BillVol

Congrats to USJ. But they are not a state tennis power. I'm sorry, but they are not. Thanks to the zillions of classes we now have in the TSSAA, USJ has been able to win multiple "state championships." You should send thank-you notes to the TSSAA for these titles. The fact that USJ is a state champion in tennis shows what is wrong with the TSSAA.

USJ is not a top tennis power despite their state title(s). Sorry, but they're not. I'm talking about the top private schools (that is, McCallie, Baylor, MBA, MUS, Webb). I'm sure there is an exception (maybe bbb can confirm), but I cannot recall a top tennis player at McCallie or Baylor ever playing another sport. At McCallie and Baylor, tennis training is year-round. This is not to say that great tennis players elsewhere didn't play other sports. Eddie Coates of Bradley won the state two or three times (I believe before the public/private split) and was also an outstanding basketball player. bbb, Brentwood High has a tough team in the early to mid-'90s and played McCallie some tough matches. But they never threatened to win and I don't think ever beat a team like Webb. Looking over the state results, there have been a few pre-public/private split boys team champs. But only one since Baylor and McCallie entered the TSSAA: Germantown, which pulled off the awesome feat twice in '80 and '81. However, the scoring was different then. It was not team versus team in a playoff. It was scored, as I recall, sort of like a track and field championship, with points given according to how high a player advanced in the individual and doubles bracket. The current format emphasizes team depth. All things considered, I think this year's Science Hill team is the best public school team ever.

I don't think anyone can. The Science Hill boys tennis team has to be the best boys public school team in Tennessee history. They coasted to the public school title. But in the regular season, they also beat, on the road, private school power Webb School of Knoxville, 6-3. Earlier in the regular season, Webb beat McCallie, eventual private champs. (Yesterday, McCallie turned the tables and nipped Webb, 4-3, to win the private school state championship.) Also, in the regular season, Science Hill travelled over 200 miles to Chattanooga and lost to McCallie, 7-2, in a match that could have very easily gone either way. I know this isn't a big deal to most people, but I think this is noteworthy. It is very rare -- unheard of, really -- that a public school can compete with the top private schools in tennis. Tennis is a year-round activity for the private school players, and they receive expert instruction from coaches such as ex-Vol Eric Voges, McCallie coach. Meanwhile, the public schoolers often play other sports during the year. Star Science Hill tennis ace, Chris Smith, also played basketball for the famous Topper hoops program. It would have been interesting to see a true state final -- with no public/private separation -- which might have included Science Hill. In the history of Tennessee high school tennis, there has never been a boys public school team that could challenge for the overall state championship -- until this year's Science Hill team.

I hadn't realized how strong Knox Webb was. They beat McCallie in a regular season match but fell in the state final by to McCallie, 4-3. Science Hill might be the best boys public school team ever in our state. They lost to McCallie in the regular season, 7-2, in a match that could have gone either way. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_148311.asp The Toppers also beat Webb in a regular season match, 6-3! http://www.webbschool.org/podium/default.aspx?t=102889 Nice to see Soddy-Daisy HS transfer William Disterdick win a big point for the Tornado in singles. Three great tennis teams! Congrats to McCallie and Science Hill!

Here is info about McCallie's state title. They will also win tennis. http://www.mccallie.org/podium/default.aspx?t=103720

So who won???

Hixson used to have a great band. As good as I ever saw (although I'm biased). I never ever saw them march when they didn't receive a standing ovation. And not just a standing O, but loud cheers, both home and away. Frank Hale was the band director. Tried to find something on YouTube and found this link to the band in '85. Not the best routine I've seen the band do, but still good. The current Hixson band is nothing like the old.

Haven't heard, but those are some big shoes to fill, when your coach is named Oehmig. Who was the coach before King by the way? I don't remember.

I'm not in any way being condescending to the Sequatchie team. I'm just curious about the history of the program. Who started it? Feeder programs? Etc. Is there a link to the article?

Looks like McCallie is a mortal lock to win state in tennis and lacrosse. Unbelievable that the Tornado has a nine-match streak going against Baylor in tennis, which traditionally may be their best sport. Credit to Eric Voges. I had heard that Disterdick was hoping for an appointment to West Point. Hard to believe that didn't happen. He's a fine person.

Just noticed the type by Sam. Obviously he meant to say that Knight went to Howard. We all know that Phoebe went to Red Bank.

