tilt43

hootowlhollow & Da Bears - Thanks. Both your comments are appreciated. I did not realize that Bradley had so much support from the AD, baseball, and football programs. That is awesome!! I hope everyone in your wrestling community realizes how fortunate you are in that regard. It is so very frustrating trying to convince the boneheaded coaches around here that wrestling compliments their sports. Instead of being open minded and considering the benefits, they ignorantly discourage it in hopes of having their athletes play/practice their sport year-round. Oh well, we'll just have to keep fighting the good fight... Congratulations on another great season!

dominate in wrestling? Seriously, just check the records and you will see that Chattanooga has won the vast majority of State Dual and Traditional State Team Titles. This is not to say that Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville have not produced some incredible individual talents (I don't have enough time or space to name them all). Traditionally, Knoxville and Memphis appear to be the weakest Regions, but it was only two years ago that one of these Regions produced the best wrestler in the state pound for pound. Who would argue that Brandon Wright was not the most talented wrestler in the state in 2007. Both his state titles were won by battling two of Bradley's most decorated wrestlers - Spain and Cregan. And his victories were not flukes - check the Bradley Central results during those same years... So, this leads me back to my main question - if the obviously weaker Regions of the state can periodically (and I emphasize "periodically") produce the best talent in the state (and if not "the" best, at least comparable to the best), why is it that these Regions have such a difficult time competing overall. Is it because... 1) coaching - I think this explains part of it, but we can all agree there are some really capable coaches in these Regions... 2) talent - are other sports competing for and attracting the better athletes in these Regions? 3) competition - there is no question that competition raises the bar... 4) youth wrestling - it is definitely growing in these regions, but years behind Chattanooga and Nashville 5) lack of collegiate exposure - does Chattanooga have an advantage due to UTC? Bradley Central is the standard by which all other programs are measured. But what is it about Bradley that allows them to maintain their standard of excellence. I will concede that Steve Logsdon is a great coach (and Turner Jackson also deserves a lot of credit for the program's success). But let's be real - for all you coaches out there, you know that you cannot turn chicken sh-t into chicken salad. There are so many other factors other than "solid" coaching that are necessary to build a successful program. So, what is it about Bradley? Is it the small community? The blue collar mentality? Do they have to compete with year round baseball and soccer programs that are attracting the areas best talent? Do they have to deal with ignorant football coaches who think football players are better served moving dead weight than bodies that fight back? Is basketball a big draw in the area as it is in Knoxville and Memphis? I believe that a rising tide carries all boats and nothing would make me prouder than to see the great state of Tennessee start making a name for itself on a national level. But in order for this to happen, the state as a whole has to lift its game. And that is going to mean areas like Memphis and Knoxville are going to have to start pushing the programs in Nashville and Chattanooga. Any and all thoughts are welcome...

Is everyone having this conversation is Jake gets "caught" and pinned in the quarters versus having to forfeit due to INJURY! Wrestling is a tough sport and every athlete has an opportunity to keep his hopes alive by winning on the mat (this isn't diving, gymnastics, or figure skating), which Salada did not do. Jake won the match and competed like a true champion not surrendering because he was hurt. Everyone on this board would have done the same back when they competed. I am sure the decision to forfeit was not made until AFTER the match and was made in Jake's best interest. I can promise you that no one feels as bad as Jake does right now. I don't know Jake but he appears to be a fine young man and IS an incredible athlete. He was on track to potentially (he still would have had to beat Tolbert which everyone knows that match could have gone either way - two great kids) add his name to an elite group of Tennessee wrestlers who finished their careers 3-1-1-1. I feel confident that the decision to pull out broke his heart. Plus, let's not forget that we the fans missed out on a great opportunity to see two horses go at it in the finals. Would there have been a more anticipated match-up in the finals?? So, let's all agree that we need to move to a double elimination tournament for the sake of the KIDS. But please stop crying foul because Jake pulled out. Jake was not trying to screw anyone. I would bet that there were a lot of tears shed over that decision... And you know, even if we go to a double elimination tournament, there will still be kids that in everyone's opinion should have medaled but didn't. It happens every year at the NCAA tournament. In our sport, the best wrestler doesn't always win, the wrestler that scores the most points or gets the pin does. Everyone enjoy the finals tonight and celebrate the accomplishments of all the athletes that did EXACTLY what they had to do to get to the podium - wrestle the guy that lined up across from them on the mat.

