FRANKLIN — The 2022 Division I and Girls State Wrestling Champions return to Williamson County this week at the Williamson County AgEXPO Center in Franklin.
Of the more than 630 state qualifiers, 69 WillCo wrestlers will take the state stage Thursday, Friday and Saturday across two classifications and in the girls tournament. All three tournaments boast 16-person brackets.
This comprehensive breakdown will look into the 54 male WillCo wrestlers in Class AA and Class A, highlighting local favorites as well as potential champions.
Be sure to follow all the tournament coverage online!
106
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Freshman Gabriel Ribeiro of Nolensville in AA might lack wrestling experience, but he's no newcomer to competing on and being aro
und big stages. His family runs Nolensville's local RMA Jiu Jitsu Academy, led by Gabriel's dad, Marcelo, a fifth-degree black belt. The entire family has competed internationally, and the younger Ribeiro has channeled that fierce competitiveness and hard work into his wrestling. He's also learning more and more with every match.
Coach says: "I don't have to help him get ready for a match because he's not intimidated by anything, plus he immediately learns from his mistakes and works to correct them," Nolensville coach Johnnie Melzoni said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Ravenwood senior Sachin Sashti in AA; Brentwood freshman Joeseph Daniels in AA; Page sophomore Cosmo O'Neal in A; Fairview freshman Coleman Caldwell in A. The lengthy Sashti defeated Ribeiro in the Region 7-AA final, while Daniels is one of the more improved wrestlers for the Bruins. O'Neal is fluid in his movements and a young student of wrestling, while Caldwell is still trying to get his feet underneath him but can gain valuable experience at state.
State title picks: AA – Chase Walker, Cleveland; A – Carson Dupill, Greeneville.
113
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Independence junior Russell Ford placed third at 106 last year, and the Region 7-AA and Section 4-AA champion is focused on making it to the next stage — the finals. Ford earned a solid placement in the bracket and has posted back-to-back wins over friendly rival Owen Gobel — the only returning 113 medalist — in both the regional and sectional tournaments. He wrestles two steps ahead of his opponents with purposeful moves that generate reactions he's prepared for.
Coach says: "I think he is the guy to beat — I mean, that's my expectation for him," Indy coach AJ Villarreal said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Franklin senior Gobel in AA; Brentwood senior Zach Ordonez in AA; Ravenwood senior Ammr Albarati in AA; Page freshman Nathan Simpson in A. Gobel, a lightning quick and athletic grappler, also placed fifth at 106 in 2020, while Ordonez was sixth at 106 last year. Albarati is another strong wrestler who can score points in a hurry with Simpson being a newcomer ready to surprise opponents.
State title picks: AA – Ford; Ethan Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain in A.
120
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Summit sophomore Jarvis Little narrowly missed medaling as a freshman last year at state and like a couple of his teammates has been on a tear since to make it back to the state stage. Little has just one loss this season — an 8-4 decision against recent Division II champion Calvin Eason of Father Ryan at the always tough Johnny Drennan Memorial Wrestling Invitational. He sits at 45-1 overall.
Coach says: "Jarvis is ready to rock and roll, and he's on a mission, having wrestled all over the country since last year and working every day to get back here," Summit coach Pete Miller said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Page junior Thomas Brown in A. Brown has collected more than 50 wins this season for the Patriots and is also eyeing a high podium finish.
State title picks: AA – Little; A – Caleb Uhorchuk, Signal Mountain.
126
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Summit freshman Brayden Leach has emerged as a major threat in an already loaded 126 field. Early this season, Leach entered at 126 for the injured Jackson Masters, a Summit senior who placed third at 120 last year, and quickly emerged as a dominant wrestler for the Spartans gauntlet of lighter weights. Leach has suffered just four losses and will likely face Bradley Central favorite Easton Lipsey in the quarterfinals, but anything can happen on the state stage.
Coach says: "A lot of people don't know much about him, so he's kind of a dark horse, and I think he can use that to his advantage because he's a heck of a wrestler," Summit coach Pete Miller said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Brentwood sophomore Arash Yazdani in AA; Independence freshman Riddeck Romano in AA; Fairview junior Keegan Seaver in A. If Yazdani can get past Beech's Blake Palmer in the first round, he could shake up the field as another potential dark horse with Romano also never backing down from the competition. Seaver battled to fifth last year, and the Region 7-A champ is eying another podium finish.
State title picks: AA – Easton Lipsey, Bradley Central; A – Andy Cable, Pigeon Forge.
132
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Summit sophomore Landon Desselle placed sixth last year and told his coaches afterward he's never lost so many times in a day. He's suffered just one setback since, when wrestling up against Easton Lipsey's brother Ethan at 138 in an overtime match at the state duals. He's determined to wrestle for a championship, as indicated by his 49-1 record.
