelly as well. Bronson and Ropski are two seniors and they will lead the way - how high CB climbs could come down to how everyone comes together around them.

“This crew has been working extremely hard since last season and has been very consistent. Seven of them are returning state qualifiers. Overall, we are a very young team, which makes our future look very promising. Our expectations are the same as always: To compete for individual and team titles.”

— Coach Harrison

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Alcoa (TN)

Head Coach: Brian Gossett

Staff: Mo Harrison, JD Smither

Alcoa could return one of the top 285’s in the Southeast - multiple time State Champion Lance Williams. That said - Williams is a highly sought offensive lineman (has already committed to play D1 at Virginia Tech) and it doesn’t seem likely he will return to make a run at a 3rd title. Alcoa will likely instead turn to a solid group of sophomores, juniors and seniors in 2022-23. Charlie Sharpe, Owen McCall, Zach Hildebran, and Ryan Stephens should lead the way in the middle of the lineup (from 126-160). Up top the Tornadoes will look to Isaac Gomez, Aiden Witt, Samir Shereef, and Rhylin McCourt. Alcoa will likely have some new faces down low and that will be where they will need to make some signifiant progress. Keep an eye on freshman Kenny Harris who could make some noise at 195 this season. This team will look to continue to get better as they progress through 2022-23.

“Alcoa continues to try to rebuild after a difficult seasons in 2021. After seeing a small improvement in 2022, we are expecting to take another step forward in 2023.”

— Coach Gossett

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.

Alcoa (TN)

Head Coach: Brian Gossett

Staff: Mo Harrison, JD Smither

Emma Young qualified a year ago for Alcoa and returns looking to make a run at the top step at either 170 or 195. She is joined by Daniela Espinoza and Betsy Sanchez. As Coach Gossett says … The Tornadoes are recruiting to grow their girls program and hoping to add Espinoza and Sanchez as State Qualifiers in 2023.

“Alcoa is looking to get more individual state qualifiers in 2023. We want to continue to grow the girls program and are working toward having enough participation to compete in duals.”

— Coach Gossett

NOTE: All mentions of placers and qualifiers in the body are based on the 2021-22 season. If a wrestler placed higher or lower in a previous year it is not captured above.