Pete Schroeder

On 12/5/2023 at 11:45 PM, hook and half said:

Penn met MD in 2014 in an epic dual.  The match opened with MD's unknown 113-pound freshman, Kyle "Sweet" Luigs, breaking off a defensive pin to spot the 'Cats a 6-0 lead.

 

Two matches later, a well-known freshman--Nick Lee--majored Penn's (Penn, Penn State.  Oh, the irony)  hammer and returning State runner-up.  MD won three more, before Penn rattled off SEVEN consecutive wins.  

 

The match came down to the 106 pounders, MD's Will Egli and Penn's (And future Penn Stater) Drew Hildebrandt.  Egli prevailed with a razor-thin victory in a colliseum environment.

 

The intensity of the crowd, coaches, wrestlers and benches was off the chain.  I have seen some incredible duals, but this one is at/near the top.

If you are referring to the team state dual, i had the privilege of officiating that dual and yes, the crowd and the entire gym was electric.  There was at least one other, if not more, dual(s) going on at the same time.  I know I am old school, but a great dual can still produce real electricity!!

Does anyone have and email or cell for Trent?

thanks. 

For the elderly who may remember Paul Velez, who was a beloved and completely respected coach and more importantly person, here is the link to his obituary.  We have lost a VERY good one. 

https://stpierrefamilyfuneral.com/obituary/paul-edward-velez/

Where do we send a check to?

Dr. John Hobbs of Shortridge  -- two timer ...about 119 pounds 1971 and '72

Phil Leslie of Indianapolis Washington -- Heavyweight in the same era 

EVERY year since 1968.....

Jim Beeson past at  7:45 this morning. There were about seven kids there. He waited until they all woke up. Kids said prayers and then he passed on to be in heaven. What a beautiful celebration to be raised up on Easter. At least he did not have to suffer and he is with his wife and his daughter.

If you would like to send Jim Beeson a card of support his address is 3549 W Willow Park, Flat Rock In 47234

Thanks folks

I talked to Jim Beeson today, and Jim told me that he has a stage 4 very aggressive pancreatic cancer and was given three weeks to maybe 9 weeks to live. He has a 6 cm mass on his Pancreas and five or six spots on his liver and in his lymph nodes. He is home in hospice care but very very tired. He has decided to forgo chemo and enjoy the remaining time with his kids and many grandchildren.  He has been anointed and receives holy communion every day. He just wants your prayers for his family and a happy death and join his beautiful wife and daughter in heaven!

Larry Williams

I will try and get a home address for Jim so you can send Jim a card of support.  Thanks.  Pete

What additional duals in Central Indiana this week?   Thanks.

Last night I attended the Tom Clark Celebration of Life.  It was a VERY inspiring evening, with the wrestling family coming together and making me very proud to be a member of that family.  Tom obviously touched many, many lives in his relatively short time in our state, but the turnout for the celebration was very impressive. There were literally officials from all 4 corners of the state and a significant number of Tom's international brotherhood of officials.  Perhaps most impressive was the turnout of coaches last night.  That support of the official community by the coaches does not go unnoticed, young coaches, old(er) coaches, and one even wore wrestling shoes and a whistle.....  in brotherhood with Tom.  

This will be five-oh for me.  Started back in 1968.  Not missed since.

I have a former referee trying to locate Dick Boarman who coached at Shortridge MANY years ago.  Any leads on how to track him down would be greatly appreciated.

thanks.

^{Every year since 1968.   Four different venues.}

Notable officials who have worked the State Finals in the past 2 seasons who are not working a Semi-State this weekend:

*Note that some of these are due to retirement

 

Steve Anslinger

William Carpenter

Jon Hammond

Frankie Medvescek

Ray Pettit

Pete Schroeder

Charles Barnett

Jeff Colborn

Michael Golando

Robert Helm

Jeff McClane

Keith Mughmaw

 

That's 12 of the best officials in the state sitting home this weekend on one of the most important weekends of the season.  Doesn't quite make sense to me..

 

 

Just to clarify, I for one, will be at New Castle watching and enjoying the action, from the seats, as I'll bet most of the list above will be doing on Saturday.... 

I second these sentiments.  Saturday was a great day of wrestling and wrestling fans would be very hard pressed to find a more competitive tournament than what the team state has showcased the last 2 years, with several of the duals coming down to the last match (or 2).  I am sure most of us have no idea as to logistics it takes to pull off a 36 team tourney and all that goes with it.

A huge ditto to all those who helped to pull off this year's tourney and I am already looking forward to next year's !!

PS -- and next year I'll remember to bring an EMPTY cooler, to use as a seat !!

I went to Southport as an 8th grader in 1968 and have been to every state finals since, Southport, MSA, New Castle, MSA and Bankers Life.  I believe that makes 46 and looking forward to #47 !!  I loved Southport but I have to say that good old MSA is my favorite. Thank God for good health !!

