SAC

But we continue to digress... My intent was to figure out how me move forward. I offered a few thoughts. I'm interested in other suggestions.

I just think the guys are misinformed about Greco. Recently was at a tournament and the referees were calling techs at 8-points... If these guys don't understand how can we expect the kids. Too many people think Greco scoring is all big throws!

New guy... facts are Thursday night kids weighed in for the TN state freestyle and Greco tournament, which was wrestled Saturday. Therefore these are weigh-ins two days before competition... completely different from USAW regional and national tournaments. You can spin it anyway you want, the facts remain the same, we are talking apples and bananas but you choose to say fruit. Fruit they are but really nothing alike. The next set of facts are... the reason this was done had more to do with making things easier for the "tournament director", much like using Ironman medals to recognize state place winners, and completely missing the mark that kid aren't wusses cause they don't wrestle Greco. Please see my original post... in particular the participation paragraphs.

Seeing as how you are wishing to debate the issue... If you don't wrestle the first style you must weigh in before the second. That is pretty cut and dry. You sir are attempting to make a situation fit your argument. Furthermore, no one at USAW was in support of our chairman's decision. And that substantiates exactly what we are saying!

After yesterday's tournament several thoughts are running through my mind... if we are going to improve we have to identify weak areas and work towards strengthening them. First, participation… We need to find a way to get more wrestlers to wrestle the Olympic styles. While it’s still wrestling, they are different. We talk about burnout but then a number of programs do nothing but folkstyle all off-season. It doesn't have to be formal for everyone either. Look at what Illinois does with developmentals. These are informal tournaments allowing wrestlers to come together to compete. Wrestlers are grouped by weights and paired with like experience. Three or four matches in each style gets wrestlers and officials plenty of mat time without the formal pressure. Second, we need to figure out how to get kids together regionally. If the organization could find a way to plan, or allow, clinics coupled with developmentals across the state (not one or two areas) the dividends will be well worth the effort. Third, officials... Goodness gracious spend the money to get officials... If we don't have the numbers or the experience, bring them in from elsewhere. Lastly, our current chairperson... the TWF chairperson is a cog in the wheel. This organization is about the wrestlers and not you. Reading your post on the weigh-ins for the state tournament suggests you are in this for reasons other than the organization. For the record, the USAW event director disagrees with your weigh-ins two days prior to the state tournament. I found it ironic how you mentioned following USAW rules yesterday regarding coaching certification levels… and were off the mark. These are required at Regional and National level events, not state tournaments.

All of this rhetoric only serves to tear down our sport. Parents, coaches and wrestlers talking about what division is better than the other! Who cares? Thankfully programs attend tournaments that cross division lines and the best wrestler that day, or over a course of days, is identified. Don't recall hearing Cody Brewer complain that Penn State, Ohio State or Iowa have better coaches, wrestling partners or more money in their wrestling programs. And to go one further, Zeke Mosiey didn't either. A champ and a runner-up not from perennial powerhouse programs. What's really bad is all this whining is teaching kids how to make excuses... How pathetic!

Hmm! Seems to me that I recall AAU agreeing to leaving December off the list of available tournament dates. I know they sneak the "developmental" tournaments in but now a full blown, no mistake about it Top 100. What gives?

How many views will this get...

What county in western PA?

Oh, it was really one of those comments better left at dot, dot, dot...

...

I think his point was that the TMSAA's restrictions wouldn't cause anyone in our area to even consider starting a middle school program. IMHO, an organization that is designed for athletics should never serve to limit a them if that is what its real mission is... Unfortunately many believe that the TMSAA and TSSAA are more concerned in creating revenue than opportunities for their athletes. Age and weight divisions serve to provide an equal playing field... the only other matter I could see either involving themselves in would be one state tournament or a large school and a small school division. Simply because wrestling isn't as prevalent here as other states... I know this is where the private versus public school issue surfaces but in our neck of the woods unless you attend a city school (well, former city school now as a result of the merger) you have to pay to play sports in the public school. Plenty of public schools on Intermat's Fab 50 rankings...

In the traditional wrestling states this is something that happens all over. Kids travel hours to workout with one wrestler simply put because he knows that one guy will make him better. And that one guy knows he is the reason that other wrestler came there so he will push himself to stay on top. This comes from confidence. Confidence from coaches and wrestlers alike. This also breeds confidence. Lets face it, there is no one formula for building champions... its finding that room, that technique and that coach that works for you. This is why kids move to other clubs and schools; looking for that right fit for them. Guess how these kids find that right fit? Open doors. After all, we as club coaches are doing this for the love of the sport and not the love of our accomplishments. I can't speak to California as I have no experience there, but its not a secret why some of the toughest wrestlers in this country come from Iowa, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Ohio. Mike Hatcher brought that concept back to the state this year, with the Tennessee Training Sessions... getting those kids who want to train with the best our state has to offer together in the same room. It only grows from there. How we progress it in our region will be seen for years to come at the state tournament.

purple wins

Fair enough.

