Webb, Meade, Boruff 2nd in state wrestling
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Bearden senior Matheson Meade (gray) dominates an opponent en route to a second-place state finish in the boys’ 170-pound class Friday, Feb. 26, in Chattanooga Convention Center. - Photo courtesy of Ricky Williams and Clinton Courier News
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Hailey Webb of Farragut, left, battles Brielle Bissonette of Clarksville in the girls 160-pound state title match Thursday, Feb. 25. - Photo courtesy of Ricky Williams and Clinton Courier News
CHATTANOOGA — With Farragut wrestling coaches proudly saying sophomore Hailey Webb’s second-place state finish in the girls 160-pound weight class was the highest school finish in years — boys or girls — she was among three area wrestlers taking second place, and among 10 who “placed” (top six) during two days of state competition in Chattanooga Convention Center Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25-26.
Matheson Meade, Bearden senior at 170 (20-2) barely lost to unbeaten Mason Smith of Beech (40-0), falling 3-2 in the title match Friday. “They said (Smith) hadn’t been challenged all year. ... Matheson took it to him,” Bulldogs head coach Donnie Floyd said.
Third as a sophomore at state at 145 and a two-time region champ, Meade “has been dedicated since he was a kid,” Floyd said. “... He has really pushed himself.”
Brik Boruff, Webb School of Knoxville senior in the 220 class, also finished second in Division II Thursday.
Finishing his final Spartans season at 30-4, Boruff said he was motivated to work even harder after what he said was a disappointing sixth-place finish last year.
“That just really set a fire in my heart,” he said. “I said, ‘I’m not going to let this happen again.’”
On the girls said, Webb was “quite spectacular the way she wrestled today. This is her first year wrestling,” FHS head coach David Garabrandt said.
Other girls placing in the top six were Kiera Blevins, BHS sophomore at 150, finishing fourth, and senior Katie Vail of Farragut, who took sixth at 119.
Four Christian Academy of Knoxville wrestlers placed in the top six in Division II, three taking fourth: freshman Andrew Justice (106), senior Parker Sapp (132) and senior Ethan Fogle (195). Hawk Dunn, a CAK junior, placed fifth at 145.
