blueandgold

I know IndianaMat does their own awards, but I wanted to do a fan version of these awards with some extra categories! Maybe the IndianaMat crew will add some of these in the future!
 
Categories
Wrestler of the Year
Coach of the Year
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Team of the Year
Feud of the Year
Dual Meet of the Year
Match of the Year
Program of the Year
Most Improved (Individual)
Most Improved (Team)
4A Most Valuable Wrestler
3A Most Valuable Wrestler
2A Most Valuable Wrestler
1A Most Valuable Wrestler
OMG! Moment of the Year (Bonus)

All finalists are listed, winners are in bold.
 
Wrestler of the Year
Silas Allred
Jesse Mendez
Zeke Seltzer
Alex Cottey
Joseph Walker
Evan Bates
Eli Dickens
Alec Viduya
Coach of the Year
Sean McGinley
Branden Lorek
Greg Schaefer
Darrick Snyder
Wade McClurg
Mark Kirchgassner
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Jesse Mendez
Alex Cottey
Logan Bailey
Joseph Walker
Matthew Koontz
Jonathan Kervin
Bryer Hall
Robbie Gentry
Team of the Year
Indianapolis Cathedral
Crown Point
Evansville Mater Dei
Brownsburg
Feud of the Year
Blake Boarman vs. Logan Bailey
Eli Dickens vs. Elliott Rodgers
Evansville Mater Dei vs. Indianapolis Cathedral
Elliott Rodgers vs. Cooper Noehre
Matthew Koontz vs. Luke Goodwin vs. Aundre Beatty
Dorian Keys vs. Robbie Gentry 
Dennis Hubbard vs. Antone Alexander
Match of the Year
Joseph Walker vs. McCartney Parkinson 2/21 Indianapolis
Tyler Jones vs. Garrett Stuckman 2/21 Indianapolis
Blake Boarman vs. Logan Bailey 2/22 Indianapolis
Bryce Lowery vs. Suhas Chundi 2/15 New Castle
Logan Boe vs. Jonathan Kervin 2/15 Evansville
Kane Egli vs. Tyler Conley 2/15 Evansville
Dorian Keys vs. Robbie Gentry 2/8 Mooresville
Alex Cottey vs. Cole Ross 1/11 Indianapolis
Isiah Levitz vs. Elliott Rodgers 12/28/19 Mishawaka
Program of the Year
Brownsburg
Carmel
Crown Point
Franklin Community
Warren Central
Most Improved (Individual)
JaJuan Anderson, Warren Central
Riley Rust, Center Grove
Anthony Walker, Greenwood
Tyler Wagner, Indianapolis Cathedral
Jacob Huffman, Indianapolis Cathedral
Jacob Johnson, Franklin Community
Most Improved (Team)
Crown Point
Carmel
Franklin Community
4A Most Valuable Wrestler
Jesse Mendez
Zeke Seltzer
Alex Cottey
3A Most Valuable Wrestler
Alec Viduya
Joseph Walker
Brayden Lowery
2A Most Valuable Wrestler
Clayton Fielden
Isaac Ruble
Cash Turner
1A Most Valuable Wrestler
Silas Allred
Nathan Willman
Alex Currie
OMG! Moment of the Year
Matthew Koontz headlocks Jesse Mendez
Kody Glithero stuns Alex Cottey
Nathan Willman pins the field at Evansville
Lane Gilbert upsets Cole Ross
Back-to-Back 170 State Semis Controversy
 
I’ll let YOU GUYS pick MOTY. It’s literally too hard to decide for me. I rate matches out of five stars, with a five being rare.
 
Of those listed for MOTY, I have:
Walker/Parkinson - 4.5 Stars
Jones/Stuckman - 4.5 Stars
Boarman/LB - 4 Stars
Bryce Lowery/Chundi - 4 Stars
Boe/Kervin - 4.75 Stars
Egli/Conley - 4 Stars
Keys/Gentry - 4 Stars
Cottey/Ross - 4.25 Stars
Levitz/Rodgers - 4.25 Stars
 
WAY too close to call.
 
Every match starts with two stars and gets rated based on competitiveness
 
Typically
3.5 = Very Good
3.75 = Great
4/4.25= Amazing
4.5/4.75 = Instant Classic
5 = Greatest of All-Time
 
Star ratings are just opinions as one match may be rated higher than another based on a variety of factors including skill level, competitiveness, excitement, drama, etc., but all these matches are different stylistically and all will go down as some of the most memorable in Indiana.
 