I sent a note to Sam Woolwine, legendary Chattanooga sports writer, asking about these three and got this nice response: Hammonds went to Howard and am pretty sure Wright did as well. Fox was from East Ridge. I wasn't that much into track then, though I did emcee the program when they were inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame several years ago. Hammonds is the one I remember the most because he also set a TSSAA record in the 100, but don't think that still stands.

Have any of the Tennessee teams played out of state yet? Even to Atlanta or Birmingham?

This letter to the editor praising Phoebe Wright mentioned some Chattanooga track names I'm not familiar with. http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_149860.asp Chattanoogan Ed Hammonds won the NCAA 100-yard dash in 1974 representing Memphis State. He teamed with two other Chattanoogans, Maurice Knight and Lynn Fox, and one other sprinter, to win the 440y relay. (This is confirmed by the U of M track media guide.) I've never heard these names before. Does anyone know where they attended high school in town?

How in the world was a LAX team formed in Dunlap? Did the Florida transplants form this squad? However it happened, I think it's a good thing. Good luck to Indian LAX.

Wasn't sure where to post this. How many schools in the state participate in ice hockey? Is there a state championship? I find this amazing that we have schools in Tennessee with hockey teams.

Wow, what a shame. I guess his intelligence on the court did not translate to the classroom. He is a heck of a player. I did a Google search and found that he had played in the Rocky Top league and was listed as a Motlow State player. But I guess that never materialized. He was fun to watch.

Does anybody know where Alex Wells is playing in college?

Very interesting study put together by a poster on the Outer MonVOLia board, with surprising results. http://p099.ezboard.com/I-want-everyone-to...cID=10176.topic

kdx, thank you. I have never seen the score done like that before. Great way to follow the meet.

I can't moderate a swimming/diving board. Don't know enough about the sport in the first place. Are there any fans who would be willing to do it? BTW, I believe swim/dive season starts around November and goes through February. I think the state meet is in Nashville at Tracy Caulkins Aquatic Center near Centennial Park. http://www.mccallie.org/athletics/swimming/

Thanks for the info redandwhite. Could you tell me where each of these guys played HS ball in town? Thank you again. Especially Adams, Little and Skogen.

152- Daniel Waddell (Baylor) dec. Ben Hoppenbrouwer (Baylor 3-0) 160- Will Collins (Collins Hill) dec. Wes Stroud (Tied 3-3) 171- Nick Smith (Collins Hill) dec. Logan Dougher (Collins Hill 6-3) 189- Derek Walker (Baylor) maj. dec. Daquinn Cheek (Baylor 7-6) 215- Leon Delain (Collins Hill) pinned Tyler Watson (Collins Hill 12-7) 275- McLain Still (Baylor) dec. Matt Johnson (Collins Hill 12-10) 103- Karl Manning (Collins Hill) maj. dec. Trey Stavrum (Collins Hill 16-10) 112- David Clayton (Collins Hill) dec. Bailey Whitaker (Collins Hill (19-10) 119- Taylor Knapp (Collins Hill) dec. Colton Popp (Collns Hill 22-10) 125- Ben Johnson (Baylor) dec. Myers Beck in OT (Collins Hill 22-13) 130- Dominic Vercelote (Collins Hill) dec. Mike Bell in OT (Collins Hill 25-13) 135- Corey Manson (Baylor) dec. Thomas Knapp (Collins Hill 25-16) 140- Jed Hussein (Baylor) maj. dec. Jerrod Lukacs (Collins Hill 25-20) 145- Reed Doster (Baylor) pinned Josh Hertica (Baylor 26-25) Not joking. Look at 119 for example. Lists Popp as being from Collins Hill.

I would guess more schools participate in swim/dive than lacrosse by a 2-to-1 ratio. Plus, there has been a state championship in swimming much longer than a state lacrosse championship. State swim meet goes back to '65 or so. Lacrosse only started a state championship in the '90s. So why is there not a swim/dive board here? http://www.tisca.net

What has happened to the once-great high school basketball city of Chattanooga? The city of Riverside and Coach Dorsey Sims and famous Trojans Richie Fuqua and Anthony Roberts? Howard and Stanford Strickland and Reggie White? Brainerd and CJ Black, Malcolm Mackey and Keith Rawls? Kirkman and Antonio Parris and Jeff Strong? Many, many other outstanding teams, players and coaches -- too many to mention. Today's Chattanooga prepsters could not even sit the bench for the city's past great teams. My question is: WHAT HAS HAPPENED????????