TeamTN

TD2, on the subject of Hillbillies: a person who dwells in the Appalachia or Ozark mountain regions; a southern man with little or no formal education. My Uncle refers to himself as a Hillbilly all the time. He fits the definition. His last grade in school was grade 5. He can read and write enough to get by and can sign his name well. He has gotten by OK though. He owns 4 hotels in Gatlinburg and several other pieces of property in Pigeon Forge. For a Hillbilly, he has done quite well for himself and his family

My apologies for the grammatical and spelling errors of my previous post. Believe it or not, it is not the first time I have misspelled a word or used poor grammar . These mistakes are in no way a reflection on the quality of my education or the educational institutions i attended. Has more to do with me not taking my time to gather and organize my thoughts and carefully typing them in. My apologies once again for putting you through such agony. My poor spelling or misuse of grammar is not the reason why Tennesseans are referred to as Hillbillies People use ethic and racial slurs to impress their friends with their vast knowledge of hate. Hillbilly! You use that term in a derogatory way as if to offend me or to make me feel ashamed of my heritage Well, it does not. I am from rural Appalachia My parents, grandparents, great grand parents, great-great grandparents, and great-great-great grandparents were from Appalachia. I am proud of it. ghouse, i would be most grateful if you would help me become a better writer. Do you host any English or writing camps during the Summer? What organization do you operate it under? Hodges Harbrace? Houghton Mifflin Harcourt?

As far as AAU Districts go and to compere the AAU Middle School Duals to other sates competition: Iowa has the largest AAU Youth wrestling District with just over 9,000 wrestlers. Now you may not believe this but there is good wrestling in Iowa. South Dakota has almost 6,000, Montana has about 5,000, Nebraska about 5,000 and those district have some pretty good wrestling as well. Now, the only horse I have in the race is...my passion for wrestling and doing what we can to raise the level is my motivation. I do not have kids and I was not motivated to build TeamTN for purely personal reasons. We did it to help build a feeder program for our high schools . Now about your comment about non-profits still pay people salaries. You are correct I did a study on this for AAU and what I found out was amazing. There are leaders of non-profits making 7 figures...Well, not TeamTN. NOONE IS DRAWING A PAY CHECK! We file an income tax each year with the national office. We could pay salaries but do not because our VOLUNTEERS want the money raised to be spent on improving wrestling in Tennessee. As far as National Tournaments and their results being a gauge to compare Tennessee wrestling improvement. Good and tough wrestlers and coaches seek out tough competition The wrestlers I mentioned in previous post regarding our National Middle School Team Members, have had great success in Tennessee on the next level (high school). One, Sammy Evans is a 4 time state champion and Boykin, well enough said. And I want to correct one error I made earlier. I want to thank all the coaches and parents who went on these trips with our teams.

2015 National Middle School Dual Teams Finished 3rd in their pool Competition Defeated Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota going 3-5 for the event) TeamTN Grey Eli Clemmons 4-4 Braxton Mann Emory Taylor Hunter Borders Copper Medal 4-3 Tyler Seeley Joseph Gaines 4-4 Kole Kraus Dillon Pendley Joseph Frye Dalton Cockmen Jared Harter Cameron Henderson Copper Medal 5-3 Jacob Haney Silver Medal 7-1 Logan Sparks Trevor South Isacc Goncalves Steven Weist Montana Doty Copper 4-3 Jake Knaff Bronze 6-2 Zackary Garringer Copper 5-3 Bradley Williams Copper Medal 4-3 Ryan Jackson Jackson Clevelenger went 4-4 TeamTN Orange (1st place in their Pool; Defeated Montana, South Dakota, Alabama, Nebraska, Wyoming, Iowa Hawks, Polaris IL Elite, and lost only to Iowa Black in the Finals, finishing 2nd overall) Christian Isbell Gold Medal 8-0 Cooper Flynn Bronze Medal 6-2 Garrett Bowers Silver Medal 7-1 Noah Hurst Silver Medal 7-1 Tyler Seeley Brayden Palmer CopperMedal 4-3 Luke Dzember Silver Medal 7-1 Robbie Griggs Copper Medal 5-3 Logan Whiteside Bronze Medal 6-2 Jerimah Herron Auston Sweeney Cullen Belcher Copper Medal 5-3 Isaac Goncalves Trevor South Steven Weist 4-4 Landon Fowler Bronze Medal 6-2 Ryan Brown Copper Medal 5-3 Trent Knight 4-4 Wesley McCoy Copper Medal 5-3 Kane Kleoudis Silver Medal 7-1 Ethan Rainey Copper Medal 5-3 Michael Kramer went 6-2