Coach says: "He's focused and ready to go, and I'm counting on him in being in the finals and he is, too," Summit coach Pete Miller said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Ravenwood senior Noah Kang in AA; Page junior Grant Hawkinson in A. Kang lost twice to Bartlett's Tyler Harris in the Section 4-AA tournament but can reach the podium if he keeps his intensity up. Hawkinson has a favorable outlook in his bracket and is wrestling with plenty of confidence despite wearing a mask for a fractured nose.
State title picks: AA – Desselle, Summit; A – Sam Hutchinson, Knoxville Halls.
138
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Independence sophomore Spencer Kon lost in the true second-place match last year to fall short of making it to state. Like Summit's lower weight trio, he has worked with Ford and Romano to get better and better, eventually leading to him clinching the Region 7-AA and Section 4-AA crowns.
Coach says: "Spencer is on fire right now, and he's taking everyone down at will, so I don't think you want to take him on right now, because he's ready," Indy coach AJ Villarreal said.
Other WillCo Qualifiers: Brentwood sophomore Clark Vaughn in AA; Nolensville sophomore Dakota Patee in AA. Vaughn is an ultimate competitor who has come up short against Kon in back-to-back matches after winning the first three meetings. He, like Yazdani, is back on the state stage and ready for more. Pattee placed third last year in the smaller schools but has the experience not to be overlooked. Both, however, open with returning medalists.
State title picks: AA – Ethan Lipsey, Bradley Central; A – Dalen Kimble, Sycamore.
145
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Summit junior Finley Jameson is looking very comfortable at 145 after spending much of the dual season wrestling up at 152 and 160 and placing sixth at 152 last year. Jameson, the Region 7-AA and Section 4-AA champ, enters as a three seed in the bracket with sights on a semifinal matchup with Wilson Central's two-time medalist Riley Fort in a battle to reach the state final.
Coach says: "I think he has proven himself that he is definitely a force to be reckoned with at 145," Summit coach Pete Miller said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Franklin junior Brock Wittman in AA; Nolensville freshman Chase Mayes in AA; Fairview senior Blake Mitchell in A. Wittman, a very methodical wrestler, has suffered losses to Jameson in both the regional and sectional but is also poised to crack into the medal rounds. Mayes is just a youngster but very technical and experienced despite his age, while Mitchell can use his size to overwhelm most in his bracket with eyes on a higher finish than his pair of sixth-place marks.
152
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Nolensville sophomore Tre McTorry wasted no time in his return to the mats last month. His bracket is riddled with contenders, but he could easily rise to the top. He fell in the Section 4-AA semis against eventual champ and top seed Cameron Cook of Collierville on a late take down. Film sessions with his dad — two-time state champion Charles McTorry, of Overton fame, who went on to wrestle at Nebraska — likely spell instant improvement. The younger McTorry reached the finals in his last trip to state as an eighth grader at Brentwood Academy.
Coach says: "Tre just operates on another level, and he is still getting up to speed, but that 152 bracket is just something — that's the bracket to watch if you're just hanging out," Nolensville coach Johnnie Melzoni said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Centennial senior Ceron Campbell in AA; Page junior Josh Ward in A. Campbell enters with a 35-16 record and has faced many in the talented field, while Ward is ready to make his mark at the state level after injuries in the past couple years.
State title picks: AA – McTorry, Nolensville. A – Colin Dupill, Greeneville.
60
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Page senior Will Parcel is headed back to the state stage with an unblemished, school-record 59-0 mark. The lone Patriot senior likes big moves and thrives in the spotlight. After missing the podium last year at state, he hit the weight room to build up his strength and worked on his speed. The hard work has paid off so far.
Coach says: "Will put in the work to be a state-contending wrestler. … He's trained relentlessly for this," Page coach Benji Gray said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Ravenwood senior Drew Dodson in AA. Dodson entered the season with high expectations but has been hampered with injuries in his senior campaign. At full strength, he's one of the most explosive and talented wrestlers in the field.
State title picks: AA – Aidan Brenot, Clarksville; A – Parcel, Page.
170
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Brentwood junior Wyatt Gibbs not only has a decent path through his bracket, but he's more than capable of pushing through to make a finals appearance after a tough season with more than 50 matches. Everything from eating habits to working in the weight room has primed Gibbs for success. The Region 7-AA champ suffered a rare setback in the sectional finals against Luke Krepela of Arlington.
Coach says: "We have to get through some tough guys to get to the finals, but Wyatt has the ability, and he's tough-nosed and prepared," Brentwood coach Damon Smith said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Summit sophomore Jensen Schreiber in AA; Fairview senior Marco Pukl in A. Schreiber is a big upper-body wrestler who can throw just about anyone, but he runs into top-seed Anthony Pyron of Mt. Juliet out of the gate. Pukl placed fifth at 160 last year and has been rolling in the Fairview wrestling room most his life with one more tournament to go and a potential trip to the finals with a clean couple of days of wrestling.
