The Blackman wrestling team’s return to the TSSAA State Duals didn’t go quite the way Coach Bray and company had hoped. Representing Region 5, Blackman entered the duals as region champs and looking to hand neighboring Williamson County’s Independence Eagles a 2nd loss. Blackman defeated Indy back in December at the Tullahoma duals but tonight, the Eagles got sweet revenge.
Independence is very well coached and their guys were certainly prepared and ready for battle. The match started at 152 pounds and right away the Blaze were in trouble. At 152, Blackman gave up a 1st period pin. Indy forfeited 160 to Landon Fowler and the score was tied 6-6. Senior Matthew Sells scored a 49 second pin for Blackman to give the Blaze a 12-6 lead. As it turns out, that would be the only Blackman lead of the night. Blackman lost the next three in a row before Jamil Hughes earned a minor decision at 285. After Jamil’s match, Blackman lost six straight to the Eagles before receiving a final mercy forfeit at 145.
Final Score Blackman 21 – Independence 51
The outcome was certainly disappointing for the fans and most definitely an embarrassment for the coaching staff. From the opening match, Blackman appeared uninspired and flat. Not counting two forfeits, Blackman wrestled 12 matches and lost 10 of them. Out of those 10, the Blaze were pinned 5 times and gave up bonus points in every match except 2.
There was very little sense of urgency and not quite enough disappointment from the wrestlers who lost their matches. Many of these young guys have not wrestled at the Ag Center before so maybe we can chalk it up to first-time jitters. Let’s hope so. The Blaze are back in action tomorrow morning against a very tough Mt. Juliet team. We guarantee that the Golden Bears will be hungry and looking for blood.
Blackman 21 – Independence 51
152: Hunter Miller (Independence) over Anthony Gomez (Blackman) Fall 1:07
160: Landon Fowler (Blackman) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
170: Matthew Sells (Blackman) over Dylan Gellinger (Independence) Fall 0:49
182: Tristen Mayfield (Independence) over Ryan Heath (Blackman) Fall 0:33
195: Ian Grau (Independence) over Spencer Layne (Blackman) Dec 3-1 3.00
220: Isaiah Demello (Independence) over Dylan Heath (Blackman) Fall 0:47
285: Jamil Hughes (Blackman) over Christopher Keller (Independence) Dec 8-2
106: Chase Bridgford (Independence) over Evan Smart (Blackman) Fall 1:11
113: Gavin Schoeberl (Independence) over Wiley Van Voorst (Blackman) Fall 0:45
120: Elijah Demello (Independence) over Liam Elam (Blackman) TF 16-0
126: Daniel Fowler (Independence) over Daniel Bradford (Blackman) Dec 8-6
132: Owen Schnedler (Independence) over Cole Lukens (Blackman) Fall 1:48
138: Brady Ingram (Independence) over Brooks Sacharczyk (Blackman) Maj 10-2
145: Jalen Brown (Blackman) over Unknown (Unattached)