Tennessee 1A Fan's Guide
Never read one of our Fan’s Guides before? Here is what to know …
Favorite - that is the wrestler that I consider to be the favorite to win (it is my opinion … for everyone not on the favorite line - please go prove me wrong).
Contenders - are those wrestlers that could easily win the whole thing.
Darkhorse - A wrestler that finished 3rd or 4th in regionals/sectionals, but has demonstrated that they have the ability (and might have the best path) to make a run for spot high on the podium.
Best 1st round matchup - a match I would be watching.
NOTE: This is a Fan’s Guide … remember the purpose is to give the average person an idea of the upcoming state tournament. It is not a prediction, but I do attempt to give you my thoughts regarding how it might play out. Past is prologue … meaning that past results do inform, but only in a simple way in my opinion. Meaning if a wrestler placed a year ago that demonstrates to me that they were 1) competitive at the state tournament and 2) found a way to win a few matches. It doesn’t predict future success. Please keep that in mind as you read the Guide. I hope you enjoy.
How to Read the Bracket:
The top 4 from each of the 4 Regions or Sections make-up the bracket.
The Region or Section Champions are on the top line, line #8, line #9, and the last line of the bracket.
The #2 and #3 from the other side of the bracket are away from their Region Champ. In the bracket below - for example - Peyton Angell is the Region 2 champ … she is on the top line, that means the wrestler that finished 2nd in Region 2 (Mylee Goodwin) and the wrestler that finished 3rd in Region 2 (Lilly Hill) are on the bottom side of the bracket.
106
Favorite: Jojo Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain)
Contenders:
Carson Dupill (Greeneville)
Justin Muniz (Green Hill)
William Howard (Millington)
Darkhorse: Ezra Finstad (Gibbs)
Best 1st round Matchup: Cosmo O’Neal vs. Luke Carpenter
What to Expect: Uhorchuk beat Dupill at the state duals in what some considered to be an upset. Both are very talented and are the two best 106’s in the state (and amongst our top 5 in the SE). Muniz and Howard each won their regions and should be in the hunt for a spot on the podium. Aiden Wright sits in the same quarter as Muniz and that could be a very good quarterfinal match. Chris Lagorio was the runner-up in section 2 and could be tough to beat in the 3rd quarter of the bracket. Uhorchuk and Dupill are significantly better than the rest of the bracket … this is the best potential finals match in 1A. Both will be ranked nationally by this summer (if they aren’t already).
113
Favorite: Ethan Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain)
Contenders:
Porter Finstad (Gibbs)
Lucas Martin (Hillwood)
Leandre Dabney (Greeneville)
Nathan Simpson (Page)
Darkhorse: Taylor Turner (Harpeth)
Best 1st round Matchup: Evan Glass vs. Brody Parnell
What to Expect: Uhorchuk returns after taking 1st a year ago and 106. Porter Finstad was 2nd to Uhorchuk … the two sit on opposite ends of the bracket so a rematch of last year’s final seems likely. 113 is a deep weight, but it would be a surprise if we didn’t see the two meet again … I don’t believe they have met so far this year. Martin and Simpson are the other two section champs … Martin has wrestled very well this year and in beating both Ramos and Turner has set himself up in a very good position to make the semis. Simpson likely pulls a tough Ramos in the quarters … and Finstad may have to beat 2x State Placer Taylor Turner in the bottom quarter. Uhorchuk and Dabney didn’t wrestle at the state duals and that could be one to watch in the top quarter. Uhorchuk is slightly ahead of Finstad who is slightly ahead of a large pack that will look to take the top step.
120
Favorite: Caleb Uhorchuk (Signal Mountain)
Contenders:
Thomas Brown (Page)
Reese Levendusky (Montgomery Central)
Ryan King (Stone Memorial)
Marcus Smith (Gibbs)
Darkhorse: Drew Lewis (Soddy Daisy)
Best 1st round Matchup: Carter Sisco vs. Ellis Haney
What to Expect: On paper - Uhorchuk vs. Johnson is the first round match that stands out … but Johnson, a 2021 medalist, have up two falls in the sectional tournament last weekend. Meaning he gets 2x returning State Champ Caleb Uhorchuk first. Uhorchuk is the big favorite in the bracket … the bottom side will be fun to watch to see who can advance to meet him in the finals. Thomas Brown has had a very good season and looks the like the man to beat on the bottom side … although he could draw a tough Ryan King in the quarters. Reese Levendusky and Marcus Smith are the other two region champs. Drew Lewis sits in a good place in the bracket to make some noise. The battle for a spot on the podium will be fun to watch at 120.
