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    Y2CJ41
    By STEVE KRAH
    stvkrh905@gmail.com

    The house is rockin’ and it is super-loud.
     
    Coaches, wrestlers and spectators are all yelling encouragement and instructions.
     
    Can athletes in the circle really pick out these messages above the din?
     
    Cole Solomey, a two-time IHSAA State Finals placer heading into his junior mat season in 2021-22 at Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatfield, says he can.
     
    “I can hear my dad and brother,” says Cole Solomey. “I hear them everyday.
     
    “I can hear exactly what they’re saying no matter how far away they are.”
     
    Mike Solomey (Class of 1992) and Luke Solomey (Class of 2017) both grappled for the Kougars.
     
    Mike Solomey is No. 2 on KV’s all-time win list at 117 (2005 graduate Dominic Willis is No. 1 at 119) and was a state qualifier at 130 pounds as a senior.
     
    Luke Solomey made it to the “ticket round” at the East Chicago Semistate as a 160-pound senior.
     
    Cole, the youngest of Mike and Becky Solomey’s three children behind Luke and Irelynn, was introduced to wrestling at age 4 with Caleb (son of Mike’s brother Shane Solomey, who was a 171-pounder during much of his KV mat career) coming to the sport a short time later.
     
    “When we grew up we didn’t have the opportunities that Cole and Caleb have,” says Mike Solomey.
     
    “(Cole) was good when he started out. He’s very self-motivated. Nobody has to talk him into going to practice. He does it on his own.
     
    “I’m hoping to see him higher on the (State Finals) podium as the next two years go by.”
     
    Luke is a KV volunteer assistant coach when his job of working for his dad’s roofing contractor business allows.
     
    “Weekends in the winter time are spent in the gym,” says Luke Solomey, who joined the staff during the COVID-19 pandemic last season because spectators were not allowed at most matches and he was able to help his brother.
     
    “I was in the corner for most of the year,” says Luke Solomey. “Cole can hear me when it’s very loud. It’s a different look in the corner — I can see something he can’t see (other wrestlers’ tendencies).”
     
    Luke, who was known for his cradles as a KV wrestler, gives Cole a chance to work on defending that move in practice.
     
    “One of Cole’s strengths is escapes,” says Luke Solomey. “If he’s on his game there’s nobody that can hold him down.”
     
    Luke has also noticed Cole’s growth spurt.
     
    “He’s grown up and out,” says Luke Solomey. “Puberty hit him pretty hard over the summer.”
     
    Two off-season events where Cole shined were the IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open (IHPO) in September and the USA Wrestling Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in DesMoines, Iowa, in October. He was top eight at IHPO and sixth at Preseason Nationals after going out in the “blood round” in 2020.
     
    “I wrestled a lot more offensively at Preseason Nationals (in 2021) and competed really well,” says Cole.
    Third-year Kankakee Valley head coach Eric Kidwell first saw Cole on the mat when he and Brad Burvan state the Kougar Wrestling Club.
     
    “I don’t know where he gets his drive from,” says Kidwell. “He’s very competitive. He hates losing. He has improved every year.”
     
    “Caleb pushes Cole. He has that drive. He’s a tough kid.”
     
    Caleb placed seventh at Frosh-Soph State last year.
     
    Cole Solomey went 39-6 and placed seventh in the 2020 IHSAA State Finals at 120 and 27-7 and came in sixth at the 2021 state meet at 132. He finished third at the Crown Point Sectional, third at the Crown Point Regional and third at the East Chicago Semistate as a freshman then came in second, third and third at those stages as a sophomore.
     
    It was 66 at the start of the season, but don’t ask Cole how many career wins he has.
     
    “I only remember the losses,” says Cole Solomey. “I’ve always wanted to make a name for our school in wrestling.”
     
    The 2021-22 season opens with a bigger, stronger Cole Solomey competing at 138 with his cousin, classmate and training partner Caleb Solomey moving up from 126 to 132 after placing second at sectional and regional and losing in the second round at semistate as a sophomore.
     
    Both Solomey boys are 17.
     
    “Caleb and I drill pretty hard together everyday, especially when it comes to weight-cutting,” says Cole Solomey. “His strength is on his feet with his shots.
     
    “He hasn’t been able to get over the hump to get to the State Finals. I keep trying to push him as hard as possible every year.”
     
    Caleb lost out on mat time in middle school because of a dislocated elbow.
     
    Cole went up about an inch to 5-foot-9 and gained muscle in the weight room since last season. He says his “walking around” weight in 2020-21 was about 145 and now its around 150.
     
    “Through lifting I gained more mass,” says Cole Solomey. “I’ve gotten a whole lot stronger (with my power, arms and grip) the last couple of years.”
     
    Working out in the off-season with Chris Fleeger at Midwest Regional Training Center in New Carlisle in off-season as well as with Pete Petroff at Region Wrestling Academy in Schererville, Cole has upped his hand-fighting game.
     
    “It creates larger shot opportunities and opens up my opponent a whole lot more,” says Cole Solomey.
     
    “My mentality has also improved.
     
    “I know how much more I have to give. You don’t know much more you have to give until you have to give it.”
     
    Cole played baseball until middle school and football through eighth grade then decided to focus on wrestling.
     
    “The off-season is about getting better and I saw other kids training year-round and passing me up,” says Cole Solomey. “Is there such a thing as too much mat time. In my perspective — no.
     
    “The more time you’re spending on the mat those are more situations you would not be in if you’re sitting at home.
     
    “Drilling is definitely a huge part of wrestling. Some practices where you don’t go 100 percent is where you learn (a move). Then you go into situational wrestling and get a real feel for it.”
    Y2CJ41
    By JEREMY HINES
    Thehines7@gmail.com
     
    Southport senior Nathan Smith is the sports editor of his school newspaper. With the success he had on the wrestling mat during the offseason, his own name might be the biggest news on his sports section this year.
     
    Smith competed at Virginia Beach, Fargo, Tulsa and various Indiana tournaments. He placed second in the Junior Men’s Freestyle Nationals at Fargo. In Tulsa he went 7-0 in freestyle wrestling and 5-2 in Greco-Roman. He won the USAW Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in Iowa. He also won the John Hurrle Memorial Invitational in Indianapolis and placed second at the IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open.
     
    “Nathan kind of punched some tickets this offseason,” Southport coach Nick Skinner said. “He had not been in a national final yet and he went to Fargo and finished second. That gave him confidence and let him know that he belongs at the top of the podium.”
     
    For Smith, it was the Fargo tournament that really boosted his confidence.
     
    “The finals made me realize I can get to anywhere I want to if I put in the work,” Smith said.
     
    Now Smith is hoping to bring some championships home in the Indiana state tournament. He has never won a title in the state tournament. He is a three-time regional qualifier, a two-time semistate qualifier and last year he placed seventh overall at the state meet.
     
    “I want to win state,” Smith said. “That’s the goal. I also think I’m about 36 wins off of the Southport all-time wins record. That’s something I think would be super nice to get, that all-time record. I have yet to win a county tournament, sectional, regional or semistate title. If I could get a win in all of those my senior year that would be really nice.”
     
    The Southport sectional has had some hammers in the 106-pound class – the only class Smith has competed in during his career.
     
    Perry Meridian’s Alex Cottey won the sectional in Smith’s freshman season. Cotton went on to finish second in the state meet.
     
    In Smith’s sophomore year, Roncalli’s Bryce Lowery won the sectional with Cardinal Ritter’s Joshua Johnson placing second and Smith third. Lowery went on to place fourth at state and Johnson placed seventh.
     
    Last year Smith lost to Perry Meridian’s Toby Billerman in the sectional final. There were only three wrestlers in the sectional bracket, but Billerman went on to place third at state and Smith finished seventh.
     
    Smith isn’t the type of wrestler that is always on the attack. He likes to feel his opponent out and learn from his style, then use the moves he feels will be the most effective.
     
    “I’m definitely a counter wrestler,” Smith said. “I don’t take a million shots right off the rip. As far back as I can remember I have never been one to go and shoot a lot. I like to feel my opponents out for a minute or two and then go from there.”
     
    According to Smith, he was able to make solid improvements this offseason as well.
     
    “I had a habit of sitting the corner, which is a unique defense,” he said. “It won me a lot of matches, but also got me into trouble. I’ve improved with my down blocking and I’ve been working on a more traditional defense.”
     
    After high school Smith hopes to wrestle at the University of Indianapolis and study exercise science. He is considering minoring in journalism as well.
     
    “I love journalism,” he said. “I’ve been on our journal staff for three years now. I was a sportswriter for two years and now I’m the sports editor.”
     
    For fun, Smith mostly enjoys wrestling and hanging out with his dad.
     
    “I just wrestle a bunch for fun,” Smith said. “In the summer, it’s kind of nerdy, but I love to go hang out with my dad (Greg Smith). We do all sorts of things. We watch football, go birding, biking or just walking. I don’t even know if I like things like birding, I think I just really like to be out in nature hanging out with my dad.”
     
    Coach Skinner says that Smith is a leader on and off the mat and a “really fun kid to coach.”
     
    “He’s just a good kid,” Skinner said. “He is intelligent, funny and he takes care of business on the mat and in the classroom. He gets the work done and that rubs off on everyone around him.”
     
    Smith is currently ranked third in the state at 106 pounds.
    Y2CJ41
    By JEREMY HINES
    Thehines7@gmail.com
     
    Torrieanna Buchanan’s wrestling coach, Brian Otte, gave her a choice about an upcoming tournament. He told her she could wrestle at 106 pounds and probably win the tournament, or she could wrestle at 113 pounds and face a few ranked wrestlers. The decision was an easy one for the West Vigo senior – she wanted to face the ranked guys.
     
    “I want to wrestle all the ranked kids I can in my weight class,” Buchanan said. “Even if I get beat by them, they’re going to make me a better wrestler. You don’t get better wrestling kids you know you can beat. I want to wrestle the ones that are up there, that are going to push me the most.”
     
    That mindset is what has fueled Buchanan since she started wrestling at just 4-years-old. She challenges herself to get better every day. That’s led her to three consecutive girls state titles. She also became West Vigo’s first-ever female to reach the IHSAA semistate tournament.
     
    “Torrie never backs down from anything,” Otte said. “She is willing to outwork anyone. She’s not been treated as a girl ever in our room. She proves herself every single day.”
     
    For Buchanan, the key to her success is in her technique. She believes her strength will help her compete against girls, but it’s her technique that gives her the edge against the guys.
     
    “I really have to rely on technique,” Buchanan said. “Technique is the most important thing to me. You can have strength, but the person with the better technique is going to win almost every time. Technique has helped me more than anything else.”
     
    Coach Otte also believes Buchanan’s mental toughness is the key to her success.
     
    “Her best strength is her mental toughness,” Otte said. “She’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever been around, mentally. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to become better. She trains here in the spring and summer, then she’ll go over to Red Cobra and train with Coach Red on the same day. She’s willing to work harder than anyone else.”
     
    That work ethic helped her with her college search as well. She has committed to wrestle for Campbellsville University. There she will wrestle for Coach Lee Miracle, the father of one of the wrestlers Buchanan has been a fan of for a long time – Kayla Miracle.
     
    Miracle was on hand when Buchanan signed with Campbellsville. She was also there when Buchanan tried out for the World Team.
     
    “She talked to me and told me I need to have fun in wrestling,” Buchanan said. “I need to go out there with the mentality that I want to win. She talked about not cutting wait and being the best version of me that I can be.”
     
    Miracle is one of the wrestlers Buchanan has always looked up to. She is the only female in Indiana to qualify for the state tournament, a goal Buchanan says would be her dream.
     
    “I really want to win girls state for the fourth time,” Buchanan said. “But I also want to make a run for boys state. I know Kayla was the last girl to make it to Friday night, and I want to make it past Friday night.”
     
    Buchanan has changed her perspective on her losses this season. In the past she would get frustrated at losing. Now she uses those losses to learn how to do better the next time.
     
    “I used to think that I sucked after a loss,” she said. “Now I take them as a win and I learn from them. They make me get better. The next time I wrestle the same kid, I’m hoping I can learn from that loss and go out and beat them.”
     
    Buchanan would like to get into coaching after college, and ultimately would love to represent the United States at the Olympic level.
     
    “She’s a great kid,” Otte said. “You really couldn’t ask for anything better. My wife and I call her one of our daughters. She’s polite and willing to help anyone with anything. She’s been raised right.
     
    “She’s the only girl in our room but she’s also the one that I use to demonstrate any move I’m teaching. She’s a leader on our team.”
    Y2CJ41
    By STEVE KRAH
    stvkrh905@gmail.com
     
    Jeffrey Bailey is doing things that the wrestling program at River Forest High School in Hobart has never witnessed.
    With a 2021-22 season-opening victory (takedown/near-side cradle/pin in 31 seconds) Nov. 17 against East Chicago Central, Bailey, a 106-pound senior, added to what is already the best mark in Ingots mat history at 106-12.
     
    He went 35-5 as a freshman in 2018-19, 38-3 and an IHSAA State Finals qualifier as a sophomore in 2019-20, 32-4 as a junior in 2020-21 and became River Forest’s first state placer when he came in sixth.
     
    As a freshman, Bailey came in fifth at Frosh-Soph State and placed second at Frosh-Soph State as a sophomore.
     
    Bailey grappled in middle school, but he really became serious about the sport as a freshman – the same year that Mark Hidalgo became Ingots head coach.
     
    Hidalgo, a 1989 Merrillville High School who has coached wrestling and football at several schools the past 25 years, brought enthusiasm and made the mat matter at River Forest.
     
    “Before Coach Hidalgo got here we didn’t have a tradition,” says Bailey. “Guys just showed up.”
     
    Bailey points to a turning-point moment during his sophomore year when Hidalgo sat him down for a heart-to-heart talk.
     
    “He told me I have potential to do something no one has ever done in the school before,” says Bailey of the coach/Physical Education teacher. “I used to struggle with my confidence. I didn’t have confidence in anything I did.”
     
    Suddenly, Bailey was full of tenacity and that showed in his matches.
     
