russianbear

Go for it. It will be well worth the effort and time. You'll look back one day and realize despite all the pain and headaches the first couple years will probably be your most memorable and rewarding years.

Hard. Started one at Silverdale in early 2000. Fortunately the administration at the time was behind us. The best advice I can give is don't try to do it all yourself. The most important job of the head coach is to hire the right assistant\s. I would definitely suggest starting the middle school first for at least a year before implementing the high school. Obviously parental support is key and "money answerers all things". May not be the answer you want, but you'll get an answer.

There's goods and bads for every idea. But to reply in the negative here 1) most teams currently in TN average filling 9 of 14(which is ridiculously too many) weight classes. So half the matches are nothing but forfiets. 2) Many coaches move people around to attempt to strategize in order to win the match, thus preventing the good head to head match ups people want to see 3) similar to #2 coaches simply forfiet to the opposing studs to prevent the other team from gaining mental momentum 4) In a tight dual meet match many wrestlers are coached just to stall and not get pinned. Maybe it's me, but there just seems something very wrong in celebrating someone for just not stalling out.

TD2 it would have probably been lest to let the thread die, but apparently you have some type of axe to grind against Ethan Reeve. Perhaps you were there during his tenure? Did you wrestle for him? Maybe you were the one who vandalized his car and put sugar in his gas tank. Regarding your accusation against him, would you care to name names? If not I'd suggest to let the thread die.

Great point CBG. Ethan came to UTC in 1984 making $14,000 a year. That's not a misprint. He had 4 full scholarships available. That's not a misprint. Bud Hennebaul was the assistant coach at the time and I'm sure his salary was less than Ethans. No graduate assistants, no other paid staff. Ethan even served as the van driver. I'd hate to see what the budget was at the time.

I was recruited by and signed with Jim Morgan. After I signed Jim Morgan resigned. There was a reason for that, though I wasn't there, I heard things. Jim Morgan was a fantastic coach and did a tremendous job both at UTC and Baylor School and I have a tremendous amount of respect for him. Though he technically 'resigned' the search for a new coach was on a bit before that. I never got the opportunity to wrestle for Coach Morgan, but from what I was told the contrast in coaching styles couldn't have been any more extreme. Coach Morgan (from what I was told) had voluntary practice by the end of his tenure at UTC. He wasn't exactly a disciplinarian. This created some issues. I believe Jim Morgan is in the Hall of Fame. Coach Reeve was a disciplinarian. It was his way or the highway. At the beginning of the year we had 47 guys in the room. At the end of the year there were 17. Most of that due to guys being used to doing whatever they wanted. Not saying either coaching approach is right or wrong, but different. As far as the east is from the west. TD2, you probably don't know this, because I don't think you were there, but Ricky Talley didn't make weight for the first wrestle offs. Rickey and the elders on the team thought Coach Reeve should let him wrestle anyway. Coach Reeve disagreed. Ricky threw a pitty party and quit. This created dissension and division, but Coach Reeve did what was right. Though I didn't realize it at the time, I learned a valuable lesson that day. Most people that year quit. We were terrible that year. The next year Coach Reeve recruited people that wanted to work. People that would run through a brick wall for him. People that (for the most part) stayed academically eligible. UTC never lost the Southern Conference again during his tenure. In fact, in 1988 I believe we qualified 9 for the NCAA tournament and this when there was only 1 or 2 wildcards. My final year as a head coach at Red Bank high school I had some discipline issues. The 2 best guys on the team were returning multiple state placers, both ranked second heading into their final year. They went a step too far and I dismissed them from the team. They begged to get back on but they were out of chances. I didn't budge. That year we were terrible. Not one kid qualified for the state tournament as we started 9 freshman. The next year Shane Turner became the head coach and I stayed on as the assistant. Last year those freshmen were seniors. Red Bank went on to win their first ever Dual State Championship. Coach Reeve recently got inducted into the Hall of Fame. And he got a standing ovation from almost everyone in the room (including from me) when he was introduced. PS TD2, I (Ben Reichel) appreciate you assuming I would've scored points in the NCAA Tournament my freshman year under Coach Morgan, but the fact is I was a bit too small my freshman year.

