Sommers

Unfortunate https://www.wtvq.com/2021/08/23/familys-lawsuit-claims-university-coaches-responsible-for-wrestlers-death/

With some crazy going on's in the state during covid related debates, it's time to go says Brad!!! Farewell and thanks for your wrestling contributions and artistic/spiritual share though the years, and may you help the state of affairs in VA... Brad Fiscus Leaving Williamson County School Board By Andrea Hinds - August 16, 2021 Brad Fiscus, District 4, announced he is leaving his position on the Williamson County School Board at the end of September as he and his family are moving to Virginia. “I will be leaving my position on the Williamson County School Board at the end of September. My wife and I will be moving to northern Virginia area near DC. I will be fulfilling my duties as your elected representative until that date. It is and has been an honor to serve the people of District 4,” Fiscus wrote on Facebook. How will the seat be filled? Fiscus explains that District 4 County Commissioners Gregg Lawrence and Chad Story will be asked to bring a nomination to the commission. The county commission will vote to confirm that nomination or offer other candidates who live inside District 4. Once chosen, the new member will be sworn in at the next voting meeting of the board after the commission completes the appointment process. The new member will complete the remainder of the term that ends in August 2022. The new member may or may not decide to run for election in the August 2022 election. Brad Fiscus Educator Background According to fiscusfortn.com: In 1989, Fiscus began his teaching career in Sheridan, Indiana. At Sheridan Middle School he taught seventh and eighth-grade science. He also served as student council advisor, middle school football coach, middle school wrestling coach, middle school track coach, and head coach for the high school wrestling team. During his time in Sheridan, Brad received multiple Outstanding Teacher of the Year awards. In 1997, he was honored to be named a semi-finalist for Indiana State Educator of the Year. In the summer of 1997, Brad and his wife, pediatrician Dr. Michelle Fiscus, moved to Nashville. While Shelley was working at Vanderbilt Medical Center, Brad began serving at John Overton High School as a biology and physical science teacher, student council advisor, freshman football coach, and assistant wrestling coach. During his time at Overton High School, Brad was recognized as an outstanding educator, student leadership developer, and coach. In 2001, Brad decided to leave public school education to be a stay-at-home dad for their first child. Brad continued to coach wrestling at Overton until 2002. A couple of years later, a son, was born. It was during this time that Brad discovered his artistic ability for creating stained glass art. His art can be found in homes and churches throughout the United States. His time immersed in art, scripture and parenting helped him realize his calling to full-time professional ministry. After serving as the Director of Youth Ministry at Epworth United Methodist Church in Franklin, Brad joined the staff of the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2009. He is now the Director of NextGen Discipleship in the Tennessee Conference. He leads a team of diverse leaders, both youth, and adults, from throughout Middle Tennessee to provide resources and training to nearly 600 churches in the United Methodist connection. Fiscus joined the Williamson County School Board in September 2018.

Mocs Welcome Five Inductees Into Hall Of Fame The Chattanoogan Heath Eslinger – Wrestling – 1996-00 – Head Coach 2010-18 Heath Eslinger was a three-time Southern Conference Champion as a student-athlete at UTC from 1996-00. He posted a 120-18 all-time mark and was the 2000 SoCon Wrestler of the Year. His 120 career wins broke the school’s all-time mark and is still No. 2 on the list today. He was also the MVP of the SoCon Tournament in 2000 and climbed as high as No. 6 in the national rankings as an individual. He took over as head coach of the Mocs in 2010 and won five regular season and four tournament titles in nine years. He was the 2011 and 2013 SoCon Coach of the Year and is second in career wins with a 101-63 overall record. Eslinger was also the driving force in bringing the Southern Scuffle to Chattanooga. Source Chattanoogan

