hardball03

I agree, especially as it relates to enforcing the rules. Inconsistent and ignorant are at a minimum the best description I can give. I have had numerous players taken down from behind with slide tackle........never a card........the rules state that a red card should be given. Very few referees are ever held accountable. I am a proponent of allowing coaches to complete an assessment report on the referees performance in a match. Very few referees treat the players and or the coaches with a basic level of respect, let alone the rules of the game. Referees are indeed changing the nature of the game with their ignorance and apathy. The good ole boys are running off good young referees that have experience in the game. Wise up guys. You are the reason that more young people do not ref games.

How old are you? Do you play? Who for? Some of your lists are a tad biased and are definitely inaccurate.

Seems to be a natural bias in your top 100 TN players to Centennial. You are leaving out several talented and recruited players.

It was good to see him try a "slide by". He's now working on another takedown. A single leg snatch will not get him beyond state champion.....I'm amazed he's gotten this far with it. His strength will be matched at some point and he'll need more technique. As for now, enjoy the ride.

No doubt that D1 is more difficult. There were kids placing that were dominated by guys that didn't even place in the D1 tournament. It tightens up a bit when you look at the Top placers in D2.....a few would do fine, however very few.

Reveiz should be in there. He is a better wrestler than Coffee. Coffee knows one thing. Single snatch although I did see he's working on a slide by.......power half and let them up when he can't turn them. Correction, he wrestled Father Ryan in the finals and yes he went awkwardly to his back .......... but did you see him stay there? No he is a hoss. Reveiz would either pin him or win in 3 by say a score of 6 - 3. Kelly Felix is the real deal. Even though he didn't tech or pin the kid from SD on Friday.....he wrestled at one speed in the first two rounds and then went maniacal in the third. SD didn't know what hit him. He almost TF'd in the first round of the finals. He's amazing and a Junior.

Is there another sport that is any more messed up right now in how post season competition is structured. It was tough seeing some of these kids lose an opportunity to advance knowing they worked harder and were better than some that are advancing in other regions. There has to be a better option than a random 4th place. At least let the kids resolve it on the mat. The realignment has eliminated at least 12 very good wrestlers that would have normally gone to state if not more......it's also allowing more weaker wrestlers to go that would have never made through the consolation rounds. They may want to adjust the schedules, there will be a lot of short matches.

First match listed is the Consolation Finals TSSAA Region 7 State Qualifier Glencliff High School 2/10-11/2006 Finals Weight: 103 Chris Soboun Antioch Dec Britney Burns McGavock (Nashville), 9-7OT Luis Aguilar East Literature (Nashville) M-Dec Andrew Reed Martin Luther King, 12-4 Weight: 112 Nick Steiner Glencliff Fall Antonio Lillard Hunter's Lane, 309 Weight: 119 Eric Rucker Antioch Dec Corey Jones East Literature (Nashville), 8-7 OT Tony Corley Hunter's Lane Dec Clifford Lett Stratford (Nashville), 9-5 Weight: 125 Son Nguyen East Literature (Nashville) Fall Richard Jolley Maplewood (Nashville), 225 Austin Haynes Stratford (Nashville) M-Dec Beyar Yahya McGavock (Nashville), 9-1 Weight: 130 Seth Jones Maplewood (Nashville) Dec Josh Field East Literature (Nashville), 6-4OT Brad McCallister McGavock (Nashville) Dec Brian Shook Tennessee School for the Blind/Donelson, 7-4 Weight: 135 Thomas Holman McGavock (Nashville) T-Fall Nick Simon East Literature (Nashville), 600 Kerry Dowell Hunter's Lane Fall Scott Osatile Antioch, 4:47 Weight: 140 Darnell Booker Antioch Fall Dodger Clemons Hume Fogg, 314 Shawn Garrett East Literature (Nashville) M-Dec Delon Eckles McGavock (Nashville), 12-4 Weight: 145 John Haynes Stratford (Nashville) M-Dec Stephen Gentuso Tennessee School for the Blind/Donelson, 22-10 Taylor Fortune Martin Luther King Fall Havar Abdullah McGavock (Nashville), 116 Weight: 152 Terry Pegram Glencliff Dec Charles Pillow Hunter's Lane, 6-5 Brandon Quick Antioch Dec Nick Burnley Martin Luther King, 6-3 Weight: 160 Drew Lambert Martin Luther King Fall E.J. Smith Hunter's Lane, 433 Daniel Hardin McGavock (Nashville) T-Fall Matt McClure Glencliff, 5:44 Weight: 171 Jessie Watkins Martin Luther King T-Fall Michael Pack McGavock (Nashville), 435 Monterrace Reams Glencliff Fall Rhees Oakes Tennessee School for the Blind/Donelson, 141 Weight: 189 Shaun Rhodes Antioch Fall Samuel Hopper Maplewood (Nashville), 459 Anthony Clemons Glencliff Fall Chris Robinson Hunter's Lane, 323 Weight: 215 Hervie Clemons Hume Fogg Fall Dylan Jones Antioch, 325 Hakar Yahya McGavock (Nashville) Dec James (JEB) Stuart Martin Luther King, 7-2 Weight: 275 Leobardo Rucker Glencliff Dec Jaymz Shields East Literature (Nashville), 4-2 Cory Hamilton Hunter's Lane Fall Brandon Morris Antioch, 302

