Central repeats as region champs

Six Wildcats win titles, 11 bound for State

From staff reports

Wilson Central is sending a school-record 11 wrestlers to the State Tournament after repeating as Region 5 champions over the weekend.

Six Wildcats claimed region crowns while three others finished second and two more were fourth.

They'll join a couple of Mt. Juliet grapplers at the State Championships which begin Thursday at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo Arena in Franklin.

Junior Christian Cerrito [113 pounds], senior Nick Insalaco [120], junior Eddie Small [132], junior Austin Richard [138], sophomore Perry Baltz [182] and sophomore John Kramer [220] will enter the State as region champions.

Sophomore Lane Dickeson [106], junior John Davidson [152] and senior Jacob Myers [170] finished second while junior Jonathan Hayes [126] and senior Bryson Hutchison [145] were fourth in the region.

Only three of the 14 classes won't have a Wildcat in the State bracket.

Small was named Most Valuable Wrestler while Richard won Best Finals Match Award.

Cerrito will face Maryville junior Connor Gavlick on Thursday in the first round of the State while Insalaco will take on East Hamilton freshman Matt Meeks, Small will battle Collierville junior Matthew Richardson, Richard [who finished sixth in the State at 132 last year] will meet Clarksville sophomore Clay Cook, Baltz will battle Collierville junior Cameron Tarver and Kramer will take on Montgomery Central senior Taren Welch.

Dickeson will meet Soddy-Daisy sophomore Jacob McClure, Davidson will duel Millington freshman Jaxon Cook and Myers will take on Beech sophomore Mike King.

Hayes will face Sullivan South senior Andrew Armstrong while Hutchison faces Ravenwood senior Jacob Freeman, a three-time top-six finalist in the State.

Mt. Juliet freshman Danyon Edens will face Independence senior James Cleveland at 145 while Golden Bear sophomore Hunter Ingham takes on East Ridge junior C.J. Baker at 220.

A pair of Lebanon wrestlers will take part in the Girls' Tournament which starts Friday.

Priscilla Garza will meet Stone Memorial's Angel Feeler at 120 while Lebanon teammate Jamie Reed is back to take on Sevier County's Camri Lane at 185.