North Davidson (NC)

Head Coach: Seth Murdock

Staff: Dustin Thompson

North Davidson makes the move from 2A Midwest to 3A Midwest in 21-22. 3A looks to be very tough and it will be interesting to see how all of the 2A schools make the transition. North Davidson qualified 9 for the region tournament a year ago with 2 (Ian Murdock and Levi White) qualifying for the state tournament. This is a team that has a nice mix of grade levels - Murdock qualified as a Junior, White as a freshman. They graduated just 3 from the 20-21 squad and should be in good shape to make some noise in 21-22.

In addition to Murdock and Levi White, the Knights return Christian White, Seth Boone, Ethan Davis, and Brandon White who will all look to punch their ticket to the state tournament in 2022. Keep an eye on Gavin Smith, transfers Tevin Gray and Kelli Allen, as well as freshman Jake Winyard. Each will look to make some noise in 2022 as well.

“This is our 2nd year in rebuilding our program, we are currently in the weight room building some foundational strength which was a weakness of ours last year. We have also started a youth league “welcome wrestling club” for our area in hopes to advance wrestling in our county. ”

— Coach Murdock

Signal Mountain (TN)

Head Coach: Houston Clements (entering 1st season at Signal Mountain; was at Whitwell a year ago)

Staff: Dean Clements, Matthew Cate

The Houston Clements era begins at Signal Mountain. Clements takes over after spending the 20-21 season at Whitwell. Clements takes over a program that excelled in 2021 - finishing 2nd at the traditional state tournament in February. The Eagles lose a ton of hammers including multiple time State Champ, and current West Point wrestler, Daniel Uhorchuk. Signal Mountain lost 9 Seniors from the 20-21 squad that included 4 other State Placers (in addition to Uhorchuk). That means Coach Clements and his staff will have several new faces in the lineup in 2021-22.

Caleb and Ethan Uhorchuk, both 2021 State Champs, and State Placer Noah Shriner return and each will be hunting the top step on the podium in 2022. The Eagles also return State Qualifier Daniel Odom and will welcome Joe Joe Uhorchuk (and 8th grader who won NHSCA Middle National title this past spring) and freshmen KK Martin, Aiden McCall and Jackson Davis. The key for the Eagles will be the continued development of Jackson Owens, Ian Bryant, Cole Jenkins, Jaxson Quails, and Jacob Winchester. The Eagles have top end talent with the Uhorchuk’s, Shriner, and Odom, but that only makes up 5 of the 14 weights … some of the others will need to step up and make some noise if Signal Mountain is going to be back in the mix again in 2022.

“When I accepted the job as Signal Mountain’s new head coach in March, I knew how blessed I was to have the opportunity to lead these young men. Former head coach Joe Jellison and long-time assistant Casey Thompson built this program into a perennial power since the school’s inception in ‘08.

I am also excited by the staff we have assembled over the off-season. My dad, Dean, will join me again this year coming with me from Whitwell where he served as an assistant. We have added Matthew Cate - former Baylor teammate of mine who I know will help our guys win both on and off the mat.

Although we lost 9 starters from last year’s team that finished 2nd in the state, the goal and expectation has not changed—win the TN A/AA state tournament. I’ve been impressed with the way our guys have bought into our philosophy as a new staff in such a short time. On day 1, we circled 2/26/22 (state tournament) on our calendar and these guys have been grinding day in and day out all off-season.

We are very young and only have 1 senior, but with Caleb and Ethan back as returning champs, having proven winners in Shriner and Odom, and the additions of a MS national champ in Joe Joe [Uhorchuk] as well as potential standouts like Jenkins, Quails, and Winchester, we will be right there again this year. ”

— Coach Clements

Alcoa (TN)

Head Coach: Brian Gossett (entering 15th season at Alcoa; 20th overall)

Staff: J.D. Smither, Mo Harrison, Jim Blackford

The 2020-2021 season impacted some programs significantly more than others across the Southeast. There were teams that got very few matches and others that decided not to have a season at all. Alcoa struggled as a team, but still found some individual success in 2021. One way to do that is to get 2020 285 lb. State Champ Lance Williams back in the mix. Williams won a state title as a freshman, but missed the second-half of the 2020-2021 season because of injury. Williams is a force both on the mat and on the gridiron (already fielding offers from SEC schools during his Sophomore season).

Alcoa also returns a very young squad and several 2021 State Qualifiers. Both Owen McCall and Trevor Almand qualified as sophomores a year ago and should be hunting for a spot on the podium in 2022. Keep an eye on Ryan Stephens and Brandon Mora - both return and will look to make some noise in 2022. The Tornadoes also add freshman Troy Almand who should make an impact in 21-22. The Tornadoes have the pieces to make some noise in 1A in 2022 after a challenging 20-21 season.

“The program hopes to get back on solid ground after a difficult season in 2020-2021.”

— Coach Gossett