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This year we have some wrestlers with plenty of Fargo experience making the jump to the Junior division. De’Alcapon Veazy, Revin Dickman, and Nathan Rioux were all double All-Americans last year at 16U and will look to duplicate that feat this year. Alexander Smith brought back some Greco-Roman hardware last year.
 
Joining those four are many wrestlers that will look to bring back some hardware. State champions Jake Hockaday, Charlie Larocca, Joey Buttler, Orlando Cruz, Kyrel Leavell all should make deep runs in the tournament. Another state champ to watch is Purdue commit Christopher Coates who won three state titles in Missouri. He’s donning Indiana gear for the first time and will be in the mix here. 
 
State runner-ups in the field include Gavin Jendreas, Wyatt Krejsa, Reese Courtney, and Cole Chicoine. Ayden Bollinger, Isaac Ash, Brenton Russell, Gunner Henry, and Preston Haines were all in the state semi-finals last year. Others will state medals looking to mix it up with the best in the country include Luke Rioux, Aiden Dallinger, Isaiah Schaefer, Tanner Tishner, Duke Myers, and Anthony Rinehart.
 
Look for this group to have many wrestlers making deep runs in this absolutely loaded field.
 
 
Full Junior Roster
Junior Boys freestyle
106 – Jerimiah Argbah, Nathan Rioux, Tyler Tun, Aiden Woods
113 – Gavin Ash, John Bissmeyer, Ayden Bollinger, Revin Dickman, Brennan Leonard
120 – Isaac Ash, Aiden Dallinger, Charlie LaRocca, Luke Rioux
126 – Preston Haines, Jake Hockaday, Gavin Jendreas, Isaiah Schaefer, Tanner Tishner
132 – Jesus Aquino-Morales, Alex Plahitko, Cameron Volz, Drew Waldon
138 – Joey Buttler, Collin Cain, Reese Courtney, Kyrel Leavell, Tony Wood
145 – Christopher Coates, Silas Foster, Wesley Harper, Wyatt Krejsa, Alexander Smith
152 – Kevon Russell, Jackson Todd, Branson Weaver
160 – Gavin Davis, Chase Leech, Ethan Smith
170 – Duke Myers, Anthony Rinehart, Evan Roudebush, Brenton Russell
182 – Orlando Cruz, Brayden Emerine, De'Alcapon Veazy, Noah Weaver
195 – Eric Casad, Christian Chavez, Gunner Henry
220 – Cole Chicoine, Brandon Johnson, Keagan Martin
285 – Benjamin Land, Aramis McNutt, Triston Meschede
 
Junior Greco-Roman
100 – Brady Byrd
106 – Nathan Rioux, Tyler Tun, Aiden Woods
113 – Gavin Ash, Revin Dickman, Keegan Dresslar, Tyler Jackson
120 – Isaac Ash, Aiden Dallinger, Luke Rioux
126 – Jake Hockaday, Isaiah Schaefer, Tanner Tishner
132 – Alex Plahitko, Cameron Volz, Drew Waldon
138 – Collin Cain, Colten Stevens, Tony Wood
145 – Silas Foster, Wesley Harper, Wyatt Krejsa, Alexander Smith
152 – Kevon Russell, Jackson Todd, Branson Weaver
160 – Chase Leech, Ethan Smith
170 – Gage Gulley, Duke Myers, Evan Roudebush, Brenton Russell
182 – De'Alcapon Veazy
195 – Eric Casad, Fabian Chavez
220 – Brandon Johnson
285 – Benjamin Land, Triston Meschede
 
Junior Fargo Schedule (Central Standard Time)
Monday, July 17th 
Session VI -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 Rd) 
 
Session VII -
3:00 PM to 8:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 Rd) 
 
Tuesday. July 18th 
Session VIII –
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 or 2 Rds) 
 
Session IX -
3:00 PM to 8:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship & Quarterfinals (2 Rds) and Consolation (3 Rds)  
 
Wednesday, July 19th 
Session X -
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Semifinals and Consolation (3 Rds)  
 
Session XI -
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches  
 
Session XII –
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Parade of Champions and Championship Finals 

Friday, July 21st 
Session XIII -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship (2 Rds) and Consolation (1 or 2 Rds) 
 
Session XIV –
3:00 PM to 7:30 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship (2 Rds) and Consolation (2 Rds) 
 
Saturday, July 22nd  
Session XV -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Quarterfinals, Semifinals (2 Rds) and Consolation (3 or 4 Rds)  
 
Session XVI -
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches (4 Rds) 
 
Session XVII -
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Parade of Champions and Finals    
 
2023 PIN Ranking (Top 15)
Freestyle
100- #8 Brady Byrd
106- #2 Nathan Rioux
113- #2 Revin Dickman
120- #11 Luke Rioux
126- #5 Isaiah Schaefer
138- #6 Kyrel Leavell
182- #1 De'Alcapon Veazy
195- #3 Gunner Henry
 
Greco-Roman
100- #3 Brady Byrd
106- #6 Nathan Rioux
106- #15 Aiden Woods
113- #6 Revin Dickman
126- #12 Isaiah Schaefer
182- #1 De'Alcapon Veazy
285- #12 Benjamin Land
 
Total Junior Fargo All-Americans in the past 10 years
2022 - 1 Freestyle/ 3 Greco-Roman
2021 - 7 Freestyle/ 5 Greco-Roman
2020 - No Tournament
2019 - 0 Freestyle/ 0 Greco-Roman
2018 - 4 Freestyle/ 1 Greco-Roman
2017 - 5 Freestyle/ 1 Greco-Roman
2016 - 3 Freestyle/ 1 Greco-Roman
2015 - 2 Freestyle/ 0 Greco-Roman
2014 - 3 Freestyle/ 0 Greco-Roman
2013 - 6 Freestyle/ 0 Greco-Roman
 
 

Another stellar group of young wrestlers will head to Fargo with the hopes of bringing back some hardware. Last year’s All-Americans have all moved up to the Junior age division so we’ll have plenty of fresh faces looking to make their mark on the national scene. Many of the wrestlers that will be highlighted have had an immense amount of success in the state of Indiana along with some national accolades that will help them navigate the toughest tournament in the country.
 
Indiana has always seemed to have a ton of success at the lower weights. This year youngsters Case Bell and Jensen Boyd will be in the mix for spots on the podium. Bell was 9-0 at 16U duals and Boyd was 7-2. State placer Seth Aubin will be in the mix at 120lbs. At 126lbs Indiana will have some great representation in state qualifier Dominic Brown, state placer Eddie Goss, and tough incoming freshman Clinton Shepherd.
 
Evan Stanley went 9-0 at 16U duals and will come in wrestling well along with state qualifier Elijah Broady. Landon Hawkins and Matthew Staples have both had a lot of national success in the past and will look to make a big splash this year.
 
State placer Jeffrey Huyvaert and Illinois state qualifier Jairo Acuna will both be in the mix at 145lbs. State qualifiers Silas Stits and Griffin Van Tichelt will both enter the fray at 160lbs. Miguel Rojas has a few Tulsa titles to his name and will look to bring back his first Fargo hardware. Waterloo’s finest James Hartleroad has had a fantastic off-season that saw him go 8-1 at 16U duals.
 
