gallopingghost77

Nope! I know that it takes a great deal of time and effort by a great number of people to host an event like this. I just believe that the people involved in this years duals deserve a pat on the back and a big Thank You for a job well done.

According to Ronnie Carter, at the time, high school wrestlers can wrestle during the dead period as long as THEIR HIGH SCHOOL COACH was not coaching them. When the TSSAA established the additional dead period following the end of the high school season, the event was no longer held. So, we decided to bring it back and support the TN Chapter of the HOF as well. Animal, I agree this will be a good event and I too hope that we have a good turn out.

I believe that Coach Blair and all those people who worked their tails off this weekend deserve a big NICE JOB! The venue was different and the longer I was there the more I liked it. The tournament went very well and was very well run!

High School kids can wrestle during the dead period as long as their high school coach is not in the gym coaching them. I hope we have a good turnout for a couple reasons. One, I like the idea of allowing the Fr and Soph compete against Fr and Soph on a this type of stage. Also, all Fr and Soph are invited, those who attend public and private schools are ALL WELCOME! Also, this event is one of the fund raisers for the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The GA Chapter does fund raisers including a golf tournament. We had the idea of putting together this wrestling tournament to help fund the TN Chapter.

For the individual tournament, the Blount County and Monroe County schools will be in the same region as Bradley and Cleveland. Maryville, Heritage, Alcoa, William Blount, and Greenback all went South. Maybe a few others, I have not looked up the total list. Sevier County HS, Seymour, and South Doyle go Northeast to Region I. Region II, for the most part, included all the remaining Knox County Schools, Pigeon Forge, and Union County.

Actually, according to the TSSAA Web site, Seymour is in region III for AAA Duals. So, Maryville is the Region III, AAA Dual Champions and Seymour is the Runner-up. Both qualify for state duals. For individual Regionals, Seymour, Sevier County HS, and South Doyle are in Region I.

There is a new Olympic Style Wrestling club in East Tennessee. Tennessee Pride Wrestling is proud to announce that Craig Johnson, former UTC Moc Wrestler and Former Carson-Newmen Coach will head up the TPW club. Flyers are currently being put together and the info will be posted on CoachT and flyers will be available upon request. Also, we would love to host a tournament and we have requested approved dates from the head of USA Wrestling in Tennessee. The TWPC will be based out of Pigeon Forge and practices will be conducted in our wrestling room. We would also like to set up some Dual Competitions with other Olympic Style Wrestling clubs in TN, VA, NC, KY, GA, and AL.

Here is a few more while I was thinking of it. Jefferson County: Waylon Lowe Maryville: Blake Ridenour Cleveland: I agree, Johnny Lenin (spelling) Baylor: Jordan Leen (National High School Champion and NCAA Champion)

Seymour, there are 3. Nick Breeden: State Champ and 1 time runner-up Craig Johnson: State Champ/ 1 x Runner-up, Robert Zeits: 3x State Medalist (as a JR he could not compete due to surgery).

The Pigeon Forge Tigers defeated Gibbs in the Region Dual Final to claim their first Region Dual Championship.

I cannot see how anyone could have any sour grapes against Luke Hall of Seymour. You will not find a better youngman, a harder working athlete, or a better student than Luke Hall.

WHO ARE THE 12 COACHES ON THE TSSAA FOOTBALL COMMITTEE AND WHAT SCHOOLS DO THEY COACH FOR?

Mike Reed has changed his mind many times in the past. He was against the change the last time and then changed his mind to support it. Isn't he at Morristown West HS? Wasn't the Morristown High Schools placed in 6A for the playoffs and then appealed and "poof" they were allowed to drop to 5A? Not saying that they shouldn't have been allowed todrop but I wonder how many schools were denied the opportunity to appeal/drop into the smaller classification?

Michael Bowerman. 98 lber from Cleveland back in the early 80's. Also, Johnny Lennon, another Cleveland wrestler. Heck, watching Johhny warm-up scared 1/2 the kids in the tournament. Not just the guys in his weight class, I mean 1/2 the kids, all weight class, in the tournament!

Maybe it is time for wrestling to use contracts like Football and Basketball teams use. If a team does cancel then they have to pay a fee to the opponent.

