Hey guys, clear the mats. The girls are getting ready to wrestle!

So said the TSSAA board of control on Monday in Nashville as a unanimous vote was given to approve a high school girls wrestling duals invitational on Saturday Feb. 2 in Clarksville, Tenn.

The double-elimination tournament will be held in conjunction with the TSSAA boys Division I state duals wrestling tournament at Clarksville High School.

"Right now, five states besides Tennessee have girls wrestling and we (TSSAA) believe the time is right to hold a girls invitational tournament," said TSSAA executive director Ronnie Carter. "There is good interest in a girls event and to have this first duals tournament in conjunction with the boys state duals is the best scenario."

Carter emphasized that since girls wrestling is not a TSSAA sanctioned sport – the tournament is classified as an invitational, not a TSSAA state championship – but will have awards and honors as do the boys event.

"This is history in the making and we are excited to be part of this on the ground floor," said Soddy Daisy boys wrestling coach Steve Henry.

"Soddy-Daisy and Red Bank have had a girls match (a fund raiser for boys wrestling) once a year for a number of years, but this invitational gives the girls something to work for on a bigger stage," Henry said.

A twin bill of pure excitement will be held this Thursday as Red Bank travels to the Soddy Daisy Wrestling Arena for the annual match at 6 p.m., while the Cleveland High School girls host Walker Valley at 7 p.m. at the W.A. Jones Arena on campus.

"Admission is five dollars at both places, the fans and the girls really get into it and we expect great crowds," Henry stated.

Upper East Tennessee schools South-Doyle and Science Hill are also planning to form teams this season, with the possibility of a squad at Heritage in Maryville. The TSSAA will send a letter to all schools this week informing principles and athletic directors of the girls invitational tournament.

"I am excited as I can be to have Clarksville hosting the inaugural girls duals tournament," said TSSAA Division I state duals director Artie Manning. "Having a girls tournament in the same gym on mats side by side with the boys will add flavor and pizazz to an already exciting setting."

Soddy-Daisy: Boys coach Steve Henry also coaches the girls team comprised of approximately 20 participants.

"The two schools are huge rivals in several sports, so Thursday’s match is big not only because we (girls) are wrestling, but also because it’s Soddy-Red Bank," said sophomore Brooke Hensley.

"I love wrestling and am excited about the girls invitational in February," said senior Taylor Lewis who holds a 5-0 dual record the past three years. "We have never had anything like this (a state tournament), so are thrilled to be part of history."

Red Bank: Boys wrestling coach Kevin Emily coaches the girls team as well.

"We have about a dozen girls in the room and we are excited to get a chance to be part of history in Tennessee," said Emily. "Thursday’s match should be great."

Walker Valley: Boys coach Alan Morris has ordered new uniforms for Thursday’s match.

"Our girls are working hard for this match with Cleveland and want the seats filled as the two schools will split the gate which will go to the boys wrestling budgets," said Morris. "Next year’s match will be at our place."

Cleveland: Blue Raiders coaches Heath Eslinger, Al Miller and Rusty Blackmon are preparing the girls team for Thursday’s match.

South-Doyle: Boys coach Weldon Smith has three girls in the room – Jessica Isbill, Jessica Warner and Brittney Heatherly – who have wrestled on boys teams in the past.

"I sold this idea of the invitational tournament to some of the girls at South-Doyle and they went out and beat the bushes and we have 21 signed up," said Weldon. "I told the girls that we plan on going to Clarksville to win the state."

Weldon’s coaching staff includes Yvette Jaquish-Krase, the girls team coordinator and her husband, Alexander Reed-Krase. Yvette wrestled in high school and college in Michigan. Jaquish-Krase wrestled in high school and college in Michigan.

Science Hill: Boys coach Jeff Price feels good about fielding a team, now that TSSAA has approved the concept.

"I have recently discussed the idea of a girls team with some of the school administrators and now that it is a go for Clarksville, it looks feasible for us to be part of this," said Price. "We have lots of good girl athletes at Science Hill and we should be competitive."

Heritage: Phil Cottrell is the boy’s coach and has four girls interested at this time.

Cottrell plans to enter them in an upcoming wrestling jamboree in Knoxville.

"We plan to practice some with South Doyle and possibly compete in a tournament in Chattanooga in January," said Cottrell. "I sure would like to have a full team, if I can find enough wrestlers."

Other Wrestling States: Texas, which hosts a boys and girls traditional state tournament simultaneously, Hawaii and Oregon offer state-sanctioned girls wrestling. Girls wrestling is a club (or non-sanctioned) sport in California and Washington.

New School – New Sport: Hardin Valley Academy will open its doors as a new high school in Knoxville for the 2008-09 school year. According to principal Sallee Reynolds and assistant principle George Ashe, the school plans to field a varsity wrestling team in the first year.

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