This week HS Wrestling will be tracking a variety of events from around the nation.  Below you will find all of the coverage areas HSWrestling.Net will be providing access to throughout the weekend.  Depending upon the level of access we have to the event you may be able to watch live video, track results, or even interact with fans during the event!

February 23rd, 2011

• District V JV Championships – Clarksville , MD

February 24th, 2011

• WIAA Individual State – Madison, WI
• Colorado Youth All State – Castle Rock , CO

February 25th, 2011

• 2011 Central Coast Section Champ (CCS) – San Jose, CA
• 2011 CIMS District Tournament – Parker, CO
• Alabama Youth and MS State Championships – Birmingham, AL
• Arkansas High School Championship – Little Rock, AR
• MN Section 3AAA Individual Tournament – Cottage Grove, MN
• MN Section 7AA Individual Tournament – Grand Rapids, MN
• MPSSAA 4A/3A East Regional Tournament – Wilde Lake, MD
• Vermont State Wrestling Tournament – Bennington, VT
• Box Elder Greco – Brigham City, UT
• Millard Greco – Fillmore, UT

February 26th, 2011

• 2011 Greater Southwest Tournament-  Albuquerque- NM
• CAGWA CST4 California Super Tournament – Santa Ana- CA
• NCAA Div. II West Regional Championships – San Francisco- CA
• 2011 IHSAA Team State Tournament – Greenwood- IN
• Box Elder Folkstyle – Brigham City- UT
• Box Elder Freestyle – Brigham City- UT
• California JV – K-8 State Championship – Santa Ana- CA
• Camdenton Annual district warm-up – camdenton- MO
• Deer Park Folkstyle Classic – Deer Park- WA
• Douglass Jr. Wrestling Club Open/Novice – Douglass – KS
• Elma Freestyle (C-J-JW & S) – Elma- WA
• Elma Freestyle(PeeWee through Schoolboy) – Elma- WA
• GA STATE QUALIFIER – BREMEN – Bremen- GA
• GA STATE QUALIFIER – EAST LAURENS – East Dublin- GA
• GA State Qualifier – Gilmer – Elllijay- GA
• GA State Qualifier – Kell – Marietta- GA
• GA State Qualifier – Locust Grove – Locust Grove- GA
• GA State Qualifier – Peachtree Ridge – Duluth- GA
• Higher Calling Developmental Tournament – Cleveland- TN
• IKWF Central Chi. Regional-Bremen – Midlothian- IL
• IKWF Central Chi. Regional-St.Laurence – Burbank- IL
• IKWF North Chicago Regional-St Patrick – Chicago- IL
• IKWF North Regional-Stillman Valley – Stillman Valley- IL
• IKWF North Regional-Sycamore – Sycamore- IL
• IKWF South Chicago Regional-Plainfield – Plainfield- IL
• IKWF South Chicago Regional-Providence – New Lenox- IL
• IKWF South Regional-East St. Loius – East. St. Louis- IL
• IKWF South Regional-Edwardsville – Edwardsville- IL
• IKWF South Regional-Herrin – Herrin- IL
• IKWF West Regional-Mendota – Mendota- IL
• Liberty Nationals America Crown Series – Kansas City – MO
• Liberty Nationals Rookie Division – Kansas City- MO
• Millard Folkstyle Tournament – Fillmore- UT
• Millard Freestyle Tournament – Fillmore- UT
• MO/USA 6 & Under State Tournament – St. Joseph- MO
• MO/USA Rookie State Tournament – St. Joseph- MO
• Popeye Freestyle Tournament – Homer- AK
• Race City Rumble – Mooresville- NC
• USA Wrestling Flathead Valley Open – Kalispell- MT
• Wayman Workman Youth Wrestling Open – Elkins- WV
• WLA Youth Wrestling Tournament – Fond du Lac- WI

