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We get it. Similar stats and numbers get posted on this site time and time again. Clearly the IHSAA is not going to change. So… the question is what can we do?? Oh wait… @aoberlin is trying something! This is why we are all rooting for him and supporting his efforts. Support Andy and guys like him. Support RTCs or RWAs in smaller communities. No doubt that I choose to live in a heavily populated area, but I truly care about all of Indiana wrestling. Hopefully we can evolve and get more and more opportunities in smaller communities. Btw… my middle school team wrestled Cascade last night. They gave us all that we wanted. Those guys are not a flash in the pan. 1A…. You’ve been put on notice. My guys have started something special out there. It’s going to continue to grow. #LessStatsMoreDoing

Any 1a/2a wrestlers that want to scrap it out the next weekend can come up to the Hobart Folkstyle open on 3/5/22!

Thank you Matt! We are headed in the right direction! The Cascade team will be all over the place this summer. I think the difference is providing opportunities. Provide as many free opportunities as you can when it comes to practice/training. Offer to take kids to local RTCs and Open Rooms. Do whatever you can to give these kids every opportunity they could possibly want! At every single level from HS - Youth.

Very true. Typically, success breeds more success. Just comparing BB and BD a little since it was brought up and their comparable access to clubs, rtc's, clinics, etc. Look at what Brownsburg has done since 2014: 147 dual wins and all types of team accolades, 50+ qualifiers, 40+ medalists, 6 state champs (probably off a little somewhere) Ben Davis since 2014: 60ish dual wins, 8 qualifiers, 5 placers,1 champ (probably off a little too) The BD kids have similar opportunities due to their proximity to Brownsburg, Indy, and so on.Just because the opportunities are more accessible to certain schools of similar size in certain areas of the state, some schools just aren't going to have that same type of success. Different schools = different kids, as well as different coaches, parents, admin, etc., with different interests and goals too. Some kids/parents may choose to pick up and move schools to pursue those opportunities at other places because they have the means in which to do so. Other kids/parents may choose not to, maybe they don't have the means to do so either. I am not sure if there is a one size fits all approach to balance or fix things. Mat time, lots of exposure to multiple coaches and practices partners, camps, clinics, off-season events, setting goals and working towards them, seeking out tough competition, making sacrifices.....there is so much to do in order to reach that pinnacle.

Kids at small schools can train all summer long at various places. The issue is when season starts most go backwards. With limited or no solid practice partners it's hard to keep up. That's one of two things. Look at the list of coaches at these schools. Look at the move ins at these large schools and more dominant teams. I been at this for along time. It would be awesome to coach under the lights. But to spend 30 plus years coaching my butt off is a slap in the face and my former wrestlers.

Pretty easy. Other than a few kids who wrestle all year around at our local (small) schools, most of the other kids already have a bat and glove on (or doing that boring Track and Field "sport"). How many Crown Point or Brownsburg wrestlers compete in 3 sports yearly? Maybe a lot? I honestly don't know. Our wrestlers often don't get in the room until late November because of football. This is why, IMO, the 1A and 2A schools might have a few "hammers" on the team (all year wrestlers or just extremely athletic), but overall lack the upper tier quality that a 4A school can produce.

Sean McMurray (Portage) and Anthony Quiroz (Chesterton) competed in the Conference, Sectional, Regional, Semi-State, and State finals in 2009. I got to talk about this while inducting Sean into the Hall of Fame Sunday.

Academies go where the demand is that’s point blank . Like any everyday business they gotta have $ coming in. The demand is wrestlers. They need full time wrestlers . They need wrestlers that train everyday . Don’t have full time wrestlers then that means there’s is no $ coming in to keep their doors open. Anybody can start a Academy. It can be in your basement, garage or if you got the funds in a building . First thing you gotta have is wrestlers . Think the Bassets Brothers have their own Academy in their family Basement . Lil’place but they produce the hammers yearly outta there in PA.

Big schools = Better funding, support systems, and resources Small schools = Opposite of all that, so have to travel long distances to get the same chance

You could also just let them know who your kid is, the proper spelling, and what weight he’ll likely be at.

That would be quite the turn around in 1 year as Penn beat Snider 66-16 this season .

I finally understand why large schools dominate small schools in Indiana, and it’s because of the lack of resources or opportunities as other kids. Last night, at a club practice, there was a family that drove over an hour from Terre Haute to get some work in with some quality kids. To say, everyone has the same opportunity is a bit of a lie. Yes, equality is important, but equity is the thing we should be focusing on. Some kids need MORE than what they have, so as a state we should aim to give more in some way, but I just don’t know how yet. I’m guessing it would depend on coaches and how much they’re willing to expand. For example, Contenders has two different locations in West and South Indy metro areas, maybe a club like that could expand to other cities depending on demand to help kids get better.

Orlando Cruise was on the Big screen instead of Cruz ….not sure how they can possibly mess that up and should be double checked .

Last year was singlet and shoes

They do crap like this every year in every sport. South Adams went to state in football two years ago and they had our head coaches name completely wrong. It truly is amazing the apathy shown at these events. How hard is it to proofread or double check?

I’m not thin skinned, I’m actually a little chubby. You are totally fine. Just saying there are a ton of people in the trenches doing things for zero or negative gain trying to make a difference because they love the sport and what it does for kids. We are totally cool.