Let me clarify: some coaches had some good things to say about some of the leaders involved in the TSSAA, yet they still want to know how a change in policy, for example the current playoof system, can be made and how their voices can be heard. From listening, thats what they/we want is for someone who will really listen to our ideas and concerns. By the way, rumor has it that a change will be made to the playoff system next year. The change centers around what teams make the playoffs.

It is obvious that the TSSAA does not listen to the MAJORITY of coaches. The current TSSAA Football divisions and playoff system is proof. Why don't they listen? From talking to several coaches at the Big East Clinic yesterday, its obvious that the coaches are not happy with the TSSAA. A question or two that came up, which I had no answer for were: who does the TSSAA answer to? How are the "leaders" of this organization chosen? How are leaders removed/changed? Are there term limits for these leaders? Are all regional "Reps" really representing the interests of their region or are they representing their individual school school or school systems interests which they are employed?

Friday was a good day of sessions. Coach Johnson from GA Tech did not make it due to weather. Butch Davis, NC, spoke and did a good job. Also, Coach Chaney from UT spoke and did a good job as well. The Linebacker Coach from Tusculum did a real good job. This clinic is a good one. Russell Athletics was the Sponsor and really went above and beyond with give aways.

Congrats to Nick Smith, Defensive Linemen for Seymour, for being named the Mountain Press Sevier County Defensive Player of the Year. 3rd year in a row that a Defensive linemen from Seymour has won the award! Also, congrats for signing with Carson Newman!

It is a good clinic. There may be a good line-up on paper but there is usually a no show or two. I hope Coach Johnson is there because I am really looking forward to hearing him.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a safe and wonderful one!

I agree with everything in this statement and I could not have put it better myself. It is a good ole boy system. I am not saying that the players that made it didn't deserve it but there were a couple that should have made the All State team and and the East - West All Star game. One is Nick Smith from Seymour. Nose Guard, had 112 tackles, 16 for loss, and 9 QB sacks. He was a force in every game this year. He doesn't make but an offensive linemen that Nick dominated head to head this year does?

Sorry it took so long to post the results. First, the server is out at the school and next someone helped themselves to my portfolio that I was keeping up with the scores with. So I will report the best that I can. JEFFERSON, GA WINS THE 2009 SMOKY MTN DUALS. IN THEIR LAST MATCH JEFFERSON DEFEATED LAFAYETTE, GA 43 - 25 (i BELIEVE). GILMER, GA DEFEATED DUTCHFORK. GILMER, GA FINISHED 2ND. LAFAYETTE, GA 3RD. DUTCHFORK, SC 4TH. LARUE, KY 5TH. RAVENWOOD, TN 6TH. PIGEON FORGE, TN 7TH. HERITAGE, TN 8TH. IT WAS A GREAT TOURNAMENT. ON BEHALF OF THE PIGEON FORGE WRESTLING FAMILY WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE WRESTLING TEAMS, COACH'S, FAMILIES, TOURNAMENT WORKERS, OFFICIALS, AND ALL OTHERS WHO TOOK PART IN THIS YEARS EVENT. WE HOPE ALL OF YOU HAVE A SAFE TRIP HOME AND HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

GOLD POOL RESULTS JEFFERSON, GA 70 DUTCHFORK, SC 10 GILMER, GA 38 LAFAYETTE, GA 25 ROUND 2 JEFFERSON, GA 34 GILMER, GA 20 LAFAYETTE, GA 56 DUTCHFORK, SC 21 SILVER POOL RESULTS RAVENWOOD, TN 43 PIGEON FORGE, TN 25 LARUE, KY 67 HERITAGE, TN 8 LARUE, KY 28 RAVENWOOD, TN 27 PIGEON FORGE, TN 53 HERITAGE 27 OTHER SCORES HARPETH, TN 42 HUGHES, OH 33 SEYMOUR, TN 47 BEECH, TN 36 SEYMOUR, TN 66 BRENTWOOD, ACAD., TN 15 GIBBS, TN 35 BEECH, TN 34

Wednesday Championship Schedule: Wrestling starts at 9 AM Gold Medal Pool Jefferson, GA Lafayette, GA Gilmer, GA Dutch Fork, SC Silver Medal Pool Pigeon Forge, TN Ravenwood, TN Heritage, TN LaRue, KY Bronze Medal Pool Soddy Daisy, TN Whitley, KY Dalton, GA Huntsville, AL Copper Medal Pool Seymour, TN Brentwood Acad. Beech, TN Gibbs, TN