Past Five Star Matches
Blake Maurer vs. Alex Dolly - 2003 IHSAA State Finals (watched via YouTube, thought I was actually there; that’s how good it was)
Paul Petrov vs. Brenden Campbell - 2012 IHSAA State Finals 
Cody LeCount vs. Tommy Forte - 2014 IHSAA State Finals
Chad Red vs. Nick Lee - 2016 IHSAA State Finals
Robert Samuels vs. Rickie Clark - 2017 IHSAA State Finals

Thank you, and sure I’ll be happy to explain. So, for Most Outstanding Wrestler, we choose the wrestler who demonstrates exceptional skill as well as excitement in their matches that just makes you want to give them a standing ovation. Allred was the overall wrestler of the year due to many things, namely his poise as a wrestler, but Mendez’s skill goes beyond that of anyone in Indiana, but you have to take into account some of the finalists such as Bailey, Kervin, and Hall’s funk and scrambling abilities, Cottey’s ability to end matches quickly, Koontz’s method of surprise, and Gentry’s deceptive speed and strength at heavyweight. All of the guys were outstanding and every match you watched of theirs left you in awe.

I know IndianaMat does their own awards, but I wanted to do a fan version of these awards with some extra categories! Maybe the IndianaMat crew will add some of these in the future!
 
Categories
Wrestler of the Year
Coach of the Year
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Team of the Year
Feud of the Year
Dual Meet of the Year
Match of the Year
Program of the Year
Most Improved (Individual)
Most Improved (Team)
4A Most Valuable Wrestler
3A Most Valuable Wrestler
2A Most Valuable Wrestler
1A Most Valuable Wrestler
OMG! Moment of the Year (Bonus)

All finalists are listed, winners are in bold.
 
Wrestler of the Year
Silas Allred
Jesse Mendez
Zeke Seltzer
Alex Cottey
Joseph Walker
Evan Bates
Eli Dickens
Alec Viduya
Coach of the Year
Sean McGinley
Branden Lorek
Greg Schaefer
Darrick Snyder
Wade McClurg
Mark Kirchgassner
Most Outstanding Wrestler
Jesse Mendez
Alex Cottey
Logan Bailey
Joseph Walker
Matthew Koontz
Jonathan Kervin
Bryer Hall
Robbie Gentry
Team of the Year
Indianapolis Cathedral
Crown Point
Evansville Mater Dei
Brownsburg
Feud of the Year
Blake Boarman vs. Logan Bailey
Eli Dickens vs. Elliott Rodgers
Evansville Mater Dei vs. Indianapolis Cathedral
Elliott Rodgers vs. Cooper Noehre
Matthew Koontz vs. Luke Goodwin vs. Aundre Beatty
Dorian Keys vs. Robbie Gentry 
Dennis Hubbard vs. Antone Alexander
Match of the Year
Joseph Walker vs. McCartney Parkinson 2/21 Indianapolis
Tyler Jones vs. Garrett Stuckman 2/21 Indianapolis
Blake Boarman vs. Logan Bailey 2/22 Indianapolis
Bryce Lowery vs. Suhas Chundi 2/15 New Castle
Logan Boe vs. Jonathan Kervin 2/15 Evansville
Kane Egli vs. Tyler Conley 2/15 Evansville
Dorian Keys vs. Robbie Gentry 2/8 Mooresville
Alex Cottey vs. Cole Ross 1/11 Indianapolis
Isiah Levitz vs. Elliott Rodgers 12/28/19 Mishawaka
Program of the Year
Brownsburg
Carmel
Crown Point
Franklin Community
Warren Central
Most Improved (Individual)
JaJuan Anderson, Warren Central
Riley Rust, Center Grove
Anthony Walker, Greenwood
Tyler Wagner, Indianapolis Cathedral
Jacob Huffman, Indianapolis Cathedral
Jacob Johnson, Franklin Community
Most Improved (Team)
Crown Point
Carmel
Franklin Community
4A Most Valuable Wrestler
Jesse Mendez
Zeke Seltzer
Alex Cottey
3A Most Valuable Wrestler
Alec Viduya
Joseph Walker
Brayden Lowery
2A Most Valuable Wrestler
Clayton Fielden
Isaac Ruble
Cash Turner
1A Most Valuable Wrestler
Silas Allred
Nathan Willman
Alex Currie
OMG! Moment of the Year
Matthew Koontz headlocks Jesse Mendez
Kody Glithero stuns Alex Cottey
Nathan Willman pins the field at Evansville
Lane Gilbert upsets Cole Ross
Back-to-Back 170 State Semis Controversy
 
I’ll let YOU GUYS pick MOTY. It’s literally too hard to decide for me. I rate matches out of five stars, with a five being rare.
 
