Wrestling tournaments don’t get much tougher than the annual Johnny Drennan ’85 Memorial Tournament at Father Ryan High School. Fifty teams from around the Southeast find their way to Nashville and battle it out to see just where they stand. At this point in the season, the state tournament is in sight and coaches are looking to find their weak spots and begin solidifying lineups.
Blackman entered twelve wrestlers and ended up 7th overall with 4 medalists and one champion. Kentucky state champs Union County won the tournament with 276.5 points with Cleveland (232) and Bradley (210) in second and third.
Winning his third major tournament this season, 113 pound Justin Bradford was the lone champion for the Blaze. Bradford looked unstoppable as he plowed his way to the finals. He pinned his first three opponents and then handed Robert Pinter from Arkansas Catholic a major decision in the semi-finals. In the championship match, Magnus Kuokkanen from Waukesha West, Wisconsin had no answer for Bradford’s takedowns. Justin won the match comfortably 8-2.
Blackman had three third place finishers in Grant Myers, Mason Sells, and Bowdy Boyce. Anthony Gomez finished fourth losing a tough match in the consolation finals to Brezna from Cleveland.
Other notable performances were Julian Childress at 182 and Jaylan Hughes at 195 who both just barely missed the podium after losing in the blood round.
FINAL TEAM SCORES
| 1 | Union County (KY) | 276.5 |
| 2 | Cleveland | 232 |
| 3 | Bradley Central | 210 |
| 4 | Christian County (KY) | 199 |
| 5 | Father Ryan | 178.5 |
| 6 | Downers Grove South (IL) | 165.5 |
| 7 | Blackman | 156.5 |
| 8 | MBA | 149.5 |
| 9 | Brentwood | 128 |
| 10 | Clarksville | 120.5 |
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Blackman has a busy schedule and will be at the Bruin Invitational at Brentwood next week.
Go Blaze!