Coach Wadkins Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Edited August 27, 2020 by Coach Wadkins hcsd309 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Wadkins Posted August 27, 2020 Author Share Posted August 27, 2020 13 Champions from 13 different schools!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silence Dogood Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 This should help... https://www.ihsaa.org/Portals/0/Flip Book/1980-81/wr/index.html#p=7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattyb Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Interesting fact... The undefeated HWT champ from Greenwood (Mark Bless) is now the head football coach at Avon High School. Still a tough dude. Gotta love the fact that he went straight singlet in the champ photo!!! Edited August 27, 2020 by Mattyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Professor Morgan Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Kirby Kepner 155 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wade McClurg Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 (edited) Coach Wadkins, Duane shared the IHSAA tape recording of the 1980 finals with me recently. Was really fascinated as I watched all the matches, and just how different some of the rules and procedures were back then and how much the sport has evolved. Here is the video of Lutgring’s finals match that went into OT vs Roger Miller of Warren Central. Duane was telling me that you two had some wars on the wrestling mat! https://youtu.be/QneIoSVTKq8 Roncalli's Duane Lutgring (second row & 2nd from the right and standing next to Coach Bless) 185 lbs State Champion 30-0 record. Went on to wrestle for the University of Indianapolis and earn 5th Place All-American honors at the 1985 NCAA Div 2 Championships in the HWT (unlimited) division. Edited August 30, 2020 by Wade McClurg FCFIGHTER170 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raven150 Posted August 27, 2020 Share Posted August 27, 2020 Mike Niccum (Delta) was the Eagles 2nd individual state champion winning the 119 title. He then wrestled briefly at Indiana State before transferring to Anderson University. We were teammates at AU and Mike won 2 NAIA all-american certificates during that time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Wadkins Posted August 28, 2020 Author Share Posted August 28, 2020 (edited) Coach McClurg, Duane gave me my 1st college loss (8-6) in the quarters of the Indiana Little State held at Taylor University in December of 1980. He placed 3rd and I finished a disappointing 6th. The next year, I beat him in the Little State finals (8-8, 7-1 / OT) at home (Wabash) PICTURED. We never wrestled again, I believe partially because he was also a football player at ICU and had to pull too much weight to make 190 easily early in the season. I stayed down at 190 because ICU also had a giant of a man at HWT named Wade Hall that was an AA prior to Duane in 1985. Edited September 21, 2020 by Coach Wadkins bgcoach, JasonTsirtsis and MikeTython 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldslicer Posted August 30, 2020 Share Posted August 30, 2020 Mark Scott was LaPorte High School's 1st modern day State Champ in 1980 at 132 lbs (in the op picture 1st row bottom right) As a sophomore was 6-10-1 and 2 years later finished 28-1-1 as a senior with 20 out of 30 opponents scoring only 2 points or less. He credits his Coach Chuck Ford with his success. 2 key moments for him in winning a state title were his loss in the DAC final which propelled him to working even harder each and every day and the Indianapolis Star Press who previewed the State Tournament in their newspaper. Every weight class had several individuals listed who could possibly become state champions except the 132 lbs preview which only stated "Steve Hunter of Franklin Central should have smooth sailing." Challenge accepted! Wrestled for Ball State but injured knee requiring surgery freshman year...redshirted sophomore year and unfortunately Ball State cut the Wresting program the following year. After college Mark coached wrestling 31 years with 28 consecutive years as Head Coach of Muncie Central High School. Thanks to Coach Wadkins for starting this thread! FCFIGHTER170 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raven150 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 (edited) The first 4 left to right back row I believe are: Bluebaugh (Bloomington), Patascil (Logansport), Kepner (Warren Central), and Palmer (Muncie South) The first 2 in the front row are possibly Leavell (Indianapolis Tech) and Taroli (Hammond). I can’t remember for sure but I think that this IHSAA State Finals was the last year to be held at Southport High School. Edited September 2, 2020 by raven150 FCFIGHTER170 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FCFIGHTER170 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 On 8/30/2020 at 9:23 AM, Oldslicer said: Mark Scott was LaPorte High School's 1st modern day State Champ in 1980 at 132 lbs (in the op picture 1st row bottom right) As a sophomore was 6-10-1 and 2 years later finished 28-1-1 as a senior with 20 out of 30 opponents scoring only 2 points or less. He credits his Coach Chuck Ford with his success. 2 key moments for him in winning a state title were his loss in the DAC final which propelled him to working even harder each and every day and the Indianapolis Star Press who previewed the State Tournament in their newspaper. Every weight class had several individuals listed who could possibly become state champions except the 132 lbs preview which only stated "Steve Hunter of Franklin Central should have smooth sailing." Challenge accepted! Wrestled for Ball State but injured knee requiring surgery freshman year...redshirted sophomore year and unfortunately Ball State cut the Wresting program the following year. After college Mark coached wrestling 31 years with 28 consecutive years as Head Coach of Muncie Central High School. Thanks to Coach Wadkins for starting this thread! Really really good guy and that sweet hair always ensured he never lost his power! Oldslicer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodJC82 Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 On 8/26/2020 at 9:36 PM, Coach Wadkins said: 13 Champions from 13 different schools!! Niccum and Palmer were both Delta I believe. bgcoach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldslicer Posted September 2, 2020 Share Posted September 2, 2020 2 hours ago, WoodJC82 said: Niccum and Palmer were both Delta I believe. Palmer was at Muncie South in 1980. He won state for Delta in '81 & '82. bgcoach and FCFIGHTER170 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgcoach Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 On 8/27/2020 at 11:26 AM, Wade McClurg said: Coach Wadkins, Duane shared the IHSAA tape recording of the 1980 finals with me recently. Was really fascinated as I watched all the matches, and just how different some of the rules and procedures were back then and how much the sport has evolved. Here is the video of Lutgring’s finals match that went into OT vs Roger Miller of Warren Central. Duane was telling me that you two had some wars on the wrestling mat! https://youtu.be/QneIoSVTKq8 Roncalli's Duane Lutgring (second row & 2nd from the right and standing next to Coach Bless) 185 lbs State Champion 30-0 record. Went on to wrestle for the University of Indianapolis and earn 5th Place All-American honors at the 1985 NCAA Div 2 Championships in the HWT (unlimited) division. First time watching the match. I don't remember the matches being on TV, but then to hear Don Hein from WTHR and Beech Grove's own Bill Bane calling the match was nostalgic to say the least. Thanks Wade! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuilapa Posted September 4, 2020 Share Posted September 4, 2020 Hey Coach Wadkins, please let folks know who where the Little State Champs in your photo. A definite who's who from previous Indiana HS wrestling. Wabash had five champs that year. Go Bash! bgcoach 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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