    “He knows wrestling, says Hildalgo of Bailey. He’s always watching it and trying to better him better. He’s pretty solid in all aspects, but he’s best on his feet.
     
    “He’s been shooting doubles for years. He’s added a lot more to his arsenal over the summer and in the offseason.
     
    “There’s a lot of good things about Jeff. He cares about this team. He pushes himself everyday in practice. He also puts in the work in the classroom. He’s a fun kid to be around. We’ve got a pretty good relationship.”
     
    Hidalgo placed fourth at state as a senior heavyweight. He was in football, wrestling and baseball (one year) at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Ill., where he was coached by former Eastern Illinois University heayweight All-American Dave Klemm who had clashed with future NCAA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner. Hidalgo was also at Purdue University for one year when  Jeff Jordan coached the Boilermakers.
     
    Marcus Shrewsbury, a 189-pound state champion at Crown Point in 2009, is Hidalgo’s nephew.
     
    The coach was on the Bill Kelly’s East Chicago Central staff when Hector Mendez ascended to the top of the IHSAA state heap at 125 in 2002.
     
    Hidalgo says Bailey had a real shot to win a state championship in 2021.
     
    “This year he’s focused,” says Hidalgo. “It’s state title or bust — one of those things.”
     
    Some chances for Bailey to get better and for fans to see him include Nov. 27 at the North Newton Invitational, Dec. 4 at the Harvest Classic (Lake Central), Dec. 11 at the Traicoff Memorial (Calumet New Tech), Jan. 8 at the Lake County Tournament (Hanover Central) and Jan. 15 at the Greater South Shore Conference Tournament (Hanover Central) – where River Forest will be trying of a third-straight title. The IHSAA tournament series includes the Jan. 29 Portage Sectional, Feb. 5 Hobart Regional and Feb. 12 East Chicago Semistate followed by the Feb. 18-19 State Finals at Gainbridge (formerly Bankers Life) Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
     
    Bailey says he has gotten to the point where he is good in the top wrestling position.
     
    “I like to turn and a I like to ride,” says Bailey. “It happened over time. My freshmen year, I gave up reversals.”
     
    Charles Voss, Jeffrey’s uncle, was a state qualifier at Owen Valley, but that’s the only wrestling Bailey has in his family tree.
     
    Jeffrey’s father – DeWayne Bailey was a high school basketball standout at Maranatha Christian in Portage and his youngest son also took the court when he was younger.
     
    “I tried, but I would get dejected and get mad,” says Jeffrey Bailey. “Everybody was so much bigger than me. I really couldn’t do anything.”
     
    At 5-foot-8, Bailey is among the taller 106-pounders and he uses those longer limbs to his advantage.
     
    “In scrambles I don’t get in bad positions where I’m uncomfortable,” says Bailey.
     
    But even with parents DeWayne and Heather preparing his meals he just wasn’t going to be that big. In fact, Jeffrey tried to add weight in the off-season and go up a class or two, but it just didn’t stick.
     
    “I burned too many calories,” says Bailey.
     
    He does go against bigger practice partners, including senior Jonathan Schultz (126), junior Alejandro Ramirez (132) and first-year Ingots assistant Eric Keith. Schultz is a semistate qualifier and Ramirez has been to regional.
     
    Keith was a four-time state qualifier with a state title at 140 as a Portage High School senior in 2000. His career prep mark was 170-8.
     
    “We have smaller guys in the room, but they don’t give me the feel that I want,” says Bailey. “Wrestling stronger guys makes me better.”
     
    Bailey trains and competes pretty much year-round, going to workouts around northwest Indiana and many Indiana State Wrestling Association events. Last year, he also went with Hammond Gavit grapplers to the Disney Duals.
     
    After high school, Bailey can see himself wrestling college if that opportunity arises. He expects to study History and pursue a path to becoming a high school Social Studies teacher and coach.
     
    Bailey is particularly interested in Biblical history.
     
    “I’m a Christian,” says Bailey. “I’m always trying to learn about my faith.”
     
    Jeffrey and his father have Bible study twice a week and have enjoyed a net series called “The Days of Noah.”
     
    Jeffrey grew up in the River Forest area with his parents and older brother DeWayne. He enjoys walking around town now and having them ask him about wrestling. It’s a big deal there now thanks in large part to Bailey, who returns the affection.
     
    Says Bailey, “I love my community, my parents and my coaches.”
    Y2CJ41
    Photo by David Hughes/ BeltBucklePhotos.com
     
    By JEREMY HINES
    Thehines7@gmail.com
     
    Cash Turner doesn’t get his strength from lifting weights. His muscles are built by moving over 500 hay bales a year, splitting wood and working on his family’s 100-acre farm. He doesn’t get his grip from the gym either – that comes from holding on for dear life while trying to ride a massive bull for as long as possible. And, that fearless attitude those around him say he has – that comes from growing up with a father that was a phenomenal wrestler and then went on to become an all-around champion in the rodeo world.
     
    The Edgewood junior is certainly not your typical wrestler. He’s the Rocky Balboa in Rocky IV vs. the Ivan Drago’s of the world. His training isn’t conventional, but it works.
     
    “Cash is training without training, and he’s doing it a lot,” Edgewood coach Greg Ratliff said. “I remember one time he went to his grandpa’s place in Kentucky instead of going to workouts. I asked him what he did while he was there, and he told us he and his grandpa spent the week just digging post holes. Somehow, I knew he would get more out of that then he ever would by hitting our weight room.”
     
    Turner knows two things well – rodeo and wrestling. When he’s not in wrestling season, he’s working on his rodeo skills. His only break from the rodeo is when he’s wrestling. Coach Ratliff believes the work Turner is putting in on his rodeo is only benefiting him on the mat.
     
    “We talk a lot about multi-sport athletes,” Ratliff said. “There are a lot of crossovers. The will, the drive, and the determination he uses in bull riding carries over to wrestling. There isn’t as much footwork and agility, but all the toughness that comes with it is a big plus. I think, in a day and age where coaches are asked to do more and more and more, and wrestlers are told they need to wrestle every weekend – but the best wrestler in your room is like – I have this going on. It’s refreshing. You can do other things and still get good. As long as they are training in something, that’s going to help make them better wrestlers.”
     
    For Cash, part of the allure of the rodeo is facing fears and overcoming them.
     
    “The hardest thing in my life is probably trying new things,” Turner said. “I was always an avid bull rider, but my dad asked if I would want to try saddle bronc riding and bareback riding – which is basically riding wild horses. I was the most scared I’ve ever been in my life. I was going to get on a giant horse that wants to throw me off. But I did it. I overcame that fear.”
     
    That bravery has helped Cash excel in the rodeo. He qualified for the High School Nationals in Nebraska where each state brings four representatives to compete.
     
    “The rodeo definitely makes me tougher in wrestling,” Turner said. “I know if I can do that, I can probably put a kid my size on his back on the mat.”
     
    Although Turner’s dad, Toby, was a very good bull rider and wrestler. He didn’t want to push those things on Cash.
     
    “Toby placed second in state in wrestling, twice,” Ratliff said. “In the rodeo he was on the PBR circuit and was a National Champion. It’s really cool to watch their interactions with each other in the wrestling room (Toby is an assistant coach). They are both so stubborn, but his dad really didn’t want to push wrestling or rodeo on his son. As it turns out, those are Cash’s biggest passions. Cash just loves them both.”
     
    Turner found success early in his high school wrestling career. He won the Bloomington North sectional at 106 pounds his freshman season. He then went on to claim the regional title at Bloomington South and advanced to state by placing third in the Evansville semistate. In that semistate, Turner had his favorite match in his career up until this point.
     
    “It was the match after my ticket-round win,” Turner said. “I faced a kid that I had never beaten before, and we had wrestled many times – probably around a dozen or so. I just knew this time would be the time. I wrestled how I wrestle and ended up hitting a lat drop on him and scored a few points, then hit another funky move and ended up winning by quite a few points. So far, that was my favorite match. I was getting over an obstacle.”
     
    Coach Ratliff remembers that match well.
     
    “I remember it because the young man he was wrestling’s dad yelled out ‘watch out for the spladle’,” Ratliff said. “I don’t know if Cash heard it or not, but he immediately hit the spladle. He went up five points. That was an exciting match.”
     
    Turner proceeded to place seventh in state that freshman season.
     
    He did not make it back to state as a sophomore. He won sectional and regional for the second time in his young career, but fell short in the ticket round of semistate, losing in the ticket round to Brownsburg’s Brady Isom. Isom went on to place third in state at 126 that season.
     
    “Last year was tough,” Turner said. “I went up from 106 my freshman year to 126 as a sophomore. That was a big jump. I knew people were going to be a little stronger than me. I went as far as I could. The ticket round loss was a tough loss, but he was a really good opponent. I took what I could from it and I’m trying to work this year at getting back to state. That’s my goal.
     
    “I think when you’re a junior you start to get a sense of urgency you didn’t have before. When you’re a freshman and sophomore you look at wrestling and you’re like, I still have three…or two more years. Now you realize it’s coming fast and pretty soon I’ll just be done. I only have one year after this.”
     
    Turner is coming into the season slightly hobbled. He broke his elbow in September riding a bull.
     
    “Funny story about that,” Cash said. “I had a duck hunting trip planned with a few friends. It was going to be a few days after the rodeo. I went to the rodeo and ended up hurting my elbow. I didn’t know I broke it. I finished my events and even won some events. When we went home, I didn’t think much about it, but I put it in a sling and went to school the next day. I couldn’t bend it at all.
     
    “I showed our athletic trainer and he looked at it and said it was definitely broken. I went to the doctor, and they put a cast from my wrist to my elbow. The first thing I told my mom was I had to see if I could shoot a shotgun with one arm. I went out and tried to shoot a few times. It was hard, but I could do it. I went on the hunting trip and even killed a few birds there. It was an interesting experience.”
     
    Going hunting with a broken elbow, while your entire arm is wrapped in a hard plastic cast shows just how stubborn Turner is.
     
    “He’s the kid that is always stubborn,” Ratliff said. “For example – we do a drill in practice where we set it up like it’s an overtime match. First takedown wins. He might get taken down, because his practice partner is really good at takedowns, but Cash will argue and argue about whether something was a takedown or not. He just doesn’t give up. He’s going to keep wrestling from there. The ref has to really think about it. He will tell you ‘That wasn’t a takedown, I still had a hold of his toe’.”
     
    Turner has several plans after high school. He is currently involved in a fire science and fire safety vocational school and would eventually like to be a firefighter. He said he would like to go to college somewhere that has a fire science education program where he can get a degree in that field. He also wants to pursue the rodeo out west, where there are more opportunities in the sport.
     
    For now, however, he’s focused on getting back to the state finals.
     
    “That’s my ultimate goal,” Turner said. “It was great to go as a freshman and I want to get back there.”
    Y2CJ41
    By STEVE KRAH
    stvkrh905@gmail.com
     
    Wrestling has come back in a big way at a little school.
     
    Cowan Senior/Junior High School in Delaware County folded its program following the 1994-95 for lack of interest.
     
    As a Muncie Southside High School senior in 1989-90, Tony Abbott went 35-2 and was the IHSAA 152-pound state champion, grappled for the University of Indianapolis, served as head coach at Southside 1995-96 to 2012-13 and was inducted into the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017.
     
    “I started coaching my first year out of college,” says Abbott, who also owns Abbott’s Body Shop in Muncie. “I’ve had no break since I was six years old.”
     
    With Abbott as Cowan head coach, the Blackhawks came back to the prep mat in 2016-17 — a few years after establishing club (which drew about 50 kids the first year and around 60 the next) and junior high programs with all athletes funneling into CSJHS. That happened with the advice of former Muncie Central mat coach and then-Cowan principal Jim Suding and the support of parents.
     
    That first new era high school team had four wrestlers and the next year six. By 2018-19, Cowan had 14 grapplers and filled all 14 weight classes. The Blackhawks had 25 out the next season, including oldest son Toby, and the numbers have been at least that high in each season since then.
     
    “We started having a little bit of success,” says Abbott. “There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears. The fun part of this whole team is that every one of the kids on my team have been Cowan kids in that club.
     
    “We have 27 kids on the team right now. These kids were just kids and didn’t have anything to do. Now they’e wrestlers.
     
    “They’re embracing the grind. The secret to success is there’s no secret. You’ve got to keep moving forward.”
     
    Those wrestlers representing the Black and Gold of Cowan (enrollment below 250) won the Delaware County Tournament for the first time and claimed the school’s first sectional title (earned at Delta) in 2020-21. The Blackhawks placed fourth in the IHSCA State Duals.
     
    As a 145-pound junior, Toby Abbott became Cowan’s first-ever regional champion and state placer (eighth).
     
    “It happened later than I wanted it to,” says Toby of his state meet run. “I wanted to do it all freshmen and sophomore year.
     
    “I didn’t have too many losses during the season. But it’s a good thing I did have the losses. I leaned from them.”
     
    Abbott finished 33-5.
     
    “At Cowan, we’re all-around wrestlers,” says Toby. “We wrestle hard and train hard.”
     
    Toby, who also has three siblings — one older sister, one young sister and one young brother — says he would like to wrestle in college. He’s not decided on where he will attend or what he will study, though he is considering sports management or physical education.
     
    What does Tony see in Toby the wrestler?
     
    “He’s guy that everybody wants to coach,” says Tony Abbott. “He does what you tell him and he works hard.
     
    “All the Cowan kids were brought up by me. They didn’t see older guys sitting around or cutting corners.”
     
    A year-round wrestler with younger brother Levi (Class of 2024), Toby works out in the family barn, attends Central Indiana Academy workouts in Indianapolis and last summer went with a Cowan group to the Virginia Beach Duals.
     
    “We wrestle everyday,” says Toby of he and Levi, who placed fourth at sectional and was a regional qualifier at 138 as a freshman. “He’s my practice partner in the room (the third court in the auxiliary gym where mats are no longer rolled up daily). I get him where he wants to be and he gets me where I want to be.
     
    “We get along pretty well. My dad tries to make it pretty competitive in the room. All the coaches do.”
     
