Fairview High School Head Coach Jim “Bubba” Derrick is excited to start his eighth year leading the Yellow Jacket Wrestling Team, and he is ready to see his wrestlers gain a strong physical advantage over their opponents this season.
The Jackets proved to be a worthy opponent during the 2019-2020 season, securing a 36-7 record – and the young men are eager to improve on that record this year.
According to Derrick, Fairview Wrestling is on a vision quest of their own this season.
After finishing as the runner up to Pigeon Forge in last year’s State Dual and State Traditional Championships, the Fairview Boys Wrestling Team is looking for its first team championship in school history.
And they could have a real recipe for success with the Jackets returning nine state qualifiers and placers from last season.
The returning wrestlers, their finish last season at state and their class are as follows:
Riley Bennett (2nd, Senior)
Malachi Bennett (3rd, Sophomore)
Kendrick Curtis (4th, Sophomore)
Marco Pukl (5th, Junior)
Jacob Clevenger (5th, Junior)
Blake Mitchell (6th, Junior)
Josh Helms (SQ, Sophomore)
The Jackets are also looking to seniors Brody Cox and Jacob Derrick and juniors Matthew Blaylock and Sam Hammond to contribute in a big way this season along with returning sophomores John Spicer and Keegan Seaver and a few incoming freshmen.
“The commitment level, experience, and talent of this team is evident with several grapplers wrestling at out of state camps and in national level tournaments during the off season,” said Coach Bubba Derrick.
Several wrestlers have their eyes set on individual State Championships as well.
Coach Bubba Derrick is thankful and optimistic, “It’s a long season, and there are a lot of unknowns with COVID. We are thankful for any opportunity to wrestle. We are taking extra precautions in the wrestling room and with our wrestlers every day, and these young men are working hard to level up at every practice. Our team goals are in sync and everyone has jumped out of the gate with effort, discipline and passion.”
Fairview opened their wrestling season last Tuesday, November 24 against Cheatham County Central with a 45-30 win. Coach Bubba Derrick noted, “With football season just coming to an end, many wrestlers are not yet at the weights they will compete at when State rolls around in February and some of the grapplers are working to knock the rust off.”
Several Fairview wrestlers won by pin including Malachi Bennett, Kendrick Curtis, Taz Donaldson, Keegan Seaver and Matthew Blaylock.
Coach Bubba Derrick noted, “While I saw some good things from several wrestlers, I also saw a lot of things we need to straighten out. We have a lot of young contributors on this team that we will be leaning on down the stretch.”
Several members of the team competed at a modified Father Ryan Duals Tournament Saturday where they faced some quality competition and gained some added time on the mats.
Joining Derrick as Yellow Jacket Wrestling coaches this season are Denny Mitchell, Biff Curtis and Tommy Derrick with Jeff Bennett serving as statistician.
FHS 2020-21 WRESTLING ROSTER
BOYS
Blake Mitchell, Junior
Sam Franks, Freshman
Allen Reynolds, Freshman
Riley Bennett, Senior
Arei Donaldson, Junior
Brody Cox, Senior
Malachi Bennett, Sophomore
Jacob Derrick, Senior
Julian Johnson, Sophomore
Marco Pukl, Junior
Jacob Clevenger, Junior
John Spicer, Sophomore
Keegan Seaver, Sophomore
Kendrick Curtis, Sophomore
Sam Hammon, Junior
Matthew Blaylock, Junior
Josh Helms, Sophomore
Boe Sanderson, Sophomore
Ethan Locke, Sophomore
Jeffery Anderson, Sophomore
Drew McCoy, Sophomore
Etien Mugnier, Sophomore
Sam Borre, Freshman
Wesley Pape, Freshman
Michael Maguire, Freshman
Noah Bates, Freshman
Josef Reynolds, Freshman
GIRLS
Livia Kelingos-Spain
FHS WRESTLING SCHEDULE
Nov 24 @ Cheatham, Creekwood
Nov 28 @ Ryan Duals
Dec 1 HOME Independence
Dec 3 @ Page
Dec 5 @ Harpeth Ind
Dec 8 HOME Dickson, White House
Dec 10 HOME Nolensville, Franklin, BGA
Dec 12 @ Cheatham Duals
Dec 19 @ Brentwood Academy Duals
Jan 1 @ Independence Maher/Garstin
Jan 2 @ Independence Maher/Garson
Jan 5 @ Summit
Jan 7 HOME Harpeth, East Robertson
Jan 8 @ Ryan
Jan 9 @ Ryan
Jan 12 HOME BGA, Ensworth
Jan 14 HOME Greenbrier, Hume Fogg
Jan 16 @ Brentwood HS Ind.
Jan 19 @ Sycamore, MLK
Jan 21 @ Open
Jan 28 @ MBA, JV
Jan 29 Region 4 Duals @ Harpeth
Feb 5-6 State Duals @ Ag-Center
Feb 12-13 Region 8 Ind. @ Millington
Feb 19-20 Ind. State @ Ag-Center
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