Marshall County’s Aaron Foster rejuvenated some history for the Tigers on Saturday when the junior grappler took fourth place in the 152-pound weight class at the Region 3/A-AA Wrestling Tournament at East Ridge High School in Chattanooga to qualify for this weekend’s TSSAA Wrestling State Tournament at the Williamson County Agricultural Exposition Arena in Franklin.

Foster became the first Marshall County wrestler to qualify for the state tournament since Justin Cathey in 2004.

“This is pretty great, I’m not going to lie,” Foster said. “I’ve worked really hard to get here.”

“It’s big weight off my shoulders, especially being the first Marshall County wrestler to go to state in like 20 years.”

The last Tiger wrestler to place at the state tournament was Josh Wiser, who finished in sixth place in the 171-pound weight class in 2000.

The sixth-seeded Foster came up with a first round pin over Austin Rogers from the Tennessee School for the Blind before winning by a 13-3 major decision over the number-three seed Brock Shipley from Signal Mountain in a quarterfinal match.

Eventual region champion Gavin Channell from Nolensville pinned Foster in the semifinals, sending him to the consolation round where he secured his spot in the state tournament when he pinned Caleb Edwards from Sequatchie County after trailing 7-2.

“I really didn’t think I was going to get him, he had me five points up, but I got my leg in whenever I finally got him down and put him in the three-quarter and got the pin,” Foster said.

Foster and Shipley squared off again in the third/fourth place match, won by Shipley on a fall.

“When you have the wrestler with the determination that Aaron has and to do what he has done is what we have been working for,” MCHS head coach Brian McGuire said.

Another MCHS junior also participated as Colton Haun won his first match in the 170-pound weight class before getting pinned by returning state champion Nick McClendon in round two.

Haun was awarded a forfeit win in his first consolation bout before taking down Avery Mayberry from the Tennessee School for the Blind.

The eighth-seeded Haun had to get past third-seeded Josh Bryant from Nolensville to qualify for the state tournament, but the Knights’ grappler came up with a fall to eliminate Haun.

“I’m very proud of both of them, we have been working really hard all year to get guys to this level,” McGuire said. “These two made it to region and one made it to state, so I’m very proud of them.”

“They have had a proud program here for many years and then disbanded it, so we are trying to build a foundation and have a good program again.”

Foster enters the state tournament as the 15th seed and opens up action in Friday’s first round versus two-time state medalist Ryan Wimbley from Alcoa. The Alcoa senior is the second seed in the 152-pound weight class and finished in sixth place (126 lbs.) in 2018 and fourth place (145 lbs.) last year.

Region 3A/AA Tournament

Saturday, February 15

East Ridge High School

Chattanooga, TN

152 Pounds-Aaron Foster (4th place)

First Round-Aaron Foster (Marshall County) over Austin Rogers (TSB), Fall (0.14).

Quarterfinals- Aaron Foster over Brock Shipley (Signal Mountain), Major Decision 13-3.

Semifinals-Gavin Channell (Nolensville) over Aaron Foster, Fall (3:06).

Consolation Semifinals-Aaron Foster over Caleb Edwards (Sequatchie County), Fall (2:18).

Consolation Final-Brock Shipley (Signal Mountain) over Aaron Foster, Fall, (0.34)

170 Pounds-Colton Haun

First Round-Colton Haun (Marshall County) over Pascual Reynoso Jacinto, Forfeit.

Quarterfinals-Nick McClendon (Forrest) over Colton Haun, Fall, (0.47).

Consolation Second Round-Colton Haun over Dylan Simpkins (Watertown), Forfeit.

Consolation Quarterfinals-Colton Haun over Avery Mayberry (TSB), Fall, (0.20)

Consolation Semifinals- Joshua Bryant Nolensville over Colton Haun, Fall, (0:14).