Wildcats win Sycamore Tournament

Benford becomes Lebanon's first tourney champ of season

From staff reports

PLEASANT VIEW — Wilson Central controlled the field in winning the 15-team Sycamore Tournament last Saturday.

The Wildcats collected 330 points. Runner-up Independence totaled 202.

First-place finishers for Central were Christian Cerrito [113 pounds], Nick Insalaco [126], Eddie Small [132], Austin Richard [138], Bryson Hutchison [145], Jacob Myers [170] and John Kramer [220].

Lebanon's Jordan Benford edged Central's Jonathan Hayes 8-7 in the 120-pound final to become the first Blue Devil to win a tournament in just over a year. He had finished third a week earlier in the Smyrna Invitational.

"Jordan's maturity on the mat has come a long way this season," Lebanon coach Joshua Wilkins said. "He's become a leader on the team, and with his increasing success, he's also becoming someone I hope our sophomores and freshmen look up to."

In addition to Hayes, other Wildcat runners up were Lane Dickerson [106], Jonathan Ward [160] and Perry Baltz [182]. Andy Hanrick, John Davidson [152] and Michael Vaughn [28] were third and Caleb Berta and Dillon Smith  [195] fourth.

Lebanon junior Dustin Garner was third at 132 pounds at Smyrna and Priscilla Garza was third in Pool A at Sycamore. Mark Will, Kodie Palmer and Malik Weir also posted multiple wins for the Blue Devils last week.

"Dustin is staying right on [Benford's] heels," Wilkins said. "Priscilla should be thrilled about bringing home our first girls' medal of the season. Between those kids, finally getting Kodie Palmer back from injury and a loaded schedule between now and then, we look to have our team's core ready for the region tournament."

Central won all five dual meets last week as the Wildcasts climbed to 33-2. They shut out LaVergne 84-8, whipped Forrest 73-6, pinned Creekwood 78-3, blanked Tullahoma 84-0 and rolled past Sycamore 63-15.