    Cowan assistants are Casey Bradley (who wrestled at Muncie Southside and coached at Baldwin-Wallace University in Berea, Ohio), former Delta state qualifier Ronnie Goney and Cowan semistate qualifier Steve May.
     
    Three seniors graduated from the 2020-21 Blackhawks – Garrett Smith (second at the Delta Sectional and Jay County Regional and a Fort Wayne Semistate qualifier at 285), Keagan Keesling (third at sectional and a regional qualifier at 152) and Preston White (third at sectional and a regional qualifier at 132).
     
    Cowan does not open the season until a Dec. 2 home match against Blackford so weights and the lineup is still being sorted out.
     
    The Keith twins — Raef (third at sectional and regional and a semistate qualifier at 106 in 2020-21) and Bowen (third at sectional and a regional qualifier at 113) shined as freshmen and are back as sophomores.
     
    Junior Jesse May (fourth at sectional and a regional qualifier at 126) returns as does senior Austin Jones (first at sectional, second at regional and a semistate qualifier at 160), senior Malachi King (fifth at sectional at 170), senior Dalton May (fourth at sectional and a regional qualifier at 182) and junior Brandt Thornburg (fourth at sectional and a regional qualifier at 220). Regional qualifiers from 2019-20 include senior Cade Jones and junior Alex King.
     
    There are two girls on the high school team and one is senior Cricket Morey (fifth at Girls State Finals at 98 in 2020-21).
     
    The 2021-22 Delaware County Tournament is slated for Jan. 6 at Wes-Del with the IHSWCA State Duals Jan. 8 (site to be determined) and Mid-Eastern Conference Tournament Jan. 22 at Cowan. The Blackhawks’ state tournament series includes the Delta Sectional (Jan. 29), Jay County Regional (Feb. 5) and Fort Wayne Semistate (Feb. 12) leading up to the State Finals (Feb. 18-19).
     
    Y2CJ41
    The increasing reality of the internet is subscription plans. Looking at other state websites almost all of them have some sort of subscription in order to view most of the content. IndianaMat has bucked the trend and continued to be a free site utilizing other revenue streams that pay the bills. One of our revenue streams over the past few years has been our extremely popular preseason magazine. This year we set a record with the sales which will help us add staff members and equipment to better cover the sport.
     
    However, with increasing coverage and content comes higher bills and expenses. This year we are going to implement our Silverback subscription program. Many of you may have noticed that some people are tagged as Silverbacks on the forum. That basically means they have purchased a magazine whether a physical or digital copy. With that perk comes the ability to view our preseason rankings. We are not going to stop there though. We are giving early access to all of our rankings to these people for the first 24 hours after each individual ranking set is released. As we move along this season there will be more perks added to this membership.
     
    If you do not want to purchase a magazine you can become a subscriber by going to the subscriptions tab at the top or in the mobile menu and subscribe. Once you purchase a subscription plan or a magazine you will be upgraded to the Silverback group.
     
    The cost is $10 and will give you access to our Silverback subscription plan for a year. There will be more perks later this year for members as we add more features to the website.
     
    Click here to purchase a subscription
    https://indianamat.com/index.php?/subscriptions/
     
    Any questions can be directed to me via private message.
     
    Thanks!
     
    Other wrestling websites and their costs
    Michigan Grappler- $74.99/year or $11.99/month
    Illinois Matmen- $9.99/month on Rokfin
    Missouri Wrestling- $9.99/month on Rokfin
    HuskerMat(Nebraska)- $9.99/month on Rokfin
    Kabra Wrestling(Florida)- $70/year or $7/month
    Southeast Wrestling(Southeast)- $60/year or $8/month
    Y2CJ41
    Wildcats’ Davison earns Wrestler of the Week plaudit after posting a 4-0 record to claim the heavyweight title at the MSU Open
     
    Wrestler of the Week
    Lucas Davison, Northwestern
    Heavyweight – Jr. – Chesterton, Ind. – Chesterton
     
    Went 4-0 by a combined margin of 30-7 to take the heavyweight division title at the Michigan State Open The unranked 285 pounder started the tournament with a 5-0 decision over Cal Poly’s Trevor Tinker before earning a 10-4 decision over Illinois' No. 25 Luke Luffman Earned bonus points in a 13-3 major decision over Northern Illinois’ Terrese Aaron and followed it up with a 2-0 decision over No. 22 Josh Heindselman of Oklahoma in the finals The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns the first Wrestler of the Week Award of his career Last Northwestern Wrestler of the Week: Sebastian Rivera (Jan. 2, 2019)  
     
    2021-22 Wrestlers of the Week
    Nov. 10: Lucas Davison, Jr., NU
    Y2CJ41
    The top wrestler in the class of 2022, Jesse Mendez, has made it official. He will head from Crown Point to Columbus, Ohio next fall for college. Mendez has won about everything under the sun. He has made two world teams in 2019 and 2021 and participated in Who's #1 for three straight years.
     
    Mendez projects as a 141lber in college and 65kg(143lbs) for international. This year he will attempt to be only the tenth wrestler from the state with four state titles. 
     
    Congratulations to Jesse and his family!
     
    Mendez's Resume
    State
    2021 138 State 1st
    2020 132 State 1st
    2019 126 State 1st

    National
    2019 132 16U Folkstyle Nationals 1st
    2019 60kg FloNationals 1st
    2019 60kg UWW Cadet Freestyle Nationals 1st
    2019 132 Super 32 5th
    2018 118 FloNationals 3rd
    2018 120 16U Folkstyle Nationals 2nd

    Other
    2020 141 IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open 1st
    2019 135 IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open 1st
    2018 125 Middle School State 1st
    2018 123 IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open 1st
    2017 109 IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open 1st
    2017 102 Middle School State 1st
    2016 85 Middle School State 1st

    World
    2019 60kg Freestyle Cadet World Championship 9th

    Awards
    2021 4A Wrestler of the Year
    Y2CJ41
    Courtesy of the NWHOF – Link
     
    STILLWATER, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced on Wednesday that the Class of 2022 is Distinguished Members Clarissa Chun, Sara McMann, Andy Rein and Jake Varner, Meritorious Official Tom Clark (posthumously), Order of Merit Recipient Mike Moyer, and Medal of Courage recipient Melissa Simmons. 

    “Following an extensive screening and selection process, I am excited to announce such a notable and deserving group of honorees for 2022,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “We are fortunate to be able to spotlight these inductees who have transcended our sport’s heritage over the past 40 years. It is also a class that represents the positive transformational impact females are realizing in wrestling, with two female Distinguished Members and our first female Medal of Courage recipient.”

    The Hall of Fame Board of Governors approved the selections at their meeting in Waterloo, Iowa on October 25. 

    The Hall of Fame will announce its Outstanding American honoree at a later date.

    The induction ceremony will be held at the 45th Honors Weekend on June 3-4, 2022 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. For more information on Honors Weekend, please telephone (405) 377-5243.  
     
    The Meritorious Official award recognizes outstanding service as a referee, judge, or pairing official.

    Tom Clark, who passed away in 2017 at 58 years old, officiated for 35 years, beginning while attending Ohio State and continuing in Indiana. The Bluffton, Ohio native was selected as a referee for the Olympics in 2008 and worked dozens of World Championships and major international competitions at the senior level. Named Official of the Year by USA Wrestling in 1988, Clark retired after the Olympics to open up opportunities at the highest level for young, talented officials. A top high school wrestling official, he received the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Officials Association Award for excellence in wrestling in 2007 and was the Indiana Wrestling Association Official of the Year in 2005. Clark served as a board member for the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association and was vice president of the organization at the time of his death. His commitment to wrestling was at every level, from youth to high school and on to the international level.
     
    National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
    America’s shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1976 to honor the sport of wrestling, preserve its history, recognize extraordinary individual achievements, and inspire future generations. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has museums in Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Waterloo, Iowa. The Stillwater, Oklahoma, location reopened in June 2016 following a $3.8 million renovation while the Waterloo, Iowa, location reopened in March 2019 after undergoing a $1.4 million renovation. Both museums now feature interactive exhibits and electronic kiosks, as well as the opportunity to watch NCAA Championship matches from the 1930s to present day. Stillwater also has the John T. Vaughan Hall of Honors where the greatest names in wrestling are recognized, including iconic granite plaques presented to Distinguished Members since the Hall of Fame opened in 1976. The museum has the largest collection of wrestling artifacts and memorabilia in the world, including the most collegiate and Olympic wrestling uniforms. Wrestling truly is for everyone and the diversity and accessibility of the sport continues to be highlighted through exhibits featuring females, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and Latino Americans. There is also a library featuring historical documents, including NCAA guides and results, as well as books on the sport.
     
    For more information about the Hall of Fame, please visit www.NWHOF.org.
    Y2CJ41
    Well...that's the latest it will come out, maybe sooner!
     
    We are now taking pre-orders for the physical copies of the magazine and have something special in store for everyone. We have SIX different covers, one each featuring the five returning champions that are seniors this year and then one with all five of them together.
     
    We are taking preorders for the individual covers until November 3rd and after that you will only get the one with the five seniors together. So if you want Jesse, Zeke, J, Brody, or Gabe solo you need to order soon!
     
    You can purchase your copy in our store
    https://indianamat.com/index.php?/store/category/17-preview-magazine/
     
    After you purchase the magazine you can go to our new downloads section for the digital copy to keep you occupied until the physical copy arrives.
    https://indianamat.com/index.php?/files/
     
    Here are the cover previews






    Y2CJ41

    2021 Super 32 Entries

    By Y2CJ41, in High School News,

    High School
    Name Weight School Jake Hockaday 106 Brownsburg Gavin Jendreas 106 Crown point Isaiah Schaefer 106 Mater Dei High School Tanner Tishner 106 Western Toby Billerman 113 Perry Meridian Evan Dickey 113 Cathedral High School Ashton Jackson 113 Laporte high school Damian Resendez 113 Mount Carmel High School Zane Schreck 113 Corydon Central Evan Cruz 120 Crown Point High School Anthony Bahl 126 Crown Point High School Logan Frazier 126 Crown Point High School Sergio Lemley 126 Mount Carmel Michael Tharpe 126 Center Grove HS Matteo Vargo 126 Penn High School Tony Wood 126 Jay County High School Coy Hammack 132 Tell City High School Brac Hooper 132 Zionsville Cheaney Schoeff 132 Avon High School Zeke Seltzer 132 Indianapolis Cathedral Jesse Mendez 138 Crown Point Matthew Koontz 145 Perry Meridian Hayden Watson 145 Center Grove High School Toby Abbott 152 Cowan High School Toby Abbott 152 Cowan High School Sam Goin 152 Crown Point High school Delaney Ruhlman 152 Bloomington High School South Nick Cicciarelli 160 Brownsburg HS Jeb Prechtel 160 Jasper High School AJ Cashman 170 Warren central Orlando Cruz 170 Crown Point High School Drake Buchanan 182 Center Grove Gunner Henry 195 Brownsburg High School Gabe Sollars 195 Mater Dei High School Christian Carroll 220 New Prairie Nathan Critchfield 220 Mater Dei High School Devin Kendrex 220 Mount Vernon high school  
    Middle School
    Name Weight School Club Alex Huddleston 70 Brownsburg east middle school Red Cobra wrestling Zavier Acuna 75 Willowcreek REGION WRESTLING ACADEMY Revin Dickman 85 Brownsburg Brownsburg Layne Horn 90 Rochester Midwest RTC Justin Williamson 90 Hobart middle Region wrestling academy Logan Haney 95 Colonel Wheeler Midfle School Region Wrestlung Academy Teigan Newell 95 Crown Point Region Wrestling Academy Colin Strayer 95 Trinity Lutheran Region Wrestling Academy Elijah Gahl 100 Northfield middle school   Braylon Reynolds 100 Avon Red Cobra Wrestling Academy Landen Haines 105 Brownsburg East MS Red Cobra Sontonio Sessa 105 Crown point Region wrestling academy Clinton Shepherd 105 West central Midwest rtc Jackson Bradley 112 Cowan Cowan Wrestling Club Evan Stanley 112 Lowell Region wrestling academy Griffin Van Tichelt 112 Colonel John Wheeler Region Wrestling Academy Jairo Acuna 120 Mount Carmel Region Wrestling Landon Hawkins 120 Conolel J. Wheeler MS Region Wresting Academy Angelo Vargo 120 Discovery Middle MXW jeffrey huyvaert 128 new prairie middle school midwest rtc Parker Reynolds 128 Brownsburg Red Cobra Sam Howard 136 Boonville Maurer Coughlin WC Miguel Rojas 157 Brownsburg Red cobra  
    Elementary
    Name Weight School Club Antino Acuna 50 Union Center Region wrestling Academy Xavier Flores 80 Center Grove Center Grove Wrestling Club Easton Smith 60 Holy Spirit MCWC Elias Faith 65 Resurrection School Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Maverick Hoehn 90 North posey MCWC Suncera Dickman 45 Brownsburg Brownsburg  
    Girls
    Name Weight School Trinity Malave 108 Munster High School Joy Cantu 108 Merrillville Kyra Tomlinson 130 Noblesville High school Rose Kaplan 123 West Lafayette High School Anna Krejsa 123 Center Grove High School Ella Gahl 123 Northfield  
    Y2CJ41
    Jesse Mendez is making his third straight trip to FloWrestling’s Who’s #1 and Christian Carroll is wrestling in his first event. Both are looking to build upon a strong spring and summer and win their respective matches.
     
    Carroll has been nearly unbeatable since last fall when he won the Grappler Fall Classic and followed that up with a Super 32 belt. This spring he was runner-up in freestyle and Greco-roman to eventual world champion Braxton Amos. After that he dominated at Fargo and won a Junior title at 220lbs. Carroll is the first Indiana wrestler to win a Fargo Junior championship and a Super 32 championship.
     
    The match for Carroll will be the main event and a big guy super match. He will face off with the top ranked heavyweight in the country, Nick Feldman. Both “heavyweights” weighed in under 230lbs, so this is closer to a light heavyweight match-up. Feldman has won Beast of the East and National Prep titles to go along with winning at Who’s #1 a year ago. He’s an Ohio State commit and will be a great match-up for Carroll. This will NOT be a boring big guy battle.
     
