Oak Ridge MatCats score milestone win in historic home dual
Oak Ridge’s Gary Carlisle celebrates after earning a pin against Roman Hollifield in the 165-pound weight class during the Wildcats’ home wrestling match. The dual marked Oak Ridge’s first home match of the 2025-26 season and its first in approximately 70 years. (photo:Kaylin Dimmer | ORHS Sports Media )
The Wildcats, who are fielding a team for the first time in approximately seven decades, hosted the Rumble in the Ridge Thursday night at Wildcat Arena. It was Oak Ridge’s first home dual meet of the season and it featured vendors and a live DJ.
But more importantly for the Wildcats, they defeated cross-county rival Clinton, 44-28, before a packed and spirited house.
In recent years, Oak Ridge and Bearden comprised a co-op program, but now the school has a program of its own and the community showed up to support the new resident program at ORHS.
“The turnout was great for us,” Oak Ridge coach Bam Thomas said. “It was great for our seniors to get to wrestle in front of their community.
“It was a big win and another big step for us. We had vendors and we had a live DJ, and it was a great night and we look forward to having more home meets next year.”
It was obviously a special night for Oak Ridge, but things didn’t get off to a good start on the mat.
“We got down, 16-0 early and then Robert Rankin changed the whole complexion of the match,” Thomas said. “He changed the whole direction of the match.”
Rankin, who competes in the 138-pound weight class for the Wildcats, scored a pin over Clinton’s Boston Ollis in 2 minutes and 14 seconds.
In the 106-pound bout, Oak Ridge’s Cole Callaghan won by forfeit.
The Dragons won matches at 113, 120, 126 and 132.
In the 113-pound match, Hayden Durliat scored an 8-1 decision over Nick Englehart, earning the Dragons three team points. At 120, Emmanuel Rangel pinned Jett Craig in 4:44. Connor Lemmon (126 pounds) edged Sebastian Acevedo, 17-14. At 132, Keenan Hoskins scored a technical fall against over Easton Greenlee.
After Rankin pinned Ollis, Clinton’s Aaron Solberg won by technical fall as he defeated DeWayne Marsh, 16-0.
The Wildcats scored wins at 150, 157, 165, 175, 190 and 215.
In the 150-pound match, Adam Englehart pinned Marshon Matthews in 3 minutes, 36 seconds. At 157, Oliver Tinker won by forfeit. At 165, Gary Carlisle scored a pin over Roman Hollifield in 47 seconds.
In the 175-pound bout, Darwin Almendavez won a 4-3 decision over Jordan Smith. At 190, Gabe Naudin pinned Jacob Brown in 3:16 and Jose Marin Shipp won by fall over Jonah Hoskins in 4:57.
“Darwin, Gabe Naudin and Gary Carlisle wrestled really well,” Thomas said.”
Liston Hoskins, Clinton’s 285-pounder, scored a pin when he defeated Zimarian Carroll in 4:43.
Even in defeat, Clinton first-year head coach Carl Nielsen found some positives.
“Our four freshmen came through as usual with outstanding matches. (At) 150, Marshon Matthews did not win his match, but he put up an outstanding fight,” Nielsen said. “Our sophomore, Keenan Hoskins, has wrestled most wrestled up at 138.
“Since he dropped to 132, he has become outstanding. His technique is growing every match and is definitely fun to watch.”
Clinton’s Adam Gonzalez (157) missed the match due to injury.
Nielson also tipped his hat to the Wildcats.
“Congratulations to Oak Ridge on the victory, and good luck in their (Class) AA regional tournament coming up,” he said.
