State wrestling crown rests on rivalry

FRANKLIN — Franklin's John Shrader can claim a state wrestling championship and overcome a major obstacle with one victory tonight.

With his 9-3 win Friday against Clarksville's Ren Baggett in the Division I 160-pound semifinals, Shrader will face Independence's McCoy Newberg, who has beaten Shrader the five times they've met over the past two years.

Newberg defeated Bradley Central's Jacob Bailey 11-2 in the semifinals.

The Division I and II championship finals are at 6 tonight at the Williamson County Ag Expo.

"I knew I'd be here," Shrader said of his first championship appearance. "It's what I've worked for all year. It's what we've both worked for all year. I'm going to go all out and give it everything I've got."

It'll also be Newberg's first finals appearance. Among his wins in the rivalry is a decision for third place last year in state.

"I've got to approach it like any other match and not come in too hyped," Newberg said. "I knew we could both make it if we showed up and wrestled like we could. We did, and we're there."

A second championship matchup between Middle Tennessee wrestlers will be at 145, where Hunters Lane's Josue Brown faces Cookeville's John Birdwell. A fifth-place finisher at 140 last year, Birdwell advanced with a second-period pin of Red Bank's Logan Sharp.

Brown edged Walker Valley's Cole Dias 5-3 in the semifinals to improve on a fourth-place finish at 140 last year and a fifth-place finish at 130 as a sophomore.

"I was hesitant because every time I've gotten to the semis, I've lost," he said. "I stayed calm, but I've got to push it more."

Mt. Juliet placed a pair of wrestlers in the finals, as Tanner Bates defeated Bradley Central's Aaron Hutson 5-4 at 119 and Scott Seaman edged McGavock's Carlos Garcia 7-5 in overtime at 130.

Clarksville's Chad Isbell reached the 140 final with an 11-3 win over Independence's Caleb Little. Blackman's Eric Feuerbacher reached the 125 final in a 6-2 win against Bradley Central's Ethan Hames. At 112, Tullahoma's Alex Kaferle moved to the final with a 7-5 win against Germantown's Kendall Kermick.

Division II: Father Ryan placed four wrestlers in the championship finals, including Chris Agnew, who defeated Montgomery Bell Academy's Mark Simpson 10-3 in the 152 semifinals.

Other Father Ryan wrestlers who made the finals were Cole Moseley (130), Mark Marchetti (145) nd T.J. Holmes (189).

Brentwood Academy's Danny Maloney (119) and Amos Mason (215) advanced with MBA's Ian Sharbel (189).