Meanest Indiana Wrestler of All-Time

[SunDevils]

In-person my memory of Indiana wrestling is from 1998-2014, since then I have been away from the state and only view online during the IHSAA state finals or key dual meets when streamed (i.e. Brownsburg/Avon). 

 

I am not asking who is the most aggressive (i.e. Quiroga, Nick Lee), dominant (i.e. Howe or Parris), or best ever (insert names) but who is the meanest wrestler on the mat you have seen in your time watching Indiana wrestling history. 

 

The meanest person on the mat I can recall - Danny Coyne. I'd imagine he was a nightmare on the mat, for those who crossed his path, and I am certain that would be true if you ever crossed him on the streets. 

 

 

[piscis1956]

So, by “meanest”, if you don’t mean most aggressive or most dominant, do you mean most average?

[Coplen187]

Meanest I've seen in the last few years from the area I pay attention to, is Caydn Smith from Plymouth.  He was impressively aggressive.

[BrodyHardcastle]

Parris wasnt very fun to wrestle lol Harvey brothers from Cathedral were tough nose along with the Jacksons from Yorktown. 

Edited April 21 by BrodyHardcastle

[hcsd309]

Toby Turner, Mike Langley, Bob Proctor

[FCFIGHTER170]

On 4/19/2025 at 2:31 PM, SunDevils said:

In-person my memory of Indiana wrestling is from 1998-2014, since then I have been away from the state and only view online during the IHSAA state finals or key dual meets when streamed (i.e. Brownsburg/Avon). 

 

I am not asking who is the most aggressive (i.e. Quiroga, Nick Lee), dominant (i.e. Howe or Parris), or best ever (insert names) but who is the meanest wrestler on the mat you have seen in your time watching Indiana wrestling history. 

 

The meanest person on the mat I can recall - Danny Coyne. I'd imagine he was a nightmare on the mat, for those who crossed his path, and I am certain that would be true if you ever crossed him on the streets. 

 

 

He's def Up there 4 certain! But to me it's not even a question,  Matt Jaggers was the meanest hands down... He snapped ppl into concussions and even the hospital in 03' vs Cole Whalen.. It was so violent Matt's own mother ran on the mat and made a scene against her own son.... He made numerous Guys cry..

 

I'll give 1 my fav stories of him, Dealing with one of the most mouthy guys he mauled  3  years in a row, who bumped up 2 weight classes their sr. Year thinking he got away from him. The guy came into the fieldhouse wearing their  team shirt with a saying on the back that read "The only good TROJAN used One"  long story short jaggers had surgery on his nose due. Keep his nose bleeds down and got it carderized and packed. Let him bump up and go 135 that week with not having practice time to get down  125... watching that kids demeanor go from pumped to thinking he was going to wrestle a freshman to pure terror when he checked in to the scorers table and we went Jaggers up was comical. Let's just say he was in tears after being snapped down and mauled, and didn't put that shirt back on after that match. 

 

 

[Banks]

On 4/19/2025 at 10:33 PM, Coplen187 said:

Meanest I've seen in the last few years from the area I pay attention to, is Caydn Smith from Plymouth.  He was impressively aggressive.

Nicest kid off the mat, one of the meanest kids on the mat. Being his older brother I got to see it develop and now he does MMA and boy does he excel at that. 

[FCFIGHTER170]

1 hour ago, Banks said:

Nicest kid off the mat, one of the meanest kids on the mat. Being his older brother I got to see it develop and now he does MMA and boy does he excel at that. 

Seen that he killed it up on the MFL cards! I am headlining a Card in Muncie or  New castle,  would love to have him on the card in August! I'll DM you if interested... This show has had many UFC,ONEFC,BELLATOR Vets etc.Jarred Brooks made his Debut in this org..Rafeon Stottts who went on to Be bellator Champ made his debut here..Devon And Dillon Jackson will be on the card. 

[Ahawkeye]

I have never wrestled any of them but have watched all of them. DJ Radnovich (Gibson Southern) was an animal, John Barnes (God rest his soul, MD) was brutal, Joe Lee (MD) was as much a physical brawler as Nick was a technician. 

[TheHider]

In my many years watching DA region boys  brawl It out. My hat gets nodded to Colton Cummings of Lowell. 
 

Having watching him, and coaching against him for years when you get off the mat with him you’re going to feel it! For a lighter weight wrestler  this stud had some of the biggest hands I’ve ever seen in high school, and once he got ahold of you, and  you weren’t going anywhere.

