Kendall wins at state
LUCAS KENDALL (left) and COACH ROGER McDONALD
“It was something special that not many kids will ever get to experience and, it has been my No. 1 goal since I began coaching three years ago to get one of my wrestlers on the podium,” said Dragon head wrestling Coach Roger McDonald.
Kendall fell in his first match to Dylan Pratt of Eagleville Thursday, Feb. 24, putting him in the consolation bracket. Lucas then pinned Deagan Price of Polk County, and received a forfeit win over Harpeth’s Cooper Edwards.
Kendall then went up against Sequatchie County’s Kaleb Edwards for a spot in the medals and won by pin-fall.
Next up was a rematch with Pratt, and during Period 3, it was tied 5-5 before Pratt pulled away in the final 30 seconds for an 8-6 decision, putting Lucas in the fifth-place match.
“Last year while still at West High School, we had a very similar situation with an athlete who had the intangibles to place at state, but for a kid to get to the podium they need a lot of things to go right for them,” McDonald said. “Not only in the tourney, but throughout the season, and sometimes if you want to hear God laugh at you, just tell him your plans.”
Lucas Kendall and Fulton’s Derondre Peebles took to the mat, and Kendall came out with a pin-fall at the 3:30 mark, securing fifth place and the first-ever high school medal for the junior.
“It feels amazing placing in the Top 6 in the state of Tennessee,” Kendall said.
“All of the hard work I’ve put in and the support of everyone around me ... tremendously helped me to get to this point. I want to thank my coaches for getting me to the point I am, and I would like to thank my parents for always being there for me and supporting me.
“But there is work still to be done,” Kendall said.
Freshman Dalton Kendall had a good showing even though he didn’t win a medal. The brother of Lucas, he fell in the first round to Brett Smith of Tullahoma by pin-fall after scoring 12 points.
In the consolation bracket, Dalton fell to Sequatchie County’s Tavin Birdwell by pin-fall, after outscoring him 6-5.
Overall, it was a tremendous season for the Dragons as 11 wrestlers qualified for sectionals, and six came within one victory at state. Two qualified for state and one is bringing home the first ever medal for Clinton High School wrestling.
“My goals have always been first and foremost to get a kid on the podium and second is to get athletes to sign as many letters of intent as possible,” McDonald said.
“I want to help those kids who want to wrestle in college fulfill those dreams, and that’s why I do this,” he said. “I want to bring back team championships to Clinton and I want to have a strong team year in and out.
“ut if I had to forgo the team side of it just to ensure kids are getting scholarships, then that’s what I will do. I am so proud of Lucas and to have a state placer in a super tough class.”
