ArtusCimber

I think that would be cool Booger.

We discussed it, and almost to a man we decided to keep it like it is. The value it has I guess is that it gives people something to talk about, and it gives us another small way to recognize teams in a sport that doesn't get nearly enough recognition. I know our kids take pride in it, especially in a place where the only people who care about what we're doing is our immediate wrestling family. Hope this helps you Booger.

This should stir some conversation. RANK TEAM POWER RANKING PREVIOUS 1 CLEVELAND 99 1 2 BRADLEY CENTRAL 92 2 3 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 74 4 4 FATHER RYAN 71 5 5 BAYLOR 69 8 6 McCALLIE 64 3 7 SCIENCE HILL 47 11 8 SODDY DAISY 34 7 9 (TIE) TENNESSEE HIGH 24 6 10 ARLINGTON 24 9 11 MBA 17 NR 12 WILSON CENTRAL 12 10 ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: BEECH, HALLS, MT. JULIET, NORTHWEST, SUMMIT

I think you could bring those teams together on ten different days and get ten completely different results.

It's not disdain. Apologies if I came off that way. It's just that usually Chattanooga and Nashville (they're not really middle but I'm thinking about Memphis and East Tn as sort of the bookends), and now most of midstate with the advent of teams like Wilson Central, Beech, Blackman, and Summit, have been the teams that we guys on the extreme ends of the state have had to contend with, and the teams we look to as we chase the upper tier of teams in the state. I know what it's like to be one of the little guys, and I think it's cool when teams on either end are successful, because we have to work really hard to gain ground on the more traditionally powerful programs. Having two pretty good teams in region 1 is fun for me. That's all I meant. Wrestling all over the state is so much better. Back a few years ago the big four were Bradley, Cleveland, Soddy, and Clarksville. Now there are at least ten other teams in that mix. I like that. No disrespect intended. Just happy for what in baseball would be called a small market team.

Glad you're back with your old cheek OW. I was starting to worry about you, but it looks like this dude (or mom maybe) has given you some traction again. Isn't it annoying when people hide behind screen names?

Good quote youngling. And don't misunderstand me. I'm not glorying in anyone's failure, but in the success of the Hilltoppers. Any match between these two teams is going to be a good one. I'm actually an Arlington fan. I love it when anybody from either end of the state fouls things up for the guys in the middle. I'll be at the duals. Make sure that when you aren't wrestling that you come introduce yourself. I'll keep your identity secret.

"beat a drum only he could hear"...that's good writing, something along the lines of Shakespeare or Cormac McCarthy...and throw in the allusion to Cervantes (come to think of it the drum phrase is a variation on Thoreau), and that's some strong medicine. Meanwhile I wait like some defendant awaiting a verdict for a reply from our young sage, but the only sounds I hear are the singing of the morning birds and the baying of my hound entreating me to take him on his morning walk...

Where is my OW? I'm eager to hear your observations on the day.

Yeah, it was a great match with questionable calls on both sides and several matches that could be flipped both ways next time, but everybody needs to remember one thing. We compromise the beauty of what happened last night if we make excuses. And KG is right. If we are on the wrong end of the score next week, there won't be any excuses coming from our camp. Just respect.

The thing about Cleveland is that he has three horses, eleven middle to upper middle managers, and no holes in the lineup. They don't give up bonus. Note that they won Thursday by winning only six matches. However, most of his guys stayed out of bonus and he picked up four pins. That's a hard row to hoe, and as the air gets more rarefied, the holes become more pronounced.

You're right. If we just accepted what was on paper, we wouldn't have to exert all this effort. The beauty of what might happen next weekend is that neither team wrestled their best yesterday. Potential for improvement on both sides is pretty great, which means next week might be even more exciting than it was last night.

That's because the weight classes are ridiculous. When they were changed, every year we had some kid in the 130-150 pound range who was a stud and had to sit while we scrambled to fill all those silly upper weights. Add to that the fact that Science Hill is successful enough in football that lots of the big guys here, most of whom are incredibly soft and undisciplined, get footballhead, convince themselves they're major college prospects, and choose all you can eat wings and pizza and chinese buffets over the rigor of wrestling. And don't even get me started on the one sport athlete thing. That's another can of worms entirely.

Don't know what this guy is talking about. All I can figure is that we thought 132 was a winnable match. We have nothing but respect for Tennessee High. Tim Marshall and Robbie Nelson have put together a phenomenal thing over there. Next Thursday will be a dogfight for sure. We just have to get back in the room and try to get better at a few things before next week.

One of the best matches I've been a part of since I hit the Region I scene in 1992. Science Hill left some points on the able as well. Next Thursday will definitely be interesting.

Science Hill finished ahead of WC at Fandetti this weekend, but for the poll purposes I don't claim that, because our poll is mostly a measure of dual meet strength. My personal opinion is that Bradley and Cleveland are in a league of their own. Soddy and WC are at the top of the rest until proven otherwise, then there are probably ten teams that are all very close. Our goal since last year was to be top four. I think we have a shot.

I've been quiet about this and watched people seeing what they believed. Hopefully now we can believe what we see instead. Proud to be part of what was probably the greatest dual meet since I've been in region one. We felt like our lot was battle hardened and they proved it tonight. Denzel Medina had two OT matches this weekend that got him through tonight.

Nice work WG. Thanks.

It did look a little odd...

For the record, Science Hill is not counting Summit out. They're rolling in there with a chance to prove something. We think them strong, and hope strongly to meet them.

Fair enough.

Tennessee High is the real deal, and Tim Marshall can maximize a lineup like nobody I've ever seen.

I wish I were as well, but as I am now just a middle school coach I'll be in Alcoa and Pigeon Forge building the future of Topper wrestling.

Thanks for your expert proofreading my OW. You gonna be at Christian Bros Saturday?

Let the games begin... RANK TEAM POWER RANKING PREVIOUS 1 CLEVELAND 100 2 2 BRADLEY CENTRAL 92 1 3 McCALLIE 80 3 4 CHRISTIAN BROTHERS 73 4 5 FATHER RYAN 70 5 6 TENNESSEE HIGH 47 9 7 SODDY DAISY 42 6 8 BAYLOR 36 8 9 WILSON CENTRAL 31 7 10 ARLINGTON 28 12 11 SCIENCE HILL 22 11 12 BEECH 16 10 ALSO RECEIVING VOTES: BLACKMAN, HALLS, MBA, NORTHWEST, SUMMIT