Holden

I don't know the situation at all, but maybe he couldn't be the varsity 152 and bumping to 160 was the only way to get into the lineup.  Maybe he knew he was going to drop down so he had to weigh close to 145 to do it legally.  Just one possibility.

Congrats Dunasky.  I remember when you just a toddler coming in the Greenfield-Central room with your dad.  You are very deserving of all your successes.  G-C is proud of you.

Congrats Dunasky.  I remember when you just a toddler coming in the Greenfield-Central room with your dad.  You are very deserving of all your successes.  G-C is proud of you.

To the family of Elijah Lacey, Coach Tonte and to the Warren wrestling community,
I sincerely apologize if the picture used in Cooper Noehre's Indy Star Athlete of the Week nomination offended any of you.  The star did not choose the picture, I did.  I didn't look at who he was wrestling.  I just chose a picture I had on my computer that I thought would be easy to see.  I feel absolutely horrible that this could be looked as disrespectful.  Elijah was never anything but a class act to me and my team.  I have nothing but respect for Coach Tonte and the people in his program.
Again, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for a stupid oversight.
 
Josh Holden, Greenfield-Central Wrestling

No have their coach go to ihsgw.net and register them. If their high school boys wrestle in the New Castle or Evansville Semi State then they wrestle in the south at Franklin Community High School. If their boys wrestler in the Ft Wayne or the East Chicago Semi State then they wrestle at Maconaquah High School in the north.

Nor-ree

To the family of Elijah Lacey, Coach Tonte and to the Warren wrestling community,
I sincerely apologize if the picture used in Cooper Noehre's Indy Star Athlete of the Week nomination offended any of you.  The star did not choose the picture, I did.  I didn't look at who he was wrestling.  I just chose a picture I had on my computer that I thought would be easy to see.  I feel absolutely horrible that this could be looked as disrespectful.  Elijah was never anything but a class act to me and my team.  I have nothing but respect for Coach Tonte and the people in his program.
Again, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for a stupid oversight.
 
Josh Holden, Greenfield-Central Wrestling

To the family of Elijah Lacey, Coach Tonte and to the Warren wrestling community,
I sincerely apologize if the picture used in Cooper Noehre's Indy Star Athlete of the Week nomination offended any of you.  The star did not choose the picture, I did.  I didn't look at who he was wrestling.  I just chose a picture I had on my computer that I thought would be easy to see.  I feel absolutely horrible that this could be looked as disrespectful.  Elijah was never anything but a class act to me and my team.  I have nothing but respect for Coach Tonte and the people in his program.
Again, from the bottom of my heart, I am sorry for a stupid oversight.
 
