Wrestling Scholar

The dude is in the wrong sport, I would recommend boxing or MMA.

Just in case if I'm up in the Region and hungry, what is the best pizza in the world?

Good point I'll edit and make it longer by giving best Taco in the conference.

I cant help thinking of the irony in this situation of kicking McCutcheon and Harrison out of the NCC. They weren't good enough (mostly football) to compete in the Hoosier Crossroads conference which resulted in a backdoor eviction. Harrison did lose 39 straight football games which makes a valid argument. But now they're too good to compete in the North Central Conference, which also a valid point as Harrison has won 15 of the last 22 conference championships in all mens and womens sports. So the cited point of geographical distance, enrollment gap and competitve balance is also a valid point. But this does create a headache for Jerry Galema and Ryan Waldron, the respective ADs. I can understand why they wanted to stay. It was more out of geographical convenience, not competitive dominance. The problem is that Lafayette area is in a donut hole were they're too far from schools with similar demographics. They have a travel budget. So now they have limited options, and have the task of convincing another conference to allow them to join with the obstacle of travel miles and $$. But the Schools do bring in some very competitive teams with McCuthcheon winning some recent volleyball state championshsips, Harrison had a soccer championship and was in the finals of the Softball and Tennis last year. So the scholar of course had to do an anlysis based on average travel distance and enrollment gap and some other intangibles to determine what the best conference would be. Really trying to be objectve and real. Would be curious to see what other opinions on the board of the reality of these options. These options are ranked worst to best and are looked at from all IHSAA sports. 5. Hoosier Crossroads Conference: avg travel distance = 61 miles, average enrollment gap = -1146. Pros: Prior conference history, shortest travel distance of all options, theres still a lot of out conference competition between these schools and TSC, both are similar suburban schools with schools TSC scchools getting bigger to decrease gap. Cons: Enrollment gap would make football tough, TSC traveling football gate is not big enough for these schools, and the bad blood of kicking TSC out in 2014. Also the HCC has an ideal 8 teams. Have the TSC schools - Laf Jeff improved and grown enough to bring a better crowd and to put enough of a fight in football to coerce these schools drive up I-65? i think without the football disparity and possible loss of football gate, HCC would really consider this. 4. Conference Indiana: avg travel distance 99 miles, avg enrollment gap = +71. Pros: Closest enrollment gap and the schools would be very close in socio-economic demographics. Interesting rivalry between Bloomington and West lafayette, with a mini- IU Vs PU atmosphere. Also they have 6 schools, and the TSC schools would make a nice 8 Cons: Travel distance would be a huge obstacle and not much history. But there's some possibilities. 3. MIC: average travel distance = 62 miles. Average enrollment gap -1494. Pros: The travel distance is bearable and with the departue of Carmel and Center Grove, they need to schools that could compete. In non money sports, TSC could compete well. Cons: Enrollment gap: I see TSC struggle in basketball and football and the demographic is still a little differrent. Would the MIC want two suburban schools with a large travel $ tag. 2. Duneland Conference: Avg distance = 91 miles, avg enrollment gap = -297. Pros: Based on enrollment gap, these schools are very close and not far off from type of school and i predict the gap would be smaller in future. This would be a nice competitive add in multiple sports. Some possible good rivalries and this on personallly would be awsome from a wrestling perspective. Also the lafayette are could possibly be deemed to have quasi region status. Cons: Distance is a big barrier albeit highway miles, the conference has there nice round 8 teams already. The time zone change would be tough, I could see a lot late and early incidents. Would the Region Rat snub his nose or welcome the competitors from the south? Would the TSC guys be able to acclimatize themselves to the notorious "Region" steel mill/refinery air? 1 Mid States Conference: avg distance = 77 miles, enrolment gap -258 Mid states avgs 1685 vs 1943 of TSC. Pros: This is a compromise of a avg drive and not a large enrollment gap. TSC and these are similar suburban schools. Harrison and McCutcheon would really improve the competitiveness in fit well with all the sports. but wouldnd dominate. A couple of good wrestling rivalries would emerge. Cons: The nice thing of this conference is their compact closeness to each other as not spread out, adding the TSC schools would change that. Its sill on average 77 highway miles. Not a lot of interconference competition or history. But there could be a future here. Long shots: Sagamore conference; With it breaking up, maybe a possibiliy of rebuilding with a merger but the enrollment gap is too big albeit proximity would be nice. Summit conference: The drive is too far, but the school types might be close enough to fit. Also, I know a lot of people in Lafayette that want to see and experience "Victory Bay". Northern Indiana conference: See long drive comments, different type of schools. But playing Penn would everyyear in multiple sports would be interesting and they might like excluding the drive. Independent status: Scheduling nightmare, no all-conference honors, only happens if everybody rejects the TSC schools. Conclusion: The TSC shcools would be nice assets for competitiveness based on there well rounded sports over all. Good sportsmanship and a lot recent state final moments in various sports recently, and the fans travel fairly well. Somebody should compromise on the geopgraphical distance and improve their conference. Im sure the A.Ds will do their full "Due Dilligence" in finding a home. I just hope the whole state doesnt snub their noses at these quality schools. Just surveying on opinons: A= "We would love to have the TSC schools in our conference". B- no way were letting those bastards in and traveling that far. C- in between.

Dang, no proposal for adding wrestling backs to the state tournament. At least we got next year to hope for, at least we got that going for us. "#wrestlebacks for the future". Never give in, never give up.

When you're hot, you're hot. And when you're not, you're not. We just got a new City Bar-be cue too.

