Tennessee Girls 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.
Schedule
100
Favorite: Vivian Mariscal (John Overton)
Contenders:
Ava Teasley (Rossview)
Payton Agnell (Tullahoma)
Rylee Lent (Independence)
Alivia Ryan (Dobyns Bennett)
Darkhorse: Haylee Black (Dickson County)
Best 1st round Matchup: Rylee Lent vs. Lilly Black
What to Expect: Mariscal has wins over Lent, Teasley, Michalski and others … she won Region 3 and comes in unbeaten … as a result she is the favorite. Teasley, Lent, and Region 1 Champ Alivia Ryan share the bottom side … Lent has beaten Teasley this year, but we haven’t seen her against Hill or Ryan. Tullahoma’s Payton Agnell comes in as the Region 2 Champ and is another contender to keep an eye on … she has split with Shayanne Michaelski - who she could get in the quarters. If past is prologue then Mariscal should take the title - she has beaten many of the top contenders this season and can get it done by fall or decision.
107
Favorite: Ella-Lina Gonzalez (Clarksville)
Contenders:
Jenna Baines (Greeneville)
Grace Elliott (Siegel)
Laken Potter (Tullahoma)
Elinor Underwood (Seymour)
Darkhorse: Asliana Trudeau (Indepdence)
Best 1st round Matchup: Alice Reyes-Rivera vs. Elizabeth Griffin
What to Expect: Two returning State Champs in the bracket should make 107 the weight to watch this weekend in Franklin. Jenna Baines won the 112 lb. title a year ago and enters 25-1 after claiming the Region 1 Title. Baines’s only loss came to Aynsley Fink of Robbinsville (NC) in December. She has quality wins over Ogle, McNerney, and others, but she hasn’t wrestled many of the top contenders … so that is something to keep an eye on. Ella-Lina Gonzalez is the returning 103 lb. State Champ and she sits on the bottom side opposite Baines. She is a perfect 34-0 on the season with wins over Coker, Nations, and others. She, like Baines, hasn’t wrestled Elliott, Potter, etc. … so it will be interesting to see how those matches play out if we get them in the semis. Elliott is the Region Champ that shares the bottom with Gonzalez - she is also unbeaten this season at a perfect 19-0. Tullahoma’s Laken Potter is the Region 2 Champ shares to top side with Baines. This one should be fireworks.
114
Favorite: Emma Stewart (Clarksville)
Contenders:
Melanie Val (St Andrew’s Sewanee)
Mila Risner (Oakland)
Betsy Nations (Collierville)
Emily Mattison (Science Hill)
Darkhorse: Abigail Page (White House Heritage)
Best 1st round Matchup: Abigail Page vs. Allyson Colson
What to Expect: Interesting weight that features 2021 State Runner-up Betsy Nations of Collierville. Nations finished 2nd to Stewart in Region 4 and as a results sits on the top side of the bracket with Region 1 Champ Emily Mattison and Region 2 Champ Melanie Val. Val has a win over Nations much earlier this season (in early December). Stewart, in turn, has a win over Val in late December. In fact, Stewart comes in with just one loss on the season - but it is to the Region Champ that shares her side of the bracket in Mila Risner of Oakland) … keep in mind that Stewart also has wins over Risner as well, but it is important to note that a potential semi could pit wrestlers that have split matches earlier in the season. This weight is very competitive and should go to whoever is wrestling best this weekend … don’t sleep on Abigail Page up top.
120
Favorite: Annalynn Rakett (Clarksville Academy)
Contenders:
Roseanna Vaughn (Northwest)
Scout Holguin (Carter)
Jakyra Humes (Cleveland)
Jamilynn Burton (Oakland)
Darkhorse: Caila Weatherspoon (Clarksville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Caila Weatherspoon vs. Ansley Reed
What to Expect: Rakett and Vaughn headline this weight and most people expect we will see rematch this weekend in the finals. Vaughn beat Rakett last year to claim the 119 lb. title. Rakett has turned the tide this season - beating Vaughn at the MTWOA in December and then 3-2 in the Region 4 finals. The weight is deep with contenders including Region Champs Holguin, Humes, and Burton. Burton shares the same quarter with Vaughn … which is a tough draw. Humes will pull the winner of a very good 1st round match in Weatherspoon and Reed. One wrestler that could breakup the rematch is Scout Holguin who hasn’t lost to a Tennessee wrestler this year - only loss coming to South Carolina’s Isabella Hoffman. We expect to see a rematch, but both will need to focus on the next match before worrying about who they have in the finals.