The first match listed is the consolation Finals. TSSAA Region 6 State Qualifier Brentwood High School 2/10-11/2006 Finals Weight: 103 Stephen Cau Centennial M-Dec Josh Overmyer Brentwood, 20-9 Talon Noman Overton M-Dec Chase Beazley Independence, 17-5 Weight: 112 Renas Zebari Hillwood Fall Eric Hancock Overton, 2:33 Sean Ford Ravenwood Fall Ben Ennis Hillsboro, 5:34 Weight: 119 Danny Pappas Ravenwood Fall Cagg Cabell Overton, 0:55 Dustin Ortiz Franklin Fall Jeremy Carter Franklin Road Academy, 2:10 Weight: 125 Chase Sanders Brentwood Fall Ben Thompson Lipscomb, 4:04 Joseph Pair Page Dec Stuart Cope Centennial, 6-3 Weight: 130 Alex Rochelle Lipscomb Fall Cameron Patterson Hillsboro, 1:27 Ty Zarbo Franklin Dec Jacob Creighton Page, 6-2 Weight: 135 R.J. Rayborn Overton Fall Adam Gregg Hillwood, 4:17 Ryan Konz Franklin T-Fall Jesse Murphy Franklin Road Academy, 17-1 Weight: 140 Grant Geasley Page Dec Rijar Emin Overton, 10-6 Kellen Holliman Brentwood Def Mason Caples Hillsboro Weight: 145 Spencer Cope Centennial Dec Daniel White Overton, 13-7 Kelly Felix Franklin T-Fall Richey Ward Ravenwood, 26-11 Weight: 152 Andrew Hedges Hillwood Dec Colt Kittell Overton, 7-3 Jonathan Brown Brentwood Dec Jonathan Heacock Franklin, 7-3 Weight: 160 Seth Jones Brentwood Dec Shawn Godwin Ravenwood, 5-4 Ben Heacock Franklin Dec Brandon Vanderloop Hillsboro, 5-3 Weight: 171 Bert Herring Franklin Road Academy Fall Matt Reese Brentwood, 3:44 Carter McPhee Franklin Dec Ian Haggard Ravenwood, 8-4 Weight: 189 Kevin Cox Centennial Fall Cory Konz Franklin, 2:59 Austin Marcum Franklin Road Academy Dec Chris Wolfe Ravenwood, 7-5 Weight: 215 Thomas Berry Independence Dec Ben Cross Franklin, 13-6 Stephen Ball Franklin Road Academy Dec Chad Parker Page, 7-4 Weight: 275 Josh Winters Page Fall Tucker Cathey Franklin, 2:59 Brandon Swinney Overton Dec Mark Moore Hillwood, 3-1

Come on now.....three years ago? The air isn't that thin up on the hill! Try this year (2005).

I have read it all. More importantly I understand firsthand what creates what. I can differentiate what the offensive wrestler is creating/causing and what the defensive wrestler is doing.....which is very little unless the wing is in "loose"..... Reftn blew it in his commentary....go back and read it. Again, respect starts when one can admit they are wrong. Likeachimp171, try not to be so defensive.

reftn, Regarding your earlier response to my example.....see the following in the rule book. Rule 7 Section 2, Article 1-page 36 .......if the offensive wrestler causes a potentially dangerous hold to become illegal, the offender shall be penalized according to the penalty chart........ Rule 7 Section 2, Article 2 (a list of potent. dang. holds) (includes a chicken wing) Now see the photos page 74, #81 (illegal chicken wing) page 76, #92 and 93 (legal wings, but potentially dangerous) Hope this helps you.

