Gordon County is still basking in the glow of another football State Championship at Calhoun, but for the wrestling fans, the season on the mat is in full swing and that means directing your attention to the Phoenix Nation of Sonoraville High School.
Led by first year head coach, Randy Steward, the Phoenix have two returning State Champions and a stable of challengers getting work done on the toughest stage in the southeast, the McCallie Invitational in Chattanooga, TN.
In the light weight classes, freshman Eli Knight (106) already walked away with one tournament title this season at Woodland and is sitting in the semi-finals at McCallie ready to face off against number one seed, Luke Frost, for a shot at the Gold. Knight is 2-0 with a tech fall and a pin after being seeded #4 going into the tournament.
At 113, Hector Arbos is 2-1 with two pins in the consolation quarter finals.
Jayce Derryberry (126) is 2-1 with one tech fall and one pin as he sits in the consolation rounds.
Returning Two-Time State Champ, Tyler Hunt (132) picked up the #1 seed and has lived up to the billing. Hunt is 3-0 with two pins and a tech fall in the semi-finals.
Another Two-Time State Champion, Trevor Burdick (138) also earned the #1 seed and hasn’t let the Phoenix faithful down. Burdick is 3-0 with a Major, a tech fall and a pin on the day as he awaits his next match in the semi-finals.
152 Hunter Wilson is 2-1 with a tech and a pin and his only loss coming to the #1 seed, Justin Ruffin. Wilson looks to rebound and challenge for the medal rounds.
John Solomon Knight (195) is undefeated and in the semi-finals at 3-0 with a tech and a pin.
Heavy weight, Brandon Bristol (285) is 1-1 with a pin and still battling in the consolation rounds.
As a team, Sonoraville is currently sitting in 5th place among the 33 team field, Just 1.5 points away from 4th place. With four wrestlers competing to make it into the finals, the Phoenix have established themselves as one of the best in the Southeast and an elite team in the GHSA 3-A classification.
Finals Update
Trevor Burdick and Tyler Hunt went on to capture the title at 138 and 132. For Hunt, this was his second straight championship at the McCallie Invitational. Eli Knight (106) went on to finish 3rd while older brother John Solomon Knight (195) pulled in a 4th place finish.
Sonoraville finished 6th out of 33.
For Sonoraville, the middle school program looked solid down at the Cartersville Duals where 10 teams showed up to compete. The younger Burdick, 125 pounder Rowan Burdick, went 4-0 including huge wins against Cass, Calhoun, Woodland and Nashville Catholic. Keeping it in the family, the Knight twins also kept a perfect day with both Jeb (160) and Jaxx Knight (285) going undefeated on the day.
