For many wrestling spectators, day two of the TSSAA State Wrestling Tournament is always the most exciting day. The quarter-finals and the semi-finals are always stacked with great wrestlers and there is an incredible atmosphere of competition and urgency. Even better wrestling is sometimes found in the consolation matches In the blood rounds, it’s win and get a medal, or lose and go home. This makes for some intense and exciting competitions.
For individual competitors, Friday is the day where you are very likely to experience the extreme highs and the extreme lows that make wrestling so entertaining.
Blackman had seven wrestlers alive on Saturday morning who all hoped to stand on the podium. By Friday night, three of those had their dreams crushed and only four remained.
Blackman Senior Landon Fowler and Junior Brooks Sacharczyk won both their quarter-final and semi-final matches and both will wrestle in the Championship Finals on Saturday night. Having two finalists is an amazing accomplishment!!
Fowler made short work of his opponents first defeating Cooper Richards of Springfield by injury default and then finishing off Cade Meeks from East Hamilton in the first period by fall. He looks unstoppable. He will face undefeated Chase Diehl from Science Hill in Saturday’s championship match.
Sacharczyk survived an early scare with Clarksville’s Samual Smith in his quarter-final and overcame a five point deficit to win 9-5. (Smith is a very good wrestler and incredibly big and strong.) It was an excellent come back by Brooks. In the semi-final, Sacharczyk looked at ease while absolutely dismantling Jonah Albert of Franklin in a 15-2 major decision. Brooks will face Arlington’s Austin Antcliffe in the Saturday Champioinship match.
Blackman Junior Jalen Brown lost a hard-fought 7-2 semi-final match by decision to Beech’s Jeremiah Herron. Brown will wrestle Saturday morning in the placement matches to see where he will finish. Brown had a great first period but Herron slowed down his powerful offense. Brown will face John Overton’s Trenton McCrary on Saturday morning to see who will wrestle for third.
Junior Bowdy Boyce won three in a row in the consolation bracket. In the blood round, he defeated Brandon Elkins of Knoxville Halls by decision (9-5). Boyce will also wrestle Saturday morning to see where he will place. His first match will be Wilson Benefield from Cleveland.
Bowdy Boyce Takes Down Brandon Elkins from Knox Halls
Eliminated on Saturday were Alex Rose (who was one match away from placing), Evan Smart, and Anthony Gomez. All three of them wrestled very tough and had great tournaments. It’s tough to see young men fall short of their goals. For many on Blackman’s roster, this was their last weekend of wrestling competition ever. All the hard work and effort put in over the years will not be in vain. The lessons learned will last a lifetime.
In the girls division, Freshman Alyson Colson competed well but was eliminated in the second match by Siegel’s Kortney Brinkley. Alyson did extremely well for her first trip to state! She wrestled tough but experience matters. Looking forward to seeing her next season.
Blackman will finish the 2018-2019 season with FOUR state medalists! The last time Blackman had four state medalists was in 2014. (Ayinde Bakari, Josh Feuerbacher, Tyler Sells, & Austin Wells) (See a list of all Blackman State Medalists HERE)
Blackman still has a firm grasp of 5th place in the team race. (see scores below) It has been a good weekend of wrestling for the Blaze so far. Coach Bray and the Blaze need to finish strong on Saturday!!!
Saturday morning, the placement matches begin at 10am. Championship finals begin with the celebration of finalists at 4:15 pm. Get to Franklin and support the Blaze!!!
TEAM SCORES AFTER DAY 2
| 1 | Cleveland | 199.5 |
| 2 | Wilson Central | 148 |
| 3 | Science Hill | 126 |
| 4 | Bradley Central | 109.5 |
| 5 | Blackman | 104.5 |
| 6 | Arlington | 95.5 |
| 7 | Clarksville | 89.5 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 89 |
| 9 | Brentwood | 72 |
| 10 | Beech | 68 |
| 11 | Rossview | 66 |
| 12 | Dobyns Bennett | 65 |
| 13 | Lawrence Co. | 55 |
| 14 | Collierville | 53.5 |
| 15 | Franklin | 53 |
| 16 | Oakland | 52 |
| 17 | Walker Valley | 51 |
| 18 | Bartlett | 49 |
| 18 | Knoxville Halls | 49 |
| 20 | Houston | 45.5 |
| 21 | Centennial | 45 |
| 22 | Independence | 41.5 |
| 23 | Lebanon | 39.5 |
| 24 | Hardin Valley Academy | 36.5 |
| 25 | Stewarts Creek | 36 |