TO338

Wait...I'm confused. You say each region only has 1 Top 100 tournament, then you said you haven't seen any Memphis kids at any of your top 100 tournaments this year??? I understand that there is only 1 top 100 REGIONAL tournament, but each region has several top 100 tournaments during the season. Which is my point. Only 1 of those top 100 tournaments is within 200 miles of Memphis, besides the REGIONAL which is 166 miles away. How many top 100 tournaments do you have within 200 miles???

Just be glad you're not a Memphis wrestler. Looking at the schedule, there's only one Top 100 tournament within 200 miles. Wait, I'm sorry...I'm wrong. The Regional tournament is only 166 miles away. Ugh! Which is why you won't see Memphis youth wrestlers in the TN Top 100. It should be called the Middle & East TN Top 100. I say that a little tongue in cheek though, for several years we had to drive almost 300 miles to Cookeville for a Regional tournament. Yes...that's right, over 4 hours driving one way for a REGIONAL tournament. How regional is that??? So, I guess you could say...it's getting better??? The funny thing is, they finally let Memphis host a TN AAU Regional tournament last year, and so many complained about having to make the trip, just weeks before, they went ahead and created a whole new region. Ha! Numerous years of West TN traveling hundreds of miles Eastward, couldn't change it. But, one year of those in the East traveling West...Bang!!! Welcome to the newly formed Region 5 everyone. With that said, I've got a van with 300,000 miles on it that I'll sell ya cheap!

I think AAU has enough suggestions and nominations. I think they're wanting your time, commitment, sacrifice and involvement. Or better yet, your blood, sweat and tears.

Deer meat stew sounds good...

Way too many excuses when Cleveland loses. Injuries and extenuating circumstances are not exclusive to Cleveland wrestling. Fact is, CBHS has beaten Cleveland twice this year, and has not been full strength either time. Let the spinning continue...

That's exactly what I'm going to do. Get a clue? Believe me, I've got one. You dont have a lot of choice. You can man up, wrestle JV tournaments that have a 98 lb. division or join the AV club. Hit the weights, put on as many lbs as you can and hope you get some help from mother nature before february. You may want to reconsider your attitude, as I may know a little bit about the subject. By the way, these kids are cutting down from a lot more than 112. Especially with the allowances.

Man up.

Every team deals with all of the same issues. The Bro's lost a high seeded wrestler in the finals due to injury, which likely cost them big points. Also, had 2 back ups wrestling. Far from full strength. It's a sport of attrition. But, if you want to do some homework, check out the CBHS, Cleveland head to head matchups. I think you'll be very surprised.

Track wrestling screw up. Oliver pinned Debien.

CBHS has 8 in the finals.

Boo Hoo??? Good 1. Who said anything about the need to validate their success? Is that what you got out of what I wrote? I referenced the lack of respect from the rest of the state. For example, the post "Region 7" has 85 replies. "Possible region 1 finals matches" has 67 replies. The Father Ryan tournament has 24 replies. But, Bros crack the intermat top 50 got 1 reply. Why do people ignore it, was and still is my question? Seems like a big deal. Like I said I'm new here, but how many other teams from TN have ever broken the national top 50?

I'm relatively new to this board, but am amazed at how quiet it gets when CBHS success is brought up. This forum continues to complain about the lack of respect there is for TN wrestling, and how can we grow TN wrestling. Then one of it's HS teams gets some national attention and breaks into the top 50....again, and all you hear is crickets around here. Seriously??? Is it bias, jealousy, what? Why the complete lack of regard? One freaking reply on this accomplishment, as I watch this completely ignored post slide down the board into oblivion. Even though I'm new, it sure didn't take long to sense the disdain,and disconnection with what's going on with other side of the state. If Baylor, McCallie, Soddy or Cleveland, etc. were to hit the top 50, this board would totally blow up and we'd never hear the end of it. I can hear it now, "FINALLY TN. WRESTLING GETS SOME RESPECT!!!" Yet when the bros do it...(1) solitary reply. Congrats Brothers on a fine season so far. Congrats on thumping Archer, Neosho, among others last week, and setting a 52 year old Illinois HS tournament record with most points scored. Congrats for bringing national exposure to TN wrestling. Your hard work, sacrifice and dedication is paying off. Nice job! By the way CBHS has already beaten Mater Dei, IN and Mexico, MO today in St. Louis...not that anyone east of Jackson, TN cares.

Yeah...that was a good 1.

CBHS sent 6 wrestlers to the finals, and ended with 5 tournament champs. The 665 points that they tallied is a 52 year tournament record. Congrats Brothers! Beating teams like a tough Archer, GA, and #42 intermat.com ranked Neosho, MO. should get the Bro's some national attention.