Josh Holden, Greenfield-Central Wrestling

Nor-ree

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
The second time around has been extra sweet for Jake O’Neill and the Wabash High School wrestling program.
O’Neil spent six seasons as Apaches head coach then four as an assistant at his alma mater — Ben Davis in Indianapolis — and is now in his second six as head coach at Wabash.
With the help of several folks, O’Neill and the Apaches have enjoyed a resurgence since he was drawn back to the northern part of Indiana.
“I like where this little school’s going,” says O’Neill. “I’m excited about it.”
“I love this community.”
Wabash has a population of about 10,000 and around 400 attend the high school.
This season, the Apaches will participate in the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association State Duals for the first time. Wabash will be in Class 1A for the Jan. 5 meet in Fort Wayne.
The Apaches’ varsity schedule also includes the Wabash County Invitational, Western Invitational, Whitko Invitational and duals with Maconaquah, Rochester, Lewis Cass, Eastbrook, Peru and Western.
“When you have rivalries and communities meet up it only only helps the sport grow,” says O’Neill. “We had a nice gym going against Maconaquah. It was a fun atmosphere.”
There are 27 wrestlers on the Wabash team.
“We have a really big sophomore group,” says O’Neill. “Quantity helps. Quality is what we’re looking for.”
In the mix are freshman Jared Brooks and sophomore R.J. Steg at 106 and 113, sophomore Ethan Higgins at 120, junior Braden Brooks at 126, junior Jaxon Barnett at 132, sophomore Anthony Long at 138, freshman Brayden Sickafus at 152, junior Traydon Goodwin at 152, sophomore Grant Carandante at 160, sophomore Justin Heckman and sophomore Bryson
Zapata at 170, senior Blake Wiser at 182, senior Luke Voirol at 195, sophomore Grant Warmuth at 220 and senior Justin Samons and junior Blake Price at 285.
Higgins and Braden Books competed in the off-season at the Freestyle and Greco-Roman Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
“They got to see guys who will be on the (IHSAA State Finals) podium at the end of the year,” says O’Neill. “Training with them all summer was definitely good for them.”
Carandante is O’Neill’s stepson. His other two children are freshman wrestler Kiersten O’Neill and sophomore basketball player Keegan O’Neill.
Upon his return to Wabash, O’Neill established the Apache Wrestling Club. It now has about 30 grapplers in grades K-6.
There are also about 20 sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the junior high program.
A wall was knocked down in the weight room to double the size of the Wabash wrestling room.
“We’re changing the culture here with the sport,” says O’Neill, who notes that the Apaches scored four points and were down to six wrestlers the season before his return. “The community is starting to see the hard work these young men and women are putting in.
“We want to continue to get kids up on that podium at Bankers Life and get kids up on our little wall of fame at school. We’ve got to aim big. That’s how I want my wrestlers thinking.”
Ross Haughn and Jimmy Olinger are coaching the elementary wrestlers and are part of a high school coaching staff which also includes Tyler Niccum, Jeremy Haupert and Isaac Ray. Ray wrestled at Hamilton Heights High School and at Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind., about 15 miles from Wabash.
“I have a solid relationship with Coach (Kevin) Lake (at Manchester U.),” says O’Neill. “I use my resources wisely with that.”
Chad Ulmer, who wrestled at Triton High School and Manchester U., has departed Wabash for Hendricks County, where he will serve as a probation officer and likely help coach wrestling at one of the area schools.
At Ben Davis, where O’Neill had graduated in 1995, he joined with then-Giants head coach Aaron Moss to have plenty of mat coaching success.
“We produced some pretty good wrestlers together,” says O’Neill.
O’Neill was dating a Wabash girl — Aimee — and decided to look for a job that would bring him back north. He took an interview at nearby Manchester High School.
By then, principal Jason Callahan had become superintendent of Wabash City Schools.
“(Callahan) made it happen,” says O’Neill of the former Daleville High School wrestling coach. “A job created (at Wabash) within a couple of weeks."
“He believed in me a bunch.”
Jake and Aimee O’Neill have been married for five years.
In his first tenure in town, O’Neill formed some key relationships like those with Peru coach Andy Hobbs and Northfield coach Bill Campbell (now retired).
“They put their arms around me and helped me,” says O’Neill. “I’m proud to call them mentors and friends.”
He’s also grateful to Pat Culp for her role in running tournaments at all levels around Indiana.
“She’s a blessing for everybody,” says O’Neill, who is an Indiana State Wrestling Association director for Cadets. “She encouraged us to host tournaments. She played a big rule in helping us grow this program.”
O’Neill admits that during his first tenure he was looking to go elsewhere. This time, he’s in it for the long haul.
“My first year back at Wabash, I started approaching it looking at the big picture and setting long-term goals with the program,” says O’Neill.
About that time, O’Neill discovered a move-in from North Carolina in his eighth grade physical education class.
Noah Cressell qualified for the IHSAA State Finals twice and placed third at 182 pounds in 2018 — Wabash’s first state placer since heavyweight Tim LaMar won a state title in 1999.
“That kid did a lot with helping this program grow,” says O’Neill of Cressell. “It was not just his wrestling, but his personality. He was a humble kid and everybody loved him. He was the poster boy for our program.”
Cressell is now on the team at North Dakota State University.
And the Wabash Apaches are back on the state wrestling map.
 

View full article

Good squad

ISWA will be holding a national team practice on Sunday May, 20th at the following locations: 
North Practice – Portage High School 
6450 U.S Highway 6, Portage, IN 46368
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Central Time)
Fort Wayne Area – Indiana Tech College 
1600 E. Washington Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46803
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Indy Area - GreenField – Central High School 
810 North Broadway, Greenfield, IN 46140
1:00PM – 2:30 PM (Eastern Time)
Southern Area – Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club
815 John St. Suite 160, Evansville, IN 47713
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Central Time)
This practice will help prepare our wrestlers for National Duals and Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota. Any wrestler who is a member of either of those Teams is invited to attend practice.

