The Nation - the Greenback High School Wrestling Nation to be exact - grieves today as it has lost one of its most beloved citizens.
Renee Roissier Miller, mother of nine, including 2009 state medalists and team co-captains Jeremy (135) and Jackie (189), and the wife of Jamie Miller for 24 years died last Wednesday.
Her life ended at age 50 in a senseless death caused by a then friend of the family and her absence at future Cherokee matches will cause a void no one will be able to, nor will attempt to fill.
Many associated with The Wrestling Nation are mourning her death and praying for and consoling the Miller family. This Friday, numerous family and friends will honor Renee's life with a memorial service to be held in Butcher Auditorium on the Hiwassee College campus in Madisonville, Tenn.
Seven boys and two girls have lost their mom, but her memory and the exemplary life she led will be remembered through The Miller Children Fund.
Donations can be sent in care of the Miller family to:
Regions Bank
101 Tellico Street South
Madisonville, Tenn. 37354
"Jackie has been in the Greenback program since the eighth grade and in that five year period the one constant in our booster program was Renee and Jamie," said Greenback wrestling coach Justin Ridge. "Renee was full of energy and enthusiasm and loved the wrestlers and did whatever she could for the team."
With all the zeal she had for the team, that dedication was far exceeded by her love and devotion she had for her family.
"She truly loved those kids and would do anything for them," stated coach Ridge.
The Laurel, Del. native had the midas touch when it came to sports with national honors in field hockey at Salisbury State (Md.), where she and Jamie met, and later in body building.
The adventuresome types, the young couple sought adventure and fortune in "The Last Frontier" known as Alaska nearly a quarter of a century ago. In 1994, while keeping business connections in the northwest, they moved four time zones to the East to raise kids and animals in east Tennessee.
To see Renee at youth athletic events in Loudon County the past several years was a common occurrence as she passed on her knowledge, love and passion for sports to the area's youth in soccer, swimming and gymnastics. The Rarity Bay Rangers precision horseback drill team was also the product of her handy work.
She even took her turn on the mat as she and oldest child, Joannie, assisted with the youth wrestling program.
The Nation's youth and varsity wrestling programs have clearly been dealt a staggering blow in recent days. But Renee would want the coaches, wrestlers and families of Greenback to look forward and continue the success of the past few years.
In the movie "Brian's Song," the actor portraying football great Gayle Sayers said in an acceptance speech, "Tonight, when you hit your knees, ask God to be with Brian Piccolo."
Today, The Wrestling Nation asks for prayers not only for the family of the one they have lost, but for all who are touched by this tragedy.
*Officials Dinner: The Chattanooga area wrestling officials dinner is tonight (Monday) at Wally's Restaurant in East Ridge at 6 p.m. State medalists from Region 3 and 4 will be recognized, as well as coach of the year and the recipient of the Doc Hodges Scholarship.
*Mocs to the NCAAs: Six UTC wrestlers won Southern Conference titles on Saturday in Charleston, S.C. and earned berths in the NCAA Division I national tournament in St. Louis, Mo., March 19-21.
UTC won its fifth straight team title with 104 points, while UNC-Greensboro was second with 74 points in the six-team field. The Mocs have won 24 SoCon mat titles since 1978.
Weight class winners and NCAA qualifiers were Demetrius Johnson (Redshirt Fr., 125), All-American Cody Cleveland (Jr., 141), Daniel Waddell (Redshirt Fr., 149), Joey Knox (Jr., 157) Seth Garvin (Sr., 165) and Jason McCroskey (Redshirt Fr., 174). Cleveland and Garvin won their second SoCon title.
Johnson was a No. 3 seed and beat top-seeded Tyler Sim (The Citadel), 7-3, the finals, while second- seeded Knox decisioned No.1 seed Andrew Saunders (UNCG), 7-1, in the finals. The other four Moc champions were top seeds.
*Moc Awards: UTC swept the SoCon wrestling awards as Cleveland is the co-Wrestler of the Year, McCroskey is the Freshman of the Year and Chris Bono is the Coach of the Year for the third straight year. Cleveland shares the award with Chris Bencivenga (UNCG).
*Halls of Fame:
Cleveland: Al Miller, longtime head coach at Cleveland High School, will be inducted into the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame this Friday (March 13). For tickets to the dinner call the Cleveland Recreation Department at (423) 479-4129.
Miller is also a member of the Red Bank High School Hall of Fame, Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame and the Tennessee chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Currently an assistant coach at Cleveland, Miller's head coaching record is 382-167 with five state team championships.
Chattanooga: The Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame was Feb. 23. Former state champions Chris Meadows and David Weeks were among the inductees. Meadows was a three-time state champ at Red Bank (1965-66-67), while Weeks won his state crown in 1973 and was a two-time NCAA Division II national champ (1975, 1976) for the Mocs.
Former McCallie wrestler Josh Wheeler received the Allan Morris/Jim Morgan award for overcoming great physical challenges. Wheeler was diagnosed with brain cancer as a senior at McCallie in 2006 and was a Division II state finalist in 2005.
He received the Medal of Courage award for Tennessee in 2007 at the state's annual national wrestling hall of fame dinner. Wheeler earned honorable mention All-American honors as a tri-athlete within six months of his second surgery and was Southeastern Junior Tri-Athlete of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
*State Tourney Notes:
Strike Up The Band: Two-time state champ Daniel Baucke (4.0 GPA) of Christian Brothers leads the drum section in the CBHS band, which is the nation's oldest high school band.
Small World: Division II state finalists at 171, Wes Wesley (Father Ryan) and Jim Ferguson (Baylor), have family ties to Lookout Mountain.
Ferguson's parents, Mac Ferguson and Sally Robinson Ferguson, both grew up on Lookout Mountain (and are current residents), while Wesley's mom, Susie Burkhart Wesley, also grew up on Lookout Mountain.
Sally's brothers, Curt, Dan and Wejun all wrestled for McCallie, while Mac wrestled for Baylor.
Wesley decisioned Ferguson, 7-4, in the finals to defend his title and help Ryan win the state traditional team championship. Ferguson had beaten Wesley, 6-3, in the state duals finals (won by Baylor) in Nashville, Feb. 7. Both wrestlers are juniors.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net