Drew Workman gets a Pin in his Match vs Bradley Central

Murfreesboro, TN | January 2026

Blackman High School hosted the TSSAA Section Duals on Saturday, and the Blaze delivered a day filled with grit, high stakes, emotion, and top-level wrestling. In the opener, the Blackman Girls punched their ticket to the TSSAA State Duals for the second straight year, defeating Coffee County 39–27.

In the follow-up, the Blackman Boys left everything on the mat in a high-intensity battle with Bradley Central, ultimately dropping a razor-thin 40–35 dual that turned on only a few defining moments.

Girls Roll Past Coffee County – Back to the Big Stage

The Lady Blaze showed why they remain one of the top girls programs in Tennessee. Despite persistent injuries and giving up forfeits at multiple weights, Blackman controlled the matches they needed to, racking up pins and bonus points across the lineup.

Blackman’s Jonna Patterson Scores a Pin vs Coffee County.

Blackman girls won 7 of 12 contested bouts, using falls from Jonna Patterson, Joy Younan, and others to pull away and secure the win.

This win keeps the girls on track for another strong postseason run, building on their appearance at the TSSAA State Duals last year.

Boys Fall in a Thriller vs. Bradley — A Dual of Inches

The boys’ dual against Bradley Central was a classic grinder, with both teams splitting the 14 matches at 7 apiece. Blackman racked up several bonus-point wins, including technical falls by Landon McLean and Carter Hughes, a major decision by Connor Rose at 126, and pins from Andrew Workman at 120 and Douglas Barksdale at 138.

Doug Barksdale Looks for a Takedown vs Bradley’s Dylan Troyer.

Despite the even match wins, bonus points told the story: Blackman surrendered six 6-point falls, while Bradley gave up only three. That gap proved decisive in the 40-35 final score. Bradley opened strong with pins in the heavier weights starting at 175, and Blackman fought back in the middle and lighter classes.

Key Turning Point

After the 150-pound match, the score stood at Bradley 34, Blackman 29. From that point, the Blaze needed two decisions at 157 and 165 to flip the score and win the dual.

But Blackman had been forced into a tough lineup situation. The previous starter at 157 left the team earlier in the week, creating a gap in a critical spot. That sudden departure pushed sophomore Peyton Pickens into a high-pressure varsity role on almost no notice.

Peyton stepped in with zero hesitation. He wrestled hard, attacked, and was winning his match before getting caught in a tough position. His effort was a bright spot given the circumstances — and certainly a lesson was learned by all as he answered the call to fight for his team.

Had Blackman secured decisions at 157 and 165, the Blaze would have taken the dual. But once Bradley clinched the victory, they forfeited the final match, ending the night at 40–35.

Context and Outlook

Wrestling delivers the highest of highs and the lowest of lows — often on the same night. There’s no other sport quite like it. Every match is a test of heart, grit, and composure, and every athlete steps onto the mat alone but carries the weight of the entire team. That’s what makes the triumphs electric and the heartbreaks unforgettable.

Blackman Fans React to a Pin by Doug Barksdale

Bradley Central has a storied history of excellence in Tennessee wrestling, consistently ranking among the state’s top programs. Their in-county rival, Cleveland High School, has dominated the last decade with multiple consecutive state dual championships, pushing Bradley to maintain an elite standard year after year.

Since the TSSAA realigned regions in 2021, Blackman has been paired with these two powerhouses annually—creating the toughest path to the State Duals anywhere in Tennessee. Many observers point out that teams from other regions routinely qualify for state that Blackman could compete with, or even beat, on any given day.

Still, Blackman remains one of the state’s top-ranked programs, powered by standout athletes like:

Landon McLean — defending state runner-up at 144, having a dominant season
Andrew Workman — multiple-time state medalist at 120
Plus a deep, talented supporting lineup

Landon McLean on His Wat to a Tech Fall vs Bradley

The boys haven’t returned to the State Duals since 2020 due to the realignment and the brutal section pairing, but today’s performance showed that the upside is real. Minimizing bonus points in tight duals will be key going forward, and the team continues to improve in that area.

With continued focus on execution, mat awareness, and building experience in key spots, Blackman is positioned for a strong postseason and an even brighter future. The Blaze are tough, deep, and hungry.

Blackman Coaches react to Connor Rose Turning his Opponent

Looking Ahead

With the dual season wrapped up, the Blaze now turn their focus fully to the individual postseason. Blackman begins its championship run on February 7 at the Region 4 Tournament at Siegel High School, followed by hosting the Sub-State Sectionals on February 14. The season culminates at the TSSAA State Tournament on February 20–21 at the Williamson County Ag Center. The team is healthy, motivated, and wrestling its best when it matters most — and Blackman is poised to make noise in February.

Box Scores

Girls Dual

Blackman 39 – Coffee County 27

138: Ali Bryant (BHS-G) over (CCCH-G) (For.)
145: Aime Miller (CCCH-G) over Skye Hancock (BHS-G) (Fall 0:21)
152: Jianna Bare (CCCH-G) over Kinzley Johnson (BHS-G) (Fall 1:44)
165: Raianna Gault (CCCH-G) over (BHS-G) (For.)
185: Ellysia Jennings (CCCH-G) over (BHS-G) (For.)
235: Jonna Patterson (BHS-G) over Keyauna Hill (CCCH-G) (Fall 0:30)
100: Joy Younan (BHS-G) over Sophia Rodriguez (CCCH-G) (Fall 3:31)
107: Maraki Teferi (BHS-G) over (CCCH-G) (For.)
114: Marena Saleb (BHS-G) over (CCCH-G) (For.)
120: Jasmine Norris (CCCH-G) over Payton Holzhei (BHS-G) (Dec 6-4)
126: Marian Saleb (BHS-G) over (CCCH-G) (For.)
132: Brooklyn Shacklett (BHS-G) over Gabrielle Silva (CCCH-G) (Dec 7-4)

Boys Dual

Bradley Central 40 – Blackman 35

175: Ethan Voorhees (BCHS) over Ethan Clark (BHS) (Fall 4:36)
190: Wiley Suskawicz (BCHS) over Jerison Daniel (BHS) (Fall 1:21)
215: Trent Crisp (BCHS) over Aiden Pascoe (BHS) (Fall 0:35)
285: Dewantae Mcmillion (BCHS) over Kyngston Russell (BHS) (Fall 2:31)
106: Q Dyer (BCHS) over Mason Davison (BHS) (Fall 1:50)
113: Germaia Ewida (BHS) over Bryson Moats (BCHS) (Dec 4-3)
120: Andrew Workman (BHS) over Laxten Haynes (BCHS) (Fall 1:05)
126: Thomas Connor Rose (BHS) over Caleb Crisp (BCHS) (MD 10-0)
132: Carter Hughes (BHS) over Reagan Bowers (BCHS) (TF 15-0 2:51)
138: Douglas Barksdale (BHS) over Dylan Troyer (BCHS) (Fall 0:56)
144: Landon McLean (BHS) over Andy Owens (BCHS) (TF 18-3 4:06)
150: Brandon Harris (BCHS) over Eli Goodin (BHS) (MD 15-1)
157: Carter Hargis (BCHS) over Peyton Pickens (BHS) (Fall 3:35)
165: Trevor Steffy (BHS) over (BCHS) (For.)