Blackman Wrestling Club Claims Resounding Victory at TNAAU Region 3 Championships, Winning 220 Matches and Building a Wrestling Powerhouse

Murfreesboro, TN – The Blackman Wrestling Club put on a dominant performance at the TNAAU Region 3 Championships held at Blackman High School this past weekend. With a remarkable showing across all age divisions, Blackman secured a commanding first-place finish in the team standings, qualified a large number of wrestlers for the state tournament, and achieved a stunning 220 total match wins throughout the competition. This success is not accidental, but the result of years of dedicated work and a thriving wrestling community.

The final team scores highlighted Blackman's overall strength:

1. Blackman Wrestling Club - 906.0
2. Wildcats Wrestling - 672.5
3. Nashville Catholic Wrestling - 453.5
4. Sumner Co Wrestling Club - 318.5

Blackman's 906 points were a testament to their depth and the consistent success of their wrestlers across all weight classes and age groups. They outpaced second-place Wildcats Wrestling (672.5) by a significant margin, with Nashville Catholic Wrestling (453.5) and Sumner Co Wrestling Club (318.5) rounding out the top four. The 220 match wins amassed by Blackman wrestlers further underscores their dominance and consistent performance throughout the tournament.

"We brought an army," commented Coach Troy Steffy. "Everyone says it's easy to win with as many kids as we brought, but it's not. If it was, everyone would have 96 kids at these tournaments. When I started coaching at Blackman, the idea of having 96 wrestlers competing this late in the season might've gotten you laughed out of the hospitality room. 6 years later and here we are, and it's taken a lot of work to get here. We are very proud of what we are building."

This impressive team victory, coupled with the numerous individual champions, state qualifiers, and the sheer volume of wins, underscores the dedication and hard work of the Blackman wrestlers, coaches, and families. "Everyone wrestled well today," said Coach Austin Wells. "We had a few very pleasant surprises today. I think we ended up winning around 67% of our matches, which is pretty solid considering the number of newer wrestlers we put on the mats. Every season the talking points become that we lost so much from the previous season, but every season we get the newer kids ready to compete and step in. It really is a next man up situation for us."

Coach Dalton Cantrell emphasized the community aspect of the club. "75% of our wrestlers will end up at Blackman Middle School and Blackman High School. Our club isn't exclusively for Blackman area kids and I believe we have kids from every middle school in the county, but the vast majority of our kids will feed directly into the Blackman system, which is great. Also, the participation we have is amazing. Our parents are committed to a process that isn't very fun for kids at times - practices are difficult, conditioning is hard, they get tired, they get sore. There are plenty of times where it would be easy to let them quit, but our community has bought in and realize the benefits of what we are doing. It's a great place to be in."

The club's success at the regional championships positions them as a leading contender heading into the TNAAU State Championship tournament, scheduled for March 1st-2nd at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center in Franklin, TN.

Championship Paths and Highlights:

• Sev Gillis (Bantam 40 lbs)
  • Defeated Blake Filarski (Wildcats Wrestling) by major decision, 13-0.
  • Defeated Blake Filarski (Wildcats Wrestling) again, this time by decision, 8-5, in a hard-fought championship match.
• Eleanor Hoose (Bantam 65 lbs)
  • Pinned Bennett Sullins (Sumner Co Wrestling Club) in the second round.
  • Pinned Finn Mcglone (Stars Wrestling Club) in the final round.
• Ivan Barrett (Midget 55 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Won by major decision, 11-1, over Conrad Lindsey (Joelton Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Edged out teammate Ryker Westenbarger with a 6-3 decision in an exciting all-Blackman final.
• Brody Goins (JR 80 lbs)
  • Pinned Jax Blissard (Blackman Wrestling Club) in the quarterfinals.
  • Won by tech fall, 15-0, over Corbin Quint (Blackman Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Secured a 9-3 decision over Charles Lowe (Wildcats Wrestling) in a dominant championship performance.
• Jericho Shearon (JR 90 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Addyson Fanguy (Stars Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Sam Strickland (Stars Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Liam Woodson (Wildcats Wrestling) to claim the championship title.
• Ava Westenbarger (MS 75 lbs)
  • Pinned Kolby Johnson (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) in the second round.
  • Pinned Christopher Mcglone (Stars Wrestling Club) in the final round.
• Aria Thephavong (MS 80 lbs)
  • Won by tech fall, 16-0, over Maximilian Taylor (Stewarts Creek Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Evan Popp (Wildcats Wrestling).
  • Finished her impressive run with a tech fall, 15-0, victory over Connor Gunnels (Big Red Wrestling Club).
• Gabriel Denton (MS 90 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Cruz Neeley (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned teammate Maurice Chatman in a thrilling all-Blackman final.
• Braden Morris (MS 95 lbs)
  • Won by tech fall, 17-0, over Amos Fontaine (Stars Wrestling Club) in the quarterfinals.
  • Won by tech fall, 15-0, over Christopher Wolfe (Wildcats Wrestling) in the semifinals.
  • Won by medical forfeit over Dominic Simpson (Big Red Wrestling Club).
• Roman Rodríguez (MS 105 lbs)  
  • Pinned Kason Forrest (Wildcats Wrestling) in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned John Morgan (Junior Rockets Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Dominated Deacon Martinez (Wildcats Wrestling) with a 16-0 tech fall in the championship match.
• Lincoln Fawcett (MS 115 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Kailex Blades (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Ben Lucas (Big Red Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Holden Lunceford (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) to secure the championship.
• Ryley Correll (MS 120 lbs)
  • Won by tech fall, 19-2, over Mirfayoz Mirkhaydarov (Wildcats Wrestling) in the quarterfinals.
  • Won by major decision, 15-1, over Landon Odom (Dawgs Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Parker Whitehouse (Junior Rockets Wrestling Club) in an exciting final.
• Carter Hughes (MS 125 lbs)
  • Pinned Justin Hyche (Sumner Co Wrestling Club) in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Abraham Bravo Gomar (Stewarts Creek Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Won by tech fall, 17-0, over Evan Tallman (Team Tallman) in the championship match.
• Kayden Wright (MS 135 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Gunner Perry (Dawgs Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Zain Beasley (Blackman Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Capped off a strong performance with a pin over Durham Anderson (Sumner Co Wrestling Club) to win the championship.
• Karson Mccrary (MS 145 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Logan Allen (Sumner Co Wrestling Club) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned Tucker Tallman (Team Tallman) to claim the championship.
• Kasen Hewitt (MS 171 lbs)
  • Pinned Lucas Mansell (Swarm Wrestling)
  • Won by tech fall, 17-2, over Brayden Gaspar (Junior Rockets Wrestling Club) in the championship match.
• Sam Cunningham (MS 189 lbs)
  • Pinned Kelton Jolley (Overton Co MSWC) in the quarterfinals.
  • Pinned Keith Pritchett (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) in the semifinals.
  • Pinned teammate Mason Childers in another all-Blackman final.
• Greighlyn Gamlin (Girls K-2 58 lbs)
  • Pinned Genesis Collins (Hawks Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Magnolia Provot (Overton Co MSWC) in the final round.
• Eleanor Hoose (Girls K-2 65 lbs)
  • Received a bye in the first two rounds.
• Dixie Beasley (Girls 3rd-5th 73 lbs)
  • Pinned Madelyn Boss (Blackman Wrestling Club).
  • Won by medical forfeit over Alaura Kenny (Blackman Wrestling Club).
• Berlyn Gamlin (Girls 3rd-5th 91 lbs)
  • Pinned Chloe Hodge (Wildcats Wrestling).
  • Pinned Marlene Weeks (Riverdale Warrior WC).
  • Pinned Baylor Rose Barnett (Wildcats Wrestling) in the final.
• Victoria Rubio (Girls 3rd-5th 100 lbs)
  • Pinned Adalyn Lawrence (Stars Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Adalyn Lawrence (Stars Wrestling Club) again to claim the championship.
• Nadya Flores (Girls 3rd-5th 112 lbs)
  • Pinned Willow Hill (Stewarts Creek Wrestling Club).
  • Won by decision, 14-9, over Reagan Alvey (Stars Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Rozalita Guzman (Hawks Wrestling Club) in her final match.
• Kensley Reams (Girls 3rd-5th 135 lbs)
  • Pinned Tennessee Kelley (Nashville Catholic Wrestling).
  • Won by decision, 5-4, over Tennessee Kelley (Nashville Catholic Wrestling).
• Ava Westenbarger (Girls 6th-8th 73 lbs)
  • Pinned Grace Parker (Stars Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Jenavieve Sprague (Hawks Wrestling Club) in the final round.
• Aria Thephavong (Girls 6th-8th 82 lbs)
  • Pinned Aubyn Collett (Joelton Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Aubyn Collett (Joelton Wrestling Club) again to win the championship.
• Evie Bryant (Girls 6th-8th 100 lbs)
  • Pinned Jenny Ramirez (Dawgs Wrestling Club).
  • Pinned Jenny Ramirez (Dawgs Wrestling Club) again in the final.
• Addison Borden (Girls 6th-8th 112 lbs)
  • Pinned Ruby Martinez (Dawgs Wrestling Club).
  • Won by medical forfeit over Makenzie Snyder (Stars Wrestling Club).
• Marena Saleb (Girls 6th-8th 118 lbs)
  • Won in sudden victory, 13-10, over Hannah Lawrence (Stars Wrestling Club).
  • Won by decision, 4-0, over Kaylyn Schiro (Wildcats Wrestling).
  • Pinned Avery Oldford (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) in the final.
• McKenzie Grove (Girls 6th-8th 125 lbs)
  • Won by tech fall, 17-2, over Bristol Barnett (Wildcats Wrestling).
  • Pinned Ember Wilborn (Overton Co MSWC).
  • Pinned teammate Juliette Flores Rubio in an all-Blackman final.
• Skye Hancock (Girls 6th-8th 160 lbs)
  • Pinned Paislee Dolan (Sumner Co Wrestling Club).
  • Won by medical forfeit over Paislee Dolan (Sumner Co Wrestling Club).