February 27th, 2011

• Fresh/Soph Regional at East St Louis , East St Louis, IL
• 2011 RI KIDS` STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS , COVENTRY, RI
• Casper Wrestling Invitational Memorial , Casper, WY
• DEUSAW State Championship , Wilmington, DE
• IKWF Central Regional,Clinton , Clinton, IL
• IKWF Central Regional,Mattoon , Mattoon, IL
• IKWF Central Regional,Palmer Arena , Danville, IL
• IKWF North Chicago Regional,Fremd , Palatine, IL
• IKWF North Chicago Regional,Maine South , Park Ridge, IL
• IKWF West Chicago Regional @ Hinsdale , Hinsdale, IL
• IKWF West Chicago Regional,Wheaton North , Wheaton, IL
• IKWF West Regional,IVC , Chillicothe, IL
• IWF Dubuque Wahlert Tournament , Dubuque, IA
• IWF Underwood Tournament , Underwood, IA
• Jimtown Folkstyle Open , Elkhart, IN
• Liberty Nationals Dual Team Chmpionship , Kansas City, MO
• Milton Monster Mash , Milton, WI
• MO Classic Open , St. Joseph, MO
• Munster Rookie Rumble , Munster, IN
• SCWAY Zone 2 San Joaquin Qualifier , Oakdale, CA
• SCWAY Zone 3 Central Coast Qualifier , South San Francisco, CA
• SCWAY Zone 5 Central Valley Qualifier , Bakersfield, CA
• SDIKWA Championships , El Cajon, CA
• Washington Middle School State , Tacoma, WA
• Waunakee Warrior K,8 Classic , Waunakee, WI
• Western Montana Melee , Missoula, MT

When an arena clears at the end of a Mixed Martial Arts event it’s often assumed the men (and/or women) whose blood and sweat still stain the canvas have finished fighting as it relates to that particular show. They typically pack up their gear, take care of on-site media obligations, and head to a hotel room to either lick their wounds or get dressed for an after-party where an entirely different sort of tongue-wagging may eventually come into play. Regardless of extra-curricular choices or the evening’s earlier result, those who entertain in the ring exit the venue with the closure of knowing they can move forward in life and onto the next opponent; that the work they’ve done will be rewarded with adulation from supporters, the personal satisfaction brought on by competition, and of course some level of financial gain.

Or so it’s assumed.

On May 15th, 2010 a show promoted by an organization known as the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts took place in Birmingham, England. The card featured a number of recognizable names, including those with Octagon experience on their resume like Seth Petruzelli, Matt Horwich, and War Machine. Petruzelli and the man once known as John Koppenhaver fared better in result than Horwich but all three spent weeks preparing in the gym with the mutual understanding BAMMA 3 would be like any other event.

On June 8th, 2010 all three men are still awaiting payment for the commitment each fulfilled. Apparently, BP isn’t the only dealer of dismay from across the pond with an element of slime involved. Money depended on for training costs, mortgages, general bills, food, family, and any other imaginable want or need remains a promise unkept, and thoughts originally turned towards a future competitor now look at an opponent possibly looming in a ring far different from any used in combat sports – a court of law.

News of the situation first came to light a week ago when Petruzelli and War Machine took to different realms of cyberspace to plead their cases. Said Petruzelli on popular MMA forum The Underground, “This is B.S! We feed our families with this money.” Meanwhile, the Ultimate Fighter Season 6 alumnus went the route of Twitter and addressed the topic in standard form, writing “Sure would be nice if BAMMA decided to FINALLY f*cking PAY US! Or maybe that’s too much to ask? WTF!? Really getting PISSED now! Contract said 72 hours…lol That’s 3 days right? Just wondering because it’s been 3 WEEKS!” He even went as far as to send a message to BAMMA’s account questioning whether or not they were going to pay or if the promotion felt they didn’t deserve their money.

In Horwich’s case, the woman he married a day after an IFL title defense (Kelly) spoke up to elaborate on the situation. “The promoter…had the balls to tell me he didn’t know we needed to be paid so urgently. People think fighters are rich and famous…they are normal people that need their money to eat too. We’re starving over here peoplel!!!!!” She also, understandably angry about things, made it clear she was thankful she and her husband hadn’t purchased a new house as they’d been considering, or else “WE WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO (HAVE) PAID THE GOD DAMN RENT!!!!!”

