State Mat Tourney's 50 Best Wrestlers

Monday, February 1, 2010
B.B. Branton

Former St. Andrews wrestler Bill Harlow won a Tennessee state title in 1962 and an NCAA crown at Oklahoma State in 1966. He is considered to be the best wrestler to come out of Tennessee.
photo by Oklahoma State sports information

Compiling a top 10 best in this country is nearly as American as mom, the flag and apple pie.

From the 10 toughest guys in your neighborhood growing up, to rock-n-rollï¿½s greatest hits of the 60s to the best utube videos.

How fiting, on the Eve of the 50th of the state wrestling tournament (Feb. 18-20), to name Tennesseeï¿½s best prep wrestlers in the past half century.

Itï¿½s a given that todayï¿½s mat warriors are more skilled than their predecessors from a generation ago and possibly even a decade ago.

But in an effort to honor the past wrestlers - upon whose shoulders todayï¿½s wrestlers stand ï¿½ and the present champs, here is not only the top 10, but the 50 best high school wrestlers in Tennessee.

The criteria includes oneï¿½s high school career complete with at least one state title, success at senior nationals and cadet and junior freestyle and greco-roman nationals at Fargo, N.D., with college achievements a plus.

Mid South Conference: The vast majority of wrestlers who competed in the prep school Mid South Conference (1949-1970 for wrestling) did not compete in the state tournament; thus, are not eligible for this list.

But the handful of Mid South wrestlers who were allowed to compete in the 1961 and 1962 state tournaments are eligible and some did make the list as state champs.

The national prep champions from the Mid South are listed at the end of the story.

No doubt, several can and will argue for wrestlers in their region of the state over others which makes the discussion interesting, stimulating and welcome.

No Tonys, Oscars or Emmys are awarded and no checks handed out to the top 10. Just an opinion, yet hopefully an educated one, with solid input from across the state.

Those champions who stand out from the hundreds, yes maybe thousands of teens who have dared to walk alone to center mat in the squared circle before roaring student bodyï¿½s to test their abilities against another in honorable combat.

Warriors who have pushed themselves to the limit and beyond and have stood alone on the top step on many a Saturday afternoon, when in a six-minute span of time, which seemed an eternity, boys become men and legends in our sport.

To all who have wrestled and worked hard we salute you and to those who have reached higher we acknowledge those accomplishments as well.

With that, here is the best of the best; those with sterling credentials and lofty numbers.

Top 10 **

** state champion is the first criteria to be considered for the top 50 ... this coincides with next month;s 50th high school state tournament.

1. BILL HARLOW ... St. Andrewï¿½s ... ï¿½62 state champ at 171 ... also won Mid South and national prep titles in ï¿½62 ï¿½ OW in all three tournaments ï¿½ defeated ï¿½61 national prep OW in ï¿½62 finals ï¿½ 5x Mid South champ ï¿½ 80-1 career record ï¿½ At Oklahoma State was 1966 NCAA champ ï¿½ 3x All-American (2-2-1) ï¿½ 3x NCAA finalist ï¿½ 2x Big 8 champ ï¿½ career record: 54-5-2 ï¿½ 3x National AAU champ ï¿½ 1x OW ï¿½ World Silver medal ï¿½ Tblisi Bronze medal ï¿½ high school coach at Sapulpa High School in Oklahoma ... member of the Oklahoma chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame.

2. JORDAN LEEN ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ 4x state champ ; 2001-04 ï¿½ ï¿½04 OW ï¿½ 214 career wins ï¿½ national high school champ ï¿½ 4x McCallie Invite champ ï¿½ At Cornell, 2008 NCAA champion ï¿½ 3x All-American (8-1-3) ï¿½ 2x EIWA champ ï¿½ 2008 EIWA Wrestler of the Year ï¿½ career record, 118-29.
3. PHILIP SIMPSON ... MBA ï¿½ 4x state champ (1998-01) ï¿½ 2x OW ï¿½ 176 career wins ï¿½ national high school runner-up ï¿½ 4x champ, McCallie Invite ï¿½ At West Point, 3x All-American; 2003-04-05 ï¿½ 2005 NCAA runner-up ï¿½ West Pointï¿½s only 3x All-American ï¿½ 3x EIWA champ ï¿½134 career wins ï¿½ currently in the U.S. Army

4. MATT KELLER> ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 4x state champ (1999-02) ï¿½ ï¿½99 OW ï¿½ 3rd at high school senior nationals ï¿½ NCAA All-American at Nebraska and UTC ï¿½ 2x SoCon champ ï¿½ currently in training for national freestyle tournaments ï¿½ lives in Cleveland.

