Clarksville, Tenn. | December 2025
Depth doesn’t announce itself with noise. It shows up when things are missing.
That was the case Saturday at the Rossview Lady Hawks Invitational, where the Blackman High School Women’s Wrestling Team, competing without several core starters, still turned in one of its most telling performances of the season. Against a deep field in Clarksville, Blackman put multiple wrestlers into championship bouts, stacked bonus-point wins, and reinforced why the program currently sits 5th in the Tennessee state rankings.
Even without Marian Saleb, Jersey Baker, Kylynn McLean, Ali Bryant, and Brooklyn Shacklett, the Lady Blaze wrestled like a team built for February.
Younan Sets the Tone at 100
At 100 pounds, Joy Younan delivered a tournament that looked every bit like a wrestler ranked 4th in the state. Younan stormed through her bracket with three straight falls, pinning opponents from Bradley Central, Oakland, and Heritage in a combined time under seven minutes.
Her run ended in the finals, but the message was clear: Younan’s pace and pressure are already championship-level. She finished 2nd overall, scoring 22 team points and setting the competitive tone for the rest of the lineup.
Patterson Dominates Heavyweight Bracket
If Younan provided momentum, Jonna Patterson provided force. The 2nd-ranked wrestler in the state at 185 pounds carved through her side of the bracket with three falls of her own, including a 44-second pin in the quarterfinals.
Patterson reached the finals in commanding fashion, finishing runner-up and matching Younan’s 22-point team contribution. Her performance was a reminder that Blackman’s strength doesn’t taper off as the weights climb — it intensifies.
Middle Weights Grind for Points
Blackman’s depth surfaced most clearly in the middle weights.
Payton Holzhei (120) fought through a rugged bracket to place 4th, collecting 13 team points and rebounding from a semifinal loss with a decisive consolation-round fall. Kinzley Johnson (145) opened her day with a pin and added critical points before being forced out, while wrestlers across the lineup battled through difficult draws to keep Blackman in the mix.
On the JV side, wins and falls by Maraki Teferi and Lun Hoih added valuable experience and reinforced the program’s long-term foundation.
What Comes Next Matters More
The most important takeaway from Saturday didn’t come from the podium — it came from the roster sheet.
Blackman competed without Ali Bryant, the state’s 3rd-ranked wrestler at 138 pounds, and several other key contributors. Those absences won’t last. When the Lady Blaze return from Christmas break, they expect to do so close to full strength, turning an already dangerous lineup into one of the deepest in Tennessee.
With three ranked individuals, a top-five state ranking, and a roster that proved it can compete under pressure and shorthanded, Blackman didn’t just survive the weekend in Clarksville.
They confirmed who they are — and hinted strongly at what the second half of the season could become.
GO BLAZE!!!