Fast-forward to this past Wednesday when Petruzelli stated he’d received half of his expected winnings with the remainder promised for payment later in the day while management for War Machine and Horwich, by proxy of his wife, claimed neither camp had received a dime of their purses. Hours later BAMMA apparently made good on their word to Petruzelli and War Machine, yet Horwich was left in the cold. As of Saturday, June 12th – nearly a month after the actual event – the same remains true. (UPDATE: Horwich was FINALLY paid today, a month to the day after the card’s completion.)

Unfortunately, circumstances like the above are not as uncommon as fans (and fighters) might hope nor are they limited to small shows. Far too often the men and women who sacrifice their bodies for our entertainment are victims in an industry where expectations often exceed ticket-sales and PPV buys. Quinton Jackson, among others, has spoken in the past about PRIDE shorting him and delaying payment during the promotion’s heyday. DREAM has been associated with with similar activities, most notably with current Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz after he defeated Katsuya Inoue at DREAM 3 in May 2008. The same was essentially true in the case of the mid-card fighters set to square off at Affliction III before Tom Atencio folded up shop ten days out from the event. In reality, considering the rarity of a promoter not being associated on some level with questionable financial practices, it’s really no wonder the UFC is the cream of MMA’s crop.

It’s common knowledge we live in a money-driven society where characters ranging from legitimate to downright shady will attempt to capitalize on a trend in hopes of striking it rich. As such, we have to accept the business of Mixed Martial Arts is no different, and the practice of exploiting others in hopes of turning a profit is anything but a newly invented concept. However, that’s not to say people should stand idle while athletes we respect or are personally invested in as fans pay the price after already sacrificing so much for our mere enjoyment. We need to stop focusing so much on the figures and turn our attention to whether or not a contractual agreement was actually fulfilled. When a promotion, like BAMMA, shafts a fighter you need to let your opinion be known both in written/verbal form as well as when it comes to buying future shows/tickets. Likewise, when fighters are paid on time you need to support those companies for living up to their word. Mixed Martial Artists fight for us. Now it’s our turn to fight for them.

At the Body Power Expo in Birmingham, UK this weekend Andy Bolton pulled 953 pounds/432.5kg raw at the BPC Push and Pull powerlifting competition. It is the biggest raw deadlift of all time. He also added a 617 pound/280kg bench press. To follow is a statement from Bolton to Powerlifting Watch; as well as his 953 raw deadlift video:

The man that can currently lay claim to being the “absolute” best no-gi grappler in the business due to the fact that he took home the prestigious 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Absolute Division Championship along with the 88-kilogram title is all set to make his initial venture into the world of mixed martial arts.

Braulio Estima, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, will face off with the undefeated Rick Hawn (4-0), a decorated Judo practitioner, at Shine Fights “Worlds Collide: Mayorga vs. Thomas”.

The pair are set to square off on May 15 in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Estima heads up the Gracie Barra Academy in Birmingham, England, and has spent time training alongside Renzo Gracie, while Hawn is a multiple champion in Judo where he placed ninth in the 2009 Olympic Games.

“I’ve seen a couple of fights and he’s a tough kid,” said Estima in regards to Hawn. “He’s very strong, very explosive. I’m not expecting an easy fight at all. He’s a top judo player in the world, so he’s an athlete himself. Whoever makes fewer mistakes will win. He already has experience in MMA, 6-0. He has a pretty good advantage in the cage, but I’m going to try work myself in a situation where this won’t affect me.”

Hawn understands that he needs to treat an adversary as potentially dangerous as Braulio with the utmost respect – MMA debut or not – stating,” I’m looking forward to the fight with Estima. Even though he is new to MMA, he has extensive ground skills that will require me to elevate my game. I am more than ready for the challenge. It’s not much of a surprise that I want to keep the fight standing with him if possible. This is MMA though, and anything can happen. Either way, I’m going to be well prepared and take advantage of my experience and strengths.”

The highly anticipated BJJ British Open hosted by Braulio Estima is once again expected to be the largest domestic brazilian jiu jitsu tournament of the year! It is now back with a two day event held in Birmingham, once again.

Competitors from all over Europe and the best talent from the UK are set to compete. Make sure you don’t miss this great event!

Registration closes at midnight on March 15th.