There is no advantage to getting the whole state in on a middle school season, as it is regulated by the TSSAA... and adding M to that title doesn't change the fact that their regulations only serve to restrict the growth of our sport. The boys will get enough "guidance" from TSSAA during the four years they have to follow their "guidelines".

Cadet - 94 1st Place - Michael McAteer of Gateway Elite Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Joshua Saunders of Purler Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Matthew Doucette of St. George`s Cadet - 100-106 1st Place - Alec Clark of Grappling with Character 2nd Place - Cameron Pitchford of Panthers Youth Wrestling 3rd Place - Cole White of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Matthew Matherne of Monroe Wrestling Academy Cadet - 113 1st Place - Bryce Wittman of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Keaton Jones of Mustang Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Colin Jones of Mustang Wrestling Club 4th Place - Austin Dye of Mighty Bluebirds Cadet - 120 1st Place - Kevin Roach of Central Arkansas Christian 2nd Place - Kevin Aaen of Monroe Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Peyton Wooten of Dragon Wrestling Club Cadet - 126 1st Place - Joshua Ayliffe of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Blake Standridge of Purler Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Matthew Webre of Monroe Wrestling Academy 4th Place - Zack Collier of Dragon Wrestling Club Cadet - 132-138 1st Place - Gaige Long of Panthers Youth Wrestling 2nd Place - Clay Spicer of Arlington WC 3rd Place - Patrick Maginn of SBA Youth 4th Place - Bishop Gates of Wave Wrestling Club Cadet - 145-152 1st Place - Layne Hatcher of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Jimmy Noel of Mighty Bluebirds 3rd Place - Thomas Brackett of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Eric Hodge of Wave Wrestling Club Cadet - 145-152B 1st Place - Parker Ruffin of St. George`s 2nd Place - Johnathan Mock of Mustang Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Chip Ward of Dragon Wrestling Club 4th Place - Austin Spicer of Arlington WC Cadet - 160-170 1st Place - Daniel Hileman of King Select Wrestling 2nd Place - Jones Casper of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Zachery Bruce of Dragon Wrestling Club 4th Place - Andrew Hamilton of Wave Wrestling Club Cadet - 182-195 1st Place - Max Darrah of GAC Elite 2nd Place - Patrick Healy of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Andrew Enzor of Arlington WC 4th Place - Spencer Scardino of Dragon Wrestling Club *B brackets are beginners or in some cases beginners and average wrestlers to increase the occurrences of high level competitors meeting one another

Schoolboy - 77 1st Place - Connor McAteer of Gateway Elite Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Dayne Dalrymple of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Tanner Koester of King Select Wrestling 4th Place - Mason Sutton of SBA Youth Schoolboy - 77-84B 1st Place - Garrett Johnson of Dragon Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Luke Spencer of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Thomas Taylor of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Alex Majuri of St. George`s Schoolboy - 84 1st Place - Joshua Saunders of Purler Wrestling Academy 2nd Place - Rt Noel of Mighty Bluebirds 3rd Place - Dregen Smith of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Samuel Pitts of Monroe Wrestling Academy Schoolboy - 91 1st Place - Chase Brock of GAC Elite 2nd Place - Robert Griggs of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Andrew Godier of Jr. Spartans 4th Place - Caleb Morgan of Arlington WC Schoolboy - 91-98B 1st Place - Chris Lovato of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Josh Prather of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 3rd Place - Parker Douglas of Arlington WC 4th Place - Dalton Kilpatrick of SBA Youth Schoolboy - 98 1st Place - Logan Johnson of King Select Wrestling 2nd Place - Corey Wait of Jr. Spartans 3rd Place - Malik Johnson of Team Punishment 4th Place - Alec Clark of Grappling with Character Schoolboy - 105 1st Place - Jared Skaggs of King Select Wrestling 2nd Place - Brantley McHugh of Grappling with Character 3rd Place - Michael Gordy of Monroe Wrestling Academy 4th Place - Catherin Mays of A-J Jr. Wildcat Wrestling Schoolboy - 105-112B 1st Place - Cannon McLarnon of Dragon Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Patrick Tardy of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Jake Hurley of St. George`s 4th Place - Trey Royalty of St. George`s Schoolboy - 112 1st Place - Jake Justice of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Brooks Sacharczyk of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Shaan Dunn of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Tyler Longo of Elite Wrestling Academy Schoolboy - 120 1st Place - Kenneth Walker of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Brendan Davis of King Select Wrestling 3rd Place - Harrison Phillips of Arlington WC 4th Place - Billy Smith of Monroe Wrestling Academy Schoolboy - 120-128B 1st Place - James Schleider of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 2nd Place - Cole Peppers of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Andrew Joyner of St. George`s Schoolboy - 128 1st Place - Eli Hodge of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Turk Wigley of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - John Hirsch of King Select Wrestling 4th Place - Austin Antcliffe of Elite Wrestling Academy 5th Place - Caleb Lindow of St. George`s Schoolboy - 136-145 1st Place - Connor Costello of Monroe Wrestling Academy 2nd Place - Christian James of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - John Hamer of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Austin Wall of St. George`s Schoolboy - 152-160 1st Place - Langston Isaac of Mustang Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Luke Sutton of Monroe Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Ben Sawyers of St. George`s *B brackets are beginners or in some cases beginners and average wrestlers to increase the occurrences of high level competitors meeting one another