Of those listed for MOTY, I have:
Walker/Parkinson - 4.5 Stars
Jones/Stuckman - 4.5 Stars
Boarman/LB - 4 Stars
Bryce Lowery/Chundi - 4 Stars
Boe/Kervin - 4.75 Stars
Egli/Conley - 4 Stars
Keys/Gentry - 4 Stars
Cottey/Ross - 4.25 Stars
Levitz/Rodgers - 4.25 Stars
 
WAY too close to call.
 
Every match starts with two stars and gets rated based on competitiveness
 
Typically
3.5 = Very Good
3.75 = Great
4/4.25= Amazing
4.5/4.75 = Instant Classic
5 = Greatest of All-Time
 
Star ratings are just opinions as one match may be rated higher than another based on a variety of factors including skill level, competitiveness, excitement, drama, etc., but all these matches are different stylistically and all will go down as some of the most memorable in Indiana.
 
Past Five Star Matches
Blake Maurer vs. Alex Dolly - 2003 IHSAA State Finals (watched via YouTube, thought I was actually there; that’s how good it was)
Paul Petrov vs. Brenden Campbell - 2012 IHSAA State Finals 
Cody LeCount vs. Tommy Forte - 2014 IHSAA State Finals
Chad Red vs. Nick Lee - 2016 IHSAA State Finals
Robert Samuels vs. Rickie Clark - 2017 IHSAA State Finals

Fun reading.
However, I am curious as to our definition/criteria for Most Outstanding Wrestler.

It would be a disaster because coaches wouldn't report their results.

A nice little back and forth happened on Twitter with one user explaining his disbelief in the Indiana State Finals format as he reacted to state-ranked 1, 2, and 3 all in the same quarter bracket at 182 pounds with no opportunity to wrestleback to place higher. Some Indiana natives defended the system believing it to be the “best,” and while I think Indiana’s system is good for the talent we have, I do think it is flawed and a bad excuse for what it could be. The natives also rejected the idea of classes and multiple state champions, and said we do have depth, and maybe we do, but not nearly the amount we could have if we ensured the best wrestlers advanced to the state finals.
 
In terms of wrestling success, I do believe Indiana is a top fifteen wrestling state in the U.S., but it’s probably not top ten. The states ahead of us:
 
1. Pennsylvania (AA/AAA)
2. Ohio (Division I/II/III)
3. California
4. Illinois (1A/2A/3A)
5. Minnesota (A/AA/AAA)
6. Iowa (1A/2A/3A)
7. New Jersey
8. Oklahoma (3A/4A/5A/6A)
9. Michigan (Division 1/2/3/4)
10. New York (A/AA) 
 
These are based on national rankings, placements, and college success, and you could argue 2-6 and 7-10 are interchangeable on any given day. The Open Mat did a study in 2011 that had Indiana in the top 20 of wrestling states based on NCAA Qualifiers and All-Americans, but had Oregon, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, Washington, Florida, and Missouri ahead of us. I’m not sure how true that is now also taking in the rise of some Texas schools and wrestlers, but I’d like to see where we fall. 
 
My question is: How do we make our state better?

Logan Bailey, Cathedral (2020)
 
Zach Melloh, Cathedral (2018)
 
Blake Mulkey, Brownsburg (2018)
 
Ty Mills, Brownsburg (2018)
 
Nathan Walton, Brownsburg (2018)
 
Paul Konrath, Mt. Vernon (2017)
 
Cael McCormick, Yorktown (2016)

I think we are at 6.  Many of the top dual teams from elementary to HS are littered with Indiana kids.  If we ever put our best on 1 team it would be scary.  Bryan Bailey was probably the closet to accomplishing that goal.  Check out his facebook, where everyone has been posting their memories with his teams.  He has coached just about every stud in the state.
 
We just need to get rid of travel restriction and other states will start getting exposed to some of our depth.  Our top guys already travel, but getting rid of travel restriction will help some of our other talented wrestlers get exposure that can't or don't travel during the summer.

If Illinois is up that high, indiana should be up there too in my opinion plus some of the region kids are up there in Illinois 

The initial reaction confused rankings with earned placement. The rankings are locked at the beginning of sectionals.  The #1 ranked wrestler placed 4th (ok due to injury) and the #2 ranked wrestler placed 2nd at his semistate.
 
