1,500 wrestlers compete in Middle TN Grand Champions; one school will win $10,000 tapeless mat

Brentwood Home Page news reports
Brentwood High, Ravenwood and Brentwood Academy, all among the top wrestling teams in Middle Tennessee, will get a big test with the Middle Tennessee Grand Champions tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.

Ravenwood, ranked in the statewide coaches' wrestling poll, won the Harpeth Tournament in December and also took second place at the Clarksville Slamfest.

"I would like to think our team is top five, but Father Ryan is the clear favorite to win," Raptors Coach Josh Peck said.

RHS has several returning wrestlers and some newcomers who are competing well on the mats this season so far, including: Kyle Kuehnhold (120),  Jacob Freeman (138), Jack Finnegan (145), Tanner Reynolds (152), Camden Grecco (182), Jonathan Maby (195) and Bowen Reau (285).

Brentwood Academy is 2-0 after defeating Dickson County and Overton, and is competing it in second tournament after placing second at Harpeth.

"There are supposed to be 40 teams in the tournament, all from Middle Tennessee. There should be some stiff competition," BA Coach Rodney Cash said.

 Defending state champion Amos Mason and state finalist Danny Maloney are both unbeaten. Towler McClellan, Bryce Bell, and Seth Sirgo each have only one loss.   

The Eagles will be busy the next three weeks, hosting their own BA Duals tournament next Wednesday, Dec. 21, followed by the Independence Duals on Dec. 29 and the Independence Tournament on Dec. 30.

BA then has a quad meet on Jan. 3, a dual tournament at Father Ryan Jan. 6 and the Smyrna Tournament Jan. 7.

About 48 high schools from across Middle Tennessee will be competing (varsity, JV and freshman), along with a K-8 tournament. More than 1,500 wrestlers will be competing over the weekend, on 14 mats.

Wrestling will start at 5 p.m. Friday, with gates opening at 3 p.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Finals will be Saturday Dec 16 at 7 pm. Tickets to the event are $18 for a weekend pass, or $10 per day, plus parking.

Dollamur, a leading manufacturer of wrestling mats, has donated a large tapeless wrestling mat valued at $10,000. One of the participating high school teams will win the mat, customized with the winning school’s colors and logo, from a random drawing. The winner of the mat will be announced Saturday evening, and this mat will be used for all final championship matches.

Dollamur is also bringing mats used in the tournament. 

The event is sponsored by MTGC and Williamson County schools.

Other Williamson County high schools scheduled to compete in the tournament are Franklin, Centennial, Independence, Page, and Summit. Battle Ground Academy joins BA as private schools in Williamson County taking part.

In addition to the ongoing competition, the highlight of the tournament will include wrestling clinics, Friday night and all day Saturday, led by Army Capt. Phillip Simpson, Army Capt. Patrick Simpson, and collegiate coaches from UT-Chattanooga (NCAA Division I), Middle Tennessee State University (MWCA, Division 1), and Cumberland University (NAIA).

About 40 total college wrestlers from those programs will also be assisting with clinics. The K-12 wrestlers competing in the tournament can attend clinics through the weekend. 

The Simpsons are multiple-year TSSAA wrestling champions, and wrestled at the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Capt. Phillip Simpson is training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs  and is a leading contender for the 2012 Summer Olympic USA Wrestling Team.