Hartman, Big Macs power through Tri-CADA
Jonathan Guth
By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
ROGERSVILLE – There is nothing better than rallying at the Tri-Cada Wrestling Tournament after a long weekend competing in the Powerade Christmas Tournament.
Take Collier Hartman as an example.
The Canon-McMillan 145-pounder had a tough time at last weekend’s Powerade Tournament, winning his first two bouts then losing the next two, including a 22-3 shellacking from Karson Brown of St. Edward’s.
Hartman blew through the weight class at West Greene High School on Saturday, the final victim being Emmett Wolfe of McGuffey by a 21-4 technical fall. Hartman also won two bouts by identical 19-3 scores and one by 17-2.
“I’m not big on wrestling a tournament emotionally,” said Hartman. “I think that might have been why I wasn’t as successful as I might have been (at Powerade). I get what I need and then move on. I think the best way to wrestle a tournament is concentrating on getting the next point.”
Hartman and Wolfe are practice partners at Quest Training Center but this was the first time the two faced off against each other.
“But we got to wrestle each other before,” Hartman said.
Hartman’s teammate, Lee Dreshman, fresh from a sixth-place finish at Powerade at 107 pounds, won the weight class at Tri-CADA with a 17-2 technical fall over Parker Jennings of Trinity.
“I wanted to come to this tournament in order to make a statement,” said Dreshman.
Lucas Barr of McGuffey won his fourth medal in this tournament, two first-places, one third and one fourth.
“This tournament is probably in my top three,” said Barr.
Barr suffered a slight knee injury in the finals but that didn’t stop him from winning 7-2 over Bentworth’s Drake McClure.
“In my semis match, I hit my knee weird and it hurts to put pressure on it.” Lucas said. “Then I hit it again and it was like on fire. It doesn’t matter either way, I’m going to wrestle.”
Brock Dennison of South Fayette won his 100th career match.
Canon-McMillan, with 288.5 points, won the team tournament title. Trinity (219.5) was second and McGuffey (186.5) placed third.
Jon Emma of Canon-McMillan was named Outstanding Wrestler after beating Evan Tolliver of Ringgold 9-3 to take the 133-pound title.
Other local winners included Jackson Hoy of Canon-McMillan, a 7-0 winner over Alex Medlen of Beth-Center at 114 pounds; Tucker Main of McGuffey, a 9-2 winner over Gavin Bricker at 121; Gionna Gardner of Canon-McMillan, a 7-2 winner over Landon Ault of Trinity at 127 pounds; Owen Ivcic of Bentworth, a 4-2 winner over Christian Lowther of Ringgold, at 160 pounds; Alek Palko of Jefferson-Morgan, a 13-0 winner over Aaron Supler of McGuffey at 172; Bryce Collins of Canon-McMillan, a 5-1 winner over Teagan Barr of Trinity at 189; Noah Layhue of Beth-Center, a 2-1 winner over Brayden Collins of Canon-McMillan, at 215.
West Greene’s Colin Whyte exorcised some past demons at the Tri-CADA tournament in winning the championship in the 285-pound weight class. Whyte, a senior who placed fourth at Powerade on Tuesday, pinned all four of his opponents en route to his first Tri-CADA title.
Whyte spent a total of seven minutes and six seconds on the mat over the two-day event.
“I always go into every match looking for a fall,” Whyte said. “It feels good to win this tournament after falling short my first three years. It was extra special to win this in my home gym.”
Palko didn’t get to wrestle at Tri-CADA last year because of injury, but he more than made up for it this season in winning the title at 172. Palko, like Whyte, pinned all four of his opponents.
“I am glad to be back wrestling and getting some action after I fractured my fibula and tore a couple of ligaments in my ankle during the football season,” Palko said. “I felt like I was wrestling well in all three positions. Our team is doing really well, too.”