Drewsgma

I would say yes, especially if they are bringing wrestlers down to watch. Nothing like experiencing state to grow the sport!

Just kinda jumped around brookbank and black was a solid match. Brookbank came out early score the first takedown. Then Black controlled the rest of the match. Sorry

Black 10-4
Rahman Johnson brother rice fall :49

I think Hudkins is the only 120 from Evansville that's even a favorite in my eyes. I could see Hatch maybe losing but Black and Reitz are at another level and they proved it at SS. I think Egli will have his hands full with three loss Black, which all came from Reitz. But Black has won the last two matches

Brendan BLACK over REITZ 6-4 great match

Miller holds off DelaPena...
Brendan Black sticks Hardesty in the 1st...Reitz leads Hatch setting up a possible rematch of great wrestlers

IMO - OW of a tough as nails Calumet Regional

Black and reitz 4-4 after 1 getting heated
Black dec. Reitz 8-4

Always great to have a rivalry like this with such a wide open weight class.

Will ontherise219 be in the house Saturday at Lowell HS?

Not this catch again black looked good in 1st went into 2nd period up 3-0 and got stuck by a stud wrestler now its pin for pin cant wait for . Conference Saturday

HoosierHustler if you are trying to state that the excuse "I got caught" is way over used and in fact used incorrectly a lot of times. I understand that, however that original question suggested if Black had took advantage of a situation or hit a desperation move? Not that luck had anything to do with this victory but if he capitalized on something Reitz did wrong? Black won, Reitz lost, and neither one thinks that this is the end of it either. So HoosierHustler no one should use "I got caught" as an excuse, but to deny being caught in a match as a reality that is just as bad. because you talk about the weak mentality if you use being caught as an explanation, but if are not willing to say that then you are not willing to sometimes fix bad positioning. I was not at this match for all I know Black dominated it from the whistle. I don't feel that anyone was trying to down place Black's victory at all, he beat a #1 ranked kid. But it was more of asking for what happened in the match. I also feel that INSpectator was just messing with you.    

BLACK OUT

Well Black has missed Harvest classic and Al smith with sickness so it's good to see him so sharp with so little mat time this season.

Plus one, times 2, e to the x, log base 10, and all of that. This is sure to be the start of a very nice rivalry, as previously said, and most of us will get to enjoy it at least a few more times. Moments after the match, I was like, "Can't wait to see that one again at the regional." Now I realize that would potentially be Volume 5 of a potential seven-volume set.
Two notes about two great dudes.
1. Reitz has missed some mat time being banged up and maybe was a hair less sharp this time around. No excuses, no dog in the fight, just saying.
2. Black, meanwhile, has a different shoulder problem -- he has a chip on his from people bad-mouthing his circuitous route to being a state placer. It's great to see that his drive and the addition of those freshman studs in the room has propelled him to refuse to rest on his accomplishments. BTW, Hobart was dialed in all day yesterday, won the team title by 50-plus. 

Yea reitz tried to dive under to stale mate black bundled the elbow to his back for 5 reitz fought off his back and black reloaded a half and pinned him at 1:56. Black looked good he was bigger then reitz. Reitz took the loss like a true champion shook his hand and walked off. What's crazy is they can wrestle confrence next week at Hobart invite in 2 weeks sectionals regionals semi state!

Black was the the aggressor from the start black got the takedown than switched to the half for the pin I would say it was one-sided they wrestle again tues.

Have never seen anything but class as nd respect from both these young men

Trina d Batista 5-2

Crary d Lovell 6-0
Wow black with the fall 1:56!!!!

