GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Tullahoma wrestling team is soon to be back in season as they take the mats starting in early November.

What a year it was for the Tullahoma wrestling team in the 2024-2025 season. They made the trip to the state tournament down in Franklin, TN, not once, but twice. The Wildcats qualified in both the dual and individual state meets. The individuals who qualified for the meet were the following: Zach Murphy, Corbin Avans, Tatum Stafford, Sayvion Surles, Nolan Stroop, Kiivon Butler, Carson Avans, and Sylas McGowan.

 In the state duals, Tullahoma ended up placing fourth, and at the individual events, they ended up having three wrestlers podium. Now, unfortunately, a few of the wrestlers mentioned in the group of individuals who qualified for state have now graduated. But with that is an opportunity for new up-and-coming Wildcats to take their place and establish themselves as a critical part of the program.

“I am excited to watch our returners improve with another year in our program. I am excited to watch newcomers anticipating how they fit into the program. The toughness it takes to make it through another season, it is never easy nor should it be, because it is the nature of the sport or wrestling,” head coach of the Tullahoma High School wrestling team Bob Callison said on some things he is excited about seeing in the upcoming season.

A couple of returning Wildcat wrestlers, fans should take notice of heading into the new season are Corbin Avans and Zach Murphy. They are both back-to-back state qualifiers and were two of the Wildcats that made the podium at the state individual tournament—Avans placed second and Murphy placed fifth in their respective weight classes. These two, as sophomores, were already setting a high standard for the program last year, and now this year, as they take the mat as upperclassmen for Tullahoma, that same effect they have on the program will only amplify.

The THS team will get deep into their schedule of matches, starting on Nov. 8. They will look to get out to a hot start, similarly to how the middle school teams have started their 2025-2026 season. The Wildcats over at Tullahoma Middle School are already back in action. They have played two matches and have won both of them. They won against Siegel 50-23 and against Smyrna 60-24.