OLYMPIC WOMEN'S WRESTLING: Former King University wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt wins bronze medal BHC Sports Desk 3 hrs ago Subscribe: 6mos. only $1 Former King University wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt reacts after winning the bronze on Saturday. The Associated Press BHC Sports Desk Abronze medal fit for a King University graduate. Former King University women’s wrestler Sarah Hildebrandt captured the bronze medal in the freestyle 50kg at the Summer Olympics on Saturday on Tokyo. Hildebrandt rallied late to defeat Oksana Livach of Ukraine by technical superiority, 21-1, having overcome an earlier loss to eventual silver medalist Yanan Sun of China. “Last night was probably the lowest I’ve ever felt. I couldn’t even wrap my mind around it and still can’t,” said Hildebrandt, in comments provided by King University athletics. “To be able to come back from that, to have so many people be there for me yesterday and literally pick me up off the floor, and get this medal, so many people have put into this. It’s a great representation of that.” A four-time All-American and two-time national champion at King from 2012-15, Hildebrandt recorded a takedown of Livach to take a 2-1 lead at the break in the bronze medal match. She extended that lead with another takedown with 48 seconds remaining, and then added three turns to take the 12-1 win by technical fall. Hildebrandt became the first King athlete to win an Olympic medal, much to the delight of King women’s wrestling coach Jason Moorman. “I remember Sarah as a young 18-year-old walking on campus for the first time with dreams of the highest achievements,” Moorman said. “She accomplished many great things during her tenure here at King, however her growth since has been remarkable. She faced a lot of adversity over the years as every athlete does, and how you handle that adversity is what separates people. She handled it better than anyone.” Hildebrandt won two earlier matches, 11-0 and 12-2, to advance to the medal round where she fell to Sun. She rebounded nicely, claiming the bronze against Livach. “Congrats to her coaches Brad Harper and Terry Steiner, they have been amazing in their guidance to this accomplishment,” Moorman said. “We are incredibly proud of Sarah, she forever will be an Olympic Bronze medalist.” She was the third King athlete to compete in the Olympics, following women’s wrestler Haley Augello, who competed for the United States in 2016 and Kemar Hyman, who participated in track and field for the Cayman Islands in 2012 and 2016. “We are so proud of Sarah and everything she’s accomplished,” King athletic director David Hicks said. “Faculty, staff, students, and alumni watched her compete on the biggest stage in the world and walk away with a bronze medal. She’s been a champion since she arrived on campus and embodies the spirit of King. “We have arguably the top women’s wrestling program in the country with multiple national champions and Sarah represents the best of the best,” Hicks said. “While she’s our first medalist, she won’t be our last.” Hildebrandt became the second local college athlete to earn a medal in the 2020 Summer Olympics. Rising Milligan junior Megan Jastrab won a bronze medal as part of the Women’s Team Pursuit cycling competition. Shane Baz and Anthony Carter were on the silver-medal winning United States baseball team and both spent time with Bristol’s Appalachian League franchise. Carter (0-0, 7.71 ERA in three games in Tokyo) pitched for the Bristol White Sox in 2006, while Baz (0-0, 6.75 ERA in his one Olympic appearance) was a standout for the Bristol Pirates in 2018. Meanwhile, Hildebrandt captured the bronze medal five years after falling short in her attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio. “What a special time to be a part of Team USA wrestling. You can feel the energy,” said Hildebrandt, who picked up the ninth medal for Team USA wrestling and fourth of six for American women in the Tokyo Olympics. “I’m so grateful to have these teammates. We are supporting each other, working to get better. That is different from before and you can see it paying off.” Yui Susaki of Japan won the gold medal, defeating Sun 10-0 in the final match. Mariya Stadnik of Azerbaijan also picked up a bronze medal, topping Namuuntsetseg Tsogt Ochir of Mongolia 10-0. https://heraldcourier.com/sports/olympic-womens-wrestling-former-king-university-wrestler-sarah-hildebrandt-wins-bronze-medal/article_4069a496-f7d1-11eb-9ada-93878dd2984f.html

Local Pigeon Forge wrestler commits to Arkansas Little Rock By Jake Wright Sports Reporter Aug 5, 2021 Updated 3 hrs ago Pigeon Forge’s Garrett Foreman will continue his wrestling career at Arkansas Little Rock after his senior season for the Tigers. File Image/The Mountain Press PIGEON FORGE — Pigeon Forge wrestler Garrett Foreman committed to the University of Arkansas Little Rock recently to continue his career in college. Foreman set up a visit on his way home from wrestling out of state, and he is thankful that it worked out the way it did. https://www.themountainpress.com/sports/high_school/local-pigeon-forge-wrestler-commits-to-arkansas-little-rock/article_b29ddebb-5ec5-57a6-bd48-0a4e5d898a85.html ______________ COLLEGE MEN’S WRESTLING King adds Vezzetti to coaching staff King Univeristy men’s wrestling coach Deral Brown has completed his coaching staff with the addition of Antonio Vezzetti, having served last year as a coach for Greg Gomez Trained Wrestling in Illinois. Vezzetti was a three-time All-American wrestler at Notre Dame College in Ohio.

