Pops

http://www.courierpress.com/story/sports/high-school/2017/02/09/lee-brothers-cementing-mater-dei-wrestling-legacy/97656604/
 
 

Lemley beat Kasch last weekend. But... everyone always says semi state is down but we go out and still bring back 6+ champions. I see a possible 8 state champions from this semi state again.

Hello Ladies and Gents,
 
The Mudflap is back!  It's time for one of my favorite posts of the year.  What is the over/under for Logansport Regional State Qualifiers?
 
Every year we go up North for the Semi-State and are treated to rude Region fans, hard cross-faces, bad neighborhoods, and a very short Saturday.  We were hoping that the shift in venue from Merrillville to East Chicago would improve our luck, but it seems the Region kids have an even larger advantage from breathing in the poor air quality of the steel mills.  It's almost like training at altitude out in Colorado.  That's the only explanation I can give.
 
I'll set the Over/Under at 5 Logansport Regional SQ.
 
(Ryne Webb, Clay Jones, Miles Krintz, Donnie Crider, Kelon Williams)
 
 
Let's hear your thoughts.  Who should keep the bus running Saturday at EC?

Throw in Anderson of lafayette Jefferson

I think that Calumet 145 could get 4, If Hoover is on.

McCormick over Scroggs 2-1
Donaldson over Miranda 2-1
Rioux over Campbell 2-0
Ethan Stoxk over Brewer 12-2
Van Horn over Eli Stock 3-1 OTE
Henson Injury Default to Biddle

Harrison WL - 10 to EC

BIG Congratulations to the North White wrestlers and coaches advancing next week!
 
NW will be sending 3 to Semi State next week with 2 champions!! NW has never had 2 champs on the same team, same season. Only the 2nd time NW has sent 3 wrestlers to SS in the same season. Congrats guys!
 
Also Congrats to Krintz at 160 for his Regional Championship! I know how hard you've worked for this!! Proud of you bud!
 
Good luck to all Logan Regional wrestlers advancing to next week!
 
No Fear, go get em!

Nice Job Guys. Thanks for all your hard work, time, and effort you put into these week in and week out.
 
Coach Hersh
Penn

1 Adkins Lafayette Jefferson 30-6 Beat Kidwell from West Lafayette
 
2 Kidwell West Lafayette26-3 Lost 1st round Semi-State
 
3. HartDelphi 8-3 Lost 2nd round Semi-State
 
4. Krintz West Lafayette45-0 Lost 1st round Semi-State
 
 
I do not think it is seeded correctly, but if it is not and Krintz should be #1 then he will win the Sectional. If it is mis-seeded and Krintz wins the Sectional the guy that got the raw deal is Adkins of Jeff because he will go into the Regional as a third placer instead of a 2nd placer. Just my thoughts

No....I have done this for quite awhile and I have never heard that...not ever.
 
Before they threw the Semi-State one in there things went much more smoothly, and normally fairly.  The Semi-State criteria was put in to deal with a situation that had already happened, and happens very rarely.  Johnny makes Semi-State at 106 one year and then is a 126 pounder the next year.  How is that even relevant?

it's a good topic for debate and I think there are valid points being made on both sides. But it's good to know Myles is content with the draw and the rest of us will know who the best 160 is Saturday. I think there's 4 solid kids in this group that can get it done 160 could arguably be one of the tougher weights this year.
Good luck to everyone

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
 
Merrillville High School has enjoyed many championships in David Maldonado's 15 years as head wrestling coach.
 
Since that first season in 2002-03, the Pirates have appeared in the IHSAA Team State Finals three times (2006, 2007 and 2008) and won 12 sectionals, seven regionals and four semistates as a team.
 
Merrillville has had three top-three places for the Coaches Cup (team score at individual state tournament) on Maldonado's watch with a third in 2005, second in 2006 and third in 2007.
 
There have been nine individual state title-takers ” junior Wesley English at 145 in 2005, senior Javier Salas at 119 in 2006, senior Dexter Latimore at heavyweight in 2006, senior Jamal Lawrence at 145 in 2007, sophomore Bobby Stevenson at 170 in 2013, junior Jacob Covaciu at 145 in 2015, junior Shawn Streck at heavyweight in 2015, senior Jacob Covaciu at 160 in 2016 and senior Shawn Streck at heavyweight in 2016.
 
Latimore (heavyweight) and Lawrence (145) were senior national champions in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
 
Streck (Purdue) and Covaciu (Wisconsin) moved on the college wrestling.
 
The number of state qualifiers during Maldonado's time at Merrillville is 68.
 
