BlackknightGATA

Agree 1000 percent. Great talent great tournament extremely poor officiating. It appeared they had no idea what stalling from the top is and inconsistency after inconsistentcy with the same ref during the same match(es). It's bad when your more worried about which ref your gonna get verses who your wrestling... But I heard allot of positive feedback from parents and wrestlers alike about the pool system used and the mat time it produced for the wrestlers... Most got 3-4 matches each verses the usual two in double elimination tournaments... Very good... And I don't know of another tournament that honors wrestlers that left this world way to soon... A great way to honor their memories I hope it continues...

English pressed pause on starting his college career. He's lifting, training and competing as an unregistered/unaffiliated individual keeping his NCAA/NAIA eligibility 100% intact. He is wrestling at the Patriot Open 31 OCT 15.

For the moment; Broyles is at MTSU and Palmer is wherever he is... More to follow...

It would make sense to align with the rest of the wrestling community however, FS/GR/FOLK-STYLE competition and interest is limited in this area POST-SEASON Last year three POST-SEASON FS/GR tournaments cancelled due to lack of intrest... Oh and the ones they did have - the referees were literally KIDS. There is ONE certified FS/GR Referee for the entire state! Last year at the FS/GR State competition the referees were apprentices/kids! So if you want TRUE contests you have to travel... What about the OTHER GUYS- who can't travel- FS/GR enhances skill sets across the board and has value but this tournament has great value as well and is a step in the right direction. The guys training for Fargo don't NEED this tournament... The kids that can't go to Fargo Do. I applaud anyone who takes the initiative and creates opportunities for competition (not saying you don't). This should be a great tournament and I hope it becomes a long standing tradition. LEAD, FOLLOW, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY. Thank you Tim Marshall.

I agree... That attitude about wrestling is part of the issue. Another part of the issue is TSSAA doesn't give a tinkers dam what any advocate, parent or coach thinks. The only person in this state that gets thier attention in a meaningful way is the GOVERNOR. This issue has been brought to TSSAA over and over. They had thier chance to address it and have not done so. Petition and lobby the Governor it's the logical next step. I don't have an alternative location in mind but I agree with wrestlers wrestling over horse dung there is no way infectious bacteria can't be comming into contact with skin. And on the subject of kids being denied access to the tournament; I am personally aware of multiple kids denied by an EMT/NURSE who claimed any skin infection is infectious - Both had notes/skin forms from medical doctors certifying treatment and both were not allowed to wrestle. On one hand TSSAA puts on a show of being hyper senstive and concerned about infections and on the other they have the kids wrestle over a bacteria laden cow/horse/livestock barn- really? You can't have it both ways - everybody has a boss

Alabama also got a new program last year- Shorter college Montgomery, AL... http://goshorterhawks.com/roster.aspx?path=wrestling And One of Georgia's programs was also Shorter BAPTIST College- within the last three years... NCAA Div II Williams Baptist College- Arkansas stood up a new program within the last three years... NAIA. Couple of themes- Baptist schools starting 3 new programs after close to 20 years of no new programs AND Small/smaller schools. When you have next to nothing anything is good. NCAA DIV I, II or III and/or NAIA would be welcome. I think title 9 applies to any school. NAIA can give athletic scholarships were NCAA Div III can't and NCAA Div II is limited. The University Of Tennessee also has a club team that is poorly supported. IF the decision to start a team resides with the administration of college "x" I would think that would be the place to start. How much more public intrest would there be in a UT Wrestling Team Verses the UT Tennis or Golf team? I am biased here but I would think more for Wrestling.

Congrats!

Congrats to him, his family and coaches and good luck. Give em heck. My list may not include all but to my knowledge; English, Townsend and Palmer Begley and dean all still in the consolation finals. Each will medal unless my calculations are wrong.

Agreed. Movement in the right direction. Good luck to all...

Understood reference practice- written words are easy to misinterpret... Nuff said. Agreed one practice isn't going to change much. If you have followed the thread it is generally agreed that he's injuried- although no one knows for sure- 100% speculation... His ability to "go" at practice and wrestle hard impacts my impression his readiness... I want this kid to finish strong. Nothing more... Regions matter in the sense of who's tail you have to beat first- so he's got #1 first- good! Take the best guy in the bracket out while your fresh and on day 1. Day two and three when your less fresh and more haggard from battle- easier opponents- makes sense to me. I don't didnt won't totally dismiss region placement I'm just saying it don't mean everything And there is more than one angle to see it from. I see your point(s) we can agree to disagree.