If the state finals were seeded, could you feel good about taking a lower ranked kid that had beaten the #2 wrestler the week before, and match him against the #1 or #3 wrestler? Latest head to head is the first seed criteria normally, so although it seems crazy the way it worked out, other wrestlers earned a better first match than the 2.  The real unfortunate circumstance was for Parkinson
 
i do agree that wrestle backs would be nice, though

Indiana have 7 of the last 13 Big ten wrestlers of the week Also shows we are def on the come up at d1 level among every other level in college as well!

With the conclusion of the 2019-20 season, I think there were some grapplers this year who ended their campaigns as some of the best to never win a state championship.
 
Graham Calhoun at 170lbs was a four-time qualifier and three-time medalist earning 7th place as a freshman, 5th as a sophomore, and 3rd as a senior on top of winning an NHSCA Sophomore national championship and being an All-American at the Super 32.
 
Jacob LaPlace at 195lbs was a four-time qualifier and two-time medalist taking fourth as a freshman and was 45-0 going into the finals and likely would’ve won had he not wrestled Allred.
 
Cooper Noehre and Isiah Levitz both at 160lbs. Both young men are two-time state qualifiers, placing both years at 152 and 160 as juniors and seniors. Noehre defeated Dickens last year in the semis and Levitz was undefeated with a win over Rodgers going into this year’s state semifinals. 160 was a meat grinder and regardless of who came out on top, these young men deserve to be mentioned as a state champion caliber.
 
Other notable names of quality wrestlers who never won state championships
 
Brandon James, Perry Meridian (2015)
- 4× IHSAA All-State (3rd, 5th, 2nd, 3rd)
- 170-8 record
- 2011 USAW Preseason national champion at 113lbs
- 4th at FloNationals 2014 at 120lbs (Defeated Chad Red; only Indiana wrestler to defeat Red in HS)
- 6th at 2012 USAW Cadet Freestyle Nationals at 120lbs
- 8th at 2011 USAW Cadet Freestyle Nationals at 112lbs
 
Kirk Johnson, Perry Meridian (2012)
- 3× IHSAA All-State (4th, 4th, 3rd)
- 7th at USAW Junior Greco-Roman Nationals at 160lbs (Defeated Isaiah Martinez by technical superiority)
- 7th at 2012 FloNationals at 160lbs
 
Vinny Corsaro, Cathedral (2014)
- 4× IHSAA All-State (6th, 2nd, 2nd, 2nd)
- 5th at 2013 FloNationals at 152lbs
 
Tristen Tonte, Warren Central (2017)
- 3× IHSAA State Runner-Up at 195lbs (2015-17)
- 2× NHSCA All-American
- 4× AAU Scholastic Duals All-American (14-1 in 2016)
 
Gunnar Larson, Avon (2017)
 
Steven Lawrence, Portage (2016)
 
Ben Harvey, Cathedral (2015)
 
Tyler Fleener, Center Grove (2014)
 
Fletcher Miller, Kokomo (2014)
 
Connor Tolley, Franklin Community (2014)
 
Brenden Campbell, New Castle (2012)

Joshua Kieffer, Roncalli (2011)

Jacob Tonte, Perry Meridian (2010)

Recently been noticing some guys who’ve made it to state as a senior on their sole trip and win it. I have a few names, but I wonder if there are any other wrestlers besides the ones I’m about to list that have won on their lone qualification.
 
2000: Bryce Hasseman, Franklin Community, 46-0
 
2012: Sean Mappes, Center Grove, 46-0
 
2013: Riley McClurg, Perry Meridian, 37-3
 
2015: Dylan Lydy, Ben Davis, 46-0
 
Seems like in the last decade this occurred three times. Are there any others out there?

If I remember right, he bumped up a weight to try to win one for his team. Because... that’s what true champs do. He put his career undefeated record on the line for his team. Came up just short. That’s why the kid is even more awesome! 

Recently went on the IHSAA's official website to look at the wrestling record book and I noticed Alex Tsirtsis went 62-0 that year not including Team State the next week in which his team got runner-up to Mater Dei, and if he never lost, that means he went 65-0 that year. How was that possible? Isn't there a limit to number of matches per day a team/wrestler is allowed? I can't think of any possible way that happens with any in-season tournament unless they went to super duals and an individual tournament EVERY weekend.

