Blackman wrestling facility a total loss following fire

A fire at Blackman Middle School late Sunday night seriously damaged a building that housed four wrestling programs and their equipment.

There were no reported injuries in the fire at the school on Blaze Drive.

Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue Department Assistant Fire Chief Kim Lawson said Monday afternoon that the fire appeared to be accidental.

“The cause of the fire appears to be accidental and originated in the area of an exhaust fan mounted on the west wall of the building,” Fire Marshal Carl Peas said.

The building is a total loss, Peas said in a statement. Rutherford County Schools officials said no other buildings were damaged. 

"This stinks," Blackman assistant wrestling coach Eric Sacharczyk said.

After a mandatory "dead period" during which all school-affiliated sports activities were put on hold, Sunday would have been the first day anyone could have started practicing for the upcoming year. 

The Blackman High wrestling team wasn't the only program affected. Four teams use the building as their practice facility.

"You've got youth program, middle school program, high school and MTSU all practicing in that building," Blackman coach Ronnie Bray said. "Basically there are four teams displaced right now. It's something we'll have to figure out."

The teams that use the facility will be scrambling for somewhere to practice.

"We're so stretched for space," Blackman athletic director Scott Lawless said. "Right now we don't know about repairs of how long it would take. We may have to be creative."

Items such as practice mats, score clocks, uniforms and team benches were destroyed in the fire.

"We had everything over there," Bray said.

Fortunately, new competition mats the team recently acquired were being stored at Blackman High. 

"I've already had friends from all over — Northern Illinois, Penn State — calling and asking how they can help, talking about doing clinics as fundraisers," Sacharczyk said.

Added Bray: "It shows you what a great sport wrestling is. We battle each other tough, but when you need anything, it's like family."