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I would encourage everyone wondering about class wrestling to head up to The Palace to in a few weeks to see Michigan's state finals. For a state to have several of the best wrestlers in the country every year, you would rarely know who they are because of the mess that comes with class wrestling. 12 mats, mass confusion, ridiculously hard to follow. It's all about that certain few kids that you are there to watch. I like to watch it all, I'm a fan of great wrestling. I have 3 wrestling fans from Michigan that come with me to see Indiana's state finals because, as they say "It's where it's at". We have allowed the ihsaa to ruin what the entire country knew was the best basketball tournament, let's not encourage the same with what has now become by far the BEST tournament our state has to offer. It would be a far reach to assume the ihsaa would only have 2 classes. It would be 3 or 4. The Finals are also held at the same time in class wrestling, I'm not a fan of wondering who just won a state title on May 3 when I wax keyed in on Mat 1. Get on YouTube and check it out. If u want class wrestling because your child goes to a smaller school and you think they would have a better chance that's understandable, however there are a lot of us out there that will be engaged in the sport long after said child is gone. Let's not fix it if it's not broken. I can just see the posts on here from parents of state champions ranting because there kid has never received a scholarship offer, because in reality a college scout or coach will see the real potential and talent level and it may not be good enough, even though you are a state champ. Kudos to the IHSAA for getting it right!

I personally hate the idea of classing any individual sport. The size of the school, in my opinion, has little to do with results in individual sports. Blue River, one of the smallest schools in the state, had a gymnastics state champion. Most of the individuals that compete at the elite level aren't just working with their school team anyway. They train elsewhere and make sure they are challenged by going to national tournaments, etc. There is no need to change a system that provides such an awesome championship event. I would probably never go to a small class state final, but I'd root like heck for a kid from a smaller school to upset maybe a favorite from a bigger school.
Also, just because a school may have large enrollment doesn't mean it has a large program. Many of the larger schools in the state still have trouble fielding a full 14 man roster.
And of course, you have a wrestler who might be the best in the state, and he has to compete in the smaller class and he will always wonder if he could have been the true champion.
Classing a team sport is great, but not an individual sport. Don't ruin something that works well already.
There are certainly better ways to promote the sport - if that's the idea. Call and complain to local newspapers about coverage of wrestling. Talk to people in your town and encourage them to go to a match and support your local school. Once the sport starts getting deserved publicity, and a fan base, competitors will fall in love with it and want to give it a try.
My two cents worth

An article on Avon senior Quinn Harris
 
http://m.flyergroup.com/sports/local_sports/oriole-standing-strong-after-tragic-loss/article_370586c7-7d80-5195-b6ad-ed87b7bc388e.html?mode=jqm

I personally hate the idea of classing any individual sport. The size of the school, in my opinion, has little to do with results in individual sports. Blue River, one of the smallest schools in the state, had a gymnastics state champion. Most of the individuals that compete at the elite level aren't just working with their school team anyway. They train elsewhere and make sure they are challenged by going to national tournaments, etc. There is no need to change a system that provides such an awesome championship event. I would probably never go to a small class state final, but I'd root like heck for a kid from a smaller school to upset maybe a favorite from a bigger school.
Also, just because a school may have large enrollment doesn't mean it has a large program. Many of the larger schools in the state still have trouble fielding a full 14 man roster.
And of course, you have a wrestler who might be the best in the state, and he has to compete in the smaller class and he will always wonder if he could have been the true champion.
Classing a team sport is great, but not an individual sport. Don't ruin something that works well already.
There are certainly better ways to promote the sport - if that's the idea. Call and complain to local newspapers about coverage of wrestling. Talk to people in your town and encourage them to go to a match and support your local school. Once the sport starts getting deserved publicity, and a fan base, competitors will fall in love with it and want to give it a try.
My two cents worth

Wouldn't you also have to factor in the number of students in the larger schools based on the number of students in the smaller schools? Of course a Ben Davis is going to have more chances to get a kid at state than, say, a Tri High. The numbers are self explanitory. That doesn't mean a Tri High kid can't work his butt off, and be one of the 5% to be a state placer. If everyone is competing for the same title - and that's the draw of the sport, why would you want to give a kid who isn't as good, as say a regional qualifier in the big class, a state title in a small class. Or, vice versa, you have a state champion in the small class that could have done the same in the big class, but under the new system doesn't get a chance.

Wouldn't you also have to factor in the number of students in the larger schools based on the number of students in the smaller schools? Of course a Ben Davis is going to have more chances to get a kid at state than, say, a Tri High. The numbers are self explanitory. That doesn't mean a Tri High kid can't work his butt off, and be one of the 5% to be a state placer. If everyone is competing for the same title - and that's the draw of the sport, why would you want to give a kid who isn't as good, as say a regional qualifier in the big class, a state title in a small class. Or, vice versa, you have a state champion in the small class that could have done the same in the big class, but under the new system doesn't get a chance.