Understood reference practice- written words are easy to misinterpret... Nuff said. Agreed one practice isn't going to change much. If you have followed the thread it is generally agreed that he's injuried- although no one knows for sure- 100% speculation... His ability to "go" at practice and wrestle hard impacts my impression his readiness... I want this kid to finish strong. Nothing more... Regions matter in the sense of who's tail you have to beat first- so he's got #1 first- good! Take the best guy in the bracket out while your fresh and on day 1. Day two and three when your less fresh and more haggard from battle- easier opponents- makes sense to me. I don't didnt won't totally dismiss region placement I'm just saying it don't mean everything And there is more than one angle to see it from. I see your point(s) we can agree to disagree.

"Cop out" - AKA excuse... Not. I was making the point that if your injuried why risk further injury in a regional bout after your already qualified to go to state. If your in good health another matter all together... In that case cop out would be a good characterization. Yes any injury is gonna affect him at state.... Agreed... As far as the order in which you face your opponents- it MAY make some difference but at the end of the day- you have to beat the kids in your bracket- the order in which you beat them doesn't matter... You still have to beat them... And it's hard to miss your snide comment about JEFFCO's practice. What's the basis of your derogatory comment- please educate the rest of us.

Agreed on the basis of his issues... They all want to be regional champ- but really it's just a qualifier for the big show this week... The big show is where it counts. Not discounting or marginalizing regional accomplishments- just saying 1-4 your in. So with that in mind- if your banged up makes sense to save it for the contests that matter most... Explains Broyles forfeiting consos-

It was a blindside for me. Never had the privilege of seeing Johnson wrestle a solid competitor so it was a "what just happened... That didn't go as I expected it to go..." Moment for me. I share your hope that Broyles (and all region one warriors) finish strong... As unfair as it seems, the greatest tests occur during our weakest moments... When we are sick, tired, downtrodden verses when we are at our best... That's wrestling and that's life. Sneaky good- I like that. There are a few that are like that in this region. Bagley comes to mind... Just when you think you have him- he pulls a double underhook twist spin kick thing out of his bag of tricks and now he's got you. I'm gonna miss seeing this crop of seniors on the mat.

Agree with all the upsets noted above... To me it was Broyles defeat... This year it seems upsets were the norm... Expectations going into the tournament were upended by the action that unfolded on the mat... Very good competition, drama (good kind) and I for one felt like it was worth the price of admission!

OW Upper weights: English (JC) pinned the defending Champion- a well coached, and equally experienced wrestler... With this Caveat; Bagely- Booker- Townsend- Begley all squared away tough wrestlers who bested tough opponents... Wouldn't disagree with any of thier nominations. There are good arguments for all...

Agree on all points regarding wrestling observed. Should be several state medals coming back to this region... On the point of character in the face of a defeat... I agree 1000% it does deserve pointing out when young men loose and do so with dignity. How one reacts to a crushing defeat after working towards and failing to reach a goal- tells you allot about who they are. It is hard, so hard, to do so. Respect to Lathem and every other wrestler that feel short of their goals and did so with dignity and composure. With many examples of kids throwing headgear, throwing tantrums and loosing their "bearing" following a loss it's good to point out those who keep it together.

Lots of upsets today... Rankings are just for fun as another member here recently said...

See link for details and contact information. http://us9.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4cfc6452d03e161053858402f&id=ac7ba78c2f&e

Also- English (JC) is now at 182/84 dropped six pounds from his walking around weight... 190...And Lathem (JC) is now at 195

Congrats to TN HS; they edged Jefferson Co by one or two points either 34-33 or 35-33 (don't recall exact score). Congrats to DB; Beat TN HS 37 - 25

Shoot me an email and I will fill you in. easyrhino247365@hotmail.com

Agree with all except "Little English didn't make weight. Can only blame him for a JV kid wrestling at 120" No way for you to know but- Griffin was not expecting to wrestle and has not wrestled since he lost the wrestle off DEC 02. The starter was a "no show" for the pre-match bus ride. Griffin English was told 30 Min before he departed that he was weighing in. And even if he made wieght, he was splitting matches with a freashman (the kid that wrestled against Science Hill) and would have wrestled So Green. He dumped as much ballast as he could in the short time he had to do so. But with no prior expectation or notification that he was wrestling; its his fault but not entirely his fault. He loves to wrestle and has never missed weight. And he wouldn't have wrestled Science Hill if he had made weight.

Unless there is some drastic unforeseen change; VIRGIL English will be wresing 195 this year...