Cocks Moor Woods Leisure Centre
Alcester Rd South
Birmingham, West Midlands, B14 6ER
MAP

More information on the official site.

Bill Harlow (left) with Yojiro Uetake (center) and Gene Davis (right) at the 1966 NCAA Division I championships, Oklahoma State claimed three individual titles.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_167972.asp

by B.B. Branton

Compiling a top 10 best in this country is nearly as American as mom, the flag and apple pie.

From the 10 toughest guys in your neighborhood growing up, to rock-n-rolls greatest hits of the 60s to the best utube videos.

How fiting, on the Eve of the 50th of the state wrestling tournament (Feb. 18-20), to name Tennessees best prep wrestlers in the past half century.

Its a given that todays mat warriors are more skilled than their predecessors from a generation ago and possibly even a decade ago.

But in an effort to honor the past wrestlers – upon whose shoulders todays wrestlers stand  and the present champs, here is not only the top 10, but the 50 best high school wrestlers in Tennessee.

The criteria includes ones high school career complete with at least one state title, success at senior nationals and cadet and junior freestyle and greco-roman nationals at Fargo, N.D., with college achievements a plus.

No doubt, several can and will argue for wrestlers in their region of the state over others which makes the discussion interesting, stimulating and welcome.

No Tonys, Oscars or Emmys are awarded and no checks handed out to the top 10. Just an opinion, yet hopefully an educated one, with solid input from across the state.

Those champions who stand out from the hundreds, yes maybe thousands of teens who have dared to walk alone to center mat in the squared circle before roaring student bodys to test their abilities against another in honorable combat.

Warriors who have pushed themselves to the limit and beyond and have stood alone on the top step on many a Saturday afternoon, when in a six-minute span of time, which seemed an eternity, boys become men and legends in our sport.

To all who have wrestled and worked hard we salute you and to those who have reached higher we acknowledge those accomplishments as well.

With that, here is the best of the best; those with sterling credentials and lofty numbers.

Top 10
1. BILL HARLOW … St. Andrews … 62 state champ at 171 … also won Mid South and national prep titles in 62  OW in all three tournaments  defeated 61 national prep OW in 62 finals  5x Mid South champ  80-1 career record  At Oklahoma State was 1966 NCAA champ  3x All-American (2-2-1)  3x NCAA finalist  2x Big 8 champ  career record: 54-5-2  3x National AAU champ  1x OW  World Silver medal  Tblisi Bronze medal  high school coach at Sapulpa High School in Oklahoma … member of the Oklahoma chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame.

2. JORDAN LEEN  Baylor  4x state champ ; 2001-04  04 OW  214 career wins  national high school champ  4x McCallie Invite champ  At Cornell, 2008 NCAA champion  3x All-American (8-1-3)  2x EIWA champ  2008 EIWA Wrestler of the Year  career record, 118-29.
3. PHILIP SIMPSON … MBA  4x state champ (1998-01)  2x OW  176 career wins  national high school runner-up  4x champ, McCallie Invite  At West Point, 3x All-American; 2003-04-05  2005 NCAA runner-up  West Points only 3x All-American  3x EIWA champ 134 career wins  currently in the U.S. Army

4. MATT KELLER  Bradley Central  4x state champ (1999-02)  99 OW  3rd at high school senior nationals  NCAA All-American at Nebraska and UTC  2x SoCon champ  currently in training for national freestyle tournaments  lives in Cleveland.

5. RANDY BATTEN  Hixson  2x state champ; 1973-74  74 OW  placed 3rd in 1972  high school record: 107-2 … won final 87 matches  medaled in three national AAU tournaments  reached final four twice and placed second in the third  At UTC, 3x NCAA D-II national champ (75-77)  75 OW  75 SoCon champ  lives in Birmingham.

6. DAVID VANCE  McCallie  3x state champ; 1988-91  90 OW  four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1)  3x McCallie Invite champ … 135-2 record  103 wins in a row  wrestled one year at Oklahoma … lives in Chattanooga.

