CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Montgomery County has a pair of high schools competing in the 2022 TSSAA State Dual Wrestling Championship: Both the boys and girls wrestling programs for the Clarksville Wildcats are set to compete this weekend, joined by the girls wrestling team for Rossview High.
Clarksville Girls
The Wildcats girls team is going into the championship with a 10-2 record on the year, with both losses coming from the Rossview Hawks.
Ella-Lina Gonzalez and Claire Mathews not only contributed to last year’s State Dual Invitational victory, but the two wrestlers helped secure runner-up at the State Individual Championships. In her individual career, Gonzalez became a state champion in 2021 and finished third in 2020. Mathews came in fifth place individually in 2021. While Mathews has been out due to injury, she has been cheering on teammates from the sidelines.
When asked what it means to have two wrestlers who can serve as leaders, Coach Sharrock Cobb said, “The two, as well as the team, distinctly know what it takes in this stage of competition. A point of emphasis this year has been getting back to the State Dual Wrestling Championship. Ella-Lina Gonzalez also showed leadership by giving her teammates goals throughout the course of the year.”
The girls of Clarksville High are set to face Cleveland in the opening round at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Rossview Girls
Looking at the other side of the bracket, the Rossview Hawks are scheduled to go against Tullahoma at 1 p.m. Saturday. Even though they are on separate ends of the four-team bracket, the Hawks and Wildcats could collide for a third time this season, which ultimately could decide the winner of the state tournament.
The Hawks are no stranger to winning championships in girls wrestling. The program has won the individual TSSAA State Championship three out of the last four years: in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In addition, the Hawks won the State Dual Invitational three out of the last four years it has taken place: in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Clarksville Boys
With a record of 26-8, the Clarksville boys team is looking to win their first championship since 2000. The last time the program even placed in the state was in 2009, when they placed 4th in the dual championship.
The boys wrestling team has greater odds stacked against them due to the number of teams in the bracket. The Wildcats are a part of an eight-team bracket that is scheduled to kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday. In addition to Clarksville High, the bracket is made up of Cleveland, Nolensville, Maryville, Dobyns Bennett, Summit, Bradley Central and Wilson Central. For their first matchup, CHS is set to take on Wilson Central.
What’s next
The matchups for the dual championship will take place at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin.