A Fan's Guide to the Tennessee D2 State Tournament
Welcome to the Fan’s Guide for the Tennessee Division 2 State Tournament
So what is a Fan’s Guide?
The Fan’s Guide is a look at the tournament as a whole and each individual weight class … from a fan’s perspective. But it is not a prediction of who will win or who will make the podium. In fact, a Fan’s Guide is a little different. It is a look at a few individual pieces from each bracket … they include:
Favorite: the wrestler that enters the tournament as a section champ and has the best shot to claim the top step.
Contenders: a wrestler that finishes 1st or 2nd at sectionals has a decent chance to make the podium … one of the champs and both runners-up should be considered contenders.
Darkhorse: someone not on the radar that could make a run
Bracketbuster: a wrestler that finished 5th or 6th in their section, but could make a run for the podium.
Isn’t that kind of a prediction?
Yes and no. I do identify the favorite, but beyond that I have no idea of who will march through the bracket and claim a title (don’t get me wrong - I’ve watched a lot of wrestling this season so I have an idea of what will happen). I could give you an educated guess about a possible finals match and who will make the podium, but in the world of high school wrestling that is dangerous territory. Few wrestlers (if any) are unbeatable … but we do have past results and past accomplishments on which to make a guess or two. In reality, I am as much of a fan as any of you and like to talk wrestling. I hope each athlete goes out and performs to her ability and we, as fans, get an opportunity to watch some great wrestling.
Remember the sole purpose of the website, twitter, instagram, fan’s guides, pictures, etc. is to promote the sport in the Southeast. Have a great time this weekend, enjoy the wrestling, and best of luck to everyone competing.
NOTE: ALL INFORMATION BELOW IS ASSUMING THAT THE INFORMATION INPUTTED INTO TRACKWRESTLING EITHER BY THE EVENT DIRECTOR OR THE COACHES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON IS CORRECT.
Team Notes
The table below is a list of every qualifier by school, along with their place. So we could talk about a number of different teams, but in reality there are just a handful that have enough to really make a run for a team title. They are discussed below the table.
In most team races at the state tournament - the number of qualifiers is a huge separator of who is in the hunt and who is not … that’s not as much the case in Tennessee Division 2. Five teams bring 13 or more wrestlers, Lakeway Christian brings 12, and Brentwood Academy brings 10. At most state tournaments you don’t have nearly the number of qualifiers concentrated in just a few schools. So the measure of separation here is … State Champs and State Runners-up. Getting to the top step or making the finals will be huge in terms of points. Now don’t get me wrong … if Baylor can get their hammers on the top step and get podium points from their 3 wrestlers that finished 6th in the East then they will be hard to beat. But even if Baylor doesn’t get many points from those that finished 6th - it will be their hammers (the same for Father Ryan) that could push them to the top step. McCallie and Christian Brothers will look to put 12-13 on the podium - they may have fewer champs, but if they are going to win it will be through their depth (of course that’s just my opinion). MBA, Lakeway Christian, and others will be in the hunt, but would need some help if they are going to claim the team title this weekend.
106 lbs.
Favorite: Tanner Tran (Father Ryan) West 1st
Contenders:
Jaxon Lane (McCallie School) East 1st
Cash Waymire (Brentwood Academy) West 2nd
Triston Mouton (Baylor School) East 2nd
Darkhorse: Joseph Drewry (Christian Brothers) West 3rd
Bracketbuster: Colin Grone (Boyd Buchanan) East 5th
Thoughts: Tran was 2nd a year ago and has only lost this season to out of state competitors at Walsh Ironman (from what I could find). He has beaten Lane, Waymire, and Drewry and should be considered the favorite. Waymire is a returning placer and Lane is an 8th grade hammer … I don’t know if those two have met this year, but that’s a semi that could be important for McCallie in the team race.
113 lbs.
Favorite: Jacob Bond (Baylor School) East 1st
Contenders:
Nolan Hardeman (Boyd Buchanan) East 2nd
Aidan Hare (Father Ryan) West 1st
Axel Ritchie (McCallie School) East 3rd
Darkhorse: Luke Kibelbek (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 4th
Bracketbuster: JD Patton (Chattanooga Christian School) East 6th
Thoughts: Bond is a 2x State champion and after winning the east comes in as the favorite. I don’t know if he and Ritchie have crossed paths this year or not (it doesn’t look like it as Ritchie wrestled Mouton earlier), but that’s a match to keep an eye on … that said Ritchie lost to Hardeman in the East semis last week and now sits on the same side of the bracket with Bond. Hardeman and Kibelbek are in the mix on the top side along with West Champ Aidan Hare (Kibelbek beat Hare at Johnny Drennan earlier this year). JD Patton is also a returning State Placer at this weight and could get Hardeman in the quarters.
120 lbs.
