rookie78

We (Prairie Heights) were fortunate to be able to get our "B" team/jv team some varsity matches this season, due to a couple varsity squads not being able to compete on somewhat short notice.
 
Our coaching staff, the wrestlers, and the parents were very excited for the opportunities to compete against varsity competition. Normally we wrestle 3 JV tourneys where the kids normally get 3-4 matches each. Typically our jv guys will get 10-12 matches a year.
 
In 3 of our 4 weeknight duals matches this year, we wrestled 0 jv matches, due to lack of wrestlers on the opposing schools. In our other dual (Homestead), we wrestled 13 jv matches, plus the Varsity dual which made for a great night of wrestling.
 
We have been very blessed with great numbers at PH, averaging 30-36 wrestlers the past several seasons. Our "B" team this year went 8-6 in the two varsity super duals this season. Most of our jv guys ended up getting 20+ matches between the jv tourneys and varsity duals they competed in.
 
I feel this was a great thing for us. As someone mentioned earlier, it helps prepare some of the kids for full-time varsity next year. A few a them got their butts handed to them along the way this year, too. I would love to be able to run 2 squads again next year, and enter them both into varsity action (as long as I feel we are able to compete) or even set up some jv duals/super duals for a "B" team.
 
Some of our jv guys are juniors and I think only getting them the 10-12 jv matches a year is not enough and kids begins to lose interest when they know they might only wrestle 3 weekends out of the entire season.
 
I still prefer our current system: single class state series and the classed team state duals format. I would hate to see us go to a classed individual state series/sectionals/regionals/etc.
 
If we can't beat the best of the best, so be it. We have had some great dual matches with Yorktown, Lafayette Harrison, Jimtown, Garrett, Goshen the last few years. We hate losing, but it sure is fun when we are able to pick up the win over schools of that size/caliber. They are great rivalries and we love that we get to wrestle the type of schedule we have.
 
Just my two cents as we are small school.

Congratulations to Riley Rasler from Prairie Heights for signing with Trine. He is projected to wrestle 149.
 
Click here to view the signing

Lots of good news coming out of PH!

I see both sides. I think getting asked to compete since we could fill a full second team was an opportunity for us to take. I am positive that a few of the other teams would have preferred not wresting our JV, but it was either us or take bye and a round off.
 
Earlier this year I looked at the numbers of wrestlers on the teams in our conference. We had 36 kids, all the others combined for an average of 18.8, with several kids on the same team filling the same weights. Others were out for various reasons: ineligible, skin conditions, concussions, injuries,etc; therefore our kids not getting any jv matches on the nights of the Varsity dual. We even had 7 138 pounders ourselves this year.
 
Considering wrestling jv squads in Varsity events, again I see both sides. Good for a competitive jv team, not so good necessarily for some of the top varsity teams because the competition just isn't there (especially against a small school jv).
 
We have wrestled against Harrison's jv 2 years I believe at the War on the Wabash. Wasn't really what we wanted, because we want to be pushed, but it was better than us sitting out a round. Probably not exactly what they wanted either, but they took some lumps and learned along the way. Same was true for us this year. Our jv got steam rolled by Harrison's varsity this year, I think we scored six. Wasn't pretty but they got to see where they need to be.
 
Being successful is a huge help in promoting wrestling for us. The tradition at PH is also a big factor. Winning War on the Wabash,conference, sectionals, team state duals, placing in the top 10 at the Al Smith I think does help get numbers up.
 
I believe our first year of coaching we had 20 kids and gave up 4 or so forfeits every match. Definitely was rough, going 12-16 and not what PH was used too.
 
Recruiting kids and working in the school helps. A little more success the next year and more kids out. More of the same in year 3 and then just everything finally clicked. So yes, the success we have had after first 2 years, has definitely helped fill our jv. Kids want to be a part of sectional, conference, and team state duals championship teams.
 
I think we just need some more jv tourneys/jv super duals if numbers allow. We travel 45 minutes to one jv event, then an 1.5 hours each to the other 2. I definitely don't want enter our jv into a varsity event to get slaughtered, that would kill morale.

I am still unsure what we are even talking about.  Are you considering Penn's 2nd varsity team ( that wins a lot of varsity tournaments ) a JV team?  Would you tell them they couldn't be in your tournament because that gives Penn's program an advantage even if they are better than the other teams you have coming?  I guess if they are not considered good enough for some tournaments, they would still be welcome elsewhere.  Just wanted to make sure I understand what JV means.
 
Penn seems to be doing something right.  They have a ton of kids on their team, field 2 or 3 good teams that compete at the varsity level, and somehow keep kids who have a slim chance of ever wrestling varsity in the sport.  I would consider them a model to follow in that respect.  Others may want a team of 14 kids who just go all out.  To each their own, just a different approach.

