barrydjr

Been attending since 1982 and probably the worst state experience ever. First the ticketing issue, then the vibe of the stadium was very low key all weekend. Probably because the stadium was half empty. Lastly, it seems that if the community was backing the tourney that there would be food available on the blocks around the venue after 10 pm. On a positive note we ate at Turoni’s , Kite and Key , Gerst Haus and Peephole and all were really good. Will be glad to be back to Indy next year. 

Great weekend of wrestling and extra special for me, as my son was able to coach his 2nd state champ in his hometown tonight! I just don't understand the empty seating mystery at the Ford tonight. I was told by text messages today from two different people that the wrestling was sold out tonight and was curious if I had gotten a ticket. They were unable to purchase tickets online, because of all tickets being sold out. So Ticketmaster must be playing games with the seating or someone is buying a lot of tickets and not coming. Plenty of seats at every session this weekend. What is going on???

Dude, this is the emptiest I’ve ever seen a place. No way should it ever be here again. 

Just an observation, but the rumor we heard concerning State was that event tickets would be sold out in less than an hour. Maybe I am missing something, but the stands look around half capacity?

Just an observation, but the rumor we heard concerning State was that event tickets would be sold out in less than an hour. Maybe I am missing something, but the stands look around half capacity?

Just an observation, but the rumor we heard concerning State was that event tickets would be sold out in less than an hour. Maybe I am missing something, but the stands look around half capacity?

Just an observation, but the rumor we heard concerning State was that event tickets would be sold out in less than an hour. Maybe I am missing something, but the stands look around half capacity?

Just an observation, but the rumor we heard concerning State was that event tickets would be sold out in less than an hour. Maybe I am missing something, but the stands look around half capacity?

Most impressive thing to me about Ocampo’s win was she was down 5 early and almost pinned, but just went back to plugging away.  That’s the type of heart and fight we need to see out of all wrestlers. 

Coaches of the Year
1A- Chuck Fleshman 
2A- Frank Bumgardner
3A- Matt Schoettle
Wrestlers of the Year
1A- Noah Cressell 
2A- Brayden Curtis
3A- Asa Garcia
Mr Gorilla
Co-Mr. Gorillas Mason Parris and Brayton Lee
2nd Lucas Davison 
3rd Graham Rooks 

I am having the same issue. I was wandering how close this call was.
I will say, I see a lot of folks on here calling out officials today. I was fortunate enough to advance my career past high school and wrestled Divison III for 4 years. After that, I was lucky enough to get as an assistant coach with a program with an experienced high school coach. There we sent multiple kids to the state tournament and I was privileged to coach under the spot light. I got out of coaching and made the leap into officiating leap this past fall. I passed he took the certification test with 98 %, spent about 10-12 hours in class with experienced officials going over the rules and interpretations before the season started. I’ve read and reread through the rule book and case book, annotating each page. I search YouTube and FloWrestling for tough calls and try to figure out my rational for how I would call it. I’ve attended every official association meeting where we discussed some of the tricky situations we’ve seen and participated in countless debates about how the rules are interpreted and applied. I thought I was ready to be a great official.
Guess what...it is very hard. I’ve blown some calls this year. All the preparation, decades of competition and coaching, and a dedication doesn’t make me a perfect official. I don’t diserve to be out there with a whistle today. I haven’t earned it yet.
The guys that are officiating today are Indiana’s best. They have decades of reffing experience and know the rules better than 99.9 % of the coaches, wrestlers and fans. They aren’t perfect, but they are the best we have.
Officials don’t want to be part of the match. They want to award points, raise  some hands, prevent any injuries and get back home to their families.
Matches at this level are tough to call. Rewrestle the 138 pound semi finals 3 more times and I bet you’d come up with atleast 2 more different results.
Cut these guys some slack and thank them for their hard work, dedication, and willingness to step out there and make the tough calls that only a small number of people are qualified to make.

YOU MAKE THE CALL?

I’m now a fan of Fattore...he handled that loss with class. He didn’t throw a fit or take off running to the locker room. 

“These matches are kinda slow, let me just take a two minute break to get some shaved ice.”

I just wanted to recognize a great wrestler with great sportsmanship. Jed Levitz from Prairie Heights. He fell short of going back to state for a 3rd time. After his lost he was a class act, handling it like a true champion,shaking hands and congratulating the other wrestler 2 times. A great example of what wrestling and a great coaching staff has taught this young man. Congratulations on a awesome high school wrestling career.  