 
Full 16U Roster
16U Boys freestyle
94- Karson Bachelder
100- Case Bell, Jensen Boyd, Jackson Frahm, Joseph Hamilton, Elijah Ogle
106- Caleb Schaefer, Peyton Schoettle, Justin Williamson
113- Isaac Campbell, Ty Henderson, Colin Strayer, Bradyn Volz, Samuel Westfall
120- Seth Aubin, Gunner Butt, Lucas Day, Jett McGuire
126- Nicholas Anderson, Dominic Brown, Edward Goss, Braylon Reynolds, Quinten Schoeff, Clinton Shepherd
132- Elijah Broady, Brason Schortgen, Evan Stanley, William Vander Luitgaren
138- Camden Baumann, Landon Hawkins, Kegan Jochim, Matthew Staples, Owen Trimpe
145- Jairo Acuna, Wyatt Cooksey, Jack Davis, Thomas Gibbs, Jeffrey Huyvaert
152- Cale Bonenberger, Corinthian Tonte
160- Conner Hoar, Silas Stits, Griffin Van Tichelt, Zach White Jr.
170- Coy Bender, Corwin Fuller, Xavier Smith
182- James Dozier, Miguel Rojas
195- Austin Reading
220- Kaden Lambert, Everett Mcclelland, Hayden Smith
285- Carson Andreas, Noah Fugate, James Hartleroad
 
16U Greco-Roman
94– Karson Bachelder
100– Case Bell, Jensen Boyd, Jackson Frahm, Joseph Hamilton, Elijah Ogle
106– Caleb Schaefer
113– Ty Henderson, Aidan Smalley, Bradyn Volz
120– Lucas Day, Jett McGuire
126– Nicholas Anderson, Dominic Brown, Quinten Schoeff
132– Brason Schortgen, Evan Stanley, William Vander Luitgaren
138– Camden Baumann, Kegan Jochim, Owen Trimpe
145– Jairo Acuna, Wyatt Cooksey, Jack Davis, Thomas Gibbs
152– Corinthian Tonte
160– Conner Hoar, Griffin Van Tichelt, Zach White Jr.
170– Corwin Fuller, Xavier Smith
182– Miguel Rojas
195– Austin Reading
220– Kaden Lambert, Everett Mcclelland, Hayden Smith
285– Carson Andreas, James Hartleroad
 
16U FARGO COMPETITION SCHEDULE (Central Standard Time)
Monday, July 17th 
Session VI -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 Rd) 
 
Session VII -
3:00 PM to 8:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 Rd) 
 
Tuesday. July 18th 
Session VIII –
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship (1 Rd) and Consolation (1 or 2 Rds) 
 
Session IX -
3:00 PM to 8:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Championship & Quarterfinals (2 Rds) and Consolation (3 Rds)  
 
Wednesday, July 19th 
Session X -
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Semifinals and Consolation (3 Rds)  
 
Session XI -
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches  
 
Session XII –
5:30 PM to 8:00 PM  
16U/JR Boys Freestyle:  Parade of Champions and Championship Finals 

Friday, July 21st 
Session XIII -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship (2 Rds) and Consolation (1 or 2 Rds) 
 
Session XIV –
3:00 PM to 7:30 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Championship (2 Rds) and Consolation (2 Rds) 
 
Saturday, July 22nd  
Session XV -
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Quarterfinals, Semifinals (2 Rds) and Consolation (3 or 4 Rds)  
 
Session XVI -
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Consolations, Consolation Semifinals, and 3rd-8th Medal Matches (4 Rds) 
 
Session XVII -
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM 
16U/JR Boys Greco-Roman:  Parade of Champions and Finals    
 
2023 PIN Ranking (Top 15)
Freestyle
100- #3 Jensen Boyd
100- #5 Case Bell
106- #7 Caleb Schaefer
113- #15 Colin Strayer
126- #4 Braylon Reynolds
126- #13 Dominic Brown
145- #13 Thomas Gibbs
160- #6 Silas Stits
170- #10 Xavier Smith
182- #7 Miguel Rojas
220- #8 Everett McClelland
285- #15 James Hartleroad
 
Greco-Roman
100- #5 Jensen Boyd
100- #6 Case Bell
106- #6 Caleb Schaefer
145- #9 Thomas Gibbs
145- #15 Jack Davis
160- #6 Griffin Van Tichelt
160- #7 Zach White Jr.
170- #9 Xavier Smith
182- #5 Miguel Rojas
195- #9 Austin Reading
220- #14 Hayden Smith
285- #10 James Hartleroad
 
Total 16U Fargo All-Americans in the past 10 years
2022 - 3 Freestyle/ 5 Greco-Roman
2021 - 4 Freestyle/ 2 Greco-Roman
2020 - No Tournament
2019 - 3 Freestyle/ 2 Greco-Roman
2018 - 6 Freestyle/ 1 Greco-Roman
2017 - 4 Freestyle/ 3 Greco-Roman
2016 - 3 Freestyle/ 1 Greco-Roman
2015 - 3 Freestyle/ 2 Greco-Roman
2014 - 5 Freestyle/ 2 Greco-Roman
2013 - 4 Freestyle/ 6 Greco-Roman
 

By Mark Maldonado
 
Team Indiana is rostering 32 women to compete at Fargo this year. In this preview we are looking at the girls who have seeding criteria from their prior nationals success at the 16U/Junior divisions.
 
We start with the Junior division. We have a few girls who have an immense amount of experience who can contend for a national title with seven girls having seeding criteria. At 106, we have two girls who have had a lot of freestyle success. Heather Crull (Northeastern) won U17 World Team Member this year and finished 2nd and 7th at Fargo the past two years. Mackenzie Smith (Heritage Hills) is also at this weight and was a 16U Fargo Champion in 2021. She finished 7th last year in the Junior division. At 122 Rose Kaplan (West Lafayette) has had quite the year and could find herself competing for a title. In the past four months, Rose won USA Folkstyle Nationals, placed in the U20 world team trials, and went undefeated at Junior Duals in Tulsa. Looking to get back on the podium, Joy Cantu (Merrillville) at 112 and Kaylie Peterson (Evansville Central) at 152 both were Fargo All-Americans in 2021. Indian Creek’s Phoebe Dowty at 122 and Hannah Seitzinger at 127 were both place-winners at USA Folkstyle Nationals. 
 
In the 16U division, eight of our sixteen wrestlers placed at 16U Folkstyle Nationals. Kendall Moe (Hamilton Heights) at 94 pounds is a Folkstyle National Champion and the only returning Fargo All-American for the 16U women. Elly Janovsky at 144 (Lake Central) will be a top seed after placing 4th at the U17 world team trials. She was a folkstyle national runner-up in 2022. Aleksandra Bastaic at 138 (Highland) is making her Fargo debut and is another title contender. She finished 2nd at 16U Folkstyle and 2nd at U15 Pan-Am Trials in her past two national tournaments. Southport has two Folkstyle national runner-ups who could make deep runs, Kyla Johnson (122) and Ava Mosconi (180). At 112, Amelia Murphy (Wyoming Seminary) looked stellar at Junior Duals finishing 8-0 and should be high on the podium stand this year. Isabel Kaplan (West Lafayette) has had a lot of 14U national success. She placed 4th at 16U Folkstyle nationals this year. Other national placers are middle school wrestlers Maddie Marsh (Pendleton Heights) at 132 and Ava Strayer (Crown Point) at 122. Both placed at both U15 national team trials in Spokane and at 16U Folkstyle nationals. 
 
