The Fine Print

From my viewpoint of a small school coach. 
The main difference between the large school and small school wrestlers is quite simply one thing: year round training. 
Yes, small school kids have the exact same year round opportunities. But the huge difference is these small school kids are 2 and 3 sport athletes. 
Adams Central- Football was in the 1A final four 2 of last three years. 16 of my 24 wrestlers were playing football. I did not get them at all from late July till Thanksgiving.  A couple ran cross county. Several are already practicing track and field and more will be going to baseball this week. 
We have to share athletes to have a successful culture at our school. 
We do the off season workouts, summer duals, weight room, etc. but the attendance is spotty due to demands of the in season sports. My huge advantage is that we have a really strong wrestling culture and support from administration and the community. 
A larger school kid is more likely to specialize and take better advantage of the off season opportunities. It has nothing to do with working harder than the small school kids. The small school kids bust their tails the same, just not in wrestling only. 
The out of season training that has emerged over the last several years has really separated the talent. The top level guys that train year round have distanced themselves from the typical multi sport athlete. 
I do not want this to sound like excuses, but it is the reality. Our goals are the same as every other competitive program in the state. We just have to figure ways around some of the obstacles and close the gap. We do not say it is ok, that was a 3A or 2A kid. 
Tony Currie

James Snyder of Triton comes from 3rd place sectional to beat #6 Hurley for regional title. And last I saw, he’s weighing about 178 to boot. 

Triton wrestler, Cameron Scarberry was killed in a single vehicle automobile accident on Sunday.  He was also a football player and this info has been going around the football forums, but I thought I would also post it here.  Cam was a 16 year old junior who wrestled varsity for Triton last year at 195.  He was a two-way starter on the football team at guard and LB.  
If you think about it, say a prayer for the Triton community as we mourn this loss.  As you can imagine, at a school of 300 kids this hits everyone pretty hard.

Triton wrestler, Cameron Scarberry was killed in a single vehicle automobile accident on Sunday.  He was also a football player and this info has been going around the football forums, but I thought I would also post it here.  Cam was a 16 year old junior who wrestled varsity for Triton last year at 195.  He was a two-way starter on the football team at guard and LB.  
If you think about it, say a prayer for the Triton community as we mourn this loss.  As you can imagine, at a school of 300 kids this hits everyone pretty hard.

Triton wrestler, Cameron Scarberry was killed in a single vehicle automobile accident on Sunday.  He was also a football player and this info has been going around the football forums, but I thought I would also post it here.  Cam was a 16 year old junior who wrestled varsity for Triton last year at 195.  He was a two-way starter on the football team at guard and LB.  
If you think about it, say a prayer for the Triton community as we mourn this loss.  As you can imagine, at a school of 300 kids this hits everyone pretty hard.

Triton wrestler, Cameron Scarberry was killed in a single vehicle automobile accident on Sunday.  He was also a football player and this info has been going around the football forums, but I thought I would also post it here.  Cam was a 16 year old junior who wrestled varsity for Triton last year at 195.  He was a two-way starter on the football team at guard and LB.  
If you think about it, say a prayer for the Triton community as we mourn this loss.  As you can imagine, at a school of 300 kids this hits everyone pretty hard.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

It sounds like Jennings County has an official talent pool problem.  If you want to solve this problem, coaches, parents encourage your x-wrestlers to officiate.  The only way to get better officials is to get new one who love the sport and want to stay involved. High School officiating in any sport, is a great way to earn some extra cash and build integrity and character which will help any young person in their journey thru life. 

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

My son was a sectional champion as a senior in 2015.  He's now a college student in central Indiana and is in his second year as an official.  Admittedly, it's difficult for him to get matches with his limited experience, but it is a great source of income for college kids, if they can work matches into their schedules!  This past weekend he was fortunate to be one of 4 officials at a conference meet in northern Indiana.  I'm biased of course, but I think he did an excellent job!  One of the coaches told me he thought my son was the second best official at the meet!  More kids like him need to be encouraged to jump into the sport as officials.  It really can be quite beneficial financially for college kids in particular.  And it can help to build the number of younger officials in the sport.