The TeamTN 2012 National Middle School Dual team Roster: Sean Sesnan Ryan McElhaney Gaven Hutchins Matthew Keita Mike Murphy Trey Chalifoux Emory Holcomb Nick Volgelpohl Tucker Russo Kaleb Rippy Trevor Rippy Avery Shrum Danyon Edens Ryne Shepard Ty Hammons Tate Holmes Jay Roberts Ben Stacey Sammy Evans Triston Bianist 2013 National Middle School Duals Line up TeamTN Blue (team went 3-5 over the 2 days of wrestling) jack Newton Michael Moultry Braden Palmer Gabe Rogers Landon Fowler Bridger Johnson Austin Plumlee Trevor Rippy Ryan Brown Christian Salter Seth Eachus Austin Matthews Anders Heald Dean Caadzeck Antonio Herrera Preston Parks Walker Daughtery Sam McNelly Greg Vigil Nickl Boykin TeamTN Red (finished 7th in the Silver Pool Bracket; finished 2nd to Iowa Black in Pool Competition) Team went 6-2 in 2 days of wrestling Robby Griggs Trey Hicks Job Dooley TJ Hicks Ryan McElhaney Colton Landers Knox Fuller Gavin Hutchins Brock Herring Dewey Pendelton Matthew Sells Zack Wilkins Logan Fusion Caleb Eachus Austin Downing Dean Czadzeck Dawson Cox Hunter Fortner Cameron Tompkins Gran Brace Joshua Ortiz Sammy Evans 2014 national Duals Line-up TeamTN Blue Wesley Devaney Jeffrey Gross Luke Dezember Dillon Pendley Logan Witeside Chase Brown Nathan Shields Nick Runge-Gold Luke Story Eric Beecham Owen Schnieder Zach Duncalf Ryan Brown Chase Diehl Ben Rondestvedt Hunter Winters Jaxson Whittaker Mason Loupe Elija Lawson Ethan Olinger Logan Greenway Luke Champion TeamTN Red Line-up (2nd place in Pool Competition. Defeated South Dakota, Kansas, North Carolina and MSND All Stars and losing only to Iowa Black) Finished 3rd in the Silver Medal Bracket Christian Isbell Noah Hurst Braden Palmer Michael Moultry Job Dooley Cody Matthews Kyle Burns Mason Reinich Austin Atchley Alex Atchley Trevor Rippy Christian Salter Nyzaya Vincent Matthew Maxwell Preston Parks Max Grayson Kyle Smith Keegan Jones Grant Brace Thomas Roberts

One last comment that was made by the person who believes that the quality of wrestling has worsened because of the lack of wrestlers going on to the college level, here are a few more of my thoughts. I FIRMLY DISAGREE! I think there has been no time in the history of Tennessee have there been so many highly qualified and skilled wrestling coaches leading high school programs in Tennessee. I could tell by watching the TSSAA States this year and observing so many scrambles and so many close matches during the earlier rounds of the event. Programs like Bradley, Cleveland, Father Ryan, Baylor, Christian Brothers, Soddy Daisy, Clarksville, (just to name a few) have always had outstanding coaches and their history of success there proves that. But, look at all the other programs that have appeared on the scene who are battling year in and year out and are closing in on those long standing wrestling powers mentioned before: Halls, Beech, Wilson Central, Independence, Science Hill, Tennessee High, Mount Juliet, Blackman, Pigeon Forge, Boyd Buchanan, Summit, Page, Greeneville, Greenbrier, Arlington, Heritage, Alcoa, (these are just off the top of my head) are all on the upswing and are all lead buy not only quality coaches but quality Men). The future of Tennessee Wrestling is bright and I am excited about the future. As far as Tennessee Wrestlers going on to wrestle in college and qualifying for national tournament and earning National Honors: Nate Croley is a 2x All American from Cumberland University. Finished 3rd this year (wrestled for me as a member of our Pigeon Forge AAU Wrestling Program and for our Middle School Team) by the way, Congrats again Nate! Other names that come Boykin (UTC), Boykin (US Olympic Training Center), Fuller (West Point), Debien (UTC), Big Kramer (Lindenwood), Sutherland (Old Dominion), Sammy Evans (UTC); Blake Ridenour (ALL AMERICAN-Newberry); Trey Chalifoux West Point); Michael Murphy (Univ. of VA); Chad Solomon (UTC); TJ Hicks (UTC); Ran Parker (former wrestler playing football at West Point); Adam Connell (Naval Academy); Micheal Binns (?); Tucker Russo (Rheinhart), Tate Holmes (Rheinhart); Luke Mullin (UTC); Ben Stacey (UTC); Cody Davis (King College); Goforth (King College); to just name a few and I am sure I have missed several. All these wrestlers mentioned are former National Team Members!! We have more kids placing at National events today than we ever had before. Why? First it goes to we have more kids who want to go and compete against the best wrestlers and we have more qualified coaches who have instilled in their wrestlers the tools they need to compete on that level. Not only compete but to win and or place at these national tournaments.