Top 4 Placements and Team Point Contributions:

In addition to the champions highlighted previously, several other Blackman wrestlers contributed valuable team points with their top 4 finishes:

• TOT Division: Joshua Persons (2nd, 21.0 points), Kyrie Ewing (3rd, 18.0 points), Dawson Kamm (2nd, 19.0 points), Trenton Reams (4th, 7.0 points), Logan Wahl (5.0 points), Stevphn Reams (4th, 5.0 points)
•  
• Bantam Division: Knox Costley (6.0 points)
• Midget Division: Ryker Westenbarger (2nd, 14.0 points), Dixie Beasley (6.0 points), Gabriel Westbrook (4.0 points), Rhett Morris (2.0 points), Rj Luckey (4th, 4.0 points), Ivan Colson (4th, 4.0 points)
•  
• JR Division: Joshua Hughey (3rd, 11.0 points), Matthew Leiby (3rd, 10.5 points), Gunnar Kenny (3rd, 17.5 points), Christopher Chandler (4th, 9.0 points), Jaggar Franklin (4th, 6.5 points), Jaxson Bray (3rd, 13.0 points), Easton Goodin (4th, 6.0 points), Rahji Barbosa (2nd, 17.0 points), Jackson Wray (3rd, 12.0 points), Adrian Rodriguez (4th, 7.0 points), Maddox Westenbarger (5.5 points), Derek Barksdale (6.0 points), Isaac Colson (2.0 points), Liam Benson (2.0 points), Corbin Quint (4th, 4.0 points)
•  
• MS Division: Jace Hawkins (2nd, 14.0 points), Maurice Chatman (3rd, 15.0 points), Noah Flores (2nd, 18.0 points), Slade Linton (2nd, 16.0 points), Brooks Morris (3rd, 16.5 points), Mason Childers (2nd, 18.0 points), Aiden Pascoe (2nd, 18.0 points), Joey Crismon (2nd, 4.0 points), Mason Lee-Woods (3rd, 7.0 points), Toby Anderson (4th, 14.0 points), Musa Steele (4th, 6.0 points), Zain Beasley (6.0 points), Clark Judah Vanderpool (2.5 points), Tristan Liddle (3.5 points), Bryce Aldridge (1.0 point), David Rose (4.0 points), Ryker Gower (3.0 points), Luis Flores Rubio (3.0 points)
• Girls (3rd-5th): Layla McCoy (2nd, 3.5 points), Alaura Kenny (2nd, 4.0 points), Quinn Thomas (2nd, 4.0 points), Danica Peoples-Wilson (3rd, 0.0 points), Madelyn Boss (3rd, 0.0 points)
• Girls (6th-8th): Juliette Flores Rubio (2nd, 11.0 points), Brooklyn Shacklett (2nd, 3.0 points)
•  

These wrestlers, along with the champions, demonstrated the depth and talent within the Blackman Wrestling Club, contributing to the team's overall success, 67 State Qualifiers, and setting the stage for a strong performance at the state championships.