State Champs that didn't win as Freshman

[Bobvark]

As a head coach of a brand new team, I am always looking for examples of those guys that decided to become winners especally after a really bad freshman or sophomore year.

 

Houser Rice (Franklin) in '92 didn't win a match his freshman year. Can someone else name others?

[DHF]

Jason Bault of Karns went undefeated and won the TSSAA D-1 171 lb state championship as a junior in 2001.

His freshman year (first year wrestler) his varsity record was 0-1.

[LovinIt]

Rusty Blackmon placed 5th his freshman year, he is now wrestling at Oklahoma St,

Same for Kevin Ward, he is also at OK State.

Michael Creagan did not win his freshman year and is now at Duke wreslting,

Dustin Catlett, Adam Rains both are wrestling at UTC,

There are several

Edited December 23, 2003 by LovinIt

[BayouBear]

Jimmy Hoover - Bradley was 171 champ in 1999

 

He did not make the starting Bradley lineup until his Senior year. He beat Josh Ward-Red Bank in the State Finals who is now a starter for UTC.

[CoachDelgado]

LovinIt,

I think the point of this thread is which wrestlers had a terrible and miserable looking freshman season then went on to greatness. Which wrestlers looked like a waste of time then excelled later in their carreers. Obviously Gipson, Ward, Rusty Blackmon Creagan, etc. had successful freshman seasons. Most eventual state champs do not win the state when they are freshman. The last freshman to win the D1 state that I can remember was Shawn Cordell.

[BayouBear]

This may take this thread in a different direction but I have a question for the board.

 

 

To my knowledge, Matt Keller's win at 119 as a Freshman was the highest weight ever to have a Freshman champion in DI and Ryan Scott's win at 130 was the highest weight in DII.

 

Now here's my question...What is best finish at the highest weight for a freshman? Was it Quinn Gibson's (Bradley) 2nd place at 152 as a freshman in DI? Was it Andrew Smith's (McCallie) 2nd place at 135 in DI?

 

And what about Pre-split? There were a few freshmen champs at 103 and 112 but what about freshmen placewinners at weights above 103 and 112?

Edited December 23, 2003 by BayouBear

[love4thesport]

the wieght issue is a hard barrier to break because as you age and mature you should become a better wrestler, so if a freshman comes in at 160 he will probably be facing senior and some juniors who have experience on him. the highest i remember is keller at 119 but sweeden also won that year at 103. it would awesome to see a young stud at high wieght but it doesnot happen. cleavland had a sophmore win 145 in 2001 with no prior placement.