Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday! In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of high school sports with a focus on wrestling and basketball. Our host, along with guests Charles Pulliam and Tom Kreger, discuss the state wrestling tournaments, highlighting key matches and standout athletes from the mid-state region. We also explore the upcoming district and region basketball tournaments, featuring thrilling matchups and potential state champions. Special attention is given to the inspiring story of Jaden Bailey, a young athlete from Lebanon High School who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Join us for an engaging and heartfelt discussion on the latest in high school sports.

Welcome to another episode of High School Sports Saturday! In this episode, we dive into the exciting world of high school sports with a focus on wrestling and basketball. Our host, along with guests Charles Pulliam and Tom Kreger, discuss the state wrestling tournaments, highlighting key matches and standout athletes from the mid-state region. We also explore the upcoming district and region basketball tournaments, featuring thrilling matchups and potential state champions. Special attention is given to the inspiring story of Jaden Bailey, a young athlete from Lebanon High School who recently passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Join us for an engaging and heartfelt discussion on the latest in high school sports.

Growing up in a coaching family and now the owner of Mathews Team Sports, Tate Mathews brings a unique perspective to High School Sports Saturday.

With over fifteen years in the sporting goods industry in Middle Tennessee working with and for high school administrators and coaches, Tate’s relationships provide insight into middle Tennessee high school athletics.

High School Sports Saturday covers each sport during their respective competitive seasons.  Coaches, administrators, TSSAA officials and student-athletes are interviewed each week at 8 AM on 104-5 The Zone.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews

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High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 2-21-26

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager, high school sports editor for The Tennessean, to discuss the final day of the Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament and the upcoming postseason for high school basketball.

The conversation covers several key topics:

Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament


D2 Dominance: The discussion highlights the impressive performance of Baylor and McCallie in the D1 AA classification, with McCallie wrapping up the team title before the finals even began.


Cheatham County's Finalist: Rogelio Gonzalez of Cheatham County made it to the 285 lb final in Class A, a rare feat for the school. He faced Tyson Click from the Samuel Everett School of Innovation in Maryville.


Blackman’s Strong Showing: Blackman High School had three wrestlers reach the finals, including Andrew Workman (120 lbs) and Landon McLean (144 lbs).


Venue Appreciation: Both Tate and Kreager express their appreciation for the Williamson County AgExpo Center as the tournament's home, despite some minor complaints about lighting and Wi-Fi.

High School Basketball Postseason


D2 Region Finals: The region finals for Division II basketball began on Friday night.


CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy: On the girls' side, CPA and Lipscomb Academy prepared to face each other again, while on the boys' side, Lipscomb Academy and J.P. II (Pope John Paul II) were set for a major matchup.


All-Murfreesboro Final: In D2 Class A, an all-Murfreesboro final in the girls' division featured MTCS (Middle Tennessee Christian School) vs. PCA (Providence Christian Academy).


Mr. Basketball Snubs: They discuss a recent article about "snubs" for the Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically highlighting Cam Blivens of Lipscomb Academy and Trey Pearson as talented players who missed out on the final list.

Tribute to Jaden Bailey


The segment concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Jaden Bailey, a 17-year-old student-athlete from Lebanon High School who passed away after a four-year battle with bone cancer.


Despite losing his left arm to the disease, Bailey continued to play basketball and was an inspiration to his teammates and the local community.


His team played a district semifinal game on the night of his passing, honoring his memory through competition.