Gage Waddle from Triton graduated last year (Spring 2016).

Take 'em as gospel or take 'em with a grain of salt but here they are:
 
106 – A potential Mishawaka sectional sweep here with Penn’s junior Kory Cavanaugh leading the way for the flyweights. South Bend Adams frosh Vincent Calhoun will likely meet Cavanaugh in the finals for a second week in a row. I like St. Joe’s Matt Cysewski in a close one over Culver Military’s Spencer Penrose in the 3rd/4th match.
 
113 – Penn’s Austin Slates is clearly the top dog at 113. The Best match in the bracket might be the semi final battle between Wawasee’s freshman, Braxton Alexander and Adams’ Joey Zahl. Alexander was very impressive in winning the Plymouth sectional title and Zahl is a proven tough competitor. Culver Academy should get their 2nd semistate qualifier in junior Robert White.
 
120 – A strong class for the Plymouth Sectional with a trio of former semistate qualifiers looking to return to the region. CMA’s Adam Davis, Triton’s Malachi Greene, and Plymouth’s Zane DeVault all have enough firepower to make the trip to East Chicago but all three together might be needed to slay Penn’s mighty Drew Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt has gone wire to wire as the state’s top ranked 120 pound wrestler.
 
126 – The fab four out of the Mishawaka sectional stand a great chance of moving on to East Chicago. Mishawaka’s Ryan Hardesty has put together an excellent senior season and won last week versus rival Jarrett Selis of Penn. An all Catholic clash will probably make up the 3rd place match with St. Joe’s Jared Kazmierczak and Marian’s Nick Blasko.
 
132 – The Green will be mean at 132. South Bend Washington’s Tondrew Tyler comes in with an excellent 38-1 record and a state ranking of 14th. His likely finals opponent, Tristin Ponsler of Wawasee has been under the radar all season but has state level talent. I like Mishawaka’s Preston Risner and Rochester’s gritty senior Aaron Orr to move on as 3rd and 4th place finishers.
 
138 – This should be a fun weight class to keep an eye on this Saturday. Warsaw’s Kyle Hatch is the clear favorite based on his two state medals but he should be challenged by Clay’s exciting Rishod Cotton in the semis. Penn’s Trace Manspeaker squeaked a victory out over Cotton last week and it set him up well in the regional bracket. I like CMA’s Steven Muthart to be the fourth to move on.
 
145 – I may be biased but I think this is the strongest weight class at the Rochester regional. Two state qualifiers are here in Riley’s Austin Laughlin and Culver’s Triston Rodriguez along with a senior from Penn that has beaten both of them in Cameron Beam. I like Plymouth’s Bodie Neidig to be the fourth qualifier. This regional will create some bad draws for the other regionals at East Chicago.
 
152 – If 145 is not the strongest class then 152 might be. The top five here are all excellent and someone will be ending their season much sooner then they would have liked. The first round tilt between Bremen’s Alex Bollenbacher and South Bend Adams’ Tavris Evans will be a slobber knocker. Penn’s Denzyl Prentice would love a rematch with rival Kassius Breathitt of Riley but first must overcome the ‘rastlin’ Rockie’, Micah Calhoun of Plymouth.
 
160 – These middle weight classes at Rochester will be worth the price of admission and the rivalry between Adams’ Tavonte Malone and Penn’s Jarod Swank will highlight this division. Both are serious threats to be on the podium in a couple of week at Banker’s Life. With Triton’s Gage Waddle added into the mix, there are three legitimate studs at 160.
 
170 – South Bend Riley’s Tristan Goering is the clear favorite here. He has followed up last year’s magical post season run (finishing 4th in the state) with an outstanding junior campaign. No serious challengers to the junior Wildcat have emerged in the regional area.
 