By Chad Hollenbaugh
IndianaMat Senior Writer
 
The Al Smith Invite is considered the toughest regular season tournament in the state of Indiana and the 2014 edition should continue that tradition. Last year, the Penn Kingsmen were clicking on all cylinders and ran away with the crown by nearly 90 points. Penn placed in 13 of the 14 weight classes and were never seriously challenged. Five other programs in the IndianaMat Power Poll will be among those trying to topple the Kingsmen.
This year the Kingsmen are still considered the favorite but sickness and injuries have plagued Brad Harper’s squad and this fact might open the door to contenders like Merrillville, Warren Central, Lawrence North, and Bellmont.
Six champs from last years meet return this year and seven of the states top ranked wrestlers will be in action on the 30th and 31st. Number 1 headliners include Colton Cummings of Lowell at 106, Merrillville’s Jacob Covaciu at 145, hometown boy Tommy Forte at 152, Lowell’s Drew Hughes at 160, Penn’s Chase Osborn and Kobe Woods at 182 and 220 respectively, and finally Merrillville big man Shawn Streck at 285. This tournament is so nasty that a state champ is neither top ranked nor a defending champion. (Tommy Cash)
106
Top ranked Colton Cummings of Lowell appears to be on a collision course with #3 Tylor Triana of Hobart. Graham Rooks of Columbus East and Keyuan Murphy of Warren Central bring strength from the south. Tanner Demein of Northwood and Kyle Mockenstrum of Prairie Heights are potential dark horses.
113
Drew Hildebrandt of Penn is the likely number one see here. He has the resume to be considered the clear favorite. Keep an eye on Michael DeLaPena of Merrillville, he is possibly flying under the states radar but is no doubt improving daily in the Pirate room.
120
The states seventh ranked 120 pounder, Brenden Black of Hobart, returns to the same weight class after finishing fourth last year. He will be the likely number 1 seed. State placer, Kyle Hatch of Warsaw, will probably be on the other side of the bracket. Chesterton’s Jack Tolin, Penn’s Austin Slates, and Elkhart Memorial’s Marcus Meija add depth to this class. A possible spoiler might be junior Issac Castro of Lawrence North.
126
Munster’s third ranked Jason Crary is, in my mind, the clear favorite at 126. He was the champion last year at 113, appears to be healthy and has yet to be tested. A host of contenders will attempt to prove me wrong. #4 Elliot Malloy of Danville, #8 Branden Truver, and #10 Joel McGhee return as place winners in the same weight class. Bellmont mat men always seem to perform at Mishawaka and #11 Jon Becker is dangerous here.
132
A two-man race appears to be brewing at 132. Merrillville’s Clarence Johnson and Warren Central’s Matthew McKinney have nearly identical resumes and seeding them might come down to a flip of the coin. A second tier of contenders includes Daniel Gunsett of Bellmont and NIC rivals Daniel Olsen (SB Adams), Austen Laughlin (SB Riley) and Jarrett Selis (Penn). Those looking for a spoiler might keep an eye on Fernando Luevano of West Noble.
138
Defending state champion Tommy Cash of Lawrence North is the lead dog here. He should cruise to an Al Smith Title unless promising frosh Zach Fattore of Hobart shows he is ready for the big time. Jimtown senior Jay Franko wrestled in the finals last year at 126 and is the probable #2 seed.
145
Another top ranked wrestler, Merrillville’s Jacob Covaciu, headlines the 145 pound class. He is not, however, the clear favorite here. Fellow junior, Trent Pruitt of Warren Central defeated the purple Pirate at last year’s event. Pruitt enters with a state ranking of fifth. Elkhart Memorial’s dangerous Tony Vaughn adds depth to this class.
 
 
152 and 160
Both of these weight classes should be dominated by top ranked Tommy Forte at 152 and Drew Hughes at 160. Forte is a former state champ and Hughes has wrestled under the lights at Bankers Life. Both of these studs have an extensive national resume to back up their state credentials. At 152, Lake Central’s Kody Christenson and Penn’s Jarod Swank will try to find a chink in the Forte armor. Forte will be attempting to make history by becoming only the second wrestler to be a four time champ. (Bellmont’s Randy Baker) At 160, Bellmont’s Bryce Baumgartner appears to have the best shot a meeting Hughes in the finals.
170
If everything goes according to Hoyle, the 170 class might have the best finals match of the entire day. Scottie Sopko of Hobart and Joey Mammolenti of Penn have both been on the state’s radar for a number of years but neither has achieved their ultimate goals. These two warriors met three weeks ago and Sopko came away with a narrow 3-1 victory at the Harvest Classic. Whomever is the #2 seed had better not look too far ahead because Lawrence North junior Cameron Jones has the tools to knock of either of the two big dogs.
182
Penn’s top ranked Chase Osborn seems like he has been around for the past decade. That is a testament to the impact he has had on the Kingsmen program since his freshman year. He is a clear favorite here if he is healthy. Chesterton super sophomore Andrew Davison could make a huge splash with an upset here. He already has a convincing win over last year’s fifth place finisher at this weight, Jonathan Morales of Western Boone.
195
Five state ranked wrestlers will sprinkle the bracket at 195 but none of the five has separated themselves from the crowd. This might me the most wide open and unpredictable weight class in the meet. Sixth ranked Nick Fowler of Calumet is unbeaten on the season and eighth ranked Bo Davis of Garrett was a state qualifier last year. Three sport stud Tanner Bradley of Mishawaka will look to give the hometown fans something to cheer about.
220
Penn’s second top ranked wrestler, Kobe Woods, will likely earn the top seen at 220. He will be challenged by fourth ranked Courvoiser Morrow of Warren Central and Northern Lakes Conference rivals Kaleb Summers of Elkhart Memorial and Derek Paz of Goshen. Woods is the man to beat here.
285
Merrillville junior Shawn Streck has wrestled in the finals both years he has competed in the Al Smith. He was runner-up during his freshman campaign but dominated the field last year. Look for more of the same out of the big Pirate. Eighth ranked Cory Christman of Penn probably has the best chance of slowing down the Purple Hulk.
 
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Black Crary Cauffman at 120 should be a good weight

very cool story... if the kid never made it to the mat at state again what he did is as worthy of the respect and pride of the wrestling community as winning the title.
I don't know this young man but I would hope my own son would have the courage to do the same.
class act for sure.
 

The future obviously holds great things for this kid! First, and most important in my opinion, he had the class to come up with the idea and the guts to actually go through with it. That kind of maturity as a freshman is outstanding. Second, 8th place as a freshman is a great achievement! I'm looking forward to watching this young man over the next few years.

I hope that this is what we take away from Brendan Blacks season not some of the other stuff that happened on the message board as well as the getting in as an alternate, and a first rnd fft. I think we all saw how good Forrest was this weekend so no shame in losing to him..and he got drilled in the same headlock that Sinko did..Spladles and Headlocks Mater Dei kids can always put you on your back..But after all of the nonsense and what not it comes down to a kid being a sportsman and that is what Hobart kids do..They do it the right way. I think a lot of people have learned some lessons and are going to be better for it. Hobart has a bright future..If we could just get Covaciu to move back..ooh man! haha! Good job BB..good wrestler better kid.