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I just want to say thank you to IndianaMat for providing us with great content over this last decade and making this website highly accessible for those either getting into wrestling or those who have been around it for years. We don’t know how good we have it, guys. The only thing we have to pay for every year is the preseason magazine. Other states have followed a new custom of charging fans for things such as rankings, articles, etc. and IndianaMat has allowed us to be on here and explore with no charge. Thanks guys for all you do for Indiana wrestling. I love this sport so much.

Even though Alex is a huge reason why Jesse has been successful, Jesse would never leave Crown Point. The coaching staff at CP is amazing. The only scenario where he leaves CP early is if he decides to go to the OTC his senior year, but it sounds like he wants to try and win state with his teammates. Plus his mom and me would like to keep him around a few more years.

I agree wholeheartedly. We truly are blessed in Indiana to have this as a way not only to share personal “feelings” etc but it definately is helping build wrestling in Indiana. Joe and Mike and the “others” thank you very much. Your efforts and what you do are noticed.

Are you referring to the match where an illegal was being ran on the Roncalli kid? Where the coaches were fighting for the kids safety? I say good for the Rebel Coaches

Cathedral has earned the top spot. It’s very close between the top 4 teams so saying they get a pass is comical. Cathedral hasn’t been challenged nor has EMD. I would have seeded CHS 1 and EMD 2 same as they seeded it. Good work Indianamat crew!

Tell us how you really feel, please don't hold it in.

Agree! Go check out other states wrestling websites.... they make you grateful for Indianamat!

Cathedral was ranked fourth on December 15. New rankings will be out in morning

@BBURGMatfan If you are a fan of us, you know we don’t care about seeds or rankings. I’ve always said rankings and seeds mean nothing, but they are great to grow the sport. “Hey we are ranked or seeded this”. It gets people talking about wrestling, which we need and Is great. Last year we were 4 or 5 seed at team state. No complaints from us. I would never in a million years want to seed this tournament. Our goal is to win. Doesn’t matter to us who we have when. We are either good enough to win or we aren’t. I don’t think any of the top teams hang 2nd or 3rd place banners...or display any trophy that isn’t first. Good luck to all teams. I’ll tell you I’m proud of those involved for making this such a great event. Snyder

Here are all the brackets, sorry for the audio issues. Hard to test much with a different setup than we usually have.

I agree with most except for 135, 182, and heavyweight. I think cash being a two timer at that weight gives him the edge. Carson was a machine last year. And Streck is prolly one of the best Indiana heavyweights of all time. (In high school)

I’m not sure who he is that your referring to but if Mr. Bailey gets on her to address a problem rest assure it’s a PROBLEM.

Here’s my opinion of Indiana’s best duel team for the decade. I am basically doing the best team based on National Ranking for that year Notice I did not use someone more than once. 103/106 2010- Cody Phillips(Union County) (top 3) 112/113 2012- Jarred Brooks(Warsaw) (#1) 119/120 2012- Paul Petrov(Hanover Central) (top 10) 125/126 2014- Stevan Micic(Hanover Central) (top 3) 130/132 2016- Chad Red(New Palestine) (#1) 135/138/140 2011- Jason Tsirtsis(Crown Point) (#1) 145 2011- Eric Roach(Crown Point) (top 10) 152 2018- Brayton Lee(Brownsburg) (#1) 160 2010- Sean McMurray(Portage) (top 10) 170/171 2016- Drew Hughes(Lowell) (top 5) 182 2016- Blake Rypel(Indianapolis Cath.) (top 3) 189/195 2013- Mitch Sliga(Fishers) (top 3) 215/220 2018- Mason Parris(Lawrenceburg) (#1) 275/285 2016- Shawn Streck(Merrillville) (top 3)

I have a legal question for you folks, how do we go about placing a gag order on PhillyFanMD.