AAU offers a great deal of for members: 1. 10 million dollar liability insurance coverage 2. $14 or $16 Added Benefit membership card (AB card carries the AAU insurance at non-AAU events, like at wrestling camps Easy to understand why some youth sports programs encourage their members to get the AAU Added benefit card as well as their organizations card because our insurance is better) 3. AAU Club Fees: 3 levels: Level 1: $30 (insurance coverage for your facility); Level 2: $60 (Insurance facility coverage ply you can now host events); Level 3: $300 (same benefits as Level 2 only Level 3 clubs are now a 501c3 Non Profit group under the National AAU umbrella. Which means any donations to your club can be a tax write off for the donor); 4. AAU League Option (which is what TeamTN Wrestling is). for a fee of $385 (i believe that is correct) we can establish a wrestling league that is state wide. If a club joins our league, they get the same benefits as a level 2 Club and can host "League events" TeamTN pays this fee so our members do not have to pay the club fee! 5. Fee for joining our League is $25 per club. They join on the TNYOUTH WRESTLING web site. For their fee of $25 they receive League membership, AAU insurance coverage, can his a league event, they get a Team Web Site thru sports engine, they get a free phone App. Our League can run from Sept 1 through August 31. 1 year. 6. AAU Card is a Multi-Sport Card: Meaning, if you a registered AAU Wrestling Card holder you do not have to pay for another card to participate in any of the other 40 some odd sports AAU offers. 7. as a member of the TeamTN Wrestling League you have a voice in the organization. Regional Meetings are held 2x a year and are announced on our FB page, our Web Page, and email announcements go out through AAU and our Sports engine page. 8. AAU will mass email your Tournament flyers, at no charge, to every member of our national wrestling group. 9. Each AAU Wrestling card holder receive a free Digital Copy of W.I.N. magazine (emailed to your email address of choice) These are just some of the benefits AAU offers our members.

