michael.geasley

Soms, Sorry, but I don't know. It's my understanding his teams won four championships.

wrestlinman49, I couldn't agree with you more. I think the biggest difference is the strength. If you're a middle school wrestler headed to high school next year, start a strength training program no later than this summer. Irishdad, Thanks for the kind words about Coach Henrie. We also have two wrestlers' fathers that are giving a ton of support to the program; Jim Gabriel, Heritage Middle's coach (Ralph's brother), and Larry Owens (Former high school wrestling coach in Oklahoma).

Thank's Coach, Bottom line; the regions aren't fair. Coach, I don't know if a wrestler in new region 6 chances are any better with the 13 teams than they are in old region 5 with 24 teams, even if this region keeps 4 placers.

Who was the author of this change? How did they come up with this? Did they use any type of point system based on the teams’ past performances? If so, please let me know because to me this looks like it was made up by someone that knows nothing about the wrestling programs they grouped together. Did they send a draft of the changes around to the wrestling programs for input? I'm looking at it from the new region 6 perspective. I don't know enough about region 2 to make a judgment, but they may have an even bigger complaint than mine. Region 6 Brentwood Centennial (Franklin) CPA (Nashville) David Lipscomb (Nashville) Franklin Franklin Road Academy (Nashville) Hillsboro (Nashville) Hillwood (Nashville) Independence (Franklin) Nashville Christian (Nashville) Nashville Overton (Nashville) Page (Franklin) Ravenwood (Brentwood) For the new region 6, they take the best DI wrestling program in Nashville, Overton, and put them in with the county school system with the best wrestling programs in middle Tennessee, Williamson. All the Williamson County Schools have the same FCI feeder program that has Franklin the pre-season favorite. These schools are only going to get better. To the other DI Middle Tennessee wrestling programs that are not in Region 6, I’m not saying that you are not good programs. But which of you would choose to be in Region 6? (I’ll see about working a trade if I have any taker, lol). Coach Peck, I’ve seen your analysis of how the current regions did at last year’s state tournament. I wonder what the results would be if you analyzed last year’s state tournament according to the new regions. Let me add this caveat, I could be wrong. Maybe the analysis was done and this is an equal distribution of teams. If so, please share that with us so we can shut up about this and start complaining about the next thing.

Yeah, even when he's running the clock! Oh come on, I was just kidding, but I couldn't resist. Irishdad adds a lot of color to the sport and bulletin board material, I'm sure.

(Rigger101, check your email, I sent you a message. Michael Geasley) Thanks Hamm for all your work. For individual rankings, what was the primary factor you used for the first post? Was it the results of last years State Tournament?

Hamm, can you post them on coacht?

Thank you for this discussion. As a parent, I'm guilty of not paying attention to the funding. I thought most, if not all, came from the school's athletic funds. I was probably told otherwise, but just didn't hear. Coaches, thank you for all you do, especially the things you shouldn't have to do, like fundraising.

To me, this is pathetic. As a parent of two wrestlers, you would be my worse nightmare as a coach. It is hard enough to keep kids from burning out on wrestling without a coach running practice like some strange cult. And, I'm sure to you, as a wrestler's parent, I'd be your worse nightmare. At least I'd try to be. I'll agree with the coaches' comments on here that basically say a parent needs to let the coach be the coach. Every coach my kids have ever had knew more about wrestling than I did. I always tell my sons to wrestle the way their coach tells them (even if it is different from the way the last coach told them). Additionally, parents need to do whatever it takes to keep from interrupting practice. These points we agree on. What we may not agree on is that coaches are missing a valuable resource if they neglect to use the participation of parents. Can you imagine a teacher telling the parents not to help a kid with his homework? I watch, tape and critique as many of my sons' matches as possible. A coach is better at telling my son how to work a Peterson. But I know when he is more likely to use it successfully, because I've watched him intently for six years.

If you are talking about my son Grant (Page's 130 last year), he's going 140. He's not patriot135. Grant doesn't write on here. He's too busy playing video games.

"...119 looks to be a fairly easy class with new fresh faces..." I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but look at 112 last year (maybe the most competitive weight class) and concider that to be 119 this year. Due to the weight certifications most of those guys have probably been bumped up to 119 this year. I expect R-5 119 to be very competative this year.

