Wrestling Updates and Tidbits...

I don’t like the government overstepping it's bounds, esp in Tennessee. If Bo wants Governor Newsome over Lee, I suppose this deal could fly better over on the Left Coast, IMO.

Here's my thought process on the division discussion...

Personally, Divisions is a mixed bag depending on various sports, being team and/or individual along with geographical considerations and resources perhaps.

A little background from my personal experience: I definitely didn't know much about wrestling except from Chattanooga's Harry Thornton and that professional type of entertainment back in the 60's & 70's.

The following some of you may resonate with to some degree and more fully appreciate the craziness & enthusiasm the old Soms (Blosser) has had thru the years.

When, K-8 private, Senter School's coach Lauder promised me, a scrawny-skinny kid, that I had 100% chance to make the Jets basketball team back in 7th grade, IF I WRESTLED first; I Was All In.

I won the wrestle offs and made varsity under UTC's Reeve (OMG, those preseason 20 min leg lifts & wall sits, the runs, stairs, and rope climbs, etc.), then I finally went out to wrestle and got twisted-turned (figure 4 & all) by someone like those iconic aforementioned Bo"Dr Death" Watson's, or Boo Ingle types (I forget who) in 57 seconds (OLPH?), while I was just wanting desperately to get pinned, so to breath and just survive 😬....

After that dreadful experience, I actually found it challenging and intriguing. And never looked back...

I first made it a goal to wrestle anyone again, public/private, (maybe with the exception of again, Bo or even worse, Marc Lyle @ Baylor) and To NEVER GET TURNED AGAIN, and yes, i Did Not get pinned again lol....Claim to fame 👊

Back To Topic: Divisions were of no interest actually to me and others at Hixson High, except it was a little disappointing to see some of our talent taken from Hixson Jr High's 200+ win Coach Parker, who deserves- Side Note- along with coach McClure, HofF status one day soon, IMHO. ...Anyway, Much talent taken to Baylor and a few other private schools even back in that day.

Although getting some decent seeds and finishes, etc., I never made it beyond Regionals, yet it was exciting & an honor to wrestle top tier talent in the hot bed of TN & SE Wrestling, like hanging close 1-2 pts (even tying) the likes of 2 x state champ Rusty Morphis, 4 x'er Kenny Hill, J. Kent, St. Charles, and others by learning afew moves, like the single leg TD & that neutralizing Leg-Ride from Turner Jackson and Randy Batten of UTC, again helping me to even hang with the studs.

Al Miller of Cleveland was inspirational including his Jr Varsity Tournaments. As was a young Ryan's young coach, HoF'er Pat Simpson, and Gordon Connell even in recent years with my own blood/kin.

It was such an honor to pass the baton to others like my brothers who augment all i ever did & to take on ALL Schools to take home plenty of hardware including State & college into the 80's & 90's, and even a TSSAA MOW Award, i.e., brother Mike.

To see Steve "Legman" do all he did esp beyond earning Bradley's 1st Gold along with Turner & The Bear Nation Family.

To see my beloved Wolfe Family compete, like Tyner/Bradley's Darin winning in the 90's, and I'm certain there's others in forgetting, even the next generation grabbing several kids from HS hallways and helping coach Gonyea bring home historic hardware and Blackman also with Bray & others.

Divisions?

I'm not certain my own boys would have placed as high in combined divisions, but they were competitive with all and I was as proud as a daddy could be at these tournaments. Loved the excitement and YES, I am guilty of living through my brothers and sons, as well as close friend's sons & girls, like Piper. Love them Fowlers and happy they nice their entire family down to Cleveland to better themselves!!

Finally: Teams probably should be separated by divisions, but Individuals may be a different matter, except for small schools where golds are really earned more on the mat where they get pushed in the practice room day in and day out, and perhaps there's limitations on transfers needed.

That's my take

Soms

----------------

By The Way, look what Price & Company @Science Hill & Henry @ SD Pioneered as one of the Nation's Leaders in this Division...