Two Sycamore wrestlers compete at Deep South Duals 11 hrs ago Comments Dalen Kimble (right) and Logan Heckert (left) competed at the Deep South Duals last weekend. SUBMITTED Two Sycamore high school wrestlers competed on a team of other Tennessee high schoolers in a duals tournament in Alabama. Rising senior Dalen Kimble wrestled at 145 pounds and went 9-0 over the weekend defeating the majority of his opponents by major decisions, meaning by 9 points or more. Rising Junior Logan Heckert won six matches on the weekend while losing some close matches to some power house kids wrestling up at 160 pounds. “For the record, Dalen doesn’t often win matches by large numbers,” Sycamore coach Steve Hamblin said. “He usually is very patient and scores when he needs to. He really turned it on this weekend. Logan is wrestling 4 weight classes higher than he did last year while competing at state. That’s a big jump and quite an adjustment to make.” “I am very proud of these two and the coaching staff at Sycamore looks forward to the upcoming season,” Hamblin said. “We have a solid group of kids working out and getting ready for the season. They are hungry and ‘want more’ than what they accomplished last season.” https://www.mainstreetpreps.com/county/cheatham/two-sycamore-wrestlers-compete-at-deep-south-duals/article_d3c9f6cc-f2f0-11eb-b8c9-97478cb11ab4.html

Hildebrandt has been on the world stage for some time Hildebrandt was a Junior World team member in 2012 and 2013, a World University World Games team member while at King University in Bristol, Tenn... https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/2021/08/01/5-things-know-granger-native-and-olympian-sarah-hildebrandt/5440951001/

Wrestling: BGA tabs Humes to lead progam Trevor Humes Battle Ground Academy announced the hiring of Trevor Humes as the wrestling program’s new head coach on Tuesday. Humes, a Father Ryan graduate, takes over for Robert Jemison, who recently was named the St. Cecilia athletic director. Humes wrestled with the Irish and was a part of their 2009, 2010 and 2012 state championship teams in Division II during his high school days. He returned to Father Ryan and has served as an assistant at the Nashville school since 2016. Humes will serve as BGA’s director of wrestling and head middle and high school coach. Humes holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he also served as the team wrestling manager under coach Heath Eslinger. Humes is pursuing his master’s degree in secondary education and will also be working in BGA’s wellness department. http://www.williamsonherald.com/sports/wrestling-bga-tabs-humes-to-lead-progam/article_da206646-ef26-11eb-8f08-f7ac36a5ffa4.html

Welcome a new wrestling family to Tennessee, Millers, parents of Illinois champion and Campbell U. 220 pounder recruit... Conner Miller will wrestle at Campbell University after three state medals Bill Welt State Journal-Register CHATHAM — Wrestling entailed more than just one thing for recent Chatham Glenwood High School graduate Conner Miller. It also provided a second family and enduring friendships. "It was probably the best four years of wrestling," Miller reflected of his time at Glenwood. "I kind of wish I could go back and start from scratch, but they really taught me a lot. Wrestling made me better and it really was more than just wrestling, it was a whole family. "To me, it was more than just a single-person thing. It was more of a team that brought me closer to people. Just really wherever we go, you know someone." Miller certainly thrived in that team atmosphere. He finished the regular season undefeated and claimed the Class 2A Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Class 2A regional and sectional titles at 220 pounds. He ultimately captured the 2A state title after David Polaski's 9-4 decision over Miller in the state finals was overturned due to rules violations. Miller previously defeated Polaski 5-4 in the Mahomet-Seymour Sectional final and ended the season with a perfect 34-0 mark to become The State Journal-Register's Large School Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive season. "I did pretty well in my opinion," Miller said. "Not many of my matches lasted that long until I got to regionals, sectionals and state." Despite a delayed season, Miller said he was able to stay in peak form thanks to heavyweight teammate Alex Hamrick in the practice room. Hamrick took third place himself at 285 pounds and finished the year 35-1. "We had a lot of tough scraps in the wrestling room and it made both of us better," Miller said. "He's really the toughest competition I've had. Miller embraced the role as mentor for Hamrick, perhaps not unlike what former teammate and current Purdue University wrestler Mitch Hutmacher provided for him. "I pushed him to do better, and he got exponentially better throughout the season," Miller said of Hamrick. Miller previously went state runner-up in the Illinois High School Association Class 2A State Finals in Champaign as a junior and ended that season 41-1 at 220 pounds. He also earned third place in the same weight class his sophomore year. He will now wrestle at NCAA Division I Campbell University in North Carolina. Miller said he may wrestle at 197 pounds but said he will take up any weight class the coaching staff wants him to do. Miller's family recently moved to Tennessee, and Miller said he will get back to training as soon as possible. Miller also said he plans to study homeland security and criminal justice at Campbell. To be able to wrestle at a D-I school is an indescribable feeling for Miller. "I'm not sure what to think of it," Miller said. "I didn't think I would get to this point." Contact Bill Welt: bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt Vi ew Comments Tennessee... Anyone know exactly where? Could help your upper weights in the room

