Wrestling Opponent

[StarRaider]

Who would be considered the most feared or intimidating wrestler ever from Tennessee. The one kid, maybe here I should say MAN that no one wanted to wrestle. Either it be their style, attitude, or just total dominance or competitors?

 

PK---if you were to add sheer size to your qualifications, I would offer the late Ronald Hale, 320 lbs-plus heavyweight for Peal Cohn back in the late 70s. Rumor has it that he is one of the reasons we have a 285 limit on heavyweight now-----back in his day it was unlimited. If the match was no longer in doubt there were some smaller 230 lb-ish heavyweights who would go out, shake his hand and then go sit down, giving him a forfeit rather than risk injury if he fell on you, which was his basic move. I know one guy who wrestled and was pinned by him ( his coach's last words of advice to him as he headed onto the mat were " have fun" )---he said that he looked like the Wicked Witch of the East in the movie Wizard of Oz when the house fell on her and all you could see were her ruby red slippers-----all you could see of him was his wrestling shoes sticking out from underneath Hale.

 

But, for your other qualifications, I would go old school and say that John Hannah of Baylor would have to be considered a candidate for this honor.

 

I remember that Pearl Cohn dude, he was HUGEMONGUS! I think THE ANIMAL beat Hale at the 76 tournament at John Overton HS.

[PUMMELKING]

Who would be considered the most feared or intimidating wrestler ever from Tennessee. The one kid, maybe here I should say MAN that no one wanted to wrestle. Either it be their style, attitude, or just total dominance or competitors?

 

PK---if you were to add sheer size to your qualifications, I would offer the late Ronald Hale, 320 lbs-plus heavyweight for Peal Cohn back in the late 70s. Rumor has it that he is one of the reasons we have a 285 limit on heavyweight now-----back in his day it was unlimited. If the match was no longer in doubt there were some smaller 230 lb-ish heavyweights who would go out, shake his hand and then go sit down, giving him a forfeit rather than risk injury if he fell on you, which was his basic move. I know one guy who wrestled and was pinned by him ( his coach's last words of advice to him as he headed onto the mat were " have fun" )---he said that he looked like the Wicked Witch of the East in the movie Wizard of Oz when the house fell on her and all you could see were her ruby red slippers-----all you could see of him was his wrestling shoes sticking out from underneath Hale.

 

But, for your other qualifications, I would go old school and say that John Hannah of Baylor would have to be considered a candidate for this honor.

 

I remember a guy like that back in HS but that was in GA and he wrestled for Henry County 4oo+ named Theran Crockett, called aka the Coke Cola machine, because he would turn sideways and duck to get into the gym. His coach actually called schools ahead of time to see if they were going to wrestle him. Made me learn my lesson real quick never to shoot straight in on BIG FAT guys.

[retired rebel 64]

Kelly Felix - Franklin HS

Scott Wells - Brentwood Academy

Mark and Matt Mondelli (Never got to see older brother Vince) - Father Ryan

Raymond Dunning - Father Ryan

Rusty Blackman - Bradley Central

[Blood Sweat & Tears]

I nominate Kenny Meredith from Blackman a few years back. 2005 state champ at 189.

[hrdcrwrestler]

David Vance of McCallie back in 1989-91 He was an absolute beast.....!!! The crowd would hold their hands up and show for a pin and he would give them one !!! He vannished after HS. Heard that he might have gone to jail!!!

[Rocky14533]

Matt Keller- Bradley

Kevin Ward- SD

Kevin Jones- RB

[LovinIt]

What about John Lane from SD, if he didn't beat you on the mat, he would follow you out to the parking lot and beat you with a 2x4.

Just kidding John!!!

[THEANIMAL]

I THINK THAT CHRIS VANDERGRIFF (KNOX HALLS) WAS THE ONLY GUY TO BEAT RONALD HALE IN HIGH SCHOOL. HALE WAS 6-9 AND WEIGHED 320. HE WAS FROM MAPLEWOOD NOT PEARL-COHN. HE PLAYED BASKETBALL UP UNTIL HIS SENIOR YEAR. VANDERGRIFF BEAT HIM 7-6 IN THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE STATE IN 1976. AFTER THAT LOSS HE CAME BACK AND BEAT THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION, JONA DANIELS (CHATT. KIRKMAN) FOR 3RD PLACE.

 

MY VOTE IS FOR SHAZZAN BRADLEY (McMINN COUNTY). HE WAS TRULY A BEAST. BY THE WAY HE LIVES IN HALLS NOW.

 

THE ANIMAL

[PUMMELKING]

I THINK THAT CHRIS VANDERGRIFF (KNOX HALLS) WAS THE ONLY GUY TO BEAT RONALD HALE IN HIGH SCHOOL. HALE WAS 6-9 AND WEIGHED 320. HE WAS FROM MAPLEWOOD NOT PEARL-COHN. HE PLAYED BASKETBALL UP UNTIL HIS SENIOR YEAR. VANDERGRIFF BEAT HIM 7-6 IN THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE STATE IN 1976. AFTER THAT LOSS HE CAME BACK AND BEAT THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION, JONA DANIELS (CHATT. KIRKMAN) FOR 3RD PLACE.

 

MY VOTE IS FOR SHAZZAN BRADLEY (McMINN COUNTY). HE WAS TRULY A BEAST. BY THE WAY HE LIVES IN HALLS NOW.

 

THE ANIMAL

Now the question could Bradley compete with the Animal??????

[RMC]

Anybody remember when Pat Murphy picked up Ellis Gardner over his head.....I believe it was in the 1979 state heavy weight finals. Might be wrong...but I think it may have been related to an earlier dust up over Pat's first match back after a knee injury.

[BuckLateral]

I THINK THAT CHRIS VANDERGRIFF (KNOX HALLS) WAS THE ONLY GUY TO BEAT RONALD HALE IN HIGH SCHOOL. HALE WAS 6-9 AND WEIGHED 320. HE WAS FROM MAPLEWOOD NOT PEARL-COHN. HE PLAYED BASKETBALL UP UNTIL HIS SENIOR YEAR. VANDERGRIFF BEAT HIM 7-6 IN THE QUARTER-FINALS OF THE STATE IN 1976. AFTER THAT LOSS HE CAME BACK AND BEAT THE DEFENDING STATE CHAMPION, JONA DANIELS (CHATT. KIRKMAN) FOR 3RD PLACE.

 

MY VOTE IS FOR SHAZZAN BRADLEY (McMINN COUNTY). HE WAS TRULY A BEAST. BY THE WAY HE LIVES IN HALLS NOW.

 

THE ANIMAL

 

Animal:

 

Thanks for adding the Hale story. You are right about his school. It was Maplewood. Interesting you brought up Daniels. I was talking to a Chattanooga buddy about this yesterday, former wrestler and wrestling coach. He brought up Bradley as well but , in terms of size intimidation, also brought up Jona Daniels. Vandergriff, Hale, Daniels-----that is a lot of beef. Scary. With the weight limit at heavyweight, it would be hard for kids today to realize what it looked like when a guy like Hale was on the mat.

[TheFro]

Kellers - Both of them

Waylon Lowe - Jeff co. - This guy was mean on and off the mat