reftn, As long as they are doing one the other should be happening..........an illegal "anything" that is not seen is due to either lack of knowlege or being out of position to view the critical elements of the hold. I am just stating some facts and attempting to address observations and assumptions being made with regard to why a coach communicates with an official. The rules are augmented by illustrations in the back of the book. I have respect for many officials, but especially those that are honest enough to admit a mistake and or those that are respectful of the wrestlers and the coaches. Regular observation, assessment, and feedback are proven methods of enhancing performance at an individual level or even at a group level. It is a very real issue and unfortunate for the ones that work hard at being the best they can be.......both the officials and the wrestlers.

After reading your post.....it is apparent you have very a little understanding of the purpose of an official and what is being complained about. As a coach, my kids drill and condition in a manner that not only is demanding, it requires a great degree of selflessness and sacrifice. Keep this in mind as you read the rest of this. A referee is there to insure that the "rules of the sport" are enforced in an effort to produce an accurate result and to protect the wrestlers. It took over half of the season before referees began to penalize an illegal wing, most continued to call potentially dangerous if called at all.......however if one of my guys leg touched the butt of the other wrestler in the referees position it consistently cautioned. This is only one example of many that could be given. To me it is a symptom of a lack of experience or majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors. Illegal holds are not readily identified by over half of the refs. A small number of refs cannot clearly see the weigh in sheets. Over half are not in position to make a timely/accurate call. I have actually counted to one thousand four before a few get down on the mat......numerous pins have been missed because of.........simple laziness? If my kid goes on the mat and does something similar, he gets beat. He has an immediate result that he experiences. A referee should be assessed by experienced referees and they should have to pass an eye exam and a physical in addition to experiencing regular assessments. I don't like to complain about refs, however it's the only form of real feedback that an assignor gets. I pick my battles according to the real danger and that is generally limited to those referees who show a total disregard to understanding of illegal holds or flagrant violations. You might be able to feel comfortable with throwing verbal stones at a spectator or even a coach for expressing concern..........try telling a parent why their son is on the way to the hospital......when the ref says he didn't see the illegal headlock or neck wrench.......you think I'll get excited on sideline when I see it happening again.......you bet I will.... as a coach I have a right and a duty to question or obtain an explanation in a respectful manner and expect that same level of respect from an official......generally the weaker officials show very little respect to the kids or the coaches, it is unfortunate. Again the purpose of a ref is ............

Where is she going?

The best, pound for pound, is Kelly Felix. His ability to size up an opponent is uncanny. His consistency speaks for itself.

Stick to it, you have support. I am really surprised that this still exists and in addition I am really surprised that the TSSAA would unbalance the regional feed into a 32 man bracket. It's a "luck of draw" for some kids..... to me it taints the process of qualifying, it's inconsistent therefor inequitable. Sure the power houses shift from region to region.....so why make them work with a defective process? Double elim is the way to go, it is more equitable and places the burden to advance on the wrestler that loses.......and not by the luck of who he loses to. There doesn't seem to be a lot of listening to the coaches on these matters. It's like building highways after the mall is built.?????? TSSAA should recommend a format for the wrestling to "grow" into versus struggle in.......multiple divisions and or more teams advancing in duals is the way to grow the popularity....it will grow into it if given the chance. There doesn't seem to be as much local summer wrestling as there used to be. I know there were several kids looking for stuff all summer....maybe one tournament. Weight classes also seem to be an internal problem as well. The recent realignment seems to have segregated the schools again when you look at it closely.

Any word on early commitments from the 2007 class? :usa:

You better check their resumes.....at least 10 of 11 plus travel depth on the bench. Alabama used to limit the travel and HS relationship.....BAD rule. Not taking anything away from Ken Mc.....the program/coach has had a lot of help from parents in pulling good players toward the doors.....hey, it' s tough but so can anyone else if they care about building a "winning" program.....it attracts the kids and families that aspire to be a part of a competitive program. Their depth is the key. Their talent for the most has been average, however most A/AA schools do not have the travel players that are even average either on the field or the bench. Again, not knocking a great coach, he does have the soldiers when comes to battle.

That's an understatement....Fulmer could use her at linebacker.

All Mid-state is about 50% on target.

FRA is/was recruited by parents affiliated with the Harpeth Futbol Club. They're strong enough now that they are attracting players from other clubs........plus they have a very good coach.