The Blaze's price tag was much greater than anticipated...

[Sommers]

Blackman wrestling community picking up the pieces...

http://www.dnj.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/07/13/blackman-wrestling-fire-community-picking-up-pieces/473889001/

To help...

https://www.gofundme.com/blackmanwrestling

Cecil Joyce | USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee1:48 p.m. CT July 13, 2017

The Murfreesboro community and wrestling family has been quick to come to the aid of the Blackman wrestling program, which lost its practice facility to a fire Sunday evening.

However, there are lost items that money can't replace.

A TSSAA state championship trophy was destroyed in a fire at the Blackman wrestling facility.

Submitted

Among the many items that were lost in the fire were three wrestling mats, exercise and weight training equipment, computers, time clocks, wrestling shoes, uniforms, bags, trophies and plaques.

Those things, through time and with money, can be replaced. What can't is a banner that hung in the building in honor of former wrestler Daniel Winters, who died in an automobile accident a week before the state tournament in 2015.

The banner was signed by hundreds of wrestlers around the state.

"That was the biggest loss," Blackman wrestling coach Ronnie Bray said. "You can't replace that."

"We're sick about that," Blackman Principal Leisa Justus said. "You hate to say (the fire) was devastating because no one was hurt, but the loss of a lot of things that was in there is just awful."

The inside of the Blackman wrestling facility, which was damaged by a fire on Sunday.

Submitted

Items inside the building, located behind Blackman Middle School on Blaze Drive, were a total loss. Other things, such as the structure itself, are being determined. Rutherford County Schools and insurance adjusters are currently assessing damage.

"I've been talking to (Bray) and the central office, and we will get them what they need," Justus said. "They are looking at it (Thursday) and go over what was there and get an estimated loss. They're also going to determine if the structure itself can be salvaged."

For things that can be replaced, insurance should cover most. The community also has stepped up.

Blackman Wrestling Club, which is not affiliated with Blackman High, has started a GoFundMe page with a goal of $100,000. Donations were spreading quickly, with more than $3,000 raised in the first 24 hours.

Club president Matt Sells started the GoFundMe page. His son, Matthew, was a two-time state champion for the Blaze.

"There's a lot of people sharing but not donating yet," Matt Sells said. "As we get a little clarity on what the county (and insurance) will do, we will know more and can direct in different ways. Typically (on GoFundMe pages) you want to raise a certain amount of money to purchase XYZ. When it's more clearly defined, we'll know what we need."

Items such as uniforms and shoes were destroyed in a fire at the Blackman wrestling facility.

Submitted

The support has been a welcomed sight to Blackman coaches and administrators.

"That's wrestling," Bray said of the support. "We take care of each other. We've had so many area schools (Eagleville, Oakland, Wilson Central, among others) tell us if we wanted to come there (to practice), we were more than welcome."

Added Justus: "Everyone has been, 'What can we do.' Different sports (at Blackman) have reached out and asked if they can help."

The building housed four programs – Blackman Youth Wrestling Club, Blackman Middle, Blackman High and MTSU.

Wrestling teams don't begin practicing until the first week of November, giving the teams and school a little time to figure out a plan.

"If our season was during football season, we would be in trouble," Bray said. "We still have a few months before we start practicing. We'll see where we're at."

Added Justus: "We have to find them a place. We're looking at practice areas and different options. We have one mat, a brand new one, that was stored here. They can use that.

"We have to make some decisions, but we can't until we know what it is. It's all too early to say."

Reach Cecil Joyce at cjoyce@dnj.com or 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Cecil_Joyce.

[Sommers]

Update from super dad and blaze booster, Matt Sells...

Last week, insurance inspectors and engineers walked through the building and did their thing. During that time, our coaches and I were allowed to "look but not touch".

Although everything is horrible to see, I found myself drawn to all the old trophies and plaques that were either heavily singed, burned, or half-way melted. Sad seeing all that effort lying in such a state of ruin.

We are now waiting for the school board/county to give us some direction. 

In the meantime, we have been searching for a place to practice that is large enough to accommodate our teams. We have a lead on a place that we hope will turn out. We should know something very soon.

Keep your fingers crossed. 

And a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been so kind and donated money to our program. We are blessed to be in such a wonderful sport with such good people!!

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10213714969330649&id=1297832822

______________________

btw, I noticed coaches from other schools throwing some funds our way!!