State title picks: AA – Anthony Pyron, Mt. Juliet; A – Kodiak Cannedy, Greeneville.
182
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Fairview junior Ken Curtis reached the finals last year and placed fourth as a freshman. The decorated grappler is intelligent on the mat and rarely makes mistakes. He will likely run into Red Bank's Kobe Smith in a semifinal showdown with the winner primed for a state title.
Coach says: "Ken can really coach himself, so I just try to remind him about head position and whatnot, but he knows what he wants and he has to just go get it," Fairview coach James "Bubba" Derrick said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Summit junior Luke Justice in AA; Franklin senior Sawyer Robinson in AA; Nolensville junior Hayden Sinner in AA; Page freshman Ethan Ward in A. Justice and Sinner both placed sixth last year, with Justice another potential dark horse despite being near the top of the bracket with two other returning medalists. Robinson opens with one of those guys — Austin Cooley of McMinn County, who placed fifth. Ward has stepped in and is ready to gain some major experience on the big stage.
State title picks: AA – Zach Duessler, Rossview; A – Curtis, Fairview.
195
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Nolensville junior Zach Sinner faces a couple stiff tests early but has been building more and more confidence in the past few weeks. The football, wrestling and baseball player earned the Region 7-AA and Section 4-AA titles and has shown that you can never count him out, just like his twin brother, Hayden.
Coach says: "Zach has taken his wrestling skills to another level and, you know, as a three-sport athlete who doesn't wrestle year round, he's executing at a high level right now," Nolensville coach Johnnie Melzoni said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Franklin senior Colin Jackson in AA; Independence senior Cannon Roberts in AA; Fairview senior Sam Hammon in A. Jackson has the unenviable task of potentially facing Cleveland senior and returning champion Tetoe Boyd in the quarterfinals, but he only fell 10-7 when the two tangled at the Franklin Admiral Invitational in December. Roberts is dealing with an injury but willed himself onto the state stage for one more run, while Hammon is aiming to end his wrestling career with a podium finish.
State title picks: AA – Tetoe Boyd, Cleveland; A – Rob Atwood, Trousdale County.
220
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Fairview senior Jacob Clevenger has placed in every season as a high schooler and could join Riley Bennett, last year's 138-pound champ for the Yellow Jackets, as just the second wrestler from the program to place all four years. As an undersized heavyweight last year, Clevenger fell short of a championship in the final, but enters as a favorite at 220.
Coach says: "I would love him in the finals with that opportunity to win state, and I know he feels the weight on his shoulders, but, pound for pound, Jacob is one of the best 220s in all the state," Fairview coach James "Bubba" Derrick said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Centennial junior Patrick Styblo in AA; Franklin junior Dominic Green in AA; Nolensville senior Nathan Montpool in AA; Page sophomore Caleb Meeks in A. Styblo boasts a 40-6 record with 33 wins by pin this year, but the Region 7-AA champ suffered a tough setback in the sectional finals against Cordova's Timothy Busby. Busby edged both Green and Montpool in the sectional as well with very tight decisions. Meeks opens with top-seeded Caleb Wolfe of Pigeon Forge, a two-time state runner-up, but has shown plenty of progression this season.
State title picks: AA – Noah Todd, Wilson Central; A – Jacob Clevenger, Fairview.
285
WillCo Wrestler to Watch: Summit senior Ryan Smith is a lightweight wrestler in a heavyweight body who was upended before the medal rounds last year after a stellar regular season. Smith sits at 46-6 on the year and has beaten just about everyone on the other side of the bracket but will have to battle to reach the finals. If he can reach the semifinals, Smith will likely face two-time 220-pound champion Ashton Davis of Cleveland.
Coach says: "He's going to show up, wrestle hard and know that anything can happen, so I know he's prepared to make things happen," Summit coach Pete Miller said.
Other WillCo qualifiers: Brentwood junior Noah Dixon in AA; Franklin junior Alec Allen in AA; Page sophomore Ronan O'Connell in A; Fairview sophomore Allen Reynolds in A. Dixon, a smaller, powerful heavyweight, runs into returning third-place finisher Austin McClure of Bradley Central in the first round, while undersized heavyweight Allen gets Davis out of the gate. O'Connell, a standout lineman in football, continues to make strides and is gaining confidence using his size to his advantage, while Reynolds surprised most to make it to state and is also learning how to extend matches.
State title picks: AA – Ashton Davis, Cleveland; A – Kaymon Overton, East Nashville.
