The calendar is playing tricks with the Soddy-Daisy Showdown.
“It happens to us every seven years with the tournament right at the new year,” Trojans wrestling coach Jim Higgins said. “We bumped it ahead (a week) for this year and next year.”
The scheduling quirk – the tournament normally falls on the first Saturday after New Year’s Day, but that would have been Jan. 2 this year – left Soddy-Daisy with only nine teams in the field.
Yet Higgins, with TSSAA approval, came up with an idea that should be beneficial to each of the participating squads. They’ll be allowed to enter two wrestlers for each weight class, although only one will accumulate points toward team scoring.
“It’s an awesome format,” said Cleveland coach Jake Yost, whose Blue Raiders will be there Saturday. “I’m excited. It’ll be different, but it gives more kids the opportunity to compete.”