TOP TARGETS:These are the top football prospects in Tennessee's loaded 2022 class Anderson had more than 25 offers. Anderson is the No. 6 college football recruit in the state according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 20 offensive tackle in the country and No. 230 overall recruit. He's a multi-sport athlete. This past year he finished one match from placing in the TSSAA Large Class Wrestling State Championships at the 285-pound weight class. It came in his first year of wrestling since he was in middle school. https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/07/25/fisher-anderson-4-star-offensive-tackle-commits-stanford-football/8086557002/

TOP TARGETS:These are the top football prospects in Tennessee's loaded 2022 class Anderson had more than 25 offers. Anderson is the No. 6 college football recruit in the state according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 20 offensive tackle in the country and No. 230 overall recruit. He's a multi-sport athlete. This past year he finished one match from placing in the TSSAA Large Class Wrestling State Championships at the 285-pound weight class. It came in his first year of wrestling since he was in middle school. https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/07/25/fisher-anderson-4-star-offensive-tackle-commits-stanford-football/8086557002/

TOP TARGETS:These are the top football prospects in Tennessee's loaded 2022 class Anderson had more than 25 offers. Anderson is the No. 6 college football recruit in the state according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 20 offensive tackle in the country and No. 230 overall recruit. He's a multi-sport athlete. This past year he finished one match from placing in the TSSAA Large Class Wrestling State Championships at the 285-pound weight class. It came in his first year of wrestling since he was in middle school. https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/07/25/fisher-anderson-4-star-offensive-tackle-commits-stanford-football/8086557002/

TOP TARGETS:These are the top football prospects in Tennessee's loaded 2022 class Anderson had more than 25 offers. Anderson is the No. 6 college football recruit in the state according to the 247Sports Composite. He is the No. 20 offensive tackle in the country and No. 230 overall recruit. He's a multi-sport athlete. This past year he finished one match from placing in the TSSAA Large Class Wrestling State Championships at the 285-pound weight class. It came in his first year of wrestling since he was in middle school. https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/07/25/fisher-anderson-4-star-offensive-tackle-commits-stanford-football/8086557002/

LIVE1 87 GENERAL ALERT Tokyo Olympics Coverage GENERAL ALERT Tokyo Olympics Coverage Follow coverage of the Tokyo Olympics on air and online! OLYMPICS COVERAGE TELEVISION SCHEDULE Shuler named head wrestling coach at Tennessee High by Jarvis Haren Thursday, July 22nd 2021 AA FILE - New Tennessee High wrestling coach Josh Shuler (WCYB Photo).<p>{/p} (WCYB) — Tennessee High has named Josh Shuler its new head wrestling coach. Shuler comes from Virginia High where he's served as their head wrestling coach since 2010.

TSSAA inducts Class of 2020 into Hall of Fame 2020 honorees officially inducted after multiple postponements due to pandemic July 17, 2021 Turner Jackson—Teacher, coach, and administrator for 41 years…served as head wrestling coach for 2 years at LakeView Fort Ogelthorpe High School before going to Bradley Central High School in 1979…has coached wrestling, cross country, track and field, and softball during his tenure at Bradley Central…served 20 years as athletic director…Retired in 2015, but still teaching wellness and serving as school’s athletic director on 100-day contract…TIAAA Athletic Director of the Year…Region 3 A. F. Bridges Athletic Director of the Year…member of National Wrestling, Greater Chattanooga Sports, Bradley Co. Old Timers, and UTC halls of fame…TN Sports Hall of Fame Athlete of the Year in 1976 https://tssaa.org/article/tssaa-hall-of-fame-class-inducted

