This was my first year at this tournament and there was some great wrestling. Wish Doe Creek and Center Grove could have made it.
Some of the toughest middle school wrestling you'll see anywhere across the state. Each, middle school's, high school team is currently ranked in the top 20 and usually are year in and year out. I believe this event prepares the middle school kids for what to expect at the next level in the way of competition and environment. The finals and many match-ups during this event usually have all the intensity and excitement of a high school varsity dual. Over half of the participating schools' high school coaches attend this event each year.
Mater Dei used to dominate this event up until recently. With the removal and addition of a few teams and expanding it to 10 teams, although only 8 made it this year, the event has become all the more competitive with other teams winning the past few years. But, Mater Dei was back with a vengeance this year. Those kids were as fundamental, patient, and technical as any group of middle schoolers I've ever seen and beat a very good group of Perry Meridian wrestlers in the finals, who had to beat Yorktown in a brutal battle during pool competition to make the finals.