Shawn streck is the no brainer at heavyweight. Only 2x champ was a 4x placer at heavyweight which is un heard of. Lost 1-0 to Winfield his freshman year. He also didn’t give up an offensive point his last 2 years.

Wow you guys made sure Cathedral gets a pass. Mater Dei is a 1 and BB is 2. You guys know this is how is should be. Not sure how it always works out for Cathedral. At the state tourney, team state. Couldn't stop it last year and the same will happen this year. They will finish 2nd when actually they should be 3rd but it doesn't matter they aren't winning no matter where you put them. It's sad that you guys do this crap.

Here's 3A bracket. 3A.pdf

I have a question....Is this any different than a FB coach forging a concussion protocol clearance? They are both in regards to the overall health of the student athlete? If so, what would the FB coaches discipline have been? 2 games? Seems to me 2 duals is a very lean punishment. You are talking about young kids lives.

Southern Scuffle Joe Lee got a quick 1st period TF (16-1) over Chris Fasano of The Citadel in the Round of 32. He got a 1st period fall (2:17) over Connor Flynn of Missouri. Flynn had been wrestling 174 this season and dropped to 165 after losing twice to Mizzou's starter Jeremiah Kent. Joe lost his quarterfinal match to 8th ranked Thomas Bullard of NC State, 9-4. He drops to the consolation bracket where action will resume tomorrow morning. He'll face Randy Meneweather of Air Force in the blood round.

Took them long enough to pan handle enough cash together to get you back to posting.

If MD wrestled them with Fitts it would be a great dual. Anytime two really good teams go at it it's a great thing.

Just a joke dude,lighten up.

You don’t have to like them or respect their opinion but to want a gag order is a bit thin skinned. Also, they make the board more entertaining.

Looking at Kayla’s limited track page, she went 42-6 the year she went to state. The following year she went 37-4 and got 5th at semi state (the year they had wrestle backs for 5th). 79-10 in two years. Wowzers. She was and still is a beast breaking the glass ceiling!

And how come no Bang Bangs this year?

Join Rex Brewer and me Wednesday evening at 6 pm for the weekly edition of the Haggard, Sefton, Hirschy & Zelt High School Wrestling Weekly, live from the Double Eagle! Our weekly broadcast will not only be available live on WZBD, but also on the IndianaMat facebook page live. If you are in the Northeast Indiana area, you can join us in person at the Pavilion at Cross Creek Golf Course to see the draw unfold yourself. Doors open to the pavilion at 5:30 and the show starts at 6, running until 8 pm or so. All wrestling fans are welcome and the bar will be open (cash only in the pavilion)! We will run our regular show from 6-7 pm, talking about the Al Smith (with special guests Mike Reiser & Joe Caprino), Connersville, and the ECIC (with special guest AJ Bradley, head coach of Muncie Central). We will then move into the draw for team state in the second hour of the show. There will be a drawing for all guests in attendance, with one wrestling fan walking out of the pavilion with a free round of golf at CCGC in hand!

One thing for sure, your wrestlers know you have their backs.

I know, right? I can’t stand that guy.

I think people on this board are smart enough to know that Philly speaks only for himself or herself and not for all MD fans. I think most of us recognize how good other wrestlers and teams in the state are

Ah yeah I’m not a betting man you can tell. Lol Thanks.

Im sorry my friend but it will not even be close. No one touches MD in a dual meet this year! Las Vegas would have the Wildcats at +15 pts

