The format for tonight’s Region 4 duals wrestling tournament has been changed.
There will be two meets instead of three with the four participants agreeing to concern themselves more with providing two teams for next weekend’s state duals than a true region champion.
“It’s really all about getting there,” said host coach Wendell Weathers of Ooltewah. “We used to get at least three teams from our area and now it’s two so we want those two to get there in the best possible shape.”
Weathers’ Owls will wrestle Cleveland on one mat with Bradley Central will wrestle Walker Valley on another. Both meets will begin at 6 and admission is $5 per person.
“The state never seeded in the past, and all I know is that whoever wins between Ooltewah and us and Walker Valley and Bradley will be going to the state. Individual meets mattered to get to this point.”
The state, of course, changed its dual format this year, dropping former TSSAA director Ronnie Carter’s belief that the state “separated rather than seeded” the tournament. This year teams will be seeded but only if they are region champions and a trophy winner from last year. It is a scenario similar to what the state uses for individuals in the traditional state tournament.
“If they don’t wrestle it out, somebody has got to be declared the winner and get the region championship plaque,” said Mark Reeves, the TSSAA’s assistant director in charge of wrestling.
“That would be their determination. What they’re doing with the tournament is declaring first and second to come out of that region. In that sense they have no choice. If they want to revert to the regular season then they could do that.”
With that scenario, Bradley would be No. 1 if it beats Walker Valley because the Bears beat each of the other teams involved in tonight’s tournament during the regular season.
“My feeling is let’s get (to Franklin, site of the state duals) and then let the chips fall where they may,” Phillips said.
What the TSSAA is discouraging is teams that qualify for region semifinals and then try to back out of competing.
“What you get into and what we’re trying to lead people away from is that they’re bound to wrestle in that semifinal. Once they have qualified they must compete for the No. 1 or No. 2 spot.”
Reeves said he hopes to post pairings for the state duals on Monday but he pointed out that weather problems could delay that posting because several tournaments are scheduled for Friday and Saturday.
Hixson and Central have qualified for the A/AA duals and Baylor and McCallie will be in the Division II duals. All of those tournaments will be held at the Williamson County Agricultural Expo.