Prairie Heights did it last year, could possibly do this year

Prairie Heights did it last year, could possibly do this year

Well said, Rookie78!  The point I am trying to emphasize here is that there is something special about winning any tournament.  The state tournament is, and always should be, the most special.  Adding more opportunities to call ourselves a state champ seems counter intuitive to me.  The most successful wrestling programs teach kids to set goals, work hard, and how take your lumps along the way. The program at Prairie Heights is, as you say, fortunate.  Instead, what I see is a program that emphasizes personal growth and accountability.  I have know idea how many state champions you produce out of that school.  More importantly, I see your kids go full tilt no matter what size the school your facing, JV or varsity.  I can list many programs in my area that have the same goals and teach the same lessons: Rochester, Goshen, Prairie Heights, Plymouth, Northridge, Jimtown...  Programs like these are wildly successful at raising a community of young men that will succeed b/c of their character.  When someone suggests that it would somehow make wrestling more relevant or attractive if we handed out more medals at state I get a little bent out of shape.  The most successful programs are the ones who empower kids to improve themselves everyday, work hard to meet your goals, and treat all challenges with the same respect.  

We (Prairie Heights) were fortunate to be able to get our "B" team/jv team some varsity matches this season, due to a couple varsity squads not being able to compete on somewhat short notice.
 
Our coaching staff, the wrestlers, and the parents were very excited for the opportunities to compete against varsity competition. Normally we wrestle 3 JV tourneys where the kids normally get 3-4 matches each. Typically our jv guys will get 10-12 matches a year.
 
In 3 of our 4 weeknight duals matches this year, we wrestled 0 jv matches, due to lack of wrestlers on the opposing schools. In our other dual (Homestead), we wrestled 13 jv matches, plus the Varsity dual which made for a great night of wrestling.
 
We have been very blessed with great numbers at PH, averaging 30-36 wrestlers the past several seasons. Our "B" team this year went 8-6 in the two varsity super duals this season. Most of our jv guys ended up getting 20+ matches between the jv tourneys and varsity duals they competed in.
 
I feel this was a great thing for us. As someone mentioned earlier, it helps prepare some of the kids for full-time varsity next year. A few a them got their butts handed to them along the way this year, too. I would love to be able to run 2 squads again next year, and enter them both into varsity action (as long as I feel we are able to compete) or even set up some jv duals/super duals for a "B" team.
 
Some of our jv guys are juniors and I think only getting them the 10-12 jv matches a year is not enough and kids begins to lose interest when they know they might only wrestle 3 weekends out of the entire season.
 
I still prefer our current system: single class state series and the classed team state duals format. I would hate to see us go to a classed individual state series/sectionals/regionals/etc.
 
If we can't beat the best of the best, so be it. We have had some great dual matches with Yorktown, Lafayette Harrison, Jimtown, Garrett, Goshen the last few years. We hate losing, but it sure is fun when we are able to pick up the win over schools of that size/caliber. They are great rivalries and we love that we get to wrestle the type of schedule we have.
 
Just my two cents as we are small school.

We (Prairie Heights) were fortunate to be able to get our "B" team/jv team some varsity matches this season, due to a couple varsity squads not being able to compete on somewhat short notice.
 
Our coaching staff, the wrestlers, and the parents were very excited for the opportunities to compete against varsity competition. Normally we wrestle 3 JV tourneys where the kids normally get 3-4 matches each. Typically our jv guys will get 10-12 matches a year.
 
In 3 of our 4 weeknight duals matches this year, we wrestled 0 jv matches, due to lack of wrestlers on the opposing schools. In our other dual (Homestead), we wrestled 13 jv matches, plus the Varsity dual which made for a great night of wrestling.
 
We have been very blessed with great numbers at PH, averaging 30-36 wrestlers the past several seasons. Our "B" team this year went 8-6 in the two varsity super duals this season. Most of our jv guys ended up getting 20+ matches between the jv tourneys and varsity duals they competed in.
 
I feel this was a great thing for us. As someone mentioned earlier, it helps prepare some of the kids for full-time varsity next year. A few a them got their butts handed to them along the way this year, too. I would love to be able to run 2 squads again next year, and enter them both into varsity action (as long as I feel we are able to compete) or even set up some jv duals/super duals for a "B" team.
 
Some of our jv guys are juniors and I think only getting them the 10-12 jv matches a year is not enough and kids begins to lose interest when they know they might only wrestle 3 weekends out of the entire season.
 
I still prefer our current system: single class state series and the classed team state duals format. I would hate to see us go to a classed individual state series/sectionals/regionals/etc.
 
If we can't beat the best of the best, so be it. We have had some great dual matches with Yorktown, Lafayette Harrison, Jimtown, Garrett, Goshen the last few years. We hate losing, but it sure is fun when we are able to pick up the win over schools of that size/caliber. They are great rivalries and we love that we get to wrestle the type of schedule we have.
 
Just my two cents as we are small school.

This post deserves a metal.  
 