Then gets off the mat and is  one of nicest kids I’ve ever engaged with. 

[MattM]

Not sure I like the term meanest when trying to highlight wrestlers that are doing moves within the rule set.  But in terms of unrelenting pressure and being able to impose his moves on you, all I know is you don’t choose down against Drew Hughes ever. 

Edited April 23 by MattM

[Adam_glass]

I wrestled a lot of super tough wrestlers in my career but the "meanest" from Indiana has to be AJ Steenebeke from Penn. He had some amazing technique and physical ability, but every single movement had some killer intent behind it, and he always was looking for the pin. 

[RegionDogs]

1 hour ago, MattM said:

Not sure I like the term meanest when trying to highlight wrestlers that are doing moves within the rule set.  But in terms of unrelenting pressure, all I know is you don’t choose down against Drew Hughes ever. 

 

Drew Hughes made my arm pit bleed from his power half. Sinko from Mishawaka was another guy that would make you regret taking bottom.

[AJ]

@FCFIGHTER170 , I would have to say Pickle from New Castle. 

[EliteAthleticClub]

Brad Harper

[Michael Berry]

Brody Arthur from Oak Hill, pretty chill guy off the mat, but when he wrestles he is merciless. 

[FCFIGHTER170]

12 hours ago, AJ said:

@FCFIGHTER170 , I would have to say Pickle from New Castle. 

He def was, but Nate would be content winning a 4-2 match and stuff all your TDs.. Jaggers told me that he wanted to beat them so bad that they never wanted to step on the mat again with him..as well as that he found it almost insulting that they thought they belonged on the mat with him.  He was as mean a kid on the mat as I've ever seen.  My cousin Bubba was as well, Pickle and motl said he wasn't someone neither of them even wanted to try and even mess with.  Him and Peck use to nearly scrap when they went live. Bubba was just a different human.. pinned his way through both HS and FS state.. And was a a

Fargo AA in his first free fs tourneys on a 1 leg.

[datdude]

Waylon Cressell…

[Coplen187]

On 4/21/2025 at 2:52 PM, Adam_glass said:

I wrestled a lot of super tough wrestlers in my career but the "meanest" from Indiana has to be AJ Steenebeke from Penn. He had some amazing technique and physical ability, but every single movement had some killer intent behind it, and he always was looking for the pin. 

The only guy to pin Brant Beck in high school, and he did it in like 30 seconds.  He wrestled just as you described.

 

 

[Ironbear]

Who I think it is most definitely is Muncie South's Mike Showalter 1981 grad RIP.

[IndianaWrestlingGuy1]

Jason and Billy Terry were the meanest two kids I ever saw in wrestling room. You walked on egg shells around those boys at all times. Scott and Lance Ellis weren't too far behind them. 
 

I'd argue depending how old you are, the Christian Park room (Indy Near East side) in the late 80s was the meanest group of kids ever assembled in this state. About 10 state champs and 20 medalists. But there were fights every single night, and everyone just took a beating in that room. The Terry's "Grampa John" Sherrill ran the room I believe with Dan Ireland. 

State Champs from that room: Joe McGinley (Cath), Rob Walke (WC), Matt Puckett (WC), Elllis (Cath), J Terry (Cath), Robert Miller (Cath) 

 

Multiple time medalist: McGinleys (4+), Eric Guhl, Todd Mackall, Scott Ellis, Billy Terry, Eric Hofmeister, John Maio, Mike Arbuckle, and quite few Warren folks I'm missing. 
 

if anyone out there has color on the Christian Park Room, I'd love to hear. RIP John Sherrill and Billy Terry. 

 

[Ultimate Warrior]

I think Tony Withrow wins, could've had a career in soccer as well...

[Timeinandout]

Scott Ellis hands down. Lance had us rolling one night telling stories. Don't quote me, but he may have won a sectional by no contest once. Every coach decided to forfeit to him. 

[busstogate]

Josh Harper caused a lot of suffering.  Billy Naegle's headlocks were pretty much night-night time, but until it was over, a bad time was to be had.

[nkraus]

26 minutes ago, busstogate said:

Josh Harper caused a lot of suffering.  Billy Naegle's headlocks were pretty much night-night time, but until it was over, a bad time was to be had.

Naegle headlocked me about a half dozen times in our two matches...never pinned me, but his headlock was more like an mma hook...majored me first round of Al Smith when I was unseeded, then pinned everybody else on his way to a championship...then he beat me 13-11 at sectionals...he also pulled off a huge Friday night upset against Dosher?