bluechipper

I think he's saying it doesn't matter how many wrestlers a program brings to a tournament, if they have a quality training regimen, the performance of the wrestlers who did make it speaks louder and is looked at as more impressive than the numbers they pushed through. I think that's what he means.

Parris and Larson on the same side... WHY WRESTLING GODS?! WHY?!?!?

It's gotta suck to see Larson and Parris on the same side. Along with Bailey and Reitz. This tournament is going to be freaking nuts.

The New Castle Semi-State tournament was absolute nuts. I was heartbroken for Perry Meridian seniors Christian Warren and Jalen Allen who have wrestled great all season only to be cut short at semi-state along with guys like Kody Conaway and Bailey Moore. There were some TOUGH losses that SCREAMED wrestlebacks, but that's just the way the cookie crumbles. Also, I would like to commend Cathedral on their impressive performance yesterday. Andy Guhl came through in a MAJOR way, and genuinely surprised me, as did Elliott Rodgers. They were able to push through seven state qualifiers, with six of them competing in the semi-state finals. Bailey and Melloh wrestled great as usual, but Slivka's dirty decision on Alec White was the icing on the cake for me.

Zach Melloh is looking phenomenal. Depending upon draws, I can see him being in the finals.

Breyden Bailey from Cathedral

106: Black, Lowery, Bailey, Mattingly 113: Viduya, Turner, Rose, Conaway 120: Noehre, Nier, Ragle, Vaughn 126: White, Slivka, Jerde, Pugsley 132: Bailey, Schaefer, Smiley, Servies 138: Melloh, Surguy, Moore, Davis 145: Rust, Graves, Welliever, Humbert 152: Warren, Negangard, Eiteljorge, Kitko 160: Warren, Bane, Berkebile, Lazzara 170: Allred, Ruberg, Webster, Lowe 182: Stambaugh, Allen, Simmons, Rolfes 195: Tonte, Stewart, Jagow, Delph 220: Parris, Cornwell, McClaine, Burton 285: Samuels, Bailey, Stone, Powell

What are the best semi-state runs, matches, or upsets from the top of your head? 2015 was a vivid one for me. I remember Jordan Vaughn absolutely caught fire that day and wrestled lights out. Ethan Briggeman's throw on Colton Gonzales was pretty wild that day as well.

Wasn't completely sure, but I figured most were done. My mistake. I live in Mishawaka...

Now, that the conference tournaments have concluded and we are a week away from entering the postseason, who are your final picks for this year's IHSAA state tournament? 106: AJ Black, Shenandoah 113: Asa Garcia, Avon 120: Cayden Rooks, Columbus East 126: Graham Rooks, Columbus East 132: Breyden Bailey, Cathedral 138: Brendan Black, Hobart 145: Brayton Lee, Brownsburg 152: Joe Lee, Evansville Mater Dei 160: Christian Warren, Perry Meridian 170: Jake Ruberg, Lawrenceburg 182: Nate "The Great" Walton, Brownsburg 195: Tristen Tonte, Warren Central 220: Mason Parris, Lawrenceburg 285: Robert Samuels, Lawrence North NOTES 106 - As wide open as ever, you can never be sure, but AJ Black is a stud. 113 - Asa Garcia has been hot all season after his inaugural run, but look for Alec Viduya to make waves in this weight. 120 - Cayden Rooks has one lone blemish on his record, but come postseason, I see no one beating him. 126 - This weight class is SCARY. Depending upon finshes at Semi-State, Saturday morning draws could be crucial. We could and most likely will see Mulkey, Cummings, White, DLP, Slivka, and Rooks facing off against one another in that round. 132 - Jeremiah Reitz is a state champion, but I don't see him knocking off Bailey should we get this match in the finals. 138 - Brendan Black is the top pick should he be healthy, but I'm not counting out Rumph or Melloh (who I think we'll see in the finals). 145 - Brayton Lee is the Alpha Dog at this weight and I don't see anyone coming in distance of him come February. 152 - Joe Lee is the Alpha Dog at this weight, but I just have a feeling a stud from the southside of Indianapolis is going to give him all he can handle and dish some revenge for old comrade B. James... 160 - Brad Laughlin is the #1-ranked at this weight, but Warren has been solid all year, and I don't think there is anyone he can't beat. He's go, go, go, and that will be the difference maker. 170 - While Van Horn is the man right now, Ruberg will be the man that night. There's just something about February that makes the lights shine the brightest for some wrestlers. My gut feeling is Ruberg is one of them. 182 - Nate "The Great" Walton has been seemingly untouchable this season. Lucas Davison will be a tough task, however. He's been solid all year, and will test Walton come state in the semis or finals. 195 - This weight class... Three potential state champions in this weight alone. Andy Davison, a Fargo champion and AA, has been great, as usual. Stewart, who I pegged as a potential four-timer when he first came in 2014, has been lights out this year, but his arch-nemesis, Tristen Tonte is my pick to win this weight class. It must be his Italian spirit and the great Jim Tonte's genes in his son that make this kid nasty and clutch during the postseason. #STATECHAMPLOADING 220 - Mason Parris... And it's not even close. 285 - This is another weight class that's so hard to call. We have two undefeated wrestlers holding spots #1 and #2, but Samuels got HOT last year, and I expect nothing less from him this year. Evan Ellis is wrestling as great as ever, and Bus McWilliams is tough as nails with that freight train double. I can see all three being crowned champion, but I'm going to go ahead and call it for Samuels. Don't count out Jessie Lawson from Carroll or the man, Slick Rick Clark, either, baby (that kid has been on fire). NC - 7 EV - 6 EC - 1 FW - 0

That is pretty dang impressive. #5 Christian Warren (Perry Meridian) 160 33-0... He's my pick for that weight.

