by B.B. Branton
posted June 10, 2009
MURFREESBORO, Tenn -- The 2009 TSSAA state wrestling duals not only have a new home, but also a new format to seed teams in Division I AAA.
At Wednesday's TSSAA board of control meeting in Murfreesboro, the board voted to implement a seeding format for the state duals to be held at the Williamson County Ag Center in Franklin next February similar to the state traditional tournament.
To be one of a maximum of four seeds (in a field of 16 teams), schools must be a region champion and have placed in the top four in the previous year's state duals.
For 2010, only two teams can be seeded in D-I AAA.
The top three finishers in 2009 – Bradley Central, Cleveland and Soddy Daisy – will be in the same region in 2009-2010. If one of those schools win the region duals, it will be the top seed at the state duals. Clarksville, which finished fourth at the 2009 duals, would be the second seed if it wins its region in 2010.
Three other wrestling items were voted down; a double elimination format at the D-I state traditional tournament, a change in the weight decent program and a 30 minute warm-up time prior to each round of the state traditional.
TSSAA assistant executive vice president Mark Reeves stated that the concept of a 32-man double elimination bracket for 14 weights is a workable idea, but with the traditional tournament moving to a new facility (Williamson County Ag Center in Franklin) on a one year agreement, the TSSAA board felt it best to re-address the double elimination proposal after next year's state tournament.
“Most wrestlers compete in double elimination tournaments throughout the season, so to have a double elimination state tournament would be nothing new,'' stated Reeves. “We will re-address the proposal after next year's state tournament within the framework of evaluating all aspects of the state traditional being at a new site.''
Under the current rules, a wrestler which loses in the first or second round must have his opponent advance to the semis or be eliminated from the tournament without being allowed to compete in the consolation bracket.
The coaches new proposal would guarantee every wrestler at last two matches and a chance for a medal. All wrestlers who lose in the championship bracket would have the opportunity to wrestle for third through sixth place.
Maryville Reinstated: The appeal by Maryville High School to be be eligible for the 2010 state duals was accepted. Maryville failed to wrestle in the 2008 sub-state duals and was then deemed ineligible to compete in the state duals for 2009 and 2010.
August Meeting: At the August 17 meeting, the TSSAA Board of Control will discuss the options of a girls' fall wrestling season and an early December traditional tournament or a winter schedule and a traditional tournament in conjunction with the boys' state traditional in February at the Williamson County Ag Center.
New Schools: Other items included three schools - Sequoyah (in Soddy Daisy), Sacred Heart of Jesus and Concord Christian (in Knoxville) – being granted membership in TSSAA for the 2009-2010 school year.
Sequoyah students will be able to compete as members of Soddy Daisy High School athletic teams for 2009-2010.
Contact B.B. Blanton at william.branton@comcast.net
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