NIaGrad

They have to have had good coaching but you also can't discount the effect of having a wrestler like Mendez in your room for 4 years.

Mater Dei fans have a right to crow a bit. They were handed a tough draw first round but as a team they wrestled hard. Coming from NE, I was rooting for Chesterton, who also wrestled well, but I have to concede that MD deserved the trophy.

I agree. What makes it less beautiful is that the team state has less than 100% participation and is not sanctioned by the IHSAA. With IHSSA endorsement we could have regional qualifying tournaments for team state and remove some of the controversy concerning ranking. As far as wrestlebacks are concerned, the whole reason for single class individual system is to have the best wrestlers on the podium. Putting in an extra round to ensure this, especially at semi-state, is not an extravagance but a necessity.

The state of Iowa has had and still has class individual state Championships. I wouldn't say that it has hurt participation or excitement of the finals. They continue to put out quality wrestlers. I have not done the numbers but I would say the they must have one of the highest per capita output of quality wrestlers.

That was fast, Thanks.

I think something happened in the transcription onto the web page as the wrestlers in the weights seem to be scrambled. At least in the East Chicago link.

Penn looked sharp today 7 champs 3 2nd 3 3rd 1 4th All to Semi-state buzz-saw

Nice press from FloWrestling. Good option for D I wrestling. https://www.flowrestling.org/video/6092840-the-panther-train-is-rollin

Chuck Patten at Northern Iowa used to say, "Never fight Jaws in the water, you get a big boat with a big gun and blow him out of the water." He also said you have to wrestle like you've got sand in your A_ _.

I understand the mistake as both are good coaches and Snyder used to be from our crosstown rival, but it was Brad Harper to took the trip and and was at Sarah Hildebrandt's corner. Just wanted to give the credit to who you intended.

Sarah Hildebrandt has a very tough bracket but she has been working hard and can do it. Go Sarah!! Tomasello and Megaludis are wrestling first round. Should be an interesting match. Interested to see how Taylor Walsh does, it should fit in to his style.

It was good to watch Zach Davis wrestle on ESPN, sorry to see him bow out but enjoyed seeing he still has his tough legs. Any insight as to J. Tsirtsis? He has looked like he is trying to keep from losing for quite some time. I see flashes of his old self but it seems like he just occasionally forgets to be cautious and then retreats back to caution. I am still a fan.

I see your reputation as a statistician was well deserved.

What are the chances, Sean Mappes and Brian Harvey meet in first round.

One thing it may show is that the percentage of the student body who go out for wrestling may be much higher in the small schools. I know in my small town in Iowa it was your civic duty to go out for wrestling. How many potential state champs are there in the big schools that never step onto a mat? Isn't participation at least one of the goals in the grand scheme of high school athletics?