Bingham, Walter "Troy" (Cleveland) Wednesday, July 14, 2021 Walter “Troy” Bingham born March 7, 1969, to the late Harold and Rita Bingham in Cleveland, passed away on July 9, 2021. Troy took pride in his ability to do plaster and stucco work. He played football, baseball and wrestled for Bradley Central High School. Troy was honored for running the 1984 Olympic Torch Relay. He is survived by his wife, Angie Bingham; his children, Alisha Bingham, Samantha (Ryan) Elliott, Sydney Bingham and Sarah Bingham; grandkids, Darian & Kaydence Clay, Trandon & Sawyer Evett and Alexzander Elliott; brothers, Tyler (Amy) Bingham, Todd Bingham, Tray (Charlotte) Bingham; along with several nieces, nephews, foster kids and God kids. The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 15 from 1-3 p.m. in the Athens chapel of Companion Funeral Home, 400 S. White St. in Athens. A funeral service will follow the visitation time, with the Reverend Randy Higginbottom officiating. Interment will follow in the New Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery, with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Share a memory of Troy and/or your personal condolences with his family by visiting his memorial webpage and guestbook at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens is honored to assist the Bingham family with these arrangements. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/7/14/431289/Bingham-Walter-Troy-Cleveland.aspx

Chattanooga-Area Student-Athletes Nominated For State-Wide Recognition Male Wrestler of the Year: Cody Chittum, Cleveland; Garrison Dendy, Baylor; David Harper, Baylor; Trae McDaniel, Cleveland; Emory Taylor, McCallie; Daniel Urochok, Signal Mountain; Alex Whitworth, McCallie Male Athlete of the Year: Eric Rivers, McCallie Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - by Dennis Norwood ESPN College Game Day analyst Seth Greenberg, also a two-time ACC Coach of the Year, along with former NBA player and current ESPN analyst LaPhonso Ellis will emcee the inaugural Tennessee High School Sports Awards to be held online Thursday, July 15th at 7 p.m.. The awards are presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. The awards are part of the largest high school sports awards program in the nation and recognize the top athletes in most state-sanctioned sports across the country. The program will be live streamed on-demand at https://sportsaward State winners will be automatically entered as candidates to be honored in the nation-wide newly establishedmUSA Today High School Sports Award program. https://www.chattanoogan.com/2021/7/14/431299/Chattanooga-Area-Student-Athletes.aspx

Congrats!!!

Wrestling pays off for the Vols... Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips would start off the commitment barrage on July 1. The Ocoee, Florida native chose Tennessee over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. Phillips ranks as the 640th best player and 96th best defensive lineman in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 300 pound defensive lineman is a three sport athlete at Ocoee High School, excelling in wrestling and weight lifting on top of football. https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2021/07/09/recapping-busy-week-of-tennessee-football-recruiting/

Wrestling pays off for the Vols... Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips would start off the commitment barrage on July 1. The Ocoee, Florida native chose Tennessee over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. Phillips ranks as the 640th best player and 96th best defensive lineman in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 300 pound defensive lineman is a three sport athlete at Ocoee High School, excelling in wrestling and weight lifting on top of football. https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2021/07/09/recapping-busy-week-of-tennessee-football-recruiting/

Wrestling pays off for the Vols... Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips would start off the commitment barrage on July 1. The Ocoee, Florida native chose Tennessee over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. Phillips ranks as the 640th best player and 96th best defensive lineman in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 300 pound defensive lineman is a three sport athlete at Ocoee High School, excelling in wrestling and weight lifting on top of football. https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2021/07/09/recapping-busy-week-of-tennessee-football-recruiting/

Wrestling pays off for the Vols... Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips would start off the commitment barrage on July 1. The Ocoee, Florida native chose Tennessee over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. Phillips ranks as the 640th best player and 96th best defensive lineman in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 300 pound defensive lineman is a three sport athlete at Ocoee High School, excelling in wrestling and weight lifting on top of football. https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2021/07/09/recapping-busy-week-of-tennessee-football-recruiting/

Wrestling pays off for the Vols... Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips would start off the commitment barrage on July 1. The Ocoee, Florida native chose Tennessee over a final group that included Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Maryland. Phillips ranks as the 640th best player and 96th best defensive lineman in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. The 6-foot-2, 300 pound defensive lineman is a three sport athlete at Ocoee High School, excelling in wrestling and weight lifting on top of football. https://www.rockytopinsider.com/2021/07/09/recapping-busy-week-of-tennessee-football-recruiting/ And yes, this is going on the football boards as well

