Franklin, TN – February 2026
The Blackman Blaze will send five boys to the 2026 TSSAA State Wrestling Championships this weekend as the state’s top competitors converge on the Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin. With action beginning Friday at 9:00 a.m., each Blackman qualifier enters a challenging bracket filled with returning medalists, powerhouse programs, and familiar rivals. Here’s a look at how each wrestler’s path to the podium shapes up.
106 lbs – Germaia Ewida
Junior Germaia Ewida enters one of the toughest draws of the weekend after placing fourth in his sectional. His opening match comes against sectional champion Gabriel Nettleton of Arlington High School, a skilled and experienced competitor. It wont be an easy match. Ewida will need to come ready.
The bracket is topped by Q. Dyer of Bradley Central and anchored by Bryson Church of Dobyns-Bennett, both major contenders. A first-round win would send Ewida straight toward the semi-finals and a meeting with Dyer; a first-round loss could lead to a consolation rematch with Nettleton later in the tournament. Regardless of the route, Ewida will be tested early and often.
120 lbs – Andrew Workman
Junior Andrew Workman enters the bottom quadrant at 120 lbs. He joins Jose Cordero of Cleveland High School and Blaise Maci of Summit as the only returning medalists in the bracket.
Because both Cordero and Macy are in the top half, Workman’s path to the semifinals looks manageable. A likely final would be the second meeting with Cordero. While the first matchup this season went Cordero’s way, beating a strong opponent twice is very difficult—giving Workman a realistic chance to flip the result when it matters most.
138 lbs – Doug Barksdale
Senior Doug Barksdale takes the No. 4 seed at 138 lbs, opposite top seed Tristan Collier from Green Hill. The bottom side features No. 2 seed Drew Corbin of Collierville in a strong grouping.
Barksdale should be favored in his first match before a likely clash with Wyatt Rogers of Dobyns-Bennett, who won their last meeting by major decision at the Vandegriff Duals. Barksdale is capable of reversing that result with an aggressive pace. Even with a setback, his path to a medal remains promising, with potential consolation matches against Huck Damon of Warren County, Dylan Frazier of Oakland, or Ben Smith from Nolensville.
144 lbs – Landon McLean
Senior Landon McLean enters as the No. 1 seed at 144 lbs. A potential second-round matchup with Trapper Lippincott looms large—Lippincott beat McLean earlier this season following a tough loss by McLean at the Johnny Drennan tournament.
McLean appears to have regained momentum and focus in recent weeks. A win there could send him into a semifinal likely against Murk Romano of Independence, and a potential finals meeting with Derek Winesman of Dobyns-Bennett. McLean enters the event as a legitimate title threat.
150 lbs – Eli Goodin
Sophomore Eli Goodin sits in the middle of the bottom quadrant. He opens with Science Hill before facing James Sink from Kirkwood High School, whom he has beaten several times this year.
Goodin’s semifinal path would then likely run into Ryan Dietrich of Ravenwood or Brandon Harris of Bradley Central. Both are difficult matchups, but Gooden has shown the ability and composure necessary to earn a medal if he wrestles to his potential.
With five qualifiers spread across five weight classes, Blackman enters the weekend with a blend of youth, experience, and real podium potential. From Ewida’s baptism by fire at 106 to McLean and Workman’s title pursuits at 144 and 120, every Blaze wrestler carries both opportunity and challenge into Franklin. The margins will be thin, the brackets unforgiving, and every position earned the hard way—but this group has shown resilience all season. If they wrestle with confidence, composure, and the edge that defines Blackman wrestling, don’t be surprised to see orange and blue standing tall under the lights on Saturday night.
GO BLAZE!!