Turner to be new wrestling coach

By DALE STUBBLEFIELD / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

TURNER

WCHS line coach Matt Turner has been named head coach of the WCHS wrestling team for the 2002 season. Turner, who was recently hired as the line coach, will be replacing outgoing coach Tim Cross and will be putting a wrestling team together this fall.

Turner played football for WCHS and also was a member of the wrestling team from 1993-97. He then walked on at Tennessee Chattanooga to play football where he later earned a full scholarship.

“I wrestled my freshman year in college but later I had to give up wrestling to concentrate on football. I love the sport and am very thankful to have an opportunity to get back into it. My junior and senior years we went to the region and I was fortunate to win the region my senior year,” said Turner.

Turner will be working closely with the Middle School program and has high hopes of taking the Pioneer wrestling program to the next level.

“We have a good program here and a lot of kids interested in the sport. I want to start with the basics and work our way toward a respectful level. We have to keep the feeder program going strong and build from there. I want these kids to learn what it takes to compete with the established programs through out the state and build self-confidence and the desire to win.”

Turner will start putting his team together when school starts back in August. One project Turner would like to work on is building a field-house for the wrestling program. A place big enough to work-out in and hold their matches.

The wrestling team currently uses a small space inside the Charlie Dalton Gym to work-out in.