For the record... The medal count for the Simpson boys stands at 11 State Titles: Phillip 4x Patrick 3x William 2x John Michael 2x Wow! That is quite a feat...

I agree 100%. However, please don't forget about the other 8th grader that finished 3rd @ 103 - Mark Simpson. These three kids are special and it will be a treat for the TN wrestling community to watch them compete with each other for the next three - four years. The wrestling fans will definitley be the benefactors... Congratulations to both Daniel and Josh, as well as dad... Everyone knows that Brian has logged the "miles" over the years to ensure that his boys were exposed to the best competition available. Let this be a lesson to everyone - to succeed in this sport (as well as life), you have to embrace competition, not run from it... Great job & well deserved!

Soms- Agreed. The kid is fearless. It is kids like this that make our sport so great and fun for the spectators. But I have to disagee... Have you seen the quads on the kid? Loosing a leg would definitely drop him more than two weight classes.

With Christmas right around the corner, what two wrestlers competing head-to-head at a neutral site would be at the top of your wish list this year? Merry Christmas!

Guys we know this isn't going to happen, because Kelly will not bump up and B can't cut the weight. Don't get me wrong, this match would be great for the fans, and an instant classic. Both wrestlers are extremely sound technically and have great coaches in the corner. Would definitely be worth the price of admission... As for the winner, I would have to go with the guy with the better head-to-head record: Wright 2-0. If they compete at 160, I definitely go with Wright as the weight/power factor comes into play. Brandon is extremely sound on his feet and very explosive when he wants to be. Honestly, I have yet to see him really open up in a match of this caliber. And if they compete at 152, the match is much closer as B would be feeling the effects of cutting the extra eight pounds. But, nothing is a sure thing, especially when you have two kids as talented as Kelly and Brandon. Both young men are capable of squeeking out a victory. Man this would be a great match-up!

It would be great for our sport to see Wright versus Felix at the Rayn Invitational. That is one thing I truly admire about Brandon is his thirst for competition. It is refreshing to see a kid who is not scared to lay it on the line week in and week out. That is one of the reasons he is in the position he is today - he is battle tested. However, the cut to 152 would not be easy... He is a SOLID 160 pounder. So, we shall see... stayed tunned wrestling fans.

I'm not sure of the order, but Brandon took him down three times, cut him once, gave up an escape, and was hit for fleeing the mat in an attempt to stop/counter a Creagan takedown. Having said this, it appears that Wright controlled the match from start to finish. I was not there, but heard this from a very reliable source... Great kid who works extremely hard!!

Congratulations Brandon! You da man.

It was Matt Keller two years ago, and I agree with mtnman.

Since the split, we have witnessed many more 2x, 3x, & 4x time state champs. The class of 2004 included many great wrestlers that either won multiple championships, were in the finals multiple times, or were 4x (or in Scott's case and I think Leen's case - 5X) place winners. DI - Cordell (3x), James (3x), Gipson (3x), and others DII - Simpson (2x), Hiller (2x), Leen (4x), Manley (2x), Scott (4x), Marable (2x) and others I probably missed a few (totally unintentional). Other than little Dunning (2x), how many returning champs have multiple titles? It seems to me that next year will be the first year since the split that this has occurred. Just a thought. I know there are a lot of very talented young wrestlers that are eager to join this elite group of champions. Who will be the next Gipson, Leen, Scott, James (you fill-in the blank)? I don't know, but it will be fun to watch....... Good luck to all the 2004 medalists and participants. Remember: winter champions are forged in the summer!

o.k. I'll throw my two cents in as well. Gipson, James, Leen & Scott all capped off amazing careers. I hope they have the same success at the next level or this summer in Fargo if they choose to compete. However, I think what Bundy did at 112 (DIs) and Marable did at 152 (DIIs) should have been considered. Both of these kids won their first championship by defeating returning champs. This is always a tough decision because there are several ways to look at it. Do you give it to the kid that had the toughest route to the top of the award stand or to the most dominate wrestler (usually a guy that either pins or controls every match handily throughout the championship bracket)? Every year there are several kids that are deserving of the award. And very rarely can you make the argument that the kid who takes the hardware home should not have received it. Congrats to Gipson & Leen (well deserved) and all the other 2004 Champions!

o.k. And who might that be? I mean the group whom you consider to be the best in the west.