Matdad

That makes sense. I feel schools that have thought about terminating programs have the perfect opportunity to do so at this time. While it might be 25% true, it's 75% true that they've been looking for the excuse for a while. All sports outside of football and basketball are ripe for the picking. We will see different looking athletic programs real soon and not in a good way. They will keep feeding the cash cows(football and basketball), while starving or cutting off the rest of the programs instead of what they should do and look at the expenses from the big sports. 
 
The NCAA really needs to look at if a school really needs 85 scholarships for football. They could easily cut 20 scholarships and still have 3 deep on each side of the ball covered. However, the NCAA won't do that since football is a cash cow.

Damn. I’m so sorry to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with Baxter and his family. He loved watching Baxter wrestle and was so proud of him and the man he’s become.
 
I shared a suite with Doug at state 4 years ago and I’m so glad my path crossed with this great gentleman. 
 
Doug provided a shoulder to cry on and advice that helped me thru one of the toughest couple months I’ve ever experienced as a wrestling parent this past winter. I shall be forever grateful. 
 
Eternal peace grant unto him O Lord.
 
What a great tribute to him in the obituary. Spot on to who Doug was.

Genuinely appreciate each of your encouraging words. I equally appreciate all who read the article, and just choose to pray and encourage personally. Collectively means a lot to us as a family.
 
With full transparency....I can say that I fell in love with the sport of wrestling for reasons other than just my son. He was just the vehicle God used to lead me to it. In fact, in the beginning Silas was average at best.  He was a chubby kid who had some natural gifts, but threw a nasty “lefty” headlock that resembled a Joe Frazier headshot. 😏  So yes....I was the “know nothing” over zealous dad in the corner yelling....”reach back and headlock him!” 😂
 
But I became absorbed with learning the sport.  Only my scriptural studies took precedence over my wrestling research. And recognizing that attributes like self-sacrifice, humility, work ethic, commitment, perseverance, and above all accountability....were all factors in becoming truly elite at this sport.  That resonated in me, because those were the same characteristics I had to embrace to transform a formerly very wayward lifestyle, and become the man/dad/soldier God created me to be.
 
Silas and I’s bond is so deep ridden, because we have grown together.  Both in the sport...as well as spiritually. The blessings of adversity....is that it breeds tremendous levels of persevering strength when approached with proper perspective.  We don’t see problems....we see opportunities.  And no disease, excuse, obstacle, or exterior setback will deter the true goal he and I both have dedicated our lives to.  And that’s simply this.....Be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday.
That daily application will literally push you to new heights that have no plateaus. Because you’ll be in a continuous evolution of forward progress.  So even during peaks in all facets of life....you’ll keep striving to move forward.  Even if in small increments.
 
This sport, the above attributes I mentioned....have prepared me for this wrestling match with ALS.  Scripture tells us that “We don’t wrestle flesh and blood. But principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness in high places.”  There’s even a wrestling match in the Old Testament where Jacob literally wrestled with God all night.  He was left with a permanent limp.
So translated....I won’t be an easy “out”.  It’s not in my DNA, nor is it the spiritual man God has molded me into.  I fully anticipate conquering this disease and being healed.  But if God’s healing doesn’t come until I’m called home....I guarantee you, I won’t get stuck or tech’d.  Even if I have to get pointed....I HAVE ALS, ALS doesn’t HAVE me.
 
Thanks again for the prayerful support.

Tonight or early tomorrow, putting some final touches on the graphics.

I've put together a list of former Hoosier HS wrestlers in college.  Attached is a listing of all I could find with records where I could find them.  Info on DI and DII was pretty easy.  DIII and NAIA were a bit harder.  I learned there are A LOT more still wrestling in college than I would have thought.  The spreadsheet has 4 tabs at the bottom separating the divisions.  Please PM me if I missed anyone or any schools, or if you have updated info on any that don't show records, etc.
Note: The records do not include those wrestling today in the NAIA Championship.  I also posted this within the Hoosiers in College - Results/Updates 2nd Half thread on the college board.  For discussions on post season action, a new thread has been started here....

Hoosiers in College - Post Season Results/Discussions
College Wrestlers.xlsx

This young man won a State Championship. His last 5 matches were the #3 kid and won 14-2 in the finals in semi-state. Got unlucky and and had to face the #2 ranked kid in the first round of the State Tourney and beat him 7-1. Beat the #6 kid 9-0, then beat the #5 kid 9-0. Then had to face the #4 kid in the finals and beat him 6-2. He did not give up a single offensive point in his last 5 matches. The best kid obviously won!!! I guarantee that not one other wrestler had to do what he had do!!