7. MARKESE NELSON  Kirby  2x state champ; 1994-95  lost one match his last three years  3x champ at McCallie (OW) and Father Ryan tourneys  4th at high school senior nationals  Cadet All-American at Fargo  2x JUCO All-American at Fresno City College  wrestled at Fresno State  UniversityNationals All-American  Armed Forces national champ.

8. ADRIAN NORFLEET  Whites Creek  3x state champ; 1986-88  lives in Texas

9. SCOTT WELLS  Brentwood Academy  2x state champ; 1998-99  98 OW  4x cadet national champion at Fargo; 2x in Greco/Roman and 2x in Freestyle  undefeated two seasons in Tenn.

10. CHARLES McTORRY … Overton  Tenn. record for wins (216)  2x state champ; 1994, 1996  2x OW  3x finalist (1-2-1)  high school national champion  wrestled at Nebraska  head coach at Ensworth.

11-20

11. NICK MARABLE  Christian Brothers  2x state champ; 2004-05  4x medalist (3-2-1-1)  Cadet national champion at Fargo  at Missouri, 2x All-American  placed 3rd (2008) and 7th (2009)  2x Big 12 champ  currently ranked No. 6 at 165.

12. KEVIN WARD  Soddy Daisy/Red Bank  3x state champ; 1999-00-01 … 4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  Big 8 champ at 157 on 2005 undefeated NCAA champions at Oklahoma State  Big 8 runner-up in 2004  4-2 at NCAAs.

13. JOHNNY LENNON  Cleveland  2x state champ; 1980-81  81 OW  102-2 in high school .. 78 in a row to close out career  Southeastern Junior National Freestyle Champion, summer of 1980  beat two state champs on the way to the title  wrestled at Tenn.

14. HEATH ESLINGER  Bradley Central  2x state champ; 1994-95  95 OW  at UTC, Southern Conference OW  3x SoCon champ  3x NCAA Qualifier  120-18  UTC head coach.

15. J.T. HAGEN  McCallie  3x state champ; 1998-99-00  OW at Bethlehem (Pa.) tournament  as a senior, beat defending state champs Eric Collins, Claytor Thompson and Charlie Ritchie  wrestled at Cornell.

16. RANDY FAIRES  Red Bank  2x state champ; 1965-66  at Chattanooga, 3x Southern champion  was 100-1 in high school and college  also wrestled at Oklahoma State.

17. PAUL TESSMANN  McCallie  Tennessees first 2x state champ; 1961-62  3rd at prep nationals in 62  62 Mid South and City Prep champ  At Sewanee, 4x Southern champ  at the time was the second wrestler to win 4x  never taken down in college  only losses were at small college nationals.

18. RUSTY BLACKMON  Bradley Central  2x state champ, 2000-01  01 OW 4x medalist (4-2-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  wrestled at Oklahoma State.

19. CODY CLEVELAND  Tullahoma/McCallie  2x state champ; 2004-05  4x state medalist  at UTC, 2008 NCAA All-American  2x SoCon champ.

20. KYLE JAMES  Soddy Daisy  3x state champ; 2002-03-04  beat two-time defending champ Shawn Cordell (Red Bank/Bradley Central) in 2003 finals  3rd at junior nationals as a Freestyle All-American at Fargo, N.D.

21-30

21. MARC LYLE  Baylor  3x state champ; 1978-79-80  2x OW; 79-80  85-3.

22. HOWARD LANGFORD  Cleveland  86 state champ and OW  At UTC, 1992 NCAA D-I All-American  2x SoCon champ, 1989, 92

23. JOHNNY BRADFORD  Chattanooga Central  2x state champ; 1976-77  high school All-American  at UT, 82 SEC champ  1x NCAA qualifier.

24. KENNY WHITWORTH  East Ridge  3x state champ; 1965-67  OW in 65 and 66 at 98 lbs.  states first 2x OW  51-2.

25. MARTIN FRANCIS  Notre Dame  first 4x state champ; 1969-72  beat defending national prep champ Brian Card in 72 finals  beat defending state champ Danny Brown in 70 finals.

26. RAYMOND DUNNING  Father Ryan  3x state champ  4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  4x McCallie champ  NCAA D-II All-American at Adams State.

