BigRV

I absolutely agree with Baron. GWC is first class in my book. They really care about the kids.

http://bdtonline.com/localsports/x7461506/Young-wrestler-earns-All-America-designation BLUEFIELD — He’s Young, but he’s off to a big start in the wrestling world. Youth wrestler Derrick Young of Tazewell earned all-American honors — for the second year in a row — competing in the 95-pound weight class in the Brute Adidas National Wrestling Tournament on April 9 in Independence, Mo. “It’s awesome,†he said. “It was very tough. The guys out there were strong. They had a lot of skills.†The 12-year-old Tazewell Elementary School student got his opportunity through the Tazewell Wrestling Club, started in 2001 by Tazewell High School wrestling coach Chuck Burton. “I’m very proud of him for sure,†said Young’s father, Deacon Young, one of Burton’s fellow wrestling coaches. “He’s worked very hard, at his age. ... He earns everything he gets. A lot of kids don’t want to go through the hard work he went through. “He went out there and really wrestled well, for the second year.†Burton said, “I was very happy for Derrick. He’s worked his butt off. He’s been in the wrestling room since November, with the varsity, practically five days a week.†“He is probably one of the hardest-working kids we’ve ever had. And that says a lot to be a fifth-grader, to have that tag on you.†Burton said that after the varsity season ended in February, Young continued in club practices with other youngsters involved in the wrestling club. Young entered a number of regional tournaments, and qualified for the nationals by finishing in the top four in the Virginia Challenge youth wrestling tournament held in January in Hampton, Va. On the first day of the nationals in Independence, Young went 2-2. Burton said the loss in his fourth match of the day “automatically dropped him into the seventh-eighth place match,†which took place on Sunday. “It was kind of the luck of the draw,†Burton said. “The kids who beat them were really good kids. “When you get out to that level, nobody really knows anything about those kids. ... It’s a lot harder (to determine matchups).†Young finished eighth. The top eight wrestlers in each class take the all-American designation, Burton said. “It’s really just like the NCAA college tournament,†he said. Deacon Young said he was “just amazed†when his son got his first all-American honor last year. “There were a lot of kids from the other side of the country.†“We wanted him to know he’s able to compete. He’s really talented. At that age, confidence is a really major issue. And he not only competed, but became an all-American.†Deacon Young said the origins of his son’s interest in wrestling go way back. “I wrestled in high school and I’ve been a varsity coach in 2003,†Deacon Young said. “He’s always been with me. When he was in diapers he learned his first wrestling move.†Derrick Young, when asked about his first match on the mat, said, “I think I was 2.†Deacon Young said, “There are times that he’s in practice and he’s helping us coach — even at 12 years old.†He credited the Tazewell Wrestling Club with financial support to enable him and his son to make the trip to Missouri. “If it wasn’t for them, we probably wouldn’t have been able to go out there,†he said. He said the club is “open all year round. ... “As long as they want to come to practice, we’re always there for them. We want to keep them off the street.†He said that through wrestling, children can “learn self-confidence, self-control, responsibility. It’s something different for the kids who live around here. “They have football and basketball and baseball, but this is an individual sport.†Derrick Young said simply, “I enjoy it. It’s my favorite sport to do.†— Contact Tom Bone at tbone@bdtonline.com

Steve Wright is an exceptional hire for John Battle. He is a man of great moral character and is one of the best guys I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

That's an easy answer cj_vt, he's not a THS grad! In his posts he has been a student at Richlands, a Tazewell fan, a Tazewell grad, a very concerned Graham fan, and very avid opponent/nay sayer of tazewells defense and their defensive coordinator. In the end, he's someone who has had his feelings hurt and likes to be a negative individual on an internet message board. On another note, congrats to Tazewell on their first win of the season.

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Great Story...Even better young man!

