The Williamson County Ag Expo Center bore witness to an unprecedented display of wrestling excellence as the Blackman Wrestling Club etched its name into the history books at the TNAAU State Championships. From the youngest Bantams to the seasoned Middle School wrestlers, and especially within the girls' divisions, Blackman athletes demonstrated their dedication, skill, and unwavering determination. Their collective efforts culminated in an array of remarkable achievements, including an Overall State Runner-up finish, multiple girls' division championships, and several club records.

A Season of Records:

This year's state tournament was a landmark event for the Blackman Wrestling Club, marked by a series of unprecedented accomplishments:

• Club Record State Champions: The club celebrated an astounding 8 Blackman wrestlers who won State Championships, a new club record, showcasing the depth of talent within the program.
• Record-Breaking State Qualifiers: An impressive 68 Blackman wrestlers qualified for the State Tournament, a testament to the club's widespread participation and success, setting a new club record.
• Unprecedented Team Points: The club amassed a staggering 685 Team Points, shattering previous records and surpassing the totals achieved during both Overall State Championship seasons. This remarkable feat underscores the club's dominance and consistent performance across all divisions.

Adding to the accolades, the Blackman Wrestling Club and its members received several prestigious awards:

• Matt Sells was awarded the 2025 TNAAU Volunteer of the Year Award, recognizing his invaluable contributions to the club's success.
• The Blackman Coaching staff was named 2025 TNAAU Region 3 Coaching Staff of the Year, highlighting their collective expertise and dedication to developing young athletes.
• Troy Steffy was named 2025 TNAAU Coach of the Year, a testament to his exceptional leadership and coaching abilities.

Girls Divisions Dominate:

The Blackman girls' divisions were a force to be reckoned with, securing three team titles. The club earned the titles of Girls K-2 State Runners-up, Girls 3-5 State Champions, and Girls 6-8 State Champions.

Leading the charge was Greighlyn Gamlin, who started the Blackman girls strong, taking first in the Girls (K-2) 58 division. Eleanor Hoose continued the winning streak, capturing the Girls (K-2) 65 championship. Nadya Flores, who finished an undefeated season, dominated the Girls (3rd-5th) 112 division. Kensley Reams took first in the Girls (3rd-5th) 135 division. Ava Westenbarger also took first, this time in the Girls (6th-8th) 73 division. Aria Thephavong took first in the Girls (6th-8th) 82 division.

Blackman's girls also demonstrated their depth with several impressive second and third-place finishes. Quinn Thomas, McKenzie Grove, Skye Hancock, Berlyn Gamlin, and Addison Borden all achieved podium finishes.

Blackman's girls also earned valuable team points with other strong placements. Dixie Beasley, Brooklyn Shacklett, Alaura Kenny, Juliette Flores Rubio, Layla McCoy, and Victoria Rubio all contributed to the teams success.

Middle School and Youth Division Achievements:

Blackman's Middle School division wrestlers delivered exceptional performances. Lincoln Fawcett clinched the MS 115 championship. Karson Mccrary and Carter Hughes earned third place finishes. Ava Westenbarger, Aiden Pascoe, and Joey Crismon earned fourth place finishes. Braden Morris, Kasen Hewitt, and Sam Cunningham earned fifth place finishes.

Leading the charge in the younger divisions was Walter Gillis, who captured the Bantam 40 championship. Jericho Shearon earned a second-place finish. Kyrie Ewing and Brody Goins earned fourth place finishes. Trenton Reams, Dawson Kamm, Rahji Barbosa, Joshua Hughey, Jaggar Franklin, Easton Goodin, and Jackson Wray all contributed to the teams points.

Coaches' Reflections and Future Outlook:

Coach Troy Steffy shared his thoughts on the team's performance, stating, "I think we had a really good weekend. We fell a little short of where we wanted to be with the team score, and we had some wrestlers unexpectedly withdraw from the tournament, which hurt us there, but we are very proud of our overall performance. Individually, I'm sure there are a few wrestlers that missed the podium who would like to have a few opportunities back, so hopefully they'll come back hungry next season."

He also highlighted the resilience of certain wrestlers, saying, "We had some wrestlers go out on their swords this weekend and I can't express how proud I am of them. Carter Hughes and Karson McCrary have been leaders for us every step of this season. They might have come up a little short of their ultimate goal by one match, but the example they've left for the returning wrestlers is amazing. And Kenzie Grove just showed that she will be the person to beat next season at whichever weight class she chooses. She lost in the finals by 1 point, but that is a loss that can give a ton of confidence and belief. She will be very dangerous next season."

Coach Austin Wells praised Lincoln Fawcett's performance, remarking, "Not a lot of folks knew about Lincoln Fawcett this season. He wasn't a name that was really on anyone's radar, but the manner that he won his semifinals and finals matches was hard to ignore - a thirty second pin the semifinals and a twenty second pin the finals. He works his butt of in the practice room. Everything is at 100% speed. You wrestle like you practice, and he practices like a very dangerous man."

Coach Dalton Cantrell spoke about the promising future of the graduating 8th-grade class: "This is a pretty tough 8th grade class that we are about to pass up to the Blackman High School team. From finishing 2nd in the TMSAA State Duals, winning the TMSAA Girls State Championship, and now finishing with the success they've had this weekend, I think many will have an immediate impact with the High School team. They've been a special group and it'll be fun seeing what they accomplish over the next four seasons."

Coach Cory Watson highlighted the girls' team's dominance and the impressive progress of first-year wrestlers: "There are a few things that really stick out for me. First, the girls team really handled their business. We finished first in two of the divisions, and second in the other. That's pretty impressive. The other thing that really sticks out is the number of first year wrestlers that earned their podium spots - kids that came to us in October with no prior wrestling experience. That really goes to show that if someone is willing to come into our room, willing to be coachable and to follow instructions, and is willing to work hard, the learning curve isn't quite a steep. It's been fun watching these kids see that light come on. We are proud of them."

Team Unity and Success:

The Blackman Wrestling Club's performance at the TNAAU State Championships showcased the depth and talent of their program across all age divisions and genders. The club's success, coupled with the prestigious awards, record-breaking achievements, and the promising futures of their athletes, is a testament to the hard work of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families involved. The future looks exceptionally bright for Blackman Wrestling.