Rounding out the roster 
Juniors: Kirsten Cortez (Lake Central), Omotola Aluko (Ben Davis), AnnaMae Mosconi (Southport), Emily Anderson (Hamilton Southeastern), Sian Rogers (Jeffersonville), Katelynn Hernandez (Purdue Poly), Kera Parke (Fort Wayne North Side), Michela Clifford (Columbia City).
 
16U: Olivia Crull (Northeastern), Gracie Smiley (Brownsburg), Jaden Hughes (Frankton), Ella France (Northfield), Kylie Benoit (Hanover Central), Paige Cook (Boonville), Fanta Sall (Hamilton Southeastern)
 
WOMEN FARGO COMPETITION SCHEDULE (Central Standard Time)
Saturday, July 15th 
Session I - 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM 
16U/Junior Girls: Championship (2 Rds) and Consolation (2 or 3 Rds)
 
Session II - 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
16U/Junior Girls: Championship & Quarterfinals (3 Rds) and Consolation (2 or 3 Rds)  
 
Sunday, July 16th 
Session III - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 
16U/Junior Girls: Semifinals (2 Mats); Consolation and Consolation Semifinals (5 Rds)  
  
Session IV - 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
16U/Junior Girls: 3rd-8th Medal Matches  
 
Session V - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
16U/Junior Girls: Parade of Champions and Finals    

 
USA Wrestling Nationally Rankings (7/7/23)
100 - Kendall Moe #26
106- Heather Crull #5
112- Amelia Murphy #25
127- Rose Kaplan #5
138- Aleksandra Bastaic #25
138- Maddie Marsh #26
144- Elly Janovsky #10
 
2023 PIN Ranking in Bracket (Top 15)
JR 106- Heather Crull #1
JR 106- Mackenzie Smith #11
JR 112- Omotola Aluko #15
JR 117- Emily Anderson #7
JR 122 - Rose Kaplan #7
JR 152- Kaylie Peterson #6
 
16U 94- Kendall Moe #3
16U 112- Amelia Murphy #6
16U 122- Kyla Johnson #6
16U 122- Ava Strayer #9
16U 132- Maddie Marsh #8
16U 138- Aleksandra Bastaic #5
16U 144- Elly Janovsky #7
 
Total Female Fargo All-Americans in the past 10 years
2022 - 8 All-Americans
2021 - 7 All-Americans
2020 - No Tournament
2019 -  4 All-Americans
2018 - 1 All-American
2017 - 3 All-Americans
2016 - 1 All-American
2015 - 1 All-American
2014 - 2 All-Americans
2013 - 3 All-Americans

By Anna Kayser
 
I guess the best way to start this off is with a story – my favorite wrestling story to tell, actually, and one that tells you all you need to know about where I came from and why I’m here.
 
There’s no pretty table-setting for this story, except that I’m an Iowa Hawkeye through-and-through. I’ve been attending Iowa football games at Kinnick Stadium since I was a kid, attracted to the sports world from a young age. Wrestling, however, wasn’t on my radar. Not even as I moved up to one of the biggest wrestling high schools in the state of Iowa.
 
Fast forward to college, my junior year in Iowa City. I don’t remember what the weather was that day in October or how I felt as I walked into Carver-Hawkeye Arena for my second ever experience with Iowa wrestling. I was blissfully unaware of what the next year or two of my life would hold for me.
 
My introduction to the Hawkeye program had come just a few weeks earlier – yes, two and a half years into my college career, roughly 20 years into growing up in the middle of wrestling country – but that one’s not important. I was informally introduced to Hawkeye head coach Tom Brands, it was chill.
 
It was less chill on media day as I sat facing the press conference podium at CHA, watching in fear as Brands tore apart – for lack of a better term – a reporter sitting on the other side of the room. I don’t remember what question was asked, I don’t remember the exact response. All I remember was feeling VERY in over my head.
 
I wasn’t a fan of the sport. The opposite, in fact, bored and completely unaware of the rules in high school. So, when my editor approached me about covering Iowa wrestling a year prior, I wanted none of it.
 
Thankfully, I changed my mind. But as I sat in that room, I couldn’t help but wonder if I made the wrong decision.
 
Following the press conference in which I doubt I dared to even think about speaking, the cohort of Iowa media made its way downstairs to the “Room that Gable Built” for interviews with athletes.
 
As I attempted to get my bearings on the room, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned, and there was Tom Brands: The guy that just barked at a reporter not more than 10 minutes ago.
 
He asked me how I was doing and if everyone was treating me okay – a complete 180 in demeanor from what I had witnessed upstairs. I felt… at home.
 
The first Iowa dual I went to was the nail in the coffin. I have no idea who they wrestled (UT-Chattanooga, maybe?) or what the score was (I wouldn’t be surprised if they shut their opponent out completely). All I remember was feeling in complete awe of the spectacle, the lone mat in the middle of thunderous applause and the deep rumble of 15 thousand fans yelling “TWOOOO” in unison.
 
I covered Spencer Lee’s second NCAA championship, traveling out to Pittsburgh by myself with one photographer to survive only on midnight IHOP and press meals. I felt CHA rumble as Michael Kemerer defeated No. 1 Mark Hall to lead the Hawkeyes to a win over Penn State in early 2020.
 
So, why am I here now? Because there’s nothing I love more than being able to tell the stories of tremendous athletes and what it takes to stand atop a field of excellence – and I believe Indiana is full of these stories.
 
Wrestling is growing here, exponentially. The first dual meet I attended in Indiana blew me away, from the invested crowd to the spotlight highlighting all of the action. The State Finals, my first experience of finals action in Indiana, brought a number of separate communities together in a way that celebrated each athlete’s achievements.
 
I saw Jake Hockaday look unbeatable as an on-paper underdog in the 120-pound state finals. I witnessed future Hawkeye Leighton Jones finally tackle (nice use of a football pun here, don’t ya think?) the walls in his mind and stand atop the heavyweight podium in February. Spending my first year covering wrestling in Indiana immersed in the Brownsburg program opened my eyes to the tight-knit community this state never fails to disappoint.
 
The IHSAA State Finals showcase the best the state has to offer in the best way – center stage, on a single mat with a lone light on the middle circle. It’s a best-of-the-best battle. The fans are enthralled.
 
But there’s room for growth, as there always is from youth to professional sports, and Indiana’s wrestling community has the chance foster it. The more wrestlers that have their chance at a state title – hell, even just a chance to wrestle in that arena – the more will crave that experience. The more families that come out, the more siblings, cousins or friends will want to try their hand at wrestling.
 
As the sport grows, so do the number of powerhouses. No longer is there one powerhouse for the state of Indiana, but multiple at different levels of competition and school size, growing the sport exponentially and the exposure to smaller schools often overshadowed.
 