126
Favorite: Andy Cable (Pigeon Forge)
Contenders:
Dylan Davenport (Sycamore)
Gregory Gomez (Martin Luther King)
Noah Shriner (Signal Mountain)
Colton Reid (Green Hill)
Darkhorse: Keegan Seaver (Fairview)
Best 1st round Matchup: Hunter Bankes vs. Caleb Adkins
What to Expect: Really good weight that Is headlined by returning State Champ Andy Cable of Pigeon Forge. Cable won a tough Section 2 tournament, but pulls one of the toughest #2’s in the tournament in 3x State Placer Gregory Gomez. Dylan Davenport won Section 4, but could pull a very good Noah Shriner (also a returning medalist) in the quarters. Keep an eye on Colton Reid as well as Keegan Seaver. This weight leans Cable, but in reality there are at least 5 wrestlers that have the ability to claim the top step.
132
Favorite: Zander Hutson (Hixson)
Contenders:
Wemawamungu Moktani (Munford)
Sam Hutchison (Knoxville Halls)
Grant Hawkinson (Page)
Cody Agnell (Tullahoma)
Darkhorse: Hunter Gentry (Pigeon Forge)
Best 1st round Matchup: Cody Agnell vs. Hunter Gentry
What to Expect: You could make a case for any of the section champs being the favorite heading in to the weekend. Moktani is a returning medalist and each of the others Hutson, Hutchinson, and Hawkinson have had very good seasons and won good section tournaments last weekend. There is no overwhelming favorite - so the wrestler that comes in with the momentum and wrestles the best will likely walk out with the title. Hutchinson’s quarter might be the toughest and is certainly the one I would be watching. Hutson is the favorite … mostly because he looks like he has the easiest path to the semis/finals, but wouldn’t argue against someone saying Moktani, Hutchinson, Hawkinson, or someone else is the favorite.
138
Favorite: Dalen Kimble (Sycamore)
Contenders:
Brody McLemore (Eagleville)
Perry Roller (Tennessee)
Wyatt Howard (Pigeon Forge)
Perrin Clark (East Ridge)
Darkhorse: Charles Dabney (Greeneville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Charles Dabney vs. Christian Perez, Jr.
What to Expect: Kimble vs. McLemore for the title … that is the expectation. Both have made the podium on more than one occasion and won their section a week ago. They also sit on opposite sides of the bracket. Keep an eye on a potential Clark vs. Roller quarter as well … it will be one to watch.
145
Favorite: Hunter Mason (Greeneville)
Contenders:
Luke London (Sycamore)
Cole Morse (Tullahoma)
Cole Jenkins (Signal Mountain)
Seth McCoy (Forrest)
Darkhorse: Blake Mitchell (Fairview)
Best 1st round Matchup: Seth McCoy vs. Blake Mitchell
What to Expect: Hunter Mason is the best wrestler in the state - David Harper and others might disagree - but Mason is nationally ranked and is easily the favorite to claim another state title in 2022. Luke London finished 2nd in 2021 to Mason at 138 and will need something unbelievable to claim the title over Mason this season. McCoy vs. Mitchell is a first round matchup of previous state placers … and as a result it is a match to keep an eye on. Cole Morse and Cole Jenkins are the other two section champs.
152
Favorite: Collin Dupill (Greeneville)
Contenders:
Thomas Magness (Harpeth)
Ethan Hylton (David Crockett)
Jackson Davis (Signal Mountain)
Jerzy Hendrix (Tullahoma)
Darkhorse: Wes Sexton (Knoxville Halls)
Best 1st round Matchup: Wes Sexton vs. Colin Gray
What to Expect: Virginia move-in Collin Dupill has been outstanding this season in the middle of the Greeneville lineup. He beat a good Ethan Hylton 17-6 in the Section 1 finals last weekend and is the clear favorite heading into this weekend. A potential Magness vs. Hylton quarterfinal might be the best in 1A … Josh Ward is another section runner-up to keep an eye on. Don’t be surprised to see Jerzy Hendrix make some noise on the top side.
160
Favorite: Logan Heckert (Sycamore)
Contenders:
Maclain Otting (East Hamilton)
Will Parcel (Page)
Josh Parton (Pigeon Forge)
Briar Whaley (Knoxville Halls)
Darkhorse: Dawson Jones (Sullivan East)
Best 1st round Matchup: Samuel Mast vs. Rance Horton
What to Expect: Both Logan Heckert and Josh Parton have climbed onto the top step in the past … Heckert did it last year at 132, Parton two years ago at that same weight. Carson Reep, Daniel White, and Dawson Jones have also made the podium … but have yet to make the finals. Heckert is the returning champ and as a result is the favorite, but he has three other section champs (as well as the names listed) previously to deal with as he looks to take home another title. Page’s Will Parcel is perfect this season and East Hamilton’s Maclain Otting beat Parton last weekend and comes in with just one loss (to Parton a few weeks back). Heckert has the toughest road of anyone … he gets Reep first and then a probably meeting with Parton before the semis.