This whole topic feels very condescending.  Trust me, no one up north feels sorry for the Jimtowns and the Prairie Heights of the world.  The reason these, and other, small schools are so successful is b/c they would never allow their kids to take any challenge lightly.  They would never prepare their kids differently for a JV tournament then they would a varsity tournament.  Shame on anyone who takes a varsity team to a tournament and lets them hang their heads for getting beat by a 'b-team' or 'JV' team at a varsity tournament.  When you start qualifying ever tournament and wrestler as varsity, JV, or a class system you are diluting the most important lessons our sport has to offer.  Wrestling forces you to focus solely on YOUR accountability.  There is NOTHING WRONG WITH FAILING.
 
This time of year I spend a great deal of time talking to generations of wrestlers about what the sport has meant to them and how it shaped their lives.  VERY FEW of those conversations take place with state champions.  However, the themes are always the same...  Wrestling taught us how to pick ourselves up (and each other) when you think you can't fight any more.  Wrestling taught us how to face challenges in life head-on.  That's what makes wrestlers different than any other athlete.  We don't care about seeds, rankings, varsity status, depth charts...  Wrestlers give it hell no matter what the odds, time left, or semantics.  I didn't get up Monday and say, "Boy feels like a JV tournament Monday, so I will give it a JV effort."  It doesn't make sense.
 
The real problem here is that some of us in this community are focused solely on the hardware and not how we can hard wire these young athletes to successfully deal with the adversity.  The real rewards at the end of each season is the measure of how much effort we have put into improving, not the color ribbon in our hand.  Making changes based on the thread would only change one of those rewards/results - the WRONG ONE.

Meanwhile, the Morans, who actually moved to Portage and enrolled before school started are still sitting.  What a joke.  

I think Avon's varsity lineup beats all of the Al Smith champs, 84-0

Big congrats to both Jimtown and Prairie Heights. They were major players among the big schools.

Codey Shafer from PH won by decision over Vallaincourt at 195

elhampion,
 
Maybe you were a 4timer in high school and won the NCAA, but I doubt it. Most of those guys don't talk trash. Nick went to state 3 times in high school. Placed 4th and 3rd. Was ranked 12 in the country his senior year and a team captain his senior year on a state runner-up team. Then, he went on and started 4 years DII on a team that I believe took 3rd the country. Didn't win a D1 National Title like you must have, but a pretty good career...and he is an even better coach. Yes, he coaches Brayton Lee, but we have had some other successes with the program the last few years. Nick has been an absolutely huge part of it since day one. I'm sure we don't compare to your individual accolades or program, but we are doing the best we can with a program that was the joke of our area just a few years ago. Are you available for a clinic? Let me know your name and number so we can get you in the room. Seems like we could learn a lot from you.
 
Snyder

Should have had the hangout tonight at the Al Smith seeding meeting

We have participated in 4 of these events: 1 at Westfield HS, 1 at Ball State, and the 2 at the Coliseum. This year's was by far the best ran, organized, and set-up. Thank you to everyone involved.

I want to thank a few people who worked directly with me in preparing for this season's Team State Duals event.  I am sure JD (Minch) will have others to recognize who assisted him at the event.
 
*  Adrian Troyer --  thank you for all of the work you did last spring during the selection process.  This guy is extremely thorough and his attention to detail is matched by few.  Great job Adrian!
*  Dane Fuelling --  thank you for the massive job you have in gathering data on the teams quickly and seeding the event in a relatively short amount of time.  Please thank your committee personnel as well.  Job well done!
*  JD Minch --  it's always a pleasure working with you JD.  I have enjoyed our trips to Ft. Wayne in the fall, meeting with Coliseum personnel and other planning committee members, and working with you in putting on a                              great event for the teams and fans at this event.
*  Tim Smith -- In addition to Yorktown team responsibilities, this guy has also taken on the task of setting up the mats, taping them, and mopping them the past few years.  If you want something done right, call Tim!
                      You're the best Tim!  Thank you!
*  Melissa Ritchie -- Melissa is our athletic office secretary at Yorktown.  She prepares and handles all of the team contracts for this event.  Great job Melissa... and thank you for being a team player.
*  Pat Culp -- Another great job Pat!  No one has to worry when you are on the job.  You are a true professional and a joy to work with.
*  Patt VanHorn --  Thank you Patt for everything you have done in staffing the event with volunteers.  Your hard work doesn't go unnoticed.
*  Joe Caprino --  Thank you Joe for promoting the event on Indianamat and providing current tournament info. to wrestling fans across the state.
 
I hope the improvements we made to this year's event met with the teams' and spectators' expectations.  Great job to all of the teams who participated this season.
 
Happy Holidays,
Trent McCormick

Hated seeing Doah forfeit 12 points and lose by 12...congrats to PH they are Champs and much respect to Doah they repped to the fullest

Come on man you guys are close Perry had some guys getting rowdy but prairie heights and doah were rocking at mat 10&11

Oh ok I for PH was there, but still in my mind and should be in his as well, if you are gonna win the AL SMITH, you are gonna have to beat several very good kids along the way, so 1 seed 2 seed shouldn't much matter

Jimtown forever!

Now you're getting it...

The county vs the world