You wouldn't judge a feeder strictly on their high school success? Isn't that what the term "feeder" is referring to? Feeding the high school programs??? What better way to judge how strong a feeder club is than by how well the program succeeds that it's feeding?

AAU State is not a proper litmus test. Success at the High School level is a better indicator of how strong the feeder is. I would definitely consider the Wave Club a great feeder club. Located in a very weak wrestling area, they have managed to feed into CBHS and turn the Brothers into a top team in the state and even get some national recognition. Not to mention that a few former Wave wrestlers have been ranked nationally in High School.

Team scores heading into the finals... 1. Christian Brothers (Memphis) 636.0 2. Archer 577.5 3. Lincoln-Way Central 563.0 4. Neosho 461.5 5. Lincoln-Way West 382.5

CBHS 06, 13, 20 and 26 advance to the semis in the gold brackets to start day two, as Acher's wrestlers fall in the same weights. Latest score... 1. Christian Brothers (Memphis) 489.0 2. Archer 427.5 3. Lincoln-Way Central 421.5 4. Neosho 365.0 5. Lincoln-Way West 320.5 6. Granite City 300.5

Results?

Ignorant.

What leads you to believe 106 is weak?

I know opinions are like butts...everybody has one and they all stink. But, as far as out of state wrestlers are concerned, For the record, I do think they should be a part of a TN. club, and should only compete in one state tournament no matter where they reside. However, let me tell you a story. When my son was young, we went to a "no weigh-in" tournament in Branson, MO. I remember it was a round robin, and every kid was going to place top 6. But, there was this one wrestler who had an obvious size advantage over everyone else. He was just plain BIG, and ended up taking 2nd. At the end when medals were being handed out, all of the parents were complaining about the BIG kid and how unfair it was. Everyone except one set of parents...yep, that's right...the parents of the kid who took first, and beat the big kid. They just grabbed their medal and quietly walked away. So...off the record, I say, "Bring it!" BEAT EM', and you won't care where they're from, or how big they are. You'll just quietly walk away while everyone else does the complaining for you.

I was just jerking your chain a bit. Congrats for a strong showing once again! However, while your population theory has some merit and looks good on paper (especially with other sports like football and basketball)...with wrestling, I don't believe it holds as much water. Tradition and opportunity mean so much more! For example, since you brought of Chatt...I could take the best you have to offer from your 300,000 people and travel to any number of small towns of 20,000 in IA, PA, OH, MI, MN and they would have no problem keeping up with you. Now based on your contention, how could that be??? Because they are from parts of the country that are steeped in wrestling tradition with lots of tournaments, coaches, clubs, strong competition, etc. On the flip side, I'll take that same Chatt team against the best the entire state of Mississippi has to offer out of 3 MILLION people, with zero wrestling tradition. Guess who wins easily??? It ain't rocket surgery. Bottom line...if you come from an area that lacks wrestling tradition and opportunity, I don't care how many people you have. With that said, on average, Region 3 had a state champion for every 16.5 wrestlers. New Region 5 had one every 16.78. Looks like our best are competing very well with your best. And, if your population theory is as valid as you contend, you really better look out.

You're wanting to compare the size of the cities, and that's it? Well my friend your view point is quite skewed...size doesn't matter...just ask your wife. The location has a lot more to do with it. Memphis, for example, borders Mississippi and Arkansas, which are not hot beds for wrestling to say the least. Up until 3 or 4 years ago, wrestling was not even a High School sanctioned sport in Ark., and I'm quite sure it's still not in MS. A far cry from the East side that borders wrestling states. If you still don't believe me that location is more representative than population...why are almost all of the TN AAU tournaments east of Nashville? In the (6) years I've been involved in TN wrestling, do you know how many AAU tournaments have been in Memphis? One. When Memphis was finally awarded a Regional tournament, it's my guess that many people didn't want to travel that far west, hence another region (5) was created. Which is hilarious, because Memphis has been traveling for years to the Cookeville area for the West Regional. Imagine for a moment if Chattanooga had to travel over 4 hours to attend a regional tournament. Do you think your participation in that regional would be as high? I highly doubt it. Don't even get me started on demographics. As you can see, size of the city has very little to do with it. Location is more the issue. With all of that said, I'm not here to burst your bubble, I'm just saying look out...the west is on the rise.

Not sure what the final number of participants were at the State tournament. But, based on Regional participation, Region 3 had 330 wrestlers and Region 5 (the furthest west region) had 235. Which means that Region 3 had a Champion per 16.5 wrestlers, and Region 5 had a Champion per 16.78 wrestlers. I'd say the best of the west are competing just fine with the beast from the east.