Among the changes coming from the TSSAA’s annual summer Board of Control meetings was to approve Brentwood High School’s request to change the D-I traditional state wrestling tournament’s format to a double elimination tournament.
Under the old format, if a wrestler lost before the semifinals, he was dependent on the man who beat him getting there or he was out of the tournament. It was basically called “follow your man.” Under the new double-elimination format, one loss will not eliminate a wrestler from the tournament, thus granting him a chance to come back and at least get a medal (3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th).
“I think it’s a great thing,” Bradley Central coach Steve Logsdon said. “The change is for fairness. Wrestling is one-on-one. Finally we will truly have a representation of the best six kids in the state in each weight class.
“Every coach and every team across the state will have a kid that has gotten caught in this thing. I think it’s one of the issues where very few coaches have come out and argued against it. Now, even with a slip you still have a chance to come back and get a medal. It’s a great thing.”
The other significant news was that the Board discussed the bids for hosting the state basketball tournament and football state championships. The Board voted to table its vote on on a proposed extension of the current football contract with Cookeville until its August meeting.