State medalist Hayden Harrell signs with King

June 3, 2026 by Ken Lay

When Hayden Harrell arrived at Clinton High School as a freshman, he was simply trying to find where he belonged.

He found that place on the wrestling mat.

Harrell competed for the Dragons for two seasons before transferring to Anderson County High School, where his wrestling career reached new heights. As a senior in 2026, he earned a spot on the medal stand at the TSSAA Class A State Championships, finishing fourth in the 144-pound weight class.

Now, Harrell will continue his career at King University. He recently signed with the Tornado during a ceremony at Anderson County High School and also participated in a signing event alongside teammates from White Buffalo Wrestling.

The accomplishment marks a remarkable journey for Harrell, who didn’t begin wrestling until high school.

“When I was a freshman, I didn’t really fit in anywhere,” Harrell said. “I started wrestling and I fell in love with it.

“For me, it was something to do, and I just fell in love with the sport.”

A former baseball player, Harrell discovered his passion on the mat and steadily worked his way from novice wrestler to state qualifier and eventual state medalist.

“I played baseball until my freshman year, but the thing I like about wrestling is that we’re all a family,” he said. “I’ve had great coaches.”

Harrell has also excelled in the classroom. According to former Anderson County C oach Matt Slone, he is only the fourth male wrestler from the Mavericks program to continue competing at the collegiate level.

“Off the top of my head, he’s the fourth guy we’ve had go on to wrestle in college,” Slone said. “Hayden is a great young man, and he has the tools to succeed both academically and athletically.

“I think he found a good fit for him, and I look forward to seeing him get the opportunity to step in and contribute right away.”

Harrell’s rise is particularly impressive because he started wrestling later than most successful competitors.

“Hayden began wrestling when he was a freshman, and you don’t often see somebody start wrestling that late and then make the state tournament,” White Buffalo Wrestling Coach Clint Wolfley said. “But Hayden competes and trains year-round.

“Since he has worked year-round for four years, it’s like he’s been wrestling for several years. He will do well in college.”

Harrell will remain relatively close to home in Bristol, allowing family members to continue supporting him in person.

“It will be nice to have them come to the meets on the weekends,” he said. “They’ve been with me all along the way, and I’m so blessed to have my family come and see me compete.”

While staying close to home is a bonus, it wasn’t a deciding factor in his college search.

“I considered schools from as far away as New Mexico,” Harrell said. “I just wanted to pick the school and the situation that was the right fit.

“That didn’t really matter. I just wanted the best chance. It could’ve been five miles down the road or five hours away.”

He ultimately found that fit at King.

“The campus up there was beautiful, and I loved the coaches,” Harrell said.

He also believes the university’s smaller class sizes will help him thrive academically.

“I think I’ll grow and do a lot better in a small class rather than being one guy in a class of 300,” he said.

Harrell plans to major in exercise science and minor in business. Wrestling, however, will remain a central part of his future.

“I want to coach, either at a high school or in a gym,” Harrell said.