Bingham clinches state title
Mavericks, Lady Mavericks have historic weekend at state
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JOSH BINGHAM
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Anderson County senior Josh Bingham defeated Tyson Click from Samuel Everett School of Innovation by major decision (13-5) to earn the state title in the 215-pound weight class.
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Eli Bratton represented the Mavericks in the title round of the 190-pound weight class. Bratton took second place in the championship, falling 11-10 to Nation Wade of Soddy Daisy.
A historic wrestling season ended for Anderson County High School as the Mavericks and Lady Mavericks wrapped up their campaigns at the TSSAA Class A traditional state championships at the Williamson County Expo Center.
Senior Josh Bingham, competing in the 215‑pound weight class, captured a state title in his division and ended his high school career on top.
“I feel blessed with my success on the mat,” Bingham said. “I’m giving all the glory to Jesus Christ. My freshman year I dreamed of going to state. It came true in 10th grade, and by junior year I saw just how far I could go.”
Bingham becomes the program’s second state champion, joining Stone Cummings in school history.
In the 190‑pound weight class, senior Eli Bratton finished as state runner‑up.
Sophomore Zed Houlet placed fourth for the Mavericks in the 120‑pound division.
For the Lady Mavericks, sophomore Danielle Connors, a 120‑pound competitor, placed fourth and finished her season at 47‑4. As the school’s girls sectional champion, she recorded 31 pins and secured seven wins by technical fall.
Anderson County High School Coach Matt Slone praised his team’s performance.
“It was a historic state tournament for us,” he said. “We came in with one state champion and now we have two. This is the first time we’ve had a champion and a runner‑up, and Zed Houlet is the first sophomore to place at state. We’ve had older kids do it before, but he’s our first sophomore at Anderson County.”
Connors, who began wrestling midway through the 2023‑24 season, was once the state’s top‑ranked 126‑pound female wrestler.
“Danielle is our first girl to win a sectional championship and our first-ever state qualifier for the girls,” Slone said. “She was clearly our first state placer.”
The Mavericks rounded out their season with five other wrestlers competing at the Midstate. Hayden Harrell (144 pounds) and Aiden Reed (113) each won two matches, while Max Wolfley (138) and Tripp Haire (126) notched a victory apiece. Luke Baldwin (106) also made a state tournament appearance to close out the 2024‑25 season.
