Mid-South Mat-ness Highlights Growth of High School Wrestling in DeSoto County
Photo: The filled Gatorade Fieldhouse in Hernando Saturday showed the growing interest in the sport of amateur wrestling at the high school level. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
HERNANDO, Miss. — The roar of six mats filled the Gatorade Fieldhouse on Saturday as 23 high school wrestling teams from Mississippi and Tennessee clashed in the inaugural Mid-South Mat-ness tournament, a showcase of the sport’s rapid growth in North Mississippi.
Lewisburg wrestling coach Cody Gilbert, who helped organize the event, said the turnout exceeded expectations with more than 350 wrestlers competing in nearly 500 bouts.
“Usually we have to go to Tennessee for tournaments,” Gilbert said. “The biggest thing was bringing something close to North Mississippi where we could involve both Tennessee and Mississippi teams. It’s been a heck of a turnout, and the biggest thing is just how smooth it’s running so far.”
The expansion of wrestling in Mississippi has been swift. Gilbert noted that when Lewisburg and Center Hill launched programs five years ago, only eight schools statewide participated. That number doubled in year two, and now 40 schools across Mississippi have wrestling programs.
“It’s exploding at the seams,” Gilbert said. “We’re still not up to the technique level of these Tennessee teams, but we’re closing the gap quickly.”
DeSoto County currently has five schools with wrestling programs: Center Hill, Olive Branch, DeSoto Central, Lewisburg and Hernando. Gilbert expects more to join soon, citing interest from Horn Lake and Lake Cormorant.
“The biggest challenge is finding coaches who understand the sport and can teach the technique,” Gilbert said.
The Mid-South Mat-ness tournament not only marked a milestone for DeSoto County but also underscored the region’s growing role in shaping high school wrestling across Mississippi.
Top individual results from DeSoto County schools
144 – 2nd Place – Ian Shepherd of DeSoto Central
215 – 1st Place – Rex Forsythe of DeSoto Central
2nd Place – Hunter Smith of Lewisburg
Team scores
1 Christian Brothers – 251.5
2 Collierville – 132.0
3 Millington Central – 93.5
4 DeSoto Central – 75.0
5 Saltillo – 73.0
6 Tupelo – 61.5
7 Lewisburg – 59.5
8 North Pontotoc – 54.5
9 Cordova – 54.0
10 Bartlett – 43.0
11 Memphis University School – 42.0
12 Evangelical Christian School – 37.5
13 Hernando – 36.5
14 White Station – 35.0
15 Houston High School – 28.5
16 Mississippi School for Math and Science – 25.0
17 Center Hill – 24.5
18 Briarcrest Christian School – 22.0
19 New Albany – 16.0
20 French Camp Academy – 15.0
21 St. George`s Independent School – 7.0
22 Germantown, Tennessee – 1.0
23 Union – 0.0
