Memphis, Tenn. | December 2025
Blackman Wrestling hit the road for its first travel test of the season, heading to Memphis for the prestigious Stewart Schay Black Horse Invitational — one of the longest-running and most respected early-season tournaments in the Southeast. Finishing 4th with 185.5 points, the Blaze trailed only Father Ryan (240), Nolensville (235.5), and Christian Brothers (212) in a 38-team field stacked with ranked squads from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Mississippi. Last season, Blackman left this same tournament in 11th place. This year was much improved and left no doubt: The Blaze are here to compete!
Day 1 — Tough Draws and Early Battles
The first day of competition at the Black Horse is always a grind. This early in the season, there is not a lot of data yet for seeding. Some of our wrestlers drew extremely tough brackets right out of the gate. in order to get to Day 2, you have to be tough, but sometimes you need a little luck as well. These Blackman wrestlers lost their very first match of the tournament – But as it turned out, they all lost to wrestlers who went on to place in the tournament.
- 120 – Ryker Gower → Lost to Cayden Clay (Evangelical Christian) (placed 6th)
- 132 – Conner Rose→ Lost to Matthew Graffagnini (Brother Martin) (placed 6th)
- 132 – Carter Hughes → Lost to Scott Cascio (Brother Martin) (placed 2nd)
- 144 – Luke Fisher → Lost to Quinn McDermott (Brother Martin) (placed 4th)
- 175 – Ethan Clark → Lost to Clifton McKinney (Walker) (placed 8th)
- 190 – Jerison Daniel → Lost to Kai Slater (Father Ryan) (placed 4th)
- 215 – Aiden Pascoe → Lost to Rex Forsythe (DeSoto Central) (placed 7th)
- 285 – Kyngston Russell → Lost to Deantowan Malone (Father Ryan) (placed 2nd)
That’s eight guys who took an L right out of the gate — and still battled hard in the consos (especially Carter Hughes and Aiden Pascoe, who both piled up bonus points on the backside). Very encouraging to see this team fighting hard and eager to battle back from adversity.
Champions Light the Way
126 — Andrew Workman (10-0)
Workman once again proved he’s one of the most reliable big-match wrestlers in Tennessee. He dominated his way to the finals, then kicked off the championship round with a huge statement win, securing his third straight Black Horse title. His victory set the tone for a torrent of momentum that spread through the lineup.
144 — Landon McLean (7-0)
If Workman lit the spark, Landon McLean poured gasoline on it. McLean was unstoppable from whistle to whistle, advancing to the finals with a string of tech falls and pins before mauling his Father Ryan opponent in the championship match. McLean looked every bit like one of the most dangerous wrestlers in the state and earned the team’s highest point total of the tournament.
Podium Power & Breakout Performers
150 — Eli Goodin (3rd Place)
Goodin bulldozed through the championship side with four straight wins — including a big major decision — before dropping a razor-close semifinal. He stormed back to pin his way to 3rd place, cementing himself as a legitimate title threat this season.
138 — Douglas Barksdale (5th Place)
Barksdale had one of the toughest brackets in the tournament and still clawed his way to 5th, stacking multiple major wins and a gritty finish in the medal rounds.
113 — Germaia Ewida (6th Place)
Ewida opened the tournament on fire with back-to-back tech falls and a major decision. He battled through a deep bracket to secure 6th place and valuable team points.
106 — Mason Davison (7th Place)
Davison delivered one of the toughest bounce-back performances of the entire tournament. After dropping a hard early match, the junior locked back in and stormed through the consolation bracket with four big pins, showcasing his athleticism, grit, and ability to make quick adjustments.
132 — Carter Hughes (7th Place)
Hughes may have been one of the biggest eye-openers of the entire tournament. After dropping the first bout, he went on an absolute tear, pinning four straight opponents and showcasing the toughness, explosiveness, and ceiling that the coaching staff has been excited about. His 7th-place run showed he’s ready to make noise this season.