Novice - 60 1st Place - Matthew Minick of King Select Wrestling 2nd Place - Charles Kimbrough of Best Trained Wrestling 3rd Place - Charles Hannah of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Colby Baltz of Mustang Wrestling Club Novice - 60B 1st Place - Kain Laub of Arlington WC 2nd Place - Jason Donnelly of Elite Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Justin Wilson of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Novice - 65 1st Place - G Flerlage of GAC Elite 2nd Place - Evan Binder of GAC Elite 3rd Place - J R Schuler of SBA Youth 4th Place - Connor Baltz of Mustang Wrestling Club Novice - 65-70B 1st Place - Danny Phillips of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Max Wallace of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 3rd Place - Tim Bula of SBA Youth 4th Place - Austyn White of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Novice - 70 1st Place - Kenneth `Tripp` Mays of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Dayne Dalrymple of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Lucas Lovellette of Purler Wrestling Academy 4th Place - Ethan Wasson of GAC Elite Novice - 75 1st Place - Jacob Sinn of Jr. Patriots Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Caleb Winston of Mighty Bluebirds 3rd Place - Foster Salvaggio of Wave Wrestling Club Novice - 75-80B 1st Place - Camden Zuendel of Elite Wrestling Academy 2nd Place - Andrew Artiles of Elite Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Dalton McNutt of Dragon Wrestling Club 4th Place - Noah Dillard of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Novice - 80 1st Place - Emmanuel Oliver of Mustang Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Hayden Trezek of GAC Elite 3rd Place - Jackson Smith of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Austin Brooks of Elite Wrestling Academy Novice - 85 1st Place - John Ryan of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Tucker Spiecha of Mustang Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Baylor Williams of Mustang Wrestling Club 4th Place - Hayden Baudoin of Arlington WC Novice - 85-90B 1st Place - Sam Fuhrman of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Cole Stewart of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 3rd Place - Hart Gowen of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Kobe Tarkington of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Novice - 90 1st Place - Chase Brock of GAC Elite 2nd Place - Connor Billingsley of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Jeffrey Ince of Elite Wrestling Academy 4th Place - Evan Anthony of Wave Wrestling Club Novice - 95 1st Place - Dylan Allison of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Garrett Johnson of Arlington WC 3rd Place - Jackson Schneider of Dragon Wrestling Club Novice - 105 1st Place - Trey Maranto of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Paul West of Arlington WC 3rd Place - Gracie Daniel of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Novice - 120-130 1st Place - William Bevis of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Carson Rutherford of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Duncan Williams of Wave Wrestling Club Novice - 140+ 1st Place - Zach McCollum of Elite Wrestling Academy 2nd Place - Duncan Williams of Wave Wrestling Club *B brackets are beginners or in some cases beginners and average wrestlers to increase the occurrences of high level competitors meeting one another

Intermediate - 55 1st Place - Ben Skaggs of King Select Wrestling 2nd Place - James Dylan Mays of Mighty Bluebirds 3rd Place - Christopher Dye of Mighty Bluebirds 4th Place - Colby Baltz of Mustang Wrestling Club Intermediate - 55-60B 1st Place - Cannon Pennington of Elite Wrestling Academy 2nd Place - Max Roeder of Dragon Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Weston Armstrong of Elite Wrestling Academy 4th Place - Daniel Swilley of Wave Wrestling Club Intermediate - 60 1st Place - Cameron Cavins of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Damen Pullen of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Douglas Sattler of Arlington WC 4th Place - William Kimble of Dragon Wrestling Club Intermediate - 65 1st Place - Dylan Cockman of SBA Youth 2nd Place - Jared Glatzer of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Brayden Phillips of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 4th Place - Myan Seay of Wave Wrestling Club Intermediate - 65-70B 1st Place - Joshua Handloser of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling 2nd Place - Reilly Patton of Elite Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Austin Kilpatrick of SBA Youth Intermediate - 70 1st Place - Grover Mays of A-J Jr. Wildcat Wrestling 2nd Place - Ethan Wasson of GAC Elite 3rd Place - Aaron Sweatt of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Tyler Shoemaker of Arlington WC Intermediate - 75 1st Place - Steven Landers of Mighty Bluebirds 2nd Place - Brock Wittman of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Joshua Sellers of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Josiah Chiles of Glen Rose Avila Wrestling Intermediate - 80-87 1st Place - Hayden Trezek of GAC Elite 2nd Place - Chris DeLuca of Arlington WC 3rd Place - Vincent Lovato of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Noah Holcomb of Dragon Wrestling Club *B brackets are beginners or in some cases beginners and average wrestlers to increase the occurrences of high level competitors meeting one another