And as the years progress, as the word spreads about how Indiana puts on a show for its wrestlers, the more will pack that house year after year in anticipation for the greatest spectacle in amateur sports.
 
Those stories are here. Those kids are here. The opportunity is here. Trust me – I’ve grown in my wrestling career surrounded by the best fans, the best environment wrestling has to offer. It’s time to emulate that in the state of Indiana.

Date
September 10, 2023

Registration
Registration is now full
Click here to register on IndianaMat
Click here to view current paid entries
 
Petition Information
Petitions are closed
 
 
Brackets and Streaming
TrackWrestling brackets and streaming

Stud List
Click here for the top wrestlers already registered
 
Location:
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
4000 Parnell Ave
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
 
Event Schedule (Tentative)
Saturday September 9th  Weigh-ins
VIP Weigh-ins 2-3pm
Normal Weigh-ins 5-7pm Sunday September 10th  Wrestling Session 1 
9:00 am-2:00 pm EST
Weights: 109, 123, 141, 147, 168, 193, 288 Wrestling Session 2
1:00-6:00 pm EST
Weights: 116, 129, 135, 153, 160, 178, 218  
Weigh-In Information
Saturday September 9th 
VIP Weigh-ins 2-3pm
Normal Weigh-ins 5-7pm No Satellite Weigh-ins Weigh-ins will be in a singlet or NFHS approved two-piece uniform No weight change fee Weigh-ins are WHOLE pounds, tenths will count! For example if you weigh 153.3 you will NOT wrestle the 153lbs weight class!   
VIP Weigh-In Information
Saturday September 9th 
VIP Weigh-ins 2-3pm $20 cash only paid at the door No limit to number of VIP weigh-in athletes  
Entry Fee
$40 Registration by September 6th at 10:00pm EST or 825 paid entries, whichever comes first. No membership card is required to wrestle You must pay online by credit card ONLY! There will be no refunds of paid entries. Online registration ONLY will be accepted this year. Registration will be cut off at the first 825 paid entries or September 6th at 10pm ET whichever comes first. Please note we have sold out the past four 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.  
Memorial Coliseum Procedures
No charge for parking on Saturday for weigh-ins. Please tell the attendant you are there for wrestling weigh-ins Coolers will be allowed in the athlete lunch area only. Athletes can bring coolers in through the Athlete Entrance ONLY!  
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
$20 per person can be purchased at the door Sunday morning or before session 2.
 
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 Sunday September 10th, 2023
-Weight Classes: 109, 116, 123, 129, 135, 141, 147, 153, 160, 168, 178, 193, 218, 288
-Wrestlers in 7th-12th grade may participate
-Double elimination wrestle-backs to 4th place
-Period lengths Championship 2:00-1:30-1:30 Consolation 2:00-1:00-1:00 
-Overtime will be 1 minute sudden victory neutral and 30 second ride-out
-We will seed all wrestlers with specific criteria so please include your state or national credentials when registering 
-2022/2023 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
-NFHS hair rules will apply
 
Seeding Information
MatScouts Willie Saylor will seed up to 16 in each weight class. All others with criteria below will be separated beyond the seeded wrestlers.
 
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
Information coming soon
 
College Coaches
We will offer a special college coaches package for $50. 
You may pay in advance or pay if you are not attending the event and want the entry database using this button
Click here to purchase
The package will include:
Registration list of all high school aged wrestlers with name, address, grade, weight, accomplishments, GPA, and college test scores* Preliminary entry list sent after registration closes Note: Due to coliseum policies you will need to purchase a ticket separately.  
*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
2022 Results(732 wrestlers from 10 states)
2021 Results(716 wrestlers from 12 states)
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.
 
Estimated Future Event Dates
*We try our best to be the weekend after Labor Day
September 7-8, 2024
September 6-7, 2025
September 12-13, 2026

