gumbi1031

To all of Coach Masters's critics: give the man some support for putting together a darn fine wrestling team. Is it just me or is he able to take kids completely unfamiliar with the sport and make them competitive in a very short time? It is a shame that both Clarksville and Kenwood couldn't put their best lineups out on the mat due to injuries and other problems. It would have only made the match that much more fun. All the credit in the world to Clarksville, but I think it is time that some people start giving Kenwood and their coaches their due props. And as to all the speculation about whether or not Cox could have or should have finished his match, bravo to protecting a wrestler's health and insuring that he will be able to compete later in the season, especially in a match that ultimately would not change the outcome of the team match.

If I'm not mistaken, the reason the Soddy 103 has been ranked so high all year is because he beat Rudas. Was it a fluke or has Soddy just faltered several times? Moving away from the Chattanooga area after graduation in December, I haven't seen many of the top wrestlers compete this year. I did have the opportunity to work in the Red Bank wrestling room for a while, and it is a shame that Royster couldn't keep his weight down. He would have turned some heads I think.

Another point: to have a true dual final, don't the two best teams need to be in the tournament? Where was Cleveland last year during the tournament? It might be time to reformat the thing to insure the best competition is represented, even if they might be in the same region as Bradley Central. Hey, Wild Card teams can win the World Series can't they?

What has been happening with the Soddy kid? I have heard of a couple of losses including one to Cookeville in the Soddy tourny. He is still ranked and apparently very good, but how is he being beat? I've also seen a lot of talk about Puckett (Gibbs) and Shelton (Kenwood). Is a Rudas-Puckett finals out of the question? How have they done against each other in the past?

It says alot to rank the j.v. kids above starters from other schools. I believe that the Sycamore kid beat NW j.v., but Bird defeated him soundly. Does anybody know how the Hendersonville kid has done against tough competition. On another thread someone said that he beat McCroskey from Soddy, but I'll remain skeptical until somebody reliable tells me different.

I'm pretty sure the soddy kid (is he a freshman) beat rudas. Bird from Northwest beat Cope from Centennial in a rematch (cope won the first one). Martin from maplewood won the Hendersonville tourny, placing over centennial. That is all I've heard about martin all year though. What have the Bradley, Overton, and Red Bank 103's done? Who did Puckett beat to get ranked first?

There are several tough kids at 103 this year. Who has beat who? Who has dropped from 112? Any guesses on how it will stack up in February?

Nobody has mentioned Quinn Gibson. Does anyone expect him to even have a close match this season? He may be the best wrestler in TN since Phillip Simpson and Matt Keller. He certainly has earned the respect.

The boys from Red Bank did look good, especially at the low weights. To give the other schools their credit, there were several decent looking kids from among them. Unfortunately for them, most of their better wrestlers were matched up against good Red Bank guys. And how about the RB heavyweight who only weighed 230. He fought off of his back and pinned a tough kid in his first match.

In region seven, Northwest's starting 140 is out with an elbow injury. I also heard that the 103's for Northeast and Clarksville High from last year decided not to come back out this year. Both of them had a lot of potential. Can anyone fill in details. Can anyone out west fill us in on why Speroff is out? What year is he? He is tough and should be a contender for the state title this year.

Any current injuries that could affect the outcome of the season? Any surprise moves or wrestlers hanging up their shoes?

Who will be the most fun matchups this year? It seems like all of the tough 112s are gone from that weight, so who will step up in the region? The 103 finalists moved up or are no longer wrestling. Heavyweight seems to be a toss up. Can anybody stand up to Luke Sanders? Coaches and wrestlers familiar with the region, give me your opinions. Who does your school have to fill the voids?

I wasn't able to be at the takedown tournament, but my understanding is that the Kenwood wrestler that Bird faced in the finals was a 112 pounder. It's also a shame that the NW wrestler was injured. I would love to see them face each other later on in the season. And as far as quoting my picks for the state finals, make sure you read it all. That is my "heartfelt pick". I have had the opportunity to coach both of those guys and they have my respect. At least they don't attempt to trash fellow athletes by saying they have no chance.

Rudas and Pair at 112 would really leave 103 wide open. I have those two picked in the finals for the little guys, but I can't say I wouldn't like it if they both moved up. Should be a fun year at the low weights.

Girls wrestling is a great idea. Girls against girls. For a guy to wrestle a girl, it's a lose lose situation. If he wins, Big Deal. If he loses, he'll probably quit before he hears the end of it. I think all states should do what Texas did years ago...make a girls' state tournament and make it an official high school sport. I think the participation would be there for it to work in Tennessee, especially after a few years.

Northwest has a few young guys that could qualify this year, and four or five legititmate state medal contenders. They should surprise some folks this year. And as for the Bird kid, LOSE THE WEIGHT FATTY!!!

What about Pair (I think that is his name) from Page? He was tough last year and didn't look very big. Don't count out Bundy from Hendersonville either. But, my from-the-heart picks for the finals: Bird (Northwest) pins Royster (Red Bank)

Northwest has six returning qualifiers from a year ago. And don't overlook that Bird kid at 103. I heard he hit the weights and is an animal now. Should be another exciting year in the region. I think that there are three or four teams that could win it.

Red Bank may take its lumps this year, but none of them will be on account of the coach. I have been around several wrestling programs, and few have a coach as dedicated as he is. A technical coach? Yes. A motivator? One of the best. The transition to the high school level is irrelevant. The question is, Can the wrestlers maintain his level. So far, so good in Lion Country.

please post the brackets if you have them

Looking at the stats concerning state placing teams, Region 7 seems to be closest to regions 3 and 4 despite having 18 teams. Region 7 (containing Clarksville High and Kenwood, both ranked teams) would do much better at the state tournament if there were fewer teams because the top teams in the region would have easier first round draws. As it is now, a Clarksville or Kenwood wrestler who might finish first or second in a weaker region will finish third or fourth. It makes an impact on state scoring, and makes the gap between Bradley, Cleveland, Soddy, and everybody else look that much bigger. It is also difficult to make a program better when half the season is spent wrestling the same regional teams year after year when a region 3 or 4 team can schedule a variety of opponents. I know there is no clear answer to the problem, but as it stands there are the haves and have-nots in Tennessee wrestling, and it will remain that way until the sport gains some popularity and tradition in this state.

UTC won every match except for forfeits in the final two weights. Good night for Chattanooga.

When will region 7 brackets be posted? It will be a little easier to tell then

Wouldn't it be great if public and private school participants and parents could get along? It is silly that an incident involving a drink spilling on a girl at a wrestling match could start such a pointless argument. I personally believe that there should be only one division in Tennessee wrestling. It would help avoid much of the public/private segregation. As a soon-to-be educator in this state, I take offence to the references concerning who has the best facilities, manners, and the most money. I will never teach in a private institution, but not because I have a grudge. I am an advocate of equal opportunity for everyone, regardless if they can afford a private education and private wrestling coaches. I don't think worse of private school parents or students; actually they are generally well behaved like all of us generally are. I believe that the public education system should be funded as well as private schools are. Maybe then people wouldn't make absurd statements like shaking hands will public school wrestlers will give them ring worm. Also, maybe would could settle the argument of who would win between "the blue school" and Bradley once and for all. Who says that? I say that.

in the 103 finals, bird from northwest forfeited because of a knee injury. he was looking forward to a rematch with pair, but was having trouble just walking and wanted to be healthy for this weekends regionals.