Perseverance. Toughness. Intelligence. Skill. Hobart High School head wrestling coach Jason Cook talks about these four markers along the “Brick Road.” Cook says the culture of Brickies wrestling is built on overcoming obstacles. “You don’t get better until you have to overcome challenges,” says Cook. “I’m not going to wait for things to knock me down. I’m going to look for challenges. In life, it takes a lot longer. You can’t do it on a wrestling mat.” Cook admits that he’s not a patient man and wants to see constant improvement. “I’m a teacher and a coach and I get to watch people improve all the time,” says Cook, who teaches English and is his second season of guiding Hobart’s wrestling program. Four Brickies who are working to overcome adversity and excel are brothers Nathan and Trevor Schammert and Cristian and Ruben Padilla. All four competed Dec. 27-28 in the 42nd annual Al Smith Classic at Mishawaka. Sophomore Trevor Schammert (113 pounds) came in second in his weight class and improved to 20-1 on the 2019 season. Sophomore Ruben Padilla (11-4) placed seventh at 120. Senior Nathan Schammert (17-5) came in eighth at 126. Junior Cristian Padilla grappled on Day 1 at 132. The Brickies placed seventh in the 32-team event. Cook, who is in his second season leading the Brickies, sees similarities in the brothers. But they are really four distinctive personalities with their own mat approaches. The coach describes Nathan Schammert — the oldest son of Mike and Darcy Schammert — as “a kid who’s going to find his own way to win matches.” “He’s definitely got the funk,” says Cook of Nathan. “I don’t think anybody’s looking forward to him as a matchup. “When Option A doesn’t work, he’s got about 15 other things he can do.” Cook notes that he was one of the smaller wrestlers on the mat as a senior and has steadily grown as he career has progressed. “Now that he’s the athlete he is, he can hit some explosiveness things,” says Cook of Nathan. Nathan says its work ethic and all the time spent since he was just beginning school and competing with the Hobart Wrestling Club that has helped get him to where he is now. Mike Schammert is a former Brickies wrestler and he gives his sons mat advice. “He tells us to be ourselves on and off the mat,” says Nathan Schammert. “I just go out there and let it fly. I don’t hold back.” About the time Nathan hit junior high, he started developing his funkiness. He has his favorites, but not really a go-to move. “People really don’t expect me to do the things I do,” says Nathan Schammert. “I just go out there and do what feels right. If I feel something, I hit it right away. I don’t wait, I just go.” “I just used to to my advantage.” Nathan Schammert enjoys showing the way to teammates — freshman and cousin Devin Wible (120) among them. “I definitely consider myself a leader,” says Nathan. “I just try to set a really good example and be the best role model I can in the (practice) room. I want the younger ones to learn from me — my mistakes and my strengths.” Hobart went 11-3 and advanced to the IHSAA Class 4A northern semistate in football. Seven defensive starters — safety Nathan Schammert, deep back Hayden Homoky, lineman Alex Pickett and linebackers Bobby Babcock, Mark Mummey, Cameron Smith and Tyler Turley — are on the Brickies wrestling team this winter. “That defense was something to watch,” says Cook. “It was amazing.” Nathan Schammert makes the correlation between the mat and the gridiron. “Wrestling helps me in football,” says Nathan. “I have to make (football) plays on the fly, too. A double-legged a lot of guys (on tackles).” Cook says Trevor Schammert is especially good at working his way out of difficult situations. “He sure is solid with his positioning,” says Cook of Trevor. “He hasn’t made a mistake in any position this year. “He is going to make you fight your way through every position.” Trevor says his style is not as funky as his older brother. “I’m more technical,” says Trevor. “I’m more of a chain wrestler. I hit move after move and don’t stop. At practice, all I focus on is repetition. Building that muscle memory for when I need it." “I’m good at a certain set (of moves) and hit those really good.” Trevor Schammert does not believe in taking days off. “I’m always pushing myself to the wall,” says Trevor. “I look at my goals every year and how far I want to make it in the state run and be a state