Sectional surge Anderson County sends six to State Championships
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Anderson County’s Deamion Leavell applies heavy pressure on Cocke County’s Tanner Mantooth during the 175-pound division at Saturday’s sectional tournament at Gibbs High School. Leavell added victories over Greeneville’s James Treptow and Pigeon Forge’s Dawson Trentham to claim the sectional championship and advance to the state tournament. - Tony Cox
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Anderson County’s Hayden Harrell clamps down from the top position against Volun- teer’s Hayden Ferrell during recent wrestling action. Harrell controlled the bout from start to finish, piling up near-fall points on his way to a 14-2 major decision victory. - Tony Cox
In recent years, Anderson County High School’s wrestling program has emerged as one of the area’s most consistent powers.
On Saturday, the Mavericks added another milestone at the Section 1-A Championships at Gibbs High School in Corryton.
“We made history, and hopefully we’ll make some more history and get some guys to place at state,” Anderson County coach Matt Slone said. “We had five sectional champions. We had three last year.”
Anderson County finished third in the team standings behind Greeneville and Pigeon Forge in a loaded field.
“This is a tough section,” Slone said. “You have Pigeon Forge and Gibbs, and then teams like Greeneville and Elizabethton that are really good. We finished third overall, and we were 5-for-5 in championship matches.”
The Mavericks left Corryton with six state qualifiers, including five sectional champions. Those wrestlers will compete at the TSSAA State Championships at the Williamson County Expo Center in Franklin later this week.
Experience could prove valuable on Tennessee’s biggest stage.
“All of those guys have been to the state tournament, so they’ll know what to expect,” Slone said.
Aiden Reed (113 pounds), Zed Hulet (138), Hayden Harrell (144), Deameion Leavell (175) and Evan Prewitt (190) each claimed sectional titles. Max Wolfley (150) added a fourth-place finish to secure his return trip to state.
Connors claims crown
Junior Danielle Connors added to the historic day for the program. Wrestling at 126 pounds, she captured a sectional championship while representing the Lady Mavericks and will make her second consecutive appearance at the state tournament.