Wrestling takes place April 26-30th
Schedule Information
 
Brackets can be found on 
https://arena.flowrestling.org/
 
Here are the entries as of 4/25 from Indiana
 
Division Style Weight Name Team Girls HS Showcase Freestyle 106 lbs Makenize Smith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Girls HS Showcase Freestyle 144 lbs Elly Janovsky Indiana Girls Wrestling IGNITES Girls HS Showcase Freestyle 152 lbs Kaylie Petersen Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Masters A Freestyle 130 kg Ethan Bunce   Masters A Freestyle 130 kg Elijah McGhee Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters A Freestyle 100 kg Brandon Gay Brownsburg Wrestling Club Masters A Freestyle 70 kg Caleb Bourland Brown County Masters A Freestyle 70 kg Corey Hawk   Masters A Freestyle 78 kg Cory Graham Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters A Freestyle 88 kg Alex Skipper Brownsburg Wrestling Club Masters A Greco-Roman 130 kg Brandon Gay Brownsburg Wrestling Club Masters A Greco-Roman 130 kg Ethan Bunce   Masters A Greco-Roman 78 kg Cory Graham Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters A Greco-Roman 88 kg Alex Skipper Brownsburg Wrestling Club Masters B Freestyle 100 kg Christopher Myers Carroll Wrestling Club Masters B Freestyle 100 kg Michael Burke Yorktown Wrestling Club Masters B Freestyle 70 kg Trevor Young Western Wrestling Club Masters B Freestyle 78 kg Michael Morgan Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters B Greco-Roman 100 kg Christopher Myers Carroll Wrestling Club Masters B Greco-Roman 100 kg Michael Burke Yorktown Wrestling Club Masters B Greco-Roman 78 kg Michael Morgan Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters C Freestyle 100 kg Jeremy Goodlett Legends of Gold Wrestling Masters D Greco-Roman 78 kg Eric Lopshire Fighting Goats Masters E Freestyle 78 kg Jeff Commeville   Senior Freestyle 125 kg Jacob Bullock Indiana RTC Senior Freestyle 125 kg Mason Parris Cliff Keen Wrestling Club Senior Freestyle 125 kg Shawn Streck Cowboy Wrestling Club Senior Freestyle 65 kg Alecsander Freeman Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Senior Freestyle 65 kg Brandon Wright Wright Way Senior Freestyle 65 kg Cayden Rooks Indiana RTC Senior Freestyle 65 kg Grant Martsolf   Senior Freestyle 65 kg Nick Lee Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Senior Freestyle 76 kg Mackenzie Konanz Midwest Xtreme Wrestling Senior Freestyle 79 kg Donnell Washington Indiana RTC Senior Freestyle 79 kg Jahmon Spiller Solid Tech Wrestling Club Senior Freestyle 92 kg Silas Allred Nebraska Wrestling Training Center Senior Greco-Roman 130 kg Juwan Bolden Solid Tech Wrestling Club Senior Greco-Roman 77 kg Jahmon Spiller Solid Tech Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 38 kg Connor Maddox Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 38 kg Hunter Duncan Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 38 kg Jayland Davis The Fort Hammers Wrestling U15 Freestyle 38 kg Jeremy Carver Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 38 kg Spencer McCammon Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 38 kg Traevon Ducking Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 41 kg Xavier Flores Center Grove Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 44 kg Grayson Baumann Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 44 kg Jensen Boyd CIA Wrestling U15 Freestyle 48 kg Caleb Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 52 kg Colin Strayer Region Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 52 kg Logan Haney Howe Wrestling School, LLC U15 Freestyle 57 kg Braylon McIntire Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 57 kg Braylon Reynolds Red Cobra Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 57 kg Carter Fielden Warrior Regional Training Center U15 Freestyle 57 kg Gavin Lewis Howe Wrestling School, LLC U15 Freestyle 57 kg Lucas Day Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 62 kg Angelo Vargo Midwest Xtreme Wrestling U15 Freestyle 62 kg Deacon Dressler Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 68 kg Jordan Simon Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 68 kg Peyton Hornsby Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 75 kg Sam Howard Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Connor Maddox Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Hunter Duncan Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Jayland Davis The Fort Hammers Wrestling U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Jeremy Carver Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Spencer McCammon Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Traevon Ducking Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 41 kg Xavier Flores Center Grove Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 44 kg Grayson Baumann Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 44 kg Jensen Boyd CIA Wrestling U15 Greco-Roman 48 kg Caleb Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 57 kg Braylon McIntire Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 57 kg Braylon Reynolds Red Cobra Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 57 kg Gavin Lewis Howe Wrestling School, LLC U15 Greco-Roman 62 kg Carter Fielden Warrior Regional Training Center U15 Greco-Roman 62 kg Deacon Dressler Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 68 kg Jordan Simon Warrior Wrestling Club U15 Greco-Roman 68 kg Peyton Hornsby Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 75 kg Sam Howard Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 45 kg Case Bell Contenders Wrestling Academy U17 Freestyle 45 kg Tyler Tun Snider Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 48 kg Ayden Bollinger Delta Wrestling Club Inc. U17 Freestyle 48 kg Revin Dickman Brownsburg Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 51 kg Jordan Korreckt Warrior Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 55 kg Gavin Jendreas Howe Wrestling School, LLC U17 Freestyle 55 kg Isaiah Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 55 kg Kaleb Evans Warrior Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 55 kg Walter Hagedorn Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 60 kg Clinton Shepherd Howe Wrestling School, LLC U17 Freestyle 60 kg Easton Doster Warrior Regional Training Center U17 Freestyle 60 kg Landon Hawkins Region Wrestling Academy U17 Freestyle 65 kg Alexander Smith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 65 kg Christian Arberry Warren Wrestling Academy U17 Freestyle 71 kg Cameron Clark Warrior Regional Training Center U17 Freestyle 71 kg Gavin Davis Warrior Regional Training Center U17 Freestyle 71 kg Mason Day Contenders Wrestling Academy U17 Freestyle 80 kg Aidan Costello Hobart Wrestling Club U17 Freestyle 80 kg Anthony Rinehart Howe Wrestling School, LLC U17 Freestyle 80 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Legends of Gold Wrestling U17 Greco-Roman 45 kg Tyler Tun Snider Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 48 kg Revin Dickman Brownsburg Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 51 kg Jordan Korreckt Warrior Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 55 kg Isaiah Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 55 kg Kaleb Evans Warrior Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 65 kg Alexander Smith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 65 kg Silas Foster Legends of Gold Wrestling U17 Greco-Roman 80 kg Aidan Costello Hobart Wrestling Club U17 Greco-Roman 80 kg Brenton Russell Warren Wrestling Academy U17 Greco-Roman 80 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Legends of Gold Wrestling U20 Freestyle 125 kg Christian Carroll Cowboy RTC U20 Freestyle 125 kg Connor Barket Duke/West Lafayette U20 Freestyle 125 kg Tristan Ruhlman Bloomington South Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 57 kg Logan Frazier Region Wrestling Academy U20 Freestyle 61 kg Elijah Anthony Warrior Regional Training Center U20 Freestyle 61 kg Joey Buttler Whiteland Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 61 kg Kyrel Leavell Warren Wrestling Academy U20 Freestyle 61 kg Zeke Seltzer Tiger Style Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 65 kg Jesse Mendez Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC) U20 Freestyle 70 kg Hayden Watson Charleston Regional Training Center U20 Freestyle 70 kg Kade Law Boilermaker RTC U20 Freestyle 74 kg J Conway Tiger Style Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 74 kg Jeb Prechtel Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 74 kg Samuel Goin Region Wrestling Academy U20 Freestyle 74 kg Tyler Lillard Indiana RTC U20 Freestyle 74 kg Zymarion Hollyfield Penn Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 79 kg Anthony Cashman Warren Wrestling Academy U20 Freestyle 79 kg Brodie Porter Charleston Regional Training Center U20 Freestyle 79 kg Brody Baumann Boilermaker RTC U20 Freestyle 79 kg Drake Buchanan Center Grove Wrestling Club U20 Freestyle 79 kg Drake Buchanan Air Force Academy U20 Freestyle 92 kg Gabe Sollars Indiana RTC U20 Freestyle 92 kg Nathan Critchfield Warrior Regional Training Center U20 Freestyle 92 kg Reid Schroeder Southridge U20 Freestyle 97 kg Devin Kendrex Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling U20 Greco-Roman 130 kg Connor Barket Duke/West Lafayette U20 Greco-Roman 77 kg Anthony Cashman Warren Wrestling Academy U20 Greco-Roman 77 kg Matthew Morris Solid Tech Wrestling Club U20  Freestyle 86 kg Evan Bates Wildcat Wrestling Club UWW Futures Freestyle 28 kg Emmett McCammon Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Futures Freestyle 33 kg Haedyn Cochran Contenders Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Freestyle 35 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Futures Greco-Roman 28 kg Emmett McCammon Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Futures Greco-Roman 33 kg Haedyn Cochran Contenders Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Greco-Roman 35 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club

https://www.win-magazine.com/2023/03/27/michigans-mason-parris-wins-2023-win-magazine-culture-house-dan-hodge-trophy-presented-by-asics/
 
NEWTON, Iowa — After injuring his neck in the 2021 World Team Trials, Michigan’s Mason Parris wrestled the entire 2021-22 college season battling through pain and loss of feeling in his left side.

Entering the 2022-23 season, the Wolverine senior — who finished second nationally in 2021 and fifth in 2022 — was finally healthy and recuperated from a long road of recovery. But Michigan head coach Sean Bormet still considered redshirting his star heavyweight.

Parris, meanwhile, felt confidently that this would be the year all his hard work would culminate in a national title.

Parris made Bormet make one promise, though: he would wrestle every single match without sitting out, even the season-opening Michigan State Open that some of the other Wolverine starters often would not attend.

Now, six months later after capturing an NCAA title in dominant fashion and compiling an unblemished 33-0 season record, Parris has officially been named the recipient of the 2023 WIN Magazine/Culture House Dan Hodge Trophy awarded to the nation’s top college wrestler.

Parris will be presented with the Hodge Trophy at the University of Michigan wrestling banquet on Sunday, April 2 in Ann Arbor. For more information on the Dan Hodge Trophy, including a list of all past winners along with the release story and stats from the year they won the Hodge, visit www.WIN-magazine.com.

The third straight heavyweight to win the Hodge — after Minnesota’s Gable Steveson won in 2021 and 2022 — Parris comfortably won the vote as he acquired 38 out of 64 first-place votes. The Hodge Trophy Voting Committee is a retired college coach from each region of the country, a representative from each of the national wrestling organizations, select national media members and past Hodge winners. Second-place Carter Starocci (Penn State, 174 pounds) received 14 first-place votes while four-time NCAA champion Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell, 149) received six first-place votes.

