coachaking

Are you talking about Walter Drews?

Who’s got some sleepers that are starting to make some noise and primed for some upsets this week and weeks to follow ?
 
who’s flying under the radar for a finals run or high placement ?
 
any predictions of upsets this week? 
 
I was shocked by the wrestler from John Glenn HS almost stunning Demarco at the 132! No slander to Demarco he’s a TOUGH wrestler. I just had never heard of the John Glenn wrestler.

Every Wednesday 6:00-7:30PM - Use door J next to the north side loading docks.
 
MUST have a USAW card to participate.
 
Grades 6-12 + College
 
We are looking forward to another great off-season with many of the region's best wrestlers and teams! 
 
Join us each week for an opportunity to improve folkstyle, freestyle, and greco techniques followed by live wrestling.

Can we have a representative from Crown point weigh in to see when they are looking to schedule the Iliana Christian dual for sectional seeding criteria? 
 
or 
 
Brownsburg when they want to schedule speedway in a dual to make sure they lock in 1 seeds 
 
 

My updated (More than likely incorrect) standings
 
1. Jay County 180 (8)
2. Heritage Hills 176 (10)
3. Delta 174 (9)
4. New Prairie 170 (8)
5. Bellmont 168 (5)
6. Western 151 (7)
7. Monrovia 150 (3)
8. Wawasee 149 (10)
9. Hamilton Heights 145 (10)
10. Rensselaer Central 144 (9)
11. Centerville 140 (6)
12. Owen Valley 138 (4)
13. Garrett 137 (8)
14. Maconaquah 127 (7)
15. Oak Hill 127 (4)
16. Southridge 124 (4)
17. Glenn 124 (3)
18. Northwood 123 (3)
19.Chatard 122 (5)
20. Norwell 122 (3)
21. Yorktown 111 (5)
22. Mount Vernon 108 (2)
23. Peru 106 (4)
24. Beech Grove 106 (2)
25. Indian Creek 99 (2)
 
 
 
 

Hired both these guys this week!

Multiple Time Middle School State placer. ISWA State Champ and placed every year since he was 4. Super 32 placer. I wouldn’t say he came out of nowhere 

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
 
Family.
 
It’s a word that appears on T-shirts.
 
Teams shout it as they break huddles.
 
It’s a closeness and a bond they’re building as they work together.
 
Plymouth High School head wrestling coach Travis Smith has taken his blended brood of a wife, four boys and a girl and added the members of the Rockies program.
 
“We’re like a big family,” says Travis. “I don’t know how many kids stay at my house on a regular basis.
 
“I’ve raised my sons to be very loyal to each other. We don’t fight and bicker as a family. I discipline as needed. They don’t argue with each other. I don’t allow that.

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Who is the the fastest Head Coach to 50 or 100 coaching wins.
 
I hit 50 this week and it got me wondering how fast some other coaches were able to get there. From a little research on the coaches page it's looking like these coaches may be the 10 fastest to 50 Wins as a Head Coach.
 
I am 50-7 and did it in less than 2 seasons, but more so was looking for any coach to hit 50 in under 60 duals wrestled considering some coaches back in the day couldn't wrestle nearly as many duals as we can now!
 
Ed Pendowski Portage
John Smith Muncie SouthSide
John Henry Harrison WL
Kevin Blundell Monrovia
Mark Hidalago River Forest
Mike Goebel Evansville Mater Dei
Ray Black Jr. Madison
Terry O'Niel Westfield
Tim Klingensmith Jay Couty
Quinn Harris Cascade
 
Also as I was looking I came across the infamous Rex Peckinpaugh 1000-300-3 MANNNNN! 40 years and 1303 dual meets coached, thats a number to chase for sure!
 
Is anyone able to confirm these or maybe tell me if I am wrong on this list?
 
I didn't look too hard to see who got to 100 first or how fast, was hoping I could get some help from the board, but it did look like Ed Pendowski may have been the fastest to 100!

Congrats @QuinnHarris! Love what you all are building out on the west side. Hoping you and I can duke it out for years to come. 
42-18 through my first 60 in 2.5 seasons.  15 duals left this year hoping to hit the big 50.

Let the race to 100 begin! 
 

Going to be a long day waiting to find out if we made it in or not. Good luck to all in consideration!

