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 taxpayers) 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 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].