Bantam - 45 1st Place - Dru Kerley of Mooresville Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Kj Strong of Elite Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Hudson Salvaggio of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Devin Milsom of Arlington WC Bantam - 50 1st Place - Samuel Herring of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Isaiah Day of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Connor Nettleton of Arlington WC 4th Place - Bradley Mendel of Wave Wrestling Club Bantam - 55 1st Place - Nicholas Pesce of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Mason Butler of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Jack Stewart of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Landon Gilbert of Dragon Wrestling Club Bantam - 75+ 1st Place - Joel Brown of SBA Youth 2nd Place - Jonathan Davis of Dragon Wrestling Club 3rd Place - C.j. Weaver of Wave Wrestling Club 4th Place - Ethan Harris of Mustang Wrestling Club Bantam - 60-65 1st Place - Luke Hecht of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - William Smith of Wave Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Cooper Caskey of Arlington WC

Pre-Bantam - 40 1st Place - Elijah Herring of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Levi Cullum of Dragon Wrestling Club 3rd Place - Alexander Harris of Mustang Wrestling Club Pre-Bantam - 45-50 1st Place - Christian Romero of Wave Wrestling Club 2nd Place - Carson Pennington of Elite Wrestling Academy 3rd Place - Joshua Freeman of Arlington WC 4th Place - Cruise Collier of Dragon Wrestling Club

Thanks ALman. We were certainly excited about the numbers considering it is this early in the season, on the heels of Preseason Nationals and the weekend before the Tulsa Kickoff. Our competition always seems to be really good, but you're correct this year's competition was amazing. We had champions from Tulsa, Dixie, Ohio Tournament of Champions, Liberty, Indy Nationals and Super 32 just to name a few. As well, lots of national tournament place winners and state champions. Over a third of the competitors coming from other states. Already eager for next year... Quick breakdown on top three scoring. Team Champion was calculated using the average wrestler score... GAC Elite (MO) 16.1. King Slect (IL) 15.8 and the Mighty Bluebirds (AR) 12.95. Total scoring teams... Wave Wrestling - 686.5, Mighty Bluebirds (AR) - 259.0, and GAC Elite (MO) 161.0. Bantam Division OW - Dru Kerley (Mooresville Wrestling Club, NC) Intermediate Division - Ben Scaggs (King Select Wrestling, IL) Novice Division - John "Jack" Ryan (Wave Wrestling Club) Schoolboy Division - Eli Hodge (Wave Wrestling Club) Cadet Division - Max Darrah (GAC Elie, MO) And though we didn't give a best match award, thank goodness as there were at least three... With the level of competition locking horns this isn't hard to believe. However, the most anticipated match was between Joshua Saunders (Purler Wrestling Academy, MO) and Michael McAteer (Gateway Elite Wrestling Club). McAteer is an accomplished Missouri wrestler and has won a few national tournaments along the way. Saunders, also an accomplished Missouri was recently a Super 32 champion. The ante in this match was upped as Saunders was wrestling up an age division and spotting McAteer over 9 lbs. The older and heavier prevailed pulling out a reverse in the last period in a match of maintaining position. There was one injury to report but thankfully the wrestler from Monroe Wrestling Academy (LA) is home this morning. He will be sore for the next several days but should be back on the mat again soon.

There has been a schedule and location change for early weigh-ins tomorrow night. CHBS is hosting the first round of the Division II playoffs... In order to prevent a major headache in the parking lot at CBHS we have moved the location to St. Dominic School, 4830 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN, 38117. The school is located 2.2 miles west of CBHS. Please enter the school off of Avon Road and follow the signs to the new gym. Times have also been adjusted to accommodate their schedule. We will weigh in from 7-8 PM. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

Update... wrestlers from Louisiana, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Arkansas and across Tennessee. The field of competition is growing ever stronger. Still expecting registrations out of Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana and possibly Iowa. Many of the already registered wrestlers hold very strong resumes. Remember, registration closes Thursday night.