bloss44

I want to apologize for my "rant" last night. I have been worried about the Vandergriff family and so when I was told of some of the comments on this thread topic, I got frustrated. I am very grateful to Coach V and all the help he gave me not only during high school but long after. I was amazed that leaving Hixson and going west to wrestle on teams with Rulon Gardner, Derek Sanders, Randy Leydecker, Ken Kobes and many, many all americans, national champions; I was amazed at how an average wrestler could compete in a room with these guys but also contribute with them to a team championship and two top three finishes. When I took two years off to go on a church mission, it was coach Vandergriff that worked with me to get me in shape to wrestle again after so much time off. I felt very fortunate to wrestle against Tito Ortiz, Bobby Lashley, Michael Irving, Kendrick Simmons and in tournaments with Cael Sanderson, Lesner, Lords and many others. I believe that these opportunities came because he helped me see a dream through when no one else wanted to make the time. He went out on a limb for me this fall, encouraging Coach Hall to invite Blackman down, where I was coaching. Obviously that ended poorly and left his tournament short what may have been a good team. I just want to say I am sorry if that had any impact on the tournaments credibility and hope Tex23, CChulk and all the rest of you have a great christmas. I will stay off of here until I have a bit less on my plate. Besides, do you think someone can start a thread on how to put together toddlers/childrens toys? I've been getting my butt kicked by them for days now. Thanks.

Well Oochie, you may be eager to post but you haven't thought it through. They invited Walker Valley and they couldn't come. I know, I was there for the email exchange! they invited the team from middle tennessee that was supposed to give Bradley a run this year and they backed out. ( That was Blackman)When I, (yes it was me) was removed as coach and teacher and there was concern about something since I am a Hixson alum! ( I dont think anyone on here is shocked at that one) So the one day Tourney was set up to be a tough test for the cats. I dont mind your comments about the team, I might agree that they are underacheiving their potential (15-0 without a tournament Championship) and should be doing better BUT dont you dare disrespect a man who was taught by Connell and taught me and I either beat or wrestled guys you would like to have autographs from or pay money to watch! Roger Vandergriff was and IS a great coach and while it would be hard to find teams good enough to honor him, teams still gather to honor a great community and school that has a tradition, maybe more rich than any other school in the state!!!!! while others have won more titles, Hixson has one of, if not the best, 40 year average of any school. (only 2 .500 seasons!!! No, only Baylor can come close) I cannot imagine accomplished coaches like Morgan, Simpson (either one), Connell, Henry, Jordan, Jackson, Miller or Logsdon suggesting that this fine man ever backed down from a tough match!!! Vandergriff shows the class that any father would want for his son, by giving his best to his community. Please take this opportunity to retract your comments not only because it is close to Christmas and it would be Christian but because this man is going through more than you could ever know and your comments are out of line!!!! If you need to satisfy your desire to insult someone, insult me, I have tough skin and will find your insults better suited than toward this fine man!

The situation surrounding the Blackman meet vs Signal Mountain is simple. Thompson discussed the match with the coach at Blackman. When Blackman's coach was suspended, Blackman's current staff backed out of the Ooltewah Invitational, Vandergriff Duals at Hixson and a meet at Baylor. This was done at the request of the administration. No explaination as to why the change. Coach Thompson knowing that the coach was gone did not put it on his schedule. There was some miscommunication between all of these schools. Obviously there was not confirmation regarding the match on either side, so since neither team is in each others region, it is not a big deal. So this situation is just one part of a more unfortunate situation that should not be a reflection of the future of Signal Mountain's program (the thread topic) or the kids at Blackman.

Tex23, Thanks for posting that link. I am not happy that someone has suggested that the program in question and their amazing legacy is possibly tarnished because they have not wrestled certain schools. As a fan of this sport and someone who had to wrestle all schools in the state as anyone did prior to the mid 90's, you always want to see a level playing field when we honor the Champions of the post split era. Personally, Tennessee should go to a format similar to California's and have a masters tournament. This way The best will show up and it will help our state's credibility across the country. With that being said, I am a huge fan of Coach Henry and his attitude toward wrestling everyone.

Dude get real.....Ooltewah is very young,Soddy is overrated this year(right now),Hixson won the match fair and square,but its not like Hixson beat a Ooltewah team of the past few years.Owls have 4 seniors...Good luck the rest of the way,but calm down,it's not like you beat baylor or bradley.... Hixson only has THREE seniors on their team! (135, 160 ad HWT)Something to think about. I do wish they would wrestle Baylor but like Bradley they seem content to dodge the best at this time. They will wrestle Bradley at home on Jan. 5th. If the kids work hard keep their fight about them, maybe they can do what you both think is impossible. BUT I can remember when in the 70's and 80's Nobody ever would have thought Bradley would have become the power house it has. Maybe with Coach Hall, Hixson can renew their dominance of area teams. So let the kids be happy and good luck to your programs the rest of the way.

I had a chance to see some of their young ones this past summer and I think they are a lot closer than people think. Given the economy, it is no longer a given that everyone who lives on signal mountain is going to Baylor or McCallie. They have a great school with an amazing faculty and Principal.(I know I had him at Hixson!) So given these factors and a coach who comes from a great line of coaches; Thompson worked with Vandergriff, who was taught by Connell, it is safe to say that they could be a contender very soon. Obviously they werent up to beating Ooltewah, but neither was Hixson a year ago! Its amazing what a year can do for some programs. Signal also has a good feeder program at the Middle school, so it could happen very soon!

