WOC

We worked with the table workers to help find these videos, these are not even close to all of the awesome moves that occurred during the weekend, but these are some that those table workers thought were awesome.
I may be putting together one for freestyle, so if there was an awesome score that you just can't believe I missed, let me know at twg0ph3r@gmail.com

This should end the confusion

I have always only attended the IHSAA State Tourney, whether it was to watch as a youngster or wrestle in it. This didn't really give me much perspective on the class system and all the ins and outs of how it is ran at the state tournament level in other states. I recently moved to Colorado about a year and a half ago and began coaching at a 5A school in the Denver Metro Area, where I not only had the chance to experience it first hand, but also had the chance to speak to others on their thoughts on how Indiana runs it. I definitely got a lot of 'wow! no wrestle backs'...'if you lose first/second round at semi state or 1st round at state, you are done? what if you wrestle the champion first?'...but the overall thing they all stated was 'I really wish it was just one class like IN, CA, NJ, etc.'
I didn't want to judge it based on just their opinion, so I had to wait until the post season rolled around for the State Tournament, and fortunately I had a State Qualifier, so I can have added input. After going through it, I can express my thoughts. Colorado has 4 classes (2A-5A). I know a lot will say we wouldn't do 4 classes and would do 2 or 3. The concerns I have still pertain to what I saw, but who knows maybe it would be way better with 2 or 3 vs 4. 
My issues with the class system starts with the amount of division that causes between the state. They had 10 mats out but ran 2a/3a together and 4a/5a together making it two entirely different tournaments on the thursday, friday, sessions. They would make you leave multiple times within the tournament if your session wasn't going. Even though we ran our 5A session with 4A, there was no association at all. 4A  was on mats 1-5 and 5A was on mats 6-10. and I guarantee if you were associated with 5A, you will have no chance to see the 4a matches across the event center with 10 mats going. Let alone the 2a/3a you werent allowed to stay for.
This boils down to the recognition factor for these young men pouring their hearts into this Sport that will in turn grow the sport. There were 4 individuals going for their 4th state title. 3 achieved it. one was 2a, one was 3a, and one was 5a. Im sure you can assume the only one I was able to watch the whole time I was their. I wish I had the chance to watch Andrew Alirez ranked #1 in the nation at 152) in route to becoming a 4 timer, but he was in 3A. If you have affiliation with a certain class, you wont be able to watch others. There is too much going on. I did get to watch Cohlton Shultz capture his 4 timer status though, and keep his #1 in the country and #1 pound for pound status in tact. They keep everything separated and I dont see how that would be a good fit for the state of Indiana. I personally like seeing all the schools in the same tourney on the Individual side. 
A side note from talking to all of the individuals is the ones in the higher classes just talk down about the smaller classes and say 'everyone knows 5A is the only one that matters' and I know we say Indiana wouldn't say that, but I think over time it would trickle down and everyone would view the bigger class as more meaningful. Most of the people that were pure fans would only come for 5a and would not care one bit about the other classes. Even if I didn't have a wrestler in the 5A competition and went as a fan, it would be way to hard to watch multiple. 
My conclusion and my stance after experiencing it first hand (Granted Colorado may be an anomaly) is for the individual tournament for Indiana to stay 1 class, but we need to have wrestle backs at least at semi state and definitely state. I think the class system is perfect for team state, but the amount of people that weighed in that they wish their was a true champion rather than crowning 56 state champions was unbelievable. I think what draws me into keeping it one class is the amount of division between classes there is. I get why they call it 'States' now cause its as if there is multiple different state tournaments going on at the same time and you can't associate with multiple. So even if we class the individual tournament and a small school gets more state champions, they will be a state champ, but most will only be watching the bigger classes anyways. I couldn't tell you one thing about any 2a school in the state of Colorado. Name of the school, names of any wrestlers, how many they qualified/placed, etc. Because it is all separate. And I don't want that to happen to Indiana. I like being familiar with every school. I know chances of making it are harder, but Indiana is a hard state to qualify in. Just my 2 cents. It's mostly theoretical and we would never know until applied. One thing's for sure. I am sure missing that Indiana atmosphere when it comes to the post season. 
 
 

Year round wrestling training is the difference. Period. 
Hard work pays off and those kids that invest in wrestling only are reaping the rewards. 
Others that invest their hard work in other sports have to play catch up. 
Enrollment does not matter. The focus of the kids efforts is what does. 

