Briarcrest Christian (TN)

Head Coach: Anthony Degani (entering 4th season)

Staff: Alex Green, Maverick Rorie, Alan Bosworth, Harry Fogle, JP Miles

The Saints return a yound squad that should continue to develop as the season goes along. Aidan Hydrick returns after qualifying for the Division 2 State Tournament a year ago and should be a force up at 220 this season. How well the Saints do as a team will likely depend on the continued development of their core group which features a ton of sophomores. Noah Mansfield, Jase Setzer, and Daniel Worsham will look to make noise at the top of the lineup with Hydrick. Keep an eye on Junior Preston McCormick as well as sophomores Caleb Norman, Bryant Simpson, and Harmon Kelly throughout the middle of the lineup.

Briarcrest should be tough from the middle through the top of the lineup … the question is who will step in down low for the Saints. Keep an eye on freshmen Johnathan Morris (120), Kalvin Moua (126), Reece Saliba (132) as well as 8th grader Kohl Vargas (132). Luke Hydrick is certainly a freshman to watch and should push for a spot in the middle of the lineup as well as Cooper Sherrod up at 285. Tons of young faces … will be interesting to watch this team continue to develop over the course of the season.

“The 22-23 season will continue to build on the successes we’ve had the past few years. We lost some key contributors to the lineup, but have a good mix of talent returning and new wrestlers to fill in the gaps. With lots of young wrestlers in the room, expect to see an entirely different looking team from the beginning of the year to the postseason as they get more experience under their belt. We will be tested early and often. Looking forward to seeing who will step up and lead. The sky is the limit!”

— Coach Degani

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.

Hammond (SC)

Head Coach: Austin Hood (Assistant Coach 2012-13; Head Coach 2013-Present)

Staff: Aaron Pettry, Troy Riley, Gianmarco Price

Coach Hood has Hammond working very much “plug and play” … meaning they graduate some hammers (also lose two to transfer), but they have the depth for the next man up to step in and keep Hammond in the hunt. On paper this is a very young squad with the nucleus being primary underclassmen. Corbin Rabon returns after claiming a title as a 7th grader last year and he is joined by Champs Luke Martin and Sam DuBose. DuBose and Josh Priloueau are your “elder statesmen” and will be called on to lead the young Skyhawks.

Look for a trio of middle-school talent in Blaze Barnes, Sean McRae, and James Meacham to form the lineup down low around Rabon. Angeson Ladd, Aspen Brooks, and Jaden Kline will pair with Martin and Priloeau to secure the middle of the lineup (from 126/132-152). Alex Park and James Lay join DuBose from 152-170. The challenge for the Skyhawks is up top where some newcomers will have to step up from 182-285.

“We lost 5 starters to graduation and 2 transferred out of state after a 2nd place finish at SCISA Dual State. We return 3 State Champions in 8th grader Cobin Rabon, and multi time champs Sophomore Luke Martin and Senior Sam DuBose who missed all but 3 matches last season. We will have a lot of work to do with a young roster to produce at a championship level but we have an experienced and talented Sophomore and Freshman class. An exciting schedule taking us all over North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia before the State Tournament and National Preps.”

— Coach Hood

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.

Tullahoma (TN)

Head Coach: Sean Adkins

Staff: Jeff Lester, Cody Cleveland, Trevor Schmidt

The Wildcats finished just outside the 1A top 10 a season ago … but with the group they have returning they have a real shot to not only break into the top 10, but push for a spot in the top 5. They do graduate 4 State Qualifiers - Cole Moore, Cadan Avans, Brett Smith, and Zech Swiger - so having those behind them step up will play a huge role in how well Tullahoma does this season. The Cats return State Placers Jerzy Hendrix and Cody Agnell along with State Qualifiers Justin Frank, Beau Banks, Connor Avans, and Caleb Adkins.

Those six set a solid foundation and make the Wildcats tough from 132-182. Caiden Mears and Eric Barragan will also be key for the Cats in the middle. Chandler Kile, Nathan Jones, and DeCarlos Slaughter will be called on to take care of things at the top of the lineup. If the pieces around Hendrix and Agnell come together, this will be a tough team come February.

“Tullahoma has a lot of upperclassmen from 132 thru HWT and should be solid in that area. Jerzy Hendrix and Cody Agnell are returning medalists from last year and are looking to move up on the podium. Justin Frank is coming off a 32-win season as a freshman and has grown into the 106-weight class this year and should improve even more. If Tullahoma can get some production out of the 113-126 classes and get everyone healthy and keep them that way, it should be an exciting season.”

— Coach Adkins

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.