placer. “I’m never satisfied with anything. I always want to improve and get better with everything.” Both Schammerts were in the varsity lineup for the Brickies boys golf team last spring with Nathan averaging 84 for 18 holes and playing as the No. 1 player on a squad that played its home matches at River Pointe Country Club in Hobart. “There’s no strong connection (between wrestling and golf), but there is the mental aspect,” says Nathan. “(Golf) can break you sometimes.” Cook has had Cristian Padilla in class for two years and coached him in wrestling. “He’s super thoughtful and super quiet,” says Cook of Cristian. “At least when I’m around him. He’s not a real vocal guy. He leads by example. “Everything he’s doing is with intention.” Cristian says he enjoys the challenge of wrestling and getting better with each match and workout. “I get support from coaches (Cook, Zack Johansen, Brian Wesley and Steve Balash) and my dad (Al Padilla),” says Cristian. “My coaches know I don’t make many mistakes. I’m setting coach with each practice so I I can improve since the last time I competed. “We’re always working out away from the school with dad.” Cristian and Ruben’s mother is Michelle Ramos. Older siblings are two older brothers - Al Padilla (who wrestled for Merrillville High school), J.P. Padilla (who played soccer at Merrillville) and Yazi Padilla (who played volleyball at Hobart). The youngest Padillas are twins Bella (who competes with the Merrillville wrestling Club) and Julian. Cook says the biggest difference in Cristian and Ruben is that Ruben will stir the pot a little bit. “(Ruben’s) a little bit of an instigator,” says Cook. “Ruben will say stuff to his drill partner. Cristian is silently working all the time. Ruben Padilla describes his approach. “I like to push people when I wrestle them,” says Ruben. “I push the pace." “I use my quickness to my advantage. A lot of guys I face are stronger than me.” At the same time, he is grounded. “I stay humble,” says Ruben. “I respect all of my opponents. These are things that wrestling taught me.” The Padilla brothers also play baseball. They split time between junior varsity and varsity last spring — Cristian as an outfielder and right-handed pitcher and Cristian as a middle infielder. In the summer, Cristian played travel ball with Highland while Cristian was with the Schererville Shockers. “(Baseball) helps with working as a team,” says Cristian. “Like with our dual meets.” Ruben takes lessons learned on the mat and applies them on the diamond. “Wrestling helps me be better at baseball,” says Ruben. “It’s things like toughness and being humble.” Cook is a 2002 graduate of Valparaiso High School. His senior year was the last year as Vikings head coach for his father and Indiana Wrestling Hall of Famer John Cook, who amassed a dual-meet mark of 361-112 from 1977-2002 with 35 state qualifiers. Jason Cook, who went on to wrestle at Purdue University, said he benefited in high school from having his father serving as director of the High School Division of National Wrestling Coaches Association (which he did from 2002-2010) because he was among the first wrestlers to be introduced each year to new rules changes. The younger Cook was familiar with Hobart wrestling from a young age because he often went against those kids at club meets. Later, he saw them in Duneland Athletic Conference meets. While the Brickies are no longer in the DAC (they are now Northwest Crossroads Conference members), the schedule still includes all but Michigan City from the Duneland. Hobart sees Lake County rival Crown Point in a dual meet on Friday, Jan. 7. The Brickies faced Merrillville in the Pirates’ Tom Cameron Invitational and saw Chesterton, Lake Central and Valparaiso in the Hobart Super Duals, Portage in Lake Central’s Harvest Classic and LaPorte at Mishawaka’s Al Smith Classic. “It’s a stepping stone to the second half of the season,” says Cook of the Al Smith Classic. “Holes in your game will be exposed and it will be really obvious what we need to work on or you can get a big confidence boost if we see what works.” The Lake County tournament is Jan. 11 at Hanover Central. The Northwest Crossroads tournament is Jan. 18 at Lowell. The IHSAA tournament series for Hobart includes the Portage Sectional Feb. 1, Hobart Regional Feb. 8, East Chicago Semistate Feb. 15 and State Finals Feb. 21-22 in Indianapolis. View full article