Any ranking from any other website are irrelevant. Especially the team side @decbell1 does the rankings, the vote in, and the seeding. His team opinions are the ones that matter.
 
And no one does it like the rankings crew @Y2CJ41 has built!

I’d say that John Glenn has certainly done what it takes to earn one of those spots.

I spent nearly my entire morning entering results for teams who are in contention. I shouldn't have to do that for you!

John Glenn has had a great season competing for the 2A spot. 24-3 as of today with each of those 3 losses by a one match swing. We had a great dual with Bellmont only losing 43-33. Our kids fight and we haven't faced a team yet that has beaten us by more than 1 match. No one else in consideration for 2A can say that. We believe we have showcased what Glenn is capable of and that we are deserving of the vote in at 2A.
 
Next up... the Carnahan!

This weekend Cascade will see Owen valley, Bishop Chatard, North Putnam and Daleville!

I started the Rent A Wrestler program my first year at Rochester in 1996.  Been doing it ever since.  It's awesome to see so many programs now doing it.  Our community loves it.  It's gotten to the point that I rarely advertise it anymore.  The community just knows, that from April -August, they can call me.  

(Photo/Sam Janicki; SJanickiPhoto.com)
By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com

Christian Carroll took care of business in the first three bouts of his high school career, earning pins in 13, 14 and 10 seconds against Wawasee, Peru and Hamilton Heights.
 
The New Prairie High School junior 220-pounder made his debut as a Cougar at the Jan. 8 Class 2A Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association State Duals at Martinsville.
 
A knee injury kept Carroll out of action during his freshman year at Penn (2019-20). When he transferred to New Prairie after the first semester of his sophomore year (2020-21), he was required to sit out for a year. That made him eligible at the end of this past week.
 
Not that Carroll is a newbie on the mat scene. With two Super 32 titles and a Junior Freestyle Nationals crown to his credit, he is among the top-ranked grapplers at his weight in the country.
 
He has committed to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia to wrestle and study Finance in the Wharton School of Business.
 
“Instead of thinking about my next four years, I’m thinking about my next 40,” says Carroll, 18. Each Quaker grappler in the Wharton School is assigned an alumni mentor and his is David Pottruck. “I’ve always been curious about stocks and how to use money. I have an entrepreneur mindset.”
 
Christian is the youngest of Tony and Erin Carroll’s five children behind John, Jill, Ben, Cassidy and Katie. Tony Carroll works in finance with Aldi Foods. Erin Carroll is employed as a nursing home activity director at West Woods of Niles (Mich.).
 
Christian grew up in the Jimtown area of Elkhart and started wrestling at age 5. He began to really take the sport seriously as an eighth grader in the Penn system at Schmucker Middle School.
 
Over the years, Carroll has developed a mentality that is apparent to New Prairie head coach Bobby Whitenack.
 
“He has a passion for the sport,” says Whitenack. “He has an intensity at practice and goes hard all the time.
 
“He’s truly engaged every minute.”
 
The athlete expects extra effort out of himself.
 
“What you work for is what you get,” says Carroll. “There are no free lunches in this world.
 
“That’s why I love wrestling. There’s no politics. It’s just you and the other guy battling on the mat.”
 
Since joining the New Prairie program, Carroll has taken to the Whitenacks, especially Bobby and son/senior heavyweight Hunter.
 
“(Coach Whitenack’s) a great role model,” says Carroll. “For him, it’s more about life (than wrestling). He cares about our well-being. He preaches so much about life.
 
“How are you not excited to wrestle for a guy like that? He creates a family culture. That’s not a cliche.’ It’s real.”
 
Hunter Whitenack, who is committed to study and play football at the University of Illinois, is a workout partner for Carroll and a team leader.
 
“What’s awesome about Hunter is he’s in that big brother role,” says Carroll. “He’s always motivating, always positive and let’s get this job done. He guided me through the system being a new kid.
 
“It’s about brotherhood. He doesn’t have to risk an injury for football. He puts his team and his community above himself.”
 
Bobby Whitenack is a special education teacher and a 1999 New Prairie graduate. He came back from Manchester University, where he played football, to assistant Cougars head coach Wes Hobart then took over the program in 2010-11 and surpassed the 300-win plateau this season.
 
“I reflect on how many people who made that happen — all the adults and wrestlers,” says Whitenack of the milestone.
 
