IHSWCA Middle School State!!!! Click here!!!!

[TripleB]

Okay... that's click bait.

 

Will that tourney be using the new scoring and out of bound rules?

 

We all know the Wild West - aka Indiana Middle School Wrestling - does whatever each school, AD and coach wants to do. 

 

However if the IHSWCA dictates that MS State tourney will use new rules, it'll be easier to get most schools on board.

 

Don't get me wrong, some schools down south don't even know that there's a state tourney and really don't care, but it'll be worth a try. 

 

 

[Coach Brobst]

We’re meeting next week to finalize fliers and start advertising but I can say we’ve already voted on this topic and we definitely will be using the new scoring system and out of bounds rules.

 

Obviously, the out of bounds stuff will vary from location to location a little with differences in space and size of mats but the new rules are in place for this tourney and the qualifiers!

[chef ghost]

Thanks for the information. Is there an email list or social media page where announcements like this get sent out? 

 

Also, are there any current initiatives to bring order to the weight classes being used around the state? I'm sure all middle school coaches have ran into issues. I've gotten email for weights the day of the dual or even got to the dual and found out the weights are not what we expected, or that there is an added weight allowance no one knew about. It's quite the disservice to the kids for us to continue on this way. 

When I ask other coaches they want something uniform but what I typically hear is "we use the weights our conference users"....

[Coach Brobst]

On 11/23/2024 at 5:03 PM, chef ghost said:

Thanks for the information. Is there an email list or social media page where announcements like this get sent out? 

 

Also, are there any current initiatives to bring order to the weight classes being used around the state? I'm sure all middle school coaches have ran into issues. I've gotten email for weights the day of the dual or even got to the dual and found out the weights are not what we expected, or that there is an added weight allowance no one knew about. It's quite the disservice to the kids for us to continue on this way. 

When I ask other coaches they want something uniform but what I typically hear is "we use the weights our conference users"....

Unfortunately, the IHSWCA Organization is limited in what we can make Athletic Directors do. Until all the coaches in the state work together to use the same weight classes at every event, the Middle Schools are the Wild West. My advice would be that every Middle School and High School coach talk to the Athletic directors in your area and have them adopt the same weight classes that Middle School state uses. Then they know what weight to sign up for and wrestle at this tourney and it can uniform across the state.

 

Unfortunately, that's a pipe dream right now.

[TripleB]

On 11/15/2024 at 1:12 PM, Coach Brobst said:

We’re meeting next week to finalize fliers and start advertising but I can say we’ve already voted on this topic and we definitely will be using the new scoring system and out of bounds rules.

 

Obviously, the out of bounds stuff will vary from location to location a little with differences in space and size of mats but the new rules are in place for this tourney and the qualifiers!

 

Thank you!

 

[JMILL]

On 11/15/2024 at 1:12 PM, Coach Brobst said:

We’re meeting next week to finalize fliers and start advertising but I can say we’ve already voted on this topic and we definitely will be using the new scoring system and out of bounds rules.

 

Obviously, the out of bounds stuff will vary from location to location a little with differences in space and size of mats but the new rules are in place for this tourney and the qualifiers!

 

Last year the qualifiers rules were not followed so why worry about this little detail going forward ?  save you some time I would suspect

[chef ghost]

What rules weren't followed? 

[Burlap Singlet]

16 minutes ago, chef ghost said:

What rules weren't followed? 

Guys that didn’t qualify at a weight allowed to wrestle a different weight at state without qualifying for either of them. 

[Coach Brobst]

5 hours ago, JMILL said:

 

Last year the qualifiers rules were not followed so why worry about this little detail going forward ?  save you some time I would suspect

I’m confused?

 

why worry about what set of rules we’re using?

 

Triple B asked if we were using the new scoring rules.

I confirmed we were.

Athletes can qualify by finishing top 4 at any qualifier or going to Tulsa.

Weight changes are not allowed.

 

Im not privy to everything that happened last year but I can tell you those are the rules we’ve agreed upon for this year.

 

It’s my first year heading this committee and I have a lot of learning to do, but the goal is to make this consistent and as fair as possible as well as a premier event that all MS wrestlers want to be a part of.

 

I’m working on firming up all qualifiers and ensure they have what they need and then we’ll make public those sites and dates but there will be some on January 19th and some on February 2nd all over the state.

 

State finals will be at Center Grove on February 9th (Sunday after Regionals).

 

Athletes can go to one the first weekend and the next if they don’t qualify the first time.

 

I’ll be happy to answer any other questions regarding the tourney anyone may have. I’m an open book.

 

 

[JMILL]

On 11/27/2024 at 7:51 PM, Coach Brobst said:

I’m confused?