    Jesse Mendez is making his third trip to Who’s #1 and looking to be the first competitor to four wins in the event. The past two years Mendez has had to wrestle multiple matches, but this year he only has one in Michigan’s Casey Swiderski. Mendez has had quite a busy off-season that has included a trip to Russia for Junior Worlds, recruiting visits, and even being the grand marshal of the Crown Point July 4th parade!
     
    His opponent, Casey Swiderski will look to pull off a big time upset and is likely the only one crazy enough to voluntarily take a match with Mendez. Swiderski is an Iowa State commit and according to everyone in the know has a similar style to Mendez with great technique, high pace, and tenacious attitude. Like Mendez, Swiderski has won three state titles in Michigan for Dundee High School. He was also a Fargo runner-up to Tagen Jamison of Texas. Look for this to be another great match.
     
    The schedule begins on Saturday with wrestling starting at 7pm ET/6pm CT. Mendez will be the 11th match, while Carroll will be the final bout, match #14. You can watch all the action with a loaded card of the top wrestlers in the country on FloWrestling.
    Y2CJ41
    If you are kicking yourself for not registering for this year's IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open, you will have one LAST chance to gain entry. Click the link below and fill out the form with your wrestler's information. We will accept up to 25 wrestlers during this process.  The process will only last until 8pm ET on Tuesday September 7th, so do this IMMEDIATELY!
     
    Criteria we will use to select wrestlers for the event include, but are not limited to: weight class need, state and national credentials, and extenuating circumstances.
     
    Due to this being a late registration, the fee will be $50 via a PayPal link you will be given once you are accepted into the event. You will have 24 hours to submit the payment, if you do not pay your spot will be given to the next available wrestler.
     
    You will receive a confirmation by 12pm on Thursday September 9th with more information on finishing your entry.
     
    Thank you
    Click here to fill out the petition.
    Y2CJ41
    The Juniors will start on the mat Sunday at Fargo. This is a group that overall might be the deepest group in terms of state placers and champions that Indiana has taken in a long time. Eight wrestlers that have won a state title will be representing the Hoosier state along with over 40 wrestlers that have state level experience.
     
    Three wrestlers with Fargo experience that will have high expectations include Evan Bates, Zeke Seltzer, and Drake Buchanan. Both Selzer and Bates were runner-ups in 2019 at the 16U age level and looking to get the big stop sign this year. Bates will be wrestling at Northwestern this winter, while Seltzer recently committed to wrestle at Missouri after completing his senior year. Buchanan was 6th in 2019 and currently looking at finding a school to wrestle at after this year. By now we all know Christian Carroll's story, he'll be in the mix for his second major title during the season after winning the Super 32 last fall.
     
    Sergio Lemley has two state titles in two states during his career and is a threat for a spot in the finals. He struggled a little bit at UWW Cadets, but will be at a more natural weight for Fargo. Three Mater Dei state champs will all look to bring back hardware this year. Blake Boarman will be off to Chattanooga soon, but wants to grab some Fargo hardware before he leaves. Both Brody Baumann and Gabe Sollars will look to impress college coaches as they still have one more year left at Mater Dei.
     
    Floyd Central champ J Conway will be taking the mat at 160lbs. He will surprise some folks as he will come into Fargo without some national credentials. LaPorte little guy Ashton Jackson will take a break from leading local parades and join the fray at 113lbs at Fargo.
     
    Perry Meridian’s Matthew Koontz was 5-0 at the Junior duals and could headlock a few guys in the FargoDome.  Other wrestlers with experience under the lights include Evan Dickey, Cheaney Schoeff, Logan Frazier, and Jajuan Anderson. Sullivan’s Lane Gilbert represented the USA at the Pan Ams in the 15U age group and could surprise some folks in Fargo.
     
    Schedule
    Saturday, July 17
    Junior Freestyle Medical Check and Weigh-in
    7:30 PM
     
    Sunday, July 18
    Junior Men's Freestyle: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
     
    Junior Men's Freestyle: Session II - Preliminaries and Consolations
    4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
     
    Monday, July 19
    Junior Freestyle 2ND Medical Check and Weigh-in [+ 2 LBS]
    7:00 AM
     
    Junior Men's Freestyle: Session III – 1/8 Championships, Quarterfinals & Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
     
    Junior Men's Freestyle: Session IV –- Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
    5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
     
    Tuesday, July 20
    Junior Freestyle: Session VI - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
     
    Wednesday, July 21
    Junior Greco-Roman Medical Check and Weigh-in
    4:00 PM
     
    Thursday, July 22
    Junior Greco-Roman: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
     
    Junior Greco-Roman: Session II – 1/8 Championship and Consolations
    4:30 PM - 8:30 PM
     
    Friday, July 23
    Junior Greco-Roman: Session III – Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
     
    Junior Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
     
    Entries from Indiana
    Weight Style Name School State FS Duals GR Duals 106 FS/GR Jackson Heaston Indian Creek       106 Freestyle Nathan Smith Southport 2021 7th at 106lbs 6-2 7-0 113 Freestyle Ashton Jackson LaPorte 2021 1st at 106lbs     113 Freestyle Evan Dickey Indianapolis Cathedral 2020 Qualifier at 106lbs
    2021 2nd at 106lbs     113 FS/GR Toby Billerman Perry Meridian 2021 3rd at 106lbs 5-1 2-2 120 Freestyle Lane Gilbert Sullivan 2020 4th at 113lbs
    2021 3rd at 120lbs     126 Freestyle Anthony Hughes Lawrence North 2020 Qualifier at 120lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 132lbs     126 FS/GR Cheaney Schoeff Avon 2020 2nd at 113lbs
    2021 2nd at 126lbs     126 Freestyle Logan Frazier Crown Point 2020 3rd at 113lbs
    2021 2nd at 120lbs     126 FS/GR Michael Tharpe Center Grove 2021 Qualifier at 126lbs     126 Freestyle Sergio Lemley Chesterton 2020 1st at 113lbs
    2021 1st at 120lbs     132 Freestyle Anthony Bahl Crown Point 2021 5th at 113lbs     132 FS/GR Matteo Vargo Penn 2019 2nd at 120lbs
    2020 1st at 126lbs
    2021 5th at 126lbs     132 FS/GR Zeke Seltzer Indianapolis Cathedral 2019 2nd at 113lbs
    2020 1st at 120lbs
    2021 1st at 126lbs     138 FS/GR Blake Boarman Evansville Mater Dei 2018 3rd at 113lbs
    2019 2nd at 120lbs
    2020 1st at 138lbs
    2021 3rd at 138lbs     138 FS/GR Brac Hooper Carmel 2020 Qualifier at 113lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 132lbs 1-6 3-4 138 Greco-Roman Brandon Kinnick Daleville       138 Freestyle Elijah Anthony Frankfort 2019 Qualifier at 106lbs
    2020 Qualifier at 113lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 126lbs     138 Greco-Roman Julius Gerencser Daleville 2021 8th at 138lbs     138 FS/GR Reakus Shelton Fort Wayne Snider 2020 8th at 132lbs     138 FS/GR Zach Wilson Roncalli       145 Freestyle Brody Arthur Oak Hill 2020 Qualifier at 132lbs
    2021 5th at 138lbs     145 Freestyle Dylan Stroud Manchester 2020 8th at 126lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 132lbs     145 Greco-Roman Ethan Jeffery Franklin Community       145 Greco-Roman Ethan Thompson Beech Grove   0-2 1-3 145 Freestyle Kody Glithero Roncalli   2-4 1-2 145 Freestyle Sam Goin Crown Point 2020 5th at 106lbs
    2021 4th at 126lbs     152 FS/GR Braedon Spears Plainfield   1-2 1-1 152 Freestyle Jaden Reynolds Avon 2019 5th at 138lbs
    2020 3rd at 145lbs
    2021 3rd at 145lbs     152 FS/GR Jajuan Anderson Warren Central 2020 2nd at 145lbs
    2021 4th at 152lbs     152 Freestyle Matthew Koontz Perry Meridian 2020 2nd at 132lbs
    2021 3rd at 152lbs 5-0 4-0 152 Freestyle Riley Rust Center Grove 2020 4th at 145lbs     152 Freestyle Scott Fitts Evansville Mater Dei 2018 Qualifier at 145lbs     160 Freestyle Hayden Shepherd Western 2019 Qualifier at 126lbs
    2020 Qualifier at 138lbs
    2021 6th at 145lbs     160 Freestyle J Conway Floyd Central 2019 Qualifier at 126lbs
    2020 6th at 138lbs
    2021 1st at 152lbs     160 Freestyle Kade Law Columbus East 2019 Qualifier at 145lbs
    2021 3rd at 160lbs     160 Freestyle Orlando Cruz Crown Point 2020 Qualifier at 145lbs
    2021 5th at 160lbs     160 FS/GR Ryan Younger Bloomington South       160 Freestyle Toby Abbott Cowan 2021 8th at 145lbs 4-4 4-3 170 FS/GR Aiden Reynolds Bloomington South       170 FS/GR Brody Baumann Evansville Mater Dei 2020 Qualifier at 145lbs
    2021 1st at 160lbs     170 FS/GR Codei Khawaja Floyd Central 2021 Qualifier at 170lbs     170 FS/GR Tyler Fuqua Franklin Community 2018 Qualifier at 120lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 170lbs     170 FS/GR Vincent McDonald Zionsville       182 FS/GR Brodie Porter Eastern (Greentown) 2020 Qualifier at 170lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 170lbs 1-1 2-3 182 FS/GR Drake Buchanan Center Grove 2020 6th at 182lbs
    2021 2nd at 182lbs 2-2 3-1 182 FS/GR Louis Mariacher Zionsville       182 FS/GR Noah Rowlett Lawrenceburg       182 FS/GR Pate Eastin Penn 2019 Qualifier at 145lbs
    2020 3rd at 160lbs
    2021 7th at 170lbs     195 FS/GR Brandon Hammer Tippecanoe Valley       220 FS/GR Christian Carroll New Prairie       195 FS/GR Connor Barket West Lafayette 2020 Qualifier at 182lbs
    2021 7th at 195lbs     195 Freestyle Evan Bates Chesterton 2019 3rd at 182lbs
    2020 1st at 220lbs
    2021 3rd at 220lbs     195 Freestyle Gabe Sollars Evansville Mater Dei 2019 Qualifier at 160lbs
    2020 7th at 170lbs
    2021 1st at 182lbs     195 Freestyle Keaton Grider Fort Wayne South Side       195 FS/GR Sam Hesser Center Grove       220 Freestyle Bryce Crump Center Grove       220 FS/GR Josh Howell Terre Haute South 2019 Qualifier at 220lbs
    2021 6th at 220lbs     220 Freestyle Nicholas Casad Terre Haute South       285 FS/GR Jacob Johnson Franklin Community 2020 Qualifier at 285lbs
    2021 Qualifier at 285lbs     285 FS/GR Ryan Lattimore Purdue Polytech      
    Y2CJ41

    Fargo 16U Preview

    By Y2CJ41, in High School News,

    The 16U age group(formerly Cadets) is always filled with excitement as there is an element of surprise at many weights with the young kids hitting a big national tournament. This year’s Indiana squad is one to watch as they were double All-American as a team at the National Duals. This is the first time Indiana has ever doubled up at the duals. Many of these same wrestlers will be looking for individual honors at Fargo which could make this year a very good year.
     
    Seven of the wrestlers taking the mats will have experience at Bankers Life. Two-time state placer Aidan Torres of Chesterton has the most state experience. He was 4-1 in the Greco duals and 4-5 in freestyle. Other placers that will be coming include Whiteland’s Joey Buttler and his fantastic hair. Buttler was 4-3 in Greco at the duals and 4-4 in freestyle. Western’s little guy Tanner Tishner looks to impress after going 5-4 in freestyle and 4-4 in Greco at the duals. Other state qualifiers that will be heading to Fargo include Evan Cruz, Tony Wood, Cameron Clark, and Logan Farnell.
     
    Some young guns that you need to watch out for include future Brownsburg Bulldog Revin Dickman. He was 9-0 in freestyle at the duals and 5-3 in Greco. He is ranked in numerous grade level rankings and will be one to watch when he dons his purple singlet. Snider’s phenom De’Alcapon Veazy has already been in the high school level rankings and was 6-3 in freestyle and 7-1 in Greco at the national duals. He’s a big guy that has wrestled everywhere this year. The name Rioux is quite familiar to those at Avon and Nathan Rioux is one to watch at 88lbs. He was 7-1 at the national duals in freestyle and 5-0 in Greco. Older brother Luke was 8-0 in freestyle this June. Crown Point young gun Gavin Jendreas will be one to follow at 100lbs, he was 7-2 at the duals in freestyle.
     
