Wrestling 49: Tennessee

As the wrestling season's start is fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From early August until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and from Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to the potential stars of future NCAA Championships. The rankings within this article do not necessarily reflect those done by InterMat. Did you a miss a Wrestling 49 feature? Visit Wrestling 49 archives.

This list represents the Top 10 seniors in the state of Tennessee along with six honorable mention selections. The wrestlers comprising this Top 10 list have amassed 16 state titles in 26 state final appearances. One wrestler in this list will attempt to become the first-ever five-time Tennessee state champion, one will seek his fourth title, and yet another will seek to make his fifth finals appearance. The wrestlers mentioned in this article range from tiny schools just outside of Knoxville to state powerhouse programs in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis. Seven different schools are represented in the Top 10 list, climbing to nine when you add the honorable mentions. Wrestlers from DI and DII are split evenly amongst the Top 10. Only one school claims more than one wrestler in the top ten (Baylor with four). Each wrestler in the Top 10 owns at least one state title and all are multi-time finalists.

Tennessee wrestling has been improving over the past few years and these wrestlers, and many others around the state, are working to ensure that trend can continue. No matter how you measure success on a state level, (NCAA All-Americans and champions, nationally-ranked high school wrestlers, various All-American performances, teams competing at national level events, participation growth, etc.) Tennessee is improving. While this list doesn't contain any USAW Fargo All-Americans, like last year's senior class with three or some of the classes below them, there are several wrestlers who have tested themselves and found success as part of the Tennessee National Team at the USAW National Duals and in Fargo. This list does contain NHSCA grade-level national champions, Super 32 placewinners, and various other accolades. Many of these wrestlers can be found amongst the various national rankings as recognition for the work they have put in, but it doesn't determine the outcome of a single match they will wrestle. Some of them will move on to college wrestling, be it DI or DII, NAIA, NWCA, etc. and others will end their careers on the mats in Franklin, TN on February 19. One of them will continue their athletic career on the DI football field.

Beyond the numbers and statistics, every wrestler on this list has achieved things that many wrestlers strive for through every grueling practice and every punishing tournament. They have won titles, lost important matches, and pushed their bodies to bend and break the will of an opponent who has the exact same goal in mind. They are wrestlers ... and regardless of what other sports they may compete in, it is the wrestling mentality that they will carry with them and be better because of it.

1. Michael Kennedy
School: Blackman
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215
Projected College Weight Class: 197

Michael Kennedy

Analysis: Leading this year's class of seniors in Tennessee is InterMat's No. 100 overall recruit, Michael Kennedy. Kennedy is a two-time state finalist, bringing home the 215-pound title as a junior and losing a narrow match as sophomore in the 189-pound finals. Kennedy also brought home a sixth-place finish at 189 as a freshman. Kennedy ran his record to 133-9 with his 42-0 junior campaign. While it is always tough for an underclassman that starts off at the upperweights, Kennedy had an extra challenge as his state finals lose as a sophomore was to nationally-ranked Cameron Croy, now wrestling for Harvard. While Kennedy has had an impressive run in the state, it is his performance nationally that has put him at the top of this list. Kennedy has had a good run at the NHSCA grade-level nationals where he finished 1st as a sophomore and fifth as a freshman. Kennedy didn't compete at the NHSCAs following his junior campaign. Kennedy also added a fifth place at the 2009 Super 32.

Kennedy has had the interest of several colleges and is expected to make a decision soon. Kennedy wrestles a very fluid style for an upper-weight, showing a variety of attacks from an ankle pick to upper-body throws. This combination is what makes Michael Kennedy is the most sought after senior in Tennessee.

2. T.J. Duncan
School: McCallie
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157

T.J. Duncan

Analysis: T.J. Duncan may go down as the most decorated wrestler in the history of the state. Duncan has already claimed four state titles, making him the state's seventh four-time champion, and will seek to become the first five-time champion this season. Duncan picked up his first state title as an eighth-grader wrestling at 119 pounds. Duncan then added subsequent titles at 135, 140, and 152 pounds. Duncan is quite possibly the most dominant wrestler in the state in neutral, where few have shown the ability to come even close to holding him off. Duncan uses excellent hand-fighting skills to compliment his natural strength and explosiveness, allowing him to be effective when his opponent leaves him space or closes the gap. Duncan is a quick finisher who wastes little time coming to his feet on all of his shots. These abilities make Duncan a tough draw for any wrestler, as he showed in a 7-4 loss to last year's National Prep champion Jason Luster in the finals of the Southeast Prep School Slam. Duncan also finished with a 4-2 record at the NHSCA Junior Nationals.