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager, high school sports editor for The Tennessean, to discuss the final day of the Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament and the upcoming postseason for high school basketball.
The conversation covers several key topics:
Tennessee State Wrestling Tournament
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
D2 Dominance: The discussion highlights the impressive performance of Baylor and McCallie in the D1 AA classification, with McCallie wrapping up the team title before the finals even began.
</li>
<li>
Cheatham County's Finalist: Rogelio Gonzalez of Cheatham County made it to the 285 lb final in Class A, a rare feat for the school. He faced Tyson Click from the Samuel Everett School of Innovation in Maryville.
</li>
<li>
Blackman&rsquo;s Strong Showing: Blackman High School had three wrestlers reach the finals, including Andrew Workman (120 lbs) and Landon McLean (144 lbs).
</li>
<li>
Venue Appreciation: Both Tate and Kreager express their appreciation for the Williamson County AgExpo Center as the tournament's home, despite some minor complaints about lighting and Wi-Fi.
</li>
</ul>
High School Basketball Postseason
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li>
D2 Region Finals: The region finals for Division II basketball began on Friday night.
</li>
<li>
CPA vs. Lipscomb Academy: On the girls' side, CPA and Lipscomb Academy prepared to face each other again, while on the boys' side, Lipscomb Academy and J.P. II (Pope John Paul II) were set for a major matchup.
</li>
<li>
All-Murfreesboro Final: In D2 Class A, an all-Murfreesboro final in the girls' division featured MTCS (Middle Tennessee Christian School) vs. PCA (Providence Christian Academy).
</li>
<li>
Mr. Basketball Snubs: They discuss a recent article about "snubs" for the Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically highlighting Cam Blivens of Lipscomb Academy and Trey Pearson as talented players who missed out on the final list.
</li>
</ul>
Tribute to Jaden Bailey
<ul data-path-to-node="8">
<li>
The segment concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Jaden Bailey, a 17-year-old student-athlete from Lebanon High School who passed away after a four-year battle with bone cancer.
</li>
<li>
Despite losing his left arm to the disease, Bailey continued to play basketball and was an inspiration to his teammates and the local community.
</li>
<li>
His team played a district semifinal game on the night of his passing, honoring his memory through competition.
</li>
</ul>

HSSS - Tom Kreager 

High School Wrestling State Championship Recap

Tate is joined by Charles Pulliam, sports editor for the Williamson Herald and host of the High School Power Hour, to discuss the 2026 Tennessee high school wrestling state championships. They highlight several key matches and athletes from the Williamson County area:

Notable Matchups and Athletes


138 lbs (2A): Reed Lawfull (Brentwood) vs. Tristan Collier (Green Hill). Lawfull, the 7th seed, reached the finals after a stunning comeback victory in the quarterfinals where he was down 9-1 with only 84 seconds left. Collier is the defending state champion.


144 lbs (2A): JD Longley (Ravenwood) vs. Landon McLean (Blackman). This is one of three finalists for Ravenwood, despite the team not qualifying for the duals.


150 lbs (2A): Ryan Dietrich (Ravenwood) vs. Kellen Sanders (Cleveland). Sanders is the defending state champion, while Dietrich has placed 3rd in back-to-back years.


157 lbs (2A): Zachary Little (Summit) vs. Luke Lozinski (Kirkwood). Little is a returning state champion and a multi-year medalist.


165 lbs (2A): Matt Anderson (Ravenwood) vs. Jonah Hill (Houston). Anderson, a standout football player, is a returning state finalist looking to end his high school career with a title.


175 lbs (2A): Brody Melzoni (Nolensville) vs. Barrett Waley (Knox Halls). Melzoni is a defending state champion with an impressive academic record (4.69 GPA, 35 ACT).


175 lbs (1A): Cole Neil (Fairview) vs. Lavelle (Anderson County). Neil reached the finals after a hard-fought overtime victory in the semifinals.

Additional Highlights


High School Power Hour: Pulliam mentions the show's move to Wednesday nights (8-9 PM) on 104.5 The Zone, featuring recaps of wrestling, basketball, and girls' flag football.


Girls' Flag Football: The sport was recently named an emerging sport by the NCAA and will be included in the 2028 Olympics. Tennessee is the 10th state to sanction the sport.


Surprises: Pulliam notes several upsets in the tournament, including the loss of both top-seeded 215 lb wrestlers (Henry Drazic and Jake Sentell) in the semifinals.