    Schedule
    Friday, July 16
    16U Freestyle Medical Check and Weigh-in
    5:00 PM
     
    Saturday, July 17
    16U Freestyle: Session I – Preliminaries and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
     
    16U Freestyle: Session II – Preliminaries, Consolations
    3:00 PM - 7:30 PM
     
    Sunday, July 18
    16U Freestyle 2ND Medical Check & Weigh-in [+2 lbs]
    7:00 AM
     
    16U Freestyle: Session III - Quarterfinals and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM
     
    16U Freestyle: Session IV - Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
    4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
     
    Monday, July 19
    16U Freestyle: Session V - Consolation Semifinals (IF NEEDED)
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
     
    16U Freestyle: Session VI - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
     
    Tuesday, July 20
    16U Greco-Roman Medical Check and Weigh-in
    4:30 PM
     
    Wednesday, July 21
    16U Greco-Roman: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
     
    16U Greco-Roman: Session II - 1/8 Championship, Quarterfinals and Consolations
    5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
     
    Thursday, July 22
    16U Greco-Roman: Session III Semifinals and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
     
    16U Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
     
    Entries from Indiana
    Weight Style Name School State FS Duals GR Duals 88 FS/GR Ayden Bollinger Alexandria   4-4 2-0 88 FS/GR Revin Dickman Brownsburg   9-0 5-3 88 FS/GR Nathan Rioux Avon   7-1 5-0 88 FS/GR Tyler Tun Fort Wayne Snider     1-2 94 FS/GR Brady Byrd Washington   1-8 2-6 94 FS/GR Logan Gilman Greenfield-Central       94 Freestyle Quinn Stauffacher Zionsville       100 Freestyle Gavin Jendreas Crown Point   7-2 1-1 100 FS/GR Luke Rioux Avon   8-0 3-4 106 Freestyle Charlie Larocca Center Grove       106 Freestyle Jalen May Peru   2-6 1-6 106 FS/GR Lincoln Parsons Greenfield-Central       106 FS/GR Tanner Tishner Western 2021 8th at 106lbs 5-4 4-4 113 Freestyle Kaptur Nowaczyk Crown Point       113 FS/GR Seth Syra Plainfield   3-6 1-7 120 Freestyle Evan Cruz Crown Point 2021 Qualifier at 106lbs     120 Freestyle Griffin Ingalls Fishers   4-4 1-7 126 FS/GR Joey Buttler Whiteland 2021 8th at 113lbs 4-4 4-3 126 Freestyle Aden Reyes Indianapolis Cathedral       126 Freestyle Tony Wood Jay County 2021 Qualifier at 120lbs     132 FS/GR Wyatt Krejsa Center Grove       132 Freestyle Jason Shuey Columbus North   0-7 0-4 138 Freestyle Cameron Clark Jay County 2021 Qualifier at 132lbs 1-8   138 FS/GR Gage Gulley Noblesville       138 FS/GR Cohen Hager Greenfield-Central       138 Freestyle Zach Lang Hamilton Southeastern       138 FS/GR Anthony Rinehart Zionsville   2-6 2-6 138 FS/GR Jackson Todd Pendleton Heights     4-4 138 Freestyle Aidan Torres Chesterton 2020 6th at 126lbs
    2021 8th at 132lbs 4-5 4-1 145 FS/GR Waylon Cressell Wabash   1-4 3-3 145 FS/GR Isaiah Holden Greenfield-Central       145 FS/GR Rider Searcy East Central   6-3 4-3 152 FS/GR Aidan Costello Hobart       160 FS/GR Jordan Ayres Manchester       160 FS/GR Fabian Chavez Mishawaka       160 FS/GR Logan Farnell Maconaquah 2021 Qualifier at 160lbs 2-7 0-1 170 Freestyle Dylan Forbus Franklin       170 Greco Dylan Pierce Mooresville       170 FS/GR Jase Robinson Floyd Central       170 FS/GR Brayden Tincher Eastern Hancock     0-3 170 Freestyle Vincent Tinoco Whiteland       182 FS/GR Dealcapon Veazy Fort Wayne Snider   6-3 7-1 195 Freestyle Kyvan Bandy Owen Valley   3-5 3-4 195 FS/GR Will Clark Crown Point   5-3 3-3 220 FS/GR Paul Clark Crown Point   2-7 6-2 285 FS/GR Dominic Burgett Hamilton Southeastern     3-5
    Y2CJ41
    Last summer was quite boring for many of us in the wrestling community and without Fargo it felt like the longest summer ever. This year Fargo is back and it looks to be better than ever with USAW allowing more entries per state. Thousands of wrestlers from across the country will converge upon Fargo July 17th through July 23rd for the biggest tournament in the country. This week we will feature write-ups on each age group and the top contenders from Indiana.
     
    Women's wrestling continues to grow within the state and this year it is most evident with 19 women making the trip to Fargo. Without and event last year, the credentials are a little limited past state level events. However, we have a great group that should be in contention for numerous medals over the course of the 16U and Junior age groups. We will have a handful of women doubling up wrestling both divisions that will equate to 27 entries over both divisions.
     
    At the 16U division Indiana has some hammers that will look to bring back a coveted stop sign. Leading the way is Rianne Murphy. She was the champion at this year’s Women’s Nationals at the 15U age group and runner-up at the UWW Cadet(17 and under) age group. She is from Valparaiso, but goes to school at Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania. Another one to keep an eye on is Northeastern’s Heather Crull. She was second at Middle School State this year against the boys. She also was second at the 15U Nationals falling to Murphy in the finals. At the UWW Cadet age level she was 5th. 
     
    Munster’s Trinity Malave was a 2020 IHSGW champion and also has had some success at the national level. She was a double placer at Women’s Nationals this year placing 7th at UWW Cadet and 8th at UWW Junior(20 and under) age groups. Another one to watch at the 16U age group will be Joy Cantu who was 7-2 at the national duals in June.
     
    State champions Kaylie Petersen, Torieonna Buchanan, Cailin Campbell, Catie Campbell, Aulani Davis, Kiersten O’Neill, and Riley Dempewolf also will be representing the state at Fargo. Cailin Campbell was 6-3 this June at the national duals, while Dempewolf was undefeated at 9-0. Three wrestlers will return with previous placements at Fargo. Kiersten O’neill, Torieonna Buchanan, and Riley Dempewolf all placed 6th in 2019 at the 16U age group.
     
    Schedule
    Friday, July 16th
    16U Women Freestyle Medical Check and Weigh-in
    5:30 PM
     
    Saturday, July 17th
    16U Women Freestyle: Session I – Preliminaries and Consolations
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
     
    16U Women Freestyle: Session II – Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations
    3:00 PM - 7:30 PM
     
    Saturday, July 18th
    16U Women Freestyle: Session III – Consolation Semifinals (IF NEEDED)
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM\
     
    16U Women Freestyle: Session IV - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    1:30 PM - 4:00 PM
     
    Monday, July 19th
    Junior Women Freestyle Medical Check and Weigh-in
    6:30 PM
     
    Tuesday, July 20th
    Junior Women: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
     
    Junior Women Freestyle: Session II - 1/8 Championship, Quarterfinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
     
    Wednesday, July 21st
    Junior Women Freestyle: Session III Semifinals and Consolation
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
     
    Junior Women Freestyle: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
     
    Entries from Indiana
    Age Weight Name School State Duals 16U 100 Makenzie Smith Heritage Hills 2021 2nd at 106lbs   16U 106 Rianne Murphy Wyoming Seminary(PA)   8-1 16U 106 Heather Crull Northeastern   9-0 16U 112 Joy Cantu Merrillville   7-2 16U 112 Sydney Delois New Palestine 2021 4th at 113lbs   16U 122 Rose Kaplan West Lafayette 2021 2nd at 113lbs   16U 127 Hannah Seitzinger Indian Creek     16U 132 Kyra Tomlinson Noblesville 2021 3rd at 132lbs   16U 138 Josie Hause Monrovia   2-6 16U 144 Kaylie Petersen Evansville Central 2021 1st at 138lbs 2-0 Junior 100 Makenzie Smith Heritage Hills 2021 2nd at 106lbs   Junior 106 Rianne Murphy Wyoming Seminary(PA)   8-1 Junior 112 Trinity Malave Munster 2020 1st at 113lbs   Junior 112 Makenzie Smith Heritage Hills 2021 2nd at 106lbs   Junior 117 Torieonna Buchanan West Vigo 2019 1st at 106lbs
    2020 1st at 106lbs
    2021 1st at 113lbs   Junior 122 Cailin Campbell North Montgomery 2019 2nd at 120lbs
    2020 1st at 120lbs
    2021 1st at 120lbs 6-3 Junior 122 Rose Kaplan West Lafayette 2021 2nd at 113lbs   Junior 127 Hannah Seitzinger Indian Creek     Junior 127 Anna Krejsa Center Grove 2020 4th at 126lbs
    2021 2nd at 120lbs   Junior 127 Catie Campbell North Montgomery 2019 1st at 126lbs
    2020 2nd at 132lbs
    2021 1st at 126lbs   Junior 132 Kyra Tomlinson Noblesville 2021 3rd at 132lbs   Junior 138 Aulani Davis Kokomo 2020 1st at 132lbs
    2021 1st at 145lbs   Junior 138 Sierra Pienkowski Mount Vernon (Fortville) 2019 8th at 145lbs
    2020 7th at 138lbs
    2021 2nd at 138lbs   Junior 138 Josie Hause Monrovia   2-6 Junior 144 Kaylie Petersen Evansville Central 2021 1st at 138lbs 2-0 Junior 152 Kiersten O'Neill Wabash 2019 1st at 160lbs
    2020 2nd at 160lbs
    2021 1st at 152lbs   Junior 200 Riley Dempewolf McCutcheon 2019 1st at 195lbs
    2020 1st at 195lbs
    2021 1st at 195lbs 9-0
    Y2CJ41
    By STEVE KRAH
    stvkrh905@gmail.com

    Sarah Hildebrandt is an Indiana girl.
     
    And even though she now lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., the 50g Tokoyo Olympics qualifier for the U.S. has gotten a chance to come back to her back yard as the Games approach.
     
    An Olympic Wrestling Training camp for women is happening June 27-July 7 at Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, not far from where Hildebrandt grew up in Granger and attended Penn High School.
     
    An Olympic-style tournament and simulation was begun June 28 and concludes June 29.
     
    Through donors and the work of Penn head coach Brad Harper, her father Chris Hildebrandt and many others, the camp was established in Indiana as part of a circuit that came out of the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs being closed to non-residents because of COVID-19 concerns.
     
    “I’m so so grateful,” says Hildebrandt, 27. “There's so much to it and then I just feel so supported and loved.
     
    “It’s so special to me and it really made me emotional like when we finally got the clearance for it. So many people who have put a lot into this dream and I feel like right now we kind of all get to share that and that's really cool.”
     
    Jen Seltzer, mother of two-time IHSAA state champion Zeke Seltzer (Indianapolis Cathedral Class of 2022), is an executive with Kroger and helped supply snacks.
     
    Led by U.S. national women’s coach Terry Steiner, the camp includes four of six Olympians (Hildebrandt, Jacara Winchester at 53kg, Tamaya Stock Mensah at 68kg and Adeline Gray a 76kg) and many national team members. Olympic qualifiers Kayla Miracle (62kg), a 2014 Culver Academies graduate, and 2016 Olympic gold medalist Helen Maroulis (57kg) are working on strength training in Arizona.
     
    Hildebrandt has been working with Harper since she was a Penn freshman and the two have been around the world for competitions. Harper will be in her corner in Tokyo.
     
    Harper knows what makes Hildebrandt tick. She has to find something that makes it fun for her and cuts the tension.
     
    “When you see Sarah joking and laughing it's like, yep, she's ready,” says Harper. “When she does that it means she's ready flip the switch.”
     
    Hildebrandt’s using the camp to refine as Tokyo (freestyle wrestling is Aug. 4-7).
     
    “I really like that to be able to recognize a mistake in the middle of a fast-paced match, correct it and convert it into offensive points,” says Hildebrandt. “It’s nice to have this atmosphere. I do feel nervous and I do feel a lot how I do in competition so I’m able to navigate those emotions as well.”
     
    There are invitation-only spectators at the camp, including some adoring youngsters.
     
    Those admirers help fuel Hildebrandt.
     
    “If I see a picture of little girls watching us or asking for my autograph it doesn't get old every single time,” says Hildebrandt. “It’s so just inspiring and motivating.
     
    “I didn’t have that growing up.”
     
    With the pandemic the Tokyo Games were delayed by a year and international fans won’t be allowed.
     
    Hildebrandt has learned to put the situation in perspective.
     
    “If you could just let me get my shot at my medal, I won't complain about anything,” says Hildebrandt. “I won't go to opening ceremonies. I won't need any of the hoopla.”
     
    Steiner points out the qualities of Indiana products Hildebrandt and Miracle.
     
    For Hildebrandt, it’s here positive attitude and drive.
     
    “She’s a competitor and you can see that in her family,” says Steiner. “She’s making the right choices, not just on the mat but lifestyle choices.
     
    “I can never predict outcome, but I know she’s as prepared as she’s ever been stepping into a major competition.”
     
    What makes 25-year-old Miracle go?
     
    “She’s a very different athlete,” said Steiner. “She has a lot of confidence in herself and a very unique style. She’s very explosive and very strong.”
    Steiner, who was an NCAA champion wrestler at the University of Iowa in the early 1990’s, notes that U.S. women are veteran that all six were the top seeds going into the Olympic Trials — the first time there were no trial upsets.
     
    “They're very professional in what they're doing when they come in they have their plans set and they go about their business,” says Steiner.
     
    “They're really dialed-in. They know what's at stake.
     
    “My biggest job right now is to keep reminding them that — with or without Olympic gold — it’s not likely to change.
     
    “They've already won. I mean that. The attributes that win gold medals, they're showing me on a daily basis.
    They’ve got to keep looking at it in a positive light and there’s an opportunity in front of them to do great things.”
    Y2CJ41
    Date
    October 2, 2021

    Registration
    *Registration is open*
    Click here for registration
     
    Brackets and Streaming
    TrackWrestling Link for brackets

    Location:
    Mount Vernon High School
    8112 N 200 W
    Fortville, IN 46040
     
    Event Schedule
    Weigh-ins
    Friday October 1st from 5:00-7:00 pm ET Weigh-ins
    Saturday October 2nd from 7:30-8:30 am ET Wrestling Session 1
    Saturday October 2nd 9:00am-11:00pm ET
    Girls Middle School and High School divisions Wrestling Session 2
    Saturday October 2nd 11:00pm-2:00pm ET
    Middle School and 11U divisions
    Wrestling will begin promptly at 11am.  
    Weigh-In Information
    Friday October 1st from 5:00-7:00 pm EST
    Saturday October 2nd from 7:30-8:30 am EST
    *Note: No weight change fee No Satellite Weigh-ins Weigh-ins will be in a singlet or NFHS approved two-piece uniform  
    Entry Fee
    $40 Registration by September 30th at 10:00pm EST or 500 paid entries, whichever comes first. No membership card is required to wrestle You must pay online by credit card ONLY! Per TrackWrestling policy there will be no refunds of paid entries.  If the event is canceled due to COVID-19 we will issue refunds to everyone. Online registration ONLY will be accepted this year. Registration will be cut off at the first 500 paid entries or September 29th at 10pm EST whichever comes first.  The Tournament Committee will retain the right to add up to an additional 25 wrestlers, at their discretion, via a petition process, after the entry cutoff. Information about the petition process will be posted within a day after registration closes. Once we reach the entry limit registration will be shut down. After that point the ONLY way to enter is through a petition.  
    Tournament Gear and Apparel

    3X Gear is the official gear distributor for the IndianaMat Gorilla Melee. They will be on hand with a full selection of tournament apparel and other wrestling apparel and supplies.
     
