I'm not all for the class wrestling. I understand the points made, I just don't believe in them. It's all about a person's point of view and how they feel. If I was on the other side of the fence, I see some good things from class wrestling. I mean how long was Mater Dei the top dogs..? Mater Dei is a perfect example! If we had class wrestling, they would've been in the smaller class every year dominating, & they could've also been dominating the larger class(es) as well. I believe it's the hard work & dedication you're willing to put into the sport that pays off. The dedication is needed from the wrestling & the coach. Chris Cooper built Columbus East, Tonte built Perry Meridian, Snyder built Brownsburg, the list goes on. Champions pay the price.
I do think there should be wrestle backs & seeding at state & semi state. Seed the first 4 champions from each semi state & regionals at state & semi state. Wrestle backs in my opinion should start after ticket round at semi state & after quarter finals at state, only to place as well as 3rd.
As much as I think this is the most fair, best way to go about IHSAA placing at Bankers, I also wouldn't be upset if they didn't switch things up. I'm perfectly fine with the way things are. I value the history of IHSAA ticket round. I think they actually used to have wrestle backs in the 70s & 80s, idk, but I think ticket round is an awesome, exciting, historic value of Indiana wrestling.
Two quotes I'd like to share with you all from a former coach of mine I miss dearly:
"You gotta pay the cost to be the boss" & "To be the best, you gotta beat the best" -John Anthony Maio
This kind of goes hand in hand what I was saying earlier... It doesn't matter if you're a small school or if you have a stud ticket round match, you have to achieve these two quotes to the be the champion.
Oh yeah... and as far as the college scouting... college coaches can receive film from anyone they're interested in from a coach. It again goes back to the work you're willing to put in. Now a days I'm sure most college coaches are doing their scouting at Fargo, Super 32, Flo Nationals, etc. If you're not willing to put the time in there & succeed in those tournaments, or compete to succeed, or even show up, then that's on that wrestler. A lot of the D3, NAIA, & JUCO coaches in that area will be there to see your ticket round, or Friday night loss.
Coach T.McGinley