The Olympic spirit was alive and well this past Saturday at Summit High School in Spring Hill, TN, as wrestlers from across the state battled for top honors at the TN USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco Roman State Championships. These disciplines, often contested after the traditional folkstyle season, provide a unique challenge and opportunity for athletes to hone different skill sets on the mat. Representing the strong tradition of the Blackman wrestling program, a contingent of talented individuals competed under the banner of RUCO Wrestling Club, showcasing their dedication and skill in both Freestyle and Greco Roman.

RUCO Wrestling Club operates as an extension of the Blackman Wrestling program during the spring season, allowing wrestlers from Blackman and surrounding areas to continue their training and competition in the Olympic styles. The program benefits from the guidance of a dedicated coaching staff, including Blackman High School coaches John Heathcott, Dane Peoples, and Clayton Apland. Their expertise is further bolstered by the involvement of Coach Justin Loudon, Christian Fawcett, and Sammy Shires, a former TSSAA State Champion and current wrestler at Cumberland University, providing invaluable mentorship and instruction to the athletes.

Blackman High School Head Wrestling Coach John Heathcott emphasized the importance of offseason competition, stating, "We set out this offseason to keep as many wrestlers as possible competing, and the freestyle and greco season is a fantastic tool for kids to force themselves to compete outside of their comfort zones. All the wrestlers that we had compete today have been in the practice room working hard, and most importantly, seeing the bigger picture and how the things we are doing now put us in a good position to succeed later. I'm a proud coach. These wrestlers did well today."

The hard work and dedication of the RUCO wrestlers were evident in their impressive performances throughout the tournament, with several athletes reaching the podium and demonstrating their prowess in these demanding styles.

In the younger divisions, Ryker Westenbarger battled tough competition in the 10u 56-59lbs Freestyle division, ultimately securing a well-earned 3rd place finish. Despite encountering tough opponents in the championship rounds, Ryker showed resilience and determination to earn his spot on the podium.

While Maddox Westenbarger did not place in the competitive 12u 86lbs Freestyle division, his participation and willingness to test himself against strong competition are valuable steps in his wrestling journey. He secured a win in the consolation bracket, demonstrating his fighting spirit. Maddox also competed in the 12u 86lbs Greco Roman division, gaining further experience in the nuances of the style.

Brody Goins showcased his tenacity in the 12u 78lbs Freestyle division. After an initial setback, Brody rallied with two consecutive victories, including a pin, to earn a hard-fought 2nd place. This silver medal is a testament to his ability to bounce back and compete at a high level.

Adding to the medal count in the 12u division was Issac Colson, who captured 3rd place in the 98lbs Freestyle category. Despite facing tough opponents in the championship rounds, Issac persevered to secure his podium finish, demonstrating his commitment to the sport.

In the Girls 12u 94lbs Freestyle division, Berlyn Gamlin also earned a 3rd place medal. Navigating a challenging bracket, Berlyn displayed her determination and skill to secure a spot amongst the top wrestlers in her division.

Moving into the 14u division, Gabe Denton wrestled his way to a 4th place finish in the 110lbs Freestyle category. After a quarterfinal loss, Gabe showed his grit by winning his consolation semifinal match via technical fall before ultimately finishing fourth in a competitive weight class. Blackman High School Assistant Coach Dane Peoples noted the potential of Gabe and brother Kael, saying, "Kael and Gabe are two fantastic kids. They're respectful and have no quit in them."

Aria Thephavong had a strong showing in the Girls 14u 85-95lbs Freestyle division, earning a 2nd place medal. Aria dominated her initial matches with two quick finishes before falling to a tough opponent in the championship final. Aria also competed in the Girls 12u 85-95lbs Greco Roman division, gaining valuable experience in the discipline.

A standout performance of the tournament came from McKenzie Grove in the Girls 14u 135-145lbs Freestyle division. McKenzie dominated her weight class, securing three consecutive victories by fall, culminating in a decisive pin in the championship final to claim the gold medal. Assistant Coach Dane Peoples was effusive in his praise, stating, "Kenzie is an absolute DAWG! There are some really big things in her future." Coach Heathcott also commented on the promising future of the younger wrestlers, saying, "Our k-8 club kids continue to make us proud. It's nice knowing that as we lose wrestlers on the high school level to graduation, we have some hammers waiting to backfill those spots and carry the program even farther forward. I can't understate how excited I am with these young wrestlers."

In the 16u division, Germaia Ewida proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the 113lbs Freestyle division. Germaia navigated a challenging bracket with two technical fall victories and a decision in the semifinals before securing the championship title with a hard-fought decision in the final. Germaia also demonstrated his skill in Greco Roman, earning another gold medal in the 16u 113lbs division with a fall in the semifinals and a decision in the final. "Germaia had himself a day," said Coach Heathcott of his 2025 106lb State Qualifer. "He's another one that has continued to work and compete this offseason. The streak of success he is on right now isn't by accident."