5. RANDY BATTEN ï¿½ Hixson ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1973-74 ï¿½ ï¿½74 OW ï¿½ placed 3rd in 1972 ï¿½ high school record: 107-2 ... won final 87 matches ï¿½ medaled in three national AAU tournaments ï¿½ reached final four twice and placed second in the third ï¿½ At UTC, 3x NCAA D-II national champ (ï¿½75-77) ï¿½ ï¿½75 OW ï¿½ ï¿½75 SoCon champ ï¿½ lives in Birmingham.

6. DAVID VANCE ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1988-91 ï¿½ ï¿½90 OW ï¿½ four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1) ï¿½ 3x McCallie Invite champ ... 135-2 record ï¿½ 103 wins in a row ï¿½ wrestled one year at Oklahoma ... lives in Chattanooga.

7. MARKESE NELSON ï¿½ Kirby ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1994-95 ï¿½ lost one match his last three years ï¿½ 3x champ at McCallie (OW) and Father Ryan tourneys ï¿½ 4th at high school senior nationals ï¿½ Cadet All-American at Fargo ï¿½ 2x JUCO All-American at Fresno City College ï¿½ wrestled at Fresno State ï¿½ UniversityNationals All-American ï¿½ Armed Forces national champ.

8. ADRIAN NORFLEET ï¿½ Whites Creek ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1986-88 ï¿½ lives in Texas

9. SCOTT WELLS ï¿½ Brentwood Academy ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1998-99 ï¿½ ï¿½98 OW ï¿½ 4x cadet national champion at Fargo; 2x in Greco/Roman and 2x in Freestyle ï¿½ undefeated two seasons in Tenn.

10. CHARLES McTORRY ... Overton ï¿½ Tenn. record for wins (216) ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1994, 1996 ï¿½ 2x OW ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1) ï¿½ high school national champion ï¿½ wrestled at Nebraska ï¿½ head coach at Ensworth.

11-20

11. NICK MARABLE ï¿½ Christian Brothers ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2004-05 ï¿½ 4x medalist (3-2-1-1) ï¿½ Cadet national champion at Fargo ï¿½ at Missouri, 2x All-American ï¿½ placed 3rd (2008) and 7th (2009) ï¿½ 2x Big 12 champ ï¿½ currently ranked No. 6 at 165.

12. KEVIN WARD ï¿½ Soddy Daisy/Red Bank ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1999-00-01 ... 4x finalist (2-1-1-1) ï¿½ 4th at high school nationals ï¿½ Big 8 champ at 157 on 2005 undefeated NCAA champions at Oklahoma State ï¿½ Big 8 runner-up in 2004 ï¿½ 4-2 at NCAAs.

13. JOHNNY LENNON ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1980-81 ï¿½ ï¿½81 OW ï¿½ 102-2 in high school .. 78 in a row to close out career ï¿½ Southeastern Junior National Freestyle Champion, summer of 1980 ï¿½ beat two state champs on the way to the title ï¿½ wrestled at Tenn.

14. HEATH ESLINGER ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1994-95 ï¿½ ï¿½95 OW ï¿½ at UTC, Southern Conference OW ï¿½ 3x SoCon champ ï¿½ 3x NCAA Qualifier ï¿½ 120-18 ï¿½ UTC head coach.

15. J.T. HAGEN ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1998-99-00 ï¿½ OW at Bethlehem (Pa.) tournament ï¿½ as a senior, beat defending state champs Eric Collins, Claytor Thompson and Charlie Ritchie ï¿½ wrestled at Cornell.

16. RANDY FAIRES ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1965-66 ï¿½ at Chattanooga, 3x Southern champion ï¿½ was 100-1 in high school and college ï¿½ also wrestled at Oklahoma State.

17. PAUL TESSMANN ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ Tennesseeï¿½s first 2x state champ; 1961-62 ï¿½ 3rd at prep nationals in ï¿½62 ï¿½ ï¿½62 Mid South and City Prep champ ï¿½ At Sewanee, 4x Southern champ ï¿½ at the time was the second wrestler to win 4x ï¿½ never taken down in college ï¿½ only losses were at small college nationals.