Ethan Reeve was originally from Lancaster OH and wrestled for UT Knoxville. He was a 2 time AA (would have been 3 time if they placed more than 6 back in the day). He was the Head Wrestling Coach for UTC from 1984-1991 (I may be off a year). I don't think there's been another individual that produced a love for the sport within the people he coached anytime/anywhere. The number of people whom he was associated with that now give back to the sport is staggering. He produced more coaches, referees, and people that volunteer their time for the sport than any other person in the history of Tennessee Wrestling. Anyone who knows him knows that's a fact.

I've been going to this for 6 or 7 years now and have personally witnessed how much tougher the competition has gotten each year. Very good tournament.

Red Bank high school made a great decision today.

Boyd Buchanan

Must be certified to teach. Many openings available (science, history, math, english) EXCEPT physical education. Apply at HCDE.Org. Email me if interested: ben.reichel@yahoo.com

Must be certified to teach. Many openings available (science, history, math, english) EXCEPT physical education. Apply at HCDE.Org. Email me if interested: ben.reichel@yahoo.com

https://jobs.hcde.org/ats/app_login?COMPANY_ID=00007807

http://www.teamgeorgiawrestling.com/olympicseason

X

I'd definitely recommend. Some great wrestling. Besides the 3 teams Coach Smith puts together, Chig Martin also puts together a very competitive team composed of North Georgia, Chattanooga and Nashville kids. Last year I was very surprised how many top level AL kids compete there. Only a short drive down to Birmingham.

"I personally have only ever heard one public school coach (Ben Reichel) that said the split was a joke and Tennessee only needed one individual state champion." Yes, I was outspoken about the split, but not sure if I said "it was a joke" (and there were a few others). I've also ALWAYS been for splitting the duals. My biggest point was I didn't agree with the build it and they will come theory. However, after it was a done deal I took the attitude of make the best of what we have. Looking back do I agree with the split now? Ironically my son won the AA state this year and I've had the opportunity to coach 3 other state champs since the split as well. However, I also had the opportunity to coach a state champ when AA and AAA were combined. Would all of these kids have won the state? Who knows, probably not. But lets look at AA this year. AA 126 lbs champ could beat anyone. He lost to the D2 state champ this year, but beat him last year. 145 lbs was OW at GP West and undefeated (at 152lbs). AA 152 lbs champ I witnessed destroy the AAA 152 state champ in the finals of Ooltewah Invite this year. 195 lb AA champ split with AAA finalist this year and won McCallie. HWy would be interesting to say the least. I could also give very strong arguments for 120 (was 126 all season) and 170 lbs (that makes 8 of 14 weight classes). Of course we'll never know. But that's why we wrestled a mix of other divisions (and some out of state teams) during the year and of course compete nationally in the offseason. So to me, it's not that big of a deal. The real question is (as mat73557 asks): does the split grow the sport? I honestly don't know. But one thing I know, it doesn't attract more quality coaches or referees. At least as of yet.

http://www.teamgeorgiawrestling.com/registration You need to create an account first, but it's free. Of course I'm in Chattanooga and these aren't too far from us. I know some say we need to support Tennessee, but best thing is you're not wrestling the same kids each week. The kids are almost always different and if you do both freestyle and greco everyone gets 8-10 matches most every week. Freestyle and Greco tournaments start in April and go through May, virtually every Saturday (usually more than 1 and close to Atlanta area). They should be listed on the above link within a week or two.

I'd say absolutely, but it's also improving just about everywhere else. Has TN become more competitive? Perhaps in the last 2 or 3 years, but definitely at the middleschool and under area. The biggest problem is the lack of qualified coaches. This is a problem in North Georgia as well. That's why programs like grind house and the compound (both in north Georgia) are having so much success.

I've been involved in the sport both wrestling and coaching from pee wee to D1 college for many years in IN, OH and TN. IMO nothing comes close to wresing freestyle and greco in the off season.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/preps/story/2016/feb/14/red-bank-dominant-regi2-aatournament/350083/

"I believe they won the tournament, but never the duals" That's correct. The year they were supposed to win, they're were snowed in and ordered to stay at home by HCDE. They went on to watch Overton win whom they beat pretty handily earlier in the year. Red Bank has won the traditional State Tournament several times (way to lazy to lookup the exact number right now, but I believe at least 5).

"Remember that the Catholic Tuition is $13,275.00 & the Non Catholic Tuition is $18,125.00." That's interesting. I never knew this. Is this the same policy at all Catholic schools? What is the rationale here?