182 – A trio of grapplers have separated themselves from the rest of the field in the 182 weight class. Austin Faulkner won a pair of tight matches last Saturday to put himself in a great position this weekend. He has the easier path to the finals where he will probably meet either conference rival, Mason Cao of Clay or Jeremy Splix of Plymouth. Young Max Chaffee will likely be the fourth qualifier.
 
195 – Wide open would the way to describe the 195 pound class at Rochester. Penn’s Cedrick Vakalahi and Plymouth’s Nate LaFree are the likely finalists but no wrestlers in this weight class have particularly distinguished themselves this season and upsets could likely occur here.
 
220 – The big boys should provide some entertaining wrestling for the fans at Rochester. State champion and Purdue recruit, Kobe Woods is the headliner but there are four other studs that have state level talent. One will be heading home. Bremen’s Tyler Moser has put together an excellent 34-2 record and a sectional championship. Marian’s Patrick Ernst and Culver Academy’s Simon Griffith will square off in a great first round match. Warsaw’s Andrew Brock is the other likely qualifier.
 
285 – South Bend Washington’s Isaiah McWilliams is the favorite here with his 36-3 record and sectional championship. On the other side of the bracket is Rochester’s big man, Dan ‘#TRUCK’ Clark, along with an interesting match up between St. Joe’s veteran Michael Koebel and Culver’s young Alecks McBee. Will Vakalahi, the undersized Penn heavyweight is the other likely semistate qualifier here.
 
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Pretty proud of my Triton team! The smallest school in the state to take a full team into the sectional! On top of that we also have a ranked 1A boys basketball team! I figure we have close to 35% of the boys in our high school participating in a winter sport. Pretty dang good!

Pretty proud of my Triton team! The smallest school in the state to take a full team into the sectional! On top of that we also have a ranked 1A boys basketball team! I figure we have close to 35% of the boys in our high school participating in a winter sport. Pretty dang good!

Pretty proud of my Triton team! The smallest school in the state to take a full team into the sectional! On top of that we also have a ranked 1A boys basketball team! I figure we have close to 35% of the boys in our high school participating in a winter sport. Pretty dang good!

A little disappointed that Triton didn't get a little love in the rankings this week!  Our loss to Knightstown was closer than Eastern Hancock and our win over Centerville was bigger.  But we'll have a chance to prove ourselves in a dual with LaVille next week.  It should be a good one!
 
Loved being a part of the state meet on Saturday.  It was a special event for our kids with a big sendoff including police escorts going 20 miles down the road!  Hoping to make it back next year!

Great honor for all Triton coaches!  Matt Arveson and Ron Brown both deserve recognition for guiding this year's team to some awesome accomplishments!  And of course Coaches Belin and Thompson!  You guys are all great!  
 
Edit:  Matt Arveson is the official head coach of the Trojans.  I was mistaken in this post earlier.  My apologies to Coach Arv!

He is asking how, if an underclassman can can score up to 4 points, can a team with 3 wrestlers score 13 points? (because 3x4=12, and 4x4 does not equal 20)

1A schools teach math differently than 2A and 3A schools.  That's why their seniors don't earn any points after regionals.

It's finally fun to go to the meets!  We have a chance to advance 6-7 wrestlers and have 3-4 champions.  Not bad for a little 1A!  We will also be one of only 3 teams to have a full line-up!  Coach Brown and Coach Arveson have done a fantastic job of building this program over the last four years!  And assistants Shaun Belin and Jason Thompson are great with the kids!  

1)  If you can't keep your mouth shut. ( and I can't)  Sit or stand far away from the mat.
2)  You think your coaching during the match is helping...   It's not!
3)  Don't talk to much on the message board.
4)  Don't pay to much attention to the rankings.
5)  Don't expect more from others than you do of yourself.
6)  Regular season losses are almost never a bad thing.
7)  The ticket round at Semi-State is the most stressful match of the year!
8)  Let you son decide what type of wrestler he is going to be.
9)  Surround him with good people and step back.
10) It goes way to fast.  Make sure you and your son enjoy the ride.