Cosgrove the ihswca should let fairhaven in they could be nasty in the 1A

For sure.

It's an interesting scenario. I don't see anyone going three periods with Mendez this year. He will likely pin or tech fall everyone through another state title. Imagine how it will be as a junior and senior for him. I couldn't blame him if he went to Mt. Carmel with Alex or followed the Lee's path....

We also need to remember there was serious talk of Mendez crossing the boarder to begin his HS career at Mt. Carmel with Alex Tsirtsis. So I’m good to glass half full the time we have to enjoy his talent in Indiana. But if he decides to lead the revolution And stick around for college I’ll be happy to make that a full glass.

Assuming he doesn’t follow the Nick Lee path and find something better to do with his time his senior year. I hope that’s not the case, he’s fun to watch.

Jesse Mendez reminds me a lot of Andrew Howe/Nick Lee regarding his aggression offensively. He makes good wrestlers look average at best. It’s remarkable. Being able to watch him on the IHSAA app for last years state finals and the Mishawaka Channel on YouTube was a privilege. Curious to see if Zeke and Mendez find themselves in the pantheon of Howe, Escebedo, Lee, Red, Parris, Humphrey, and Micic when it is all said and done (high school and college careers combined). And I am assuming Joe Lee and Brayton Lee have AA status in their near future as well. They both look to be on that trajectory.

It is with great sadness that I share news of the passing of Albert "Al" Ihnat. Al was a wonderful, caring person who gave 45 years of coaching wrestling at the High School and middle school level in the Anderson Community Schools. He was a member of the IHSWCA Hall of Fame class of 2014. Albert Randolph Ihnat ANDERSON - Albert Randolph Ihnat, 79, of Anderson, passed away after an extended illness on December 29, 2019. He was born on January 17, 1940 in Gary, Indiana and resided most of his life in Anderson. Al graduated from Gary Emerson High School in 1958. While in high school, he set a record in 1957 for the mile run (4:36) and tied a record in cross country that was set by Dr. Ed Burns in 1940. He served his country in the U.S. Navy Seabees and obtained the rank of Builders 2nd Class (E-5). Al attended Class A builders school and graduated 2nd in his class. He served in Okinawa, Guam, and also on the Brig Force and Shore Patrol at Fort Hueneme in California. Al was honorably discharged from the Navy in July of 1964. He graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's and master's degree. He began his teaching career in 1967 at Southside Middle School where he coached football, cross country, track, and wrestling. He then taught at Anderson High School and coached women's volleyball and softball, and boy's track. He began his head wrestling coach career at Anderson. Al coached wrestling for 45 years in this community and was inducted in the Indiana Wrestling Coach Hall of Fame in 2014. He refereed wrestling for many years, and drove a school bus with ACS for many extracurricular activities. Al bowled in the Teacher's League for many years, was a member of the Retired Teachers of Madison County, member and treasurer of the Navy Seabees Veteran of America (X-4; New Castle, IN), and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served on the education committee and sung in the choir. Al is survived by his loving wife, Tamra (Ewald) Ihnat; daughter, Lisa C. Banister of Anderson; grandchildren: Ty (Shelby) Banister, Haylei Banister, Austin Randolph Banister, Taylor (Tanner Smith Banister; and great-granddaughter, Alice Patricia Banister. Also surviving are his step-sons: Robert (Kathryn) Knuckles and Christopher (Amie) Knuckles, step-grandchildren: Ryan (Meghan) Knuckles, Rachel Knuckles, Megan Knuckles, Zander Knuckles, and Zack Knuckles, and Al's siblings: Milo Ihnat and Jeri Gonzalez. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Michael and Irene (Benko) Ihnat, and first wife, Patricia (Kietzman) Ihnat. Visitation will be held Friday, January 3, 2020, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at LOOSE FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, 200 W. 53rd St. Anderson, IN and also one hour prior to services at the church. Services will be Saturday, January 4, 2020, 11:00 a.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 2751 N. Scatterfield Rd., Anderson, IN 46012 with Rev. John Jameson officiating.Burial will take Place in the Grovelawn Cemetery, Pendleton. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or the Rock Steady Parkinson Program, C/O Community Hospital Anderson.