Wait..you're Chris Garcia? Then who the F is PistolPete? I'm confused...get TMZ on it!!!
Look for him at the bank, ladies and gents!! He's hard to miss.... He'll be the one with the Contenders avatar hat on the front and Garcia on the back (probablyy state champ years embroidered on the sides, but I haven't seen him since those were won so I'm just speculating on that!!). Amirite??

Cool story about those two (Ray and Carson). They started wrestling together in kindergarten under Lee Harris at Avon wrestling club. They both were really really bad! I don't think that either won a single match for a year maybe two. The Riouxs and my family went to tournaments every weekend and we would all leave before lunch. A couple years in we decided to give a kid that was starting an academy out of his parents two car garage a shot. His pets would run across the mat from time to time and when he opened the garage door the wrestling would end up on the asphalt driveway from time to time. That kid was Mr. Ryan Parrish and that is where the Contenders Wrestling Academy started. Since those days we have traveled the county with the Riouxs. Logging countless miles taking and giving lumps. I even coached Ray and his brothers in football. To say that those two go way back is an understatement. What you saw there was legit love for a brother that has walked in the same shoes as him as long as he can remember. My family and I legit feel that much love for Ray and his family. I am sure that the reaction for Asa was similar. Those boys, the Conleys,and the Reynolds have been through so much together. They are all very close. 
With all of that said, he did not mean to offend the tradionalist. He was not showing up Donahue. Im pretty sure that he spent most of his post match interview saying how tough he was. I assure you has expressed to me how much respect he has for young Andrew and thinks that he is going to be really special (we all do). He legit was on the floor getting announced with a handful of his good friends and was just acting like a kid. I really didn't know that he had a sandwich in his pocket until he winked at me and patted his pocket. At that time a started to shake my head no. Then I thought… he is a kid he wants to have fun and be silly (again... sorry if that offends anyone that thinks the face off should be formal). I just shook my head and hoped that nobody took it the wrong way. As soon as One Proud started this thread, I shared his comments with Carson (something I never do as he knows little about this board). He smiled and said, "tell that man thank you! that's exactly what I was going for"! So glad that he got to share his sandwich love with three kids that mean a lot to him also. So.. if hes known for a sandwich and not wrestling, he will be fine with that. I assure that he takes just as much pride in being a lighthearted good friend as he does being a champ. 
With all of that said... Thank you so much to all of the coaches, parents, team leaders, and friends that have been a part of his journey with him. I assure you that he a Jordan are going to go to Ohio and make Indiana wrestling proud. 
 

What is with Indiana and them being against kids having a little fun? It’s a sandwich. It’s not him taking away from his opponent at all by eating it. It didn’t affect the outcome of the match in any way. Trent Hidlay literally ate a hoagie after Who’s #1 and it was celebrated as a great celebration by a great wrestler. The kids here can’t do anything spontaneous or out of the ordinary without being called classless. Chad Red got criticized for dancing after winning, same with Deondre. I can only imagine how much excitement runs through someone after winning a state championship or even being in the match.  Brewer ate a sandwich during the face off most likely because he was hungry. It didn’t hurt anyone. They’re kids. Let them have fun. Not everyone has to have these stale facial expressions. We should want some spontaneity.

According to her it was a ratio of 3:2 Jiff Peanut Butter (creamy) over Welches grape jelly (squeezable) That would be spread on white Sunbeam bread. You have to put peanut butter on both pieces of bread to keep the jelly from bleeding through the bread. I hope this helps!! 

