TennWrestling

I don't know where some of the early State Dual team champions would compare to the more recent winners, but I do think it should be noted that the first qualifiers and state dual meet participants competed using a different set of rules. The teams in the first TSSAA state dual meet tournament were; C.B.H.S., Cleveland, Father Ryan, & McCallie, each were region champions. In the toss of the coin, McCallie & Father Ryan were the winners of the toss. Most important coin toss in state wrestling history! Cleveland and C.B.H.S. had to put their wrestler out first every match. Maybe it might not have mattered in that match, but that year Cleveland had traveled to Father Ryan and wrestled against the Irish in front of their student body. (Cleveland had also beaten McCallie that year in a dual.) Plus another factor that might have made a difference, Cleveland state champion, Mike Lennon, missed that match and several others because of an injury. The match was decided in the bout, won by Ryan. I remembered the newspaper commenting that Father Ryan got to travel about 10 to 15 miles to be the visiting team, while Cleveland had to travel 150 miles to be the home team. Just saying.

Here we are approaching the end of the high school wrestling season. We do have to fill in the extra week the sub-state tournament has added. Fans are also interested. and some excited. by the end of the year awards. There are some questions that come up every year and still seem to go un answered. The awards with most questions are Best Wrestler Awards and Coach of the Year Award. I know the TSSAA gives the winning & 2nd place coaches plaques, but they by the teams place in the tournament. As for Best Wrestler awards, is the award for the most outstanding for the year, or just for the tournament. When should the MOW be awarded, at region tournaments? after State? I think most would agree that Regions would like their MOW to be a state champion? Then the more controversial & confusing award; the Coach of the Year award. What criteria, if any is used in picking these awards? Each region does pick a Region coach of the Year. The TSSAA does not present this award, but the state coaches association does. Again, what criteria should coaches use to vote on this award? Is won-loss record the only criteria? It must not be because Cleveland's Knox has never been the state COY. He has won the award among his region peers. Winning, record setting winning, 6 strait state championships must not be considered? That's on the state level, what about region COY awards. Any criteria applied there? In Region 7, Summit H.S. has not lost a region match in 3 years. No COY, and this year's award winner lost in the Region dual47-25. Did any of the coaches in a region work excessively in the off season, gotten involved in the AAU or WWU in the off season? Maybe they have helped other teams or programs, or take other coaches kids to events. These things might be thought of by Coaches Association. Please make awards to those who most deserve them.

We in the Tennessee wrestling community are losing 2 of the most valuable workers in our state, Derek Harrison and Mike Hatcher. Both have carried the work load for the Tenn. Wrestling Federation for the past several years. Fortunitaly they both have agreed to finish the year with us, but then both are moving out of state. Hatcher in particular has given more time, energy, money, and effort than any person in our state for the past several years. Put on climics, run tournaments, organized trips, coached; I can't even come close to all the things he has done for our sport and our kids. It's not enough but all I can say is, "Hatch, thank you for all you have done and just say we have been so fortunite to have you in our state." I almost titled this topic, "Tennessee wrestling at a cross road," now I will. Since the beginning of the Tenn. Wrestling Federation, the state has been held together by people like G.P. West, Louise Davis, Al Miller, Doug Newman, Bobby Davenport and Tom Marable. These leaders had their successes and disappointments, but most importantly they kept the organization going. They are now retired. Fortunately, along came Mike Hatcher, Garrett House, and Derek Harrison. From Jordan Leen and Nick Marable, thru Elijah Oliver and Chris DeBien,we have all enjoyed the successes of these wrestlers, as a result of the work from these leaders. Now the crisis or cross road; do we have a group of next generation leaders? I hope so and encourage anyone out there to join in and help wrestling in our state. Help is needed now, but the best way to join in is attend the state meeting next September. The A.A.U. & T.W.F. have entered into a unique, promising and exciting agreement . The A.A.U. has an organized and outstanding program for kids through the 8th grade. The biggest need is now for our high school kids through the T.W.F. Now if any wrestlers have read this essay, I challenge you. Do we have any wrestlers out there to follow the Marable's, Leen's, Oliver's and DeBien's? What are you doing right now to get better in wrestling? If you are not training and wrestling in the freestyle & Greco tournaments this spring, you are fooling yourself if you think you are getting better. While you are resting, you are getting passed by others. What should you do? If you don't plan on wrestling Saturday, May 9, in the state Greco & freestyle tournament, don't plan on being on the stand next February.