The youngest and smallest wrestler to make the trip to Chattanooga’s storied Roundhouse Arena last weekend to compete in the State (individual) Wrestling Tournament ended up making the most impressive run through the talented field.
Even though freshman sensation Luke Hall was the only SHS wrestler to place among the seven total Eagles that qualified for the state event, Seymour head coach Jim McGinley said no one can ever take away the experience of getting to top of the mountain.
The Seymour coach said the experience of getting to the state tournament and just taking in the electric atmosphere and getting a feel of the competition at the top is priceless.
"It's was a real good experience for our guys to go down there and see what it's all about and to find out what it takes to win a state championship," McGinley observed. "I'm pretty pleased with how our guys performed overall."
Hall made the best of his first ever trip to the state tournament, finishing a team-best sixth overall in his respective weight class. Considering Hall still has three more years to try for the school’s first wrestling state championship in over a decade, his chances of bringing home some hardware from a future state tournament looks bright.
Hall will have a convenient source of encouragement and knowledge of what it takes to win high school wrestling's top prize, as current SHS assistant coach and former Eagles' wrestler, Rusty McCroskey, brought a state championship back home to Seymour in the 1980s.
McGinley said Hall's athletic potential is unlimited.
“Luke did very well and actually wrestled well against the defending state champion,” said McGinley. “He’s got a chance to keep improving and really do something special."
Other than Hall’s impressive showing, McGinley said Michael Raimondi, a 125-pound sophomore, also turned in a memorable performance at the state tournament.
“Raimondi was wrestling very good at 125,” said McGinely. “He was actually winning his (final) match 11-5 but got caught on his back and got pinned. He was in good shape and was in control until that.”
The SHS coach said Raimondi’s competitor in the before-mentioned match was a highly-regarded wrestler from Notre Dame High School who has finished in the top three in his respective class the past two years.
Five of the seven SHS wrestlers who qualified for last weekend’s state tournament will be back with the Eagles next season. The only two seniors on the team were Garrison Taylor (171-pounds) and Gary Wilson (160-pounds).
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User Comments
You might want to make sure that Rusty was the last state champ from Seymour because I believe there have been teo other ones. I believe Nick Breeden and Craig Johnson won state but please check to make sure.
You are right. Nick Breeden and Craig Johnson both won state championships. Nick won his title in 1996 and Craig won his in 1998. I believe)
Both Nick and Craig also finished in 2nd place in the TSSAA state tournament in 1997.
Hall did not wrestle Pipkin. Luke did however wrestle very well against the Cleveland
112 lb Jadoobirsingh in the Semi-Finals.
Don't read anywhere in the article that states Rusty was the only State Champion. The writer plainly states that "Luke will be trying for the first championship in over a decade" (decade ten years). McCroskey having won in the 80's would certainly be more than a decade ago. Luke did wrestle the defending state champion as stated. Jadoobirsingh won the 112 State Championshiop in 07.
way to go lukie!! sooo proud of you!!
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