February - 2002

Wrestler of the Month

John Adams - Forrest High School

John Adams, a senior 135-pounder from Forrest, is currently ranked No. 2 at his weight class by The Tennessee Best Weekly. At the Franklin Invitational, where this photo was taken over the Christmas holidays, Adams won the championship and was voted the Best Wrestler in the lower weights. Adams entered the Region 5 tournament with a 33-2 record and the No. 1 seed. As a sophomore, Adams advanced to the 130-pound Division I semifinals, eventually finishing fifth in the state with a 30-6 record. Last year, Adams was the Region 5 champion and just missed placing at state, finishing 38-4. Competing for one of the few Class 1A schools to field a wrestling team, Adams was named to the small school Middle Tennessee Dream Team.

Coach of the Month

Terry Brands - University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Brands' Coaching Philosophy...
"To positively shape student-athletes' morals, minds and bodies by teaching our men to terrorize the mat, yet be perfect gentlemen in society." Brands received his bachelor's degree in Human Development from the University of Iowa in 1992. During his collegiate wrestling days, Brands earned All-America honors three-times, was a three-time Big Ten champion and a two-time national champion at 126 pounds (1990-92). He finished his Iowa career with an impressive mark of 137-7-0 (.951). Brands finished his senior season in 1992 with an undefeated 35-0 record.