As CoachBray said, since you are over 7% body fat, you get the extra 2% body fat reduction. However, those that are already below 7% do not get this reduction. Additionally, it is possible to recertify for a higher weight class during the season, but you can not recertify for a lower weight class.

Would it be possible to use the Coacht live chat? There is a button in the upper right hand corner. DK if this way would be any better or not.

Galt, I mean, MR. BAKER. I only wrestled at Franklin my senior year, 1977. I was at 155# (that was 50# aqo). I don't remember MBA's 155# wrestler that year, but I certainly rember you (and your mom). As I indicated earlier, I have fond memories of those matches, but then again, I didn't have to wrestle you! Best of luck, Michael Geasley P.S. To this day, if I were to say to my parents, "Gooo Galt", they would know exactly what I was talking about.

Where will the A/AA duels be held?

"...Any team worth a dime will be at Ryan where the competition is..." What irony that the guy that made this statement calls himself "snobhater.

alcoa12505 - I feel your pain. Each of my sons were at the bottom end of the next highest weight classes. Now they are lifting and eating to put on muscle. In fact, one of them is already over weight (perfect, just half a pound) and it is all muscle. The bright side is that this year they won't have to be overly concerned about making weight (no more feeling drained going into a match) and some of the heavier kids that used to dehydrate 7 or so pounds to come down to their weight class will be stuck up at their own weight class. Last year it was not unusual for my oldest son to wrestle a guy that outweighed him at match time by one whole weight class. That is because some wrestler's coaches and parents would allow them to dehydrate to a dangerous level. Good luck on your season.

Sundancer - I don't know what other, if any, Williamson County wrestling coaches were affected by this policy. Patriot135 - The IHS wrestling coach job will be filled. It is just a matter of when and how qualified the replacement will be. Fortunately we have a couple of wrestlers' fathers that are highly qualified wrestling coaches. Though these fathers' job situations will not allow them to take the coaching job, they will be an important resource for whoever gets the position. Worse case, we could get by with a coach that knew nothing about wrestling. Hillwood96 - The IHS wrestling coach does not have to be a teacher. The coach just can't be a non-salaried (paid by the hour) employee of the Williamson County School System. Sommers - Have the Tullahoma guy contact IHS AD Darren Henrie at 615 472-4600 or call me at 615-791-5510. AnkLpik - Coach Deaton is not a teacher. A Williamson County School System salaried employee could be IHS's wrestling coach. The booster club can't pay the coach's salary because the school just opened a couple of months ago and the booster club has virtually no money. If the wrestlers' parents picked up the tab, it would probably cost around $300 each. I've paid a lot more than that to send my sons to a five day wrestling camp, so I'd be willing to do it. Unfortunately, very few others would. CoachDelgado - Only non-salaried Williamson County School employees are affected by this policy. It has to do with the Federal "Fair Labor Standards Act" and the requirement to compensate workers with overtime pay when they work more than 40 hours a week. Salaried workers are not required to be compensated because the extra hours are supposedly part of their work description. However, Williamson County School is being proactive in implementing this policy. Look for other counties to follow their lead. In response to just about everyone’s statements - Yes, Coach Tim Deaton is a great guy, very organized, very hard worker, and very knowledgeable about the sport. If I were a program from one of the surrounding counties, I'd be looking at trying to get this guy a coach.

This week Independence High School (IHS) lost the services of its head (and only) wrestling coach, Tim Deaton. Unfortunately, Coach Deaton was part of a tide of 37 Williamson County School employees that had their coaching arrangements terminated due to the school board's interpretation of a potential problem with the Federal guidelines for overtime pay. (Let me emphasis, this is a school board policy change and has nothing to do with the actions of the 37 employees affected). As a parent of an IHS wrestler, I am very disappointed that Tim Deaton will not be my son's coach. When asked if there was anything I could do to help rectify the situation, Coach Deaton said to look for a new coach. Anyone interested in coaching wrestling at IHS should contact Athletic Director Darren Henrie at (615) 472-4600. IHS opened this year with freshmen and sophomores. The student body will fill out with junior and senior classes over the next two years, respectively. Most IHS wrestlers will come from the highly successful Heritage and Page Middle School wrestling programs. Many IHS wrestlers will have participated in the Williamson County FCI program that has helped make Franklin High School so successful. If you have any questions, feel free to contact AD Henrie at the phone number listed above or call me at (615) 791-5510. Michael Geasley

