grifffan

As someone who did not attend the State Finals in person, I have to say we might be the luckiest wrestling fans in the country when it comes to our streaming options of the State Finals. I understand everyone’s complaints about Flo and the issue from the IHSAAtv issue during the placement matches. But the product that was put out there is second to none. There were 3 views it appeared on all of the mats throughout the event. That meant that at almost all times that you could watch the action as it was coming at you. The NCAA doesn’t even get that level of coverage. Even during the NCAA pre-semifinal round you just get a view from upstairs. The commentators on Mats 2-4 for the first two sessions as others have mentioned, were also as good as any I’ve heard. I was thoroughly impressed! Again, I know that some have issues supporting Flo and others had issues with the Placement matches, but Flo had zero issues beyond sound on 1 mat for about 10 minutes. So I want to thank the IHSAA for all of the people who made the streaming experience, for me, so great! I seriously contemplated driving the 5 hours down to Evansville if the streaming was messed up, but thankfully, it was almost perfect!

Crown Point received 3 Unsportsmanlikes yesterday. Including after this match when he stands over the losing wrestler and calls him a little beeyotch. Then instead of learning his lesson the wrestlers goes to the Merrillville corner and tries to get into it with the kids brother and dad (you know the guy who has the lack of maturity). Oh wait, because holier than thou Crown Point coaches have such great maturity. Last week telling a kid to go eat a d. And then the same coach arguing a clear slam yesterday. And then proceeding to walk over to the injured wrestler and intimidate the coaches and wrestler to get up. And then another coach coming out of the stands to argue the same slam. (Something he shouldn’t have been allowed to do anyway.) The same coaches that during a match at Team State threw a rule book after all three of them went to the table to argue a call that didn’t go their way. (Also, not allowed as only 1 coach may go to the table to argue.) This year has become too much. If my AD got 3 Unsportsmanlike reports in a day, my job would be posted the next day.

For the first time in 41 years, the Indians of Portage High School will not be represented at the IHSAA State Finals. That is a crazy, crazy stat in my opinion.

I believe Portage dropped to #5 prior to Traicoff off of a loss to Perry at Harvest without Rumph or Maceo in the lineup or Fattore, Colza, and Triana for Hobart which would have certainly changed the placements for all of the teams in those weight classes. Now, I do have to say, that I must have a different opinion of what thrashing a team is. Yes, Cathedral definitely wrestled well and systematically but 35-21 is not a thrashing. There were two OT matches that Cathedral won and a match that was 5-2 with :40 left and Cathedral got the reversal and 3 nearfall to win 7-5. It was a close dual, and Cathedral certainly wrestled better than Portage. Hats are off to the wrestlers and coaching staff as that is a really talented Portage team (which I don't think we have seen the last of or even their best meet yet). Portage looked uncharacteristically slow and worn down all day, and Cathedral capitalized on it.

My question is which of the 3 #1 ranked kids at Calumet, is a dark horse?

I'd wager that Warren Central would lose to all three of the top region teams. My reasoning, look at the Al Smith Results.