 

Athletes can qualify by finishing top 4 at any qualifier

Weight changes are not allowed

 

@Coach Brobst this was not directed at you as I am hopeful you will do a much better job than was previously done.  The rules were put out there and clear to everyone but not followed by some and not enforced by some.  That is a bad look but at the end of the day it should be all about the kids not a money maker and that is what I think some people lose site of.  Hope for the best and thank you for all of your hard work

[nk140]

Where are the MS qualifiers at this year?  I only see a couple posted on usa bracketing and track.  It would be nice to have some consistency on where they are posted and to register.

[Coach Brobst]

Some of the qualifiers in February haven’t sanctioned yet but there will be 5 on the 19th of January

 

Crown Point

Plymouth

Carmel

Mater Dei

Columbus North

 

sectional Sunday has the other 3

 

Valparaiso

Warren Central

Jeffersonville

 

Top 4 qualify for state at the weight they qualify at only (no changing weights for state).

If anybody from a Ft Wayne Proper area school wants to host next year, we’re aggressively looking for a host school closer to Ft. Wayne to make it easier on those athletes, but for this year, we have what we have.

 

As I’ve mentioned, I got a late start in this this year so some negotiations and conversations fell through to make that happen this year but it is a priority for next year and I apologize to the coaches athletes and parents in that area that we didn’t get it done this year.

 

When I get to my computer again I’ll post the fliers for them all here.

 

State is Regional Sunday at Center Grove HS.

[Ryan Prendergast]

Is Tulsa also a qualifier? Do you have to place? Do it matter the age division? Thanks

Edited January 2 by Ryan Prendergast

[Coach Brobst]

3 hours ago, Ryan Prendergast said:

Is Tulsa also a qualifier? Do you have to place? Do it matter the age division? Thanks

Tulsa is a qualifier.

 

You do not have to place and age division doesn’t matter.

 

just a Heads up it may not count as a qualifier in the future though. We’re trying to offer enough qualifying tourneys and weekends next year that everyone has an option but for this year Tulsa still counts.

[Coach Brobst]

3 hours ago, Ryan Prendergast said:

Is Tulsa also a qualifier? Do you have to place? Do it matter the age division? Thanks

Tulsa is a qualifier.

 

You do not have to place and age division doesn’t matter.

 

just a Heads up it may not count as a qualifier in the future though. We’re trying to offer enough qualifying tourneys and weekends next year that everyone has an option but for this year Tulsa still counts.

[WrestlingFan765]

On 1/2/2025 at 10:56 AM, Coach Brobst said:

Some of the qualifiers in February haven’t sanctioned yet but there will be 5 on the 19th of January

 

Crown Point

Plymouth

Carmel

Mater Dei

Columbus North

 

sectional Sunday has the other 3

 

Valparaiso

Warren Central

Jeffersonville

 

Top 4 qualify for state at the weight they qualify at only (no changing weights for state).

If anybody from a Ft Wayne Proper area school wants to host next year, we’re aggressively looking for a host school closer to Ft. Wayne to make it easier on those athletes, but for this year, we have what we have.

 

As I’ve mentioned, I got a late start in this this year so some negotiations and conversations fell through to make that happen this year but it is a priority for next year and I apologize to the coaches athletes and parents in that area that we didn’t get it done this year.

 

When I get to my computer again I’ll post the fliers for them all here.

 

State is Regional Sunday at Center Grove HS.

Any updates on fliers? 

[Coach Brobst]

On 1/7/2025 at 2:06 PM, WrestlingFan765 said:

Any updates on fliers? 

Apologize for the delay. I was (and still am) hammering down some host sites with weather impacting some of them and other extenuating circumstances. I'm attaching the current flyer for this years' event.

 

Updated Qualifiers:

ON 1/19- Crown Point, Plymouth, Castle, Carmel, and Columbus North

 

ON 2/2- Jeffersonville, Valparaiso, and Warren Central * (Warren may change dates pending approval, stay tuned)
Qualifiers cost $25 and registration is done on www.usawmembership.com

 

Carmel's Tourney is having some issues with registration presently, but should be fixed soon. Castle is still creating their tourney. The others should be open for registration now. 

 

The February Qualifiers will open soon!

 

Top 4 individuals qualify for State AT THAT WEIGHT, no changes.

Tulsa Attendees qualify as well and should pick the logical weight that most closely corresponds to what they wrestle in Tulsa (they don't match  perfectly)

 

State is 2/9 at Center Grove. Read the flyer for most details. I will update it as things change, including the QR code for tickets.

 

Let me know if you have questions. If I don't have the answer, I will find it!

IHSWCA Middle School State Flyer.docx

[pupp44]

Is Jeffersonville for sure having a qualifier? I can’t find it in USA wrestling. Thanks

[Coach Brobst]

I'll follow up with their coach. They did agree to host. Maybe they just haven't had a chance to put it onto the website yet. 

