FRANKLIN, Tenn. - There are no plans for the TSSAA to move the state wrestling events from the Williamson County Agricultural Expo, nor are there designs to split the tournament to different sites.
And for the record, the TSSAA, which had used the cow and pony arena for free from 2010 to 2015, began paying rent with the 2016 tournaments - to the tune of $2,000 per day.
"We started paying $10,000 for the use of the facility last year," TSSAA assistant executive director Mark Reeves said this weekend.
While free use of the "Cow Palace" might have offset the lack of shower facilities and been enough reason to overlook possible health issues, Reeves surprisingly mentioned that the per-day cost was similar to what the state paid to use Chattanooga's McKenzie Arena.
"We're always looking for possible (alternative) venues," he said. "But we're unlike other states in having access to big facilities, and I don't think there is a high school facility in the state big enough to hold such events."
There are rumors of a move afoot among Division II coaches to move their part of the tournament to another venue, but TSSAA manpower becomes an issue. Reeves said such a move would come with no guarantees of amenities such as track wrestling, the computer-based and internet-available scoring system or the live streaming of events.
Coaches' proposals
A number of proposals will be forwarded to the TSSAA, including yet another effort from midstate schools to redefine the AAA regions. Such a proposal would place Bradley, Cleveland, East Hamilton, McMinn County, Ooltewah, Rhea County, Soddy-Daisy and Walker Valley in with Heritage, Maryville and William Blount, three of the four strongest teams in the Knoxville area.
The proposal was submitted under the guise of balance, a "more even qualifying process for region and state competitors across the board."
It might be denied right off the bat because of increased travel expenses, which few midstate teams have to consider.
One proposal that coaches expect the state to agree with is the elimination of an 18-date rule for team matches, replacing it with a 55-match regular-season limit for individuals.
And again came a proposal to flip the state duals and historical traditional tournament, although no specific reasoning accompanied that suggestion.
On the subject of history and tradition, Saturday night was the first tournament that didn't start at the lowest weight and run through to heavyweight. They started at 145 pounds - an earlier proposal from coaches.
One proposal that seems to crop up every year suggests that all TSSAA sports adhere to a universal skin-infection form. The national federation states that all sports are supposed to follow the same guidelines as wrestling, something that has been neglected across the state for years.
There was a proposal from West Tennessee to allow teams to enter two individuals in the traditional region tournaments.
One of the most interesting proposals was to send officials from another region - for example, midstate officials to work the Chattanooga-area region with Chattanooga-based officials working elsewhere - "to eliminate any actual or perceived bias."
Coaches also want a bigger part in evaluating referees, including a formal system to address concerns during the year. That has been a concern for years.
Firsts for CCS
Justin Wheeler became Chattanooga Christian's first state finalist in a year when the Chargers had their largest number of medalists (two) and qualifiers (five).
The program is in its sixth season under Josh Craft, and it is growing steadily with a middle school team and a just-initiated kids club program.
"I'm pleased with where we are, and interest is rising," Craft said. "More success is bringing more interest."
CCS now has a 30x80-foot room that has been dedicated to wrestling.
Tate the first
Isaac Tate didn't win a state title, but the junior 113-pounder did become Signal Mountain's first three-time state medalist.
Signal did have a finalist in 106-pound eighth-grader Daniel Uhorchuk.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.