Like the wrestler who sits at No. 1 on this list, Duncan hasn't tested himself on the regional or national freestyle and Greco-Roman circuit. It is Duncan's lack of major national placings that relegate Duncan to No. 2 on this list, even though he may go down as the most decorated in-state wrestler ever. Duncan has made three trips to the Super 32 where he sports an 8-6 record, with his best showing be a 4-2 performance at 152 in 2009.

3. Alex Manley
School: Baylor
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 130
Projected College Weight Class: 133

Alex Manley

Analysis: Alex Manley is a four-time state finalist who captured his first state title as a junior at 125 pounds. Manley has amassed a 180-13 record while finishing as runner-up at 103, 112, and 119 pounds. As a junior, in addition to his state title, Manley won the Southeast Prep School Slam and was elected to the All-Tournament Team at The Clash for his 5-0 performance. Manley is known as a very physical wrestler who excels when he can capture an opponent's head. However, unlike many wrestlers who focus on short-arm offense, Manley is adept at creating his own singles and countering with re-shots from this position. This style of wrestling was also a trademark of Alex's older brother, Spencer, who won two Tennessee state titles for McCallie before continuing his wrestling career at the Naval Academy. On the national scene, Manley was 3-2 at 130 in the NHSCA Junior Nationals, where his two loses came to the champion and fifth-place finishers. Manley also finished 2-2 at the 2008 Super 32. Manley has also been a member of the Tennessee National Team, competing at the 2009 Junior National Duals where Manley finished with a 3-3 record in freestyle.

4. Stuart Doster
School: Baylor
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Stuart Doster

Analysis: Stuart Doster is a three-time state champion who will look to join a select group of four-time Tennessee state champions this year. Doster his picked up state titles at 119, 125, and 140 pounds each of the past three seasons. During that time Doster has compiled 136 wins against just 16 losses. Doster comes from a family that has grown accustomed to winning state titles at Baylor. They have claimed seven individual state titles dating back to 1971. Similar to the achievements claimed by our No. 3 wrestler Alex Manley, last season Doster won the Southeast Prep School Slam and was 5-0 at The Clash. Doster wrestles a fluid style and is proficient not just on his feet but also on the mat. In addition to being one of the most dominant wrestlers in the state, Doster has stepped outside his comfort zone and wrestled for the Tennessee National Team in the 2008 Cadet Duals and 2009 Junior Duals. Doster will be one of two wrestlers seeking to claim their fourth state titles this season, making him either the eighth or ninth wrestler to accomplish that feat.

5. Jeremy Miller
School: Greenback
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149

Jeremy Miller

Analysis: Coming in at No. 5 on our list of seniors is one of the more interesting stories in the way of Jeremy Miller. Miller holds one state title to go along with three state finals appearances and four medals overall. Miller picked up his first title as an eighth-grader competing at 103 pounds. Never one to cut much weight, Miller moved up to 119 pounds for his freshman campaign where he claimed a third-place finish. The following two seasons Miller has found himself on the losing side of very close decisions in the state finals, at 135 as a sophomore and 145 as a junior. During his sophomore year, Miller spent much of the season competing individually at 130 pounds and bumping up in the lineup to help his team, a very small program, in dual meets. A miscalculation regarding the descent plan in the weight management system forced Miller to compete at 135 pounds during the state tournament as opposed to 130 pounds. Last year Miller dropped a 2-0 decision in the state finals to Brennen Cox, who is No. 7 on this list, after taking a win from Cox earlier in the season.

Of all of the great wrestlers on this list, Miller may be the most well-rounded. Like virtually all of the wrestlers mentioned here, Miller can get the job done on his feet, but it is his mat wrestling where Miller often outclasses the competition. Miller is an excellent rider who has been known to turn even the best wrestlers the state has to offer. This blend of ability in all positions should serve Miller well when he moves on to wrestling at the collegiate level. Perhaps even more remarkable is that Jeremy Miller has accomplished all of this coming from Greenback High School, which has a coed enrollment of about 200 students. Miller has compiled a record of 180-12 during his four years of varsity competition.

6. Marvin Lopez
School: Cleveland
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 133/141 (UT-Chattanooga)

Marvin Lopez

Analysis: Marvin Lopez is one of the state's hardest working and most active wrestlers both in his approach to individual matches and activity to get better. Lopez's hard work culminated in his first state championship at 130 pounds as a junior. Prior to his state title, Lopez finished fourth as a freshman and second as a sophomore, both at 119 pounds. Lopez wrestles a very active pace, keeping very heavy hand on his opponent and has been known to look for opportunities to throw. This is a style Lopez has developed while being the most active senior on this list in the summers. Lopez has twice been a member of the Tennessee National Team competing at the Junior & Cadet National Duals where he sports a combined record of 6-4.