TROUT RODEO SPONSORED BY THE TAZEWELL WRESTLING CLUB SATURDAY MAY, 30th & SUNDAY MAY, 31st ADVANCED TICKETS: $35/day or $40/both days DAY OF PRICE: $40/day or $50/both days KIDS 10 & UNDER FREE with a PAID ADULT WHERE: Route 61 in Clearfork – 15 miles from Tazewell and Rocky Gap Just Above Clearfork Fire Department TIME: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM BOTH DAYS LIMIT: 6 FISH PER PERSON – PER DAY SEVERAL BIG FISH (OVER 6 POUNDS) WILL BE STOCKED FOOD AND DRINKS AVAILABLE BOTH DAYS ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE TAZEWELL WRESTLING CLUB TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS IN TAZEWELL: THE CAVE, TAZEWELL HIGH SCHOOL OR TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED VIA MAIL-IN FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW OR WHERE TO PURCHASE ADVANCED TICKETS CONTACT: JESSIE HICKS (970-4776) (Hickswj@wmconnect.com)

Varina 24 vs. Osbourn 21 Oscar Smith 21 vs. Oakton 42 Liberty (Beal) 31 vs. Dinwiddie 35 Stone Bridge 35 vs. Phoebus 21 Chancellor 42 vs. Broad Run 47 Amherst 21 vs. Pulaski 31 Monticello 28 vs. James Monroe 31 Richlands 14 vs. Brookville 38 Essex 50 vs. Gretna 51 Lebanon 20 vs. Floyd Co. 28 William Campbell 35 vs. Franklin 7 Holston 13 vs. Clintwood 29 Game of the Week Stone Bridge 44 vs. Phoebus 41 Tie-Break Games William Campbell vs. Franklin (42 points) Amherst vs. Pulaski (52 points) **If Necessary (If the first two end up being tied)** Virginia Tech 17 vs UVA 13

Chancellor 35 vs Powhatan 27 Broad Run 47 vs Potomac Falls 26 Amherst Co. 35 vs Jefferson Forest 22 James Monroe 48 vs Nottoway 20 Handley 24 vs Monticello 30 Brookville 38 vs R.E. Lee-Staunton 34 Tazewell 14 vs Richlands 6 Essex 42 vs Washington & Lee 21 Gretna 42 vs Clarke Co. 20 Floyd Co. 21 vs Chilhowie 20 Gate City 28 vs Lebanon 12 Colonial Beach 42 vs Franklin 26 William Campbell 42 vs Buffalo Gap 40 Holston 13 vs Bath Co. 17 Clintwood 28 vs J.I. Burton 27 Game of the Week Pulaski Co. 28 vs Salem 24 Tie-Breakers Clintwood vs J.I. Burton (55 points) Tazewell vs Richlands (20 Points)

Pulaski Co. 35 Blacksburg 7 Tazewell 28 Graham 6 Patrick Co. 20 Richlands 21 Floyd Co. 35 George Wythe 14 Chilhowie 20 Giles 21 Gate City 28 Powell Valley 7 Lebanon 20 J.J. Kelly 21 Holston 20 Eastern Montgomery 21 Bland 21 Bath Co. 14 Clintwood 49 Thomas Walker 7 J.I. Burton 41 Haysi 28 Game of the Week Salem 21 Bassett 20 Tie breaker Games Amherst 35 Harrisonburg 20 = 55 points Jefferson Forrest 20 Turner Ashby 21 = 41

Patrick County Blacksburg Tazewell Radford Bluefield Game of the Week - Pulaski Tie-Breaker #1 - Hidden Valley 21-14 Tie-Breaker #2 - Ft. Chiswell 21-14 Tie-Breaker #3 - Craig County 21-14

Floyd Bassett Bland Chilhowie JI Burton Bath County Northwood

Guess I should have read that it was basketball they were talking bout before voting!

Is the Patrick County-Tunstall game still on Friday the 31st? Or did they move it?

Bassett Pulaski Abingdon Holston Floyd JI Burton

Salem Abingdon Chilhowie Clintwood Bland Gate City

Did they get their light problem fixed? Are they playing home games on Friday nights now or Saturdays? Sorry if someone has already posted the answer in a previous post.

Blacksburg George Wythe Pulaski County Bluefield Gate City Radford Salem

George Wythe Chilhowie Bassett Giles Richlands Wyoming East Radford

Did he re-enroll at bluefield during this time? If so, don't know how the vhsl rules work on that one of swapping schools mid-season.

Marion William Byrd Gretna Honaker Bluefield Salem Blacksburg Clintwood Lebanon Gate City Big Creek Tazewell

Bassett Patrick Henry-Roanoke Pulaski County Tazewell Graham Powell Valley Giles

Bassett Pulaski Richlands Graham Tazewell Bland Floyd County Gate City

Patrick County Pulaski County Brookville Blacksburg Richlands Christiansburg JI Burton Radford

Gretna Carroll County Abingdon Blacksburg Richlands Tazewell Chilhowie Powell Valley Bluefield