Connatser 113 Sectional champ; Murphey seeking state 4-peat
Other locals, 11, also earn wrestling state berths
Two champions each from Hardin Valley Academy and Knoxville Catholic will compete in the TSSAA state wrestling championships in Nashville Friday and Saturday, Feb. 24-25.
In the boys Division I-AA Sectional at Morristown West High Saturday, Hawks junior Brock Connatser improved to 56-2 after capturing the 113-pound class championship.
At Johnson City Science Hill Friday, HVA senior Ella Murphey maintained her perfect career record (31-0 this season) in region, looking to close out her incredible four years of wrestling with a fourth girls state crown (185).
A pair of Lady Irish regional champs are headed to state: senior Rebecca Deyo (27-2 at 165) and freshman Delilah Queen (31-1 record at 138). Other top six girls finishers headed to state are Gemma Deyo of Catholic (third at 235, 18-10 record), Bearden juniors Sadie Somerville (107, 23-7 record) and Taylor Clifford (126, 17-11 record), both finishing fourth, and Farragut freshman Ayden Stombaugh (sixth and 152).
Other boys state qualifiers were senior Brady Curns (third at 120, 46-5 record); and Hawk junior Jacob Laws (third at 126, 54-9 record)
Taking fourth place from HVA was junior Evan Clarke (215, 44-12 record).
Also placing fourth were Farragut junior Phillip Stafford-Hedge (157, 31-13 record) and Bearden junior Alexander Rawson (150).
