Coach Hull Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Here is to hoping more Indiana wrestlers continue training Freestyle and Greco, straight from the mouths of some of the greatest athletes our sport has know! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGoatGrappler Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 A little evidence to support freestyle/Greco enhancing folkstyle. You might see a few familiar names. Indiana Participants at Fargo Last Year (2013) Cadet 100 Drew Hildebrandt Cadet 106 Austen Laughlin Cadet 106 Austin Slates Cadet 113 Caleb Bocock Cadet 113 Will Egli Cadet 120 Matt McKinney Cadet 120 CJ Red Cadet 120 Noah Warren Cadet 126 Jack Chastain Cadet 126 Nick Ellis Cadet 126 Brett Johnson Cadet 126 Nick Lee Cadet 132 Alston Bane Cadet 132 Evan Eldred Cadet 132 Bryant Haynes Cadet 132 Kain Rust Cadet 138 Jacob Hendrich Cadet 138 Blake Jourdan Cadet 138 RZ Teague Cadet 138 Anthony Williams Cadet 145 Thomas Dull Cadet 145 Kellen Vancamp Cadet 152 Kyle Spurr Cadet 152 Ben Stewart Cadet 170 Dylan Lydy Cadet 170 Jeremy McKinley Cadet 170 Tristen Tonte Cadet 182 Bristen Dial Cadet 182 Jonathan Morales Cadet 195 Jacob Cavins Cadet 195 Randy Scott Cadet 285 Shawn Streck Junior 120 Jacob Cottey Junior 120 Forrest Glogouski Junior 120 Ruben Rodriquez Jr Junior 126 AJ Belden Junior 126 Erique Early Junior 126 Brandon James Junior 126 Deondre Wilson Junior 132 Devin Broukal Junior 132 Dillon Eldred Junior 132 Alec Noworul Junior 132 Dominique Shelby Junior 138 Justin Atkinson Junior 138 Wyatt Seng Junior 145 Tommy Forte Junior 152 Vincent Corsaro Junior 152 Shabaka Johns Junior 152 Matthew Ruddick Junior 160 Chase Hack Junior 160 Kenny Hughes Junior 160 Alex Rinehart Junior 170 Jacob Franklin Junior 182 Riley Lefever Junior 182 Austin McCloskey Junior 195 Kevin Cain Junior 195 Mitch Sliga Junior 220 Fletcher Miller Junior 220 Charles Neisius Junior 220 Brad Sadilek Junior 220 Connor Tolley Junior 285 Wes Bernard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCKAJC Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I think more IN wrestlers would attend Fargo if they were able to compete without the "team trip" scenario. Wrestlers should be able to compete as they do in the folkstyle national events without traveling with a team. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAT36 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I agree! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mathewsz7 Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I actually like the team aspect of it. it gives the kids who have competed against each other all year the chance to pull for each other as team mates... all with the same goals, to win a few matches in the toughest tournament of the year and God willing become All Americans together. With some of the rivalries between high schools and certain areas of the state, this is one of the only chances these kids will have to put all that aside and just be team mates. JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCKAJC Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I actually like the team aspect of it. it gives the kids who have competed against each other all year the chance to pull for each other as team mates... all with the same goals, to win a few matches in the toughest tournament of the year and God willing become All Americans together. With some of the rivalries between high schools and certain areas of the state, this is one of the only chances these kids will have to put all that aside and just be team mates. JMO I agree. I really like the team aspect as well and we've been traveling with "Team Indiana" duel teams for years without this type of scenario. And the comradery is just as you describe, yet we travel on our own. Another issue I do have though is that a lot of wrestlers have routines that they have been going through for years yet the team coaches will circumvent those routines with their own "training" and other plans that may go away from what some prefer to do to prepare. If a kid places in the top 4-6 they should be able to travel and compete if they choose, not only increasing the number of IN athletes in the tournament, but also giving much needed exposer. I'm not sure how someone could say we need more wrestlers wrestling freestyle and then the next minute put restrictions on which qualifiers can participate. Allowing only those that qualify is understandable, but then limiting the number of qualifying wresters that can attend is absolutely counterproductive. I'd love for my kids to wrestle at Fargo but given the current scenario, unfortunately, I doubt they will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Bell Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I think more IN wrestlers would attend Fargo if they were able to compete without the "team trip" scenario. Wrestlers should be able to compete as they do in the folkstyle national events without traveling with a team. JMO I AGREE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewdwar Posted February 7, 2014 Share Posted February 7, 2014 I use to think the same thing. But how many kids wouldn't be able to make it. I'm sure there are a lot of parents that are unable to take time off of work. I know I wouldn't be able to take my son do to this little event in Indianapolis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Hull Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 Glad we are talking about this now! Especially with the end of the h.s. season approaching and soooo much more wrestling to be done over the summer! A few things.... 