High School Wrestling State Championship Recap
Tate is joined by Charles Pulliam, sports editor for the Williamson Herald and host of the High School Power Hour, to discuss the 2026 Tennessee high school wrestling state championships. They highlight several key matches and athletes from the Williamson County area:
Notable Matchups and Athletes
<ul data-path-to-node="3">
<li>
138 lbs (2A): Reed Lawfull (Brentwood) vs. Tristan Collier (Green Hill). Lawfull, the 7th seed, reached the finals after a stunning comeback victory in the quarterfinals where he was down 9-1 with only 84 seconds left. Collier is the defending state champion.
</li>
<li>
144 lbs (2A): JD Longley (Ravenwood) vs. Landon McLean (Blackman). This is one of three finalists for Ravenwood, despite the team not qualifying for the duals.
</li>
<li>
150 lbs (2A): Ryan Dietrich (Ravenwood) vs. Kellen Sanders (Cleveland). Sanders is the defending state champion, while Dietrich has placed 3rd in back-to-back years.
</li>
<li>
157 lbs (2A): Zachary Little (Summit) vs. Luke Lozinski (Kirkwood). Little is a returning state champion and a multi-year medalist.
</li>
<li>
165 lbs (2A): Matt Anderson (Ravenwood) vs. Jonah Hill (Houston). Anderson, a standout football player, is a returning state finalist looking to end his high school career with a title.
</li>
<li>
175 lbs (2A): Brody Melzoni (Nolensville) vs. Barrett Waley (Knox Halls). Melzoni is a defending state champion with an impressive academic record (4.69 GPA, 35 ACT).
</li>
<li>
175 lbs (1A): Cole Neil (Fairview) vs. Lavelle (Anderson County). Neil reached the finals after a hard-fought overtime victory in the semifinals.
</li>
</ul>
Additional Highlights
<ul data-path-to-node="5">
<li>
High School Power Hour: Pulliam mentions the show's move to Wednesday nights (8-9 PM) on 104.5 The Zone, featuring recaps of wrestling, basketball, and girls' flag football.
</li>
<li>
Girls' Flag Football: The sport was recently named an emerging sport by the NCAA and will be included in the 2028 Olympics. Tennessee is the 10th state to sanction the sport.
</li>
<li>
Surprises: Pulliam notes several upsets in the tournament, including the loss of both top-seeded 215 lb wrestlers (Henry Drazic and Jake Sentell) in the semifinals.
</li>
</ul>

HSSS-  Charles Pulliam 

Marker 07

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager to discuss the 2026 Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically focusing on the girls' divisions. In Class 1A, the experts favor Zoe Nicholas from Pickett County, who is currently averaging nearly 30 points per game. For Class 2A, the consensus leans toward the standout player from Gatlinburg-Pittman, while Andrea Floras of Daniel Boone—a Mississippi State commit—is the top pick for Class 3A. In Division 2-A, Haylen Ayers of USJ is highlighted as a premier talent, described as one of the top three players in the country and a target for major programs like UConn. The discussion also notes Komora Fields and Cecely Brandmore as top-tier competitors, with Fields being lauded for her elite skill set despite being a "surprise" non-McDonald's All-American.

The conversation provides a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous selection process handled by a committee of statewide sports writers. Kreager, a former committee member, emphasizes that the panel strives for equal representation across East, West, and Middle Tennessee to counter any claims of regional bias. The selection process involves deep dives into player performance, including reviewing game film and Huddle highlights, and even gathering scouting reports from opposing coaches. Kreager describes the responsibility as a "duty" to advocate for players, noting that while only three finalists are chosen per class, the deliberation is intense and aimed at honoring the very best talent across the entire state.

Tate is joined by Tom Kreager to discuss the 2026 Mr. and Miss Basketball finalists, specifically focusing on the girls' divisions. In Class 1A, the experts favor&nbsp;Zoe Nicholas from Pickett County, who is currently averaging nearly 30 points per game. For Class 2A, the consensus leans toward the standout player from Gatlinburg-Pittman, while Andrea Floras of Daniel Boone&mdash;a Mississippi State commit&mdash;is the top pick for Class 3A. In Division 2-A, Haylen Ayers of USJ is highlighted as a premier talent, described as one of the top three players in the country and a target for major programs like UConn. The discussion also notes Komora Fields and Cecely Brandmore as top-tier competitors, with Fields being lauded for her elite skill set despite being a "surprise" non-McDonald's All-American.
The conversation provides a behind-the-scenes look at the rigorous selection process handled by a committee of statewide sports writers. Kreager, a former committee member, emphasizes that the panel strives for equal representation across East, West, and Middle Tennessee to counter any claims of regional bias. The selection process involves deep dives into player performance, including reviewing game film and Huddle highlights, and even gathering scouting reports from opposing coaches. Kreager describes the responsibility as a "duty" to advocate for players, noting that while only three finalists are chosen per class, the deliberation is intense and aimed at honoring the very best talent across the entire state.

High School Sports Saturday with Tate Mathews 2-21-26

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