Including his time at Noll, Maldonado went into the 2016-17 season with a dual-meet record of 301-86, including 261-46 with the Pirates.
 
But that's not the only way to define success for Maldonado, himself a state champion at 130 as a junior in 1993 and state runner-up at 135 as a senior in 1994 at East Chicago Central.
 
David Maldonado, a member of the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame as an individual (along with brother Billy) and as part of the famed Maldonado family (six of David's uncles and several cousins, sons and nephews have been or are wrestlers), gets as much satisfaction for the relationships built and life lessons taught as the crisply-executed headlocks and underhooks.
 
For the Merrillville coaching staff, which also features Gene Bierman, Bobby Joe Maldonado, Paul Maldonado, Tim Maldonado, Joe Atria and Tom Kelly, wrestling does not only build character, it reveals it.
 
We work every match to get better, Maldonado said. That's all the matters. As long as we do that, everything else will take care of itself. The medals, awards stand, all that stuff takes care of itself.
 
For some kids, it happens sooner. For some kids, it happens later.
 
Years ago, Maldonado got into the habit of addressing each of his wrestlers immediately after their match.
 
It could be a high-five, a word of encouragement or a constructive criticism. He wants the wrestler ” and the wrestler's parents ” to know that he cares.
 
A son to parents born in Mexico who teaches Spanish at Merrillville, Maldonado also builds these relationships in the classroom.
 
We're all in this together, Maldonado said. Let's communicate. Some coaches and teachers are afraid to call home and talk to parents. I'm not.
 
Maldonado, who was also a folkstyle senior nationals champion as a high schooler and then placed third twice and second once in the Big 12 Conference while grappling for Iowa State University and placing second at two more freestyle nationals, takes time every week to talk with parents.
 
It's a lesson he learned from his coach at Iowa State ” Bobby Douglas, a former NCAA champion and Olympian.
 
Those little things that coaches do to help, Maldonado said. More than anything else, you need to build that relationship with kids. I always feel like we had a successful season because of those relationships and getting better.
 
It's about being better at everything ” a better athlete, a better wrestler, a better person.
 
Maldonado knows that teenagers can see right through you if you are not genuine. But show that genuine caring and by season's end, they'll be willing to run through a wall for you.
 
But the relationships start long high school for many wrestlers. Maldonado is there at kids wrestling club practices and meets and knows them long before they put on a purple singlet for MHS.
 
Maldonado also tries to enjoy the ride and wants those around him to do the same.
 
He knows that wrestling season can be a grind and it's easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment.
 
We need to just be grateful for having the opportunity and cherish it no matter how it turns out, Maldonado said. At the end of the year, there's only going to be one happy kid per weight class or one happy coach.
 
At the end of the day, you've still got to be able to look at yourself in the mirror.

View full article

Great people great staff great article nice job guysv

Bailey lost 5-4 to Donathan. Side note: Donathan was given an "illegal hands to the face point". There were 2 OW awards given, Ben Stewart was the other OW.

Great article and an even better young man, congrats to the whole Ruberg family.

Crown Point is a Meat Grinder Regional. Wow

Lee and Mulkey for the PainTrain

Franklin Community's Burk Van Horn

If this is the NCC conference, the Scholar has to give his opinion on this:
 
Logansport will have the fireworks this weekend.   I count 7 returning state qualifiers and some other good wrestlers.   3 years since the Tippecanoe county schools got pink slipped out of the HCC  The NCC was kind enough to pick them up.   The last two years ,NCC new comers Harrison and Lafayette have dominated the conference and the competitions have provided some drama in deciding the outcome.   Harrison narrowly has won them both.       This is the largest geographic conference and has representation in 3 semi-states.   Some schools have some good dual records coming in with Harrison at 39-3, Jeff at 24-3,  Marion at 20-2 and McCutcheon at 16-13.
 
Heres the predictions:
 
Locks:
152 Clay Jones - Lafayette Jeff and in the #8 spot at state  (Glenn and Ruble will fight for distant 2nd)
160 Alston Bane-    #2 in state Bane all day.  Adkins in second looking to not get pinned in the finals
220- Donnie Crider-   #4 in state and tallest ranked guy.  Fox from Kokomo could be dangerous, but Criders leverage is a mismatch..
285 Gabe Watkins - Experienced Senior outclasses the field.
 
