Heath Fisher

I coach at Central Middle School in Columbus, IN. We just had a tournament canceled and would like to add something on 1/13/24. If anyone has an opening, let me know.

Columbus East could use an assistant. Contact coach Chris Cooper via email (he's banned from the site). cooperc@bcsc.k12.in.us

Well I didn't watch all of the matches, just ours. If you go back and re-read my post, I said Columbus East BEAT all of the other teams in the final four not that we wrestled them!

Just a quick note... Columbus East beat the teams that finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. That is a pretty good way to prove you are the champs.

I did!!!

I agree with the wrestling dude. The opposing coach has no responsibility to help make sure your son is ready for the tournament. The only responsibility he has is to help his team get ready for the tournament. I have coached and our staff has used this tactic a few times. We were just trying to win a duel, and sometimes that has a lot to do with which team has the momentum.

Let me start by saying that I wasn't there and that it sounds like the tournament ran as fast as it could have with that many kids. That and I have helped run tournaments (some good, some bad), and I have coached kids and been the parent at different meets around the state, so I do have a little experience with this situation. That being said, I think that one of the problems with youth wrestling is the long days that the kids have to put in. Again, I am not saying that this tournament was ran poorly, as I am sure it went as good as it could have. And I am not talking about the kids who really take to wrestling and don't mind being there all day. There are certainly plenty of those. I am talking about the young kids who are getting their first taste of wrestling and don't really know if it is "for them". We (the wrestling community as a whole) are losing these kids right from the start. They never get a chance to see if wrestling is "for them" because they are turned off at such a young age (or early on in their careers for the older first time wrestlers). The kids need a more positive experience, especially the youngest ones. Now, so I won't be bashed, a possible "solution" that might make the day a little better. Why can't we split the event into two different events? I know we would need another venue and more help to run it, but it would cut the workload and the day in half. It doesn't sound like that big of a deal when you think about all of the places in Indy that a slightly smaller tournament could be held at. I don't think it would be a big problem to get more volunteers either, if you could offer a shorter, easier day for them. The length of the event and the hectic nature of a tournament are 2 reasons more people don't volunteer now. With this change, maybe we would keep a few more kids out long enough to fall in love with wrestling, and at the same time, make the tournaments more enjoyable for the kids, family, fans, and all of the volunteers that make everything happen.

I have seen them both. Boomsma seems to be the stronger, physically, of the two. He is tough, but he is not the technician that Boston is. Boston was very impressive at the Al Smith. I think he is better on his feet, but if Boomsma gets on top it could be a long day for him. I think Boston wins this one.

My comments were toward jchs1989.

Thanks Coach. It was a great tournament. You guys did a great job. It was by far the most on schedule tournament we have been to this year.

Wow. You sure do have a strong opinion for not really knowing the inside story about any of what you are talking about. And when our kids missed the podium, they weren't the only ones who did because the matches following both of those kids were 1st period pins. You fail to mention that in your post. You really should think about what you are saying before you little fingers start typing!!! You guys can't just congratulate East and leave it at that. Sounds like sour grapes to me!!! Just sayin'.....