BillVol

http://www.gregcons.com/canoe/jw_Bringingupkids.htm

It appears that Tom and Colton are indeed related. Did a google with both "Tom" and "Colton" and got the above link. Somewhat surprised that Tom did not send Colton to McCallie to wrestle for Gordon Connell, Tom's coach at Hixson High School.

He must be an animal!!

I'm asking: Is Colton related to Tom????

Colton Popp related to Tom Popp, state champ for Hixson in the mid-'70s?

Also, whoever posted those results had Collins Hill going against Collins Hill in about half of the matches.

John Mullin of Notre Dame is an old friend, too. His brother, Chris, was a good one for the Irish. As was David.

Where does Shane Turner coach? Soddy-Daisy? I thought Steve Henry was coach at Soddy-Daisy. Is Shane an assistant?

The question is, who is the best coach in the state? This question does not set any standards by which a coach is to be judged. Some of the best coaches are the ones who keep programs going and improving against great odds, simply because they love wrestling, Mo Harrison, Benny Gray, and the Kingston coach fit this category. Those coaches who work hard to develop not only their program, but help other programs in their area, are in another group, Chris Vandergriff, Steve Henry, Jim Morgan, Bill Brimmer, Jeff Price, Tommy Bodon, and at least one who is no longer coaching, David Hollowell. The next group are those that turn out team and individual champions year after year, Jim Morgan, Steve Henry, Gordon Connell, Turner Jackson, Steve Logsden, Al Miller, Pat Simpson, Frank Simpson, Jeff Jordan, and John Mullens. I am sure that there folks from all parts of the state, that I have left out, who fit in one or more of the above categories.

 

The best coach is in the eyes of the beholder and the standards he sets. Wrestling coaches are unique and those who are truly dedicated to the sport should be considered the best.

 

I have never met Shane Turner, but he is a product of the Soddy Daisy program, and I am sure he would fit my standards of being among the best.

 

Good Luck to everyone as the season begins to pick up steam.

 

Dan Dugger

I know Pat & Frank Simpson, and I believe Steve Henry are three of many other great coaches/supporters that came out of Connell's MTSU's Blue.

 

Sommers: Curious about the "Blosser - Hixson" next to your name. That wouldn't be Mike Blosser, would it? Mike Blosser, who pinned his way through the state championships in 1982, winning state tourney best wrestler that year, was a buddy of mine back at Hixson. Mike Blosser could have kicked my butt in about 1/10th of a second had I ever made the foolish decision to fight him for whatever reason, but he was the nicest guy you would ever meet. A real gentleman and credit to the sport of wrestling. We actually used to hit tennis a lot and he was pretty good. I remember he went on to BYU to wrestle.

Bill--What are you doing on the wrestling board?

wtk, how are you doing? Hey, when you are from Chattanooga, you are exposed to great wrestling everywhere. I'm a big wrestling fan. In fact, when we were in town, I made a point to take in the McCallie-Ringgold match. Are you also a fan of wrestling?

Was curious about this match. Were both teams wrestling their top guys? Any notable injuries or absences? Ringgold is one of the top teams in Georgia.

McCALLIE 34, RINGGOLD 32 (Match began at 119 pounds)

103 Michael Temple ® major dec. Cole Perren, 17-5

112 Zach Hopkins ® pinned Max Crabtree, 3:52

119 Kyle Queen ® major dec. Nathan Hughes, 10-2

125 Garrison Goins ® won by forfeit

130 Joe Young (M) dec. Allen Lee, 15-11

135 Will Young (M) pinned Landon McCalmon, 1:29

140 Tyler Newman (M) pinned Paul Grant, 4:23

145 Zach Goss (M) pinned Joe Eastland, 0:28

152 Matt Spitalny (M) dec. Ethan Vaughn, 8-4

160 Tyler Mills ® pinned Brenton Austin, 3:57

171 Robby Robinson (M) pinned Sean McDevitt, 4:34

189 Aaron Cook (M) major dec. Jonathan Gregory, 17-6

215 Rob Baker ® dec. Bobby Huffaker, 7-5, OT

275 Jesse Peterson ® dec. Charles Green, 5-3

Gordon Connell also was coach at Hixson High School in Chattanooga, leading the Wildcats to the state title in 1973. I believe he left to become coach at MTSU, where he coached Pat Simpson. Connell produced many great wrestlers and state champions at Hixson, led by Randy Batten, who won three NCAA D-II national titles for UT-Chattanooga. As I recall, Batten was slated to wrestle in the D-I tourney his senior year but was hurt. (Anybody know for sure?) Of course, Connell has been great at McCallie.

I'm curious about Soddy-Daisy's Shane Turner. Where did he wrestle in high school and college? Any previous coaching experience before S-D?