However, Lopez has shown what makes him arguably the state's best Greco-Roman wrestler at Fargo where he shows a 9-4 record in Greco, coming up just short of All-American status following his freshman and sophomore season. Lopez was honored as the Tennessee Greco-Roman Athlete of the Year by the Tennessee Wrestling Federation in 2009 for his efforts. Lopez sports an overall record of 11-8 in Fargo. Unfortunately, Lopez was unable to compete this past summer due to an injury. Lopez has already eliminated one distraction from his senior season, where he will try to add to his 90-19 record, by giving his verbal commitment to the hometown UT-Chattanooga Mocs Wrestling team.

7. Brennen Cox
School: Independence
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141/149

Brennen Cox

Analysis: Brennen Cox became the first wrestler from Independence High School to win a wrestling state championship when he defeated Jeremy Miller, 2-0, for the 145-pound crown last year. Cox, a rarity in that all three of his first season came at the same weight, was the state runner-up at 145 as a sophomore and was a state qualifier as a freshman. Cox is a stingy wrestler who controls ties and positions well. When up against top competition it isn't unusual to see Cox attempt to control the pace and look to come out on top in low-scoring match by controlling the flow of the match. Last year Cox split matches with our No. 5- rated senior, Jeremy Miller. To go along with his 125-19 record on the mat, Cox carries a 4.0+ GPA, is a two-time NHSCA Academic All-American, is an active volunteer in several organizations, and is a certified lifeguard. Cox is yet to make a college choice but wherever he lands will surely be better for having him.

8. Ethan Hames
School: Bradley Central
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125
Projected College Weight Class: 125/133

Analysis: Ethan Hames has claimed two state championships and a fourth-place finish while wrestling for state powerhouse Bradley Central High School. Hames picked up his first state title as a freshman at 103 pounds before moving up to 112 pounds as a sophomore and finishing fourth in an extremely deep field. Hames continued his climb up the weight ladder as a junior and also climbed back to the top step of the podium at 119 pounds.

9. David Helton
School: Baylor
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215/285
Projected College Weight Class: Football (Duke)

David Helton

Analysis: David Helton is a two-time state finalist who picked up his first state title wrestling at 215 pounds last year. Helton previously claimed second and third place finishes at 189 pounds. Like his teammates listed earlier Helton earned a title at the Southeast Prep School Slam as part of his junior season. Helton is a lanky wrestler who uses his leverage to help control opponents and often scores from the top position. Helton doesn't have a lot of out-of-state accomplishments, primarily due to the fact that he also excels on the football field. Helton did not compete for much of last season with his first real appearance coming at the aforementioned Southeast Prep School Slam. Helton has already made his commitment to play football for Duke University once his prep career comes to a conclusion. The combination of Helton's football commitment and sparse activity last year has caused some in the wrestling community to wonder whether he will choose to add to his 86-23 record this season. Regardless, at this point in the season, Helton has earned his spot as one of the top senior wrestlers in the state.

10. John Mackey
School: Baylor
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 215/285
Projected College Weight Class: 285

John Mackey

Analysis: John Mackey has wrestled varsity for Baylor for two seasons and has made the state finals both years, while compiling an 83-26 record. In his first season Mackey finished as the state runner-up at 215 pounds as a sophomore and claimed the state heavyweight title as a junior. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Mackey spent the majority of last season wrestling at 215 pounds, where he held his own nationally, going 3-2 at The Clash. Mackey moved up to heavyweight at the end of the season when Helton made his return to the Baylor lineup. Clearly, the move worked out for both wrestlers as both won the Southeast Prep School Slam along with their state titles. Mackey is a strong wrestler who is good at moving his opponents out of position before coming in with an explosive shot for an upper-weight wrestler. However, Mackey is not limited solely to offense on his feet as the three pins he racked up during the state tournament show. Mackey has also been a member of the Tennessee National Team competing in the 2008 Cadet National Duals in freestyle. Mackey is expected to hold down the heavyweight position for Baylor again this year.

Honorable Mention:
Mick Anthony (Christian Brothers)
Tucker Bolton (Bradley Central)
Bradley Colbaugh (Bradley Central)
Chase Martino (McCallie)
Nate Rupiper (Christian Brothers)
Mark Simpson (MBA)

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