Your doing it right Andy. Anything for the kids and community. We’re smiling at you from #TheCounty . It takes time , eventually that time will pay off . It’s Coming !

There are simply too many to list. This tournament is a fantastic indicator for who you will see in Indy the following year.

The head shake wasn't for your comment. It was for the initial comment about someone should start something in other cities. I have a great group of volunteer coaches that are really trying to do exactly that. I know that I am not the only one.

I think I understand that you're shaking your head because there haven't been academy-type opportunities in NE Indiana But what is your opinion on the Ben Davis / Brownsburg situation. Both large enrollment. Same vicinity with "access" to academies. Very different participation and outcomes

Getting that Penn talk going, I see what you are doing here and I like it. The weights are decent, a little lower on a couple guys then I am but a very solid squad. Maybe a high level move in

Apparently Busch light was available there

Steven Lawrence and I were just talking about this the other day. In wrestling, you need a good support system to be successful.

Not everyone has the same support system. My family did not have the means or time to transport me for hours on weeknights and none of my teammates were doing that. I had to work year round junior and senior year to afford a car. Having these things local to you makes a huge difference.

At least you didn't bet any tacos on it.

Hey we have all messed up the spelling of a kids name a time or two. My biggest problem with this post is that he spelled the name of the mascot wrong and still proceeded to give us a potential line up...

we had an off day.

Why is this being held the same weekend as Frosh/Soph State?

Jesse is so good that I am not going to renew my Iowa season tickets anymore. I’m going to go ahead and get me set of Ohio season tickets just because he will be a huge influence for Ohio the next 4-6 years. i smell a national team title coming.

Hmmmm wish my 8, 9, and 10 year olds would start watching wrestling instead of cheat codes for Fortnite. Oh well at least they are in practice! That's gotta count for something

Some would say it’s dumb to compare wrestlers from then to today . All you can compare is their wins & loses . To me today HS wrestling is so much more advanced than in the HS wrestler in the past . The funk has advanced so much, even the creativity of the basic gramby roll is better now . Their defense is better and offense better every year . Just going to give everyone a heads up… These next few years coming up your going to see Yannis extreme funk, how in the hell that guy didn’t score on him , Rutherfords tilts for for automatic 3 , Spencer’s tight Arm bars, Taylors snaps so bad the opponents head bounces on the mat . All in the arsenals of a HS wrestler. Why ? Because the kids are looking up to idols they see on TV, streaming, even got videos on how to master of these positions . Crazy what these lil’ kids as young as 8-9-10 year olds are hitting at practice.

Andy McDonald (MD) vs Darren Happe (Ev Central). Wrestled in the finals 5 straight weeks...Conference, Sect, Reg, SS, State. Happe won them all.

You and the other 3000 in attendance. Amazing that in 2022, some schools can’t figure out how to offer accessible WiFi.

He’s definitely in my Top 5 . Outstanding HS career Jesse Mendez ! Thank You for letting us be a witness of your Indiana HS Wrestling History ! Congrats 4x Champion . Cheers & Congrats to my friend and his dad @Sig40. I know your a #prouddad right now.

Whatever makes you feel better bro. It just seems more logical to acknowledge that inequities exist and people benefit from them.

We have a wrestler looking for a dual team this offseason. Just finished his Junior season. Was a state qualifier at 182 as a Soph, and finished 5th at 182 this season with a 44-4 record. Willing to travel and could wrestle 182/195. Hoping to do a few high quality tournaments.

Yeah someone should try to do something about this. SMH

That's the only thing I dislike about High School wrestling. Seems everything is so secretive.

Tyler Jones (Warren Central) is a physical specimen who seems a little raw, but best wrestling days ahead of him.

This is why I take the stairs.

Dude wrestling has evolved along with technology. I love it! There is some very high quality free instructional film on YouTube that you can learn from. I was just watching a break down on desanto foot sweep. Anyways with flo wrestling, track and Facebook finding footage on any wrestler is so easy. Learning moves from film is easier, finding open mats, competition is easier. Look at the assassin for example 6 years ago it was uncommon to see it now people hitting left and right. Why? Facebook, film, flow ect. Kids are getting way way better with scrambles it amazes me also.

Best ever. We can talk about excluding outside wrestling, but how do you do that? What he has done as a high school wrestler both in the state and out of state is beyond what any other Indiana wrestler has ever done, or could've done. He almost won U23 Nationals as a freakin' 17-year-old!!! I'm not saying he'll be better than Nick Lee is now, but as a high schooler he is unmatched by any other Indiana high schooler... Ever.

Throw Andrew Howe in the mix - one loss to Reece Humphrey. If there was not someone named Jordan Burroughs we would be looking at Olympic medals.

The 2020 results were basically a who’s/who of the state rankings and state qualifiers this year. Or ticket rounders to other guys also there.

Drunk EMD guy at the Tin Roof Saturday in between sessions kept bragging Nick Lee by a tech over Mendez. The guy almost caught hands from a Brownsburg group. That's respect.

New prairie first state champ or gymtowns 4th?

When it comes to freestyle, Ill take Jesse over anyone in Indiana history (at high school level).

If he runs from Landon Hawkins he might.

May as well add Invicta in the south, and to some degree Outlaws around Indy.