college wrestling

[fat_man]

Getting a little off the heated topics of the state tourney (dont get me wrong, there are some great discussions going on), but I just wanted to get a new topic with a few replies.

First off, I am a huge wrestling fan, have been my whole life. And I can only get excited about the quality of wrestlers that tennessee is sending out for college. We have not been known as a big wrestling power house across the nation, and are far from it right now, but i think there is definitely some great progress. I love to see our wrestlers head out of high school for greater challenges on the mat. For this year, who do we have that is going somewhere to wrestle. Any big time recruits, cause i haven't heard much as of yet, looks like there is potential though.

And now to our present state. I always check up on our old grads of this state to see how they are fairing with the others around the country. If any of you didn't know, right now we have 5-6 guys that are top 20 caliber in the nation. Here is some info:

 

133 - matt keller (currently ranked 9 by a few poles, beat ASU's Mike Simpson 2x, great chance for AA - making a name for himself as a rs freshman)

141 - pat simpson (not in top 20, but breaking loose - just recently lost a last second match to #12 max meltzer of harvard and #14 donnie defilipis of rutgers), also pinned lehigh's 125 from last year who went to round of 12 at NCAA's)

141 - darren mcknight (back and forth this year, recently coming off a good win over minnesota's jeremy anderson)

157 - phil simpson (nuff said - 3rd last year, currently #5, but look for an NCAA title out of this kid - serious possiblity, i got my money on him)

157 - kevin ward - (back and forth with johnny hendrix who is currently around #5 with simpson) - what are the chances of seeing a match up here with simpson in the future...something to think about

157 - matt mccarty (back and forth year, but putting up some good scraps with the best)

197 - rusty blackmon (currently ranked around 15, beaten iowa's foulass recently, and putting up some really exciting matches - good chance for AA with good tourney)

 

If there is anyone else out there you can think of, let us all know.

Bottom line, we need to keep sending these quality kids to wrestle in college...we are starting to step out of the shadows, and its about time.

 

one more thing if you can read this long post...BUY NCAA TICKETS if they are still available to cheer on these kids. Great chance to see a possible national champ from Tennesee, and some All American's. It all starts with the fans...they need the support.

 

your brother in wrestling,

fat man

[best_of_the_west]

I think that Simpson and Keller both have real chances and winning national championships sooner or later. That would be great for the state.

[gofish]

Don't forget about the guys from TN that came before this group and set the stage to get TN wrestling back on track. ie. Heath Eslinger, Kevin Baltz, Jim Casey, Craig Johnson, Ben Smith, Quantal Langford. They all started for UTC. All TN boys

[rasslinfan]

If you want to go back, way back, let's try Pat Simpson (Ryan Coach). He wrestled for MTSU and made it to the Nationals.

[BattleBornVolunteer]

For this year, who do we have that is going somewhere to wrestle. Any big time recruits, cause i haven't heard much as of yet, looks like there is potential though.

Gibson, Cordell, Tinsley, B. Blackmon, James, Lane. That's all I can think of from around the Cleveland area. I know I've probably missed some so add them on here.

[RMC]

Probably should include Leen in this years list.

[ThristyTurtle]

After watching him wrestle you might what to and Q. Gibson to this list.

[dragonwrestler]

Where have all the Bradley boys signed with, if they have signed anywhere yet.

[cbg]

gofish,

 

Just for your information, Q. Lankford could not hold his brother Howard's head gear. Howard was pulled away from college wrestling for the Gulf War and returned to become an AA at UTC.

[fiscon]

Casey Brewster is the starter at 125 for West Virginia University and has had a solid year.

[fiscon]

Don't forget Charles McTorry of Overton who was a National High School Champion and a solid starter and NCAA qualifier for Nebraska. He was one of the most recent to put Tennessee wrestling on the National level.

[best_of_the_west]

This weekend, I heard that Kyle James and Quinn Gibson were likely to go to UTC, as well as transfer Raymond Dunning. I also think that Mike Marable is considering UTC. This team will be extremely competitive in the next two or three years.