barbwire

I based this picture off of what Coach Blair was told by the TSSAA. CoachBlair - "As far as the duals go, probably the main change is the finals in DI AAA, DI A-AA, and DII will all be wrestled at 7:30 on mats 1, 2, and 3 in the east endzone where the majority of the seating will be available. This will allow everyone to have a chance to view all 3 matches at once." I actually think that works, and my picture rendition is definitely not to scale, just a close guess on mat size vs arena size. If the put the mats in the center of the arena they would be too far away from the seats. I see the top mat being DI A-AA; middle mat being DI-AAA and lower mat DII-AA. Fans will have to pack it in on that end and they may even utilize the (bleacher seating) for overflow.

Is this how the set up might look for the dual meet finals?

DI brackets are posted!!! http://www.tssaa.org/2010Champions/StateDualWrestling/AAABracket.htm

Thank you very much for the response Coach Blair. While I knew there would be costs involved in the rental of the stage, I certainly did not ever think it would be so expensive. One solution to cut this cost in half would be to go with the idea of having only 1 mat for the individual finals. Going with your calculations we would then only require 2500 sq ft of stage. Wrestle all the conso finals on multiple mats earlier in the afternoon on opposite end, stage would be set up on the other end in preparation of finals. Alternate DI and DII matches at each weight. It would be a huge crowd pleaser!! Also Kudos on the ice cream, that will go great with the roasted pecans!!

Coach Blair, Can you please give all of us a preview of any changes or improvements that are in the works for the venue set up for state? duals and/or individuals? thank you in advance!! (duals are only 10 days away)

This topic was started to renew discussions from after state last year and offer suggestions as to how to improve this event. Not to re-visit the same old complaints. We would all be doing ourselves a huge favor by realizing that the TSSAA gets this venue for FREE, and unless another place offers the same deal, it will not be moved. Therefore we just have to adapt and improve the given facility and how this event can become what the wrestlers and fans deserve. Coach Blair and all involved did an incredible job last year, after all it was the first year at a new place and Joe himself said they would work to improve it for year 2. I was simply asking him if he could let us know if there have been any changes in the set up of mats, scoreboards, etc. The one most repeated complaint heard was about the finals and separation of the mats. I offer a solution to this that will work for the finals. Set it up on 1 end of the arena, 1 mat raised on a platform like NCAA's and other states do like Ohio and I think GA. You would simply alternate matches on this mat between D1 and D2 at each weight. The atmosphere would be electric with all the fans packed into one end of the arena, spot lights on the mat. Just change the schedule and begin the finals 1 hour earlier and everyone would get out of there the same time as last year. We have to embrace the fact that this is where state will be for years to come, so let's try to improve it by offering positive ideas.

With State looming I was just wondering if there have been any strides taken to improve the overall experience for the wrestlers and fans for 2011. ie: raised mats for finals, mats closer to the stands, lighting, ice cream vendor?? Inquiring minds want to know, .... Maybe Coach Blair can update us on the progress.

Matcat, Can you please give us an updated list of teams that WILL be there tomorrow?

Coach, does this also apply to the JV and Frosh kids?

Any other teams forced to pull out due to weather/school closings?

I hope Williamson County decides to open tomorrow!! If they do remain closed, can the tourney still happen on Saturday?

Does this also mean that Soddy will not be allowed to go to Science Hill?

CoachBlair, Just curious, Does that +4 also include the JV/frosh weigh ins?

I would have to say that any school who travels out of state to compete, especially if they go north, is seeing very tough competition and in most if not all those cases much tougher than they would see within TN borders. Not a complete list but for example: Baylor - to MN for The Clash and to Collins Hill for Kyle Maynard Duals McCallie - to OH for Fairfield Inv. Father Ryan - to OH for Moeller Super Duals and also Kyle Maynard Christian Bros - to IL and MO as well as KC for toshiba in past years. I am certain there are a few others, but those are the first that come to mind

I am sure there will be a few of these boys going down a weight class from their current rankings. Ortale from MBA was @ 112 last weekend, and I think Robinson from CBHS is also certified @ 112.(EDIT: I was mistaken, Tate is @ 119 and has been all year) I am sure there will others that drop this weekend. Should be quite a few interesting matchups!!

RMC, Please give us all some details if you were there. So far, these are the only results I can find. from Collins HIll website: Event: Cougar Invitational (FL) Placers 1st- 215: Nick Holbert 2nd- 103: Sean Russell 2nd- 112: Drew Ferguson 2nd- 125: Bazell Partridge 2nd- 189: Mac Bennett 3rd- 140: Steven Bradtmueller 5th- 152: Andrew Krawulski 5th- 285: Zach Carmin 6th- 160: Michael Spikes

RMC said, "it's a rebuilding year." Where is your other annual statement saying "the Hill" will be struggling to put 14 wrestlers on the mat!! Not that you needed it, but you all did receive the easiest pool draw for Cleveland.