My Name is Darrel Lauderdale and I was one of the core group of individuals who started the TeamTN AAU program. We were all high school coaches. Our reason was simple: we were looking for a way to build our feeder programs without costing parents a fortune. I have explained some of this on the TeamTN FB page so I will not go in to great detail on CoachT. We knew if we were ever going to close the gap that between us an Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis on the high school level we had to start building a solid foundation on the youth level. Our feeder programs. Through trial and error, to many errors it seemed at times, we grew. We did not grow because of an active sales and recruiting program Some joined us because they liked what we were offering and some joined us because they were disgruntled with another organization. First of all, I am not a paid employee of AAU or TeamTN and never have been. Some people involved with sports and AAU make really good money but that is not the way we set TeamTN up. We set this organization up so that the host of the events, our clubs, their and our wrestlers, keep the money and use it as they see fit. Again, Our focus, which I have never lost focus is on our , your, feeder programs. WE WERE AND FOR THE MOST PART STILL ARE A GRASSROOTS WRESTLING ORGANIZATION. Thus the Motto: "AAU Wrestling...Where the path begins." We grew somewhat quick. 1st year we hosted 4 tournaments and today, I believe there will be over 40 AAU Events held in Tennessee for our wrestlers. These events include beginners tournaments, open tournaments, elementary dual matches and tournaments, Middle School open tournaments traditional tournaments, Middle Dual Matches, and Dual Tournaments. As the Tennessee kids improved, some of our better kids, their coaches, and their parents began to look for tougher competition. So we began to sponsor and then promote kids and teams to attend national tournaments like: Tournament of Champions in Ohio, National Middle School Duals in Iowa, National Elementary Duals in Kingsport, the Spring Youth Nationals (which we began in Tennessee in the hopes the event would draw tougher competition to Tennessee for our wrestlers to face, the Disney Duals, the AAU Ironman World Championships, AAU Junior Olympics, the Frosh/Soph National Duals in Iowa, these are to just name a few. We have sent or helped sponsor 6 teams to the Junior Olympics; 14 Teams to the National Middle School Duals, 29 Teams to the National Elementary Duals; 5 teams to the Disney Duals. We have help pay for kids to attend al the above mention tournaments as well as the Ohio Tournament of Champions (we used to reimburse the kids entry fee that went to compete there); AAU Spring Youth Nationals (we used to pay the entry fee or part of the entry fee for r kids who wanted to attend this event Number of Wrestlers we have helped send to National Events, now this is a briefly done count is somewhere around 1,800. Since we began this organization back around the year 2000, and since we did not help send anyone during our first 4-5 years because the interest was there, we have really come on. This is due to the fact more kids and more coaches and more parents are wanting to find better competition and because their kids have the skill level to compete against the top kids from any where. Sending kids to events like the National Middle School duals is not cheap. Since 2006 we have sent and help pay for 14 Middle National Dual Teams. In 2006, we paid the entry fee of $650 I believe. That is what we could afford to pay. 11 years later, 2015, we sent 2 Middle School teams and coaching staff, TN Orange and TN Grey. Cost was over $13,000 (including bus, room, cloth, awards, entry fees, special dinners) It was our best showing ever with TN Orange finishing 2nd in the Gold Medal Bracket and TN Grey finishing 7th in the Silver Medal Bracket The same year, 2015 we sponsored 3 teams to the Elementary Duals. TeamTN paid out a little over $4,000 (again: entry fee, cloth, hotel rooms,) The money taken in by TeamTN, I would say about 90-95% of it is spent on improving our sport in Tennessee. On sending teams and/or wrestlers to national event; to offering wrestling camps and clinics (Clarion Univ., Oklahoma Univ, have been here for camps sponsored by TeamTN); Wrestling referees programs to help recruit and train young officials and encourage these young officials to go and call high school matches); we have sponsored and helped fund the Tennessee Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (usually each and every year; we have made donations to college wrestling programs; TeamTN has supplied clocks for the High school State Tournament in the past; we have donated our time and equipment to allow the TSSAA a look at what Track Wrestling can do; TeamTN has paid for Track Wrestling training Seminars (covering the cost of the developer of Track Wrestling to come in and train ANYONE who wanted to learn how to).... I have more to share and most of you that attend the region meetings already know most of this Now, as far as our organization is not producing high level, college wrestlers. Well, first of all any credit for a athlete to attain the level which you refer to needs to be given to the WRESTLER, THE COACH, THE TEAMMATES, AND THE PARENTS, NOT A WRESTLING ORGANIZATION. Now, with that said, I just happen to be reviewing some results from a few National Tournaments from about 8-10 years ago or so and the names that pooped out are the names of some TSSAA 2x, 3x, and 4x State Champions and several are wrestling on the college level and many SR's this year, several of them represented Tennessee at several National Events, are also headed to college. As far as not producing any Kellers, Leens, or others that have been mentioned. Those guys were quite special and had a tremendous support staff in place to help them. However I believe there are some tremendous young men, who honored us by wrestling in our program, who have a shot of attaining the Leen, Keller, and Simpson level of success. There is a very impressive group of Middle School kids getting ready to take the high school level by storm. In fact, some of our former TeamTN state champions made impressive runs at this years TSSAA States. I sat or stood there cheering them on. Not because I wanted to shout out "hey look, that guy there wrestled for TeamTN" or claim TeamTN is the reason he is so good". NOPE, no WAY. I cheered them on because I got a chance to meet those guys and found out what tremendous young men they are. Several years ago when Mike Hatcher was the head of the TWF, we sat down and worked out a way we could work together. To do what was right for Tennessee Wrestling. Not National but Tennessee Wrestling. We each got the blessing form our National Offices and now people are referring to our partnership as something they want their state to model after. Ben Bowers is now the Leader of the TWF/USA Wreslting in Tennessee and our relationship has only grown stronger and closer. TeamTN and the TWF agree, its about working together and making Tennessee Wrestling Better! TeamTN could offer Olympic Style wrestling seasons and/or offer Folstyle Wrestling season for high school age groups but, we have an agreement (solidified by our word and a handshake) that TeamTN will focus on k-8 Folkstyle and the TWF will focus on Olympic Styles.. Now we jointly run an event together the Tennessee Ironman Tournament. First one of its kind, AAU and USA Wrestling working together, in the United States. The money raised goes to help get the kids to Fargo (I believe this is correct). The Folkstyle part is AAU and the Olympic Styles are USA. THE BEST IS YET TO COME BY THE WAY! HUGE ANNOUNCEMENTS COMING!! Well, this post has been long enough. I will say this, Don Barnett is finalizing the financial numbers from this years TeamTN State Tournament and will share them Those of you who like to claim you know here the money goes are going to be in for a big surprise in how much money TeamTN Wrestling CLUBS made off that tournament. Clubs were offered chance to work tables, rent mats, etc and were paid out of fund raised at the state event. I was informed that the site rental for the venues was around $5,500 plus an additional fee of a $1,000 for clean up. Add in the funds that were paid out to clubs who managed tables and worked tables and the cost of officials and housing for officials, the state event was not cheap but it was worth it The room and mat space make the event so much more customer friendly. Of course, you would already have an idea about past state tournament finances that had you attended your region meeting and seen the financial reports. We are a true 501c3 and fall under the National AAU umbrella.