    Spectators
    $10 per person
     
    Age Groups and Weight Classes
    *Tournament committee reserves the right to combine weight classes with fewer entries
    Middle School(14 weights)
    70, 77, 84, 91, 98, 106, 114, 122, 130, 140, 150, 160, 180, 235

    Girls High School(12 weights)
    9th-12th grade
    100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.

    Girls Middle School(10 weights)
    5th-8th grade
    75, 85, 95, 105, 115, 125, 135, 150, 170, 200

    11U(14 weights)
    Age as of August 31st, 2021
    45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 105, 120, 160

    Awards
    Top 4 will receive custom awards
     
    Contact
    Joe Caprino
    joe@Indianamat.com
     
    Wrestling Information
    -Wrestling will take place on Saturday October 2nd, 2021
    -Double elimination wrestle-backs to 4th place
    -Period lengths 2-1-1 Championship 1-1-1 Consolation
    -Overtime will be 1 minute sudden victory neutral and 30 second rideout
    -We will seed 4-16 wrestlers so please include your state or national credentials when registering 
    -2020/2021 NFHS rules will be utilized, except the overtime modification
    -Wrestling will be on full mats
    -Singlet or approved NFHS uniform is required
    -Headgear is not required, but recommended
    -Mouthpieces are required if you have braces
    -Wrestlers need to be clean shaven when they step on the mat, long hair is allowed.
     
    Y2CJ41
    By Dane Fuelling
     
    Decades ago, the stretch of land from Fort Wayne to Muncie was the heart of high school wrestling in Indiana. Storied programs like Bellmont, Delta and the now-shuttered high schools of Muncie South and Muncie North won 11 of the twenty-one state championships from 1974 to 1994. Since Bellmont’s title in 1994, the area has fallen behind the rest of the state. While plenty of wrestling fans around the state like to talk about the struggles of the Fort Wayne area, two men have taken big steps in their lives to put actions where others will only speak words. 
    Wade McClurg has been hired to a new dual position in the Indiana Tech athletic program. He will simultaneously be assistant coach for the Warrior program and the head of its new Warrior Regional Training Center. 
     
    “With the Warrior RTC,” says McClurg, “we have an opportunity to positively impact hundreds of boys and girls in the Fort Wayne community and surrounding area through the sport of wrestling.  In return, we will not only have the ability to produce elite athletes, but we will strive to form servant-leaders and mold outstanding individuals through the world’s oldest and greatest sport.”
     
    On the other side of town, coach Andy Oberlin has opened a new wrestling-focused facility on Goshen Road, not far from the Zoo in Fort Wayne. Oberlin has invested much of his own personal money and time into a venture that has no guarantee of success. It is a new idea for the city, a place for clubs and teams to host camps, retreats and for visiting coaches to hold clinics. 
     
    Oberlin has hooked up with ONE for sponsorship and his facility has new wall mats and wrestling mats being installed this week. He has enlisted the help of Anton Talamantes, one of the city’s all-time wrestling greats, to host the very first clinic at his facility. That will take place on June 12th. 
     
    Coach McClurg was a graduate of Beech Grove High School in Indianapolis who went on to wrestle for the Greyhounds of the University of Indianapolis. In five years at the helm of the Roncalli program, McClurg won 84 duals with 18 losses and had 17 state qualifiers, including three state champions. He qualified for Team State in his final four seasons and won a semi-state title in 2019. 
     
    With all that time spent on the south side of Indy, moving to Fort Wayne will be a big change for the coach. A state of the art, 25,000 square feet facility was a good place to start.    
     
    For Oberlin, Fort Wayne is home and since wrestling against two-time state champion Tim Myers multiple times in his high school career at DeKalb High School, Oberlin has also seen the drop in competitiveness in the area. 
     
    “The question is whether we have gotten worse or everyone else has gotten better,” says Oberlin. “But I think it is a combination of both.”
     
    Oberlin feels that the strong group of wrestlers out of Griffith High School in the early 2000s, which included current IU head coach Angel Escobedo, transformed high school wrestling in Indiana and created a new, higher ceiling. 
     
    “We have so many more kids competing nationally,” he says. “Just look at how many D1 wrestlers we have produced now. Things are so much more competitive now than they were 25 years ago.”
     
    Both Oberlin and McClurg see potential for the sport in the state’s largest school district, Fort Wayne Community Schools. 
     
    “Kids today need to see some success to get hooked on the sport,” declares Oberlin. “And when you try to get them to start the sport in high school, there isn’t much of a chance for success against experienced wrestlers. We need to change that.”
     
    McClurg’s program will open in September, and with established men’s and women’s wrestling teams at the school, things might just be looking up for wrestling in our area.
    Y2CJ41
    Date
    September 11-12, 2021

    Registration
    Registration has reached capacity, please see the petition information
    Click here to register
     
    Petition Information
    Click here to fill out the petition
     

    Brackets and Streaming
    TrackWrestling Link for brackets and streaming
    FloWrestling streaming link

    Stud List
    2021 Stud List

    Location:
    The Plex South
    5702 Engle Rd
    Fort Wayne, IN 46804
     
    Event Schedule
    Weigh-ins
    Saturday September 11th from 1:00-4:00 pm EST Wrestling Session 1
    Weights: 109, 129, 155, and 173
    Saturday September 11th from 5:00-9:00 pm EST Wrestling Session 2
    Weights: 116, 135, 148, 198, and 288
    Sunday September 12th from 9:00 am-1:00 pm EST Wrestling Session 3
    Weights: 123, 141, 163, 185, and 223
    Sunday September 12th from 1:00-6:00 pm EST  
    Weigh-In Information
    Saturday September 11th from 1:00-4:00 pm EST
    *Note: No weight change fee No Satellite Weigh-ins Weigh-ins will be in a singlet or NFHS approved two-piece uniform  
    Entry Fee
    $40 Registration by September 8th at 10:00pm EST or 800 paid entries, whichever comes first. No membership card is required to wrestle You must pay online by credit card ONLY! Per TrackWrestling policy there will be no refunds of paid entries.  If the event is canceled due to COVID-19 we will issue refunds to everyone. Online registration ONLY will be accepted this year. Registration will be cut off at the first 800 paid entries or September 9th at 10pm EST whichever comes first. Please note we had had around 650 preregistered entries the past four years and we sold out the past two years. The Tournament Committee will retain the right to add up to an additional 25 wrestlers, at their discretion, via a petition process, after the entry cutoff. Information about the petition process will be posted within a day after registration closes. Once we reach the entry limit registration will be shut down. After that point the ONLY way to enter is through a petition.
      Tournament Gear and Apparel

    3X Gear is the official gear distributor for the IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open. They will be on hand with a full selection of tournament apparel and other wrestling apparel and supplies.
     
    Spectators
    $15 per person cash only to be purchased at the door during weigh-ins or before each session.
     
    Age Groups
    Students currently enrolled in 7th-12th grades will be wrestling in one division.

    Awards
    Top 4 will receive medals and the top 4 will qualify for Super 32 early entry
     
    Contact
    Joe Caprino
    joe@Indianamat.com
     
    Wrestling Information
    -Wrestling will take place on Saturday September 11th and Sunday September 12th, 2021
    -Weight Classes: 109, 116, 123, 129, 135, 141, 148, 155, 163, 173, 185, 198, 223, 288
    -Wrestlers in 7th-12th grade may participate
    -Double elimination wrestle-backs to 4th place
    -Period lengths 2-1-1 Championship 1-1-1 Consolation
    -Overtime will be 1 minute sudden victory neutral and 30 second rideout
    -We will seed 4-16 wrestlers so please include your state or national credentials when registering 
    -2020/2021 NFHS rules will be utilized, except the overtime modification
    -Wrestling will be on full mats
    -Singlet or approved NFHS uniform is required
    -College out of bounds rules will be utilized.
    -Headgear is not required, but recommended
    -Mouthpieces are required if you have braces
    -Wrestlers need to be clean shaven when they step on the mat, long hair is allowed.
     
    Seeding Information
    Each wrestler that qualifies will be given a "Separation Criteria" from the list below. The criteria are ranked in order.
    1. Nationally ranked in FloWrestling or MatScouts rankings
    2. State Champion/IHPO Champion
    3. State 2-3/IHPO 2-4
    4. State 4-5
    5. State 6-8
    6. State Qualifier/IHPO Top 6 or 8
    7. Other Credentialed athletes that deserve separation
     
    With these groups we will determine seeds.  Here is an example
    If we have 2 wrestlers with #1 criteria, 4 with #2, 2 with #3, 2 with #4 and 5 with #5 this is how it will work.
     
    The top two seeds will be the two wrestlers with #1 criteria in a random order
    Seeds 3-6 will be the wrestlers with #2 criteria in a random order
    Seeds 7-8 wrestlers with #3 criteria in a random order
    Seeds 9-10 wrestlers with #4 criteria in a random order
    Seeds 11-14 wrestlers with #5 criteria in a random order
    The seeds will be determined randomly by TrackWrestling. 
     
    Host Hotel
    Hampton Inn- Fort Wayne Southwest
    8219 West Jefferson Blvd.
    Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804
    Booking Link: https://group.hamptoninn.com/hf9te9
    Group Name: INDIANA MAT
     
    College Coaches
    We will offer a special college coaches package for $50. Please follow this link to preregister in advance.
    You may pay in advance or pay if you are not attending the event and want the entry database using this button
    Click here for the PayPal link.
    The package will include:
    Registration list of all high school aged wrestlers with name, address, grade, weight, accomplishments, GPA, and college test scores* Admission to the tournament and floor access for up to two coaches. Preliminary entry list sent after registration closes  
    *Tournament entry information with addresses and contact information will be sent the week after the event and will have all high school aged wrestlers that opted to have information released to coaches.
     
    Past Results
    2020 Results(707 wrestlers from 16 states)
    2019 Results(610 wrestlers from 11 states)
    2018 Results(605 wrestlers from 12 states)
    2017 Results(607 wrestlers from 10 states)
    2016 Results(647 wrestlers from 11 states)
    2015 Results(580 wrestlers from 11 states)
    2014 Results(586 wrestlers from 14 states)
    2013 Results(598 wrestlers from 10 states)
    2012 Results(444 wrestlers from 8 states)
    2011 Results(254 wrestlers from 9 states)
    2010 Results(171 wrestlers from 9 states)  
     
    IHSAA Rules
    Regarding Coaching at the IHPO
    15-2 During School Year Out-of-Season
    15-2.1 Individual Sports (Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Wrestling)
    a. Students may participate in non-school contests as individuals or as members of a non-school team in non-school contests provided that participation during school time is approved by the school principal or his/her designee.
    b. Coaches, from a member school coaching staff, may coach students in that sport if NOT under the organization, supervision and operation of the member school.
    c. Member schools may not organize, supervise or operate athletic practices or interschool athletic contests.
    d. Member schools may not provide school-owned uniforms (jerseys, shirts, shorts, pants, singlets, or swimsuits, etc.) worn by the student in non-school contests.
    Y2CJ41
    This week the women get a change to make some world teams in Texas. The annual Women’s Nationals(formerly Body Bar) is taking place with competition at the 14U, U15, Cadet, Junior, and U23 age levels. There will be 19 competitors from Indiana participating with some doubling up in age divisions. Competition starts today and will run through Sunday.
     
    UWW Juniors
    Four girls will be taking the mat in the Junior age group. Leading the way is Alara Boyd who was a team member in 2019. She was 4th at the Olympic Trials and is a favorite to make another world team. Three others that are still in high school will take the mat against a mixture of high school and college stars. State champions Trinity Malave and Torieonna Buchanan will be at 50kg and 53kg respectively. The last one to participate is Delta’s state runner-up anna Krejsa at 57kg.
     
    U23
    Three girls will be on the mats for this age division with two of them doubling up as both Alara Boyd and Torieonna Buchanan will also participate in the Junior division. Mishawaka’s Salome Walker will be the other competitor in this division. She attends McKendree University with Boyd and will wrestle at 59kg.
     
    UWW Cadets
    Indiana will have six representatives in the cadet division at the Women's Nationals. Wrestlers that are doubling up include Heath Crull, Rianne Murphy, and Trinity Malave. The three that are going only this division include Devyn Moore at 49kg, Sydney Delois at 53kg, and Kaylie Petersen at 65kg. Moore was an IHSGW runner-up in 2019 and an ISWA freestyle champ this year. Delois was 4th at the IHSGW finals along with being a runner-up last week at ISWA freestyle state. Petersen was champion at both ISWA state and IHSGW state this year.
     
    U15
    This is the largest representation for Indiana natives at this age division with 9 participants. This is a young and tough group of girls that will be tough outs and we could see more than one on the Pan Am team. Leading the way is Rianne Murphy who is attending Wyoming Seminary currently. Heather Crull was second at middle school state against the boys and placed 8th in freestyle against the boys. The O’campo sisters, Ysabella and Julianna, have both had a lot of success within the state and could surprise some folks in Texas. Amelia Murphy has had some success within the state and should be one to watch at 42kg. Joy Cantu is the daughter of former Hobart placer John Cantu and is another one with a lot of success within the state.  Highland’s Aleksandra Bastaic and Pendleton’s Maddie Marsh will both be at 54kg and have won multiple ISWA titles during their short careers.
     
    14U
    This age division will see five representatives from Indiana. Both Aleksandra Bastaic and Maddie Marsh will be doubling up age divisions here. The others include a pair of girls from Muncie in Paislee Chambers and Ella Gahl. Gahl won ISWA freestyle and folkstyle titles while she was runner-up at middle school state. Chambers was 2nd at freestyle state and middle school state, while winning a folkstyle title. Lastly, Olivia Crull will take the mat for Indiana. She was a runner-up in both ISWA freestyle and folkstyle state while finishing third at middle school state.
     
