CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Seven area high school wrestlers, four from Rossview and three from Clarksville High, competed in the state individual tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26.

Most stumbled over obstacles in their path, but in the end, three placed in the top six, bringing home some hardware to show for their hard work through an unusual and difficult season in the COVID era.

Devin Lozdoski competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Deago Buck competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Julian Beshear competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachariah Loreant competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High School Coach Tommy Badon in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Aidan Brenot competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Zachary Duessler competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Sammy Shires competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Seven local athletes competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Seven local athletes competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Seven local athletes competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Seven local athletes competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)
Seven local athletes competed in the state individual high school wrestling tournament at the Chattanooga Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Ryan Vinson)

For three of the seven, the early roadblocks were too much. Seniors Zachariah Loreant (126 lbs) and Julian Beshear (145 lbs), both from Rossview, saw their careers come to an end without wins in this tournament. Junior Deago Buck of Clarksville High (182 lbs) had a similar performance and now looks to bounce back next year.

Devin Lozdoski (CHS, 113 lbs) started strong with a victory by pin and forged ahead to his second match. After losing 7-5, he stepped into the consolation bracket, where his sophomore season came to an end following one more loss.

Three find a way

Sophomore Aidan Brenot (CHS, 152 lbs) proved to be the only area wrestler capable of clearing a path to the finals. His first match was a close 8-6 decision as he scored a takedown in overtime to win. The road seemed to become easier from there – Brenot pinned his second opponent before winning the semifinal 10-2.

Like the other CMCSS athletes, however, he eventually ran into his own obstruction – senior Jackson Hurst of Dobyns Bennett controlled the final bout, winning 10-5 and ending Clarksville’s hopes for a boys title this year.

The road for junior Zachary Duessler (RHS, 182 lbs) was perhaps the most grueling – despite leading for much of his opening match, Duessler was taken down in overtime, forcing him into the gauntlet of the consolation bracket. Undeterred, Duessler blazed his own path straight to the 3rd/4th place match with four wins including three consecutive pins.

However, in his sixth match of the day, he gave up the lead with nine seconds remaining. Fighting back at the end, Duessler was in the middle of executing the reversal that would have given him the victory when time was called, giving him a 4th place finish by a score of 5-4.

Junior Sammy Shires (RHS, 132 lbs) returned to the TSSAA tournament after two previous 3rd place finishes and his road proved to be a familiar one. His strong start propelled him into the semifinals, where he met senior Jackson Bradford of Cleveland, who defeated Shires in 2019 on his way to a state championship in the 113 weight class.

Shires led in points for much of this rematch, but was down by one going into the final seconds. Forced to go for a takedown, Shires did bring Bradford to the mat; but like his teammate Duessler, he was one second late. Time expired during the struggle and Bradford came out on top, eventually repeating as state champion. In the 3rd/4th place match, Shires felt deja vu once more, defeating Wilson Central’s Riley Fort for the second time this year to claim third yet again.