Two-time TSSAA D-II state champion Alex Ward of McCallie has signed scholarship papers to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the fall and wrestle for the Mocs.
Ward had 160 career wins for McCallie and won state titles as a sophomore and senior, placed second as a junior and fourth as a ninth grader.
He placed eighth (132 pounds) at the recent NHSCA High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va. to earn All-American honors.
"I like the UTC coaches, have a good connection with the wrestlers and like where the wrestling program is headed," said Ward who could possibly wrestle at 141 pounds next year.
McCallie Connection: Other McCallie alums who have wrestled for the Mocs, include 2008 All-American Cody Cleveland, Jason Finnell (2003-04), Jason Villers (1989), three-time Southern champion Jim Glasser (1969-71) and two-time Southern champion Steve Gross (1972, '74).
McCallie head coach Mike Newman wrestled for the Mocs (1989-1993) and McCallie Middle School principal Lynn Goss was a Mocs wrestler in the eary 1970s and had the highest GPA of all student-athletes in 1971.
Glasser and Goss are members of the national wrestling hall of fame.
contact B.B.
Branton at
william.branton@comcast.net