    Brackets
    https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/2c98bfde-365d-1d75-26b1-ca5128585398
     
    Schedule
    Friday, May 7th
    Session I - Preliminaries
    UWW Junior Women
    9:30am to 1:00pm
     
    Session II - Quarterfinals, semifinals, consolations
    UWW Junior Women
    2:00pm - 6:00pm
     
    Session III - Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals and 3rd, 5th, 7th place matches
    UWW Junior Women
    6:00pm - 8:00pm
     
    Saturday, May 8th
    Session IV - Preliminaries
    14U & 10U girls
    9:00am - 12:30pm
     
    UWW Cadet Women
    10:00am - 12:30pm
     
    Session V - Quarterfinals, semifinals, consolations
    UWW Cadet, 14U & 10U Girls
    1:30pm - 4:30pm
     
    Session VI - All placement matches
    14U & 10U
    4:30pm - 6:00pm
     
    Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals and 3rd, 5th, 7th place matches
    UWW Cadet Women
    6:00pm - 8:00pm
     
    Sunday, May 9th
    Session VII- Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations
    UWW U23, UWW U15, 12U & 8U Girls
    9:30am to 2:00pm
     
    Session VIII - All placement matches
    12U & 8U Girls
    3:00pm - 4:30pm
     
    Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals and 3rd, 5th, 7th place matches
    UWW U23 and UWW U15 Girls
    3:00pm - 5:00pm
     
    Participants
    Division Weight Name Club 14U Girls 119 lbs Aleksandra Bastaic Highland Wrestling Club 14U Girls 119 lbs Maddie Marsh Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES 14U Girls 127 lbs Ella Gahl Spartans Wrestling Club 14U Girls 136 lbs paislee chambers Spartans Wrestling Club 14U Girls 92 lbs Olivia Crull Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES U15 Women 42 kg Amelia Murphy Crown Point U15 Women 42 kg Ysabelle Ocampo Penn Wrestling Club U15 Women 46 kg Heather Crull Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES U15 Women 46 kg Julianna Ocampo Penn Wrestling Club U15 Women 50 kg Joy Cantu Legends of Gold Las Vegas U15 Women 50 kg Rianne Murphy Wyoming Seminary U15 Women 54 kg Aleksandra Bastaic Highland Wrestling Club U15 Women 54 kg Maddie Marsh Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES U15 Women 58 kg Ella Gahl Spartans Wrestling Club U23 Women 53 kg Torieonna Buchanan Team Green Wrestling Club U23 Women 59 kg Salome Walker McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club U23 Women 65 kg Alara Boyd McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Women 46 kg Heather Crull Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES UWW Cadet Women 46 kg Rianne Murphy Wyoming Seminary UWW Cadet Women 49 kg Devyn Moore Region Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Women 49 kg Trinity Malave Munster UWW Cadet Women 53 kg Sydney Delois Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES UWW Cadet Women 65 kg Kaylie Petersen Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Junior Women 50 kg Trinity Malave Munster UWW Junior Women 53 kg Torieonna Buchanan Team Green Wrestling Club UWW Junior Women 57 kg Anna Krejsa Delta UWW Junior Women 65 kg Alara Boyd McKendree Bearcat Wrestling Club  
    Y2CJ41
    We are in full swing of the international styles and this weekend will be no different as three big events are taking place. First, we have the ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman state finals at Avon. The two other events will run simultaneously in Iowa. The UWW Junior World Team Trials and Senior Nationals will be held in Coralville, Iowa.
     
    ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Finals
    Over 900 wrestlers are currently registered for this year’s event that is schedule to take place at Avon High School. From 5 years old to 40+ wrestlers will be looking for a coveted ISWA state title. In the 14U, 16U, and Junior age groups spots on Team Indiana are on the line. Wrestlers who win those divisions will be offered the opportunity to represent the state in the USAW duals and potentially at Fargo this summer. There are many deep weight classes that will be fun to watch play out with many state qualifiers, placers, and champs in the brackets.
     
    Here is the link to registration to see the current entries(click continue as guest)
    https://www.trackwrestling.com/registration/TW_Register.jsp?tournamentGroupId=195735132
     
    Brackets
    Freestyle
    https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=627909132
    Greco-Roman
    https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=627915132
     
    ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Schedule
    Saturday Freestyle
    Session I
    8 AM EST Pee Wee, Bantam, Schoolboy Junior, UN/SR/VT 
    Session II
    2 PM EST: Intermediate, Novice & Cadet
     
    Sunday Greco-Roman
    Session I:
    8 AM EST Bantam, Schoolboy, Cadet, UN/SR,/VT
     
    Session II:
    1:00 pm EST Intermediate, Novice, Junior
     
    Session III:
    10 am EST SUNDAY Girls Freestyle all divisions 
     
    Senior Nationals
    Iowa will once again play host to another big USAW event. The Senior Nationals will serve as a qualifier for the World Team Trials in September. After the Olympics UWW will still host a World Championship event, so the top 5 finishers will join the previous qualifiers that were at the Olympic Trials for a World team spot.
     
    Indiana will be represented by eight wrestlers in the senior division. Vanessa Ramirez wrestling for McKendree and the former Warren Central wrestler will be in the women’s freestyle portion, while everyone else will be in the men’s freestyle division.
     
    Former Junior World Team members Brayton Lee and Lucas Davision lead the way for the men’s freestyle division. Lee will be at 70kg, while Davison is scheduled to wrestle 125kg. Dylan Lydy who recently took his talents to Bloomington will represent the Indiana RTC at 79kg. He will be joined by current Indiana grappler Graham Rooks at 65kg. Current DIII wrestlers Kyle Hatch and Kobe Woods will test their skills at the senior level. Hatch will represent the Little Giants at 79kg, while Woods will represent Wartburg at 97kg. Lastly, two-time state champion Shawn Streck is entered at 125kg.
     
    Brackets
    https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/e275b9c6-ddff-bf7b-0f6f-16b08df88a28
     
    Schedule
    Friday
    Session I
    Senior Women's Freestyle
    Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals  and Consolations
    11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
     
    Session II
    Senior Women's Freestyle
    Consolations and Medals
    3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
     
    Session III
    Senior Women's Freestyle
    1st Place Matches
    7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
     
    Saturday
    Session IV
    Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
    Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and consolations
    10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
     
    Session V
    Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
    Consolations, Consolation Semifinals and 3rd, 5th and 7th place
    4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
     
    Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
    1st Place Matches
    7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
     
    Entries
    Freestyle 65 kg Graham Rooks Indiana RTC Freestyle 70 kg Brayton Lee Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC Freestyle 79 kg Dylan Lydy Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Kyle Hatch Wabash Freestyle 97 kg Kobe Woods Burg Training Center Freestyle 125 kg Lucas Davison Wildcat Wrestling Club Freestyle 125 kg Shawn Streck Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC) Women's Freestyle 53 kg Vanessa Ramirez McKendree(Warren Central)  
    Junior World Team Trials
    Indiana will be well represented in the Junior World Team Trials this weekend with 24 wrestlers taking the mat. Wrestlers will wrestle in a full bracket with the championship finals be a best of three series to determine a spot on the world team. The last time there was a Junior World Team trials Indiana was represented by three athletes in Brayton Lee, Lucas Davison, and Mason Parris. The Junior age group is basically anyone who turns 18-20 years old during the current year. This division is always very intriguing as it matches up some of the top high school talent with wrestlers who have a year or two of college experience. From the early registration it looks like Purdue, Indiana, and Marian all have sent a good number of athletes to compete.
     
    Only one wrestler will participate in Greco-Roman as Christian Carroll will be doubling up at the event. He is slated to wrestle 97kg in both styles. There are a handful of other current high schoolers in the field including three-time state champion Jesse Mendez. Mendez is a former Cadet World Team member and would have been a favorite to represent the USA last year. Others still in high school include Mendez’s teammate Logan Frazier and a trio of Mater Dei wrestlers in Blake Boarman, Brody Baumann, and Gabe Sollars.
     
    The other 18 entries from Indiana are all in college and have a mixture of experience in freestyle. Penn State’s Matt Lee will wrestle at 70kg. Two current Purdue Boilermakers will enter the field with true freshmen Cooper Noehre and Macartney Parkinson wrestling at 74kg and 86kg respectively. Five current Indiana wrestlers will join Lydy and Rooks at the event. True freshmen Jonathan Kervin, Isiah Levitz, Paul(Robert) Deters, and Andrew Irick will join sophomore Donnell Washington. The biggest contingent will be Steven Bradley’s Marian squad who will have ten wrestlers in the event. They will be lead by state champion Elliott Rodgers along with placers Jacob Simone, Aundre Beatty, Seth Johnson, and Will Stewart.
     
    Brackets
    https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/e275b9c6-ddff-bf7b-0f6f-16b08df88a28
     
    Schedule
    Friday
    Session I
    UWW Junior Greco-Roman
    Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals  and Consolations
    10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
     
    Session II
    UWW Junior Greco-Roman
    Consolations and Medals
    3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
     
    UWW Junior Greco-Roman
    Best 2 out of 3 Finals
    4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
     
    Saturday
    Session IV
    UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
    Preliminaries and consolations
    10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
     
    Session V
    UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
    Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations
    4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
     
    Sunday
    Session VI
    UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
    Consolation, Consolation Semifinals, 3rd Place, 5th Place and 7th Place
    10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
     
    Session VII
    UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
    UWW Junior Best 2 out of 3 Finals
    12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
     
    Entries
     
    Freestyle 57 kg Jacob Simone Marian Freestyle 57 kg Logan Frazier Region Wrestling Academy Freestyle 61 kg Jesse Mendez Region Wrestling Academy Freestyle 65 kg Aundre Beatty Marian Freestyle 65 kg Blake Boarman Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 70 kg Matt Lee Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Freestyle 70 kg Ricky Hegedus Marian Freestyle 70 kg Seth Johnson Marian Freestyle 74 kg Brody Baumann Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 74 kg Cooper Noehre Boilermaker RTC Freestyle 74 kg Elliott Rodgers Marian Freestyle 74 kg Jonathan Kervin Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Aaron McKinley Marian Freestyle 79 kg Donnell Washington Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Isiah Levitz Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Joe Rice Marian Freestyle 79 kg Paul Deters Indiana RTC Freestyle 86 kg Gabe Sollars Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 86 kg Macartney Parkinson Boilermaker RTC Freestyle 86 kg William Stewart Marian Freestyle 92 kg Christian Carroll Midwest Regional Training Center Freestyle 97 kg Austin Lane Marian Freestyle 125 kg Andrew Irick Indiana RTC Freestyle 125 kg Jacob Bullock Marian Greco-Roman 97 kg Christian Carroll Midwest Regional Training Center
    Y2CJ41
    The national scene for wrestling is starting to get back to normal this spring. In the past the spring has been littered with national level events and this week is no different with two big events going on. In Wisconsin there will be the UWW Cadet, UWW U15 and UWW Futures divisions and in Virginia Beach the NHSCA grade level nationals will be held. Indiana will have many representatives in each event.
     
    UWW Cadet/U15/Futures in Wisconsin
    As of registration on Thursday morning Indiana will have 15 different wrestlers participating at this event with most of them doubling up in both freestyle and Greco-roman. The UWW Cadet division has a lot at stake as winners will be representing the USA in the world and Pan Am championships this off-season. The UWW U15 age group winners will represent the USA at the Pan Am championships this off-season. At the cadet division you will see wrestlers from 15 to 17 years old, which encompasses basically 8th graders through high school juniors. The U15 age group is 13 to 15 year olds and the Futures division is 10-12 year old competitors.
     
    In the Futures division we have two competitors, Samuel Rioux and Elias Faith. Rioux is a name that will likely be in the Avon lineup until about the year 3000, so keep an eye on all of the brothers coming up. Samuel is a multiple time ISWA placer. Faith is wrestling in both styles and is a multiple time ISWA champion and placer. He wrestles for the Maurer Coughlin wrestling club. Both of these guys are wrestling at the 28kg weight class which is just under 62lbs.
     
    The U15 age group has some very intriguing wrestlers to watch for the future in Indiana wrestling. At 38kg we have both Nathan Rioux and Caleb Schaefer. Rioux has had an immense amount of success at the state level. Schaefer is the son of Mater Dei coach Greg Schaefer and has had quite a bit of success himself. Revin Dickman is one to keep an eye on not only this weekend, but in the years to come. He has been nationally ranked for a couple years and certainly is a contender for a title here. He will be wrestling 41kg. Another Rioux will take the mat at 44kg in Luke. He was a starter this year for Avon and while undersized had a fine freshman year. Speaking of brothers Isaiah Schaefer will be wrestling 48kg. He was a middle school state runner-up and has been a fixture at the top of ISWA events for a while. Delta freshman Wyatt Krejsa will be wrestling 62kg. He was a semi-state qualifier this year at 126lbs and has won folkstyle state and Indy Nationals this off-season so far. Lastly, De’Alcapon Veazy will be taking his talents to the mat at 85kg. Veazy is another one that has been recognized in the national rankings and will be one to watch this weekend. Both Rioux’s, Dickman, Krejsa, and Veazy will all be wrestling both styles this weekend.
     
    Six wrestlers will test their abilities against the best in the country trying to make the UWW Cadet World Team this weekend. Leading the way is state champion Sergio Lemley at 60kg. According to the experts he is a strong contender to win the spot in a very deep weight class. Indiana will have some very talented wrestlers in the upper weights. At 80kg Seth Willems and Drake Buchanan will both be participating. Buchanan was on the U15 Pan Am team before his freshman year and was a runner-up this year at state. Willems has been a solid contributor in the upper weights for Crown Point. At 92kg we will have West Lafayette’s Connor Barket. He has steadily improved each year finishing this year as a state placer. Leighton Jones will be a contender at 110kg. Jones placed third this past year at heavyweight and was a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American back in 2019. Michael Tharpe of Center Grove is the last competitor from Indiana. He will be wrestling 55kg. He was a state qualifier at 126lbs this season. All six of these wrestlers will be wrestling both styles to increase their chances of making Team USA.
     