18. RUSTY BLACKMON ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 2x state champ, 2000-01 ï¿½ ï¿½01 OW ï¿½4x medalist (4-2-1-1) ï¿½ 4th at high school nationals ï¿½ wrestled at Oklahoma State.

19. CODY CLEVELAND ï¿½ Tullahoma/McCallie ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2004-05 ï¿½ 4x state medalist ï¿½ at UTC, 2008 NCAA All-American ï¿½ 2x SoCon champ.

20. KYLE JAMES ï¿½ Soddy Daisy ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2002-03-04 ï¿½ beat two-time defending champ Shawn Cordell (Red Bank/Bradley Central) in 2003 finals ï¿½ 3rd at junior nationals as a Freestyle All-American at Fargo, N.D.

21-30

21. MARC LYLE ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1978-79-80 ï¿½ 2x OW; ï¿½79-80 ï¿½ 85-3.

22. HOWARD LANGFORD ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ ï¿½86 state champ and OW ï¿½ At UTC, 1992 NCAA D-I All-American ï¿½ 2x SoCon champ, 1989, 92

23. JOHNNY BRADFORD ï¿½ Chattanooga Central ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1976-77 ï¿½ high school All-American ï¿½ at UT, ï¿½82 SEC champ ï¿½ 1x NCAA qualifier.

24. KENNY WHITWORTH ï¿½ East Ridge ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1965-67 ï¿½ OW in ï¿½65 and ï¿½66 at 98 lbs. ï¿½ stateï¿½s first 2x OW ï¿½ 51-2.

25. MARTIN FRANCIS ï¿½ Notre Dame ï¿½ first 4x state champ; 1969-72 ï¿½ beat defending national prep champ Brian Card in ï¿½72 finals ï¿½ beat defending state champ Danny Brown in ï¿½70 finals.

26. RAYMOND DUNNING ï¿½ Father Ryan ï¿½ 3x state champ ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-1-1-1) ï¿½ 4x McCallie champ ï¿½ NCAA D-II All-American at Adams State.

27. PAT MURPHY ï¿½ Hixson ï¿½ 2x state champ ï¿½ 3x finalist ï¿½ high school All-American ... 64-3-4 ï¿½ at UTC, 4x SoCon champ ï¿½. 4x NCAA qualifier ï¿½ 2x SEIWA champ.

28. KEVIN JOHNSON ï¿½ Chattanooga Central ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1990-91-92

29. BUBBA MILLER ï¿½ Brentwood Academy ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1990-91

30. JAKE YOST ï¿½ Soddy Daisy ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2001-02 ï¿½ OW in ï¿½02 ï¿½ 4x medalist (5-5-1-1) ï¿½ 4th at high school nationals ï¿½ Greco-Roman All-American at Fargo ï¿½ At UTC, SoCon champ ï¿½ NCAA qualifier

31-40

31. CARLOS THOMPSON ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ 2x state champ, 1993, ï¿½95 ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1)

32. PEZ WHATLEY ï¿½ Notre Dame ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1967, ï¿½69 ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1) ï¿½ first heavyweight to win OW ï¿½ wrestled at UTC and in the pros.

33. RICKY JOHNSON ï¿½ Chattanooga Central ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1989, 91 ï¿½ ï¿½91 OW

34. JAKE YOUNG ï¿½ Ooltewah ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2007, 09 ï¿½ 3x medalist (3-1-1) ï¿½wrestles for UTC

35. DARREN McKNIGHT ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ 3x state champ;1999-00-01 ï¿½ wrestled at Michigan State ï¿½ co-captain ï¿½ Big 10 medalist ï¿½ 3x NCAA Qualifier.

36. PATRICK SIMPSON ï¿½ MBA ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2000-02 ï¿½ 2x OW ... four-time state finalist (2-1-1-1) ï¿½ 3x winner at McCallie and Father Ryan tourney ï¿½ At West Point, was 2x EIWA medalist ï¿½ 2x NCAA qualifier.

37. CHRIS MEADOWS ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1965-66-67

38. MOE TRAIL ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ in ï¿½62, he won state, Mid South, city prep and national prep ï¿½ also won Mid South and city prep in ï¿½61 ï¿½ At Purdue, was 2nd in Big 10 as a junior.