The coach has two sons in his lineup with freshman Hayden Whitenack at 132.
 
What Carroll enjoys most about New Prairie is being part of a team in wrestling and an active student.
 
“I release my knowledge and disperse as much as I can,” says Carroll of his relationship with wrestling mates. “We have a lot of sponges in the room. It’s a good atmosphere. There’s a certain standard in the room — leaving it all out on the mat.
 
“I don’t think there’s a point in holding back (in class). I have a Type A personality. Communication flows and that is a good way to learn. Fear is False Evidence That Appears Real. I’m not afraid to fail (in wrestling or life). My aspirations are so much higher.”
 
Whitenack appreciates Carroll’s willingness to give.
 
“He’s really good at helping others,” says the coach. “He can work with any kid in the room and give them pointers. It’s a peer review. It’s different from hearing from a coach. He leads by example. You can’t say it if you’re not doing it yourself.”
 
Away from New Prairie, Carroll works out with Chris Fleeger at Midwest RTC in New Carlisle.
 
“He’s a technician,” says Carroll of Fleeger, who was a three-time All-American at Purdue University, Big Ten champion and trained at the U.S. Olympic Center. “He’s instilled a lot of morals in my brain and life perspective.”
 
In the past year, Carroll is placed second at the World Trials. At the nationals, he won every bout by pin or technical fall except for one. In September, he competed in the Flo Wrestling Who’s No. 1 and lost a 3-2 nail-biter super match to heavyweight Nick Feldman, an Ohio State University commit from Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania.
Carroll’s Super 32 titles have come at 195 (2020) and 220 (2021).
 
Christian stands 5-foot-11 now, but he anticipates a growth spurt since his father and uncles are in 6-2 to 6-3 range and big guys.
 
Whitenack, who has about 50 on his roster, has his wrestlers attack the season in two portions.
 
“The beginning of season gets you ready,” says Whitenack. “We want to peak at sectional.”
 
New Prairie once competed in Mishawaka’s Al Smith Classic, but opted for super duals like the one at Lafayette Jeff.
 
“Our average kids got better and that set us up to have more success in the postseason,” says Whitenack. “We want to go into sectional with the right mindset. We want everybody moving in the right direction.”
 
Chris Carroll is now a part of that mix.

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I don’t see that being a very close match.  No disrespect.  Carroll is unreal though. 
 
3-0 in 37 cumulative seconds.  

Very well could see #1 Christian Carroll and #3 Juan Grange this weekend at the NIC. I may have to come out of hiding and head over to Elkhart for that one! 

It's really nice to have an Al Smith tournament after so long. It feels like forever ago that I was wrestling in this tournament, when in actuality, I competed at the most recent one. COVID is weird like that I guess. Anyways, this tournament looks to be just as interesting as previous ones, with a couple new teams in this year with competitive rosters. For these predictions, I'll be predicting the top 4, and talking about my choices for a little bit:
 
106:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#6 Jalen May
#7 Gavin Jendreas
#11 Charlie Larocca
#14 Kaleb Salazar
 
Predictions: 1.) May   2.) Jendreas   3.) Larocca   4.) Salazar
 
Going chalk for this one. Jalen May is someone who hasn't qualified yet, but has some impressive wins under his belt, including one over my boy Ashton Jackson last year. Gavin Jendreas has dominated everyone he has wrestled so far this year, so I expect this match to be very close. Charlie Larocca is also somebody I could see making the finals, and quite honestly could have been a qualifier last year if it wasn't for a brutal ticket round draw. I think the top 3 here are in a tier of their own, with each of these 3 potentially winning the whole thing. Kaleb Salazar then slots in at the 4th place spot for this weight class.
 
113:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Ashton Jackson
#2 Evan Dickey
#8 Liam Krueger
#9 Trevor Schammert
#10 Johnny Cortez
#12 Kaptur Nowaczyk
#13 Dylan Bennett
 
Predictions: 1.) Jackson   2.) Dickey   3.) Schammert   4.) Krueger
 
Yeah, yeah, LaPorte bias, blah, blah, give me "Action" Jackson winning the highly anticipated rematch vs. Dickey. I think that these two are well established as the top wrestlers in their weight, and this will most surely be a match we will see again under the lights. I expect this to be a little closer than last season's match at State, but nonetheless, give me Jackson. I chose Schammert over Krueger because Schammert has done historically well at this tournament, placing 2nd at the most recent one. Krueger is obviously tough, and I expect this match to be close, but I think Schammert has the edge here. I should also throw Johnny Cortez's name in the mix, as he stuck Schammert earlier this year. Schammert has then avenged this loss, but Cortez is easily a top 4 threat here.
 
120:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#2 Isaac Ruble
#6 Hayden DeMarco
#7 Braxton Vest
#11 Hayden Brady
#14 Aden Reyes
#15 Noah Lykins
#19 Evan Cruz
 
Predictions: 1.) Ruble   2.) DeMarco   3.) Vest   4.) Brady
 
Ruble is the man to beat here, and he is looking very strong this year. Hayden DeMarco is somebody that I think can beat anybody in the state if he's on it though, and I'm sure this match will be a little closer than many people might think. Braxton Vest is also a finals threat, and I expect DeMarco and Vest to be a great semi finals match, but I feel like DeMarco will win that one. Hayden Brady is my pick for the 4th place spot here, although it wouldn't surprise me to see him place a spot, or even two higher.
 
126:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Logan Frazier
#2 Matteo Vargo
#11 Josh Johnson
#15 Mikey Kallamani
#17 Beau Brabender
 
Predictions: 1.) Frazier   2.) Vargo   3.) Johnson   4.) Brabender
 
Virginia Tech commit Logan Frazier will be looking for his first Al Smith title, and it will be a #1 vs. #2 match up. Frazier is no stranger to these match ups though, as last year, he wrestled Sergio Lemley a handful of times, and only lost to him in the state finals by 1 point. Frazier is definitely a high caliber wrestler, and Vargo will have to be on point to contend with him. Josh Johnson is my pick to get 3rd here, and then I'm going with Brabender over Kallamani. I know that Kallamani has a 2-0 win over Brabender this season, but I expect the former state qualifier to win the rematch.
 
132.)
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Zeke Seltzer
#4 Anthony Bahl
#10 Wyatt Krejsa
#11 Zar Walker
#16 Bryce Denton
#20 Thadeus O'Neil
 
Predictions: 1.) Seltzer   2.) Bahl   3.) Krejsa   4.) Denton
 
I was very surprised a couple weeks ago when I saw the result between Seltzer and Bahl. 113 to 132 is a pretty big jump, and against the #4 in the country, you would think that match would be rough for Bahl. But 6-2 is a very respectable score, and if I know anything about these Crown Point guys, it's that they get a lot better, really quickly. Expect another good match between these two. As for 3rd and 4th, I think Wyatt Krejsa takes the 3rd place spot, but expect Zar Walker and Bryce Denton to contend for this spot last year. Bryce Denton is a returning state qualifier, but similarly to Bahl, is also up from 113 the previous year, and hasn't had enough high tier competition at this weight to really determine how he has adjusted to this weight change. I'm predicting the upset with Denton over Walker, but I think that Krejsa will win the 3rd and 4th bout.
 
138:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Jesse Mendez
#8 Drew Mills
#9 Dominic Litchfield
#10 Carson Johnson
#13 Luke Gonzalez
#14 Wesley Harper
 
Predictions: 1.) Mendez   2.) Litchfield   3.) Mills   4.) Harper
 
If it wasn't for COVID, Mendez could be going for a historic 4th Al Smith title, which hasn't been done too many times before. Regardless, I expect Mendez to sweep the field here: no offense to any of the other wrestlers in the field, but Mendez majored the #8 in the country a couple weeks ago. As for the rest of the field, I am predicting a 9 over 8 with Litchfield making the finals. For that last spot, I think any of the three wrestlers not mentioned: Johnson, Gonzalez, and Harper, could place here, and potentially place even higher, but I think Harper is quite good, and has what it takes to outplace these other two.
 
145:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Hayden Watson
#3 Aidan Torres
#6 Brac Hooper
#7 Nick Tattini
#11 Sam Levitz
#15 Conner Watts
#17 Dillon Graham
#20 Gavin Davis
 
Predictions: 1.) Torres   2.) Watson   3.) Hooper   4.) Tattini
 
Before anybody gets mad, these are predictions. This isn't about saying what is most likely to happen, but rather, what I think will happen during these two specific days, given a certain set of circumstances. That being said, I think Watson and Torres is a 50/50 bet, and I really like both of these wrestlers. Torres has obviously adjusted well to his weight change, but right now, Watson just barely has the edge. I am predicting Torres to win the rematch though, which would make a trilogy bout at the state finals even more exciting. By the way, this weight class is STACKED. 8 state ranked wrestlers, with 4 in the top 10, is a pretty good torunament for anybody. I think between Hooper and Tattini, Hooper will have the edge here, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this go the other way around. Also don't forget that Dillon Graham placed 4th at state last year. 120 to 145 is a pretty big jump, and he has struggled to get comfortable here so far, but he knows what it's like to wrestle deep in a tournament with many talented wrestlers.
 
152:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Sam Goin
#2 Delaney Ruhlman
#8 Chase Leech
#13 Anthony Rinehart
#15 Kenneth Bisping
#18 Grant Mallery
#19 Aidan Costello
#20 Keegan Mabie
 
Predictions: 1.) Goin   2.) Ruhlman   3.) Leech   4.) Bisping
 
It's crazy to see Goin performing so well after going from 106 to 126 to 152. Goin seems like the man to beat right now, despite being a newcomer in the middle weight classes. However, just last year, Delaney Ruhlman made a statement as well, going from 120 to 138 and beating the returning state champ 11-1. I doubt weight is an issue for either of these guys, and this match is going to be fireworks. I think Goin wins it, but Ruhlman is an incredibly talented wrestler who can most definitely make upsets. I think Chase Leech is the 3rd place guy here, with many different guys contending for a top 4 spot. I think Bisping makes the upset over Rinehart for this spot.
 
160:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#2 Kade Law
#3 Cody Goodwin
#6 Aaron Steenbeke
#10 Duke Myers
#13 Kaden Lone
#15 Julian Weems
#20 Chase Wagner
 
Predictions: 1.) Law   2.) Steenbeke   3.) Goodwin   4.) Myers
 
I like this weight class a lot. Law is the guy to beat here, being the only returning placer in this weight class. However, Goodwin could have very well placed last year, and is most certainly a threat to win this tournament. Aaron Steenbeke is also very good, and is an incredibly tricky wrestler, and I think that Steenbeke will edge out Goodwin. Duke Myers is also not someone to be taken lightly, and I could see him making a deep run in this tournament as well. Also watch out for Kaden Lone, who I feel like has been right outside the cusp of being one of the top guys in the state, and could break through and make a deep run here.
 
170:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#4 Landon Buchanan
#11 JJ Braun
#12 Noah Clouser
#15 Seth Willems
#18 Jordan Sutton
#20 Luke Penola
 
Predictions: 1.) Buchanan   2.) Braun   3.) Willems   4.) Clouser
 
Landon Buchanan is obviously tough, but after seeing him have a one point match with De'Alcapon Veazy, who was formally nationally ranked at 182 (he might still be, but I only check Flo) I think we can throw his name in the conversation for a state title. I expect him to win dominantly in this tournament. JJ Braun is my pick for second, as he has a win over Willems, but I think Willems is still a threat for being in the finals here. I'll take Willems over Clouser. I don't think these two have any history, but Willems has been around this weight for a while, while Clouser is new to this weight class.
 
182:
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Drake Buchanan
#2 Orlando Cruz
#3 De'Alcapon Veazy
#5 Jacob Simpson
#7 Jake Sues
#12 Austin McClure
#13 Jaden Durnil
 
Predictions: 1.) Buchanan   2.) Veazy   3.) Cruz   4.) Simpson
 
This weight class is nuts. We have the 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 all in one place. I know a certain somebody on this website might not be happy with my prediction, but I think that Drake Buchanan is really good. Out of the top 3 here, Veazy is the only one that has been nationally ranked to my knowledge, but I think Buchanan is right there as well, and if I'm not mistaken, I think he was a bloodrounder at Super 32, which is not an easy feat. Between Buchanan and Veazy, I'll take Buchanan in a very close match. Orlando Cruz is undoubtedly a title threat here too, as the #2 ranked guy in the state, but is a lot newer to the weight than Buchanan and Veazy, so I am curious to see how he fares against the best in the state. I'm going to go Veazy over Cruz, but the upset here would not surprise me. The 4th place will come down to Simpson and Sues, who are one match a piece so far this season. I'll take Simpson here for the trilogy bout.
 