170
Favorite: Kodiak Cannedy (Greeneville)
Contenders:
Jake Stacey (Green Hill)
Marco Pukl (Fairview)
Michael Fetterolf (Seymour)
Kyle Watts (White House Heritage)
Darkhorse: Dylan Pratt (Eagleville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Dylan Pratt vs. Lucas Kendall
What to Expect: Kodiak Cannedy is a 3x State Champ and is headed to Little Rock in the fall. He is nationally-ranked and has is the heavy favorite heading into the weekend to claim his 4th title. That said - he does share the top side with Jake Stacey of Green Hill who won the section 3 title and has put together an oustanding sophomore season and returning medalist Cooper Edwards. Marco Pukl and Kyle Watts along with Section 2 Champ Michael Fetterolf should battle it out on the bottom side of the bracket. Keep an eye on Dylan Pratt - he could surprise a few people.
182
Favorite: Kendrick Curtis (Fairview)
Contenders:
Kobe Smith (Red Bank)
Aiden Littles (Pigeon Forge)
Nathan Downey (Green Hill)
Mason Dockery (Gibbs)
Darkhorse: Kylar Chadwick (Polk County)
Best 1st round Matchup: Kylar Chadwick vs. Jermyah Davis
What to Expect: 2x State Placer and last year’s runner-up at this weight - Kendrick Curtis - the heavy favorite to take home the 182 lb. title this weekend. He hasn’t faced any of the other section champs in the bracket so that will be something to pay attention to as we get to Friday. Curtis has seen some of the best competition around the state and that should bode well for his run at a title. Keep an eye on the other section champs - Mason Dockery, Kobe Smith, and Nathan Downey, as well as Kylar Chadwick of Polk County.
195
Favorite: Rob Atwood (Trousdale County)
Contenders:
Gabe Ferrell (David Crockett)
Elijah Hubbs (Gibbs)
Tony Ray (Bolton)
Aiden Howard (Pigeon Forge)
Darkhorse: Matthew Garber (Eagleville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Matthew Garber vs. Elijah Hubbs
What to Expect: Atwood is the only returning placer in the bracket and as a result he comes in as the favorite. In reality - that’s not the only reason - he has wrestled very well this season and only has one loss in state vs. Austin Cooley of McMinn County. He has wins over Connor Millhorn, Kendrick Curtis, and others. He is the favorite, but watch the field … including Section Champs Gabe Ferrell, Aiden Howard, and Tony Ray. The first round matchup of Hubbs vs. Garber will be one to watch.
220
Favorite: Jacob Clevenger (Fairview)
Contenders:
Caleb Wolfe (Pigeon Forge)
Zach Chrisman (Greeneville)
Landon Brooks (Gibbs)
Donevin Darnell (Eagleville)
Darkhorse: Jerry Campbell of East Nashville
Best 1st round Matchup: Jerry Campbell vs. Landon Brooks
What to Expect: Exceptionally good weight class that is headlined by State Runners-up Caleb Wolfe and Jacob Clevenger. The top two dogs are on opposite sides of the bracket and a final between the two should be outstanding - but … both will need to take care of a tough bracket before setting up a showdown. Clevenger’s only loss this season came to D2 State champ Gabe Fisher in early January. Wolfe’s only losses have come to the wrestlers that finished just behind Fisher o nthe D2 podium … Garriques and Gentle. Zac Chrisman and Donevin Darnell are the other two sectional champs, but aren’t the only other “pitfalls” in the bracket. Keep an eye on Mason Booth and Landon Brooks as well as Jerry Campbell who could surprise a bunch of people. The weight is stacked with 6 former medalists … so kick back and enjoy this one.
285
Favorite: Lance Williams (Alcoa)
Contenders:
Kaymon Overton (East Nashville)
Landon Moore (Hixson)
Zech Swiger (Tullahoma)
Seth Vaughn (Fulton)
Darkhorse: Dylan Jackson (Pigeon Forge)
Best 1st round Matchup: Evan Dixon vs. Jalen Wright
What to Expect: We get to see the return of Lance Williams of Alcoa. Williams, the 2020 State Champ, missed last season but has returned with a vengeance and has to be one of the top 285’s in the state. Kaymon Overton has finished 3rd and 6th in previous trips and will look to punch through to the top step in 2022. Williams is the favorite especially after downing Moore of Hixson in last weekend’s Section 2 Finals. Moore vs. Overton is a great potential quarter to watch.