Cleveland Wrestling Coach Joey Knox coaching Kade Bosken at the Beginner State Championship at Cleveland High School
Cleveland hosted the AAU Top 100 and TN Beginner State Championship at the Cleveland High School arena and saw an incredible turnout, with over 1,600 kids competing over the course of two days.
On Saturday, over 900 wrestlers competed in the top 100, according to Higher Calling Head Coach Josh Bosken.
“Wrestlers from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina came to compete in one of the toughest youth tournaments in the south,” Coach Bosken said. “Our Higher Calling Youth Wrestling Club claimed the team title by over 250 points and had nine individual champions.”
On Sunday, over 500 wrestlers came in to compete for the Tennessee Beginners state championship, a tournament that is offered to any child with two years or less experience. Higher Calling also won the Beginner State championship team title by over 150 points - with seven individual beginner state champions.
Higher Calling Youth Wrestling gives young wrestlers of all skill levels, grades K through 8, a chance to learn the essentials of practice and competition. The goal of the program is to train and maintain the highest-quality athletes to help continue the finest wrestling program in Tennessee, said officials.
“This was the best-run tournament I’ve ever witnessed,” said businessman Allan Jones, the largest funder of Higher Calling and Cleveland wrestling. “It was as professional as anything I’ve seen at any of the NCAA wrestling tournaments. I commend Coach Bosken and all of the coaches and volunteers who worked so hard to put this together!”
Coach Bosken echoed Mr. Jones’ sentiment regarding those who worked to put the tournament together.
“I am so thankful for all the people we had there for up to 14 hours each day,” said Coach Bosken. “Coach Al Morris is everything a school needs in an athletic director, as he was there early with me and stayed until the very end.”
Coach Bosken also praised Blue Raiders Head Coach Joey Knox, who he said “showed up and stayed all day both days and did anything that was needed to help the tournament run smooth. His love for Cleveland Wrestling and for these kids is unmatched.”