What ever happen to the White River State Park Games ?

[TeamGarcia]

I Remember wrestling in the games back in 1989,1990,1991. Remember the atmosphere was tremendous much like the Olympics opening ceremonies. Medals was huge . What a great event ! 
 

Anybody know why they aren’t around anymore. 

[MattM]

I was there a couple years.  Cut my teeth on learning how freestyle worked at it when I had just got into folkstyle in MS. Nothing like being flipped around a few time, the match being called, and then looking around asking “why is it over and how did I lose”.   Those medals were pretty solid though.  The State Games were actually multiple events throughout Indianapolis over the weekend.  I think the funding/sponsorship just kinda fizzled out for it after awhile.  It seems like I remember on year looking into signing up and learning they decided to cancel it for that year.  Then by the next year nothing was put out.       

 

On a similar note I also miss not having the Great Lakes Wrestling Tournament that Purdue used to host back in the early 90s which was a good draw of talent. 

Edited February 18, 2021 by MattM

[TeamGarcia]

14 minutes ago, MattM said:

I was there a couple years.  Cut my teeth on learning how to wrestle freestyle their when I started back in MS.  Those medals were pretty solid.  The State Games were actually multiple events throughout Indianapolis over the weekend.  I think the funding/sponsorship just kinda fizzled out for it after awhile.  It seems like I remember on year looking into signing up and learning they decided to cancel it for that year.  Then by the next year nothing was put out.   .    
 

On a similar note I also miss not having the Great Lakes Wrestling Tournament that Purdue used to host back in the early 90s which was a good draw of talent. 

Yes, remember in Kalamazoo Michigan they held a National tournament there. I remember a mall connected to the Kellogg Arena or something remember wrestling matches there then right after going through the mall in our spare time . Remember going to the Hershey Games in PA if you won the state Games . Maybe it was called the Grand Nationals or something? Remember qualifying for the State Games by placing at AAU state or ISWA State ? They had other qualifiers around the State . I think we went Peru maybe ? 

Edited February 18, 2021 by TeamGarcia

[Y2CJ41]

[J7192]

3 minutes ago, TeamGarcia said:

Yes, remember in Kalamazoo Michigan they held a National tournament there. I remember a mall connected to the Kellogg Arena or something remember wrestling matches there then right after going through the mall in our spare time . Remember going to the Hershey Games in PA if you won the state Games . Maybe it was called the Grand Nationals or something? Remember qualifying for the State Games by placing at AAU state or ISWA State ? They had other qualifiers around the State . I think we went Peru maybe ? 

I think you're referring to the AAU Grand Nationals. I went one year in the early 90s, and it was in Battle Creek, MI. There was a regional qualifier at Terre Haute that year, with the top 6 advancing to nationals.

[TeamGarcia]

1 minute ago, J7192 said:

I think you're referring to the AAU Grand Nationals. I went one year in the early 90s, and it was in Battle Creek, MI. There was a regional qualifier at Terre Haute that year, with the top 6 advancing to nationals.

Yea.. your right. WRSPG held a National Games somewhere can’t remember 

[Cooper160]

How bout to old Great Lakes held in Battle Creek michagan

[FCFIGHTER170]

2 hours ago, MattM said:

I was there a couple years.  Cut my teeth on learning how freestyle worked at it when I had just got into folkstyle in MS. Nothing like being flipped around a few time, the match being called, and then looking around asking “why is it over and how did I lose”.   Those medals were pretty solid though.  The State Games were actually multiple events throughout Indianapolis over the weekend.  I think the funding/sponsorship just kinda fizzled out for it after awhile.  It seems like I remember on year looking into signing up and learning they decided to cancel it for that year.  Then by the next year nothing was put out.       

 

On a similar note I also miss not having the Great Lakes Wrestling Tournament that Purdue used to host back in the early 90s which was a good draw of talent. 

Those great lakes festival were awesome,I watched Matt Jaggers thump his little brother Mick there .. Their mom Lisa was not happy but UNCLE Bob sure was

[ReformedPoster]

WRPSG were awesome.  Opening ceremonies were olympic-esque.  In summer of '87, I think, that the Goodwill Games were in Indy.  I remember that the winners of the WRPSG got to escort the Goodwill Games wrestlers to the mat.  Unfortunately for me, I wasn't one of them.

 

Correction, it was the Pan Am games in Indy in '87.

Edited February 18, 2021 by ReformedPoster

[Numberz]

I think the Goodwill Games were held at the Indiana State Fair Grounds, during the mid-late 1990's.

[MattM]

33 minutes ago, Numberz said:

I think the Goodwill Games were held at the Indiana State Fair Grounds, during the mid-late 1990's.

It was Pan -Am Games

 

Goodwill Games never made it to Indy. Indianapolis was awarded the 1987 Pan-Am Games when the original selection Chile had to drop out.