On January 20, the Central High Wrestling team traveled up to St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School for a tri-meet. This meet included Central, St. Andrews Sewanee, and Franklin County. Due to injuries, quite a few wrestlers were not able to participate. Still, the coaches had high expectations for the remaining members. Freshman Caleb Smith won the team’s first overtime match of the season in his match against Franklin County. 

“I thought Caleb [Smith] wrestled a very good match. It was exciting to see him battle. He lost a heartbreaker but I was incredibly proud of his effort,” Head Coach Ryan Mallory proudly explained. 

Junior Cameron Hook pinned his opponent in a whopping forty-five seconds. 

“Cam had a really nice move when he rerouted his opponent over his knee and pinned him in a half-nelson just like we do in practice! What a man,” Mallory boasted. 

Sophomore  Jesse Fowler pinned his opponent in an impressive one-minute forty-two seconds.

“After an interminably-long takedown. He pinned his opponent with a cradle,” Mallory stated.

Sophomore Adolphus Jennings won his second match of the season. 

“I was really happy to see Adolphus get his second win. He has been working really hard and has been wrestling up a weight class. I was glad he was able to have some success,” said Coach Mallory. 

On January 22, the boys traveled to Soddy Daisy for the Soddy Daisy Varsity Showdown. Although none of the team members placed top five, there were four members who placed top ten. 

Freshman Caleb Smith placed ninth, freshman Melik Woods-Grissom (138) placed ninth, sophomore Jesse Fowler (145) placed ninth, and sophomore Adolphus Jennings (152)  placed tenth. Although they didn’t place higher junior Cameron Hook (120), senior Noah Pinion (126), and junior Kasan Parson (132) all three placed eleventh. Though Woods’ placement in the tournament is still unknown, as he was knocked out in his first match due to an injury. 

“It was a meat grinder, it was a really hard tournament. The person who really stuck out to me was Adolphus. Adolphus got two wins that day I spent time with him and Jesse during warm-ups and went through a cowcatcher. Adolphus went out there for his third match and did that cowcatcher. He used what I had just taught him and he won, fairly quickly might I add,” Massengale explained. 

The boys did not do as well as there were many individuals missing. At a normal tournament, there would be twelve boys wrestling, but at the Soddy Daisy tournament, they were down five boys.

January 27, the Wrestling Team traveled to Boyd Buchannan. The Central team wrestled Boyd and the region opponent Whitwell. Although the Central boys did not have come out on top there were many individuals that stood out in the coach’s mind.

“VanHoozier is a young guy. He’s fun to watch, I was telling his dad this, he will sometimes get just demolished but he’s just like that’s going to happen. He doesn’t let it beat him up. He cares I think, but he doesn’t get all mad. He never stops moving and he wants to learn. His disadvantage is that he is brand new. When you’re wrestling over there, Boyd has a good program including a huge kids club. when you fight over there you are not fighting someone brand new,” stated Massengale.

The Girls Wrestling Team also went to Saint Andrew’s-Sewanee. There were a few good outcomes, but we were missing our state medalist Gabby Gray.

“When we were at Sewanee, De’Asia came pretty close to beating a girl who was a returning state medalist, and she’s a first-year wrestler. That’s pretty impressive if you ask me. She’s got a pretty good bit of natural ability and she is super fast,” Massengale expounded.

Readers can view the latest sports updates on the sports center page. This is where schedules, scores, and rosters will be posted. The Digest will continue to bring the latest coverage and updates as the 2022 season progresses.