Ed Holland takes over for Jerry Teaster as Heritage wrestling coach By Noah Taylor noah.taylor@thedailytimes.com 9 hrs If it was anywhere but Heritage, Ed Holland likely wouldn’t be coaching wrestling in East Tennessee. Holland, who took over the Mountaineers’ wrestling program on Tuesday, leaned on his long-time relationship with outgoing coach Jerry Teaster when making the decision whether or not to be his successor. It was a relationship that went back to his own high school playing days and persisted throughout the years. “I’d always had a really good relationship with Jerry,” Holland told The Daily Times. “I actually wrestled against his son and wrestled for him in high school. I didn’t know if it was something I wanted to do, but I got to coach a few years at McDonogh School in Baltimore and when I came back I realized it was something that I wanted to do. When I heard the (Heritage) job was open, I was really excited about it.” A 2011 graduate out of Pigeon Forge High School, Holland spent years competing against Teaster’s teams and then competing for him on a summer travel team before playing a year at the collegiate level at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky. But it wasn’t until working as an assistant coach at the wrestling program at McDonogh School that Holland realized coaching was what he wanted to do. “I knew in high school that I really loved the sport and that it was something I wanted to do,” Hollands said. “At McDonogh, I got to work around a bunch of guys that wrestled in college at programs like Penn State, Pitt and Navy. It was really after college that I really grew to love coaching. “I loved the experience of playing in college and competing at that level, but when I got to coach and impact kids’ lives and give them the opportunities that I didn’t have, that’s what I loved.” It was those attributes that led Teaster to give Holland a call about the opening, and it’s those same attributes that have him confident in the direction will take the program that he coached the last 11 years. “Just the mindset that Ed has, you know, he’s all about getting the kid where he needs to be,” Teaster said. “If they’re willing to put in the work, he’ll definitely get them there. We couldn’t have found a better coach. I’m tickled to death to be a part of his life growing up and being able to hand this off to him is very special to me.” Teaster decided to step down to focus on his Maryville-based hardscaping business, “Teaster’s Natural Creations,” which has taken off in the past year and required more of his team, but he plans to stick around the program he helped guide to 10 state tournament appearances and eight region titles as Holland’s assistant. “It’s been very successful,” Teaster said. “We’ve grown tremendously over the years. We’ve been able to get into the right contacts. I was on the USA Board, I was a national team member coach. We had a lot of teams that traveled all over the country. All of them had some really good offers. “Just the success for these kids and getting them to the next level and seeing where they’re at. We didn’t know much when we got started but we’ve been pretty successful since then.” Because it was Teaster’s program, the opportunity to take over for his former coach and mentor was an opportunity too good to pass up for Holland. “It’s awesome,” Holland said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be the head coach (at Heritage), honestly. Jerry came to me about it and if it was anywhere else, I probably wouldn’t do it. There’s a big legacy there he left behind and there’s opportunities for this program.” Now Holland will look to build a legacy of his own off of the success Teaster left behind and looking to reach the threshold of the program’s first state championship. His sights are also set on more than winning titles. “It’s always to win state titles,” Holland said. “That’s my thing. I like to win because it makes the sport more fun when you are winning. But the ultimate goal is to get kids to the next level because I know winning isn’t always everything. I want to get them to college and prepare them not just in wrestling but for life opportunities. “That’s the thing about college, the experiences you learn in wrestling, the work ethic you learn will follow you in life.” Follow @ByNoahTaylor on Twitter for more from sports reporter Noah Taylor. https://www.thedailytimes.com/sports/ed-holland-takes-over-for-jerry-teaster-as-heritage-wrestling-coach/article_2cbfd573-bc6f-5db0-bc07-0e92207f74ff.html

Kudos to Tennessee girls wrestling getting national recognition... Avery Kibelbek, Junior, Limestone, Tennessee, Wyoming Seminary (PA) 112 Bryce White. Sophomore, Hermitage, Tennessee, Cane Ridge High School (18 at 138) Piper Fowler, Eighth Grade, Cleveland, Tennessee, Cleveland Middle School (23 at 144) ( also Blackman area transfer) Maggie Graham, Sophomore, Bartlett, Tennessee, Bartlett High School (4 at 152) Shelby Zacharias, Senior, Charlotte, Tennessee, Creek Wood High School (23 at 164) Ellla Murphey, Freshman, Knoxville, Tennessee, Harden Valley High School (14 at 200) Chukwuedom Odeigah, Junior, Collierville, Tennessee, Collierville High School (21 at 200) Ariyanna Anderson, Junior, Charlotte, Tennessee, Creek Wood High School (22 at 200) Valerie Smith, Junior, Nashville, Tennessee, McGavock High School (3 at 225) https://ctwrestling.com/2021/07/five-state-wrestlers-ranked-in-final-girls-rankings-of-season/4213/