McMinnville, TN | January 2026
Blackman Wrestling delivered a night to remember on Thursday at Warren County High School, battling through adversity, strategy, and high-level competition to claim the TSSAA Region 4 Dual Championship and keep its postseason goals firmly in sight.
Semifinal Thriller: Blackman vs. Warren County
Coming into the event, Blackman knew there were no guarantees in Region 4. The opening dual against host Warren County proved exactly why — a championship‑level battle that was intense, physical, and ultimately decided by the narrowest of margins.
Blackman struck first at 106 pounds, as Germaia Ewida set the tone with a dominant 15–3 major decision over Camdyn Odineal. Warren County answered at 113, but Mason Davison battled tough and prevented the Pioneers from getting the pin. The Blaze regained momentum when Andrew Workman picked up what would prove to be an important forfeit at 120. From there, the teams traded blows through the middle of the lineup.
Warren County earned key victories at 126 and 132, but Blackman responded in emphatic fashion. Douglas Barksdale ignited the Blaze with a lightning-fast pin in just 1:09 at 138, followed immediately by another fall from Landon McLean at 144 in 1:18. Eli Goodin kept the surge rolling with a 9–0 major decision at 150, giving Blackman a critical stretch of momentum.
The Pioneers clawed back with a close decision at 157 over Abraham Nadeau, which flipped the result from the previous meeting, but Blackman answered again when Peyton Pickens secured a pin at 165 in just 35 seconds, and Trevor Steffy followed with a gritty 3–0 decision at 175.
Facing a deficit late, Warren County did exactly what championship-caliber teams do. The Pioneers earned consecutive pins at 190, 215, and 285 pounds, tying the team score as the final heavyweight bout concluded.
At the end, when criteria were applied, Blackman emerged victorious on the tie-breaker, sealing one of the most dramatic dual wins of the season.
It is worth emphasizing the caliber of the opponent. A few years ago, Warren County defeated Blackman, and outside voices questioned the state of the Blaze program. That narrative overlooks the reality of Warren County wrestling. Under Coach Harris, Coach Matheny, and previously Coach Turner, the Pioneers have spent years developing youth talent and have built an extremely tough, disciplined, and talented program, fully deserving of recognition among Tennessee’s best. Coach Harris was gracious in defeat and displayed incredible sportsmanship.
Championship Dual: Blaze Dominate Stewarts Creek
In the Region 4 championship dual, Blackman faced Stewarts Creek, who had just edged Oakland 38–34 on the adjacent mat, clinching the win with a pin by Yamil Rashid over Landon Franklin in the final bout.
Any thought of a tight championship match was quickly erased.
Blackman stormed out of the gate and never looked back, rolling to a 60–12 victory that showcased depth, explosiveness, and domination across the lineup. The Blaze recorded falls at 106, 113, 126, 150, and 215, along with multiple technical falls and dominant decisions.
Highlights included:
- Mason Davison opening the dual with a 44-second pin at 106
- Germaia Ewida following with a fall at 113
- Doug Barksdale earning a decision over Landon Privette at 138
- Landon McLean earning an 18–0 technical fall at 144
- Eli Goodin pinning his opponent in just 45 seconds at 150
- Trevor Steffy adding a 17–0 technical fall at 165
From top to bottom, Blackman controlled every phase of the match, leaving no doubt about the Region 4 title.
Coaching, Planning, and Execution
While the individual performances were outstanding, the defining factor of the night was the preparation and execution orchestrated by Head Coach Heathcott.
Against Warren County, Blackman made several strategic lineup adjustments to ensure flexibility and maximize matchup options. The plan was clear, and it was executed to near perfection.
- Coach Heathcott orchestrated the overall strategy and worked behind the scenes, ensuring everything stayed on schedule and according to plan.
- Coach Sean and Coach Dane managed the corner, keeping wrestlers locked in and focused.
- Coach Apland and Coach Cuen managed the match details and score.
It was a complete team effort, both on and off the mat.
Following the championship, Coach Heathcott reflected on the night:
“Proud coach for sure. We won both matches and secured the Region title, which keeps us on track toward our goals. But we all know tonight wasn’t good enough if we want to reach those goals. Every one of our 14 guys has to do their part, and we all have things we need to improve. So it’s back to work as we prepare for one more opportunity to see if this team can make it to state. Time to find out.”
What’s Next
With the Region 4 championship secured, Blackman advances to the sectional dual as the No. 1 seed, set to host Bradley Central High School, the No. 2 seed from Region 3, on Saturday in Murfreesboro (if the Boro Snow Dome holds).
The winner will advance to the TSSAA State Dual Tournament. Bradley Central has stood in Blackman’s way in recent seasons, but with momentum, preparation, and belief on their side, the Blaze are ready for the next challenge.
*This is the 5th year in a row which Blackman has been TSSAA Region Dual Champions. The Blaze have won the event 10 of the past 11 years.
Region champions earned. Bigger goals still ahead.