Favorite: Joseph Calvin (Father Ryan) West 1st
Contenders:
Bo Dominguez (Brentwood Academy) West 2nd
Brody Connell (McCallie School) East 1st
Luke Johns (Montgomery Bell Academy) East 2nd
Darkhorse: Ignatius Smout (Christian Brothers) West 3rd
Bracketbuster: Braxton Castleman (Pope John Paul II) West 5th
Thoughts: Calvin is the returning State Champ at this weight and is the clear favorite to make it two in a row. Connell and Johns are both returning placers and this is a weight where McCallie could get some valuable points if Connell can make a run to the finals on the bottom side.
126 lbs.
Favorite: Brody Gobbell (Father Ryan) West 1st
Contenders:
William Phillips (Baylor School) East 1st
Cole Gumlick (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 2nd
Matt Bryant (Goodpasture) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Cainan Williams (McCallie School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Hudson Salvaggio (Christian Brothers) West 5th
Thoughts: Gobbell or Phillips? And let’s not forget about 3x State Placer Cole Gumlick. Phillips, who is the returning 106 lb. State Champ, beat Gumlick 3-1 in the East finals to push Gumlick to the top side of the bracket with Gobbell. Gobbell pinned Bryant for the West title … but this weight should come down to who wins between Gumlick and Gobbell and the winner getting Phillips. Could other things happen - absolutely, but that seems like the most probable path. Gobbell has beaten Phillips before so he is the favorite, but he must take care of business first before worrying about a rematch. In the team race - Salvaggio must get some wins (ideally making the podium) for Christian Brothers.
132 lbs.
Favorite: Spencer Reep (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 1st
Contenders:
Casen Roark (Father Ryan) West 1st
Dylan Villers (McCallie School) East 2nd
Wilson Jamison (Christian Brothers) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Chase Hart (Baylor School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Ian Strickland (Notre Dame) East 5th
Thoughts: Very good weight that is a bit top heavy with 2 returning State Champs in Roark and Reep. With Reep’s win over Roark at Johnny Drennan he is the favorite. Both should cruise to the finals, but there are other important things happening in the weight … especially returning Placer Chase Hart of Baylor, William Jamison of Christian Brothers, and Dylan Villers of McCallie … each of those teams could really use the 3rd place points.
138 lbs.
Favorite: Malachi Puckett (Baylor School) East 1st
Contenders:
Ethan Lampert (Father Ryan) West 1st
Cooper Ledbetter (McCallie School) East 2nd
Robert Hutton (Christian Brothers) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Michael Golczyrski (Montgomery Bell Academy) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Christian Miller (Chattanooga Christian School) East 5th
Thoughts: Puckett looks like the favorite, but Lampert is a returning State Placer. Lampert lost to Matthew Hart of Baylor when the two teams met earlier. Lampert pinned Ledbetter in the dual in early January and the two didn’t meet again in the state duals (Lampert wrestled Villers instead). Puckett has wrestled some outstanding competition, but hasn’t wrestled several wrestlers in the field so it is hard to say … Puckett did beat Ledbetter by tech fall to win the East.
144 lbs.
Favorite: Titus Norman (Baylor School) East 1st
Contenders:
Mason Butler (Christian Brothers) West 1st
Tyson Wolcott (Friendship Christian School) East 2nd
Andrew Connow (Pope John Paul II) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Carter Rowlett (Boyd Buchanan) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Kaden Dressel (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 5th
Thoughts: Seven wrestlers in the field have been on the podium, but none have claimed the top step yet … that will change this weekend. Titus Norman, the east champ, beat Mason Butler at State Duals and as a result is the favorite. Norman beat Rowlett 4-0 in the semis and Wolcott 4-1 in the finals to win the east … so the path isn’t easy for either Norman or Butler. Butler handled things in the West - beating Connow 10-0 in the finals. Keep an eye on the top side of this bracket.
150 lbs.
Favorite: Chancery Deane (Father Ryan) West 1st
Contenders:
Jerry Payne (Boyd Buchanan) East 1st
Findley Smout (Christian Brothers) West 2nd
William Emendorfer (Baylor School) East 2nd
Darkhorse: Braden Ryan (McCallie School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Hulices Gomez (Notre Dame) East 5th
Thoughts: Deane is the returning 145 lb. State Champion and is amongst the best in the SE at the weight. It would be a surprise to not see him pick up another title this weekend. Payne beat Emendorfer to win the East. Payne was second several years ago and has to be the favorite on the bottom side - although keep an eye on Smout. A solid run by Smout would be huge for Christian Brothers in the team race.
157 lbs.