Pool C Results Pigeon Forge, TN 47 Lumpkin, GA 19

Pool A 5th round Heritage, TN 46 Etowah, GA 25 Abingdon, VA 36 Chattanooga, TN 24

Results POOL A Jefferson, GA 63 Abingdon, VA 18 Etowah, GA 52 Cartersville, GA 30 Heritage, TN 57 Chattanooga Central, TN 17 Jefferson, GA 66 Chattanooga Central, TN 12 Heritage, TN 58 Cartersville, GA 16 Abingdon, VA 36 Etowah, GA 30 Jefferson, GA 63 Heritage, TN 15 Abingdon, VA 56 Cartersville, GA 22 Etowah, GA 39 Chattanooga Central, TN 30 Jefferson, GA 59 Etowah, GA 17 Chattanooga Central, TN 41 Cartersville, GA 33 Heritage, TN 48 Abingdon, VA 25 Jefferson, GA 77 Cartersville, GA 6 Pool B Commerce, GA 59 North Hall, GA 16 Grundy, VA 29 Wilson Central, TN 26 Greeneville, TN 37 Gibbs, TN 36 Commerce 57 Gibbs 12 Grundy 54 Greeneville 12 Wilson Central 48 North Hall 24 Commerce 57 Greeneville 21 Grundy 48 North Hall 31 Wilson Central 48 Gibbs 25 Pool C Pigeon Forge, TN 47 Heritage, GA 18 McLean, VA 40 North Paulding, GA 36 Lumpkin County, GA 45 McLean 28 North Paulding 38 Heritage, GA 32 North Paulding 31 Lumpkin County 30 Pigeon Forge 53 McLean 22 Pool D Gilmer, GA 84 Harpeth, TN 0 Clay, FL 38 RInggold, GA 36 Alcoa, TN 40 Seymour, TN 30 Gilmer 56 Seymour 18 Ringgold 39 Alcoa 37 Clay 64 Harpeth 12 Gilmer 58 Alcoa 21 Ringgold 75 Harpeth 0 Clay 54 Seymour 21 Gilmer 36 Clay 23 Ringgold 45 Seymour 28 Alcoa 57 Harpeth 9

The Flo Eastern Worlds will not take place on the same date next year and should not be held during a time it will compete with any TeamTN AAU or USA events. Jack Roller checked with both parties to make sure both were OK for him to have that tournament in Knoxville because he did not want to conflict with any other tournaments that were being held and both parties agreed that it would be. The numbers for the Eastern Worlds was low but there were some really goo, high ranking wrestlers there. In talking to several TN coaches and Wrestlers, they like the event being held in Tennessee and really liked the Awards that were presented. From the ones I spoke with, they said they would be back for the event. I agree with the person who made the statement that one of the reasons there are not more kids wrestling FS/GR is because there are few coaches, especially in the more rural areas, of the state. It is getting better and more and more qualified coaches are starting programs.

motocoach1, no offense taken. Mr Roller asked me if I would be the site director for this event and I agreed. I do not like the fact that of these events are being held on the same day. I believe both events can benefit the Tennessee wrestling community but it would be great if they were not on the same day. Especially when I was one of the founders of the Ironman tournament that brought both AAU and USA working together for the common good for Tennessee Wrestling

SMOKY MOUNTAIN DUALS DECEMBER 21-22 IN GATLINBURG, TN GREAT COMPETITION AND USUALLY 8-10 MATCHES IN 2 DAYS

All registration goes through World of Wrestling web site, so I do not know how many entries thus far.