Wrestling referee Donnie Elsea, right, raises the hand of of Pope John Paul's Jacob Telli after Telli won his bout against Franklin Road Academy's Will Tansil in this Feb. 7, 2015, photo.FRANKLIN, Tenn. - In the summers when he's refereeing youth wrestling tournaments, youngsters trying to get his attention usually call out, "Hey, mister!"
Many of the athletes in the Tennessee high school state wrestling tournaments may not remember doing it, but they do remember the older guy with the shaved head who has called numerous high school dual meets and tournaments.
In fact, Don Elsea is in his 41st year as a wrestling referee and has worked 31 consecutive state tournaments. He also has been a huge promoter for amateur wrestling in youth circles, specifically in AAU events.
AAU officials have found him to be so valuable that they have decided to include him as one of the inductees into their national hall of fame. Among others to be inducted are Bobby Douglas, longtime Iowa State coach and a U.S. Olympic coach, and Chris Bono, the former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach.
"That's pretty good company, but I have to say that when I was informed of their decision it was a shock," said Elsea, co-owner of Financial Management Network in Chattanooga.
Elsea, who'll turn 63 next week, wrestled at Red Bank for legendary John Farr and then his successor, Tommy Runyon, who later was the football coach at Central. He learned then the value of wrestling as both a sport and a teaching tool and always remembered those lessons. And he wants to continue to share what he's learned over the years.
"I even do the little kids' tournaments. I enjoy giving back to the sport," he said. "It's to the point now where I'm refereeing matches for kids whose grand-dads I refereed matches for. I guess it keeps me young and involved in something I care about. Even the little guys I really enjoy them, them learning. And even the little ones that lose, I try to tell them they did a good job or say something to get a little smile out of them."
He knows retirement is out there but he doesn't know when.
"I want to do it as long as I do a good job - at least a couple more years - and even then I don't plan to just walk away from it," Elsea said.
As a coordinator of officials and tournaments for the AAU, Elsea has recruited young referees, some of whom are now part of the touted local officials association headed by Mike Parker, a former state championship coach and longtime referee.
"Donnie has been a great help in educating our younger referees, and he has been invaluable in recruiting them," said Parker, who heads the wrestling referees for the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association. "He has made a big difference in our region and statewide, and he has done a good job of helping the overall quality of referees statewide through the AAU.
"He is a very objective referee that focuses on what's going on inside the circle. He's gotten good at just making the calls."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.