Parris accumulated the highest portion of the fan votes as well, which accounted for the final five first-place votes. The four-time All-American and two-time NCAA finalist received 11,036 votes out of the total 36,225 fan votes that were cast online March 21-24. Starocci finished second in the fan vote with 6,172 while Andrew Alirez (Northern Colorado, 141) finished third with 5,617.

“This is an unreal feeling,” Parris said. “To even be nominated is such an honor. To win it is such a great way to represent my family and my school.”

Created in 1995 by Mike Chapman, the creator of WIN Magazine, and sponsored by ASICS, the Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the most dominant wrestler each year by WIN and Chapman’s company Culture House. It is named after Dan Hodge, the undefeated, three-time NCAA champion at 177 pounds for the University of Oklahoma, and the only wrestler to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated (April 1, 1957).

“As the creator of the Dan Hodge Trophy, I am always delighted to see someone like Mason win,” Chapman said. “He is an excellent representative of the sport and the award and becomes the fifth heavyweight to win; moving alongside such greats as Kerry McCoy (Penn State, 1997), Stephen Neal (Cal State Bakersfield, 1999), Steve Mocco (Oklahoma State, 2005) and Gable Steveson (co-winner with Spencer Lee in 2021). In addition, Mason has made Michigan the 16th different school to have a Dan Hodge Trophy winner.”

Parris believes the future is bright for the heavyweight class.

“Heavyweights are a lot faster and more athletic than they used to be,” Parris said. “It is great to be on the forefront of that. It is awesome for the heavyweight division.”

Bormet was ecstatic to learn Parris had been named the first Hodge recipient in Michigan’s rich wrestling history.

“It is special,” said Bormet, who took the Michigan reins in 2018. “Mason was part of my first recruiting class at Michigan. That makes it a little more special. He has embodied the team mentality. It was great to see him be so dominant. I’ve watched Michigan as a university see a few football players win the Heisman and this is the equivalent. This is the most prestigious award in wrestling. What an accomplishment for Mason and our program.”

Criteria for the Hodge includes a wrestler’s record, dominance/bonus-point percentage, quality of competition and sportsmanship.

Parris was one of six NCAA champions who finished the season undefeated but had the most wins of all of them. He finished with the third-highest bonus-point percentage (63.6 percent) behind only Alirez (71.4 percent) and North Carolina’s Austin O’Connor (69.6 percent). Parris finished off the season with 11 pins, three technical falls and seven major-decision victories.

Other finalists for the Hodge were Princeton’s Pat Glory (125 pounds), Cornell’s Vito Arujau (133), Missouri’s Keegan O’Toole (165), Penn State’s Aaron Brooks (184), and Pitt’s Nino Bonaccorsi (197).

Impressively, Parris wrestled a total of 10 matches this season against the other seven All-Americans in the heavyweight bracket and scored two bonus-point victories in those bouts, both of which came at the NCAA Championships.

In an all-Big Ten quarterfinal, the Wolverine controlled eventual fifth-place finisher Lucas Davison (Northwestern), 10-1, before massively extending his margin of victory over Iowa’s Tony Cassioppi in the semis by scoring a 16-1 technical fall in 5:12, just one month after he beat the Hawkeye 9-7 in dual-meet competition.

Parris was also one point shy of majoring Air Force third-place finisher Wyatt Hendrickson, defeating the Falcon 12-5 during the regular season.

Parris and Bormet both wholeheartedly believe in the Wolverine program’s ability to peak in March when it matters most, and Parris’ dominance in Tulsa attests to that.

“Our coaches at Michigan do a great job of peaking us at the right time,” Parris stated. “My confidence was at its peak and my body felt great out there.”

“From a program standpoint, we want to do our best wrestling at the NCAAs in March,” Bormet added.

“If you look at the course of our season, he got tested a few times and went through some adversity, but he kept his composure. He did a great job staying focused on scoring the next point. All those little tests helped him keep building and feeding into his confidence.”

For Parris, the mentality to not just win but to dominate began with his father and continued by assimilating into the Michigan wrestling program’s philosophies.

“Dominance was engrained in me at a young age,” said Parris, the 23-year-old native of Lawrenceburg, Ind., and the son of Mark and Shay Parris. “My entire career, the goal has always been to score as many points as I can and to dominate my opponent. My dad always told me to dominate, take risks, and never stop scoring.”

Bormet echoed Parris’ unrelenting approach to the sport.

“It is a mindset we look for in recruiting but also that we coach here at Michigan. He was clearly a relentless competitor, and when he got into our program, he would overwhelm guys with his offense. We didn’t want to slow down his offense but just to make it more efficient. He also has a huge team mindset, so he always wants to score bonus for the team. He is an incredible leader.

“This is a really special honor, and it puts an exclamation point on his career as a student-athlete. He is also graduating from one of the top engineering programs in the country, so he is a special human all around.”

Manchester University to add women’s wrestling as varsity sport
https://www.manchester.edu/about-manchester/Manchester-University-News/MU-news-page/news/2023/03/27/manchester-university-to-add-women-s-wrestling-as-varsity-sport
NORTH MANCHESTER, Indiana — Manchester University will offer women's wrestling as a varsity intercollegiate sport starting in the 2024-25 academic year, making it the 50th NCAA Division III women’s team in the nation.

“The time is right to launch a women’s wrestling program at Manchester University. Interest in girls wrestling in high school is exploding and we are seeing that in Indiana,” said Director of Athletics Rick Espeset.

“We want to be at the forefront of helping grow the sport, providing the student-athlete experience to even more of our students and offering women the chance to compete at the college level,” he said. “We could not be more excited to add women’s wrestling.”

In addition to noting the DIII milestone, National Wrestling Coaches Association Executive Director Mike Moyer said this announcement represents the 154th new women’s intercollegiate wrestling program to be added across all divisions and governing bodies since 2000.

“I extend a heartfelt thanks to the Manchester University administration for recognizing the educational value and diversity that a new intercollegiate women’s wrestling program will bring to their campus. High school girls wrestling participation numbers are exploding across the nation and these new programs are critically important in providing post-secondary educational opportunities for wrestlers in the region.” Moyer said.

“Needless to say, this is a big win for our sport and Manchester University,” he added.

Josh Hardman, head coach for Manchester’s men’s program, will become director of wrestling. Manchester will hire an associate head coach for the women’s program and another for the men’s program.

“With the growth of women’s wrestling in Indiana and across the country, it is exciting to add women’s wrestling to the Manchester University Athletic Department,” Hardman said.

“To be on the cutting edge and part of the growth of this emerging sport is something to celebrate. Manchester has always been a place that fosters individual growth, and this is just another example of the innovative, bold commitment that MU continues to make toward providing opportunities that transforms the lives of their students,” he said.

A member of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Manchester offers 10 women’s NCAA-sponsored sports teams and 10 for men. Women’s wrestling will be the 11th women’s varsity sport, with a full year to recruit.

Those who are interested in women’s wrestling may apply at https://applyto.manchester.edu/register/MUWWR.

