The high school wrestling season wrapped up on Saturday, Feb. 22, in the traditional TSSAA State Wrestling Championship, held at the Expo Center in Franklin, Tenn.
Here were the highlights for athletes from the 5Star Preps coverage area:
CLASS A BOYS
Soddy-Daisy won the Class A boys championship with 198 points, but Pigeon Forge (third, 98.5 points). Gibbs (fourth, 95), Anderson County (sixth, 75), Alcoa (seventh, 74.5), and Greeneville (eighth, 67) more than held their own in the event.
Four area wrestlers claimed state titles.
Greeneville freshman Brylan Rhodes, who won over 40 matches this season, won Class A (weight 106) with a 10-4 decision in his final match.
Pigeon Forge standouts Wyatt Howard (senior) and Ayden Hood (junior) won 157 and 165, respectively. Each finished with 50 or more victories in the 2024-25 season.
Anderson County senior Josh Bingham, 49-1 this season, won 215 over Tyson Click with a 13-5 major decision. Click hails from the Samuel Everett School of Innovation in Maryville.
Claiming runner-up medals were Blake Allen (Gibbs, 120) and Eli Bratton (Anderson County, 190).
Eight area wrestlers finished third in Class A, including: Noah Eller (Gibbs, 126), Brody Ford (Gibbs, 132), Derrick Day (Greeneville, 138), Ezra Finstad (Gibbs, 144), Lane Cope (Samuel Everett, 157), Skyler Campbell (Seymour, 175), Darius Sudderth (Alcoa, 190), and Jalen Wright (Gibbs, 285).
And, seven area wrestlers posted fourth-place finishes — Gabriel Oakley (Greeneville, 113), Zedediah Hulet (Anderson County, 120), Nikolas Inmon (Greenback, 132), Nolan Henry (Alcoa, 144), Cory Hatcher (Alcoa, 150), Hayden Simmons (Carter, 165), and Dawson Trentham (Pigeon Forge, 175).
CLASS AA BOYS
Cleveland (244.5 points) did their normal thing, winning Class AA boys. Halls finished 10th with 52.5 points.
Halls senior Harlen Hunley placed second 150, and teammate Barrett Whaley was second in 175.
Bearden’s Boobie Leavell was third in 165, and Jefferson County’s Seaton Tallent fourth in 285.
DIVISION II BOYS
Two weeks after winning the Division II-A/AA state duals championship, Lakeway Christian posted another strong showing at the traditional wrestling state championships Feb. 14-15 at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville.
The Lions finished fourth overall. Chattanooga Baylor claimed first with 241.5 total points. Lakeway had 153.
Jay Eversole, a senior at Lakeway, claimed a state championship in the 190-pound weight class.
Four Lakeway wrestlers claimed state runner-up finishes: Cade Riddle (106), Luke Kibelbek (126), Cole Gumlick (132), and Cameron Helton (144).
Brody Casto of Lakeway was fourth in 165.
GIRLS
West Creek (152.0 points) might have won the 2025 TSSAA Girls Wrestling state championship, but area teams like Gibbs (fifth, 68.5 points), Halls (seventh, 46.5), and Seymour (10th, 43.5) garnered East Tennessee some respect.
Seymour senior Ellie Underwood won the 107 class over Gibbs sophomore Cora Finstad in an 11-10 decision.
Halls senior Sophia Satterfield, who won over 40 matches this season, won the 126 division.
Trinity Roberts, a junior at Heritage, completed a perfect season (33-0) with a 5-4 decision over Sally Johnson of Northwest, claiming the 145 class.
Other top-four finishers include: Cresson Postlewaite (Seymour, fourth, 114), Danielle Connors (Anderson County, fourth, 120) and Shelby Williams (Gibbs, third, 145).