39. JACK BAKER ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ stateï¿½s first 3x state champ; 1963-64-65 ï¿½ 2x Southern champ at Sewanee ï¿½ NCAA PostGraduate Scholar

40. GEORGE LEWIS ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1991-93 ï¿½ ï¿½92 OW ï¿½ wrestled at West Virginia

41-50

41. WHIT DUNNING ï¿½ Father Ryan ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2003-04-05 ï¿½ 4x medalist (6-1-1-1) ï¿½ wrestled for West Point

42. MATT McCARTY ï¿½ Clarksville ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1999-00 ï¿½ ï¿½00 OW ï¿½ 4x state medalist (6-4-1-1) ï¿½ th at high school nationals ï¿½ wrestled at Michigan State.

43. WAYLON LOWE ï¿½ Jefferson County ... 1x state champ; ï¿½98 ï¿½ ï¿½97 runner-up ï¿½ 3x medalist (4-1-2) ï¿½ NAIA national champion ... 2x NCAA D-II national champion

44. JEFF HOWARD ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ 1976 state champ and OW ... 3x finalist ï¿½ (2-1-2)

45. CHARLEY MOORE ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ in ï¿½62, undefeated in winning state, Mid South, city prep and national prep ï¿½ also won Mid South and city prep in ï¿½61 and second at national preps ï¿½

46. SHAZZON BRADLEY ï¿½ McMinn County ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1987-88 ï¿½

47. DAVID KENT ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1975-76 ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-2-1-1) ï¿½ 79-8 career ... five losses were to Randy Batten ï¿½ high school All-American

48. RONNIE STEVENSON ï¿½ MacGavock ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1988-89 ï¿½ ï¿½89 OW

49. JOHN FARR ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1963-65 ï¿½ 2x city prep champ ï¿½ two losses in three years ï¿½ at Chattanooga, 2x Southern Champion

50. QUINN GIBSON ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2002-03-04 ï¿½ 2x OW; 2003-04

Another 36 To Consider:
** KENNY HILL ï¿½ LFO/East Ridge 4x state champ ï¿½ 3x in Ga. (Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe) ï¿½ 1x champ in Tenn. (East Ridge, 1981) ï¿½ wrestled at Kentucky ... head coach at Heritage HS in Ringgold
** Hill won one title in Tenn., but a combined 4xï¿½er in two states ï¿½

BRANDON WRIGHT ... Houston ... 2x champ; 2006-07 ... 3x medalist (3-1-1)... 4th at senior nationals ... wrestles at UTC

TRAVIS CREAGAN ... Bradley Central ... 2x state champ; 2005-06 ... 3x finalist ... 4x medalist (3-1-1-2) ... medaled at junior nationals ... Bears career wins leader ... started as a freshman at Columbia.

SEAN SMITH ï¿½ Tyner ï¿½ ï¿½92 state champ ï¿½

RYAN SCOTT ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 4x state champ ï¿½5x medalist (3-1-1-1-1) ï¿½ 8th at high school nationals ï¿½ 176 wins ï¿½ wrestled at Appalachian State.

CHRIS MULLIN ... Notre Dame ï¿½ 2x state champ and 2x OW; 1984-85 ï¿½ 114-7-1 ï¿½ 64wins in a row.

CHRIS VANDERGRIFF ï¿½ Knox. Halls ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1976-77 ï¿½ first state champ from Knoxville ï¿½ at UT, 3rd in SEC.

CASEY BREWSTER ï¿½ Overton ï¿½ 2x state champ ï¿½ 3x finalist ï¿½ 4x medalist (5-1-1-2) ï¿½ 199 wins ï¿½ NAIA All-American at Edinboro ï¿½ head coach at Sacred Heart

STEVE AGNEW ï¿½ Brainerd ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1968-70 ï¿½ ï¿½70 OW ï¿½ beat 2x defending state champ Joe Roberts in ï¿½70 finals.

RANDY THOMPSON ï¿½ Tenn. School For the Blind ï¿½ ï¿½63 state champ and OW ï¿½ current assistant coach at TSB ï¿½

DAVID GRAHAM ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2007-08-09

JAMES JABALEY ï¿½ Notre Dame ï¿½ 3x state
champ, all at 105 lbs.; 1976-78

SHANNON SAYNE ï¿½ Knox Halls ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1996, ï¿½98 ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1)

DANNY COLEMAN ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ 2x champ; 2003, 05 ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

SHANE FORD ï¿½ Germantown ï¿½ 1x champ; 1997 ï¿½ 6th in ï¿½96

MICHAEL MURRAY ï¿½ Whites Creek ï¿½ ï¿½87 state champ and OW

JUSTIN SPAIN ï¿½ Bradley Central ï¿½ 1x state champ; 2007 ï¿½ 3x medalist (2-2-1) ï¿½ wrestles for Princeton

DEE PARKER ... Red Bank ï¿½ ï¿½96 state champ ï¿½ 2x state medalist ï¿½

LANCE SCHAEFFER ï¿½ Chattanooga City ï¿½ ï¿½61 state champ and city prep champ ï¿½ ï¿½60 city prep champ ï¿½ wrestled at Virginia.