For the media

Rick Espeset, RBEspeset@manchester.edu
Josh Hardman, JAHardman@manchester.edu.
Mike Moyer, National Wrestling Coaches Association, mmoyer@nwca.cc
MU Director of Sports Information Erin Hickle, EEHickle@manchester.edu

Learn more about Spartan athletics, https://muspartans.com/index.aspx

By Anna Kayser
 
Mere seconds after securing his second consecutive IHSAA State Wrestling title in February, No. 2 Jake Hockaday ran over to his coaches’ corner, hugged assistant coach Kyle Ayersman… and flipped him down onto the mat.
 
“We planned that far before,” Hockaday said. “I had to win it first, but right after I won I called him over and we had to do that. That was the first time [I had ever done that], I saw it on TikTok, so I thought I had to hit it.”
 
With his Saturday night victory over No. 1 Ashton Jackson of LaPorte, Hockaday became Brownsburg’s second two-time state champion following now-Minnesota standout after being the first freshman in school history to win it all in 2022. As part of a cohort of a program-record four finalists, Hockaday’s win followed freshman 106-pounder Revin Dickman’s title, marking the first time in school history that Brownsburg has crowned multiple champions in a year.
 
As someone all too familiar with the spotlight on the center mat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Hockaday’s confidence shined. He looked strong and light on his feet all still sets that are vital to coming out on top following a grueling wrestling season.
 
“First of all, we were thinking of going 113 [before the season], but I decided to make the jump to 120 to not cut and just train as hard as I could all year,” Hockaday said. “I felt pretty good not cutting a lot of weight. I felt like I was quick, I was strong, and I had a huge advantage over the other guys who were cutting weight.”
 
Hockaday looked strong, light on his feet and in his mind – all skillsets that are vital to coming out on top following a grueling wrestling season. Leading up to his 2022 run to become Brownsburg’s first freshman in school history to win a state title, that confidence wasn’t always there.
 
At the Avon Sectional a year ago, Hockaday rolled through the bracket to the title match against conference rival Luke Rioux of the host school, an opponent he was beyond familiar with. He lost that match, 10-6.
 
“He looked like a deer in headlights, he had no facial expression, and his face was just pale,” head coach Darrick Snyder said. “He had the pressure of the world on him. So we did a lot of work with him the next few weeks about getting his head right and trying to get him to understand that those feelings are normal.”
 
As the No. 1 ranked wrestler at 106 pounds during the 2022 season, all eyes on the Brownsburg side were on him to win the title as a freshman. All eyes on opposing sides, however, were to take him down.
 
 
“It was kind of hard being ranked No. 1, everyone was kind of giving me their all,” Hockaday said. “After that [loss] we had to turn the jets on, and I had to get my mental right. That’s really all we looked forward to, winning the state title.”
 
The mental side of wrestling is something that Snyder and his coaching staff continue to put an emphasis on with their wrestlers, setting them up for success as they start to wrestle on the biggest stages not only in Indiana, but in the country.
 
This past season, they took a number of wrestlers to the Walsh Ironman tournament to face some of the best nationally ranked competition.
 
“The longer I coach, the more time we spend on the mental side of [wrestling],” Snyder said. “For a lot of our kids, it’s not physical. They’ve got the skills and the ability… a lot of times it’s just dealing with the pressure.”
 
Snyder preached the same thing throughout the state series, so much so that when asked about it, Hockaday nearly recited it word-for-word: It’s just a wrestling match, that doesn’t change regardless of the scenario.
 
“It’s helped me realize that it’s a match – I’ve wrestled thousands of them,” Hockaday said. “The only thing that’s changing is they put it in a cool venue and call it the State Finals. Really, I just had to wrestle my match and win.”
 
And it paid off. He took what he learned last year with that lesson this season and used it to his advantage again, staying confident in himself no matter what the situation.
 
He’s an electric wrestler when he’s on his game, and now there’s very little that makes him forget it.
 
“I learned that I can’t wrestle [other] people’s style,” Hockaday said. “I just have to stay calm, breathe, force my style and not do anything stupid.”
 
 

By Dave Melton
Photo: Sam Janicki
 
Michigan senior Mason Parris kept coming back to phrases like “job’s not done” or “the season’s not over yet.”
 
But the Wolverines heavyweight also couldn’t downplay what he’d accomplished on Sunday night.
 
“That’s definitely one of the top memories so far,” he said. “I’ve been wanting that Big Ten title for a really long time and it’s great to finally have one.”
 
With a 5-3 overtime win against Penn State’s Greg Kerkvliet — a championship match between the top two heavyweights in the country, let alone the conference — Parris captured the first Big Ten championship of his career while wrestling in front of the home crowd at the University of Michigan.
 
But as soon as he finished that brief reflection on that win, Parris’ mind moved forward.
 
“Obviously, the job’s not done,” he said. “Two more weeks it’s the NCAA tournament and that’s still the main goal — this is just a stepping stone.”
 
Parris’ record now sits at 28-0, living up to his No. 1 ranking at heavyweight by both FloWrestling and Intermat with his first-place finish at the Big Ten tournament.
 
His career accolades were already a mile long, including three high school state titles before graduating from Lawrenceburg in 2018, a freestyle world championship in 2019, and a runner-up finish at the NCAA tournament in 2021. But the Big Ten title had remained elusive, with Parris finishing as runner-up twice and fourth place last season.
 
Reaching this title included a brief step back, too, as head coach Sean Bormet explained.
 
“As soon as our season ended, we had to make sure that we shut him down on the mat,” Bormet said. “We had to take some time off and start to rebuild his body so he could bounce back. And he attacked it like he attacks everything.”
 
Parris struggled with a herniated disc through much of last season and the effects from that injury and its subsequent recovery required some patience.
 
“When I was lifting in the summer I could barely do any pull-ups,” Parris said. “I struggled a lot. But now I can do 25 pull-ups by myself. I finally got that confidence back in my strength. It’s amazing to be able to feel this good again.”
 
He needed every ounce of strength to outlast Kerkvliet in the championship match, with a late stalling call against Parris sending the match into overtime — unbeknownst to Parris.
 
“I had no idea about that stall call until I looked up at the clock and saw it was 3-3,” he said. “Then I just had to take a deep breath. I knew what I had to do.”
 
About one minute into overtime, Parris stifled a shot attempt from Kerkvliet and then barreled through his opponent for the title-winning two points.
 
“I felt him shoot in deep on me,” Parris said. “I got my legs back and felt a little bit of pressure let up, so that’s why I drove in on him and took him over at the end.”
 
As he rose to his feet in victory, Parris pointed directly at his father, Mark, in the crowd.
 
“He’s the one who got me into wrestling,” Parris said of his father. “It’s been a great journey for both of us. It’s great being able to do that for my hometown and for my family.”
 
Mark Parris, who was a two-time all-conference linebacker at Ball State, got Mason Parris into wrestling by starting a youth program in Lawrenceburg, thinking it would help his son’s athletic future — just not on the mats.
 
“I started the youth program because I thought he was going to play college football,” Mark Parris said. “Wrestling helped me out when I was in high school, so I thought we’d start that program because they make the best tacklers.”
 
