WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsSoddy-Daisy pulls away from Cleveland on day two in Franklin

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WRCB) -- Soddy-Daisy and Cleveland entered day two of the TSSAA Division I Traditional Tournament in a near dead heat.

It didn't stay that way for long.

Soddy-Daisy won seven of its eight quarterfinal matches, then advanced four grapplers into Saturday night's championship finals to open a 21-point lead over rival Cleveland through the first two days of action at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo Center.

Jacob Stevens (120 pounds), Campbell Lewis (132), Blaike Henry (170) and Billy Swanson (220) will wrestle for a state title for the Trojans, who racked up 173 points as a team.

Lewis is trying to become Soddy-Daisy's first-ever four-time state champ.

The Blue Raiders also had eight grapplers in Friday morning's quarterfinals, but only three survived. Of that trio, only Chris Debien (106 pounds) and Austin Stevison (113) earned a shot at a state championship. Cleveland sits second overall with 152 team points.

Bradley Central, who is third at 102, matched its arch rival with a pair of finalists. Four Bears qualified for the semifinals, but only Jerricho Crutcher (126) and Patrick Benson (285) advanced to Saturday night's finals.

Crutcher will face Notre Dame's Jack Boone for the 126-pound title in an all-Chattanooga final. Boone is one of two Fighting Irish finalists, joining 145-pounder Grayson Mullins.

Tyner's DeAngelo James continued his quest for a perfect season with a pair of decisions, including a 9-7 win over Bradley Central's Dakota Ream in the 113-pound semifinals. James' record stands at 42-0 overall on the year entering his first ever state finals appearance, which will come against Cleveland's Stevison.

Silverdale Academy's Josh Mackey will also wrestle for a state title at 285 pounds. He'll face Bradley Central's Benson in the finals.

Sale Creek's Nathan Davis (170), Hixson's Christian Varner (220) and Walker Valley's Corey Langford (145) all lost in the semifinals.

Chattanooga rivals Baylor and McCallie combined to send 11 wrestlers into the Division II finals, but both are chasing Father Ryan and Christian Brothers in the team standings.

Father Ryan racked up 220.5 points through the semifinal rounds for a 38.5-point lead over Christian Brothers. The Blue Tornado sit fourth overall with 178.5 team points, two points behind the third-place Red Raiders, but qualified six wrestlers for the championship round compared to Baylor's five. 

Alex Elsea (113 pounds), Adam Connell (120), Tim Westbrooks (132), Alex Ward (138), Elliot Berz (160) and Tye Youngblood (285) will wrestle for a state title for McCallie.

Baylor had 12 grapplers reach the semifinals, but only Zach Watson (126), Brandon Brunner (132), Bryson Popp (145), Matthew Cate (152) and Matt Bodine (182) advanced to the finals.

Watson will try to become the second wrestler in TSSAA history to win five state championships when he faces Christian Brothers' Tate Robinson in the 126-pound final. The University of Virginia signee already owns state championships at 103, 112, 119 and 125 pounds.

McCallie's T.J. Duncan became the first wrestler in TSSAA history to achieve the five-peat last year.

The following is a full list of area wrestlers who will wrestle for individual state championships Saturday night:

DIVISION I

CLEVELAND
Chris DeBien (106)
Austin Stevison (113)

BRADLEY CENTRAL
Jericho Crutcher (126)
Patrick Benson (285)

TYNER
DeAngelo James (113)

SODDY-DAISY
Jacob Stevens (120)
Campbell Lewis (132)
Blaike Henry (170)
Billy Swanson (220)

NOTRE DAME
Jack Boone (126)
Grayson Mullin (145)

SILVERDALE
Josh Mackey (285)

DIVISION II

BAYLOR
Zach Watson (126)
Brandon Brunner (132)
Bryson Popp (145)
Matthew Cate (152)
Matt Bodine (182)

MCCALLIE
Alex Elsea (113)
Adam Connell (120)
Tim Westbrooks (132)
Alex Ward (138)
Elliot Berz (160)
Tye Youngblood (285)