Area wrestlers advancing to state meet
All four battled through their own trials to reach this point in their careers, as they punched their first tickets to the sport’s final weekend.
Koga went 3-1, battling back from the consolation semis — an elimination match — to eventually lock up third place over Dobyns-Bennett’s Rankin Burress. Before that, the second-year wrestler beat Maryville’s Seth Smithson to cement a state trip. He became the only Admiral of six sectional qualifiers to move on to the season’s final weekend.
“It was exciting for me,” said Koga, having dropped into the 175 class after a 90-pound weight loss over the past year. “I didn’t think I’d be able to do it since I just started last year, and I’ve qualified for sectionals both years. I was surprised that I qualified for state in my new weight class, but now I want to be able to place.”
Hardin Valley, meanwhile, has three wrestlers who will take the trip to Franklin next weekend after seven advanced to the sectional round.
Roland finished in third place over Science Hill’s Nick Evans, winning 17-4 by major decision. He also beat Oak Ridge’s Nick Englehardt in the consolation semifinals to clinch a trip to state. Wimer beat Science Hill’s Braeden Parrish in the consolation semifinals a by 5-4 decision for a state berth, but he finished fourth overall after a loss to David Crockett’s Ethan Greear. Remarkably, he did so while dealing with walking pneumonia, per HVA coach Matt Bates.
Finally, HVA’s Mikael Arce beat Maryville’s Payton Cromwell in the consolation semis but lost to Tennessee High’s Spencer Miller to finish fourth overall.
“We got three guys through, so very proud of them because they epitomize the grind in our program,” Bates said. “But they also represent a team of 41 boys and girls who have worked to get to this point. And they do things the right way. Adriel bounced back after a tough postseason last year, then Arce had a great tournament last weekend. He bounced back mentally and wrestled the No. 2 guy in the state really well, and Willie – he’s had a rough four years in our program. He had a lot of junior varsity experience his first two years but had some injuries last year, and he had a much stronger mental focus this year to reach his goal of getting to state.”