Ryan Konz will be great at whatever weight class he wrestles, but I'd be surprised if he could make 112, much less 103. I haven't seen Ryan in a while, but I thought he was bigger than 103 last year. I think Ryan will make an impact even as a freshman, especially if he wrestles 103. I wouldn't be surprised if Ryan proves to be the best wrestler in the freshman class.

Anybody old enough to remember back around '77 when MBA had a big guy named "Gault"? I have no idea what his last name was. His mother, from whom he apparently got his stature, would sit near the edge of the mat and, with shoes in hand, pounding the gym floor as she bellowed in a deep voice, "Goooo Gault!" Gault was an ominous sight by himself, but the two of them were completely intimidating. After I graduated from high school, Gault and his mom were some of the things I missed most about high school wrestling. By the way, if Gault is still out there and happens to read this, “I mean no disrespect there Big Fella”. If I were a wrestler these days, Kelley Felix would get my vote as scariest wrestler. I've enjoyed seeing him wrestle for many years. I won't say he tries to injure his opponents on the mat, but I don't think he's too broken up if he causes a little pain now and then.

Pardon the interruption of this string concerning Bradley (they'll be great again this year, trust me), but I wanted to add to BayouBear's and Texas23's comments about the effects of the weight certification program. It is my understanding that last year Coach Blair at Brentwood adopted the new weight standards for his school. As I recall, under those standards he chose to forfeit at least one weight class because he wouldn't allow a couple of his guys to go below their established minimum weight. (Brentwood folks, feel free to correct me if I misunderstood the situation). If an outstanding program, such as Brentwood, was unable to piece together a full line up due to the weight standards, smaller programs may really be scrambling. Another aspect of the new standards is that coaches may be bumping their better wrestlers up a weight class or two in order to let a less proficient wrestler participate at a lower weight class. As I understand it, a wrestler can go all season, up till regions, at a higher weight class as long as he can lose down to his lower certified weight (within the boundaries of the weight management program; 1 1/2 % per week) by regions. I'm not complaining about the new weight management program. I just think it is interesting to figure out how it will change certain aspects of high school wresting in Tennessee.

I talked to one of the TSSAA certified assessors, Wade Bartlett, concerning a possible body build bias. He said that all assessors are using "wrestling" and "athlete" modes of the Tanita scales for their assessments. He is confident that the scales are accurate and consistent for all body types. That settles this issue for me.

I've heard (but do not know for a fact) that the electronic scales that are being used (Tanita TBF-300) may not be very accurate for calculating a wrestler's body fat when used in the "standard" mode as opposed to the "wrestler" mode. I was told that it seems that the scales, in the standard mode, calculate a higher percentage of body fat for short, muscular wrestlers than they do for tall, slim wrestlers. As a potential result, a tall kid (read between the lines here, my son) may not be able to lose 1.6 pounds to make the closest weight class. But, a short muscular kid gets to go down to what seems to be a ridiculously low weight class, due to inaccurate body fat measurements. I'm not stating this as a fact. I don't know if the same wrestler gets different body fat readings when set in the various modes (I e-mailed the company to find out). I'm trying to do some fact finding. Does this seem to ring true for anyone else?

Obviously Derek Walker, like the rest of these young, is an outstanding wrestler. Because my interests (my sons) are in the DI lower mid level weight classes, I am not familiar with Derek’s accomplishments. I mean no disrespect to him by asking this, but what did it take to be recognized as the #13 junior wrestler in his weight class? Was it an outstanding high school record, successful off-season tournaments, defeating a nationally known wrestler, or some other accomplishments? Again, let me emphasis, I am in no way challenging Derek’s ranking or accomplishments. In fact, I'm glad Tennessee has young men like Derek that are doing so well in the sport. Congratulations to all these young men.