CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The question was posed to Bradley Central wrestling coach Steve Logsdon."What is it that you write on your notepad?"
There has been speculation that Logsdon worked on drawings during his team's
often dominating wins, or maybe even a grocery list.
"No," Logsdon said with a laugh. "I can't remember everything during a match, so I take notes during the match, and on the back of the notepad, I write one
main theme about each match. The guys are able to learn more that way."
Logsdon's standard of excellence has run through the Bears program for the
past 16 seasons, resulting in 17 state championships (nine dual titles and eight traditional). Monday night, Logsdon was awarded a plaque for his 300th win, a
feat he accomplished last season in a 60-18 defeat of Rhea County on Dec. 6, 2007.
After a high school career in which he won the 1984 state championship,
Logsdon went to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned his degree, then returned to Bradley and assisted his high school coach, Turner Jackson, before taking over the program in 1992.
"I had so much respect for what Coach Jackson had done, I just wanted to come in and make a dent in the state and start producing state hardware," he said. "The first two years, we had lost to Cleveland; that motivated
me to raise the bar."
Logsdon is 333-25 overall after Monday's win over Walker Valley, and 34 Bears have earned 45 state
championships in his time. The bar has been raised to the point where 130-pounder Trevor Herron, who placed third in the state last year, isn't even starting this year.
"How many coaches are lucky enough to have those types of battles for positions every day?" Logsdon said. "It's a huge advantage for us, but it starts with a great coaching staff."
Logsdon has been backed by an excellent staff, led by Chad Laxton, who coached the Bears to a traditional state championship in 2005 and a duals title in 2006 when Logsdon took some time off. Other assistants are
Ben Smith, Adam "Hank" Rains and Daniel Montgomery.
"It makes you keep working hard," Logsdon said, noting that he, Laxton and Rains were state champions and
that Smith and Montgomery placed in the state tournament. "In high school, when I thought I was pretty good, I would have to go against Coach Jackson and he would take me to town.
"I'm lucky to have these guys. If one of the wrestlers starts to get the big head, I have four other coaches that will get on the mat with them and bring them down to earth."
