TSSAA announces new wrestling tournament sites, reduces duals field
The TSSAA wrestling state championships — both the duals and individual tournaments — have found a new home for 2021 after COVID-19 forced the association to change locations.
The Tennessee high school athletic association announced Monday that the TSSAA Dual Wrestling State Championships will be held at four different schools and the individual tournament will be held in Chattanooga for the first time in 12 years.
The TSSAA was forced to find a new location for both tournaments after the Williamson County Ag Expo Center was determined to not be available. The expo center has been used as a COVID-19 testing center since spring. The expo center has held the duals and individual championships for the past 11 years.
Centennial, Independence and Nolensville high schools join Mill Creek Middle as host sites for the duals on Feb. 5-6. The tournament field for the team tournament will also be reduced.
Eight schools will qualify for the Class AAA tournament, down from 16 teams. Four schools will compete in Class A/AA, Division II and in the girls dual meet invitational. Previously, eight teams also competed in Class A/AA and DII.
The individual wrestling tournament will be held in Chattanooga for the first time in 12 years. It will be held Feb. 18-20 at the Chattanooga Convention Center. However, each day will have a different classification.
The Class A/AA tournament will be held Feb. 18, Division II and girls on Feb. 19 and Class AAA on Feb. 20.
The TSSAA has not confirmed where it will hold its Division I and Division II basketball championships. The association announced recently that the state bowling tournament, scheduled for Jan. 20-23 will remain at Smyrna Bowling Center but no fans will be permitted to attend because of COVID-19.
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.