best_of_the_west

Germantown and Collierville wrestled Totino Grace (MN) today. It was not pretty, but there were a few good matches. The Totino kids were very good, especially on top. Andrew Barnett lost I believe 8-2. He was close to getting a couple of takedowns in the first, but it didn't go his way. Brett Rogers wrestled well and decisioned the Totino 215, and James Lindow pinned the heavyweight. Germantown didn't win a match, and Collierville just won those two. Both teams were missing some wrestlers. I was suprised to see all the fans in attendance, even from other schools. It was a good turnout for a Monday afternoon. A special thanks goes out to the dynamic new ref in the cute yellow shorts. It was a well-officiated event. Everyone needs to come out tommorow at 11:00 am to see the matches if you can. Marable and Borneman against the 171 from Totino are sure to be interesting match-ups. Also, Grissom will be in town to up the competition level.

Well, they have a runner-up and a consolation finalist in a much tougher state. I don't see anyone from around here beating them, but I'm told their two best wrestlers are at 140 and 171. If Hunt wrestles, he'll probably be at 140. Marable and Borneman should get to wrestle the 171, unless Borneman goes 160.

Here's what I've been able to find out about Totino Grace (MN). I hear they are ranked 5th in Minnesota. Last year at state: 119-Clark Lensing-3rd (now a senior) 145-Jake Sweet-2nd (now a senior) Also qualified 11 for state.

Did anyone notice Borneman? I think he weighed in around 163, and he got most pins at 171. He struggled a little bit at the end of the year last year, but he has improved a lot. He's wrestling better than I've ever seen him wrestle. Also, Coleman absolutely dominated. I was a little suprised to see Creagan lose. I think he was too. I didn't see a best match winner, but the Fuller-Nichols match had all the energy of the Bradley-Cleveland rivalry. It was fun to watch.

Hello? Did anyone mention that Cody Cleveland got massively upset? Is he planning on staying at 145?

Collierville's TSSAA schedule has them wrestling Totino at 3:00. I would think that Germantown would wrestle Totino before that. I will be two days of good wrestling. Particularly pay attention to how well some of our best wrestlers (Borneman, Barnett, Hunt, Allen, etc.) perform against the guys from Totino. I will be tough competition for them.

I would have to agree with petersonsam. Franklin might have the talent edge on Bradley this year, but they don't have the conditioning of the Bears.

It is my belief that this will be one of the best years in region 8 history. Right now we have 14 wrestlers ranked by Matman, with 2 #1s (Johnson and Barnett). Last year we had only 7 wrestlers place at state with no champions. In 2003 we had 6 placers with 1 champion. In 2002, there were 10 placers, but no champions. In 2001, it was 9 placers and 1 champion. From 1998-2000, there were no state champions from region 8. This season could produce more placers and more champions from this region than any season since the TSSAA started posting their records. Maybe Delgado or some other old school guy knows of a more successful season, but I sure don't. Our region has been talking about breaking through for years, and the coaches and boosters have been working hard to develop the talent and increase the excitement from Memphis. We have no excuse this year. We have more talent than ever before, but we have to go out and execute on the mat and perform at state. I honestly believe that this is the year region 8 can take a huge step toward gaining state-wide respect. It's time to do it.

What fun is being politically correct all the time, right Jim? Are you going out to Bradley this weekend? I called Junior this morning, but he tells me he has to work. I'm heading out with enfuego at 10 am (if I can remember what it's like to wake up that early). By the way, can you even say that on here? I'm both shocked and appauled.

Is McKinney of Cumberland the same one that won state a couple of years ago at 145?

Like nobody knew. Anyway, I'm not real sure where this thread is going, but being a neutral party, I think that the McCallie/Baylor rivalry is the most exciting. I love being in the gym when McCallie takes on Baylor. As far a individuals, Kyle James and Shawn Cordell had a good little rivalry for a while, but James pulled ahead towards the end, and then he got heavier. I loved watching those matches though.

shoot, i might jump in. i'm small, but i'm crafty.

What the heck is region X? Anyway, if Hunt makes it back (which I am almost positive that he will), he will be at 140. I know that Speroff is much bigger, but I can't say for sure if he would make 135 or not. I'm guessing he'll be at 145. Depending on how strong he gets, he will have a very good match with Barnett.

Coach Bray, Thanks for the pass last week. Sorry I couldn't make it. Speroff is much bigger. Expect him back for the start of the season. Who had duals coming up? I know where to find schedules for Ridgeway, Germantown, Houston, and CBHS. What about everyone else?