I personally hate the idea of classing any individual sport. The size of the school, in my opinion, has little to do with results in individual sports. Blue River, one of the smallest schools in the state, had a gymnastics state champion. Most of the individuals that compete at the elite level aren't just working with their school team anyway. They train elsewhere and make sure they are challenged by going to national tournaments, etc. There is no need to change a system that provides such an awesome championship event. I would probably never go to a small class state final, but I'd root like heck for a kid from a smaller school to upset maybe a favorite from a bigger school.
Also, just because a school may have large enrollment doesn't mean it has a large program. Many of the larger schools in the state still have trouble fielding a full 14 man roster.
And of course, you have a wrestler who might be the best in the state, and he has to compete in the smaller class and he will always wonder if he could have been the true champion.
Classing a team sport is great, but not an individual sport. Don't ruin something that works well already.
There are certainly better ways to promote the sport - if that's the idea. Call and complain to local newspapers about coverage of wrestling. Talk to people in your town and encourage them to go to a match and support your local school. Once the sport starts getting deserved publicity, and a fan base, competitors will fall in love with it and want to give it a try.
My two cents worth

I personally hate the idea of classing any individual sport. The size of the school, in my opinion, has little to do with results in individual sports. Blue River, one of the smallest schools in the state, had a gymnastics state champion. Most of the individuals that compete at the elite level aren't just working with their school team anyway. They train elsewhere and make sure they are challenged by going to national tournaments, etc. There is no need to change a system that provides such an awesome championship event. I would probably never go to a small class state final, but I'd root like heck for a kid from a smaller school to upset maybe a favorite from a bigger school.
Also, just because a school may have large enrollment doesn't mean it has a large program. Many of the larger schools in the state still have trouble fielding a full 14 man roster.
And of course, you have a wrestler who might be the best in the state, and he has to compete in the smaller class and he will always wonder if he could have been the true champion.
Classing a team sport is great, but not an individual sport. Don't ruin something that works well already.
There are certainly better ways to promote the sport - if that's the idea. Call and complain to local newspapers about coverage of wrestling. Talk to people in your town and encourage them to go to a match and support your local school. Once the sport starts getting deserved publicity, and a fan base, competitors will fall in love with it and want to give it a try.
My two cents worth

I saw it and yeah South Adams could have state champs, but they would win not facing the very best. That seems kind of like an empty win to me.

The way I see it, classed gives kids that would be semi state level guys state placers and champions. A classed system just gives them those honors. And if there's an exceptionally good 1A wrestler, then he won't compete against the very best to win a title. And multiple state titles would ruin the mystique of our awesome state finals.

Has classed basketball or other classed sports helped grow those sports in schools?  We assume that if we class then more people will win thus wanting more people to play/wrestler.  I see the same few names every year in volleyball, football and other sports state finals.  The IHSAA put in a system to force successful schools up a class because the same schools were dominating year in and year out.

Isn't one of the reasons team state was taken away because the IHSAA made the excuse that wrestling is an individual sport?  When a wrestler wins in Indiana they are crowned THE state champion.  What would be the point in diluting the field if a small school has just as good of chance of having a state champion?  Sports like swimming and track are not classed because they shouldn't be.  Just because your school is bigger than mine doesn't mean you can run or swim faster than me.  Just because your school is bigger than mine doesn't mean you are a better wrestler.

32 is fine but why class it. Just take 8 from each semi state and have the ticket round be first round of semi state.

Why would we go to a classed system? Our tournament is one of the best in the country as it is.

What a great preview!  Thanks for all the hardwork put into this.

Qualifications by Grade
Senior- 347 or 38.7%
Junior- 276 or 30.8%
Sophomore- 181 or 20.2%
Freshman- 92 or 10.2%
 
By Grade and Weight
[table]
[/td][td]9 10

11

12

106 34 17

11

2

113 17 27

11

9

120 9 21

16

18

126 2 13

29

20

132 8 13

22

21

138 4 8

24

28

145 1 10

19

34

152 3 12

25

24

160 4 11

18

31

170 2 7

20

35

182 2 9

23

30

195 3 11

21

29

220 3 9

22

30

285 0 13

15

36

Total 92 181

276

347

[/table]

2pm, seriously? I'm never running a youth practice on Seeding night again.....
 
What am I supposed to do until 2? Work???

Come on tourney directors....Release those brackets!!! 

Joe Rings the Bell
By Jenny Kieffer —
52 minutes ago
Today was a huge day for Joe and our family, his treatments are finished. Joe will continue to go to Riley Hospital once a month, but only for CBC. His treatments are done. Our Riley family, Joe oncologist Mike Fergusion and all the nurses gather around today to witness Joe ring the survivor bell. On the wall the bell sits, is a plague that reads " Ring this bell three times well, its told to clearly say, my treatments are done, the course has run, and I am on my way". We heard those words and it was awesome, long time waiting. We pass that bell hundred times and all I envisioned was Joe standing in front and saying those words. All the prayers were answered at that moment. Joe is a warrior, and a fighter. Joe has been kicked to the ground, and stood back up and kept plowing forward. He is my inspiration everyday, and we are so stoked for him. I can't say enough thank you's to all the people who have prayed for our family everyday. To all the doctors especially to Mike Fergusion, nurse Jenny, and all the nurses. For all the people who have donated their time and money for children's cancer research. My list of appreciation to everyone would never end. This day was for everyone who walked this same path. Please keep all the children in your nightly prayers. Thanks again,

The Kieffer Family

Trawicks speed is unreal for a heavy weight. 4.8 flat was his 40 time and this was when he was weighing 315. His agility, speed, and of course power are unreal. the kid benches 440 squats 675 and powercleans 320. As long as he can keep the mental game in his favor I think his strength and speed can handle themselves. I've personally wrestled him in the practice room this season and I see him going very far this year.