CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Three teams from Clarksville competed in the TSSAA Dual State Tournament at the Williamson County Ag Expo Park on Saturday.
All three fell to perennial powerhouse Cleveland High School at some point; the Rossview girls finished 2nd and the Clarksville girls claimed 3rd. While the Rossview boys did not manage to pick up a win, they made school history by appearing at the state tournament for the first time.
At a dual tournament, wrestlers score points for their teams based on their own individual performances. The squad with the most team points at the end is the winner.
Rossview Girls
The Lady Hawks started the day with a celebration as TSSAA recognized their 2022 dual team for making history. Last year, the 50th anniversary of Title IX, Rossview claimed the nation’s first officially sanctioned state dual championship for girls. That squad was awarded medals before the first round of the 2023 tournament.
The girls bracket only consisted of four teams – Rossview, Clarksville, Cleveland, and Gibbs – and therefore started with the semifinal. Rossview steamrolled Gibbs, 54-16, with wins (eight pins and one forfeit) by Alyssa Adamo, Irelynn Laurin, Zahara Williams, Ava Teasley, Adelynn Bess, Mariana Bowen, Evelin Ochoa, Analise Jetter, and Stitch Nikolao.
In the championship match, Cleveland led Rossview the whole way. They were dealt several penalties for stalling as they played their matches slowly and safely to protect the lead.
By the time there were three matches remaining, Rossview was mathematically eliminated. That didn’t stop the last three Lady Hawks from going out and pinning their opponents, including a pin in only 9 seconds by Jetter.
At the end of the night, Cleveland won, 34-27, and Rossview finished in second place. The Lady Hawks picked up wins from Ava Teasley (pin), Evelin Ochoa (3-1), Analise Jetter (pin), Stitch Nikolao (pin), and Alyssa Adamo (pin).
Clarksville Girls
In the semifinal round, the Lady Wildcats were up against Cleveland, who jumped out to an early lead. Nevertheless, the match came down to the final bout, where Clarksville needed a pin to win by one. They were unable to secure it as Cleveland stalled out the clock to escape with the victory, 30-29.
The following Wildcats picked up wins against Cleveland: Miranda Robles (pin), Ava Ziegler (9-7), Ella-Lina Gonzalez (forfeit), Lilli Cobb (forfeit), Brooklyn Whiteside (14-1), Kayla Powers (10-1).
In the 3rd/4th place match, the girls from Clarksville faced off with Gibbs. They won, 42-30, with the following girls coming out on top (seven pins and one forfeit): Elizabeth Hailman, Sha’Niayha Wysinger, Angel Robles, Miranda Robles, Lily Ann Blair, Ella-Lina Gonzalez, Kayla Powers.
Rossview Boys
The Hawks made their first appearance in the state tournament as a team, but they ran into a buzzsaw. Cleveland’s boys, entering as the 22-time state champions and winners of the last five state tournaments, defeated Rossview in the opening round, 69-3. Cleveland would go on to win the entire tournament again. Only Max Landrum recorded a win for the Hawks, 6-1.
Dropping into the consolation bracket, Rossview faced off with Maryville next. Despite initially taking leads in the first few bouts, the Hawks lost most of the opening rounds. They put together some wins late but were already out of contention mathematically.
In the end, Maryville won, 45-21. The following boys picked up wins for Rossview to cap off a historic dual season: Robert Frost (12-10), Jacob Gorman (pin), Ben Mayberry (pin), Jacob Miller (11-7), and Max Landrum (7-3).
Looking ahead
Now that the dual post-season has wrapped up, the individual tournaments will begin.
Boys: Springfield High School will host most CMCSS boy wrestlers in their regional individual tournament on Saturday, February 11. Montgomery Central’s boys will be at Sycamore that day.
Girls: All Clarksville-area girls will compete in their regional tournament at Bartlett High School on Friday, February 17.