Strongest Feeder Programs?

[WrestlingLover]

No question strong feeder programs are a huge boost for for high school wrestling. First (2) programs in TN that come to mind for me are Nashville Catholic Wrestling and Wave Wrestling, as both have large numbers and strong coaching. What are some of the other programs that do a good job preparing boys for high school?

[therealstatechamp99]

Clevelands feeder program is top notch.

[BringBack119]

Some of the top feeders that I have seen middle school or club teams: Higher Calling Club/ Cleveland Middle for Cleveland, Lake Forrest Middle for Bradley Central, Ocoee Middle (not sure who they feed into), Murfreesboro Elite Club for Rutherford County schools (Blackman, Riverdale, etc.), Notre Dame, McMurray for Nashville Overton, and of course the feeder programs for private schools like MBA, Baylor, McCallie, Brentwood Academy, and the best feeder in the state Nashville Catholic for Father Ryan.

[LBJ6]

Some of the top feeders that I have seen middle school or club teams: Higher Calling Club/ Cleveland Middle for Cleveland, Lake Forrest Middle for Bradley Central, Ocoee Middle (not sure who they feed into), Murfreesboro Elite Club for Rutherford County schools (Blackman, Riverdale, etc.), Notre Dame, McMurray for Nashville Overton, and of course the feeder programs for private schools like MBA, Baylor, McCallie, Brentwood Academy, and the best feeder in the state Nashville Catholic for Father Ryan.

Your bears have a pretty tough feeder program too.

[BringBack119]

Your bears have a pretty tough feeder program too.

 

Well we did but its going down hill fast. Since the middle school coach left a few kids have quit and the new coach only wrestled one year in middle school so not a lot of experience to teach the kids. The little club team for 5th grade and lower has good large numbers and that's about it. Too many parents are involved in the coaching aspect.

[tmarshall7]

Vikings Wrestling Club in Bristol, while not yet at the level of HCWC or Baylor, is growing more each year and results are starting to show.

 

The Vikings club, under Head Coach Robbie Nelson, has been taking advantage of the talent in their back yard at King College over the last few years. On any given night you will find current and former King wrestlers and coaches in the VWC room.

 

There are other good programs in Northeast TN including the Rebels in Kingsport, Admirals in JC, and Greeneville. All the coaches involved realize we are behind but have spent the last few years taking steps to create programs modeled after those in other parts of the state who are successful.

 

The summer programs run by Derek Harrison & Caleb Myers are starting to have a very positive effect as well. As these club wrestlers feed into NETN high schools, a bigger buzz will be created at each school and the feeders will continue to get infused with more talent.

 

Heritage & Pigeon Forge also have very good feeder programs supported by their high school coaches--their results are also being realized at the high school level.

[maj]

No question strong feeder programs are a huge boost for for high school wrestling. First (2) programs in TN that come to mind for me are Nashville Catholic Wrestling and Wave Wrestling, as both have large numbers and strong coaching. What are some of the other programs that do a good job preparing boys for high school?

 

Christian Brothers in west Tennessee probably has the best feeder program and the most dedicated youth coaching staff in the state. Others may be good and I don't mean to slight anyone working with grade school and middle school kids but if I had to pick one it would be the memphis boys.

[bradley08]

Christian Brothers in west Tennessee probably has the best feeder program and the most dedicated youth coaching staff in the state. Others may be good and I don't mean to slight anyone working with grade school and middle school kids but if I had to pick one it would be the memphis boys.

 

When is the last time you went to the youth state tournament? They are very good no doubt but since the inception of team scoring I think Baylor has won every age group at the state tournament. i would also say Higher Calling is just as good but dont have quite the numbers and Soddy in the middle school division. You can go to trackwrestling and see the team results for each age group.

[BringBack119]

Last season at the AAU state tournament Baylor won every division except the middle school division in which Soddy won. Baylor did not enter any guys In The middle school division and they still won the overall team trophy adding up all the divisions together. Christian Brothers Club is tough but doesn't come close to the top programs.

[anotherback]

 

 

Well we did but its going down hill fast. Since the middle school coach left a few kids have quit and the new coach only wrestled one year in middle school so not a lot of experience to teach the kids. The little club team for 5th grade and lower has good large numbers and that's about it. Too many parents are involved in the coaching aspect.

 

Your last sentence says a lot. We tend to have to much personal relationships within our county system at both middle schools in almost all sports. This weakens the highschool programs cause it can run kids who haven't developed yet. A lot of kids are held back just so they can have and edge but most of the times they too get passed by in highschool meanwhile a lot of kids have been put to the side. This may not be intentional because the coaches live in the communities they coach in and know many people but wouldn't it be nice if they tried to keep more involved on some level. That's why wrestling is a better sport I believe wrestle offs decide at both school.

[cbg]

The best youth program is difficult to judge because each of the clubs operate very differently. Baylor, Cleveland & Soddy in the past have competed in the various AAU tournaments. Both Nashville Catholic & the Wave Club often compete out of state and only a select few of their middle school kids wrestle the AAU schedule so we don't get a good read on how those kids may do within Tennessee. All of the above mentioned clubs have done a good job at promoting the sport of wrestling within their community. The one common denominator between all of those clubs is that they have had the same coaching staff for several years. IMO, it's difficult to judge how good a wrestler may become until their 8th grade year and that is only if they place in the top national tournaments. The physical development of each child is different and it's difficult for a boy to compete against a man.

Edited December 29, 2012 by cbg

[anotherback]

The best youth program is difficult to judge because each of the clubs operate very differently. Baylor, Cleveland & Soddy in the past have competed in the various AAU tournaments. Both Nashville Catholic & the Wave Club often compete out of state and only a select few of their middle school kids wrestle the AAU schedule so we don't get a good read on how those kids may do within Tennessee. All of the above mentioned clubs have done a good job at promoting the sport of wrestling within their community. The one common denominator between all of those clubs is that they have had the same coaching staff for several years. IMO, it's difficult to judge how good a wrestler may become until their 8th grade year and that is only if they place in the top national tournaments. The physical development of each child is different and it's difficult for a boy to compete against a man.

 

Cleveland s has a few new faces last year and this year helping out but they came out of the Bradley program. Walker Valley is trying to build a youth program also I think it's called Stampede.