Best to Ever Beat You (More Post-IHSAA Discourse)

[blueandgold]

A very fun question to ask. Add year, weight, and score if possible.

 

[navy80]

Craig Weinzapfel in freestyle and Wesley English in greco....2001 ish. Both crushed me like I was a small child.

[drakekendrex01]

Derek Blubaugh (in college):

174 & 197 Findlay Open 8-0 x2

Edited April 6 by drakekendrex01

[Bashin142]

Karl Monaco from Montclair State (he was 3x D3 champ; went on to be D1 runner up) 142lbs 1988.  Only time I was ever tech falled, he was tough as nails.

[NavyGonzo]

Alex Tsirtsis (High School)

 

135 2002 I lost 16-6

145 2003 lost by same score

[Y2CJ41]

Some Indiana legends who will love the reminder that they beat me.

Josh Holden
Steven Bradley
Courtney Duncan

 

But the toughest wrestler that made me feel like I was horrible was Michigan's Mike Kulczycki. 

[Bag of Hammers]

The year was probably 1987 at the Ohio State Fair, the summer before by Junior year of HS.  I walked through my pool to the finals.  Had on my new Asics and my S Korean Singlet that I traded for at Canada Cup a few years before.  I was looking good and ready to kick the crap out of some kid from Canada for the gold.  I got teched in about 45 seconds.  I don't know his name but he was on the Canadian national team.

[piscis1956]

Dennis Lewis of Yorktown (2 time state champion, one time runner up)

1971-1972 season at 98 lb

17-0

7-0

1972-1973 season at 98 lb

Pin

10-0

 

I *almost* but not quite got an escape against him one time (in the match he pinned me).

Edited April 6 by piscis1956
Added years and weights

[BrodyHardcastle]

Mason Parris 15-0 summer going into sophomore year

Silas Allred  7-1 my senior year 

Evan Loe twice by pin my freshman year.

Jarod Verkleeren from PA who was a cadet world champ and wrestled at PSU also beat me 15-0

[The Professor Morgan]

In Indiana, Reece Humphrey, Angel Escobedo, Nick Walpole

 

Nationally, Rocky Cozart, Cyler Sanderson or Dustin Schlatter

[maligned]

2 hours ago, piscis1956 said:

Dennis Lewis of Yorktown (2 time state champion, one time runner up)

1971-1972 season at 98 lb

17-0

7-0

1972-1973 season at 98 lb

Pin

10-0

 

I *almost* but not quite got an escape against him one time (in the match he pinned me).

Great coach. His guys gave me my worst loss in each of 8th grade, sophomore year, and junior year during the NorthWood heyday of the mid 90s. Eventual state runner-up Nate Schmucker was the best of them. He got me 13-4 at 130 in 1994.

[Coach Peck]

Summer of 1974 at the Junior Nationals I wrestled Jimmy Jackson (defending Junior National Champion who would go on to be an NCAA Champion and make the 1980 Olympic Team).  There is a long story to this, but the abridged version is that pinned me in 8 seconds.........8 seconds.

[maligned]

1 hour ago, Coach Peck said:

Summer of 1974 at the Junior Nationals I wrestled Jimmy Jackson (defending Junior National Champion who would go on to be an NCAA Champion and make the 1980 Olympic Team).  There is a long story to this, but the abridged version is that pinned me in 8 seconds.........8 seconds.

I respect you greatly, coach. But it doesn't sound like a long story.

[Short Jay]

Jared Frayer

Steven Bradley

[Michael Berry]

Mitchell Betz at 152, Logan Farnell at 160, and Ethan Farnell at 152, all in my senior year.

Edited April 7 by Michael Berry

[Clint Gard]

In High School - Jay Manson from Arsenal Tech - During FS Season.  He was as good as anyone we've had in Indiana (IMO).

 

In College - Raphael Wilson - Augustana College 3x NCAA III Champ as a Fr, Jr, and Sr and All-American as a sophomore.  Junior year - Lost 4-13 at the Midwest Classic (I think it's called something different now at UIndy) and 6-5 in the finals of NCAA III Midwest Regional.  Sr. year - Lost 2-3 in the finals of the NCAA III Midwest Regional.  Toughest kid I had ever wrestled to score on.  I was 5'7" maybe 5'8" and he was almost a head shorter than me.  Built like a tank and athletic.  That was 29-30 years ago and I can still give a play-by-play of those 2 finals matches but I can't remember where my car keys are... 

[nkraus]

Cameron Simaz 20-13 loss 

 

Simaz 4x D1 AA and a National Champion 

[busstogate]

Eventual Illinois high school state champ Terrell Sandifer (probably mulitiple time champ in IKWF from the Harvey Twisters) during an IKWF meet.  All I remember is that it was over fast.

Devin Broukal's daddy Ray Broukal from Blue Island Eisenhower in Illinois during high school.  Dude was a brickhouse.  See above for results.

[bsisson]

High School-

Anton Talamantes- 1998 State Finals fall at 5:39. He was screaming in the locker room before.  To say I was a tad intimidated would be an understatement

Damon Hahn- Junior Duals I don't remember the score but I'm sure it was a tech

 

College-

Pat Cummins- I was wrestling 184 and our heavyweight got hurt so I bumped up.  I stalled something horrible and got booed out of Rec Hall but I didn't give up a major.  Pretty much the highlight of my College wrestling career! 

Mike Mena- He grabbed me one day at practice and it was probably the worst beating I have ever taken!

[Y2CJ41]

15 minutes ago, bsisson said:

High School-

Anton Talamantes- 1998 State Finals fall at 5:39. He was screaming in the locker room before.  To say I was a tad intimidated would be an understatement

Damon Hahn- Junior Duals I don't remember the score but I'm sure it was a tech

 

College-

Pat Cummins- I was wrestling 184 and our heavyweight got hurt so I bumped up.  I stalled something horrible and got booed out of Rec Hall but I didn't give up a major.  Pretty much the highlight of my College wrestling career! 

Mike Mena- He grabbed me one day at practice and it was probably the worst beating I have ever taken!

You're just lucky you didn't get the wrist and a half from @TeamInjuryTime07 in Pittsburgh!

[SIwrestling]

Ben Jordan - Jordan State Champ Camp summer 2006. One takedown against him then three straight days of getting demolished. Teammate of mine was a senior and got destroyed by an 8th grader by the name of David Taylor all week. 

[MattM]

HS Season - Steven Bradley.  I miraculously was deep on a single leg and starting to lift it yet ended up flat on my own back.  TBH he probably let me in that far. 

 

Freestyle - Greg Schaefer and Leroy Vega.  I got one takedown on Schaefer probably due to my length.  He decided enough of that and pancaked me on my back the next time I shot in.  As far as Vega goes, I’ve seen Rottweilers treat their chew toys more gently than what occured. 

Edited April 8 by MattM

[Ironbear]

On 4/6/2025 at 10:43 AM, Bag of Hammers said:

The year was probably 1987 at the Ohio State Fair, the summer before by Junior year of HS.  I walked through my pool to the finals.  Had on my new Asics and my S Korean Singlet that I traded for at Canada Cup a few years before.  I was looking good and ready to kick the crap out of some kid from Canada for the gold.  I got teched in about 45 seconds.  I don't know his name but he was on the Canadian national team.

I won that tournament at 198lbs in the open div that year.

[maligned]

4 hours ago, MattM said:

Freestyle - Isaiah Schafer and Leroy Vega.   

Greg?

[MattM]

7 hours ago, maligned said:

Greg?

Yeah, haha.  But, let’s be honest Isaiah would probably do it too.