195.)
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#6 Will Clark
#7 Gage DeMarco
#11 Christian Chavez
#13 Vincent McDonald
 
Predictions: 1.) DeMarco   2.) Clark   3.) Chavez   4.) McDonald
 
Will Clark owns a 7-5 win over DeMarco this season, but DeMarco is a returning placer, and I think that he reverses this decision in the finals at Al Smith. This may not be a 1 vs. 2, but you can expect fireworks out of this match. Chavez and McDonald are both wrestlers who I think are definitely a little underrated, and I can see both of them pulling a crazy upset here, but I think this weight class will go mostly chalk here, with Chavez taking 3rd, and McDonald taking 4th.
 
220.)
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#4 Juan Grange
#7 Royce Deckard III
#9 Tommy Morrill
#13 Devin Kendrex
#17 Paul Clark
#18 Isaac Benjamin
#20 Michael DeGrado
 
Predictions: 1.) Grange   2.) Deckard III   3.) Kendrex   4.) Morrill
 
Juan Grange fell victim to a brutal ticket round match last year, but he's back and looking to make a statement this year. He will be the guy to beat here, with Royce Deckard III being his main challenger here. Devin Kendrex is my 3rd place pick here, but I think Morrill could very well win here too, although Michael DeGrado does own an off season win against him, which makes this weight class interesting. I could not find too much history between many of the wrestlers in this weight class, but I think that this weight class can go many different ways.
 
285.)
 
Ranked Wrestlers:
#5 Mihail Platonov
#7 Ashton Hartwell
#9 Theodore Sparks
#10 Nate Johnson
#11 Hosia Smith
 
Predictions: 1.) Sparks   2.) Hartwell   3.) Platonov   4.) Johnson
 
I feel like Platonov could surely win here, and I am letting a couple of early in season losses affect my predictions, but I also think that Hartwell and Sparks are really good and have the potential to win this weight class. I decided to go with Sparks over Hartwell, as Merriville is known to produce some killer heavyweights (again, these are predictions, these don't have to be based on results), but the top 3 here is really tough, and it wouldn't surprise me to see any of them in. In fact, add a fourth contender, because Nate Johnson's lone loss of the season is an overtime loss to the #3 in the state, and he can surely contend with anybody in this weight class.
 
I'd like to note before I release this to the public that I wrote this up before brackets came out. I know that not every wrestler I mention here will wrestle, due to many different circumstances, especially in these times, and also, I may have said a thing or two in here that is not factual, as I try to fact check everything I say on here, but people make mistakes, and there was a person behind this screen of letters you are reading that took time out of his limited free time during college two-a-days to write this up, so, if I messed up a result or a ranking, let me know, but don't bash me for it.

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com

If Ashton Jackson gets his way, scoreboard operators are kept plenty busy during his matches.
 
The LaPorte High School junior wrestler prefers to stay on the offensive and put points on the board.
 
Jackson, who earned the Slicers first state title since 189-pounder Matt Graham in 1994 when he reigned in the 2021 IHSAA State Finals at 106, sums up his plan as he looks ahead to the rest of the 2021-22 season at 113.
 
“It’s about scoring points, not being sloppy and keeping up the rate of attack,” says Jackson. “I want to work my moves and get on and off the mat. Like Dan Gable said: “I shoot, I score. He shoots, I score.”
 
“I’m chugging away to the state series. I haven’t really been taken into deep waters yet. I’m really looking forward to that.”
 
Through the Dec. 18 Munster Super Dual where he and LaPorte seniors Caden Ellenberger (145) and Noah Salary (152) went 5-0, Jackson is 21-0. The only match to go the distance was a major decision against Crown Point.
 
Next up for Jackson and the Slicers is the Dec. 29-30 Al Smith Classic at Mishawaka.
 
“Those should be mostly tight matches and I can test myself,” says Jackson. “I’m looking forward to the fight.”
 
Looking back, Jackson went 35-2 in 2020-21, including 4-0 at the State Finals in Indianapolis after going out in the “ticket round” at the East Chicago Semistate as a 35-8 freshman.
 
