Gatlinburg, TN – The spirit of competition burned bright this past weekend, June 7th and 8th, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, where the NUWAY Nationals Bootleggers tournament drew over 1200 wrestlers from 24 states and 90 teams across nine divisions. Amidst this vast and challenging field, 35 dedicated Blackman wrestlers showcased their prowess, leaving an indelible mark of success.

Blackman's contingent participated in both individual and dual tournaments, with some athletes excelling in both. Their collective performance underscored the strength and depth of the Blackman wrestling program.

Blackman Wrestling Club Coach Troy Steffy reflected on the team's impressive performance: "When we sat down following this past season to gameplan what we wanted to accomplish during this offseason, this is what we envisioned. Keeping our HS guys together and competing with one another and keeping our club kids competing as much as possible. It's been better than we thought it would be at this point."

Individual Tournament Triumphs: Champions Crowned!

The individual tournament saw several Blackman wrestlers rise to the top, bringing home prestigious titles and high placements.

Leading the charge as Folkstyle Champions were:

• Nadya Flores (Girls 12U, 150lbs)

• Ava Westenbarger (Girls 12U, 90-100lbs)

• Jericho Shearon (10U, 97lbs)

In an impressive display of versatility, Carter Hughes (15U, 135lbs) also claimed a Freestyle Championship, adding to his 3rd place finish in Folkstyle.

Blackman's strong showing continued with numerous medalists securing second and third-place finishes:

Second Place Finishers (Folkstyle):

• Dixie Beasley (Girls 10U, 60-68lbs)

• Kenzie Grove (Girls 15U, 135lbs)

• Maddox Westenbarger (10U, 87lbs)

Third Place Finishers (Folkstyle):

• Trinity Beasley (Girls 12U, 120lbs)

• Zain Beasley (12U, 150lbs)

• Maurice Chatman (12U, 95lbs)

• Houston Rettig (HS, 220lbs)

• Thomas Solomon (HS, 167lbs)

Third Place Finishers (Freestyle):

• Houston Rettig (HS, 220lbs)

The team also saw admirable fourth-place finishes from Gabriel Denton (12U, 100lbs Folkstyle), Kyrie Ewing (6U, 43lbs Folkstyle), Ryker Westenbarger (10U, 55lbs Folkstyle), Rhett Morris (10U 90lbs), and Thomas Solomon (HS, 167lbs Freestyle), further solidifying Blackman's competitive presence across multiple age groups and styles.

Dual Tournament Grit: Team Blackman Fights Hard

Blackman's wrestling talent also shone in the dual tournaments, with both the 15U and HS divisions displaying immense heart and determination against tough opposition.

The 15U Blackman team demonstrated their fighting spirit with notable wins, including a dominant 49-15 victory over Project Destiny and a close 25-24 win against C2X Academy. Individual standouts in the 15U duals included Trevor Steffy with an impressive 5-1 record, and Gunner Kenny posting an solid 4-2 record. Jericho Shearon, wrestling up from 10U, handling himself amazingly with a 3-3 record.

In the HS Duals, Blackman delivered powerful performances, securing significant victories such as a 46-20 win over Project Destiny, a resounding 52-11 triumph against Next Level, and a commanding 50-19 over the Copperheads. Several Blackman wrestlers demonstrated exceptional individual records, including Doug Barksdale and Houston Rettig, both going undefeated with 5-0 records, and Thomas Solomon boasting a strong 5-1 performance. Yamil Rashid of Stewarts Creek also contributed a perfect 4-0 record while wrestling with Blackman. Trevor Steffy and Station Camp's Brodie Jaeckel both posted impressive 3-3 records.

Blackman High School Head Coach John Heathcott praised the team's unity: "We can't ask for much more than what we are getting from the team right now. You can see them all coming together as a group, supporting one another, and building a culture that is going to take us a long way. The foundation for something special is being poured." He also highlighted the positive impact of the younger talent: "I enjoy being able to work with the younger wrestlers. There are some really talented young wrestlers coming through the club right now and as a high school coach, it is really exciting to know that when we lose a wrestler to graduation that we will have wrestlers coming up to backfill those spots. The more time I get to spend with them, the more exciting it becomes."

Blackman Talent Across the Board

Beyond their primary teams, several Blackman wrestlers competed in various dual divisions for other teams, showcasing their versatility and contributing to broader successes. Notable records included Jericho Shearon with an outstanding 6-0, Brody Goins (4-2), Nadya Flores (4-2), Maddox Westenbarger (4-1), Aria Thephavong (3-1), Ali Bryant (3-1), and Ryley Correll (4-2).

The NUWAY Nationals Bootleggers tournament provided an incredible stage for Blackman wrestlers to test their skills against some of the best young talent from across the country. Their numerous individual medals and strong team showings are a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the robust coaching within the Blackman wrestling community.

Coach Steffy added, "The club has passed some very successful wrestlers up to their respective High Schools the last few years, and they were almost all recognizable names. This offseason, some new names are wrestling themselves into a bit of notoriety. We will surprise some people that aren't paying attention."