Led by outstanding wrestlers Luke Hall (Jr.) and Michael Raimondi (Senior), the Seymour Eagles Wrestling team finished their successful season on a high note in the Individual TSSAA Division 1 State Wrestling Tournament.
As a team, Seymour finished 20th out of 143 teams in point standings.
Hall and Raimondi both made the semifinals before bowing out.  That’s the highest finish of their careers.  Just one more win and they are wrestling for the state championship.
Raimondi dominated his first two matches then beat Nathaniel Monlina form Heritage who had beat him twice this season in the Quarter finals.
Raimondi fell short in the semi-final match and finished with a 6th place medal.
Luke Hall won his first three matches before falling 2 points short in the semi-finals to a very tough Jack Boone from Notre Dame High.
Hall easily won his next match before losing in overtime to Deandre Morrison form Clarksville NW.  Hall pinned Morrison in the quarterfinals, but his loss in overtime to Morrison earned him a 4th place finish.
Cody Watson (Senior) dominated his first match before falling to a tough East Ridge wrestler; Micah Kidd.
Joe Wisell (Senior) capped off his wrestling career with two outstanding wins in his first two bouts.  Wisell pinned Logan Ridenour, a tough Maryville High wrestler and Ben Vigneur of Hardin Valley, another tough wrestler.
In the quarter finals, Wisell suffered a season ending injury to his back while wrestling the eventual State Champion, for Blackman High School, Michael Kennedy.
William Jordan lost his first round match and was eliminated after the wrestler, Donovan Roberts, who beat him lost in the next round.
Trent Williams was eliminated the first round by Damean Sawyer of Harper.
The Eagles wrestling team had an outstanding year. They won the IMAC Championship, The Sevier County Championship, The District Duals Championship, Regional Duals runner-up, Regional Invitational Runner-up, and 20 th out of 143 teams in the TSSAA State Championship.
“The Seymour wrestling team has had a fantastic year. Coach Cate and the wrestlers should be commended” said Athletic Director Gary Householder.
Seymour wrestling Coach Alex Cate had this to say about the kids’ performances as well as the season as a whole, “I was very proud of the way our team performed at the State Tournament. It has been two years since Seymour had earned any individual state medals, and it was great to bring home two. This weekend was a great wrap up to a great season.”
The Seymour Herald would like to thank Coach Alex Cate for all his cooperation.  Congratulations on a great season, Coach!

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