27. PAT MURPHY  Hixson  2x state champ  3x finalist  high school All-American … 64-3-4  at UTC, 4x SoCon champ . 4x NCAA qualifier  2x SEIWA champ.

28. KEVIN JOHNSON  Chattanooga Central  3x state champ; 1990-91-92

29. BUBBA MILLER  Brentwood Academy  2x state champ; 1990-91

30. JAKE YOST  Soddy Daisy  2x state champ; 2001-02  OW in 02  4x medalist (5-5-1-1)  4th at high school nationals  Greco-Roman All-American at Fargo  At UTC, SoCon champ  NCAA qualifier

31-40

31. CARLOS THOMPSON  Cleveland  2x state champ, 1993, 95  3x finalist (1-2-1)

32. PEZ WHATLEY  Notre Dame  2x state champ; 1967, 69  3x finalist (1-2-1)  first heavyweight to win OW  wrestled at UTC and in the pros.

33. RICKY JOHNSON  Chattanooga Central  2x state champ; 1989, 91  91 OW

34. JAKE YOUNG  Ooltewah  2x state champ; 2007, 09  3x medalist (3-1-1) wrestles for UTC

35. DARREN McKNIGHT  Red Bank  3x state champ;1999-00-01  wrestled at Michigan State  co-captain  Big 10 medalist  3x NCAA Qualifier.

36. PATRICK SIMPSON  MBA  3x state champ; 2000-02  2x OW … four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1)  3x winner at McCallie and Father Ryan tourney  At West Point, was 2x EIWA medalist  2x NCAA qualifier.

37. CHRIS MEADOWS  Red Bank  3x state champ; 1965-66-67

38. MOE TRAIL  Baylor  in 62, he won state, Mid South, city prep and national prep  also won Mid South and city prep in 61  At Purdue, was 2nd in Big 10 as a junior.

39. JACK BAKER  Red Bank  states first 3x state champ; 1963-64-65  2x Southern champ at Sewanee  NCAA PostGraduate Scholar

40. GEORGE LEWIS  McCallie  3x state champ; 1991-93  92 OW  wrestled at West Virginia

41-50

41. WHIT DUNNING  Father Ryan  3x state champ; 2003-04-05  4x medalist (6-1-1-1)  wrestled for West Point

42. MATT McCARTY  Clarksville  2x state champ; 1999-00  00 OW  4x state medalist (6-4-1-1)  th at high school nationals  wrestled at Michigan State.

43. WAYLON LOWE  Jefferson County … 1x state champ; 98  97 runner-up  3x medalist (4-1-2)  NAIA national champion … 2x NCAA D-II national champion

44. JEFF HOWARD  Cleveland  1976 state champ and OW … 3x finalist  (2-1-2)

45. CHARLEY MOORE  Baylor  in 62, undefeated in winning state, Mid South, city prep and national prep  also won Mid South and city prep in 61 and second at national preps

46. SHAZZON BRADLEY  McMinn County  2x state champ; 1987-88

47. DAVID KENT  McCallie  2x state champ; 1975-76  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  79-8 career … five losses were to Randy Batten  high school All-American

48. RONNIE STEVENSON  MacGavock  2x state champ; 1988-89  89 OW

49. JOHN FARR  Red Bank  3x state champ; 1963-65  2x city prep champ  two losses in three years  at Chattanooga, 2x Southern Champion

50. QUINN GIBSON  Bradley Central  3x state champ; 2002-03-04  2x OW; 2003-04

Another 35 To Consider:
** KENNY HILL  LFO/East Ridge 4x state champ  3x in Ga. (Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe)  1x champ in Tenn. (East Ridge, 1981)  wrestled at Kentucky … head coach at Heritage HS in Ringgold
** Hill won one title in Tenn., but a combined 4xer in two states

SEAN SMITH  Tyner  92 state champ

RYAN SCOTT  McCallie  4x state champ 5x medalist (3-1-1-1-1)  8th at high school nationals  176 wins  wrestled at Appalachian State.

CHRIS MULLIN … Notre Dame  2x state champ and 2x OW; 1984-85  114-7-1  64wins in a row.

