ArtusCimber

Yes they did.

I heard that as well. They had a great final round, and I was told by at least two of my voters that they are beyond legit. That's why I'm glad the Toppers get to measure up against them next week.

TENNESSEE HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING POLL

From: Jeff Price                                                               Results from: 4 December 2017

THIS IS THE FIRST POLL OF THE SEASON. 

Now in its 26th year, The Poll is primarily a measure of dual meet strength with some consideration to individual tournament strength.   Votes are cast by a state-wide panel of high school wrestling coaches and are based on a maximum Power Ranking of 100%.

STATE POLL:

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: BLACKMAN, HERITAGE, PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE HIGH, SUMMIT 

On 11/30/2017 at 4:23 AM, durdon said:

Pretty much all of this improvement and growth in Region 1 can all be traced back to Joe Kremmerer and his decision to open a training center that operates 2 nights a week in morristown and 2 nights in Abingdon, Va a couple of years ago.  Joe is a former PA state champ and University World team member who is now offering very high level year round coaching in an area where there wasn’t a lot of wrestling interest before.  

Is this Jared Diehl's alternate screen name trolling us? Good one. You almost got me. 

We're going to Bristol Brawl that day, but we definitely need to set something up.

All three teams are definitely deserving, and all received votes. I'm sure they'll be in the conversation. There seems to be a bit more parity this year, and that is exciting.

Thanks to everyone whose comments on and following of the poll made things so much fun.  I've added another voter and we hope we can provide a product that is both interesting and accurate.  That being said, here is the preseason poll. Those of you who caught the podcast last night have already seen it. Let the games begin!

1-Cleveland

On 11/7/2017 at 7:27 AM, ObserverW said:

Aris, my old pal, are you serious about this?  A bit shameless don't you think?  If we get you some Tiger swag will you really wear it?

Absolutely. I'd love to represent the guys out west. Coach Harrison is sending me some Bros Swag.

Thanks for all the encouragement. There aren't too many things more fun than talking about wrestling.

Don't forget to send me some swag if you want me to represent your team. Hats, toboggans, XXL Ts, hoodies, etc. 

email me at tanneran18@gmail.com and I'll send you my address.

One thing I'd like to do is represent teams across the state. If you send me a hat or t-shirt from your team, I'll wear it on the podcast. I wear an XXL T. 

email me at tanneran18@gmail.com if you're in and I'll send you my address.

Price

I want to thank everyone who got us views and replies in this my initial year at the helm of the Coach's Poll.

I also want to thank my voters who brought over 300 years of experience in the sport to this task.

Here is my analysis of our year based on a comparison of the 28 November Poll with the one just released yesterday.

Here is the first poll:

STATE POLL:

1.BRADLEY CENTRAL          98

2.FATHER RYAN              88

3.BAYLOR                   68

4.WILSON CENTRAL           67

5.CLEVELAND                63

6.BEECH                    59

7.McCALLIE                 43

8.SCIENCE HILL             40

9.TENNESSEE HIGH           31

10.HALLS                   23

11.CHRISTIAN BROTHERS      18

12.SODDY DAISY             11

Others receiving votes:  ALCOA, ARLINGTON, COOKEVILLE, INDEPENDENCE, MBA, PIGEON FORGE, RAVENWOOD, SUMMIT, WALKER VALLEY

Wilson Central and Beech fell out by the end. Had it not been for some really unfortunate injuries, Wilson Central would have been in. I didn't see Beech, but they never seemed to really hit their stride, and they will do some damage next weekend, with four kids (Horst, Palmer, Rippy, and Smith) who could all make the finals. Both of those teams were completely legit first week picks. 

Arlington, MBA, and Halls took the beat people route into the top 12, and OW was right about them. Shannon's lot were probably one bullet away from the top four. 

Summit hung around all season long, and again were a match short of getting to where Halls was.  

Soddy Daisy had wins over Wilson Central, Science Hill, Arlington, and possibly others. Their only pitfall was geography, not a criteria for disqualification in my mind. 

MBA had a win over Arlington.

Pigeon Forge is the A-AA state champion. 

So ten of the final twelve were in the first poll. The two who fell out fell prey to injuries, and the two who got in followed the beat people route to the top twelve. The ten from 28 November who were in at the end were rearranged according to the beat people criteria; the only task my voters faced was how to arrange Baylor, Science Hill, Tennessee High, and Soddy Daisy. 

I think we started with a sound foundation of teams, turned the season on, and let people sort things out.

One of the things we here at the Hill take pride in is that we come out and play.

So in the final analysis, I'm very pleased with the work that our little cabal did this year. I had fun, and I hope you did too.  