I am not trying to make excuses, this is just the reality that small schools face. 
I am curious of the small school kids that are being listed as examples of being successful, how many have quit their other sports to focus on wrestling only and regularly attend academies.  I could be way off here, but I truly believe that is the overwhelming factor that is separating the top from everyone else. 
Like I said size of school does not matter, it is the other opportunities that does. Whether that opportunity is being able to play football and baseball as well or the local wrestling training academy.
I believe I read where Silas Allred had to make the decision to focus on wrestling only. And that kid is a dominant force from a small school. 

Does he still do all the out of season training and wrestling that he did while at Avon?  Are his parents still in position to do all of those things?  If so, then yes....

...a little more to that story.  The High School would not give us our varsity letters because we were in Jr. High and didn't attend the high school.  We had to contact the school board/superintendent to get the school to release our varsity letters while we were still at the Jr. High. Off topic a bit, but I thought you might find it interesting.

I don’t think it was an IHSAA rule.  Some schools included grades 7-9 as junior high, and some of those schools didn’t allow the ninth graders to “wrestle up” with their high school team.  That wasn’t true across the board though.

I guess it will be hard to argue with that!!!!

Don't like the idea of high school replay. One of the reasons I want kids that I care about to participate in sports is learning the lesson that sometimes it just isn't fair. Bad calls get made against you. It's a tough lesson to learn, but sports is a great vehicle for learning it.

I guess it will be hard to argue with that!!!!

I guess it will be hard to argue with that!!!!

I guess it will be hard to argue with that!!!!

Clearly he was pinned because that's what is says on the official record of the match!!!

I know lets complain about something that we have no control over that will solve everything! When you get put on your back you leave it into the refs hands. Don't let someone else dictate your success.

What is with Indiana and them being against kids having a little fun? It’s a sandwich. It’s not him taking away from his opponent at all by eating it. It didn’t affect the outcome of the match in any way. Trent Hidlay literally ate a hoagie after Who’s #1 and it was celebrated as a great celebration by a great wrestler. The kids here can’t do anything spontaneous or out of the ordinary without being called classless. Chad Red got criticized for dancing after winning, same with Deondre. I can only imagine how much excitement runs through someone after winning a state championship or even being in the match.  Brewer ate a sandwich during the face off most likely because he was hungry. It didn’t hurt anyone. They’re kids. Let them have fun. Not everyone has to have these stale facial expressions. We should want some spontaneity.

I saw video, and he looked pinned. I now the guys in the upper sections have good eyes, but you cant complain.    I agree it was kind of quick,  not a full two seconds.   But,  the timing of pins is like a strike zone,  Its very common to have refs call it that quick.   Nobody complains about It all season,  so why complain now.  Im sure Viduya has benefited from quick pins in his career.  Garcia got him on his back,  its done.

The best way to keep it out of the ref's hands is to stay off your back.  I'm quite sure there would not have been a fall called if he didn't get put on his back.

The best way to keep it out of the ref's hands is to stay off your back.  I'm quite sure there would not have been a fall called if he didn't get put on his back.

The best way to keep it out of the ref's hands is to stay off your back.  I'm quite sure there would not have been a fall called if he didn't get put on his back.

To say their whole team that qualified for SS have good draws is at best an uneducated opinion while at worst is simply a jilted/biased opinion.
At 132, their wrestler got the toughest draw possible. He must beat the #2 ranked & former State Champ Alec Viduya to advance.
At 120, their wrestler got the 2nd toughest draw. He must beat the #5 ranked & fromer State Placer Carson Eldred to advance.
At 220, their wrestler got the 2nd toughest draw. He must beat the #16 ranked & then the #4 ranked & former State Placer Kyle Cornwell to advance.
At 145, their wrestler got the 2nd easiest path. But as a Regional Champ, he earned his draw & still must beat the #20 ranked Terrell Leavell to advance.
At 106, their wrestler seemingly got the best draw possible, but he must still beat the #9 & #10 ranked kids to advance. This weight is simply stacked at NC & there is no easy draw.
Lastly at 152, their wrestler drew the easiest path. But again as a Regional Champ, he earned his draw.
I feel it is 152 that has you jilted about the South Dearborn draws, since this wrestler beat your wrestler in SV in the semifinals at regionals. Then your wrestler got the toughest draw at 152 in the SS & both these kids are seniors. If the 152 Franklin County wrestler is your son I feel for you, but 'death draws' happen every year at every SS. Just in the bracket that the 152 Franklin County wrestler is in, the #4 ranked Brice Coleman must beat the #2 ranked & 2-time former State Placer Elliot Rodgers to advance (if he gets past your wrestler).

Number 1's wrestle number 4's and number 2's wrestle number 3's but we wont know which regionals are paired for each weight until probably Sunday or later.

I think you may need the Ryan Reynolds meme again!!

Here.... We.... Go...