Having wrestled against John Hurrle's wrestlers in high school, and then having officiated his teams for years, I am sure John would be very pleased by the selection of Tom Clark to win an award named after John (well maybe, as anyone that knew John would know that it was never about him).  John was a straight shooter and demanded a great deal from his wrestlers and of himself.  John Hurrle didn't just produce very good, talented wrestlers, he produced very good young men.  He taught them that you just do the right thing.  In the days of old, many of us saw John Hurrle take a wrestler who was acting inappropriately up against the wall at the end of the gym and made certain that that wrestler knew he was going to be held accountable for his actions and how those actions reflected on Tech High School and its wrestling team.

I go through all of this to say that Tom Clark has been a tremendous giver to the sport of wrestling, just like John Hurrle.  In addition, Tom has been an excellent ambassador for the sport, in Ohio, Indiana and internationally.  Tom is always willing to "take up the cause" whether it is officiating a junior high meet, counseling a coach on the rules or the finer points of mentoring kids, etc.  Tom has contributed in so many ways for so many years.  Congratulations Tom Clark, well deserved !!

This is a reminder to all central Indiana coaches that the wrestling referee section of the Indiana Officials' Association will be hosting a coaches'-officials' forum tomorrow night at the K of C, 2100 E. 71st Street at 7:00.  Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.  The goals of this forum are to improve communications and fellowship between coaches and officials and to hopefully enjoy some discussion of what coaches expect from officials and vice versa, as well as to discuss specific holds, match situations, etc.  This provides officials and coaches a rare opportunity to interact while not in the heat of the action.

Former  IU Big Ten Champ Bill Willetts passed away at his residence this past week.  Bill had not been in good health for several years and was unable to work due to complications of diabetes and to the deterioration of his hip joints. Apparently heart failure was the cause of death.  Bill battled Diabetes for many years that required hospitalization at times.  He was in great pain and was taking medication for both conditions.  He lived by himself in the Crystal Lakes area...outside Chicago.  Bill was trying to get an operation for his hips but had no health insurance.

Bill was from Indianapolis, IN.  He wrestled at Arlington High School where he was a state champ on a record setting team coached by the legendary Jim Ellis.  Bill was a Big Ten Champion in 1971 and was runner-up to Tom Milkovich from Mich. State in 1972.  Bill was head coach for a time at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.  He worked in school transportation in the suburbs of Chicago and was a past winner of the the National Transportation Director of the Year Award. 

Bill Willetts was a great friend of many and was a very good student of the sport and spent many months and years studying under our late great coach Doug Blubaugh. 

Visitation and services for Bill:  Saturday 6-22-2013, 11 am to 1:00pm @ Davenport Funeral Home, Crystal Lake, Illinois....address: 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, Ill.    Funeral Home phone:  815 459 3411. Davenport Funeral Home:  www.davenportfamily.com

The arrangements for John Schattner's funeral are a showing from 10:30 to noon and a brief service, at the funeral home, at noon, this Saturday.  The location is O'Riley's funeral home at 6107 South East Street, a couple of miles south of the 465 and US 31 interchange.

It is with great sadness that I report that wrestling lost a VERY good friend yesterday with the passing of John Schattner.  John had been involved with the sport of wrestling for 48 years, as a wrestler, a coach, an athlethic director, an official and a very dedicated and devoted officer of the state wrestling association.  From organizing decadades of NCAA wrestling finals trips, to coordinating CYO officials and assisting athletic directors, to working a table at Market Square and Bankers Life and on and on.  John officiated at all ends of the state and gave so much to our sport.  I am sure John now has the best seat in the house, in heaven.

As mentioned at the Hall of Fame banquet yesterday, John Schattner is in the hospital, again, battling fluid retention resulting in a very uncomfortable compressed lung.  He is receiving IV antibiotics and lasix and is hopeful about getting out tomorrow or Wednesday.  John is at Wishard Hospital in Room 5537 and his room phone number is 317/630-8146.  John has had a rough time for a number of months now and can use a little support from his friends.  If any of you are so inclined to drop John a card or a note, he will be going home to his mother's house, 4010 Union St.  Indpls IN 46227.  Thanks to all.

Last night I had the absolute privilege and pleasure of being one of the referees officiating the Jennings County--Warren Central regional final dual at Connersville.  This was just a fantastic dual with the lead going back and forth throughout the dual.  Most impressive was the sportsmanship of the wrestlers on both teams and  the coaches, lead by Danny Williams and Howard Jones.  Even in the heat of the battle over who would move on to the team state, both coaches set great examples of how one can be fiercely competitive and still be professional in their demeanor.  Both teams had strong fan support and even though it was a long night, it was a great evening for the sport of wrestling.  Congratulations to all involved.

Doug Blugaugh was killed in a hit and run accident yesterday in Oklahoma.  Wrestling was his life and and at the drop of a hat Doug would travel to give clinics all over the country.  He was a strong ambassador for the sport for decades....