Jared,
 
I want to  say Congratulations on a GREAT HEAD COACHING Career Avon, LN, & Zionsville!!  You coached numerous State Placers, State Champs, HS All Americans, HS National Champions, NCAA Div. 1,2,&3  wrestlers, Nationals Qualifiers and All Americans.  You were the only Head Coach during the IHSAA Dual Team State era to take 2 different Schools to the IHSAA State Championship match (Avon, LN) both finishing 2nd....Never could win the big one (Ha Ha)!! There are many more accomplishments you have achieved in your career, but those are the ones that counted the most & that I remember!
I wouldn't be the Wrestling Coach, Husband, Friend, or Father I am today without having you as a friend & mentor!  The true greats in any sport are the ones who give back, and leave it better than when they got it.  You have done a tremendous job promoting our sport, growing it at every level,  at every school you were a HC.  I have truly enjoyed every second coaching with you at LN (memories I will never forget) and the battles coaching against you (even though our wives hated those matches) HA HA!!!! You always bring the best out of not only the athletes you coach, but the opponents you coach against.  I am going to miss not seeing you on Saturdays, it will not be the same!!!! Enjoy the 1-0 record against me, you will have it forever!!!  
I can't wait to see you in the Hall of Fame, with all the other great coaches who have given countless of hours away from their families, to do good for others in this sport. Enjoy the extra time with your little ones!!!! I know you will keep giving back, see you on the Pee Wee circuit!! 
 
Your Friend,
Weimer

The Zionsville Wrestling Program is excited to announce that Doug Welch will take over as head coach. The native of Newburgh, IN was the IHSAA State champion at 152lbs. in 2011, IHSAA State Runner-up in 2010, and 5th at the IHSAA State finals as a sophomore for Castle High School. He continued his career at Purdue University where he was an NCAA Qualifier and ranked as high as 9th in the country at 157lbs. While competing for the Boilermakers, Coach Welch won the team's Boiler Up Tough Award, was an academic all-Big Ten selection, and was Purdue's male recipient of the Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award. We are excited to have a talented young coach like Doug Welch that will eat, sleep, and breathe Zionsville Wrestling for years to come and do things the right way. Congrats Doug and welcome aboard!

Thanks Coach I was not the official on that match but I did see the aftermath. Speedy recovery to both young men!
Feez

First of all sir, let me say thank you very much for expressing your concern.  It means a lot to me, my wrestler, and his parents.  One of the wrestlers involved was mine and his name is Scott Stanley.  He is an awesome young man with a very hard head   As you saw, it was quite a collision.  Scott insisted he was ok.  However, in today's world, knowing what we know about head injuries, there is no way you can let an athlete reenter a contest after that kind of head trauma.  Scott is going through the concussion protocol and looks forward to getting back on the mat.  Agian, thank you very much for asking about the health of our wrestlers.

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

I just wanted to say thank you to the IHSAA, IHSWCA, all the workers and people who have ever had a hand in developing the state finals, and of course, the wrestlers who make the finals so entertaining.  I have always loved the wrestling state finals, however, this year had a bigger impact on me.  My son is now a 7th grader and wrestling for Greenfield Junior High School.  As his father and Coach, I preach doing everything the right way.  From his grades, to his character, to his wrestling...I constantly harp on doing them the right way.  Watching my son listen to the introductions of so many incredible young men who not only excel on the mat, but in the classroom and as men of character, was priceless for me.  I love that we celebrate these athletes the way we do for all to see.  I know at least my son is watching!
Coach Holden

Sam Hansen is a hell of a kid, I was happy to see him make the finals.

Absolutely. Not knowing him personally at all, he carried himself extremely well even when faced with that questionable call. I was also really impressed with the attitude of Sam Hansen of Roncalli. He seemed to be having the time of his life, and was very polite. I talked to him for a second after the finals and he was just a very gracious kid.