I am pretty sure that RMC was referring to coachknepper's overall rankings of the #3 vs #2 match from Dec 4. 12/4/2010 Baylor School TN Soddy Daisy High School Home Old Timers L 30 - 35

A proposal would need to be brought to the tssaa that states that there will be one classification for all scholastics sports that are considered individual (in nature). Wrestling being the most obvious and most vocal group, but other quick examples are track, tennis, bowling, etc. A broad proposal like this might actually get a foothold with support from many sports, wrestling is the driver behind it, but the more people behind it statewide is what it would need for the tssaa to even consider going back to one classification. All other "team" sports could remain the same, after all, it was football that caused the divide, let them stay divided.

I must first say that everyone involved in holding this tournament did an incredible job being their first year for such an event. And as always there are going to be some things that can improve the experience for all, wrestlers as well as fans. I agree with KingGreene that the lighting was horrible, I and many others I spoke to had a headache from our eyes being strained all weekend. I described it as perpetual dusk in there. This is a simple fix for the venue that would improve all the events they hold there. The layout of the mats could be vastly improved. Platforms could be implented to raise the mats off the dirt floor. These do not have to be very high, just a good flat surface. More importantly the mats could be moved and layed out closer to the seats, the scorers tables and clocks could be moved to the center creating a center aisleway for on deck wrestlers and no blocked views of the mats or clocks. As fans we could then be closer to the action, thus making it easier for the refs to hear us. As far as room, there was plenty of room and empty mats to hold double elimination. Friday afternoon, it was a ghost town over on the DI side. 4 empty mats just begging to have an extra round of consolations wrestled on them. Easily enough time for double elimination. While I would have liked for the finals mats to be closer together to watch both divisions, I am sure they split them to create the maximum amount of seating for each mat. Surrounded on three sides instead of only two. They could improve on this in a couple of ways, wrestle all matches on one mat, alternating DI then DII at each weight class. They could just start an hour earlier. Or TSSAA could do away with the divisions and we could have just one mat and one true state champion. This is an individual sport and classifications/divisions have no business in this sport. Lastly, the TSSAA has missed the boat on this entirely. This is such a marketing hot spot for many companies. You could have people talk to many wrestling companies such as Dollamur mats and we could have wall to wall mats, with room for warming up. Scoreboard companies that would die at a chance to have their scoreboards in a marquee event. Just a couple of many opportunities that were missed and can be improved upon.

zack hermann vs hunter allen

Looking for clarification on if the following is how TSSAA scores state tournament: 2 team advancement points shall be scored for each match won in the champoinship bracket, except for the final first-place match. If a wrestler receives a bye in a round where at least one match is wrestled, he shall be awarded 2 advancement points for that bye if he wins his next match after the bye. 1 team advancement point shall be scored for each match won in the consolation elimination, except for the final third and fifth place matches. A wrestler who has received a bye in a consolation round where at least one match is wrestled shall receive one advancement point for that bye if he wins his next match after the bye. 2 additonal points for each match won by default, disqualification, fall, or forfeit. 1 1/2 points for each match won by technical fall. 1 additional point for each match won by major decision. Placement points: Tournament scoring 4 places: 14-10-7-4 Tournament scoring 6 places: 16-12-9-7-5-3 Individual placement points shall be awarded as soon as earned. Placement points already earned shall be deducted in case of forfeit (other than injury) or disqualification from the tournament.

shootfirst wrote "Having the dual state after individual would make for a weeker dual tourny.Most of the seasons excitement would be over and fewer people would be interested in the state duals.Some Nortern(ILL.) teams have trouble keeping wrestlers after individual state ends.After there individual chance at a medal ends many of the seniors quit and don't wrestle in the state duals." First, I would like to know which Illinois teams have trouble keeping wrestlers. I have never seen this as an issue in IL. If you have dedicated kids, especially seniors, they want to win dual state more than anyone else. For most seniors it is their last time they will ever wrestle competitively. Very few go on to wrestle in college. If you have kids on a team, that are not dedicated, committed to the program, 9 times out of ten those same kids will not be on varsity to begin with. If the desire is there to win a state championship and that goal is set at the beginning of the season, the drive to an individual title is then translated into going further to a dual title with all your committed teammates.

Concessions did run out of water Saturday, hopefully this will be remedied on the 19th-20th. Pizza was pretty good too, but definitely missed the ice cream. Could have put those awesome glazed pecans on cone had there been ice cream!!

silverpie wrote "but the idea of deciding entries to a dual-meet tournament by an individual tournament is a bit silly, " How is this silly? If you have a team full of individuals that are good enough to place in regionals, then that will be reflected in the team points. The top 3 individuals for each weight then go on to sectionals. The school that wins the regional will compete in the duals. I fail to find any sillyness in that at all. If you cannot compete individually in your own region, as a team you will not compete in dual state, because most would be blown out of the water in a dual anyway. How does this not make perfect sense to you?