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Cooper Noehre (Greenfield-Central) is looking to win the Athlete of the Week award for his performance last week. Any votes for this outstanding young man would be appreciated. IndyStar Sports Athlete of the Week Vote

This will be streamed by IndianaMat on our YouTube and possibly Facebook accounts. We'll post a link next week.

Brownsburg and Mater Dei head to Michigan this weekend to test some of the best Michigan has to offer. Ten of the 14 Michigan teams represented are ranked. Mason, OH and Toledo Whitmer, OH are the final two teams rounding out the field. Ranked teams from Michigan D1 - largest class #2. Davison #3. Brighton #4, Clarkston #8. Grand Ledge D2 #2. Warren Woods Tower #3. Dewitt #4. Eaton Rapids #8. St. John's D3 #1. Dundee D4 #3. Clinton Notes: Brighton beat Davison this past weekend so those two will likely flip. Dundee was the D3 Team State Champ in 2018, qualifying 14 wrestlers. They have 8 ranked wrestlers returning with 1 Champ, 6 Placers and 1 SQ. Casey Swidarski is ranked #14 Nationally by Intermat and #18 by Flo. Soph. Stoney Buell was the State Champ at 135 last year. He returns at 160. A quick reference, Buell lost to Avon's Mason Miranda 7-5 last year at the Brecksville OH Invitational. He's currently ranked #1 at 160. Brighton was the D1 runner up in 2018 and return 10 ranked wrestlers, 8 Placers and 3 SQ. - River Shettler @171 is Nationally Ranked at #20 (Intermat) and #18 (Flo). He placed 5th at Super 32 at 160. He has some history with wrestlers from Indiana. He lost to Nick South at the Super 32 6-3. He has split 4 matches (that I found) with Joseph Walker of Mishawaka and lost to Graham Calhoun 8-3 at Disney. He finished 2nd at the Michigan State Finals at 160. Davison was a semifinalist last year losing to National Powerhouse Detroit Central Catholic. They return 2 State Champs, 4 other Placers and 3 SQ. They currently have 7 ranked wrestlers. Andrew Chambal won State at 112 last year and has wrestled at 130 so far this campaign. He's ranked #1. Wrestling @160 is Nationally Ranked #1 Alex Facundo. Facundo won State at 152 in 2018, was the Champ in both 2017 and 2018 at USAW Folkstyle Nationals, the 2018 Super 32 Champion and a 2x Grappler Fall Classic (GFC) winner. Alex beat Nick South 7-3 at the Super 32 and has wins in the GFC over Jodan Slivka (3-2, 2017), Jacob LaPlace (5-3, 2018) and Donnell Washington (14-8, 2018). I'll do a little more digging and post more in the next day or two. Hopefully, I can dig up enough info on more ranked wrestlers and on any weight classes that may been really deep. Lastly, note that Michigan does not use the standard HS weight classes and still use the old group that starts at 103. My understanding is this tournament will use the current standard, but that makes it a little harder to guess at what weights some of these guys will go. I can't find full Michigan individual rankings without paying, so I am piecing things together. So what rankings I do have may not be the most up-to-date. The team rankings are as of 12/10/18.

Discuss how wrong we are

Congratulations to Carson Brewer from Avon for signing with Ohio. He is projected to wrestle 184. View full signing

Four out the top ten were at 106 last year. Just because your small and able to do well as freshmen does not mean you are better then the bigger kids.

Top 5%er!

As I say every year, unfortunately the majority of our guys will drop in the ranking during the season due to not having many nationally ranked opponents or major tournaments to get attention. At best a few wrestlers may stay in their position based on a very solid showing during the off-season and pre-season events. Some teams attending out of state duals may help a couple wrestler find a ranked opponent, but the attention getter are usually the tournaments. As mentioned in a different post it’s veey difficult to find a high profile out of state tournament to enter since we would not be allowd to face any opponent who came from outside our travel radius.

Walker back in too!!! Carson Brewer with 7 wins over 6 ranked kids in the last year and a half. Only unranked loss this past year was Friday night!!! I think that if he has a good showing at Brecksville in a couple weeks, he could get back in.... hopefully! Congrats to Asa. Hopefully all our guys can stay in there for the rest of the season!

Asa Garcia back in the National Rankings at 132lbs. #15 Well deserved.

Great interview with Coach Warthan and the Associate AD Jackie Paquett talking about this weekend's Midwest Classic and the UIndy program itself. http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/uindys-jason-warthan-and-jackie-paquette-on-the-impact-of-the-40th-midwest-classic/

Nor did I. And at first thought, I hated it. But the more I think about it, it's allowed in college tournaments (not NCAAs) such as the Southern Scuffle. Obviously open tournaments allow unattached wrestlers, but even non-open tourneys like the Keystone Classic allow a certain # of entrants, though the # of wrestlers that count toward the team score is less. Penn St. had more than one wrestler in several weight classes at the Keystone, including 149 and 285 where they used the tournament as a psuedo wrestle-off. Brady Berge beat Jared Verkleeren 3-2 at 149 and Anthony Cassar dec 2x All-American Nick Nevills 7-3. Still not sure if I love it in the state series, but if 2 guys from the same class can make it all the way through sectional, regional, Semi-State why shouldn't they be able to wrestle for the title?

With the weekend he had, he's got my vote. I guess being a wrestler helps.

it is great to see MD strength of schedule improving.

