Scott High School Wrestling was featured in "Spotlight on the Schools" article in the November 21, 2024, E-Edition of The Independent Herald on pages 24-25.
In 2023, Scott High added its first new sport since 1995. The new wrestling team saw incredible community support and went on to have a highly successful first season. With the amazing generosity of the local community, businesses, school board, and donations from the SHS classes of 1984 and 1985, the team was able to purchase wrestling mats, singlets, and all the other supplies needed to get started. The only missing piece of the puzzle was a practice facility of its own. The UT Extension office was generous enough to allow the team to use the Farmer’s Market building for practices, but the ultimate goal was always to have a practice facility on campus.
As the team prepares to start their second season, that dream has officially become a reality. Scott High’s new wrestling facility (which was 100% funded by donations and presents zero costs to tax payers) is a 2,160 square foot building. This means there is room for a full-sized practice mat inside, along with a locker room for athletes, storage space, and a coach’s office. One of the most important parts of the new facility, however, is a memorial honoring Scott High’s past.
The new facility was made possible by the generous donations of people and businesses in our community. Businesses like West Ready Mix and B & B Metals gave substantial donations that helped tremendously with construction, and other local businesses including Danny King Lumber, Lowe’s Truss Co, Gibson Excavating, and Twin K Enterprises provided materials, labor, and resources, as well. Anonymous local donors made contributions that helped finish the building.
The majority of funding for this project came through alumni from the 1994 Scott High football team. Unfortunately, this team has seen many of its members tragically pass away before their time, and remaining team members wanted to find a way to honor them. The new home of Scott Wrestling is a 2,160 square-foot facility Full-sized practice area New locker room facility for wrestlers The new wrestling facility houses a memorial for the seven members of the 1994 team who have passed away: Eric Griffith, Keith Hammock, Bobby Cross, Alexis Lowe, Jeremy Starrett, Mark Longmire, and Coach Tony Zachary. These men were husbands, fathers, uncles, brothers, sons, coworkers, and friends. This memorial preserves their successes as student athletes in hopes of inspiring future athletes to become responsible citizens who fill important roles in our families and community.
The 1994 SHS football team will have its thirtieth anniversary this year. This team is perhaps best remembered for breaking records. Among their notable accomplishments, the 1994 team was the first and only team from Scott High to be ranked in the state, achieving a number eight ranking for the AAA classification state-wide. The team also boasted the most points scored in a season up to that point in Scott High’s history, the first playoff win in SHS football history, and produced the first all-state players in school history. The 1994 team also broke numerous other school records.
Members of the team wanted to find a way to honor the members who had passed on, and contributing to a cause that would help a new generation of athletes at Scott High seemed like a great way to do that. 1994 team member Ryan Bailey summed it up by saying, “We found a way to honor our past while contributing to the future.” This project makes it very clear that the Highlander Spirit is alive and well in SHS alumni.
Looking forward, anticipation is building for Scott High’s second wrestling season. Last year saw tremendous success for the first-year program. The team saw a 65% win rate, amassing 190 individual wins, four wrestlers who placed in the region tournament, and two wrestlers who went on to compete at the substate level. All these accomplishments were in addition to every varsity wrestler boasting a winning record. Along with their supportive families, our wrestlers work hard and are incredibly deserving of this new facility. Practice for the upcoming season will begin on October 28th .
If you have questions about the wrestling program, feel free to email coach Jason Jeffers, [email protected].