I guess the question of "is Hixson for real" was answered tonight when the Wildcats beat Ooltewah in the final match. The Wildcats, who lost 4 matches last season have avenged two of those in one week with strong performances against Soddy Daisy (#5 in the state) and Ooltewah. While Hixson has a week before it gets to prove IF it can be a tournament team, there is no doubt that they are one of the best Dual Meet teams in the State. Great win guys!!!

I believe Superhuman meant that as the defending Region 4 Champion, Hixson's wrestlers worked in the offseason to defend that title wherever they may face a region opponent, like Soddy. Also Hixson has had only two .500 seasons in its amazing 40+ year history and only in their first season in the late 60's did they have a loosing record. So as a dual meet program, Hixson is one of, if not, the best in our states history. Especially given the teams they compete against year in and year out. Hixson's challenge will be to return to their tournament prowess of the 70's and 80's. For me, I am waiting to see that happen on a regular basis and I am sure Coach Hall with Coach Vandergriff around will do just that!!! Still it was great to see two programs with a long history of not liking each other too much, go after each other.

Colby O'Brien is still on the team. Hopefully the others will return in time or find a great school and keep wrestling. They have been well coached by Kennedy and have to remember they wrestle for their community, their family and themselves. They are great kids who have been through too much drama. Hopefully they will find the success and happiness they deserve. Kennedy will be a great coach who deserves a lot of credit and appreciation at this tough time. Jones and Hamm are still there and will keep the kids in the room at the top of their game! Those two are great!

Blackman High School is once again having its early bird tournament. The event will be Nov. 7th. a BMI check will be offered again as well. Any interested team can contact Coach Blosser at blosserj@rcs.k12.tn.us or they can contact Coach Sean Jones at joness@rcs.k12.tn.us .

I might be a bit bias on this but you have to give the champs the title of favorites until somebody can beat them. Bradley will be the favorites in the big schools until somebody shows that they have the work ethic and toughness to beat them. Looking at all of the kids Hixson has coming back and their amazing performance in this years offseason tournaments, it's hard to imagine many AAA teams beating them this year. Obviously, one team near them went out and relocated most of the Chattanooga's most talented wrestlers to their school in the hope that they can compete with Hixson when they wrestle at Hixson in December. It is tough to give up the top spot, I'm sure no school wants to see Hixson return to their annual dominance of 20 years ago, before the split and the rise of other local programs.The Cats will be as good as their hearts take them. If they learn to be mean and work hard in the room. They could be unstoppable at any level. They also won their region last year beating the big boys. maybe they are the favorites there as well. It's a new year and time will tell. That's just one guys thoughts.

I think coaching is the key. There are several great coaches outside chattanooga but if you look at chattanooga's coaches it is like a family tree. Turner Jackson wrestled at UTC, you had coach morgan (baylor) at UTC as a coach. Coach Connell (McCallie) caoched at Hixson and MTSU and coached Hixson's coaches Roger Vandergriff and Soddy's Steve Henry. East Ridge great Danny Gilbert also a wrestler with great roots in various levels of wrestling. Steve Logsdon as well. I am pretty sure he wrestled at UTC. Cleveland's Eslinger, same story. Ooltewah's Coaches either come from legendary families for coaching or wrestled in college. Red banks coaches have a great past as well. I am sure I can go on about this but you get the point. Some people believe that great wrestlers do not always make great coaches. However if you look at great high school or college programs, you will find great wrestlers turned coaches. It is that experience and their exposure that helps them personalize the technique for each wrestler. until that happens you will have great individuals and not always great teams. One team outside Chatt-town that was impressive. I sure loved watching Cookeville. Hope our kids learn to wrestle just like them!

Thanks bro, The kids are working really hard and Garrick is running some great practices! They realize who they are and more importantly who Hixson is supposed to be. We still have a lot of challenges ahead of us, but certainly these are all steps in the right direction. I am hopeful that we are getting back to our past while we make a great future! Look forward to having you guys down here! Obviously your boys will have some great times! Thanks for supporting the black and gold!

Hixson won several district and region titles in the (70's) won it all in 73, second in 72 and third in 74, I think the order is right. They also stayed in the top 5 for a few years after 74 and had quite a few state champions. I am not too sure about the early 80's and the region championship, but they won the region in 87 and 90 as well. They had seven state champions (one Outstanding Wrestler) in the 80's. Its all on their website. Hixsonwrestling.com. Coach Connell (McCallie) coached there and one of his kids Roger Vandergriff took over in 84or 85 with him turning it over to one of his kids Garrick Hall. In between Connell and Vandergriff was Coach Copeland. So they have kept in the family so far.

I wonder if anyone is considering the 103 pounder from Red Bank? Also I saw this kid from Blackman wrestle Hammes (112)at the Bradley Tourney. It was real close til the end when the Blackman kid had to go for a desperation throw. I didn't see him at the duals. I can't say I know what grade he is in either or if he is injured like a few of their guys unfortunately are right now. As a fan of Hixson, I am hopeful some of their kids can shock someone at state. The Vandergriff Boy and Cole Stephens might. We'll see. It will be exciting!