Franklin, TN – The Blackman High School wrestling team kicked off the TSSAA State Tournament with grit, determination, and standout performances on Day 1. Starting the day with five competitors, the Blaze saw two wrestlers punch their tickets to the finals, one gear up for a consolation run, and two wrap up their seasons with pride.
Finals Bound: McLean and Meeks Dominate
Junior Landon McLean at 144 pounds and senior Blaise Meeks at 190 pounds led the charge, securing their spots in tomorrow’s championship matches with impressive showings. McLean started strong in the Champion Round 1, earning a major decision over Dobyns Bennett’s Richard Watterson (18-7). He followed up with a technical fall victory against Nolensville’s Cruz Pryor (26-9) in the quarterfinals and capped his day with another major decision over Oakland’s Nathan Barbee (15-7) in the semifinals. McLean scored a whopping 59 points on the day reflecting his dominance as he heads into the finals.
Meeks was equally commanding at 190 pounds, racking up 21.0 team points. He opened with a technical fall over Page High School’s Wyatt Elder (18-2) in just 3:03, then mirrored that performance with another tech fall against Bartlett’s Jayden Ayala (18-2) in the quarterfinals. Meeks sealed his finals berth with a hard-fought 11-9 decision over West Creek’s Standford Thompson in the semifinals. Both wrestlers now stand one win away from state titles, showcasing Blackman’s strength in the upper weights.
Workman Keeps Fighting
Sophomore Andrew Workman (42-4) at 120 pounds battled through a rollercoaster day. He opened with a solid 11-4 decision over Houston High School’s Daniel Guerrero in the Champion Round 1, contributing 2.0 team points. However, in the quarterfinals, he faced a tough test against undefeated Chase Smalling of Science Hill (47-0), falling in a close 3-1 decision. Workman’s season continues tomorrow morning in the consolation bracket, where he’ll wrestle with a chance to fight his way to the third-place match.
Seasons End for Thephavong and Ewida
Senior Isaiah Thephavong (25-13) at 138 pounds and sophomore Germaia Ewida (34-14) at 106 pounds concluded their seasons today after hard-fought efforts. Thephavong dropped a 9-3 decision to Dobyns Bennett’s Derek Winseman in the Champion Round 1, followed by a 13-3 major decision loss to Independence’s Murk Romano in the consolation round. Ewida, meanwhile, fell 9-6 to Wilson Central’s Wyatt Nichols in his opening match and 4-3 to Rossview’s Aiden Cano in the consolation round. Both wrestlers showed heart and resilience, representing Blackman proudly in their final matches of the year.
Looking Ahead to Day 2
With McLean and Meeks set to compete for gold, Workman aiming for a podium finish, and the team’s spirit riding high, Blackman Wrestling has plenty to fight for on Day 2. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Blaze as they chase state tournament glory.
Stay tuned to the Blackman Wrestling website for updates and results from tomorrow’s action! Go Blaze!