deaddux

yea that was a fun team, don't forget National Prep Champion Albert Wilson. He could cradle you in his sleep and won either 7 or 8 matches in that 2 day period in Feb. of 1970 with cradles coming into play in every match. As for the year John wrestled Kraft (1969), up at Lehigh. I was a sophmore , one year behind John. I was sitting near John's father Herb, Lehigh's arena has some of the steepest (vertical)seats I have ever seen.Well the finals match starts, and in the course of the match Kraft ~225 lbs. ,from Tatnall ,gets a double overhook and hit one of the most athletic front suplays I have ever witnessed. He took John~255lbs. straight to his back and was awarded the fall. That is when Herb jumped up raced down the steps(steep) , I was right behind him , not sure why, but being 15 and nosy wanted to see the action. Well ,he immediately asks if he can have a word with Kraft. He congratulates him and tells him that anybody that can wrestle like that needs to play for Bear Bryant. He recruited him on the spot, he did go play as John's teammate @ Alabama where he and John were 2/3 time All-Americans.Herb Hannah is a gentleman and from what I hear will be coming to watch John's newest coaching efforts next fall! Good luck to all the Hannah's

that was her new bathrobe, you tryin to start some in-fightin! but thanks.

not a bad bet ,and a pretty good find by- mr. Herb Hannah of early chicago bears fame. i think john hannah and jim kraft were both SEC heavyweight wrestling champs and at least two if not three time football All- Americans for Bear Bryant.

Feeel the love!

RMC -the parker kid was impressive ,and congrats on your sons state championship. Sorry we didn't get a better visit saturday , I get a little occupied when the finals start . If not before ,see you next year for baylor-collins hill - JT

I heard Soms recruited jim and schaack to move to smyrna

Exactly , if the current seeding formula is ever fine tuned -steps to keep politics out of the process are important. The current system just seems to lack criteria to allow the best seeded tournament. A great example is 103 , not just this year but often there will be 1, possibly 2 seeded wrestlers. Sure you sometimes get guys that stay @ 103 for several years; but ,more than not, most 103 lbers come and go in a years time, which means that weight will be basicly a blind draw most years. If the tourney goes your way(like 05) fine, but it seems like to only seed 1 wrestler is inviting misrepresentation. After wrestling for 2 1/2 months there should be a way to Fairly seed at least 4 wrestlers. Thanks for the suggestions, i don't have a clear idea on what needs to happen, just that it could be better.

The penalty is missing 2 matches Ryan scheduled 2 matches between duals and individual states. This gave them the opportunity to serve the penalty and get the wrestler eligible.

In fairness to the tssaa in regard to seeding D2, they have a tough situation- what are some suggestions that could be made short of having a region tourney. ie -1) use all competition, including the matches that occur at the duals -2) prior year place winners (already used) -3)overall record ? (probably not good criteria)If you used records how do you score people who wrestle in 2/3 different weights 4) pick several highly competitive tournaments as criteria ( if this was considered entrance would have to be open to all D2's ie. McCallie Invit. , Father Ryan Invit. I don't know what would help , the present system is far from perfect but it is not political like so many of the old "seeding meetings'can become. I understand the gamble that occurs every year with the present system on the day bracketts come out , and if I were the Alsobrooks or the Morales's maybe I would be second guessing the current system ; but, we are dealing with a set of criteria that is not new. What would give the tssaa the ammo to do a better(fairer) job? SUGGESTIONS---

rhythmdoc -Why don't you rephrase the title of your topic -you wanted to hear some juicy dirt on those evil Baylor fans- didn't get it, and then 24 hours later came back on your own topic and said what you wanted said in the first place. We (Baylor Fans) are very loyal, vocal ,and in most cases ,knowledgable about this great sport. We respect ,even occasionaly like our competitors. If you think your complaint will quiet the Baylor faithful ,it won't. Congrats to a fine YOUNG Baylor team on Dual and Individual State Titles!!!

Unfortunately , 103 had only one seeded wrestler-alsobrook, and Alsobrook (musc) drew the eventual champion Whitaker(baylor) in the opening match of the tournament. Many people who follow D2, knew that in all liklihood ,that first match of the tourney should have been fought on saturday in the finals.No slight to Pentecost, he earned his way to the finals under the present system, but as Mrs. Morales said on another post there should be a better system in place to avoid obvious misdraws. Any upper level (better ability)new wrestler with no prior placement in the state tourney is a potential wrecking ball as far as getting the best two wrestlers in each weight class in the finals. D2 averages 2/3 weights a year that are obvious mistakes but with their current system these misdraws can not or are not corrected. No slight intended to Mr. Whitaker he had a very exciting year, was fun to watch, and will be heard for three more years.Congrats to all wrestlers,it was another good year to be a bleacher bum !

announcement in today's chatt free press - nfl greeat coming back - One of the first things John's mentor the late great Luke Worsham did was sign him up for wrestling - this will be a great shot in the arm for putting more upper weights in the wrestling room - welcome back Big John!

just where is that farm

joe coaches @ woodford , he was maybe 158 - fletcher was a 190 pounder ~6 ft. 1 , not a ounce of fat , I think fletcher ended up runner -up in the ncaa's not sure though -I did have the pleasure(dis) of wrestling Fletcher in the Southern Open. The connection was Tampa ,possibly also Miami . Nate was also the same family., probably the father of Nate Jr. whom RMC mentioned - they had southern wrestling ties @ kentucky , Tampa and now Joe coaching in Kentucky and Herm you are right if I wrestled for Joe I'd do my best to make him happy - he has a good stare

Baylor Wrestling Coach Jim Morgan won national coach of the year honors(college level) when he was the U.T. Chattanooga coach. He has been nominated for a similar High School Honor. Morgan , now in his 20th year with Baylor wrestling has been named 2004 Southern Section Coach of the Year by the National Federation of High School Coaches Association. Receiving the sectional award makes Morgan a finalist for the national award which will be announced April 1. Baylor's AD Austin Clark said. "This is a sectional award but he's my coach of the year every year. He stands for all that is about coaches and coaching and they couldn't find a better national coach of the year winner."

sorry hit it twice see morgan post

Good article , speaks to his 47-4 fresh season , 40-2 soph. season , and undefeated this year as a junior - highlights his losses as well as victories in comp w/ Dunning. nice article well deserved - Good Luck! Corey

i think you mean he would have to beat young in the semis to have a chance to wrestle oddo , if oddo is the other sides finalist

I'll check on that , from memory maybe like 5:00 . go to : tssaa .org

you know they can grow you some new hair these days and your on for the coke and pop corn - hope you make it up !

that is very interesting as well - my original post was not to talk about one team or another but these interesting possibilities- should be interesting as weigh ins conclude

I would think cody would go 135 , for the same reason dunning would go 119 - senior nationals - is marable just a junior - bateman for ryan was impressive- i hear pope jp has a good 215 are any of their other weights impressive.

Who does everyone think will win each weight class in the traditional state tournament

this thing is going down hill - to any baylor supporters- let it go - this guy is not worth the time - manson and dunning deserve better - let it go

Irishdad, did you go to watch one of fourteen matches? If so, that's too bad, there were some great matches. I actually sat with some guys from father ryan and we had fun throwing banter back and forth all night. I was even lucky enough to end up with some coca-cola money when the match was over. As for getting some , if that 6-4 win satisfied your appetite-fine , but I am surprised at your comments.They seem a little premature as the only match anyone will remember in a year or two takes place in two weeks.