Favorite: Hunter Sturgill (Baylor School) East 1st
Contenders:
Jackson Vonderharr (Pope John Paul II) West 1st
Austin Johnson (Boyd Buchanan) East 2nd
Griffin Davis (St. George`s) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Jackson Turner (Chattanooga Christian School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Cannon Voiles (McCallie School) East 4th
Thoughts: We don’t hand out state titles before the competition, but this is one weight where we could almost do that (and yes it is almost - everyone can be beat). Sturgill is a 2x State Champ and one of the best 157 lbers in the country. He is on another level - never seen him compete … watch him wrestle this weekend - he will be wrestling for a top D1 program in the future. The race is likely for 2nd and we look to West Champ Jackson Vonderharr and East Runner-up Austin Johnson (Boyd Buchanan) to battle it out up top.
165 lbs.
Favorite: Maximus Norman (Baylor School) East 1st
Contenders:
Sawyer Rutherford (Father Ryan) West 1st
James Cross (McCallie School) East 2nd
Taylor Wimsatt (Brentwood Academy) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Claiborne Tompkins (Montgomery Bell Academy) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Aidan Dooley (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 6th
Thoughts: Good weight that is headlined by nationally-ranked and 2x Tennessee State Champ Max Norman. Norman, like Sturgill, is on another level. This weight should be fun though with 4 returning State Placers all looking to knock Norman off. Sawyer Rutherford won the West and sits on the best position. Wimsatt gave him all he could handle, but now must beat Norman on the bottom side in order to get to the finals. Cross getting the win up top and making the finals (or coming back for 3rd) would be huge for McCallie in the team race.
175 lbs.
Favorite: Drake Bowers (Christian Brothers) West 1st
Contenders:
Kaiden Bates (Boyd Buchanan) East 1st
Brody Casto (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 2nd
Griffin Frankfather (Franklin Road Academy) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Grady Joyner (Baylor School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Catcher Miller (Memphis University School) West 5th
Thoughts: Very good weight that is headlined by returning 170 lb. State Champion Drake Bowers. Bowers is the defending champ and had 4 falls on his way to the title. But this weight is deep with some quality competition. Kaiden Bates is a 2x State Placer who beat Casto (runner-up last year at 160) in the East finals 6-5 (Casto had beaten him earlier). As a result, Casto will need to beat Bowers (and others) to get a rematch in the finals. Belville, Joyner, Frankfather, and Kyle are all returning medalists - making this a fun weight to watch. If Baylor wants the title - Joyner must wrestle well here.
190 lbs.
Favorite: Jay Eversole (Lakeway Christian Academy) East 1st
Contenders:
Erasmo Cortez (Christian Brothers) West 1st
Ja`Von McMahan (McCallie School) East 2nd
Luka Lemaota (Father Ryan) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Jadon Vintrov (Notre Dame) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Jonah Bumgarner (Chattanooga Christian School) East 5th
Thoughts: Eversole is a hammer and has been all over the podium in previous years … but never on the top step. He will look to change that this weekend. Eversole’s only losses this season have come to out of state competition and he is wrestling on another level at the moment. He is the clear favorite to climb to the top step. Cortez won the West with a 5-3 decision of Lemaota … both will be counted on to make deep runs if their teams are going to claim a title. Keep an eye on the top side with McMahan and Cortez as well as on Vintrov who’s only loss last weekend was to Eversole in the semis.
215 lbs.
Favorite: Ryder Smith (Chattanooga Christian School) East 1st
Contenders:
Jeremiah Rhames (Battle Ground Academy) West 1st
Cooper Gentle (McCallie School) East 2nd
Jack Branson (Christian Brothers) West 2nd
Darkhorse: James Davenport (Friendship Christian School) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Tanner Tapp (Ensworth) West 5th
Thoughts: Ryder Smith is the best 215 you have never heard of (unless of course you watch Tennessee D2 wrestling a bunch). Ryder was 2nd a year ago, but has been unstoppable this season … he is less on the SE and national radar because we don’t see him at many of the big events, but trust me that he is legit. Rhames, Branson, and Gentle are all in the hunt, but the clear favorite is Smith.
285 lbs.
Favorite: Carson Gentle (McCallie School) East 1st
Contenders:
Bobby Council (Franklin Road Academy) West 1st
Samuel Rose (Baylor School) East 2nd
Nate Fleming (Battle Ground Academy) West 2nd
Darkhorse: Luke Beemer (Montgomery Bell Academy) East 3rd
Bracketbuster: Tyre Brown (Chattanooga Christian School) East 5th
Thoughts: Solid weight that is headlined by region champs Carson Gentle and Bobby Council. Both are returning State Placers and both pinned their way to the region title last weekend. The two have not met this season (at least from what I can find) and that is something to watch if they cross paths in the finals on Saturday. We go with Gentle as the favorite … his only loss this season was to Jacob Levy of Georgia in the finals at McCallie. He has some solid wins and Sam Rose, also a returning placer, sits on the same side as Council.