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
Jesse Mendez had a “blast” in punctuating his freshmen wrestling season at Crown Point High School with a 2019 IHSAA title.
The 126-pounder started off his finals match with a “blast double” takedown and went on to a 6-0 win against Avon junior Raymond Rioux to cap a 42-0 season.
Mendez reigned in a stacked weight division. He pinned Western freshman Hayden Shepherd in 1:02 Friday and Mt. Vernon (Fortville) senior Chase Wilkerson in 3:58 in the quarterfinals before earning a 13-4 major decision against Jimtown senior Hunter Watts in the semifinals.
“He’s a tough wrestler and a tough opponent to get by,” said Mendez of Watts, who was a champion at 120 in 2018, runner-up at 113 in 2017 and sixth at 106 in 2016.
Rioux, who had placed third at 120 in 2018 and sixth at 106 in 2017, beat Yorktown senior Brayden Curtis 3-1 in the semifinals. Curtis was a champion at 113 in 2018 and at 106 in 2017 after finishing seventh at 106 in 2016.
And yet Mendez was dominant. How did that happen?
“I work hard in the (practice) room,” said Mendez. “My coaches and I are always trying to get to my attacks more often. I just trust in what they’ve been teaching me and it’s been working.”
Bulldogs coach Branden Lorek has been impressed with the ability and work ethic of Mendez.
“He’s got all the attributes — he’s fast, strong, physical, smart,” says Lorek. “He listens very well. He’s very coachable and a student of the sport.
“He’s the first guy in the room and the last guy to leave. For a freshman, he’s not afraid to speak up and pick guys up. He’s a welcome
addition.”
While there plenty of eyes on him at Bankers Life Fieldhouse and on television, Mendez was not intimidated.
“I’ve been wrestling in big tournaments my whole life,” said Mendez, 15. “I’ve been in tight situations in front of big crowds.
“I think I thrive off of it.”
Mendez is confident in his abilities.
“If I wrestle my match I can beat anybody,” said Mendez. “If I get my attacks going, there’s nobody who can stop me.
“I think I can really open kids up a lot. I’m really good at moving my feet and my hands.”
As his head coach puts it, Mendez wants to “be the hero.”
“He wants to go out and get bonus points and do whatever he can for the team,” said Lorek. “If we bump him up a weight class, he has no problem doing that. If we need him to wrestle for a major, he’ll get the job done.”
Around 7 or 8, Mendez put aside his other sports and focused on the mat. He hooked up with the Region Wrestling Academy.
“Those coaches are great,” said Mendez, who grew up in the Lake Central district before moving to Crown Point in middle school. Hector and Monica Mendez have three children — Payton, Jesse and Lyla.
“My family’s really important to me,” said Jesse. “They sacrifice a lot for me.”
There won’t be much time spent basking in his state title for Mendez. After a brief break, he’s going to start working again to get ready for meets like the FloNationals, Iowa Folkstyle Nationals, World Team Trials, Super 32, Fargo and Who’s No. 1?.
In other words, the wrestling world will be hearing more from Jesse Mendez.

View full article

I would just like to give credit to the young men and coaches for carrying yourselves like champions win or lose this weekend.  The overwhelming majority showed great sportsmanship and respect for their competitors no matter the match outcome.  There are a lot of people that want to point out the negative, but I think it's important that we take a minute and point out the positive, as well.  Way to represent your school, your wrestling program, your coaches, and your family!  These young men have put a lot of time, sweat, and tears (and certainly a lot of blood) into this and when you don't get the outcome you desire, it is tough to control your emotions.  These life lessons are far more important than any win or loss.  Well done to the competitors and well done to the coaching staffs.  

its apparent he was tired and I never insinuated he a strategic reason for injury time...If you dont think Slivkas Top game helped him win that match then idk what to tell you... when a guy has been getting takedowns non stop on the feet, any time you can turn the match into a mat battle like slivka did it serves many purposes..it helps wear a guy down, keeps them off their feet where he has the advantage and it was a great top game that helped slivka win.. yes he missed that throw and it cost him but don't think for a minute Slivkas top game didn't help bring home the title.. you can't teach heart and Slivka def has heart plus he's been battling a rib injury at least since he beat mahan... Congrats to jordan well done young man. 

I really think you are missing the big picture here.  What makes this event the BEST HIGH SCHOOL EVENT in the state is everything about it!  Think about how many wrestlers each year try to get to state?  Over 6,000+ from all over.  Then they go through sectionals, regionals and semi-State hoping to be one of the 224 wrestlers to compete for what they probably have been dreaming about all their lives!!!! Then, once they get to state, they hope to survive the that aweful FRIDAY NIGHT DRAW.   If they win that match, they are guaranteed a spot on the podium!!! Now we are down to 112 wrestlers Saturday morning.  And to make things more exciting, we all hope for those wrestlers that are not highly ranked to make a run at it! Not everyone is going to be a nationally ranked wrestler, which makes the drama even better!!! How boring it would be if every wrestler was nationally ranked.  So now we have these 112 wrestlers battling their butts off to get the top prize!!! Nothing is more exciting to watch every year than the finals, under the light, no matter who it is.  There’s nothing like it!