CHRIS VANDERGRIFF  Knox. Halls  2x state champ; 1976-77  first state champ from Knoxville  at UT, 3rd in SEC.

CASEY BREWSTER  Overton  2x state champ  3x finalist  4x medalist (5-1-1-2)  199 wins  NAIA All-American at Edinboro  head coach at Sacred Heart

STEVE AGNEW  Brainerd  3x state champ; 1968-70  70 OW  beat 2x defending state champ Joe Roberts in 70 finals.

RANDY THOMPSON  Tenn. School For the Blind  63 state champ and OW  current assistant coach at TSB

DAVID GRAHAM  Bradley Central  3x state champ; 2007-08-09

JAMES JABALEY  Notre Dame  3x state
champ, all at 105 lbs.; 1976-78

SHANNON SAYNE  Knox Halls  2x state champ; 1996, 98  3x finalist (1-2-1)

DANNY COLEMAN  Cleveland  2x champ; 2003, 05  4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

SHANE FORD  Germantown  1x champ; 1997  6th in 96

MICHAEL MURRAY  Whites Creek  87 state champ and OW

BRANDON WRIGHT  Houston  2x state champ; 2006-07  3x medalist (3-1-1)  4th at senior nationals  wrestles for UTC

JUSTIN SPAIN  Bradley Central  1x state champ; 2007  3x medalist (2-2-1)  wrestles for Princeton

DEE PARKER … Red Bank  96 state champ  2x state medalist

LANCE SCHAEFFER  Chattanooga City  61 state champ and city prep champ  60 city prep champ  wrestled at Virginia.

PATRICK MARCHETTI  Father Ryan  2x state champ  4x medalist (3-3-1-1)  wrestles for West Point

DANIEL WADDELL  Baylor  2x state champ; 2006-07  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  8th at senior nationals  wrestles at UTC

KELLY FELIX  Franklin  3x state champ; 2005-07  2x OW 4x finalist (2-1-1-1)  wrestles at UTC

DANNY COLEMAN  Cleveland  2x state champ; 2003, 05  05 OW  4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

ZAC DAILEY  Mt. Juliet  2x state champ  98 OW  3x finalist (2-1-1)  beat defending state champ Eric Collins in 98 finals.

JIM ELDRIDGE  Chattanooga City  61 state and city prep champ  60 city prep champ  wrestled at Univ. of Chattanooga

DAVID LEVITT  McCallie  2x state champ; 1992, 94  3x finalist (1-2-1)  NCAA qualifier at Boise State

DANIEL CROSBY  Greeneville  2x state champ; 2002-03  3x medalist (3-1-1)  3x McCallie champ  193 wins

SHAWN CORDELL  Red Bank/Bradley Central  3x state champ  4x finalist (1-1-2-1)

COREY MANSON  Baylor  2x state champ; 2005-06  4x finalist (2-2-1-1)  wrestles at Cornell

ERIC COLLINS  Red Bank  2x state champ; 1997, 99  4x finalist; (2-1-2-1)

MATT SWEETON  Tullahoma  3x state champ; 1998-00-01 4x medalist (1-4-1-1)

RALPH BREWER  Tenn. School for the Blind  62 state champ  3rd in 61  wrestled at Auburn as a freshman  coached at TSB …  has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

TIM VOILES  Lookout Valley  2x state champ; 1995-96  5x qualifier  202 wins  wrestled at Carson-Newman

JOE ROBERTS  Donelson  2x state champ; 1968-69  68 OW  70 runner-up  5x state qualifier.

MICHAEL SPENCER  Kirby  93 state champ and OW  127-11-1 .. SoCon freshman of the year at UTC.