After last night's exciting dual match-up between #1 Brownsburg and #2 Perry Meridian, I had to mentally log it as one of the best dual meets I have ever witnessed (via Facebook Live; I'm sure the atmosphere in the gymnasium was 1000x better, but I still had chills and was excited.). With that being said, what are some of the best dual match-ups you have ever witnessed or experienced? A personal favorite of mine was the Perry Meridian and Penn match-up in 2015 at the IHSWCA State Duals. 33-32 was the final score with it coming down to the sixth criteria. It was an absolute frenzy. What are some of your favorite matches that you would consider some of the best ever?

Chris Ridle, a 2016 graduate of Perry Meridian High School and current student at Ancilla College, is working alongside several former and current wrestlers, coaches, teams and fans/observers to gain insight on each individual's (or group) experience within the sport from their beginnings to where they currently stand with the sport, thoughts and feelings on its growth and direction, and how the sport can help shape an individual. He is currently searching to find more observers and coaches of the sport to conduct interviews with. Here is a draft of the introduction to the "open-diary" he's calling ​Wrestling: The Key to Maintaining Superior Position in Life​. ​ Wrestling: The Key to Maintaining Superior Position in Life By Chris Ridle Wrestling | wres•tling ˈres(ə)liNG/ noun the sport or activity of grappling with an opponent and trying to throw or hold them down on the ground, typically according to a code of rules. Introduction If pain is weakness leaving the body, then wrestlers have a distinct advantage over many athletes on our planet Earth. The sport goes beyond the minutes spent upon the mat, and dives deep into the hours of practice, conditioning, mental training, and resting. While it is looked at as an individual sport, the large majority of grapplers across the globe are apart of a team or larger unit. Those teams and units often practice not only wrestling, but what goes beyond the mat together, and form a bond, making it easier to build confidence and trust amongst one another, but more importantly, within themselves. What you will find in this book is an insight and exploration in to the great world of wrestling, and you will experience and feel stories from many wrestlers, coaches, and fans alike. The stories found in this book are 100% true, and the events and descriptions of each are completely factual. What started as a memoir, is now an open diary for the world to learn what it's like to be a wrestler. Contents 
Part I — Cody LeCount (confirmed) - Aiming to tell the story of experiences within the sport from beginnings to current status, celebrity, rise in stock, and training and feelings upon the mat. Part II — Perry Meridian Wrestling (confirmed) - Aiming to tell the story of unity, team goals, chasing a championship, trust amongst one another, and how each wrestler plays a pivotal role in the team's success, as well as individual goals and the difference (or lack of) between it and team goals. Part III — Chad Red (confirmed) - Aiming to tell the story of experiences within the sport from beginnings to current status, celebrity, rise in stock, and training and feelings upon the mat. Part IV — Jim Tonte (confirmed) - Aiming to tell the story of beginnings as wrestler to transitioning as a coach, the differences between the two jobs, experiences of both, observing the growth of a wrestler, winning championships, thoughts on legacy, and wrestling idols. Part V — IndianaMat - Aiming to tell the story and purpose of IndianaMat and its purpose for Indiana wrestling fans and how websites like this can make it easy to follow the sport. Seeking an IndianaMat official to possibly speak on its creation, purpose, service, and goal. Part VI — Legends - Aiming to tell the story of wrestling legends over the course of history. Part VII — The Future
- Aiming to
tell the story of its growth, the development, coverage and media attention, and presentation of big events to be invested in (2016 NCAAs at MSG, Flo Who's #1, Fargo, and Disney Duals).
 If anyone (or anyone you know) has interest in sharing any experience, knowledge, or particular story, Chris Ridle can be contacted at the following: E-mail: xavierwill17@gmail.com (primary) E-mail: ridlechris@icloud.com (secondary) Social Media: Instagram: chrisridleofficial Phone: 317-840-2824 (primary, cell) Chris Ridle was a 2016 graduate of Perry Meridian High School. During his career at Perry Meridian, Ridle was a 2016 state qualifier, 3x semi-state qualifier, 2x individual sectional champion, 2015 conference champion, 2x individual regional runner-up, 2013 IHSAA & IHSWCA team state champion, 2014 IHSAA & IHSWCA team 4th, 2015 IHSWCA team runner-up, 2016 IHSWCA team 3rd place. He cites Dan Gable, The Brands Brothers, Matt Schoettle, and Jim Tonte's coaching philosophies and influence of wrestling's hottest stars and legends such as Jordan Burroughs, Kyle Snyder, David Taylor, and Cael Sanderson as inspiration to write about a sport he shows deep admiration for, and says, "Being a fan of wrestling made me a better wrestler."