pugsley

Rochester is far and away the best team in 1A this year and would make some serious noise in 2A.  As far as seeding went, West Central went into this tournament in a no-win situation.  I was honestly just hoping for a top four seed after edging out a banged up Rochester team at the Joe Burvan Duals.  If we would’ve been seeded below Rochester, I guarantee there wouldn’t be one West Central supporter complaining about that.  
WC belonged in the small gym all day long with the product we put on the mat today.  I do not post on Indianamat, I just look like thousands of others do.  

However, being from one of the smallest schools in the state, competing with the great programs we did today (and in 2014, 2015 and 2023), it’s always been humbling and great for us.  Congratulations to all teams that competed today. 
 
Nathan Williams
West Central Assistant Coach

We appreciate everything WZBD has done to broadcast our events and to support girls wrestling.  

Cowan is trying to bring some hammers with 229!

Kind of funny how people are chiming in with their 2 cents, when they’ve done nothing to support or help grow women’s wrestling. Going from 2 state levels to 3 was necessary. Weight classes too full and not being able to finish some weight classes cause of daily match allowances. This Regional round will have minimal brackets, but it will setup for a better semi state for the girls. 

Cowan is trying to produce hammers with a student body of 229!

23 Maddie Marsh Middletown Ind. Pendleton Heights Middle School 26 at 138
 
Probably need to know how to spell this Freshman from Pendleton's name too.  She is ranked 23rd in the nation at 135 per Flo.
 
I believe she is the only Indiana girl on the list at that weight class.

Congratulations to Levi Abbott Congratulations to from Cowan for signing with West Liberty. Projected to wrestle 157.
View full signing

I could not be more excited about our station's commitment to equality and to promoting girls wrestling. Thank you to all the sponsors who made this happen and please consider supporting our efforts, as well. 
 
https://wzbd.com/index.php/2023/10/03/wzbd-announces-new-girls-wrestling-schedule/

You all may enjoy this. Mr Whitehead reads a poem at the 1987 State Finals, A Wrestler's Mom. It starts at 2:38 in this video. Feel free to watch Jay County's back to back State Champs including the last wrestler to win state at 98 lbs.
 
 

When I found out I was having a son, I (half) jokingly said now I need to make sure he has a name that will sound great at state with Kevin announcing it. Kevin said that he'd likely not be announcing by the time he's in high school, so he made this. 
 
 

1A should have their own venue.  Two years in a row we have been in a field house with not a lot of seating.  Causes a lot of issues between fans and it takes away from team seating as well.  Rochester could have hosted and we offered...never even got a sniff.
 
Stop using Track Wrestling.  Use Flo Arena.  It's easier to use and it won't crash.  Every tourney we have attended this year has had problems with TW.  
 
@PMURPH505 Our spotlight is awesome and our kids love it!  We had 1,000 people come to the Western Dual and probably 600+ at the Huntington Dual.  I think it creates a little more than an "alright atmosphere".
 
Congrats to the Marksmen.  Very good team and they had some hammers.  I knew they'd be the 4th seed but they shouldn't have been...at worst they should have been the 2 seed but IMO they should have been #1.  2x defending champs and lost no one...still can't wrap my head around it.  Anyway, I also knew we'd have to wrestle our best to beat them no matter when we wrestled them.  We had our chances but made little mistakes that you can't make against their team.  Our guys battled hard and gave themselves a chance to win, that's all I can ask for.  I was also proud of how our guys responded and wrestled back for 3rd.  Cascade has some hammers and we wrestled well.  One of the hardest things to do in wrestling is wrestle back for an award you didn't want.  Our guys responded! 
 
We love Team State and we are looking forward to coming back next year but we got a lot of work to do to make that happen.
 
 

The growth of girls wrestling over the past decade has been amazing and I believe it has grown exponentially this year, but not having tournaments seeded is ridiculous. Numerous times this year I have seen state ranked girls meet in the first or second round, resulting in a wrestler only being able to achieve a finish of 5th place. 
     This weekend in a weight class of 35 wrestlers, the #2 and #8 wrestled in a first round match in one of three 16 man brackets. This match up was brought to the attention of the tournament director and he said “This is the last bracket we are building and we are doing our best.” 
     If a tournament is seeded properly then the placement rounds should be the most competitive and beneficial matches for the girls. 
 
This has to improve!

And only because I have not met Makenzie Smith, at least three of these girls are great people! I’m sure if I ever get a chance to interact with Ms Smith my statement would change to all these girls. I am looking forward to some fireworks on Friday. 

And only because I have not met Makenzie Smith, at least three of these girls are great people! I’m sure if I ever get a chance to interact with Ms Smith my statement would change to all these girls. I am looking forward to some fireworks on Friday. 

These are the rankings for 106 in the state and country going into girls state this week. Might be a top 3 weight in Indiana regardless of gender!
 
#1 IN/#5 USA julianna ocampo
#2 IN/#6 USA heather crull 
#3 IN/#20 USA makenzie smith
#4 IN/#13 USA joy cantu

I'm hoping to be done seeding tonight or early tomorrow morning, then it will be up to the track ladies to make up brackets.

The growth of girls wrestling over the past decade has been amazing and I believe it has grown exponentially this year, but not having tournaments seeded is ridiculous. Numerous times this year I have seen state ranked girls meet in the first or second round, resulting in a wrestler only being able to achieve a finish of 5th place. 
     This weekend in a weight class of 35 wrestlers, the #2 and #8 wrestled in a first round match in one of three 16 man brackets. This match up was brought to the attention of the tournament director and he said “This is the last bracket we are building and we are doing our best.” 
     If a tournament is seeded properly then the placement rounds should be the most competitive and beneficial matches for the girls. 
 
This has to improve!

We would not have survived this wrestling season, varsity, JV and the addition of the 5 girls invitations without a TON of assistant/volunteer support this year. Luckily, we have good alumni wrestlers and a few parents who know the sport well, hold USAW bronze coaching cards and were able to help us be in three places at once across the state every weekend with competent adult oversight.

Congrats y Cowans Toby Abott who became not only Cowans first ever SQ he became a medalist as well picking up a big 8-2 win Over Neust! He's def doing his bloodline justice! 

Centerville is taking 13

Paging the Jennings county wrestling staff. Coach Hershberger needs your wrestling room proposal 

Its growing. Probably, one the best Girls State Championships in the nation. With Girls wrestling on the rise nationwide, we have taken a huge step forward. I can see more and more girls getting college money to wrestle. For these reasons, I see this as a significant event. I'm sure that the girls and the families of the girls that participate in this event, do not share your opinion. Due to the impact that it has on the growth of girls wrestling and the impact on the participants, it makes my list. 

Great showing by Cowan. I believe they have only had a varisty program for the last 3 years. 

Not sure if her name, but Cowan 106 girl got 3rd Saturday 

Crickett Morey - 106 Sophomore