
Murfreesboro, TN -The Blackman wrestling team gave an impressive effort today in the TSSAA Section Duals, battling the 4th-ranked Bradley Central Bears. The winner of the match earned a spot in next weekend’s TSSAA State Duals, making the stakes as high as they come.
Despite a valiant team performance, Blackman fell short, losing the dual 35-39. The match was intensely competitive and remained undecided until the 12th bout, a testament to the growth and determination of the team. The result is an improvement from last season, where the Blaze only won 4 bouts in a 39-18 loss.
This marks the fifth consecutive year that Blackman and Bradley have met in this critical match, with Bradley prevailing each time. However, this year’s result was closer than ever, demonstrating Blackman’s continued improvement and resilience.
- 2021 – Blackman lost to Oakland
- 2022 – Bradley 40 – Blackman 34
- 2023 – Bradley 56 – Blackman 14
- 2024 – Bradley 39 – Blackman 18
- 2025 – Bradley 39 – Blackman 35

Although Blackman didn’t come out on top, losing 35-39, several athletes from Blackman had notable performances:
- Afraim Ewida at 165 lbs was one of Blackman’s highlights, securing a tough decision win against Hayden West with a score of 11-5, demonstrating his control and toughness on the mat.
- Blaise Meeks at 190 lbs was a force, quickly pinning Isaac Akins in just 0:34, establishing Blackman’s presence with a swift victory.
- Andrew Workman at 120 lbs dominated his match, winning by a technical fall against Caleb Crisp in a 16-0 score after only 2 minutes, showing his offensive prowess.
- Isaac Ortiz at 126 lbs didn’t waste any time, pinning Josh Wolfe in 1:11, adding to Blackman’s momentum.
- Douglas Barksdale at 132 lbs clinched a hard fought decision over Landon Goins, winning 12-9, which was a testament to his determination to win in a close match.

The TSSAA State Duals format has been reduced from 16 teams to just 8, making the path to qualification significantly tougher. Blackman competes in a challenging section that includes top-ranked Cleveland and perennial powerhouse Bradley Central, with only two teams advancing. This year, Cleveland and Bradley once again claimed the section’s state berths.
Cleveland shut out Region 4 runner-up Stewarts Creek 76-0 today in Cleveland. Blackman defeated Stewarts Creek in the Region 4 championship on Thursday, securing their position as the region champion.
Coach’s Corner
After the match, a disappointed Coach Heathcott praised his wrestlers for their incredible effort while taking ownership of the tough decisions that come with such a high-stakes match.
“Our boys brought everything we had looked for today,” Coach Heathcott said. “Bradley, a perennial top-2 team in the state, has dominated this matchup for a long time, and we were right there with them today. It was an electric match, and our kids absolutely brought their A-game.”
“As a coach, you always look for ways to give your team the best opportunity to win, and I should have managed some things better to help us. I owned that, and the the kids picked me up. They were something to see today. But let’s be clear Bradley beat us and they earned that trip to State Duals. We respect their effort.”
“Shoutout to seniors Blaise, Isaac, and Afraim for their big wins today and especially Afraim for revenging a major decision loss in a matchup earlier this year. We had a few of those similar type match swings today. Needed a couple more. The future is bright as you’ve seen a lot of young hammers grow today and over the last month or so. And now we shift our focus to individuals and the 14 guys who will go after their ultimate goal, we go back to work, together, as a team.”

The Blaze finish the dual season at 19-6. While the season ends here for the Blaze in duals competition, the team is showing a lot of heart, and improved grit, growth, and determination. Several standout performances today highlight the strength and potential of this program. Blackman Wrestling continues to build momentum and looks forward to individual competition in the weeks to come.
Next week at the TSSAA State Duals. it looks like the following teams will participate in AA. Dobbins Bennett, Halls, Cleveland, Bradley, Ravenwood, Summit, Collierville, and Houston. Blackman’s next competition will be the Region 4 Individual Tournament held on February 8th at Warren County HS.
Go Blaze!