[nk140]

Jeff's qualifier is on USAW

[Coach Brobst]

Update for everyone:

 

1) Tulsa kids are being loaded in now. Within a couple of days it should allow you to register, I'll follow up here when I get the green light, but for now you can only register if you were Top 4 at one of the first 5 qualifiers.

 

2) With this weekend being the 2nd round of qualifiers at Valparaiso, Warren Central (@Raymond Park MS), and Jeffersonville, I wanted to address one of the more common questions: Can my kid go to 2 qualifiers?

 

The short answer is yes! If you DIDN'T qualify your weight at the first qualifier you attended, you are welcome to attend one this weekend and try again! Top 4 will be qualified.

 

If you want to CHANGE WEIGHTS at state, the only way to do this is to qualify that weight. For instance, let's say you got 3rd at 106 at Crown Point, but that cut was too hard and you'd like to go 113 for state, you can register for one this weekend at 113 at Valparaiso (or any other) and then qualify that weight. 

 

In this circumstance, the vacated weight (106) would have the 5th placer from the qualifier that individual attended (Crown Point in this example) be pulled in. We will work to contact those individuals early next week after we know what weights we are pulling in. 

 

You should NOT enter the same weight at another qualifier if you are already qualified. Remember qualifying position doesn't matter for seeding as we use USA PIN rankings for that so even if you were at the "hard" qualifier, getting a higher placement will not matter. Athletes who are on the qualification list but register anyways will be contacted and removed. 

 

It is also possible some athletes will get pulled in if they were in a bigger tourney and we have open spots. The committee will be in contact early next week to help fill out all of those brackets and give as many kids as possible a chance to compete. 

 

Good luck this weekend and next!

Edited January 28 by Coach Brobst
clarity

[Coach Brobst]

2 more quick updates:

 

For Middle School State Registration:

-Tulsa Qualifiers should choose either the weight that is immediately above or immediately below what they wrestled at Tulsa. These will be the only weights allowed to register once they are in the system.

 

-T-Shirt update: If you'd like your athlete's name on the back of the T-Shirt, you must be registered by 10 AM Eastern Time on Tuesday February 4th. If you're not registered by then, their name will not be on the T-Shirt.

 

[Coach Brobst]

Update #3: All Tulsa Qualifiers are now loaded into the system. You can register for the tournament at this time. 

[MatTime]

On 1/2/2025 at 10:56 AM, Coach Brobst said:

Top 4 qualify for state at the weight they qualify at only (no changing weights for state).

 

On 1/28/2025 at 12:57 PM, Coach Brobst said:

If you want to CHANGE WEIGHTS at state, the only way to do this is to qualify that weight. For instance, let's say you got 3rd at 106 at Crown Point, but that cut was too hard and you'd like to go 113 for state, you can register for one this weekend at 113 at Valparaiso (or any other) and then qualify that weight. 

So there is weight changes allowed now? This is what makes it the wild west. Could just make it an open and do away with qualifiers since results don't matter, the committee will be contacting people to fill spots in brackets, and the door is now open to go to multiple qualifiers at multiple weights. 

 

How would a cut from 113 to 106 be addressed?

[Coach Brobst]

1 hour ago, MatTime said:

 

So there is weight changes allowed now? This is what makes it the wild west. Could just make it an open and do away with qualifiers since results don't matter, the committee will be contacting people to fill spots in brackets, and the door is now open to go to multiple qualifiers at multiple weights. 

 

How would a cut from 113 to 106 be addressed?

I think you're misunderstanding the process here. Weight changes from what you qualify at are not allowed.

 

You only qualify for the weight you enter the qualifier at. A small number of kids asked about changing weights for state. They were told no. The only way to qualify a weight for state is to attend another qualifier and qualify at that weight. This will obviously open up a spot for someone else at state at the vacated weight. The 5th placer from that vacated weight when then be qualified.

 

You can't just cut from 113 to 106 without qualifying the weight. If your kid wrestled at Castle at 113 and qualified then wanted to go 106 for state, they could not do that without qualifying for 106. What they can do is register for Jeffersonville at 106, make the weight, qualify the weight by finishing top 4 and then wrestle 106 at state instead. We're talking a very small number of kids that will want to do this. Most of the kids who qualified last weekend are going to just enter state at that weight class.

 

The results do matter since all results feed towards your USAW PIN ranking and you don't qualify for state unless you finish top 4. PIN is the same system used to seed at ISWA state so kids should be used to this.

 

We went away from the open because of run time and number of matches. When it was an open, the tourney ran forever and some brackets were way too big. Kids were wrestling way too many times in a day. Qualification is needed. How it is done is certainly something we are going to explore immediately after the tourney to prepare for next year along with several other factors to help improve the tourney.