When wrestling season gets underway, there will be a new face on the sidelines for the Tullahoma Middle School wrestling team this year.

Mike Sullivan has been hired as the new Tullahoma Middle School Wrestling Coach. Currently, Sullivan is a geometry teacher at Tullahoma High School. He takes over for former head coach Sean Adkins.

Im pumped, Sullivan said. We have a lot of talent. The previous coaches, Sean Adkins, Taylor Roper and Michael McChesney, they have done a really good job of building these kids up, so its easy for me right now. Im just taking the talent that they have already built and running with it.

While he takes over the program, hes been in constant contact with all of the former coaches. In fact, he noted that McChesney will be joining him on the sidelines this season.

Sean helps me quite a bit, Sullivan said. Michael McChesney is my assistant coach. Hes back this year to coach. Taylor, hes up at the high school, so I interact with him quite a bit during high school practices.

When official practices began, Sullivan was left without several members of his team. Practices began in late September, while football season was still going on. The Wildcats football team ended up winning the CTC Championship in early October. Once the fall break ended, Sullivan was able to have his full team at practice.

Football and wrestling are huge together and Im glad that we have people who compete in both, Sullivan said. Those two sports really benefit each other great and Im all about multisport athletes.

With the football players back on the mat, the new Wildcats coach can fully see the type of talent he has. Based on what Sullivan has seen so far this season, he has high expectations for his squad.

I see region champions. I really do, he said. Even though I wasnt here last year, I did get to see some of their matches. I kept up with the results. We have a really strong team and a really talented team.

One thing Sullivan noted was missing from this team was a lack of size. There are no monsters on this team. However, the TMS coach didnt really see that as an issue.

They are very talented and they are gritty, Sullivan said. They want it and they go after it and thats what you have to have in wrestling.

The TMS wrestling team will play host to its first preseason event on Oct. 26 at Old West Middle School. The T-Town Wildcat Duals will get underway at 9 a.m.

Tullahoma will then open the regular season on Nov. 2 with a trip to Cookeville, taking part in the Prescott Duals. Start time for that has yet to be announced.

On Nov. 7, Tullahoma will have its home opener, facing three other teams. The Wildcats will welcome Warren County, Cookeville and Upperman to Old West Middle School. Wrestling is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.

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Sullivan takes over TMS wrestling program | Local Sports - Tullahoma News and Guardian