JEFF LOYD … Clarksville NW  1x champ; 1990  89 finalist  4th at senior nationals in 1991 .. 6th at NAIA nationals  has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

JIMMY HILLER  Father Ryan  2x champ, 2003-04  3x finalist  4x medalist (5-2-1-1)

Honorable Mention:
Brentwood (Sean Kim; 1999 state champ  2x finalist)

Baylor (Bailey Whitaker, 4x state champ; 2005-08  wrestles for U.S Naval Academy)

Brainerd (Gordon Connell, state
champ, 1966  Masters World Champion, 60+  member of the Tenn. Chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame)

Brighton (Bucky Johnson, 2x state champ; 2006-07  SoCon champ at UTC)

Cleveland (Bill Emendorfer, 68 state champ  3x finalist (2-1-2)  2nd in SEC at UT; Nathan Jones, 2x state champ; 2001, 03  3x finalist (1-2-1)  D-II All-American at Carson-
Newman)

East Ridge (Lynn Goss, 2x state champ; 1966-67  3x finalist (2-1-1)  wrestled at UTC; Charlie Goss, 64 state champ  member of the Tenn. Chapter, national wrestling hall of fame; Roger Kendrick, 2x champ, 1983-84 ; Charlie Ritchie, 2x state champ; 1998-99)

Father Ryan ( David Thoni, 83 state champ and OW  3x finalist and 4x medalist)

Franklin (Rycine Ellison, 1989 state champ)

Glencliff (Mike Green, 2x state champ ; 1970-71)

Hixson (Mike Blosser, 82 state champ and OW  26-0-1 in 82 and pinned nine of 10 opponents in district, region and state; Tom Popp, 76 state champ and OW)

Hunters Lane (Mike Newman, 1988 state champ)

Knox Catholic ( Junior Hernandez, 95 state champ)

McCallie (Spencer Manley, 2x champ; 2003, 04  4x medalist (3-1-1-2)  wrestled for U.S. Naval Prep Academy and U.S. Naval Academy)

Morristown West (Allen Koors, 2x state champ; 1979-80)

North Stratford (Tony Kennedy, 77 state champ and OW)

Overton (Eric Jordan, 2x state champ; 1996-97  Derrick Jordan, 97 state champ  96 runner-up)

Red Bank (George Farr, 61 state and city prep champ  2x Sourthern champ at Univ. of Chattanooga; Jim Beatty, 2x state champ; 1963, 65; Kevin Jones, 96 state champ )

Tenn. School for the Blind (Mitchell Cole, 61 state champ & OW; Mickey Bailey  2x champ; 63-64  64 OW; Jody Chamberlain, 2x state champ; 1963-65  youngest state champ as a 6th grader in 63; Chester Lewis, 62 state champ)
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Mid South Conference  The prep school conference held wrestling tournaments from 1949-1970, usually the third weekend in February  A strong conference in wrestling and other sports, Baylor won 14 of the 22 wrestling titles, followed by McCallie (7) and Castle Heights (1).

The Mid South schools were allowed to compete in the state tournament in 1961 and 1962 and again after the conference closed its doors in the spring of 1970.

The main schools competing in a variety of sports were Baylor, Castle Heights Military Academy, Columbia Military Academy, Darlington,
McCallie, Sewanee Military Academy, St. Andrews, Tennessee Military Academy.

Notre Dame also competed in wrestling the first couple of years.

Baylor produced 11 national prep champions; Charley Moore (1962), Moe Trail (1962), Chip Healy (1964, 65), Lane Headrick (1965), Alex Roberts (1967), John Hannah (1967), Rob Healy (1968, 69), Randy Weinberg (1969) and Albert Wilson (1970).

McCallie’s seven national champions were Pat Smartt (1959), Lou Hudson (1966), Jim Glasser (1966, 1967), Luther Killian (1968), Steve Gross (1969), Brian Card (1971).

Several of the national champions had success in college wrestling, plus college football and the NFL (Chip Healy, John Hannah).

McCallies Hudson won a Big 10 title in 1969 and was second at the Midlands … The most decorated prep wrestler in Tennessee history is Bill Harlow of St. Andrews (1958-1962) who won an 1966 NCAA D-I title and a World silver medal … Baylor’s Alex Roberts won the SEC as a freshman … Albert Wilson was a Morehead Scholar at UNC.

Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net

Braulio Estima is the head instructor & owner of the Gracie Barra BJJ Academy in Birmingham England. He is also the 2009 Abu Dhabi 88kg & Absolute Champion. He has won countless other medals in BJJ & is planning his MMA debut in 2009. The seminar is going to be incredible!

Renzo Gracie BJJ
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