“Going through the East Chicago Semistate, the Duneland (Athletic Conference) and northwest Indiana, it’s high-quality stuff and we pride ourselves in battling at that level,” says LaPorte head coach Louie Kuzdas, a 1986 LaPorte graduate in his 26th season as head coach 32nd on the Slicers staff and physical education/health teacher at the school.
 
It was last season that one of his young teammates brought up a potential mat milestone.
 
“I’m close to 100 career wins and everybody talks about,” says Jackson, who is 91-10 ???. “It’s something cool to have. But it’s not the end-all, be-all.”
 
The current season opened Nov. 26-27 for Jackson and his teammates as Jackson went 9-0 as the 113-pound champion at the Goshen RedHawk Super Dual.
 
“He’s been traveling all over the country getting some elite mat time,” says Kuzdas. “He’s just living and breathing wrestling right now. It’s what you need to do to be at that top level.”
 
Jackson went to the Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D., and Super 32 in Greensboro, N.C.
 
“It wasn’t that successful an offseason,” says Jackson, who also trains in LaPorte and Elite Athletic Club in Lake Station and went with the Warren Central squad to the Disney Duals in Orlando, Fla. “That’s just motivation for this season to prove myself and prove what I can do.”
 
Kuzdas looks to Jackson as a team leader.
 
“He takes young’uns under his wing and walks them through different steps,” says Kuzdas. “He’s very, very interested in learning more about the sport.
 
“After winning (a state championship) as a sophomore, we sat down and discussed that he’s already accomplished something that a lot of people don’t. But you still don’t know everything. He agreed 100 percent.”
 
Says Jackson, “I’m just staying persistent in my training and having faith in my coaches and my teammates who’ve guided me along the way. Coach (Kuzdas) definitely pushes aggression. You’ve just got to fight. That’s the beauty of wrestling. It’s you and the other guy. The better-prepared man’s going to win.”
 
Practice partners include freshman Josh England (120) and Landyn Hunt (126), junior Thomas Adred (126) and assistant coach Ian Barclay.
 
“I think I stay in pretty good position,” says Jackson. “And I know if I don’t try my best it’s a loss.”
 
Adam Jackson — Ashton’s father — was Kuzdas’ first state qualifier as LaPorte head coach, making it to Indy as a 135-pound junior in 1997.
 
Crediting his father for his work ethic and sense of urgency on the mat.
 
“He’s really involved, but not so involved to the point that it’s overbearing,” says Ashton. “He holds me to high standards — which is good.”
 
Damen Jackson, a 2015 graduate of John Glenn High School, is a Glenn assistant this season after teaching and coach at Warren Central. He was there for Ashton at the beginning of little brother’s wrestling career.
 
“When I was little he’d always help me out a kid tournaments,” says Ashton. “He was being a big brother and showed me nuances that little novice me wasn’t aware of at the time.”
 
Ashton’s mother is New Prairie High School graduate Nacole and has two younger siblings in LaPorte — sophomore/sister Bailey
and sixth grader/brother Brayden.
 
Jerry Jackson, a 1982 LaPorte graduate, was a three-time state qualifier at 185 with a state crown in 1981 and third-place finish in 1982.
 
“He’s no relation,” says Ashton. “But he’s a pretty cool dude.”

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No way jimtown is not in top 10 

We sure aren’t getting a lot of love over here at Bluffton. I’ve seen this comment about South Adams having guys out when we beat them several times now. We had a kid miss weight that day and weren’t full in our lineup. It’s wrestling season, someone is always banged up, hurting or sick. I don’t think they had anyone out that would have changed the outcome of the dual. But that’s beside the point. We went out and got the job done when we needed to. We want the last spot at team state. We feel like we’ve earned it and we would dual Cascade for it if that were possible. Whether we get it or not, I’m proud of our boys for stepping up and taking care of business. 

oooof. Just because someone is trying to lobby for their team doesn't mean you should come on here and bash others. Not saying the way it is being handled is ideal, but lets have some respect for these high school athletes.
 
Andy King and myself are doing some incredible things. It isn't going unnoticed around our area in the North. Had it not been for quarantine issues a year ago, my team wouldn't be in this position. My team would have a much different look.
 
Don't bash the kids out there competing. We can only control what is put in front of us. Not making any excuses but to accomplish what we have at Bremen is impressive stuff.