Wrestling: Central, Baylor in finals

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Soddy-Daisy and Bradley Central on Friday each moved within a win of a rematch tonight in the Tennessee Class AAA wrestling duals championship.

Each won twice Friday. Bradley's defending champion Bears will wrestle Ravenwood while the former champion Trojans take on Science Hill in semifinals at 2 this afternoon.

Two Chattanooga teams hit the consolation bracket, Hixson in the A/AA Division and McCallie in Division II. Hixson, the defending champion, lost to Chattanooga rival Central and McCallie fell to Christian Brothers. Central's win and Baylor's 39-20 Division II defeat of Father Ryan give Chattanooga at least two teams in championship finals.

"We can wrestle better tomorrow," Baylor coach Ben Nelson said. "We're going to have to because of who we're wrestling, but I think the boys are ready to do that."

All the finals begin at 8:30 EST.

While he might like to look ahead to a second chance against Soddy-Daisy, which ended the Baylor's 70-meet win streak earlier this season, Bradley coach Steve Logsdon said it wasn't feasible.

"We'll get tested tomorrow afternoon. I'm not sandbagging you guys. Ravenwood is a well-coached team," Logsdon said. "I watched them twice today. If I wasn't concerned I wouldn't have scouted them twice. They're a young, hungry team trying to climb the mountain."

Soddy-Daisy, like Bradley, pretty much coasted through its first two meets, beating Cordova 64-10 and Independence 50-15. The Trojans won both without a 103-pounder. One didn't make weight and the other wasn't allowed by his father to make the trip.

"We're just trying to weather the storms and get to the finals," Trojans coach Steve Henry said. "I'm just glad to get those matches out of the way."

Science Hill reached the semifinals with a fifth-criteria victory over Clarksville, which rallied with a pin and a major decision in the final two matches to gain a tie.