Kind of on the same subject, nothing was called, but I could not believe how many wrestlers threw fits, were forced to shake hands with their opponents, or failed to shake hands with the other coaches after a tough loss in Fort Wayne yesterday. I understand shaking hands with the opposing coaches is surely not a rule, and premier wrestlers in college rarely do it, but I believe it shows class, respect, and sportsmanship. I didn't see anything too concerning with the victory celebrations, and rather enjoyed the 220 backflip.

Kind of on the same subject, nothing was called, but I could not believe how many wrestlers threw fits, were forced to shake hands with their opponents, or failed to shake hands with the other coaches after a tough loss in Fort Wayne yesterday. I understand shaking hands with the opposing coaches is surely not a rule, and premier wrestlers in college rarely do it, but I believe it shows class, respect, and sportsmanship. I didn't see anything too concerning with the victory celebrations, and rather enjoyed the 220 backflip.

I am by no means a fan of Portage wrestling or their fans.  However, I have a problem with the ULC call against Peele at the conclusion of his 120 championship against Triana.  After the buzzer sounded, Peele did a celebration where he simulated snuffing out  a cigarette butt with his foot.  The two officials calling the match didn't make any call on it.  An official in the chairs took offence to it and made the unsportsman like call.  Granted, Portage was so far ahead, they could have deducted 40 points and it wouldn't have made a difference.  My point is, what constitutes a celebration going too far.  Peele didn't stand over his opponent in a taunting way, and I saw nothing too unsportsman like.  I personally think it was an emotional call based on the success Portage was having yesterday.  I fail to see a difference in what this kid did and the many kids I have seen throw their ankle bands in the air and simulating shooting them with a gun, or doing a back flip.  The kid was happy he had won and celebrated.  The rules either need to be more clear, or all forms of celebration should be banned which would be ridiculous.  I didn't get the call.  If that point would have meant the difference of a team championship, this would have been an atomic bomb of a topic.  On a side note, Portage did show up to wrestle.  I haven't seen semi state domination like that since the Snyder coached Michawaka days. 

Central Noble really came on strong this season. Leffers and Kunkel were a big surprise this season but they were dominant.

Rutter lost at regionals, and the wrestler he lost to was pinned by the third place out of Goshen... is it really “clear” he should be state bound?

Gimson over Rutter 3-1 in OT. 

Not the most by any means.... but proud to say 1a Central Noble sends 4 to the bank and tie for 2nd in the team race. Proud to be a former Cougar! 

Thanks for posting this! Congrats!

Other than 160, looks like you nailed this one...

106: I see this weight holding out with few surprises. State qualifier Flores and sophomore Boots have had solid seasons and should be a fit for anyone at the semi state. Give me the sectional champs in the finals, and the runner-ups going for third.
Fernando Flores(GO), Jett Boots(AN), Christian Pfeiffer-Laguerre(CO), Jake Hull(FR)
1st Round Match to Watch: Jake Hull vs. Sean Johnson(EC)
 
113: Aside from sectional champion Weimer, expect the Elkhart sectional to roll through this. All the other qualifiers out of Westview have negative records. Weimer is the clear favorite but can’t overlook Puckett from Northridge who has put together a solid freshman season at 31-3.
Isaac Weimer(WN), Justin Puckett(NR), Rasheek Bonds(GO), Eric Garcia(EC)
1st Round Match to Watch: Eric Garcia vs. Evan Phillpot(PH)
 
120: State runner-up Hunter Watts shouldn’t have any issue here, with Beasley a distant second, from both first and third. The other two spots are totally up for grabs, with Walters having a legitimate 4-over-1 possibility over Clay after injury defaulting his third place match.
Hunter Watts(JT), Evan Beasley(NR), Malachi Walters(FF), Trevor Marple(AN)
1st Round Match to Watch: Malachi Walters vs. Ray Clay(CN)
 
126: We have quite a bit of talent at this weight class with a state runner-up, two other qualifiers, two semi-state qualifiers, and a senior who has lost three close matches here the past three years. Schoeff gets tested early with Miller, and then likely Rodriguez, who just controlled Whitman at sectionals. Whitman gets to square off with Hoyer in the first round.
Christian Mejia(EM), Tanner Schoeff(CN), Braxton Rodriguez(GO), Hunter Whitman(JT)
1st Round Match to Watch: Hunter Whitman vs. Blake Hoyer(PH)
 
132: Matt Gimson leads the pack here followed by Ledesma. Give me both of the sectional 3s to win their matches.
Matt Gimson(JT), Adam Ledesma(EN), Adam Hooley(NR), Zeke Rowden(PH)
1st Round Match to Watch: Adam Hooley vs. Zach Burrell(AN)
 