Eli Goodin also had a successful tournament in the 16u 150lbs Freestyle division, earning a 2nd place finish. Eli showcased his skills with a technical fall and a pin in his early matches before securing a decision in the semifinals. He then battled hard in the final to earn his silver medal. Eli mirrored this success in the 16u 150lbs Greco Roman division, also securing a 2nd place finish with a technical fall and a decision before falling in the final. Coach Heathcott spoke to Eli's competitive spirit, saying, "I know Eli didn't finish where he wanted. He will beat himself up over that. That is the type of competitor he is. When he came to us this past season, he was already a pretty tough kid, but he has managed to take the experience he got as a Freshman in the varsity line-up and use it to tweak some of his technique and outlook. It's only up from here for him." Assistant Coach Dane Peoples added, "Eli is fun to watch and coach. He's one of those kids that just finds a way to win. That is something that you just can't teach."

While Kael Denton did not place in the 16u 120lbs Freestyle division, he demonstrated his resilience with a victory in the consolation bracket, gaining valuable match experience.

Peyton Pickens earned a 3rd place medal in the highly competitive 16u 144lbs Freestyle division. After a strong start with a technical fall, Peyton battled through the consolation bracket with a technical fall and another decisive technical fall in the third-place match. Peyton also competed in the 16u 144lbs Greco Roman division, finishing in 4th place after securing a bye in the consolation semifinals. Assistant Coach Dane Peoples highlighted Peyton's progress, stating, "Peyton has come a long way this year. He keeps developing as a person and wrestler. When it comes together for him, he's going to be a menace."

In the Junior division, Landon McLean had an exceptional tournament in the 144lbs Freestyle division, ultimately capturing 3rd place. Landon secured two impressive victories by fall and a technical fall to reach the semifinals before battling back in the consolation bracket with another fall and a technical fall in the third-place match. Landon continued his stellar performance in the Junior 144lbs Greco Roman division, claiming the championship title with a technical fall and two falls, including a lightning-fast pin in the final. Coach Heathcott praised Landon's adaptability, saying, "Landon is comfortable in freestyle and greco. He had a slight setback in the freestyle semifinals, but he rebounded nicely and didn't lose another match the entire day, in either discipline. He's a pretty resilient wrestler with a great attitude and outlook."

Martin Rezkalla also earned a podium finish in the Junior 113lbs Freestyle division, taking 3rd place. Martin secured a quick pin in his quarterfinal match before battling through the consolation bracket to earn his bronze medal.

Douglas Barksdale wrestled his way to a 2nd place finish in the Junior 138lbs Freestyle division. Douglas demonstrated his dominance with two technical falls and a pin to reach the final, earning a well-deserved silver medal. Coach Heathcott sees a bright future for Doug, stating, "Doug has been jumping levels this offseason. That loss in the finals was his first of the offseason. He is starting to see things coming together for him. He should have a great senior season."

While William Baker, Silas Johns, and Adonijah Hicks did not place in the competitive Junior Freestyle divisions, their participation and dedication to the sport are commendable.

David Harrison battled hard in the Junior 215lbs Freestyle division, ultimately finishing in 4th place. After a quarterfinal loss, David secured a quick pin in the consolation semifinals before a hard-fought battle in the third-place match.

The achievements of the RUCO Wrestling Club at the TN USA Wrestling Freestyle and Greco Roman State Championships highlight the dedication of the athletes and the quality of coaching within the program. Under the guidance of the Blackman/RuCo coaches, these young wrestlers are not only achieving success on the mat but also developing valuable life skills through the discipline and challenges of wrestling. Their achievements are a testament to the strength of the Blackman Wrestling program and the bright future of wrestling in the region. Blackman Assistant Coach Clayton Apland said "All 19 wrestlers woke up this morning and made the decision to step on the mat and give 110%. As coaches, its a blessing to see these kids keep grinding in the offseason and get better. They're all trusting the process."

The Blackman wrestlers now set their sights on their next challenge: the NUWAY Bootlegger tournament in Gatlinburg, TN, from June 7th to 8th. This highly anticipated event will feature dual teams from across the nation in the 8u, 12u, 15u, and high school divisions. For the fourth consecutive year, the Blackman program will be sending a strong contingent to compete. Blackman will be entering a 15u team, comprised of its talented Blackman Middle School wrestlers, and a High School team, composed primarily of Blackman High School wrestlers along with a few wrestlers who have trained with the program over the years. The Bootlegger provides another valuable opportunity for these athletes to test their skills against a wider range of competition and further develop prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.