D-B dominates Hardin Valley to claim sectional wrestling title

Dobyns-Bennett wrestling team overcomes weather delays to secure sectional championship

Jan. 29, 2026 at 8:55pm

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The Dobyns-Bennett High School wrestling team dominated Hardin Valley Academy 71-4 to claim the sectional wrestling title. The match, originally scheduled for last Saturday, was delayed multiple times due to winter weather before finally taking place on Thursday. Despite the disruptions, the Indians put on an impressive performance, with several wrestlers recording pinfall and technical fall victories.

Why it matters

Dobyns-Bennett's wrestling program has a strong tradition, and this sectional title is another milestone in their continued success. The team's ability to overcome the weather delays and still deliver a dominant performance showcases their resilience and commitment to the sport.

The details

Dobyns-Bennett wrestler Mason Jakob, a three-time state champion and the program's all-time winningest wrestler, set the tone with a quick pinfall victory in the 126-pound weight class. Other standout performances came from Vaughn Pulitzer, Wyatt Rogers, Luke Gardenhour, Rankin Burress, Hudson Ascough, and Ben Reichart, all of whom recorded pinfall or technical fall wins. Bryson Church, a junior, also reached a career milestone with his 100th career victory.

  • The match was originally scheduled for last Saturday but was delayed multiple times due to winter weather.
  • The sectional championship match finally took place on Thursday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Dobyns-Bennett High School

A high school located in Kingsport, Tennessee, known for its strong wrestling program.

Mason Jakob

A three-time state champion wrestler for Dobyns-Bennett and the program's all-time winningest wrestler.

Vaughn Pulitzer

A Dobyns-Bennett wrestler who recorded a technical fall victory in the 132-pound weight class.

Wyatt Rogers

A Dobyns-Bennett wrestler who recorded a technical fall victory in the 138-pound weight class.

Bryson Church

A junior wrestler for Dobyns-Bennett who recorded his 100th career victory.

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What they’re saying

“To be honest, it was a hectic week just not knowing when we're going to wrestle and if we were even going to be able to.”

— Mason Jakob

“It was awesome to do it back in the Dome. It's pretty awesome to have my family and all my friends here.”

— Bryson Church

“I really think we continue to feed off each other. The energy on the sideline is pretty neat. Collectively, everybody knows their role. I treat it like a puzzle and try to put those pieces together.”

— Wes Idlette, Dobyns-Bennett Coach

“It doesn't matter who's in front of us, we take them out. It doesn't matter if they're better than us, worse than us, ranked higher than us, we can beat them.”

— Mason Jakob

What’s next

The Dobyns-Bennett wrestling team will travel to the TSSAA Wrestling State Dual Meet on Friday, January 31, 2026, before competing in the individual state championships on Saturday.

The takeaway

Dobyns-Bennett's dominant performance in the sectional wrestling championship, despite weather-related delays, showcases the team's resilience, depth, and commitment to their sport. The program's continued success and individual milestones, such as Bryson Church's 100th career win, demonstrate the strength of the wrestling culture at the school.