2022-2023 Season Recap
As the post-season has come to an end, we want to recap our season and the accomplishments of our wrestlers.
Seniors:
John Brown
Walker Funk
Christian Taylor
Carter Zuendel
Juniors:
Dylan Fritz
Hunter Heflin
Noah Martinez
Sophomores:
Michael Anderson
Austen Barker
Cooper Caskey
Michael Granoski
Hunter Kammerer
Mick Keaton
Case Zuendel
Freshmen:
John Burke
Edge Leoncio
Jair Lopez
Joe Marcin
Xavier Ware
As we say farewell to our seniors, we would like to recognize them one last time and wish them well in their future endeavors. A special shoutout and thank you to Mallori Crocker, our senior wrestling assistant, for all her hard work that often goes unnoticed. You are greatly appreciated and will be missed!
This was John's third year wrestling for Arlington. In his free time, John likes to spend time with his friends. In the fall, John plans to go to college to major in Computer Engineering and minor in Mathematics!
Walker started wrestling as a freshman at Arlington and thought it was a great community of people filled with a drive to win. (Which he loved!) Walker's future plan is attending either UT Knox or MTSU to pursue an education in the Business or Aerospace field.
Christian started off with a good preseason in the weight room and enjoyed the grit and grind of wrestling. In his free time, he likes to play pickle ball with his friends. After high school, Christian plans to attend college and go into medical sales.
This was Carter’s second season with Arlington, after transferring from CBHS. In his free time, he likes to spend his time driving and listening to music. Carter plans to attend trade school and become an electrician after graduating.
Season Highlights:
The Arlington Tigers started the season off strong with many new and younger wrestlers placing at the JV Dragon Classic. This group of Tigers took first for Most Pins Least Time and Most Pins/Tech Falls Least Time as a team.
1st Place:
152B - Cooper Caskey*
160A - Michael Anderson*
220A - John Burke
2nd Place:
160B - Xavier Ware
182 - Dylan Smith
220B - Hunter Kammerer
3rd Place:
106 - Edge Leoncio
120 - Joe Marcin
4th Place:
126 - Jair Lopez
152A - Michael Granoski
*Caskey and Anderson also tied for the Most Team Points and scored in the top 5 for Most Pins Least Time and Most Pins/Tech Falls Least Time individually.
The Tigers swept the Turkey Duals with a 3-0 finish over Cordova, Millington, and Briarcrest.
Five Tigers worked hard against some local and out of town competition to place at the Stewart Schay Black Horse Invitational:
5th Place:
132 - Hunter Heflin
7th Place:
106 - Austen Barker
152 - Cooper Caskey
8th Place:
120 - Joe Marcin
HWT - John Brown
The boys worked together as a team at two dual tournaments. They went 3-2 to take 9th place out of 16 teams at Clarksville Slamfest. Then, they took 7th place out of 19 teams at the Diamond State Duals.
The boys put the work in and placed at two more JV tournaments:
Panther JV Invitational:
120 - Jair Lopez, 4th Place
120 - Case Zuendel, 2nd Place
160 - Michael Anderson, 2nd Place
182 - Dylan Smith, 1st Place
220 - Hunter Kammerer, 2nd Place
Freshman/JV City Championship (Left to Right):
JV 170 - Christian Taylor, 4th Place
Fresh 106 - Edge Leoncio, 4th Place
Fresh 120 - Jair Lopez, 3rd Place
JV 152 - Michael Granoski, 3rd Place
Junior and returning state finalist, Hunter Heflin, showed his skill by medaling in three out of town tournaments. Heflin pinned his way to the finals where he lost a close 5-8 match to take 2nd at 132lbs at Bring the Hammer. He also pinned his way into the finals of the GP West Invitational and fell 3-5 to take 2nd place at 126lbs. Heflin took 4th place at the oldest tournament in the state, the Johnny Drennan '85 Memorial. This hammer also eclipsed his 100th Varsity win with a pin against Collierville.
Congratulations to our Region 8 and Section 4 placers!
1st Row (L-R):
Austen Barker, 4th Place in Region at 106lbs*
Joe Marcin: 3rd Place in Region and 3rd Place in Section at 113lbs (State qualifier as a Freshman!)*
Jair Lopez, 4th Place in Region at 120lbs
2nd Row (L-R):
Hunter Heflin, Region Champion and Section Runner-Up at 126lbs (Two-time state qualifer)*
Carter Zuendel, Region Champion at 138lbs
Cooper Caskey, Region Runner-Up at 145lbs
3rd Row (L-R):
Dylan Fritz, Region Runner-Up at 152lbs*
Michael Anderson, 4th Place in Region at 160lbs
Dylan Smith, Region Runner-Up at 170lbs
4th Row (L-R):
John Burke, Region Runner-Up at 182lbs
Walker Funk, Region Runner-Up at 220lbs*
*Denotes Tiger Pin and Takedown leaders for the season:
​Wrestler | Pins |
​Hunter Heflin | 33 |
Dylan Fritz | 17 |
Walker Funk | 14 |
Joe Marcin | 13 |
Wrestler | Takedowns |
Hunter Heflin | 91 |
Joe Marcin | 43 |
Austen Barker | 35 |
Dylan Fritz | 34 |
TSSAA State Championships:
Freshman (113lbs) Joe Marcin and Junior (126lbs) Hunter Heflin qualified for the state tournament. Joe Marcin fell in his first match of the tournament to a returning state medalist. Marcin then picked up a second-period Pin on the consolation side of the bracket. He battled hard but then lost a tough match 4-12. Marcin had an outstanding seaso, and we can't wait to see him on the podium next year. Heflin picked up a Technical Fall in his first match but fell by a Decision to a familiar competitor, returning state champion, and now four-time medalist. Heflin cinched a Pin and Decision on the consolation side of the bracket before losing a very close 2-4 match. He won his second state medal with a second-period Pin (2nd at 120lbs in 2022 and 5th at 126lbs in 2023)! Congratulations to these two on an amazing season.
The final shoutout goes to our amazing assistant coaching staff. They were officially presented with their Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year Award for the state of Tennessee for 2022. Congratulations to these outstanding coaches. Thank you for all you do for the program and the wrestlers! Left to Right: Thomas Schlather, Andrew Sossaman, and Gary Miller (Not Pictured: Todd Roaten)
Great job on amazing season boys! We are looking forward to next year. Thank you to our parent volunteers, booster club board, coaches, and sponsors who made this season a success.