It's the heart of a teacher like John Kramer and Alan Morris.  Thanks to coach Satterfield of Cookeville as well... And many many others!!

The Soms

Edited July 21, 2017 by Sommers

[Sommers]

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Check Into Cash Donation Helps Rebuild Wrestling Facility

Blackman Middle School Receives Donation from Check Into Cash 

 

Cleveland, TN - July 21, 2017 - (Newswire.com)

Youth wrestlers in Murfreesboro, TN, received much-needed financial support this week to help rebuild the Blackman Middle School wrestling facility destroyed by a tragic fire on July 9.

Check Into Cash Chairman and CEO Allan Jones - who has been called the biggest supporter of high school wrestling in the nation - announced that the company with 986 locations had donated $2,500 to help start the rebuilding campaign.

The wrestling building was a practice space and also housed equipment for wrestlers of all ages, including elementary students. The fire rendered the building a total loss.

Jones praised Ronnie Bray, Head Coach of the Blackman High School wrestling program, for his dedication to excellence. "We recognize that there was more than equipment in that wrestling building - there were also years of memories there that were very dear to the wrestlers and coaches," said Jones. "When we heard about the tragedy we wanted to get involved immediately so that we could help to rebuild and start making new memories."

The businessman has Murfreesboro roots. He attended Middle Tennessee State University after high school but left in 1973 at age 20 to help his father (William A. "Bill" Jones) stabilize the family's small business, the Credit Bureau of Cleveland in Tennessee. He purchased the business from his father in 1977 and developed it to become the largest credit bureau database in the state.

In the 1980s Jones purchased the Credit Bureau of Murfreesboro from the Merchants Association and automated it to become part of the biggest credit bureau database in the country.

Jones received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's "Outstanding American" award in 2016 and has credited the sport for much of his success.

In April, the Jones Foundation auctioned off a King Ranch F-150 4X4 pickup autographed twice by President George W. Bush to benefit the Higher Calling Youth Wrestling Club of Cleveland, TN. Higher Calling is a wrestling program that gives young wrestlers of all skill levels, grades K through 8, a chance to learn the essentials of practice and competition.

Jones donated more than $1.3 million for the state-of-the-art Jones Wrestling Center at Cleveland High School in Tennessee and was the sole funder for the project. He was also the sole funder of the wrestling center at Cleveland's crosstown rival Bradley Central High School.

In 2006, Jones started a 6-year plan to make the Cleveland High School wrestling team a state powerhouse. The goal was to rejuvenate the Kids Club, middle school, and high school programs. The plan was designed so that the 2006 sixth grade wrestlers would be state champions by the time they were high school seniors in 2013, which would be the conclusion of the 6-year plan.

The results could be seen in 2013 State Duals Finals, where Cleveland blew out 2^nd place Wilson Central 78-4, setting an all-time TSSAA scoring record for the most one-sided match in Tennessee championship history. Cleveland High School won state championships in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Prior to the implementation of the six-year plan, Bradley Central High School had served as a long-respected state powerhouse and had beaten Cleveland in competition for 19 consecutive years.

Mr. Jones noted that the Cleveland and Bradley wrestling programs are consistently ranked No. 1 and 2 in Tennessee and for the last 10 years have run roughshod over every other team - with up-and-coming Walker Valley not far behind.

Jones has donated over $500,000 to UT Wrestling Program and hosted UT scrimmage on the football field at his Creekridge estate. He has raised over $100,000 for the UTC athletics department

"Unlike football, basketball, and baseball, wrestling is an individual achievement sport. Two wrestlers take to the mat and only one walks off the victor," said Jones. "It takes determination, discipline, and character to come out ahead in wrestling. I have seen it first hand as a driving force in building character and discipline in my former classmates who are doctors, entrepreneurs, and government leaders today."

Coach Bray said the support from Check Into Cash and its founder Allan Jones was vital to the hope of rebuilding. "When Allan heard about the devastation caused by the fire, he committed to help us immediately," said Bray. "Allan has always been a great supporter of wrestling, and he has a real passion for the sport and what it does to build character in young athletes."

Check Into Cash is located at 1634 Middle Tennessee Blvd in Murfreesboro. Call (615) 895-6100 for more information.

Press Release Service by Newswire.com 

Original Source: Check Into Cash Donation Helps Rebuild Wrestling Facility