126
Favorite: Verena Pate (St Andrew’s Sewanee)
Contenders:
Morgan Sacharczyk (Riverdale)
Gabriella Rincon (Bradley Central)
Kristen Allsup (Dickson County)
Angelina Slingluff (Seymour)
Darkhorse: Skyler Vogt (Gibbs)
Best 1st round Matchup: Skyler Vogt vs. Rylee Bennett
What to Expect: Interesting bracket … Pate is the highest returning placer and won the Region 2 title last weekend over Gabriella Rincon. Morgan Sacharczyk was 3rd last year at this weight and is a force after winning Region 3. Sacharczyk has wins over Pate, Emily Rice, Baylee Peterson, and others, but she does have a loss to Rincon who she could get in the quarters. Pate also has a loss to Kristen Allsup - the other Region Champ on her side of the bracket (but Allsuop has a loss to Rice who she could get in the quarters). And around we go. The Region Champs have to be the favorites after getting it done last weekend, but keep an eye on those quarters … this bracket leans to a Pate vs. Sacharczyk finals, but nothing is given and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone else in the finals.
132
Favorite: Haley Redmond (Gibbs)
Contenders:
Madisen Bryant (Clarksville Academy)
Olivia Hogan (Tullahoma)
Lilli Cobb (Clarksville)
Kaylen Thomas (Ravenwood)
Iliana Pate (St Andrew’s Sewanee)
Darkhorse: Kelsey Mize (Rossview)
Best 1st round Matchup: Kelsey Mize vs. Iliana Pate
What to Expect: Wide open weight class that features 6 returning State Placers including 2021 132 Runer-up Haley Redmond of Gibbs. Redmond won Section 1 last weekend and is the certain favorite … but it doesn’t look like she’s faced many of the other contenders in the bracket (that is something to keep an eye on). Redmond should get the winner of Mize vs. Pate in the quarters and could get the winner of Thomas vs. Cobb in the semis. That is not an easy path. Four of our returning medalists are on the bottom side with Region Champs Bryant and Hogan as well as Region Runners-up Kenlei Johnson and Erica Moore. This weight will not disappoint … be sure to catch the action early and don’t be surprised to see some close matches.
138
Favorite: Brooklyn Long (Independence)
Contenders:
Jaelyn Patton (Stone Memorial)
Morgan Cornelius (Greeneville)
Gabriela Wilkinson (Rossview)
Emma Stephenson (Summit)
Darkhorse: Aloura Nichols (Tullahoma)
Best 1st round Matchup: Aloura Nichols vs. Hailey Robinson
What to Expect: Returning State Placer Brookyln Long is unbeaten this season and won the Region 3 title over Mollie Bowman a week ago. Long hasn’t wrestled (from what I can tell) any of the contenders so that is something to keep an eye on. Patton and Cornelius share the bottom side of the bracket and have to be the favorites to make the semis opposite one another. Gabriela Wilkinson is the other Region Champ and shares the 2nd quarter of the bracket with Nichols, Robinson, and Lowe. Hailey Robinson is definitely one to keep an eye on.
145
Favorite: Maggie Graham (Bartlett)
Contenders:
Jailynn Tindall (Carter)
Bryce White (Cane Ridge)
Charlotte Barron (St Andrew’s Sewanee)
Darkhorse: Analise Jetter (Rossview)
Best 1st round Matchup: Analise Jetter vs. Brooklin Stansberry
What to Expect: If 107 isn’t the best weight to watch in Franklin this weekend … then 145 is. The top end talent is there with Graham, Tindall, and White, the depth is outstanding and the path to a title will be far from easy. The 4 Region Champs have a combined record of 90-3, 3 State Titles, and 2 Runner-up finishes. Graham is the favorite after claiming the 150 and 160 lb. titles the last two years and earning All American honors in Fargo this summer. Graham shares the top side with Region 2 Champ Charlotte Barron who comes in 20-1. Graham’s only loss this season came to Cleveland’s Piper Fowler … but of note she hasn’t wrestled Tindall, White or Barron this season (from what I can find). The bottom side is headlined by 2021 140 lb. State Champ Jailynn Tindall of Carter and 2x State Runner-up Bryce White of Cane Ridge. Tindall’s only loss this year also came to Fowler and White comes in unbeaten at 13-0. This weight is fantastic … be sure to catch the action.