During Mason Parris’ multi-sport high school career, though, his plans became solely focused on wrestling. And judging by the wide smile on Mark Parris’ face as he spoke, there was never a doubt that this path was the correct one.
 
“We’re just so proud of him and who he is,” he said.
 
But, as Mason Parris was quick to point out: that road still has more miles to be explored.
 
“I can be happy with tonight and celebrate it,” Mason Parris said. “But then I’ll get back to work tomorrow.”

By Dave Melton
Photo: Nebraska Athletics
 
Nebraska redshirt sophomore Silas Allred was certainly never lacking for confidence after a high school career that included a pair of state titles at Shenandoah before graduating in 2020.
 
But when the coaches at Nebraska told the 197-pounder what he was capable of as a college wrestler, it sent his belief in his own abilities to new heights.
 
“When you have people who you really respect telling you that the sky’s the limit, you have no choice but to believe it,” he said. “I’d be foolish not to believe it. When your coaching staff tells you that you can be great and you buy into it, good things happen.”
 
One of those “good things” happened Sunday night at the University of Michigan, when Allred beat Penn State’s Max Dean 6-3 in the championship round, crowning Allred as a Big Ten champion.
 
Allred’s record now stands at 26-5 this season, heading into the NCAA Wrestling Championships set for St. Patrick Day’s weekend in Tulsa.
 
Allred’s road from Shenandoah to this Big Ten title for Allred included a slew of twists and turns caused by the pandemic, which limited the number of matches he wrestled during the 2020-21 season. Still, Allred immediately raised eyebrows when he arrived in Nebraska’s wrestling room that fall — especially the ones belonging to Eric Schultz, who was a Big Ten runner-up last year.
 
“The first time we wrestled at a practice, he threw me to my back and pinned me,” Schultz said of Allred. “I was like, ‘Who is this kid?’”
 
The only other person who may not have been surprised by Allred’s early displays for Nebraska was head coach Mark Manning.
 
“When we got him, I knew he was special,” Manning said. “He didn’t get many matches in but some of that adversity drove him to be better and better.”
 
Allred took a redshirt last season before hitting the mats heavy this season. While he maintained that the mental side of the sport — such as the confidence he gained from conversations with his coaches — has been paramount to success, there are plenty of wrestling lessons he’s conquered along the way to his conference title.
 
“It’s hard to put into words because so much of wrestling is mental preparation,” he said. “Hand fighting has been a huge factor for me, just shooting only when I win my ties and not taking poor shots. If you take poor shots against big 197-pounders, they’re going to punish you for it. Cleaning things up and only taking good, solid attacks has made a world of difference.”
 
Schultz couldn’t stop raving about how much Allred had improved at wrestling on top.
 
“It’s gotten a lot better from that first year on campus,” he said. “He’s probably one of the best riders in his weight class in the whole country.”
 
Combining those physical traits with a strong mindset is what led Allred to the Big Ten title and has him lined up for more success down the road, as Manning explained.
 
“He knew he could be where he finished (on Sunday),” Manning said. “We have to reinvent that again in two weeks, but he really enjoyed this moment because he did a super job. Seeing his development this year, starting back in November all the way until now: he’s made a jump of two or three levels. Now it’s going to take a different mindset and maturity, but he’s very mature for his age and that helps a lot.”
 
Allred was also looking in the direction of that upcoming NCAA tournament, hoping to have similar success on that even bigger stage. But he still took time to savor the victory he won last weekend, posing for countless photos with friends and family between an even longer string of congratulatory hugs and handshakes.
 
“It’s not just a memory for me but for all of them,” Allred said, pointing in the direction of the red-clad section of fans in his corner. “They’re all a part of this. They’ve all — in some way, shape or form — played a part in my development as a wrestler and to share this moment with them is just awesome.”
 
Then, a few breaths later, Allred looked ahead.
 
“Being a Big Ten champ is awesome but it’s not the goal,” he said. “At the end of the day, I want to be the best wrestler I can possibly be. Whether it’s a national champion or Olympic champion or world champion, whatever it may be, I want to be the best that I can be.”
 

2023 Awards night, join us for some great conversation and announcing this year's awards.
 

Mr. Gorilla: Sam Goin- Crown Point
1st Runner-up: Aidan Torres- Chesterton
2nd Runner-up: Orlando Cruz- Crown Point
 
Miss Gorilla: Aulani Davis- Kokomo
1st Runner-up: Mackenzie Konanz- Penn
2nd Runner-up: Chrissy True- Jeffersonville
 
Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year: Center Grove
4A Coach of the Year: Maurice Swain- Center Grove
3A Coach of the Year: Steve Sandefer- Mishawaka
2A Coach of the Year: Chad Shepherd- Western
1A Coach of the Year: Joe Litherland- Tell City
Girls Coach of the Year: Nick Skinner- Southport
 
4A Wrestler of the Year: Joey Buttler- Whiteland
3A Wrestler of the Year: Cole Solomey- Kankakee Valley
2A Wrestler of the Year: Tylin Thrine- New Castle
1A Wrestler of the Year: Tyce DuPont- Tell City
 
Past Award Winners
1A Coach
2015- Tony Currie
2016- Brett Smith
2017- Gary Black
2018- Chuck Fleshman
2019- Tony Currie
2020- Cody Moll
2021- Neal Stahly
2022- Clint Gard
 
1A Wrestler
2015- Sawyer Miller
2016- Evan Ellis
2017- Eli Stock
2018- Noah Cressell
2019- Silas Allred
2020- Isiah Levitz
2021- Hayden Filipovich
2022- Marshall Fishback
 
2A Coach
2015- Trent McCormick
2016- Mark Kerrn
2017- Trent McCormick
2018- Frank Bumgardner
2019- Chad Shepherd
2020- Paul Gunsett
2021- Nick Kraus
2022- Tim Myers
 
2A Wrestler
2015- Brock Hudkins
2016- Brock Hudkins
2017- Mason Parris
2018- Brayden Curtis
2019- AJ Fowler
2020- Clayton Fielden
2021- Isaac Ruble
2022- Christian Carroll
 
3A Coach
2015- Brad Harper
2016- Darrick Snyder
2017- Chris Johl
2018- Matt Schoettle
2019- Sean McGinley
2020- Sean McGinley
2021- Adam Wolf
2022- Chris Cooper
 
3A Wrestler
2015- Chad Red
2016- Blake Rypel
2017- Joe Lee
2018- Asa Garcia
2019- Jordan Slivka
2020- Eli Dickens
2021- J Conway
2022- J Conway
 
4A Coach
2021- Greg Schaefer
2022- Brandon Lorek-
 
4A Wrestler
2021- Jesse Mendez
2022- Gabe Sollars
 
Girls Coach of the Year
2021- Jeremy Goodlett
2022- Brad Harper
 
Assistant Coaching Staff of the Year
2022- Crown Point
 
Mr. Gorilla
2015- Tommy Forte
2016- Chad Red
2017- Andrew Davison
2018- Brayton Lee and Mason Parris
2019- Asa Garcia
2020- Silas Allred
2021- Alex Cottey
2022- Jesse Mendez
 
Miss Gorilla
2021- Sarah Huse
2022- Catie Campbell