1. Does that mean Lafayette Jeff stayed? 2. Harrison and Jeff got voted out of the HCC in the same manner 8 years ago. Looks like the Lafayette area isn't popular. 3. Is it because these schools dominate most sports and are the biggest and growing fast? 4. Would Duneland, MIC or HCC take them? They're growing fast, and might fit better know in the HCC.

That was a very specific, colorful and descriptive review. Very coercive, I don't think I'll try it.

Not that I'm promoting Evansville, but on a cool sidenote, the famous naturalist John James Audobon lived across the River from Evansville in Henderson, KY. He enjoyed eploring the woods in KY and Indiana searching for birds and made many sketches and paintings of birds in the area. They even have a state park named after him. Maybe you're birds can hang out there while you enjoy wrestling next year.

Sounds really good on Los Tres Caminos. But i keep hearing Pizza King and there's a lot of Pizza Kings around the state. Is somehow Evansvilles's PIzza King better?

But no Taco places?

AJ, Wow thats news. Are they planning on going somewhere? Possibly getting back in the HCC or possibly the MIC?

Tacos are a solid consolation prize. I can live with that. All I can say, my sources were wrong. Im going to have to follow up. But on the silver lining flip side, I feel good Purdue was in the discussion, and I didnt hear anything about IU being considered. Congratulations to Evansville, I hope they add some electric vehicle chargers to make the trip possible. I better get some good seats early, Somebody needs to go down and keep an eye on the Evansville table help. Are the limited hotel rooms filled up already? I might have to bring my tent. Oh yea, Im asking for a friend who wants to know: Whats the best Taco place in Evansville? He says it needs a good trip advisor score!

SWINfan, I heard back from the Mackey Arena state tournament promotional group about thee meeting last Friday with the IHSAA state selection committee. They said they liked some things about the Evansville area, and even though the superior restaurants in the greater Lafayette area as they admitted, that didnt make that much of a difference. They did mention one thing that concerned them a lot was getting professional table help like scorers and timekeepers in Evansville to work at the Ford Center. Im not sure why that came up, but maybe some previous experiences about table workers from a prominent school came up. One other advantage they mentioned was they liked was the creativity and original ideas going into the WL group proposal. They were very impressed the novel and original idea of having the all weekend "Winners Bay" party, and also felt the guys in the Northern part of state had a better sense of humor.

Have you really seen media/social media coverage of wrestling in the other 49 states? Do you really think its better then Indiana? Sorry, grass isnt greener

"They got the Golden Arches, We have the Golden Arcs"

The West Lafayette Contingent has submitted there final bid proposal to the IHSAA state tournament selection committee. Besides being the most central location, having the largest capacity stadium, the best announcer available and a superior hotel rating and more hotels then the Evansvile area. The WL contingent has submitted with there bid, some other positive aspects in the greater Lafayette area. The WL contingent did a study on found out that, the top 100 restaurants in the Greater Lafayette area had a higher trip advisor rating average then the top 100 at Evansville. Im sure #SWINfan would be disappointed in this development. The Greater Lafayette avg was 4.24 and vs 4.1 in Evansville. The IHSAA executive committee is putting a lot of weight on local ammenities and was impressed with the Greater Lafayette area. Also, things added to the proposal was a host a concert featuring local musicians at Mackey after the wrestling Friday night. We thought a good way to keep crowd around to watch the heavyweights. We have a possible commitment from a local musician named Axl Rose and his band "Guns N Roses". You might of heard of them. He supposedly wrestled on the Lafayette Jeff mat when he went to school there and apparently is a big wrestling fan. Also, We have a possible commitment to host a weekend long party at the Neon Cactus for the wrestling community, and are going to rename it for thet weekend :"Winners Bay". Also, in effort to set a record in attendance at the state finals, the contingent group came up with novel idea to draw a large crowd from the Region. We have a request out to prominent "Region" members to temporarily allow the greater Lafayette area to have "Region" status for that weekend. The IHSAA selection committee has been pleased with the communication, and was quoted as saying that "If Indianaoplis is the heart of Indiana, then West Lafayette is the brain". What does that make Evansville, the feet?

They made a good choice in having all mats in same location as compared to having the girls at the elementary school as like last year. Lost a couple mats, but much better for logistics.

Allred looked good in the finals.

The thing that doesn't make sense is that there's a 2500 decrease in basketball players. I find hard to believe!!!!!! Has anybody ever heard of basketball program being dropped in Indiana or even across the country. Have you heard of schools eliminating JV and freshman basketball teams if they had them. In basketball at the high school level, there's only so many spots available. Unlike wrestling, a lot kids don't make the team. So if a kid doesn't want participate, there is always kid to step and replace him. I think that would keep participation constant. Ill even argue that in the 2020s, there are more schools in Indiana and thus we have more basketball programs than in the 1993-to 1997 creating more participation My hypothesis, is that this a statistical measurement change, and that we don't have a participation level drop. I'm open and curious to theories. I do think new sports like mens volleyball, lacrosse, and additions of soccer could hurt some other sports.

On the same note, I don't believe the rest of the BIG conference is going to field a beach volleyball team and surf team like USC and UCLA have.

Wrestling without wrestlebacks is a rip-off. If we're going to do it, let's do it right.

Coach, The IHSAA to some degree, has done that specifically in your sectional when they moved Zionsville out of the Frankfort to Crawfordsville. You only have 5 super large schools instead of 6 now. This brought it a little more in balance.

So you're saying you drive 3 hours to, and 3 hours back from Evansville to sit on wooden bleachers all day to watch your 7th grader wrestle?