Sycamore's Noah Peppard at the State Team Wrestling Championship Tournament held on February 4 (Photo: Angela Camper)
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On Saturday, February 4, 2023, Sycamore High School's wrestling team continued their pursuit of the 2023 State Team Wrestling championship in the TSSAA Division A-AA. This was Sycamore's first time returning to the State Team Wrestling Dual Tournament in 12 years.
In the first round of the tournament, Sycamore was pitted against Tullahoma High School. With the dual coming into the last two matches, Sycamore found themselves down by a score of 27-35. Sycamore sent out Noah Peppard for the 126 lbs match. Down on points with time running in out in the third period, Peppard reversed position and pinned his Tullahoma opponent with a headlock. His come-from-behind win by pinfall made the score 33-35 which placed Sycamore within striking distance of winning the dual. Unfortunately, the last match of the dual (132 lbs) did not go Sycamore's way and they lost to Tullahoma, 33-39.
Sycamore's Dylan Davenport at the State Team Wrestling Championship Tournament (Photo: Angela Camper)
Facing elimination in the first round of consolations, Sycamore went up against Gibbs High School. Sycamore started the dual with a pinfall from James Vaughn at 145lbs, a pinfall from Dylan Davenport at 152lbs, and decision win by Luke London at 160lbs for a15-0 lead before suffering their first loss by decision to Gibbs at 170lbs. Logan Heckert answered back with a pinfall at 182lbs, putting Sycamore up 21-3. Gibbs won 195lbs by Technical Fall (winning by 15 points or more) to make the score 21-8. Jordan Sober increased Sycamore's lead to 24-8 with a decision win at 220lbs. Gibbs turned the tide against Sycamore with a pinfall win at 285lbs, a forfeit win at 106lbs, a pinfall win at 113lbs, and a pinfall win at 120lbs to take the lead over (32-24) before forfeiting to Trey Moreland at 126lbs to make the score 32-30. Gibbs went on to win the last two matches of the dual with a decision win at 132lbs and a pinfall at 138lbs, therefore ending Sycamore's State Team Wrestling Championship run with a score 41-30.
Sycamore wrestlers will now switch their focus to the Individual State Wrestling Championship.The first step will be placing in the top four spots of the boys' Region 7-Class A Wrestling Tournament hosted by Sycamore on Saturday, February 11.