CLARKSVILLE, TN − 15-year-old Janiya Johnson of Clarksville, a student-athlete at Kirkwood High School, has once again proven why she’s one of the top girls wrestlers in the country. Over the weekend, she claimed the 155-pound championship title at the High School Showcase in Las Vegas, defeating top talent from across the nation.

https://clarksvillenow.com/local/clarksvilles-janiya-johnson-wins-national-wrestling-title-at-high-school-showcase-in-las-vegas/

Edited May 4 by soms

soms · May 5

Piper...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14148029-nwhof-awards-piper-fowler-as-national-tricia-saunders-hs-award-winner&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTODMwOTI1Mzc4OTkzNzY2MDE4MjIaYWU0OGFkYzgyMzMxZDQ3Zjpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw15xzKTs53Xvhzv_DqtTNoA

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.chattanoogan.com/2025/4/29/503004/Cleveland-s-Piper-Fowler-Earns-Tricia.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTMTg5MDY5Nzc0MTk1MzkxODMyOTIaYWZkZjY1NmIwZTdkZTA0YTpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw2_9fkJM8DS1NDejnLpMvw0

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.themat.com/news/2025/april/29/tennessee-s-piper-fowler-named-as-tricia-saunders-high-school-excellence-award-national-winner&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoSNzA1NDcxMjY1MzU1MjI0ODI0MhpmOWMwODNlZWI0YmE5MzExOmNvbTplbjpVUw&usg=AOvVaw1Uo54UyyKKzqHKFn9ZGVIX

Nat'l Flo Coverage...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.flowrestling.org/events/13426887-2025-claw-us-open-wrestling-championships/videos%3Fplaying%3D14147384&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoTODMwOTI1Mzc4OTkzNzY2MDE4MjIaYWU0OGFkYzgyMzMxZDQ3Zjpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw1TlK2rRcZlRkjlancphY6P

"Two of the greatest lessons I learned from wrestling was about technique and accountability," Rutledge said... https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2025/may/02/utc-junior-zion-rutledge-in-line-for-leadership/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoUMTEwNTI2NDI0NzA3NTI3MjA1NDkyGjViYzgxMDI1MDUyMjkwMzU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw2W-Aun5OQ6fzdPUa5l1aLm

UT Chattanooga...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://gomocs.com/news/2025/5/4/general-spring-commencement-list-for-mocs-student-athletes.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTEwNTI2NDI0NzA3NTI3MjA1NDkyGjViYzgxMDI1MDUyMjkwMzU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw0dsX7glu4c_mZ6yEwAMP0H

Nat'l Coaches Recognition...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/4/29/national-wrestling-coaches-association-nwca-announces-2025-state-high-school-boys-assistant-staff-of-the-year-winners.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYBioTNTE1ODYyMzY0ODcwNTk0NTg2MDIaNTA0MWI1YTEwOTE1MDQ1Yjpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw30MEtYWOlDo5FFJcQZO6gZ

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/4/24/national-wrestling-coaches-association-lords-named-head-coach-for-baker-mens-wrestling.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTOTA0OTY2ODIwNDU2NTU3NzYzNTIaMzUxN2ZjNzQ4MDZlOTE0Mzpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw3tL3TWm2M2gUs7D6eRBz07

Statewide

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/4/29/national-wrestling-coaches-association-nwca-announces-2025-state-high-school-boys-assistant-staff-of-the-year-winners.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYBioTNTE1ODYyMzY0ODcwNTk0NTg2MDIaNTA0MWI1YTEwOTE1MDQ1Yjpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw30MEtYWOlDo5FFJcQZO6gZ

Wrestler of Year

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/04/30/vote-boys-wrestler-of-the-year-nashville-tssaa-2025/83354028007/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoTNTk0OTI5ODI2NDAwNTU0MjMxODIaMzA2NWMzN2Q1NmZlOGYzMjpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw0z5TqyKc0k-vJvHyyNRKeU

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/14149133-nwhof-announces-marcus-blaze-as-dave-schultz-hs-excellence-award-winner&ct=ga&cd=CAEYCSoSNzA1NDcxMjY1MzU1MjI0ODI0MhpmOWMwODNlZWI0YmE5MzExOmNvbTplbjpVUw&usg=AOvVaw0f0CMwtDADrtX5cZmRNHtr

Rules

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.themat.com/news/2025/may/01/nfhs-rule-changes-key-change-in-high-school-wrestling-rules-focuses-on-reducing-injury-risk-with-revision-to-leg-block-cut-back&ct=ga&cd=CAEYBioSNzA1NDcxMjY1MzU1MjI0ODI0MhpmOWMwODNlZWI0YmE5MzExOmNvbTplbjpVUw&usg=AOvVaw1WWvkKdPtm3Z33jBNfsYAC