138: We gots a doozy of a weight class here with five semi-state qualifiers; and two of those with state experience. All four from the Westview sectional have been battle-tested this year and are capable of causing fits for most of this semi-state. Tanner Stacy and Jadon Miller best be ready early, as Gimson and Goering await them in the first round. Gimson looks to avenge what was his first loss of last year against Moore in the championship.
Conner Gimson(JT), Austin Moore(CN), Bryton Goering(EM), Ryan Rasler(PH)
1st Round Match to Watch: Bryton Goering vs. Jadon Miller(LL)
 
145: Kunkel is the favorite here, making an immediate impact in the semi-state as soon as he made 145, majoring his likely finals opponent in Eveler. The most interesting looking match looks to be a first rounder between two seniors who both made it out of regionals last year and would certainly like to end their career doing the same.
Giran Kunkel(CN), Owen Eveler(NR), Jayce Meyer(AN), Jake Chupp(NW)
1st Round Match to Watch: Jake Chupp vs. Rhett Evans(FR)
 
152:  The finals will likely be a rematch between Stroud and Levitz, who upset Stroud at the Al Smith with a spladle and a pin. Stroud will be looking for vengeance, but Levitz always comes prepared. The other qualifiers are a coin flip, but I’ll give the slight edge to both of the Elkhart sectional boys.
Xander Stroud(EC), Isaiah Levitz(PH), Julius Graber(NR), Koby Lundy(EM)
1st Round Match to Watch: Koby Lundy vs. Marcus Yoder(WV)
 
160: One of the least star-studded weight classes, but at least that makes it one of the lesser predictable ones at the same time. Jadon Crisp should navigate this bracket with little issue while 2-4 are quite a bit less obvious. Norment finally broke through and won his sectional, but Johnson is a tough 4 that could absolutely pull out the ‘upset.’ Don’t totally count on a Westview sweep, but don’t be surprised if it happens either.
Jadon Crisp(CN), John Lanam(AN), Tyler Norment(JT), Azael Acosta(CO)
1st Round Match to Watch: Tyler Norment vs. Bennett Johnson(PH)
 
170: The finals are likely to feature an Al Smith rematch between Lone and Levitz, where Lone surprised with a major decision. Lone has been red-hot this season, but it would be foolish to count out a member of the always-dangerous Levitz family. The 3rd place match should feature Cade Freel, who would be facing the winner of a toss-up freshman/senior battle in the first round. 
Jake Lone(NW), Jed Levitz(PH), Cade Freel(NR), Tadd Owen(CN)
1st Round Match to Watch: Tadd Owen vs. Clayton Lundy(EM)
 
182: Likely the most boring weight of the tournament. Barring anything huge, it’s Graber’s world and everyone else is just battling to place. And that’s not meant with disrespect, as the Westview sectional does send four tough wrestlers. Blodgett had a great day at sectionals navigating through a tough bracket, and senior Mooney will look to continue his stellar season with his first semi-state berth. 
Conner Graber(NR), Coye Blodgett(PH), Connor Mooney(CN), Bodey Holbrook(EN)
1st Round Match to Watch: Bodey Holbrook vs. Harold Moon(CO)
 
195: State placer Draven Rasler must have been sleep-walking Saturday, taking less than two minutes all day for a sectional title. Lucius should push him a bit harder in the finals, but Rasler should be the head of the class. The third and fourth spots favor the Westview sectional kids.
Draven Rasler(WN), Alex Lucius(EC), Codey Shafer(PH), Brandon Bergman(LL)
1st Round Match to Watch: Codey Shafer vs. Dan Wickersham(NR)
 
220: This may be the toughest weight in the whole semi state, and the Goshen regional brings a few studs to compete. Leffers has been a man on a mission this year by taking out many of the top 220s in the semi state. He’ll get some stout competition out of Contreras and Miller, former teammates who just faced each other for the sectional title.
Levi Leffers(CN), Caleb Miller(CO), Jordan Contreras(NR), Troy Deetz(PH)
1st Round Match to Watch: Troy Deetz vs. Omar Perez(EC)
 
285: Rounding out the tournament are our big boys, and the top 4 here should be very solid. The likely finals should be round three between semi-state qualifiers Conner and Yoder, who have split their first two meetings. Worlds has put himself together an impressive season while Bergman has been coming on very strong the last few weeks, most recently winning the Westview sectional. 
Nick Conner(EC), Vince Yoder(FF), Steven Worlds(GO), Brian Bergman(LL)
1st Round Match to Watch: Steven Worlds vs. Jon Messer(PH)