157 — Abraham Nadeau (7th)
Nadeau’s weekend was one of the most demanding of any Blackman wrestler. He logged eight total matches, grinding through a bracket loaded with returning state qualifiers and highly ranked opponents from multiple states. Despite that, Nadeau kept pushing forward — stacking up major decisions, pins, and key consolation wins to secure a hard-earned 7th-place finish. His willingness to battle was a major boost to the team score and a testament to the kind of competitor he’s becoming.
157 — Peyton Pickens (8th)
Pickens also survived a gauntlet at 157 pounds, and his performance showed just how high his ceiling is. After early setbacks, Pickens found a new gear in the consolation rounds, ripping off multiple pins and tech-falls against tough opponents to break into the placement matches. His ability to rebound, adjust, and attack late in the tournament says a lot about his development — and his potential to make serious noise as the season goes on.
Depth, Grit & Growing Momentum
Even in weights without a medal finish, the Blaze showed toughness:
Trevor Steffy (165) had one of the toughest draws of the tournament. Though he didn’t place, his only losses came to the eventual champion Jonah Little from Houston and the 3rd-place finisher Ethan O`Malley (Paducah Tilghman). Steffy wrestled hard, scored team points, and showed why he’s considered one of the program’s most promising wrestlers. With his combination of strength, technique, and determination, Steffy is poised to make a big impact as the season progresses.
Kyngston Russell (285) also had a brutal draw, facing a top-tier Father Ryan hammer in the first round and a tough Clarksville opponent in the consies. Despite the results, Russell showed fight and physicality that will pay off later in the season.
Aiden Pascoe, Karson McCrary, Ethan Clark, and others contributed wins, bonus points, and toughness in deep brackets.
In a field full of powerhouse programs, tradition, and ranked teams across multiple states, Blackman didn’t just compete — they announced themselves. Two champions, nine total medalists, bonus points from multiple matches, and a roster showing toughness across nearly every weight class.
Coach Heathcott on the Weekend
“Black Horse is always the first real test of the year, and our boys responded. This was the toughest field we’ve seen here in years, and today served as a great measuring stick for us moving forward. The medal round was electric, with our guys stacking statement win after statement win — seven in a row. It was something special. Workman got us started with a big win to kick off the championship round and earn his third title in as many years, and the boys just kept it rolling. It was a lot of fun, and our parents and cheering section were the best as always. We’ll enjoy today, then get back to work. We have more to do, and I know they’re ready for it.”
We couldn’t be more proud of this team — from the wrestlers themselves to the coaches, parents, and supporters who made this weekend possible. Coaches Heathcott, Sean, Dane, Apland, and Cuen have invested countless hours of work — from tough practices to late-night travel prep and detailed match planning — to get our guys ready. On top of that, our parents turned out in full force, bringing healthy food, cheering loud, and doing everything they could to make sure the boys were taken care of all weekend. And a big shout-out to bus driver Richie Conner, who booked a comfortable hotel, kept us on schedule, and safely got us to and from Memphis. It takes a village — and Blackman’s showed up in full force.
What’s Next for the Blaze
Next up on the schedule: the Blaze compete in LaVergne vs Warren County & LaVergne on Tuesday, December 9. Then on to the Cleveland Duals for an overnight stay and Saturday dual tournament. Cleveland will host the following teams:
- Paducah Tilghman (KY)
- Thompson (AL)
- Woodland (GA)
- Carrollton (GA)
- Ringold (GA)
- Soddy Daisy (TN)
- Blackman (TN)
- Ravenwood (TN)
- Summit (TN)
From the athletes to the coaches to the parents who support every mile of the journey, Blackman Wrestling showed what this program is all about: hard work, toughness, and pride in the Blaze. If this weekend was the first test, the rest of the season is the opportunity. Onward. Upward. Go Blaze!
Want to see pictures from the event? Go HERE!