Signal Mountain High School principal Eddie Gravitte is accepting applications for the head wrestling coaching position at the new school to open this fall. Those interested in applying should call Mr. Gravitte at 423/886-0880.
Baylor, Cleveland and Ooltewah each won traditional tournaments this past weekend.
All three teams have a full schedule this week as Cleveland hosts cross-town rival Walker Valley (Thursday) and is at the Baylor Duals on Saturday. Ooltewah hosts Bradley Central on Thursday and travels to Notre Dame on Friday.
Notre Dame has a trio of important matches; hosting East Ridge (Tues.) in a district match, traveling to Hixson (Thurs.), before hosting Ooltewah.
Soddy Daisy is at McCallie on Friday and then hosts a quad meet on Saturday with Science Hill, Greeneville and McCallie on Saturday.
Bradley Central faces Red Bank on Tuesday in the final home match of the season and is at Ooltewah on Thursday.
* Greeneville Invite: Baylor (341.5 points.) won its 11th straight GIT on Saturday with 341.5 pts.) as Orange County (N.C.) was second (233), while host Greeneville (220.5), Clarksville (211.5) and Seymour (166) round out the top five.
Red Raider had nine medalists, including eight champions; Zach Watson (103), Alex Manley (112), Stuart Doster (119), Bailey Whitaker (125), Cole Hayes (130), Chance Hayes (140), Colton Popp (152) and Tyler Watson (285).
OW – Alex Manley (Baylor, 112)
* Science Hill: The Fandetti Brawl in memory of former Jefferson County wrestler, Scott Fandetti, who died in 1996 at age 16.
Ooltewah (262.5 pts.) won its fourth tourney of the year with 12 medalists, including six champions; Will Allen (103), Cody Hood (130), Jared Wolfe (152), David Jordan (160), Jake Young (171) and Cody Sliger (285).
Notre Dame (216.5) was second, followed by host Science Hill (193.5) and Greenback (169.5).
The Irish champions (4) were Tee Boone (125), Eric Heider (140), Pat Flynn (189), Eric Phipps (215).
OW – Notre Dame’s Pat Flynn.
Best Match: 125; Tee Boone (Notre Dame) defeated Eddie Long (Greenback).
* Brentwood: Defending Kentucky state champion Union County won the G.P. West
Invitational with 243 points and four champions. Franklin was second with 169.5 points and two champions in Dustin Ortiz (130) and Tucker Cathey (285) with host Brentwood in third (160.5) with champions Tate Mustin (171) and OW Cameron Croy (189).
Two-time defending champion McCallie was fourth (156) with champions in Michael Hooker (112) and T.J. Duncan (135). Second-seeded Hooker scored a technical fall (17-1) against No.1 seed Eric Hancock (Overton) in the finals. No.1 Duncan had a major decision (16-5) against No. 2 Luke Ervin (Union County) in the finals.
Rhea County was ninth with 112.5 points and a champion in No.1 seed Hunter Daniel (140).
OW – No.2 Cameron Croy (Brentwood) was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler. He defeated No. 1 Chris Wolfe (Ravenwood), 10-5, in the finals.
Best Match – Franklin’s No.1 seeded Dustin Ortiz (130) dec. No.2 Ziad Aboulmouna (Tullahoma), 12-10, in the 130 pound finals.
Clarksville won the junior varsity tournament with 86 points and a pair of champions, while Father Ryan won the 9th grade event.
* A. J. Jones Invitational (Kissimmee, Fla.) – Cleveland won once in Tennessee and twice in Florida this past week.
After defeating Notre Dame, 50-15, on Tuesday, the Blue Raiders defeated Osceola (Fla.) High School, 35-33. Cleveland trailed by 11 points twice – the second time, 33-22, after 11 weights – but won the last three matches for the win.
On Saturday, Cleveland won the A.J. Jones tourney on Saturday with 211.5 points and four champions; Brian Alvarado (103), Josh Jadoobirsingh (112), Harold Gage (160) and Chip Norwood (215).
* Wrestling in Greece: Cleveland assistant coach Al Miller will be the team leader of a junior wrestling team traveling to Greece in the summer of 2008. This will be Miller's ninth overseas trip.
The team is open to any wrestler from a rising 8th grader through a graduating senior. Contact Coach Miller at amiller@clevelandschools.org or 423/479-3884. Plans are to leave Tuesday, May 27, for a nine or 10-day trip. This trip will be both a competitive and training mission.
One does not have to be a state champion or place finisher to go on the trip, but mostly a desire to improve freestyle and Greco technique. Other coaches will be a part of the team. Wrestling and sightseeing will be in Athens and the island of Crete.
* Al Miller Strength Center – The new Cleveland wrestling strength center was officially named the Al Miller Strength Center during the Cleveland-Notre Dame match last Tuesday.
* Mocs to Oklahoma: UT-Chattanooga (5-3) travels to U. of Oklahoma on Friday and then opens the Southern Conference at The Citadel next Tuesday (Jan. 22).
The Mocs return home on Sunday Jan. 27 to face Appalachian State at Maclellan Gym at 2 p.m.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net