PATRICK MARCHETTI ï¿½ Father Ryan ï¿½ 2x state champ ï¿½ 4x medalist (3-3-1-1) ï¿½ wrestles for West Point

DANIEL WADDELL ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2006-07 ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-2-1-1) ï¿½ 8th at senior nationals ï¿½ wrestles at UTC

KELLY FELIX ï¿½ Franklin ï¿½ 3x state champ; 2005-07 ï¿½ 2x OW ï¿½4x finalist (2-1-1-1) ï¿½ wrestles at UTC

DANNY COLEMAN ï¿½ Cleveland ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2003, 05 ï¿½ ï¿½05 OW ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-1-2-1)

ZAC DAILEY ï¿½ Mt. Juliet ï¿½ 2x state champ ï¿½ ï¿½98 OW ï¿½ 3x finalist (2-1-1) ï¿½ beat defending state champ Eric Collins in ï¿½98 finals.

JIM ELDRIDGE ï¿½ Chattanooga City ï¿½ ï¿½61 state and city prep champ ï¿½ ï¿½60 city prep champ ï¿½ wrestled at Univ. of Chattanooga

DAVID LEVITT ï¿½ McCallie ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1992, ï¿½94 ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1) ï¿½ NCAA qualifier at Boise State

DANIEL CROSBY ï¿½ Greeneville ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2002-03 ï¿½ 3x medalist (3-1-1) ï¿½ 3x McCallie champ ï¿½ 193 wins

SHAWN CORDELL ï¿½ Red Bank/Bradley Central ï¿½ 3x state champ ï¿½ 4x finalist (1-1-2-1)

COREY MANSON ï¿½ Baylor ï¿½ 2x state champ; 2005-06 ï¿½ 4x finalist (2-2-1-1) ï¿½ wrestles at Cornell

ERIC COLLINS ï¿½ Red Bank ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1997, ï¿½99 ï¿½ 4x finalist; (2-1-2-1)

MATT SWEETON ï¿½ Tullahoma ï¿½ 3x state champ; 1998-00-01ï¿½ 4x medalist (1-4-1-1)

RALPH BREWER ï¿½ Tenn. School for the Blind ï¿½ ï¿½62 state champ ï¿½ 3rd in ï¿½61 ï¿½ wrestled at Auburn as a freshman ï¿½ coached at TSB ... ï¿½ has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

TIM VOILES ï¿½ Lookout Valley ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1995-96 ï¿½ 5x qualifier ï¿½ 202 wins ï¿½ wrestled at Carson-Newman

JOE ROBERTS ï¿½ Donelson ï¿½ 2x state champ; 1968-69 ï¿½ ï¿½68 OW ï¿½ ï¿½70 runner-up ï¿½ 5x state qualifier.

MICHAEL SPENCER ï¿½ Kirby ï¿½ ï¿½93 state champ and OW ï¿½ 127-11-1 .. SoCon freshman of the year at UTC.

JEFF LOYD ... Clarksville NW ï¿½ 1x champ; 1990 ï¿½ ï¿½89 finalist ï¿½ 4th at senior nationals in 1991 .. 6th at NAIA nationals ï¿½ has received the Courage Award for Tennessee from the national wrestling hall of fame.

JIMMY HILLER ï¿½ Father Ryan ï¿½ 2x champ, 2003-04 ï¿½ 3x finalist ï¿½ 4x medalist (5-2-1-1)

Honorable Mention:
Brentwood (Sean Kim; 1999 state champ ï¿½ 2x finalist)

Baylor (Bailey Whitaker, 4x state champ; 2005-08 ï¿½ wrestles for U.S Naval Academy)

Brainerd (Gordon Connell, state
champ, 1966 ï¿½ Masters World Champion, 60+ ï¿½ member of the Tenn. Chapter of the national wrestling hall of fame)

Brighton (Bucky Johnson, 2x state champ; 2006-07 ï¿½ SoCon champ at UTC)