HofF

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://rutherfordsource.com/eight-new-members-inducted-into-the-tssaa-hall-of-fame/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYBSoSNzA1NDcxMjY1MzU1MjI0ODI0MhpmOWMwODNlZWI0YmE5MzExOmNvbTplbjpVUw&usg=AOvVaw1M31T7WnVwZ82f38ahPyNY

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://williamsonsource.com/eight-new-members-inducted-into-the-tssaa-hall-of-fame/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoTOTM0MjYwNjE4ODQwNjkwNjI2MTIaNDYyMzZjYzM0NzQ1ZDU0Yzpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw1TmO7n_YIJgAmNQGwtabi9

Girls Coach of Year...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://nwcaonline.com/news/2025/4/30/national-wrestling-coaches-association-nwca-announces-2025-state-high-school-girls-head-coach-of-the-year-honorees.aspx&ct=ga&cd=CAEYBCoSNzA1NDcxMjY1MzU1MjI0ODI0MhpmOWMwODNlZWI0YmE5MzExOmNvbTplbjpVUw&usg=AOvVaw28yvJWNs9FH96_EdfjeBDL

Johnson Nat'l Recognition

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://mainstreetmediatn.com/articles/county/johnson-wins-national-championship-at-usa-wrestling-high-school-national-recruiting-showcase/%3Fpubid%3Dmainstreetclarksville&ct=ga&cd=CAEYASoUMTQzMTg0NTgwMzk1NjU5MjMxODUyGjM4ZDRjYjI4MDU1MjZjMjU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw1awXkCMKCzjfX52XemIYJo

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://clarksvillenow.com/local/clarksvilles-janiya-johnson-wins-national-wrestling-title-at-high-school-showcase-in-las-vegas/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTQzMTg0NTgwMzk1NjU5MjMxODUyGjM4ZDRjYjI4MDU1MjZjMjU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw1ZMEDbexjDW0mdOoqxPCGb

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/05/01/vote-girls-wrestler-of-year-nashville-tssaa-2025/83354348007/&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoTMjk3MjIzMTUxNTcxMzYwOTAyNjIaOTgyMDM0OTJjYWY5MThiMzpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw3gQsTad3H1KiaezVj5LkxT

RIP Baylor Alum...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/obituaries/pwlm1162634&ct=ga&cd=CAEYAyoTMzc3ODMzNzIzNjI5NTY3NTkyODIaMWY1NjFjMDEyY2Q2ODVmMDpjb206ZW46VVM&usg=AOvVaw2Bfike2HEm0GYKqG824MW0

soms · May 7

UT Chatt News...

https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=https://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2025/may/6/hokies-wrestling-sergio-desiante-transferring-hokies&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTA4MzM2MjY0OTQxNDYyMTc3MDIyGjc1MWY5MDQ3NWNmZDM1ODU6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AOvVaw10TvfaFgsG4QyoR9BOk6lA

Edited May 7 by soms

Mythoughts123 · Wednesday at 08:37 PM

Congrats to coach Russell!

Sean Russell Named Baylor School's Head Wrestling Coach - Chattanoogan.com

soms · Wednesday at 11:19 PM

2 hours ago, Mythoughts123 said:

Congrats to coach Russell!

Sean Russell Named Baylor School's Head Wrestling Coach - Chattanoogan.com

Not too Shabby...

Collegiately, Mr. Russell wrestled for Edinboro University before transferring to the University of Minnesota for his final season. While competing for the Fighting Scots, he was a three-time EWL Champion, three-time NCAA Qualifier, and 2017 NCAA All-American at 125 lbs.

For the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Mr. Russell compiled a 28-6 record with 18 bonus point victories and finished 3rd place at the 2019 Big Ten Championships. Russell finished his illustrious career with 125 wins to only 30 losses and qualified for the NCAA Championships four times.

Mr. Russell’s career extended to the national stage after college, where he qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials by winning the Last Chance Qualifier. His impressive run included wins over NCAA Champion Darian Cruz (6-4) and NCAA Runner-up Jack Mueller (5-4) before dominating 2-time All-American Zane Richards (12-4) in the finals. A week later, he finished 1-2 at the Trials.

The Georgia native attended Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga., where he won four GHSA state championships and compiled a 240-11 career record. In 2013, he was an NHSCA Junior National Championship and 3rd Team ASICS All-American. Russell was ranked as high as number one in the country during his high school career.

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