When it comes to high school wrestling, sometimes just clinching the win is enough to make a statement. Summit’s Zachery Little knows this all too well. Fresh off a state title win in his junior year, Little stepped into his final season with high expectations on his shoulders.
“Being a ‘defending state champion’ is just a title,” Little remarked after edging out Kirkwood’s Luke Louzensky 5-3 in the Class AA 157-pound finals at the TSSAA state wrestling traditional championships. The showdown took place at the Williamson County Ag Expo in Franklin, and Little, an Appalachian State commit, showed that grit and determination can be just as powerful as dominance. He secured a crucial takedown in the opening period and followed it with a couple of escapes in the second, maintaining his edge over Louzensky.
“He aimed to slow me down, and he kind of succeeded,” Little admitted. “But you don’t have to dominate every match.
Not everyone’s going to roll over, and Louzensky certainly didn’t. That one key score made the difference.”
Little was one of four local wrestlers to reach the finals, but the only one to clinch a championship. Summit’s Samantha O’Leary, who had two third-place finishes in previous years, faced a tough match in her first finals appearance, falling 5-1 to Julie Parrish of Knoxville Halls in the 235-pound category.
“She got me,” O’Leary reflected. “I should’ve been more aggressive. I got too much in my head.”
A dual-sport athlete, O’Leary will continue her wrestling and softball career at King University. Despite not allowing a point in her earlier matches, she struggled to find her rhythm in the finals, scoring only a penalty point while Parrish capitalized on stalling points and a late takedown.
“It’s a bit disappointing, but reaching the finals was a huge achievement for me,” O’Leary said. “I’m proud of what I accomplished.”
In Class A, Spring Hill had seniors Kyle Nielsen and Nathan Highland in the finals. Nielsen, headed to Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) for college wrestling, narrowly lost 4-2 to Signal Mountain’s Ian McCallie, an eighth-grader who managed a decisive third-period takedown.
“I hesitated on offense and ran out of time to recover,” Nielsen said. “I focused too much on his moves instead of my own.”
Highland, making his first state tournament appearance, faced Pigeon Forge’s Ayden Hood, who secured his second straight championship with an 11-1 victory.
“It feels surreal to even be here,” Highland said. “I had some good moments, but we both ran out of steam by the end.”
Spring Hill coach Kortney Darnell emphasized the bigger picture.
“Nielsen’s a four-time state placer, a first for our school, and his career speaks volumes,” Darnell said. “One match doesn’t define him.”
She shared similar sentiments for Highland, acknowledging the pressure he faced.
Spring Hill also celebrated third-place finishes from senior Darian Vera at 138 and junior Carter Hostetler at 120, contributing to a sixth-place team finish in the tournament.
“That’s the highest in our region, and we brought the most kids and medalists this year,” Darnell noted. “We’re proud of our progress.”
Summit also had medalists alongside Little and O’Leary, with Blaise Masi finishing fourth at 120 and Mark Taddeo fifth at 132. Independence’s Laura Gupton claimed third at 145, while Doria Hamlet (107), Alice Gizzi (138), and Leo Roberts (165) each secured fourth-place finishes.
The local wrestling scene is thriving, with these athletes showcasing determination and skill, setting the stage for future success.