Hopefully FSN Indiana will expand their coverage in light of the ever increasing attendance and participation numbers...i understand covering the entire state championship would probably be a bit much to ask but expanding the coverage to increase at least the semifinals would be desirable. With the blind draw we often have some incredible matches when it comes down to the final four and as mentioned that type of draw often leads to some imbalanced brackets.  I felt like we missed out with semis like @ 126 with Watts v Mendez, Rioux v Curtis...the implications of having a chance to be in the primetime spotlight often lead to some unbelievably inspiring matches worthy of TV.

Just wanted to take a second and say Thank you to all the supporters Brayden has had though the years. We new jumping up in weight this year would be a risk, but Brayden has never been one to back down from a challenge. No complaints or excuses 7th, 1st, 1st and 4th plus being one of the smallest in 126 he did a great job and as his father could not ask for anything more. We will be looking to the future and getting a great education thanks to this sport and who knows maybe an NAIA National title along the way.
Congrats to everyone that won and those that did not keep working hard and you just might find yourself under the lights. To all the Seniors it's been one hell of a journey. Most of you we have wrestled with or against since elementary and though those battles made some great friends or dare i say family. 
Again Thank you Indiana for giving my son a sport with the best fans and competitors.
 
The Curtis Family

In speaking with my son Silas about the head but......he made a great point.  Mind you, Silas knows Carson well and they’ve travelled together competing on the same squad numerous times.  Silas’ perspective.....
”Dad.....Carson likes to establish head position.  Even if he’s got wrist control or in the tie, he looks to position his head.  If I’m trying to do the same thing.....and I head but a kid, the slow motion video will undoubtedly make it look intentional.  It’s like in baseball, if a pitcher accidentally hits a batter.  When they show it in slow motion, to the naked eye it could appear that he threw it right at the guy.  When actually.....he just missed his spot.”
I think Carson deserves a lot of credit for psychologically staying strong.  Getting thrown Laplace on Fri after last years issue with Mahan.....put his mental toughness to the test immediately. And the young man passed with flying colors.   

Be happy for the kid and give credit when it's due.  He's clearly proven himself worthy 38-0.  Let it go already......  It was just a sandwich🙄.  

A great time at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony today (kudos to HoF direct Scott Schwarz and the IHSWCA executive staff).) Great to hear the stories about the inductees and what they have done to build our great sport. I will be forever indebted to all those who helped me along the way. Special thanks to Coach Rex Peckinpaugh for his touching induction speech for me. Rex shared a poem he wrote about the rivalry and enduring friendships between coaches and I wanted to share it with all of you.Thanks, Rex, I love you, brother.
I look across the mat
And I see a friend
I see a man who has toiled like I
And never gives up until the end
 
I see a man who is a leader
One that I certainly have admired
I see a guy who I know keeps going
Even at times when he is oh so tired
 
I see a man who I want to beat
But one I love just the same
A man I have struggled against
In this crazy coaching game
 
I see a friend I have cried with
One I have laughed with as well
A man who I know if I needed him
Would always answer the bell
 
I see a friend over there
In that corner across the way
I see a brother I have fought with
But one I will love till my dying day.
                               --Rex Peckinpaugh      2/2019

Anybody that thinks it was intentional needs their head examined.  It's called hard wrestling.  It's stupid to insinuate otherwise.  

Wow!!! Gasman needs to quit smelling the fumes... I guess your a mind reader who can tell the difference between an intentional action vs fast paced action...I see you can also diagnose a concussion and broken nose from the stands! Wrestling is a fast paced contact sport,unfortunately unintentional headbutts happen...and intentional headbutts or other illegal action get dealt with proper use of the rules! Last time I checked a Point was awarded, so some people need to grow up and quit being sore losers...that match could probably be wrestled over multiple times with same result, best kid won! Move On!

For warm-ups, have to give the nod to Cathedral. The robes were noticeable without being gaudy. They were a great homage to where our sport has come from. Robes used to be the norm. Randy Qualitza is smiling down in South Florida! Congrats to Coach McGinley and all the Irish on the title. Rodgers and Slivka showed amazing resilience in the finals. Great wins against great opponents. 

Agreed about the Avon “Iowa” style singlets. My favorite singlets are anyone who comes out in the all-white singlets. We always saved our white singlets for the championships. They look so clean!

Stop whining

A sandwich that produced four state champions? Incredible. The PB&J of Power is officially my favorite thing of the state tournament.