Coach Bray, Your right. I wasn't sure if Carl had graduated or not. He's a heavyweight in the truest sense. Is he a second or third year wrestler? Hammond, Yea, it's a JV/freshman tourney. Coach Cottrell wanted me to work it, so I was making sure I would see some familiar faces. You can get the schedule at www.colliervillewrestling.com, but they haven't posted the new schedule yet. I don't have it with me in Knoxville.

I would guess that if Luke is allowed to go 160, he will. How many kids were at the NHSCA tournament? It's a little surprising that Knox wrestled a weight class up and still placed, if he's going 171.

I doubt it. Borneman will probably be 160 or 171 at most. If Knox wrestled the NHSCA tournament at 189, he'll probably be there all year.

I would have loved to see him and Barnett wrestle. I think David will end up swallowing his pride and making peace. He loves wrestling, and he wants at least a shot at a state title. The only way for him to do that is by staying on the team all year. Ask my brother.

I would say 140 at the heaviest, maybe 135. I think he was weighing just over 145 this weekend.

Come on now. How can you have Creagan in there, but not Felix, who placed ahead of him last year. They are neck and neck.

I do think that David may be a little out of shape, but he probably would have been just as likely to be injured wrestling Barnett at 145 (a much stronger and more physical wrestler than anyone in the 152 field and also a state finalist). I'm not really sure what was going on with that, but he having some issues with Coach Cottrell, I think. He entered as an Ind., and if he was with Collierville, Coach might have made him go to 145 or 140.

Who is Sioredias? Is he a transfer? I noticed one article mentioned something about the Big XII.

Ring, Where will McNich be? He told me he was going to be back at 160 before too long. Also, I usually try to stay neutral, but I'm going to show a little dragon pride for a moment. Collierville did graduate 6 starting seniors, but there are 5 or 6 more kids ready to step up and be difference-makers. At 103, Kent Johnson won preseason and has got to be the favorite in region. At 112, Blake Britcliffe is one of the best in region, and he placed second this weekend. At 125, Jeff Hunt almost qualified for state as a freshman last year, while wrestling 130 and weighing more like 120. At 135, David Hunt is a returning state placer (4th), and will probably end up being the best wrestler in the school's history at year's end (if he stays healthy and keeps his head on straight). At 145, Ryan Cullen looked very good this weekend, winning the tournament. At 215, Brett Rogers is one of the two best in the region, and i think he has a very good shot at being a 3x state placer. (He was one match away from placing, and really he should have placed, because the kid he lost to by two points went on to win the consolation bracket.) At HWT, James Lindow is a very good senior, and he's probably the second best HWT behind big Stew. Collierville is a little tender from 152-189 (they lost West, Graham, Brasher, and Faulkner), but they will definitely fill in the holes at the lower weights. The weight classes are just guesses, by the way. Also, I forgot to ask Coach Cottrell about Speroff, but he would be a region champ/state placer. Anyway, I'm just looking forward to seeing how it all plays out, but I wanted to respond to some of the comments about all the holes in the Collierville line-up. I think they will win the individual tournament with four region champs, five if Speroff returns. It's too early to tell on duals. From here on out, I'll be mostly neutral. Who's going to the Collierville tournament the weekend after Thanksgiving?

Per request: Germantown Preseason Tournament Final Results 103--Johnson (Coll) over Spencer (Hous) by fall @ 2:50 112--Johnson (Bright) over Britcliffe (Coll) by dec 119--Harrison (Ridge) over Sample (Hous) by dec 125--Gibbs (Ridge) over Galindes (Gtown) by m. dec 130--Warren (Ridge) over J. Hunt (Coll) by dec 135--Groves (Hous) over Manzano (Bright) by dec 140--Johnson (Bright) over Myyrik (Gtown) by fall @ 3:43 145--Barnett (Gtown) over Wright (Hous) by fall @ 1:59 152--Cullen (Coll) over D. Hunt (Coll) by inj. def. 160--Ring (Cord) over Cain (Ridge) by dec 171--Harris (Bart) over Geyer (Gtown) by dec 189--Borneman (Hous) over Melton (Mill) by fall @ 2:29 215--Ferguson (Ridge) over Berry (Cord) by fall @ 1:52 HWT--Lindow (Coll) over Spurlock (Mill) by fall @ 1:20 I was particularly impressed by the Johnson brothers from Brighton, Andrew Barnett, and Ferguson from Ridgeway.

I know what you mean Hammond. I just always thought of him as a waste of talent. He wins region as a sophmore, gets second as a junior, and doesn't even get to go to state as a senior. Mr. Barnett, I appreciate it. I'm looking forward to it. Garrett, No problem. I'll see you guys there.