1) This video is bigger than Fargo, it's about the overall importance of Freestyle and Greco in relation to Folkstyle. Although Fargo is the pinnacle tournament for h.s. athletes, it is by no means the only tournament athletes can compete in to expand their knowledge of the Olympic styles. Actually, it starts at the grassroots level in our practice rooms, the coach's office, at the dinner tables. It starts by going to this Freestyle Open or that Greco open locally. The more of those we get in, the better we are come time for ISWA state, the better we do as a state on the regional and national level. 2) In regards to Fargo, USAW has limits on the amount of kids that can participate in order to run an efficient tournament, therefor each state has their set limits as well. It's already one of the largest, if not the largest, amateur wrestling tournament in the world. But, yes, there are only a limited number of athletes allowed each weight, team, state, etc. 3) From my understanding, ANY kid who places top 3 at ISWA state, a USAW Regional, or the Cadet Nationals/Junior Worlds is eligible to go to Fargo. There are petitions available as well, and it can all be a matter of who submits their money first. 4.) The team trip scenario is invaluable. Over 95% of the kids that go say that the team comradery is one of the best parts about the trip. When Wrestler A from the region gets to hang out with Wrestler B from the south, who both get the chance to rub shoulders with State Champ X from central Indiana, it's good for all. These trips are how most, if not all, of Indiana's wrestlers create a lasting bond that would never have come to fruition if not for these trips. The younger athletes learn from the older athletes they may look up to, and because of the higher expectations of the studs, it rubs off on the younger athletes, who in turn raise their expectations over the years. No different from building a h.s. or middle school program when kids graduate and the next class or two are just as good. It's almost the same reason teams go to Disney, not just for the competition but for the team, or state in this case, bonding. If a kid goes on this trip solo, they will be missing out. 5) Regarding the routines, each coach is different. The ISWA tries to ensure Indiana has the best staff available each and every year. More times than not these are high quality coaches who have shown, whether through volunteering or building an elite program at home, that they are capable of coaching on this level. For example, Coach Fleeger from Purdue and Coach Tonte are both solid coaches, who have proven success. Both however may have different philosophies, techniques, warm-ups, approaches, etc. This doesn't make either one right or wrong, just different. Just as there is no constant in wrestling technically, the same goes for coaching and preparation. So when a kid has a different routine to prepare - it should be nothing major. Oftentimes it can be a good thing expanding a kids horizons. We are talking about some of Indiana's best coaches. It's not like the athlete is micromanaged either. They have plenty of time to do their own thing and prepare for a match. Also, if/when said athlete gets the opportunity to wrestle in college, or on the senior level, their preparation will undoubtedly be different than that of h.s. as well. Different is not a bad thing. 6) As a state, I'm certain if more of our kids competed in Freestyle and Greco, if it was a priority, then we would do better than what we are doing now. This way, with raised expectations, we aren't looking for just All-Americans but National Champions. With wrestling back in the Olympics, it's time for us to make it more of a priority. Look at Micic's success, or Sliga, Tsirtsis, Escobedo, etc. Even Pico got out of h.s. wrestling because he wants to be the best in the world, not just the U.S. Freestyle and Greco are key and I'm glad this video was produced and getting more attention on this board. As coaches, we can impress the Olympic styles importance until we are blue in the face, but when some of the country's best advocate for it - it helps the cause that much more. Here is to a great rest of the h.s. season and an even better summer advancing as a state in the Olympic styles! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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