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Ok. I simply cant be the bigger person here and not say anything to defend my 19 year old son. Yes I am Masons Dad. I’m sure I’m biased but I do try and view both my boys objectively and call it like it is. I feel it’s the only way to prepare properly for life. I certainly don’t think either are perfect angels and do everything right. How could they…..according to what I know….there is only one perfect being, and its none of us! First Mason is not the “Crown Prince of Tennessee Wrestling” as it was written. There have been numerous wrestlers from Tennessee, with accomplishments/accolades far greater than Mason. I can name a few right off….Jordan Leen, Matt Keller, Simpson, Kevin Ward, Nick Marable (all from different schools) that have gone on after high school and accomplished great things. Mason is just starting his post high school career. I would however, include Mason in with some of the best Tennessee high school wrestlers. I would not say he was the best or even close to the best. There are numerous 4 timer state champions, and two 5 timers. Mason won only three. But, he was a 5 time state finalist and OW once. He was a 3 time National Prep finalist, 3 time NHSCA finalist 1 time Champ, Fargo double AA. He had the the great fortune of competing on a cadet world team. He received the State Dave Schultz award. In my opinion he was a pretty good high school wrestler. These accomplishments in high school mean absolutely NOTHING at this next level. Mason has just started this chapter and yes it has not been pretty thus far. Without being able to see in the future, I cant tell you what hes going to accomplish or not accomplish at this next level. But I assure you he wants to make the line up at Cornell. Hes experienced a couple of setbacks with injuries actually starting with a completely torn PCL and slightly torn LCL and posterior corner ligaments damaged in his knee back from summer prior to last season. He was off the mat for 6 months then. He reinjured the same LCL (no tear) at fargo again this summer. Missed another month plus before heading to Cornell. Had a great preseason of training there and then came down with something that rendered him unable to even snap his fingers with either hand. After numerous dr visits and another month off the mat, that was cleared up with medicine and gratefully not returned. 2 days after returning to practice, he injured his ankle spraining ligaments. Another 2 plus weeks off the mat yet again. Finally on December 16th after getting home for the break he got back on the mat to try and prepare the best he could for the Scuffle. Obviously I knew he was not prepared for this tournament, but he was not going to miss it for anything. It was apparent he doubted his readiness as well and was intimidated to wrestle Joe Smith right out of the gate. No question he was gassed very early into his second match. I agree with the comment for calling injury time to catch his breath….not acceptable in my book either. But im not the one out there competing knowing a lot of eyes are on him hoping he fails, confused and scared of what happens if he loses again. I can only assume he truly felt he couldn’t breath, panicked and called for injury time. I disagree with the fact he does this frequently. Hes wrestled big time situations like this before and should have been able to overcome this. But he didn’t….so we have a discussion and point out his faults and where he needs to improve. Believe me there are a lot of areas needing improvement. Like I said previously, don’t know the future, but I know him…. He will not give up on what he really wants! I realize my post may be viewed as a parent offering up excuses for his child, and that’s fine if it is. That’s not why I responded though. I just thought IGNORANT people might need some enlightenment, so the next time they attack the character of someone they do not obviously know, they have all the background. They might still have the same opinion of Mason after getting to know him?? Again I am his dad and maybe blind to some of his faults, but I most definitely do NOT think he is the villain some have attempted to make him out to be. I have told him to view these comments. I hope he does it in a way he can learn from them, make it positive and not only see it as a personal attack from individuals hiding behind screen names. Hoping only to see him fail. I thank you once again for another learning opportunity for Mason!! Please let me know if you would prefer my thank you in person. Darren Reiniche

Aaron never won the the Ryan tournament. Phillip Simpson 4 Time champ

Congrats to all those who made this one happen. Congrats to Kentucky's region one for tearing it up & just over the line couldn't help but notice Isbell stepping it up!!! No surprise with FR, Cleveland and Bradley rising up to the occasion... Love these (traditional and developing) hotbeds in our area!!! Congrats to Blackman ...and Myers, Bradford, Sells, Gomez and Boyce also meeting the challenge!

Barb182, Union would have most likely topped 300 with the 113 alone as he would have probably made the finals and they didnt even enter a 113. IF Union had both Paxton at 195, who prob finishes 2-4 depending on the bracket and scores around 25 points AND Matthias who makes finals the minute he weighs in ( beat Coffey in last yrs finals at 220), who would score north of 30 team points, they would have threatened 350! The two backups at 195 and Hwt only scored 12 team points combined. Those 12 points would have been replaced by about 55, plus the 30 or so scored by their 113 added to the 276 makes me think that 350 team points would NOT have been a stretch at all for them to score at this yrs tournament.

Snapdown, I saw the kid at a camp about a year and a half ago or 2 yrs ago. He was with Coach Nichol at McCracken Co and moved with him to Paducah Tilghman. The kid is an ANIMAL for his age. He will be able to pick where he wants to wrestle. Remember his name. He is a SPECIAL TALENT!!!

Yes sir, Isbell has now won three in a row at the Ryan tournament as well as having a third place finish his freshman yr. Christian only lost one match during his 4 yrs at this tournament and that was to Zeke Escalera in the semis of his 9th grade season. Great job!!!

Hart will be the best post player we have faced this year. She is very skilled! We can’t put GC on the FT line either. I think they shoot 105% from the line! Ha

https://www.robertsoncountyconnection.com/opinion/columnists/thank-you-yellow-jackets-for-what-you-have-taught-us/article_41beef2a-264c-11ea-9970-ebfcd7777d47.html?fbclid=IwAR2wYqrDnaHpTjVZVj3iJf0g75PlSsOwlLwkqRCyGFYytgXbeV1f03xtx7Q#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_ Good read!

Amari Rodgers, not Omari. Mr. Tee " Tiger Touchdown " Higgins. Great idea for a post JSamson7.

HEY OAK RIDGE FANS!!!!! Go to YouTube and search prepradio. You have got to watch the replay of the Oak Ridge vs Clinton boys basketball game from tonight . Football players Isaiah Johnson, Preston Turner and Jonathan Stewart all had nice games and one was the hero.