    Schedule
    Friday, April 23rd
    Session I
    UWW U15 Greco-Roman
    UWW Cadet Greco-Roman
    Preliminaries and Consolation
    10:00am – 2:00pm
     
    Session II
    UWW U15 Greco-Roman
    UWW Cadet Greco-Roman
    Consolation, Semifinals, Consolation Semis, 3rd-7th place matches, Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals
    4:00pm – 8:00pm
     
    Saturday, April 24th
    Session III
    UWW U15 Freestyle
    UWW Cadet Freestyle
    Preliminaries and Consolation
    10:00am – 2:00pm
     
    Session IV
    UWW U15 Freestyle
    UWW Cadet Freestyle
    Quarterfinals, Consolations
    4:00pm – 8:00pm
     
    UWW Futures Freestyle
    Preliminaries to completion
    4:00pm – 8:00pm
     
    Sunday, April 25th
    Session V
    UWW U15 Freestyle
    UWW Cadet Freestyle
    Semifinals, Consolation, Cons Semis, Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals, 3rd-7th place matches.
    10:00am – 2:00pm
     
    UWW Futures Greco-Roman
    Preliminaries to completion
    10:00am – 2:00pm
     
    Brackets
    On Arena.Flowrestling.org
    Participants
    Age Weight Name Team U15 Freestyle 38 kg Nathan Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 38 kg Caleb Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 41 kg Revin Dickman Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 44 kg Luke Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 48 kg Isaiah Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 62 kg Wyatt Krejsa High Rollers Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 85 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Warrior Elite Wrestling U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Nathan Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 41 kg Revin Dickman Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 44 kg Luke Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 62 kg Wyatt Krejsa High Rollers Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 85 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Warrior Elite Wrestling UWW Cadet Freestyle 110 kg Leighton Jones Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Freestyle 55 kg Michael Tharpe Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 60 kg Sergio Lemley Region Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Freestyle 80 kg Seth Willems Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 80 kg Drake Buchanan Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 92 kg Connor Barket Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 110 kg Leighton Jones Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 55 kg Michael Tharpe Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 60 kg Sergio Lemley Region Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 80 kg Seth Willems Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 80 kg Drake Buchanan Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 92 kg Connor Barket Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Freestyle 28 kg Samuel Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Freestyle 28 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Futures Greco-Roman 28 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club  
     
    NHSCA Nationals
    The NHSCA grade level nationals always brings in the best competition from around the country. This year Indiana will have 34 wrestlers participating with most of them from the Indianapolis area. Perry Meridian is bringing 16 of those wrestlers with Warren Central and Southport having four representatives each. Unlike the event in Wisconsin, this is a folkstyle event.
     
    In the senior divison we will have only two wrestlers. Southport’s Luke Goodwin will be wrestling at 132lbs. Goodwin placed 7th the past two years at 132lbs and 138lbs respectively. Perry Meridian’s Aidan Warren will be wrestling at 182lbs. Warren is no stranger to national level competition and accumulated three third place medals during his career as a Falcon.
     
    The junior division will have three wrestlers with state placements in the mix. At 106lbs Southport’s Nathan Smith will be competing. He was 7th this year at 106lbs. Penn’s Matteo Vargo is no stranger to the area and will bring his 5th place finish back to an area that he is familiar with. Tyler Jones of Warren Central will be wrestling at 160lbs. He has placed 6th and 7th the past two years.
     
    Leading the way in the sophomore division will be two-time state runner-up Cheaney Schoeff of Avon. He will be at 126lbs. The only other state placer in the field from Indiana is Perry Meridian’s Toby Billerman. He was 3rd at 106lbs this year and is at that weight this weekend. A pair of state qualifiers rounds out the top wrestlers in Hobart’s Devin Wible at 126lbs and Perry Meridian’s Keaton Morton at 120lbs.
     
    State third placer Kyrel Leavell will be at 113lbs in the freshman division. Leavell was very impressive for the Warriors this past year. State qualifier Duke Myers will be at 170lbs representing the storied Bellmont program. He is no stranger to national level success so keep an eye out for him.
    Do not be surprised if some of the young studs from Perry Meridian or Warren Central have deep runs in this division. Both teams have some very good wrestlers entered that will make an impact soon on the state level.
     
    In the middle school division keep an eye on ISWA champion Angelo Vargo from Penn. Others that were recent ISWA folkstyle placers include Perry Meridian’s Peyton Brummitt and Hobart’s Seth Aubin.
     
    Schedule
    Friday April 23rd
    7:45am: Session 1 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
    Boys Freshman Division: 106lbs-HWT
    Boys Sophomore Division: 170lbs -HWT
     
    11:00am: Session 2 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
    Boys Sophomore Division: 106lbs-160lbs
     
    2:15pm: Session 3 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
    Boys Junior Division: 106lbs-160lbs
     
    5:30pm: Session 4 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
    Boys Junior Division: 170lbs-HWT
    Boys Senior Division: 113lbs-HWT
     
    Saturday April 24th
    7:45am: Session 1
    Boys Freshman Division: 106lbs-HWT
    Boys Sophomore Division: 170lbs -HWT
     
    11:00am: Session 2
    Boys Sophomore Division: 106lbs-160lbs
     
    2:15pm: Session 3
    Boys Junior Division: 106lbs-160lbs
     
    5:30pm: Session 4
    Session 2 wrestlers
     
    Sunday April 25th
    7:45am: Session 1
    High School All-Americans
     
    11:00am: Session 2
    Middle School and Girls High School
     
    Brackets
    https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/34134d1f-0569-4435-b8bb-db2266ec16f6
     
    Participants
    Senior(2)
    132 Luke Goodwin- Southport
    182 Aiden Warren- Perry Meridian
     
    Junior(6)
    106 Nathan Smith- Southport
    120 Trevor Schammert- Hobart
    126 Matteo Vargo- Penn
    160 Tyler Jones- Warren Central
    170 Jesse Herrera- Highland
    285 Kai SanAgustin- Perry Meridian
     
    Sophomore(9)
    106 Toby Billerman- Perry Meridian
    120 Kenny Shotts- Perry Meridian
    120 Keaton Morton- Perry Meridian
    126 Cheaney Schoeff- Avon
    126 Devin Wible- Hobart
    138 Andrew Goodwin- Southport
    160 Daunte Hon- Perry Meridian
    195 Ronin Hammond- Perry Meridian
    285 Nolan Martin- Perry Meridian
     
    Freshman(12)
    113 Ryan Taylor- Perry Meridian
    113 Kyrel Leavell- Warren Central
    126 Keegan Logan- Southport
    132 Zachariah Harris- Perry Meridian
    132 Kohlten Rhonemus- Delta
    152 Zach Huckaby- Perry Meridian
    152 Branson Beckam- Perry Meridian
    160 Anthony Cashman- Warren Central
    170 Duke Myers- Bellmont
    170 Cadyn McBride- Perry Meridian
    220 Jaylen Young- Perry Meridian
    220 Timothy Wine- Delta
     
    Middle School(5)
    85 Jack Richardson- Perry Meridian
    95 Peyton Brummitt- Perry Meridian
    105 Seth Aubin- Hobart
    112 Angelo Vargo- Penn
    127 Michael Ortega- Portage
     
    Y2CJ41
    Every spring the NFHS makes rule changes within the sport. Some years the changes are small in nature and just small clarifications to existing rules. Last year there were grumblings that the NFHS was ready to pull the trigger on reducing the number of weight classes. With participation levels different in each state the threat of losing weight classes is always looming.
     
    This year there are three major rule changes that were highlighted by the NFHS. Here they are and a quick reaction to each of them.
     
    Change #1
    Each state has an option of three different weight class sets for boys and girls that includes 12, 13, or 14 weights effective for the 2023-2024 season.
    Girls weight class options
    12 Weight Classes – 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.
    13 Weight Classes – 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235.
    14 Weight Classes – 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235.
    Boys weight class options
    12 Weight Classes – 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285
    13 Weight Classes – 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285
    14 Weight Classes – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285
    Reaction:
    This is a great move by the NFHS to allow states to have flexibility in their weight class options. This gives states with lower participation the option of having less weight classes without going against the NFHS’ wishes. For the most part, states do not like to go against the NFHS’ rule recommendations and having this option gives each state solid options to choose from. This also keeps things as close to uniform as possible.
     
    Having different options for girls weights is great as the sport is growing on the girls side of things. This gives state the option to start with 12 weights and as the sport becomes more popular go up to 13 or 14 weights. 
     
    As far as the weight classes go, they look to be geared a little closer to the old weights, but with a little more separation in the middle weights. In all honesty, teams and coaches will adapt to the weight classes. There are no perfect set of weights as each team has different demographics and even each season provides different obstacles for filling of the weight classes in the best possible manner. 
     
    Change #2
    Head and neck injury time will be a separate injury time.
    Reaction:
    This should make it easier for referees and coaches to keep track of this time. Previously there were many nuances to the rule that combined this type of stoppage versus blood or injury time. Hopefully this clears things up and referees don’t have to spend hours trying the if this, then that scenarios of stoppages.
     
    Change #3
    Allow athletes to have six matches during one day during a state series event.
    Reaction:
    For high school wrestling this is great. This could mean a lot for Indiana wrestling as currently we have the one and done round at most sectional sites. This would allow the state to give those wrestlers a full wrestle-back to placement if they wish. I do not know if the IHSAA will look into utilizing this exception but having it on the table can lead to good discussions with making our state series better.
     
    Click here to read the full NFHS press release
     
    Y2CJ41
    Photos by Tony Rotundo
     
    One weekend, two matches, and a lifetime of preparation are what separated wrestlers from their dreams of being an Olympian. Five Indiana natives took the mat this weekend with a trip to Tokyo in August on their minds. The competition is a who’s who of wrestling with former Olympians, World medalists, World team members, NCAA champions, and more going after that elusive spot on the team.
     
    In men’s freestyle we saw Nick Lee and Mason Parris put it on the line while they still had college eligibility. Lee lost to the eventual champion Jordan Oliver in his second match. That did not deter him as he take out three consecutive NCAA champions to earn a third place finish. In his first consolation match he took out former Cornell national champion Nahshon Garrett by tech fall 12-2. In the consolation semi-finals he faced off with Nittany Lion Wrestling Club teammate, friend, and training partner Zain Retherford. Utilizing two big 4-point moves Lee pulled the upset 10-4. The final match, with a spot on the US National team on the line, was no easier as he had two-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis. The match was an instant classic as they both let it fly. There were three crazy scrambles that ended up with multiple scores for each wrestler. Lee came out on top in the end by the score of 16-8. The National Team designation includes perks such as preference for national team camps, overseas competitions, a stipend, and more.
     
    Mason Parris came into the weekend as the third seeded wrestler. His first match did not go as planned as he lost to Daniel Kerkvliet 4-4(criteria). Parris had defeated Kerkvliet at the Big Tens a month ago. Battling back through the consolations Parris beat Tanner Hall, Dom Bradley, and Anthony Nelson in succession to also earn a spot on the US National Team. In the end, he actually finished higher than Kerkvliet who defeated him in the quarter-finals.
     
    The success did not stop on the women’s side of the bracket. Alara Boyd was in the challenge tournament, while Kayla Miracle and Sarah Hildebrandt both sat until Saturday’s best of three finals.
     
    Boyd came into the event seeded 5th in the challenge bracket. She quickly upended the 4th seed, Ashlynn Ortega, in the quarter-finals to earn a spot in the semi-finals. Her next opponent was veteran Forrest Molinari. Boyd was up for the task, but came up short 4-3. Boyd battled back to make it to the third place match where she lost to the 2nd seeded Alexandria Glaude 2-2 on criteria. She was just shy of making the US National team designation. Being only a college sophomore, she has a bright future and will be in the hunt for the 2024 squad.
     
    Sarah Hildebrandt had the luxury of sitting out of competition until the best of three finals on Saturday night. The only caveat was that she would have to make scratch weight both on Friday and Saturday for the competition. As she waited the bracket that would determine her finals opponent was hotly contested. There were a few upsets of the top seeds and the 3rd seeded Victoria Anthony prevailed to face Hildebrandt. Anthony was a formidable foe as she had twice placed 5th in the World on the senior level and was a two-time junior level champion.
     
    In the first match Anthony fired off a double leg to start and took Hildebrandt down. Hildebrandt was able to get a takedown of her own before the end of the first period. It was almost two minutes into the second period when Hildebrandt got her second takedown. With about 30 seconds left, Hildebrandt got another takedown and three consecutive leg laces to end the match 12-2 and put herself one win from Tokyo.
     
    The second match was slower getting started, but dominated by Hildebrandt from start to finish. She got a takedown and leg lace about 2 minutes into the first period to take a 4-0 lead to the break. In the second period she executed three takedowns to secure the tech fall and her spot in history.
     
    Kayla Miracle was in the same situation as Hildebrandt with the privilege of waiting until Saturday night for the best of three series. Her challenge bracket was won by Macey Kilty who has many world level accolades including two junior level silver medals and a cadet level championship.
     
    In the first match Miracle came storming out and lead 6-0 after the first period. The second period saw Kilty score a takedown and a couple step-outs to Miracle’s one takedown. The final score was 8-4 with Miracle one match from going to Tokyo.
    The second match had a much different feel to it. Miracle was stifled by Kilty’s defense and never really got her rhythm. Kilty took Miracle down late in the first period and early in the second to storm out to a 4-1 lead. Miracle could only muster a couple step-outs to make the final score 4-3 and force a pivotal round three.
     
    The third match saw Kayla Miracle come out with a sense of urgency and hunger for her spot in Tokyo. Less than 20 seconds after the whistle Kayla was in deep on a shot and looking for a turn. That is when it appeared that Kilty injured her shoulder. Kilty tried to finish the match, but it was ended 30 seconds into the match after she could not continue. While the type of win was not what Miracle envisioned, she punched her ticket to Tokyo and into history.
     
    Hildebrandt and Miracle will join Stevan Micic in Tokyo in August. Micic qualified for the Olympics for Servia and will represent them at 57kg in men’s freestyle. This is the first time Indiana has had multiple Olympic participants in wrestling and the first since Muncie Northside’s David Butler in 1988. The last time an Indiana native brought back an Olympic medal was Richard Voliva when he took silver in 1936.
     
     
     


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