No experience State Champs

[slicknquick]

I'm sure there are some state champs that had no experience other than the year they won the state. Larry Hunter from Pearl was a state runnerup to Steve Agnew in 1972. There has to be a 98/103 or HW that pulled this one off? Put on your thinking hats!

[SilentJohn]

Marcus Coleman, from Soddy-Daisy, didn't have very much experience at all when he won the state--I believe it was 160lb. He just was a lot stronger and quicker than everyone else, and would take them down with a double or single and let them back up.

[Bobvark]

I'd like to add a question.

How many state champs won less than 5 matches their freshman year and became state champs by their senior year?

[RMC]

Not Freshman year, but 8th grade....Dean Smith from Hixson lost every single match. He went on to a State Championship his senior year (1972) and a pretty good career at UTC. I use Dean as an example for young kids all the time.

[delaWarr]

slicknquick, My memory is not what it ought to be, but my best recall says that Larry Hunter pulled his feat off in 1971 when the tournament was held at Baylor. Also, wasn't that Agnew's third championship? A Nashville official had the match and received a disapproving response from the largely Chattanooga crowd when they felt he made a no-call toward the end of the match (stalling I believe) that would have been in Hunter's favor. I believe the match ended 1 - 0. It was a great entertaining match involving two outstanding and evenly-matched athletes.

 

The 1972 tournament was held at Hillwood High and was the occasion of Marty Francis' fourth State Gold.

 

RMC, Dean Smith's Gold came in 1973 when the State was hosted by Brainard High.

[RMC]

delaWarr...thanks, you are correct 1973. Dean was my next door neighbor. His brother Gary was a pretty fair wrestler too. I should remember that year, my brother was on that team too!

 

delaWarr.....Lets check your memory; do you remember who the coach of that team was?

[delaWarr]

Sure. Gordon Connell. He's one of the coaches who has won Tennessee State Championships at two different schools, Hixson and McCallie. Jeff Jordan is the only other coach I can recall doing that, Franklin and Clarksville.

Edited December 19, 2003 by delaWarr

[best_of_the_west]

I think Anthony Evans of Westside was in either his first or second year last year when he won states at 215.

[love4thesport]

nick breeden from syemour won states in three years of wrestling

[delaWarr]

Bobvark, Shouldn't your question be asked on a separate thread, so that we don't have to try to follow two themes at once?

[tnmat]

I think Ari Ibrahim (Overton) was in his 2nd year wrestling last year when he won at 112 (maybe 3rd year, but I think second... any kurds out there that can help me on this one?).

[CoachDelgado]

Here is the answer you have be requesting. Rodney Reese from Howard was a first year wrestler when he defeated Lincoln Williamson of Dobyns-Bennett in the 98lb state finals of 1987. He had placed 4th in his region then won the state the following week. He was as strong quick kid that the coach had found wrestling around in the grass with some buddies and recognized his natural ability.