I like it. Duals require 14 weight classes. Tournaments allow whichever 14 guys you want to enter. It would make the state series very, very interesting.

By STEVE KRAH stvkrh905@gmail.com Strength, speed and strategy have helped Victor Lee achieve success inside the wrestling circle. Creativity and drive have allowed him to excel away from it. The Marion grappler is hoping for even more mat achievements in his last high school go-round and a future filled with wrestling and film. A state qualifier at 195 pounds in 2017-18, Lee is currently ranked among the top competitors at 220. “I’m a naturally strong guy,” says Lee. “Speed is something I rely on most. I usually try to attack below the knee.” Giants head coach Lonnie Johnson likes the way the 5-foot-11 Lee moves on the mat. “He’s really mobile for a bigger guy,” says Johnson. “I want him to be a go-go-go guy and wear guys down. He’s in pretty good shape. I want him to pick up the pace a little.” Lee has been working hard on his stance since last season. If he has a signature maneuver it would be his high crotch. It’s what Ohio State University’s Kollin Moore used against University of Missouri’s J’den Cox. “It’s a move to be feared,” says Lee, who started his wrestling career in sixth grade, grappled in the 215 class as a middle schooler and was at 195 his first three seasons of high school. Gabe Watkins (285) and Corey Horne (152) have served as practice partners for Lee, each giving him a different look. Lee has studied the methods of Cox, who was a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics. “He has a very strategic way of practicing and coming from different angles,” says Lee of Cox. “He tries to keep his attack percentage really high. He’s not real aggressive like (Arizona State’s Zahid) Valencia. “He’s very technical. I try to emulate that. I use hand fighting to tire the other guy out and keep his head down so all he’s looking at is the mat.” Johnson is a 1995 Marion graduate. He wrestled at 189 his first three seasons and 215 as a senior. He has coached in the Giants system for two decades and is in his third season as head coach. The coach has offered advice that has stuck with Lee. “He says to always be confident in my shots, be persistent and always finish through them,” says Lee of Johnson. “Last year, he sometimes got himself in a bind with 30 seconds to go. I want him to get up on guys 10-3 or 10-4 and then stick them. “He reminds me of Darryn Scott (who was a two-time state qualifier and placed sixth in the 2010 State Finals at 189) with his strength and his speed. (Scott) would go at you. (Lee) sits back and tries to pick you apart.” Lee won his first sectional title and qualified for his third regional in 2018. After reigning at the Oak Hill Sectional and qualifying for his third regional. He placed second to Maconaquah’s Aaron Sedwick at the Peru Regional then third at the Fort Wayne Semistate, his first appearance there. “I was always trying to prove myself, says Lee, who lost 6-3 to West Noble’s Draven Rasler in the semistate semifinals. Rasler then was pinned by New Haven’s Jaxson Savieo in the finals. Lee was pinned by New Albany’s Jaden Sonner in the first round at the State Finals, but got a taste of that big stage in Indianapolis. “I won’t be blinded by all those fans,” says Lee, who plans to be back at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in February 2019. “I’ll be going to State with better confidence in my abilities.” Besides his wrestling prowess, Lee is also a solid student. “I’ve never had a teacher complain about him,” says Johnson. “I don’t have to worry about the attitude. “When it comes to that he’s maintenance-free.” Lee plans to major in drama and film and cinematography at Indiana University and hopes wrestling will also be a part of his college experience. It’s the behind-the-scenes side of the arts that Lee appreciates most. “I don’t do acting,” says Lee, who intends to take theater and drama classes at IU next summer. “I mostly direct and writing scripts for plays. I hope one day I can make movies.” Lee has made a few small films on his own and has started an Instagram account with a friend that he can see leading to film production company. Why the interest in film. “Me and mom watched movies a lot together and it just stuck with me,” says Lee, who is the oldest of four adopted by single mother Rosalind Lee. Victor is 18, Zella 17, Levi 16 and Diamond 15. Foster children at first, the four youngsters were allowed to choose their new first and middle names at the time of the adoption. During his freshmen year, Javion Mack became Victor Lee. “We try to make it easier on her,” says Victor of what he and his siblings do for their mother. “We do our chores and we all try to stay out of the house so it’s not so cluttered.” Levi is a 220-pound sophomore who came out for wrestling for the first time last season. “He’s getting pretty decent at it,” says Victor of Levi. “I spar with him sometime then give him another partner so he can speed up.” View full article

I was there for the Steve Adams OT loss in 1980 which lead to a half point loss to MD for the semi state crown. I will be there for the dual meet. Looking forward to the brawl and a visit to the Hilltop.

This is awesome! Being apart of the 2012 Perry Meridian team and knowing all the history between the two teams is awesome for wrestling in the state of Indiana! The atmosphere is going to be through the roof for this dual! Excited to see how it all unfolds!

Seymour currently has 8 at the HS and 1 at our MS. Many of them came over from the girls soccer program. A few of them are also in softball and hope wresrling will help them prepare for that. All are first year wrestlers and currently on the JV roster. We had 1 who graduated last year after two years with the program.

Muncie Central currently has 4 girls in the program. 3 of the girls were part of the middle school program.

the only McCracken I know is Phil

I think the knights have what it needs to put the west side boys in second slot of SIAC mat teams this year. I realize the wild cat are tough in the lower weights but they are softer than normal at the top.