152
Favorite: Piper Fowler (Cleveland)
Contenders:
Genesis Gilmore (Montgomery Central)
Alyssa Adamo (Rossview)
Brianna Cook (Union County)
Crystal Rollins (Rockvale)
Darkhorse: Mercedes Standards (Collierville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Mercedes Standards vs. Janiya Clemmons
What to Expect: Tennessee has seen their share of outstanding wrestlers over the years … that elite group now welcomes Piper Fowler into the fold. She is just a freshman and she has yet to win a title, but she has been absolutely dominant nationally over the last 12 months. She has been ranked #4 nationally at 144 lbs. and is just getting started. Fowler has also dominated inside the state, but it doesn’t look like she’s wrestled Genesis Gilmore. Gilmore is a 2x Placer and was 2nd in Fargo this past summer. She has also been ranked nationally (top 20) at 152 lbs. - so she isn’t going to let Fowler take anything … she will need to earn the title. It would be a surprise to not see those two in the finals. Adamo vs. Cook in the bottom quarter is one to watch and could give us an idea of how the rest of the podium will play out.
165
Favorite: Brette Spink (Northwest)
Contenders:
Chukwuedun Odeigah (Collierville)
Katie Harr (Gibbs)
Elaina Thibeault (Farragut)
Carlea Grissom (Riverdale)
Amiya Taylor-Hill (Tullahoma)
Darkhorse: Ella Talent (Jefferson County) or Crysalyn O’Connor (Montgomery Central)
Best 1st round Matchup: Crysalyn O’Connor vs. Amiya Taylor-Hill
What to Expect: Good deep weight that is headlined by 2x State Placer Brette Spink after she beat Odeigah in the Region 4 Finals last week. Spink shares the top side with 3 other returning medalists in Thibeault, Talent, and O’Connor as well as Region 2 Champ Amiya Taylor-Hill. Katie Harr was 6th a year ago and draws a tough Ogdeigah in the same quarter of the bracket. Keep an eye on Alexis Mize in the 3rd quarter of the bracket … she could certainly make some noise.
185
Favorite: Ella Murphey (Hardin Valley)
Contenders:
Isabel Petty (Tullahoma)
Katelynn McMillan (Rossview)
Ariyanna Anderson (Creek Wood)
Destiny Trotter (East Nashville)
Trinity Lynn (Gibbs)
Darkhorse: Norah Johnson (Collierville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Trinity Lynn vs. Norah Johnson
What to Expect: Murphey took the title a year ago as a freshman. She is nationally ranked and comes in unbeaten this season. She is definitely the favorite to claim another title in 2022. Murphey shares the top side with Region 4 Champ Katelynn McMillan of Rossview who beat 2x State Placer and 1x Champ Ariyanna Anderson on the Region 4 finals. The bottom side should be a battle between Region 3 Champ Destiny Trotter and 3 returning placers. Trotter shares the 3rd quarter of the bracket with Anderson … that’s a tough draw. The bottom quarter features Region 2 Champ and 2021 State Placer Isabel Petty and State Placer Trinity Lynn of Gibbs (Lynn lost to Murphey in the Region 1 finals). The big question at 185 is … can anyone slow down Murphey from taking another title?
235
Favorite: Valerie Smith (McGavock)
Contenders:
Shaniayha Wysinger (Clarksville)
Justina Nikolao (Rossview)
Diamond Young (Cleveland)
Emma Young (Alcoa)
Darkhorse: Emma Tucker (Collierville)
Best 1st round Matchup: Emma Tucker vs. Alyssa Anderson
What to Expect: We know we won’t see another final between Smith and Nikolao because they are on the same side of the bracket. Smith is a 2x Champ but took 2nd to Nikolao last year. Nikolao took 2nd to Shaniayha Wysinger of Clarksville in Region 4 and as a result we could get a rematch of the state finals in the top semi. Both will need to take care of business to make that happen though. Nikolao has Region 2 Champ Diamond Young in her quarter and Smith has returning State Placer Emma Tucker of Collierville in her quarter. Wysinger put herself in a great position by winning a tough Region 4 last weekend … as a result she sits away from Smith … she could get returning State Placer Gabriella Gray in the quarters and that is one she cannot overlook. Emma Young of Alcoa is the Region Champ in the bottom quarter of the bracket.