Don't root against those west enders. They're great kids. We saw them four times this year, and they have three (Cannon, Phillips, Moore) who are as good as they come.

The Tigers play the game the right way.

I don't care whether the Trojans were there or not. They proved on the mat that they are arguably the third best dual team in the state. They beat us, Arlington, and Wilson Central. 

I see your point. Just terminology I think. We have what we call a travel 20. There are our 14 guys who'll wrestle in the region and another six that we weigh in for duals to take forfeits or cover bumps. Take Isaiah Ryans for instance. He would probably finish second in region 1 but can't beat Arthur James and Chase Diehl, so he won't wrestle in the region but we couldn't have won without him this weekend. He was our secret weapon.

Seth Eachus will probably not wrestle in the region and the 195 was a backup. They forfeited 220, so I'd say you're right on three of the four. But Chase Diehl would likely have won regardless of who he wrestled.

Depending on who the 106 is, you could be right on all four. But again, our 106 is pretty good too, so that was probably just done based on assessing the best matchup.

Bottom line is they whipped us, but they whipped a lot of people this year. We got a few licks in, and survived to get what was, in reality, the best we could get.  I'm proud of our bunch, and I'm proud of Josh Bosken. We've run a lot of roads together, and to see him have the success he enjoyed in his first year as the head man makes me about as happy as anything I can imagine. Nobody loves wrestling or kids more than he does, and it shows.

Okay. Last one

RANK     TEAM                    POWER RANKING    PREVIOUS

1          BRADLEY CENTRAL            100             2

2          CLEVELAND                  88              2

3          FATHER RYAN                86              5

4          MCCALLIE                   76              6

5          CHRISTIAN BROTHERS         65              3

6          SCIENCE HILL               54              9

7          BAYLOR                     46              4

8          TENNESSEE HIGH             40              8

9          SODDY DAISY                30              7

10 (TIE)   ARLINGTON                  21              11

11         HALLS                      21              NR

12         MBA                        19              12

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: BLACKMAN, SUMMIT, WILSON CENTRAL

They have two 106s who have split time this year. The 170 is a guy who fills in a good bit to cover bumps. More like a 15th or 16th man than a JV guy. This is the last thing I'll say about it. Just trying to keep anymore fake news from being disseminated.  

I am a Cleveland guy. I talk to the coach now and again.

One JV guy. One. They stroked us, but the match wasn't over until the twelfth weight class.

In addition, the Arlington wrestlers were very classy, polite, and respectful. I was impressed with the way they carried themselves. The way Harrison Phillips patted Grayson Pridemore on the back after the latter was injured in their match showed his class and caliber as a competitor. 

I was impressed with his relentlessness as a competitor. Cannon was very slick.

I had been told all season long how good Moore was, and wasn't disappointed when I finally got to see him at work. Very tough kid.

Will be cheering for your guys in two weeks, except for when they line up against a Topper.

I only have one question-who's OW?

Judson looked great. It was a heck of a match, considering Wysong beat him pretty good the last couple times including a 1st period pin the first time they met. Both kids are special talents. And only freshmen i believe?

Wysong is a sophomore. Judson is a junior. He looked really good last night. His scrambles were really good. Wysong has a little brother, Isaiah,  who is in the sixth grade, and is the real deal. Kid can really go. Wrestled a week with a broken leg. 

I'd like to see a system sort of like North Carolina's, where their duals are wrestled like a football playoff bracket. Begin with 32 teams, and have the lower seeded team visit the higher seed. Wrestle that down to 8 teams and bring them all to the AG Center to slug it out. Like the old days, place all 8 teams.

I like that guy at Cleveland. Heard he had a really good coach when he was in high school.    

Beech is there. 

Next week will be the only one that matters.

RANK     TEAM                    POWER RANKING    PREVIOUS

1          CLEVELAND                  99              1

2          BRADLEY CENTRAL            92              2

3          CHRISTIAN BROTHERS         80              3

4          BAYLOR                     76              5

5          FATHER RYAN                65              4

6          McCALLIE                   59              6

7          SODDY DAISY                49              7

8          TENNESSEE HIGH             39              9

9          SCIENCE HILL               34              7

10         WILSON CENTRAL             21              12

11         ARLINGTON                  17              11

12         MBA                        14              10

ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: BEECH, BLACKMAN, HALLS, MT. JULIET, NORTHWEST, SUMMIT

I believe that TN High is going to grab the 1 seed. Wilson Central the 2 seed. They are the 2 teams that placed last year and won the regionals this season. Am I correct in thinking that?

Yes, that is correct.

Region 2 is Halls and Gibbs

All the A-AA people I've talked to say it's going to be a real dogfight this year. I'm looking forward to it.