TeamTN

THE ANIMAL IS ANYTHING BUT ARROGANT. ELK, ITS OBVIOUS THAT EITHER YOU DON'T KNOW HIM OR HE HAS COMPETED AGAINST YOU, EITHER AS A COACH OR WRESTLER, AND YOU LOST. HEY ANIMAL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND "BIG JOHN" THIS WEEKEND. IF BIG JOHN WINS IT, I'LL BUY HIM ALL THE WINGS (FROM STICKY FINGERS OF COURSE) YOU, BIG JOHN, AND MAMA CAN EAT.

Henderson gave a list of the Champions of Region II. What about team scores?

Some Regions are larger than others. I don't think it would be a good idea for Region II, with 20 + teams, to wrestle through the semi finals. That would be 3-4 matches (based on using a 32 man bracket, you would have rounds of 32, 16, 8, and 4) for each kid that advances to the final. Now I know some brackets, even with 20 + teams, will only have 16 wrestlers per bracket. 3 rounds on a Friday night, could make it a long night. The Semi's deserve the spotlight, as much as the finals do. It would be a shame to wrestle Semi's on 4 mats. That would be a Coaching and Spectator nightmare.

Clarksville and Chattanooga do a great job hosting the State Events. Now if it is ever decided that the State Events will rotate from Region to Region, Masterblaster, you cannot leave Knoxville off your list. Thompson Boling seats 25,000 (however, their will be a price paid) and the Knoxville Convention center, located downtown, can handle more than 10 mats and can seat, I am guessing, up to 8,000 (probably more)

COACH VANDERGRIFF HAS DONE A GREAT DEAL FOR THE SPORT OF WRESTLING. NOT ONLY ON THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL BUT ON THE YOUTH LEVEL AS WELL. THE ANIMAL WAS ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL TO ME WHILE I WAS THE COACH AT SEYMOUR. CHRIS VANDERGRIFF CAME UP WITH THE IDEA TO HOST THE FIRST STATE YOUTH EVENT IN OUR AREA, AND MAYBE EVEN TENNESSEE'S FIRST STATE TOURNAMENT. CHRIS GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO "BIG JOHN". I'LL SEE AT THE REGION.

One camp you want to consider, since you have as quality group of guys as you say, is the Slippery Rock Wrestling Camp in PA. The Head Coach is Derek Delporto, former All-American Heavy Weight from The Rock. He has coached at Clarion, Oklahoma, Cornell, before returning home. Very talented wrestler and coach. Your kids will have an opportunity to wrestle 15-21 matches against kids from PA and surrounding states. Just contact Slipper Rock for any further information you will need.

Seymour has several: Tyler McCroskey, Marcus Reagan, Issac Legg, Chris Beard are pretty tough. TJ Smith and Ryan King are good also.