Oldest Tourny in TN

[PUMMELKING]

I believe the oldest running tournament in the state is the Cleveland Duals. Not sure about the oldest individual tournament in Tennessee. Anyone know who-where it is held?

[stovepipe]

This is a great topic. Let's do oldest by area.: memphis, nashville, knoxville, chattanooga and compare the years.

[coachmasters]

I think the oldest might be the Hillwodd Invitational. I think it started at Bellevue High before moving to Hillwood. Or it could be what is now the GP West Invitational. I believe Coach West had it at Maplewood, Whites Creek and Brentwood.

[coachmasters]

I think the oldest might be the Hillwodd Invitational. I think it started at Bellevue High before moving to Hillwood. Or it could be what is now the GP West Invitational. I believe Coach West had it at Maplewood, Whites Creek and Brentwood.

[cbg]

Did the Father Ryan Invitational not start in about 1965? How long has the Overton Invitational been running? I beleive that GP West started his tournament in the early 1970's.

Edited November 10, 2005 by cbg

[sly]

Pummelking, I do believe the Cleveland Duals tournament is the oldest "Dual Meet" tournament. Im not sure about the individual tournament my guess would be the Chattanooga Central tournament.

[KCHSCoach]

I believe Ryan started their tournament in 1969, the current Catholic Invitational started as the Carter invitational and when Coach Dugger became Karns' Coach the tournament went with him and became the Bever Creek tournament and when he retired it became the Catholic Invitational... and the only team to participate in that tournament in all of its locations from the beginning is Baylor. Does anyone when the Carter tournament started?

[stovepipe]

Overton still has a tournament? I thought everyone quit going.

[delaWarr]

John Farr's Red Bank tournament in 1968 followed him to Chattanooga Central. It has been held countinuously since, with the exception of one snow-out (possibly two). The next invitational was initiated December of 1969 at Maplewood which followed GP West to Hillwood, then Whites Creek, then Brentwood and has run uninterrupted since its beginning. The Father Ryan Tournament was first held in January of 1970 and has been held uninterrupted since its beginning. Some oldtime wrestling fans may be confusing the Ryan Tournament with the NIL Tournament which was held at Ryan at least once, maybe twice, from 1966 through 1969.

 

To restate:

 

1968-69 Red Bank Inv./ 1969-70 moved to Chattanooga Central/ It continues.

 

1969-70 (Dec.) Maplewood Inv./ 1970-71 moved to Hillwood/ 1980-81 moved to Whites Creek/ 1987-88 moved to Brentwood High (GP West)/ It continues.

 

1969-70 (Jan.) Father Ryan Inv./ It continues.

 

I believe John Gorham started the Bellevue Tournament in the early '70s. It continued there until Bellevue students, wrestling program, and wrestling coach moved to Hillwood in 1980-81, at which time the Bellevue Tournament replaced the original Hillwood Tournament.

 

The Overton Tournament was initiated a year or so after Ronnie Carter became the coach which, I believe, was near the mid-1970s.

 

There may have been other tournaments in the early to mid-70s, but none that I'm aware of that have been held annually since that time to the present time.

Edited November 11, 2005 by delaWarr

[coachmasters]

Ok. So I was close.

[Jackson]

The Carter tournament was started by Coach Gary Walker in 1975 moved to Karns in 1984 and to Catholic in 2000. Greeneville High School to my knowledge has not not missed a tournament since it began. But I believe that John Farr's Tournament, Chattanooga Central, is the oldest. Clint Should know.

[CoachDelgado]

Bishop Byrne Red Knight Invitational started in 1975. Moved to Houston as Black Horse Invitational in 1994.