The Cleveland Duals might need a name change, something that would include the team tournament's significance regarding the state wrestling pecking order.
Seven of Tennessee's top teams will be among those congregating today at Cleveland High School. The tournament begins at 8:30 a.m. and continues through 4 p.m. championship and consolation matches.
"We don't have an Archer or the old-school Collins Hill type team," first-year Cleveland head coach and longtime Blue Raiders assisant Josh Bosken said, referring to past Georgia participants, "but this tournament should be a great measuring stick for the state.
"I think we have, outside of Beech, most of the top teams in the state. We should find out in one day who's the best."
The list includes Bradley Central and Father Ryan, the defending Tennessee champions in Division I-AAA and Division II-AA, respectively, along with perennial state powers Baylor, McCallie, Science Hill, Soddy-Daisy and the host Blue Raiders.
In the latest state poll Bradley was ranked No. 1, Father Ryan No. 2, Cleveland No. 3, Baylor No. 4, Soddy-Daisy No. 6, McCallie No. 8 and Science Hill No. 11.
The only top-12 teams missing are Christian Brothers, Beech, Wilson Central and Tennessee High.
Other teams in the event are Arlington and Walker Valley from Tennessee, Bristol from Virginia, Hewitt-Trussville from Alabama and Heritage, Sonoraville and Carrollton from Georgia.
The tournament will be held in Cleveland's new gym and at the Jones Wrestling Center, which is on campus. Admission is $6 per person.
Fifteen all-state
Softball players in the northwest Georgia area were lauded this week by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association with 15 first-team all-state awards. Leading the group were Class AAA player of the year Jana Johns of Calhoun and Class A public player of the year Gracey Kruse and pitcher of the year Canaan Burnett from Gordon Lee.
Johns, headed to South Carolina, led Calhoun to a 39-3 record and runner-up finish with a .520 average, 19 home runs, 15 doubles, 78 RBIs and 57 runs scored. Kruse, a junior outfielder who is committed to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, had a .521 average, seven homers, nine triples, 16 doubles and 61 RBIs for the 34-2 champion Lady Trojans. Burnett was 27-2 with a 0.90 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 171 innings.
Also from Gordon Lee on the first team were infielders Faith Alexander and Paxton Grimes and outfielder Mary Kate Pritchett. Joining them on the Class A public first team was Trion's Shayla Youngblood, while Gordon Lee's Katherine Grace McElhaney and Trion's Kiki Evans were second-team honorees.
In Class AAAAAA Dalton pitcher Ali Swinford was named to the first team, while in Class AAAA Ridgeland had a pair of first-team members in pitcher Morgan Crawford and infielder Haley Sandridge. Northwest Whitfield outfielder Alyssa Ward also was a first-teamer, while the second team included Heritage's Ali Roberts and Madi Morris.
In Class AAA, joining Johns from Calhoun on the first team were pitcher Tori Gaddis, infielder Ashlyn Barnes and outfielder Allie Jones, while Ringgold outfielder Karoline Sholl made the second team, as did Dade County infielder Sydney Poston in Class AA.
Carter steps down
Heritage is seeking a new softball coach after Jason Carter announced he would not return to the Generals' dugout next season.
Carter directed Heritage to 54 wins in two seasons, including a region championship and third-place state finish in 2015. He took a leave of absence this season after his daughter, Katie Beth Carter, was killed in an automobile accident in early September.
"We met a week after the season to touch base to see how he was doing overall," said Heritage athletic director Eric Schexnaildre, who noted that Carter intends to remain as a teacher. "He needed a bit more time to talk to his family and pray about it, and he informed us last Friday. I am relieved he's doing this for his family."
School administration has received several inquiries into the position, according to Schexnaildre, who said returning players have given their advice.
"They called a team meeting and talked to us, and they expressed their desire for the kind of coach they wanted," he said. "It says a lot about Coach Carter, because everything they described they wanted ended up being 'like Coach Carter.'"
Jones to Hiwassee
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 11/16/16. Courtney Jones from Hixson High School is being recognized as an outstanding Volleyball player during the 2016 Best of Preps. Photo taken in the CTFP studio on November, 16, 2016. Hixson senior Courtney Jones signed scholarship papers Thursday to continue her volleyball career at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tenn.
Jones was a key contributor as a junior on Hixson's Class AA state-tournament team. She came back from offseason shoulder surgery and helped the Lady Wildcats reach a state sectional last season.
Jones was selected on the All-District 6 and All-Region 3 teams as a senior. She ended up with 549 kills in her high school career to go with 72 blocks, 642 digs and 85 aces.
"Courtney was such a terrific leader for this year," Hixson coach Janet Tate said in a school release. "She wanted her senior year to be special for her and the other seniors. And I think they made that happen.
"Her desire to play was evident in everything that she did."
Jones is about to graduate and plans to enroll at Hiwassee in January. Tate indicated in the release that Jones is considering majoring in special education.