Cleveland (Bill Emendorfer, ï¿½68 state champ ï¿½ 3x finalist (2-1-2) ï¿½ 2nd in SEC at UT; Nathan Jones, 2x state champ; 2001, 03 ï¿½ 3x finalist (1-2-1) ï¿½ D-II All-American at Carson-
Newman)

East Ridge (Lynn Goss, 2x state champ; 1966-67 ï¿½ 3x finalist (2-1-1) ï¿½ wrestled at UTC; Charlie Goss, ï¿½64 state champ ï¿½ member of the Tenn. Chapter, national wrestling hall of fame; Roger Kendrick, 2x champ, 1983-84 ; Charlie Ritchie, 2x state champ; 1998-99)

Father Ryan ( David Thoni, ï¿½83 state champ and OW ï¿½ 3x finalist and 4x medalist)

Franklin (Rycine Ellison, 1989 state champ)

Glencliff (Mike Green, 2x state champ ; 1970-71)

Hixson (Mike Blosser, ï¿½82 state champ and OW ï¿½ 26-0-1 in ï¿½82 and pinned nine of 10 opponents in district, region and state; Tom Popp, ï¿½76 state champ and OW)

Hunters Lane (Mike Newman, 1988 state champ)

Knox Catholic ( Junior Hernandez, ï¿½95 state champ)

Lookout Valley (Dusty Griffith, '90 state champ ...)

McCallie (Spencer Manley, 2x champ; 2003, 04 … 4x medalist (3-1-1-2) … wrestled for U.S. Naval Prep Academy and U.S. Naval Academy; John McCall, school's first state champ in '61 ... Mid South champ ... national prep runner-up in '61; Jon Bennett, '72 state champ and OW, Jason Finnell, 3x champ; 1999-00-01)

Morristown West (Allen Koors, 2x state champ; 1979-80)

North Stratford (Tony Kennedy, ï¿½77 state champ and OW)

Overton (Eric Jordan, 2x state champ; 1996-97 ï¿½ Derrick Jordan, ï¿½97 state champ ï¿½ ï¿½96 runner-up)

Red Bank (George Farr, ï¿½61 state and city prep champ ï¿½ 2x Sourthern champ at Univ. of Chattanooga; Jim Beatty, 2x state champ; 1963, ï¿½65; Kevin Jones, ï¿½96 state champ )

Tenn. School for the Blind (Mitchell Cole, ï¿½61 state champ & OW; Mickey Bailey ï¿½ 2x champ; 63-64 ï¿½ ï¿½64 OW; Jody Chamberlain, 2x state champ; 1963-65 ï¿½ youngest state champ as a 6th grader in ï¿½63; Chester Lewis, ï¿½62 state champ)
-------------------------------
Mid South Conference ï¿½ The prep school conference held wrestling tournaments from 1949-1970, usually the third weekend in February ï¿½ A strong conference in wrestling and other sports, Baylor won 14 of the 22 wrestling titles, followed by McCallie (7) and Castle Heights (1).

The Mid South schools were allowed to compete in the state tournament in 1961 and 1962 and again after the conference closed its doors in the spring of 1970.

The main schools competing in a variety of sports were Baylor, Castle Heights Military Academy, Columbia Military Academy, Darlington,
McCallie, Sewanee Military Academy, St. Andrewï¿½s, Tennessee Military Academy.

Notre Dame also competed in wrestling the first couple of years.

Baylor produced 11 national prep champions; Charley Moore (1962), Moe Trail (1962), Chip Healy (1964, ï¿½65), Lane Headrick (1965), Alex Roberts (1967), John Hannah (1967), Rob Healy (1968, ï¿½69), Randy Weinberg (1969) and Albert Wilson (1970).

McCallie's seven national champions were Pat Smartt (1959), Lou Hudson (1966), Jim Glasser (1966, 1967), Luther Killian (1968), Steve Gross (1969), Brian Card (1971).

Several of the national champions had success in college wrestling, plus college football and the NFL (Chip Healy, John Hannah).

McCallieï¿½s Hudson won a Big 10 title in 1969 and was second at the Midlands ... The most decorated prep wrestler in Tennessee history is Bill Harlow of St. Andrewï¿½s (1958-1962) who won an 1966 NCAA D-I title and a World silver medal ... Baylor's Alex Roberts won the SEC as a freshman ... Albert Wilson was a Morehead Scholar at UNC.

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