Jack Terrell - For the Franklin Press
Years of hard work, dedication and great coaching paid off for former Franklin Panther wrestler Phillip Terrell on April 25, 2022. Terrell signed his letter of intent to wrestle for Truett-McConnell University, located about 60 miles south of Franklin in Cleveland, Georgia. When asked how it felt to turn from a Franklin Panther to a Truett-McConnell Bear he responded, “I will always be a Franklin Panther.”
Terrell’s freshman year at Truett-McConnell saw him compete against wrestlers ranked nationally and in opens that had wrestlers from UNC, Ohio State, Duke, Citadel and other Division I schools. Like most freshman athletes competing at that level, Terrell faced both a challenging and learning experience. From two practices a day, a full school load, study hall, conditioning and lifting weights, Terrell made the transition.
On the mat, Terrell became the starting wrestler at 285 early in the year and finished the season with the best record on the team. His season was highlighted by pinning the heavyweight for the second ranked team in the country, Life University of Atlanta, Georgia. He also finished sixth at the Citadel Open in Charleston, South Carolina.
Terrell’s sophomore season began with him tearing the meniscus in his knee, and he sat out his second year and returned to Franklin to rehab. During this time, he took online classes and worked with the KLAW program in addition to working with local youth helping them develop their wrestling skills.
Terrell returned this year to Truett-McConnell University this August. Terrell again is slated to be the starter at the 285-weight class. This season began Nov. 2 with an intersquad match at Truett-McConnell. The season will match Terrell against two of the top five wrestlers in the country early in the year. He will also travel to Iowa and compete against the country’s top wrestlers in the Grand View Open, wrestle in Florida and Alabama and face competition from Appalachian Athletic Conference. The conference routinely has more nationally ranked teams than any conference in the country.