Almost Lock:
170 Krintz- Harrison  #4 in the EC-   Dominated Fair for Jeff in the dual.  Maybe closer this time but Krintz has too much and will be wearing his Red Cobra outfit  after the match
 
 
Strong Favorites:
 
126  Cody Betourne #6 in the EC will bring his athletic show.  #7 Gibson from Marion might make it close, but I predict Betourne will be doing some of his patented flips after the match.
182  Deshaun Barbary   #8 in the FW-  weight class dominated by Harrison wrestlers the last two years:)  Athletic Barbary will be two much for upstart Seth Jones of Jeff.
113- Josh Wade Harrison  The quiet but tough Wade should get the medal, but wont be easy with the winner of the Burge Patrick match.
 
Not giving many points:
132= Strother from Harrison  - Sr Strother  will use his mental toughnes and find a way to sofve the winner of Burge and McCoy.
 
 
Toss Up:
145 _ Wide open:  Whoever shows up and wants it will get the reward.  Young from Muncie Central,  Paydon from Logansport and Conklin could be looking down at each other on the Podium.   Gaige from Jeff could be a darkhorse.
106-   Young Denison from Anderson is the #1 seed,  seed migh hold but I could see Brubaker from McCutcheon blowing this up.  Johnson from Marion has a shot.
195- Probably Barron from Jeff.  Herrera and Lee are both capable and a good one to see in Semis; 
138 Trevino will have a tough semi,  but wouldn't be surprised to see Merkel pull the upset but Merkel is still young and sometimes inconstent    Will be a close match.  This whole bracket could blow up.
 
Must see:
 
120-  This is hyped enough.   But don't go to the concession stand to get your famous Logansport Nachos or the John until after this weight.
#7 Wright from Kokomo,   State placer and #10 Johnson from Logansport and #14 McCartney from Harrison will take on #9 at 126 who for some reason just decided to drop to 120.   Good for the fan anyway.
 
I might go with Johnson as he's shown to have a little more success in big matches.   Anderson will be tough, and Athletic Wright is a stud.     Tough draw for McCartney, but I know he's actually liking it as he's the kid that searches out the best competition.
 
For the team:  Just like in past years, Harrison has too much depth and firepower.   Jeff is Salty  andwill keep it close to the end.  Marion is much improved and will score some points, and maybe keep it interesting, but Harrison makes it 3 in a row.

Thanks.  He will work hard but unfortunately it looks like his season is done.  Thanks for the well wishes.  I will relay them to him.

I'm sure with the conference tournaments coming up we will get some more shake ups. Let me know where I messed up guys

The lake county tournament is always a great tourney to see where a lot of the region guys are. So here is a updated version

Yeah, just not the same thread without the Unknown Wrestler's insight on his kid this regional! We should have a "Where are they now?" former poster segment like MondayMatness. Maybe in the offseason or something.

Too bad "Unkown Wrestler" isn't weighing in on the site anymore.  He always made this topic fun.   We miss him.
 
The Scholar couldn't resist from weighing in on the subject.   No skin in the game anymore.
 
 
103 Coon looks good, and probably checks the ticket.   Frontier kid   Reagan will be there schools second semi-state qualifier.  The Rennaslear freshman might show here.
 
113- Webb looks good,  but Wade from Harrison has the goods to win the Regional. 
 
120- Can McCartney's technical style solve Johnsons athleticism?  Watts from Twin Lakes  and Lehr from Delphi fight for 3rd..  Raderstorf from Cass might be legit.
 
126- is the showcase class.   Anderson wrestles smart and seems to have the answer for the Athletic Betourne.   Don't miss this match and Casillas from West Lafayette is salty and would normally be a contender.   But tough weight class. Cole from Cass is probably fourth but not a bad wrestler.  Domguez form Logansport is not bad either making depth here.
 
132-  Fauber from West Side keeps getting better and will be a good match with Watson from Delphi.  Never know with the right draw at semi-state one of these two could make it.  Harrisons only senior Strother  could be a threat.    McCoy from Jeff isn't bad either.  Robles from Mcutcheon and Erdman from Rossville gives some depth.
 
138-  This is a wide open weight class:  Maybe Queasbarth from North White or Merkel from Harrison.  Saavedra from Rensalear might be a factor.  Magallenes from Jeff might place or Fritz from West Central and Linder Mccutcheon looking in .
 
145- Again wide open:  Bushong from  West Central and Ball from North  White   have a shot.   Carden from Cass could be a factor. Ruiz from Harrison was sidelined from Harrison with an appendicitis, but might get  back to full strength. 
Ill get upper weight classes later
   
Havent seen everybody up north so sorry, I know i left somebody out.

As I am doing the east Chicago semi state rankings. I'm not seeing a lot of logansport guys. Who are some guys who need to be in the rankings? Who are your regional champs? Where is Devildog?