Dalton/Alstott EV 126
Goodwin/Wilson NC 132
Bailey/Ross NC 138
Hall/Freije NC 152
Dickens/Fuqua EV 160
Ruhlman/Carrington EV 170
Deters/Sego EV 170
Farrell/Brooks NC 195
Webster/Guhl NC 220
 
Wow... These are brutal.

Dalton/Alstott EV 126
Goodwin/Wilson NC 132
Bailey/Ross NC 138
Hall/Freije NC 152
Dickens/Fuqua EV 160
Ruhlman/Carrington EV 170
Deters/Sego EV 170
Farrell/Brooks NC 195
Webster/Guhl NC 220
 
Wow... These are brutal.

It’s not overblown at all. To say, “lumping a comment or two,” THAT isn’t fair or reality. Go on FloWrestling’s Instagram page or read back to the thread on their match last year. There were plenty of comments that were valid points for hate towards CJ because they were bitter about him winning in high school. It’s just ridiculous grown men find time to bash a kid who’s 100x the wrestler they are/were. All I’m saying is remain classy and everyone on here has done a great job of that so far. 

I’m happy I haven’t seen it thus far, and I hope I don’t see this thread doesn’t break down into a Chad Red hate train. As Indiana wrestling fans, it’s always fun to see our own elite competitors face off, but sometimes people on this board or in the FloWrestling comments get a little carried away with their praise for Nick Lee that they bash CJ. I understand being passionate, especially the EMD crowd, but you have to remember that these are two phenomenal grapplers and Nick showed us tonight how much he’s improved in one year, hats off to him. Taking nothing away from him though, Chad Red is still Chad Red. He’s a big match guy and always gives us some big wins when it matters most. They’re both two-time All-Americans on the Division I level for a reason, and both are capable of winning the 141 lb class. Keep it classy and let’s continue to keep negativity away from these young men on either end.  

I’m happy I haven’t seen it thus far, and I hope I don’t see this thread doesn’t break down into a Chad Red hate train. As Indiana wrestling fans, it’s always fun to see our own elite competitors face off, but sometimes people on this board or in the FloWrestling comments get a little carried away with their praise for Nick Lee that they bash CJ. I understand being passionate, especially the EMD crowd, but you have to remember that these are two phenomenal grapplers and Nick showed us tonight how much he’s improved in one year, hats off to him. Taking nothing away from him though, Chad Red is still Chad Red. He’s a big match guy and always gives us some big wins when it matters most. They’re both two-time All-Americans on the Division I level for a reason, and both are capable of winning the 141 lb class. Keep it classy and let’s continue to keep negativity away from these young men on either end.  

I’m happy I haven’t seen it thus far, and I hope I don’t see this thread doesn’t break down into a Chad Red hate train. As Indiana wrestling fans, it’s always fun to see our own elite competitors face off, but sometimes people on this board or in the FloWrestling comments get a little carried away with their praise for Nick Lee that they bash CJ. I understand being passionate, especially the EMD crowd, but you have to remember that these are two phenomenal grapplers and Nick showed us tonight how much he’s improved in one year, hats off to him. Taking nothing away from him though, Chad Red is still Chad Red. He’s a big match guy and always gives us some big wins when it matters most. They’re both two-time All-Americans on the Division I level for a reason, and both are capable of winning the 141 lb class. Keep it classy and let’s continue to keep negativity away from these young men on either end.  

I’m happy I haven’t seen it thus far, and I hope I don’t see this thread doesn’t break down into a Chad Red hate train. As Indiana wrestling fans, it’s always fun to see our own elite competitors face off, but sometimes people on this board or in the FloWrestling comments get a little carried away with their praise for Nick Lee that they bash CJ. I understand being passionate, especially the EMD crowd, but you have to remember that these are two phenomenal grapplers and Nick showed us tonight how much he’s improved in one year, hats off to him. Taking nothing away from him though, Chad Red is still Chad Red. He’s a big match guy and always gives us some big wins when it matters most. They’re both two-time All-Americans on the Division I level for a reason, and both are capable of winning the 141 lb class. Keep it classy and let’s continue to keep negativity away from these young men on either end.  

I’m happy I haven’t seen it thus far, and I hope I don’t see this thread doesn’t break down into a Chad Red hate train. As Indiana wrestling fans, it’s always fun to see our own elite competitors face off, but sometimes people on this board or in the FloWrestling comments get a little carried away with their praise for Nick Lee that they bash CJ. I understand being passionate, especially the EMD crowd, but you have to remember that these are two phenomenal grapplers and Nick showed us tonight how much he’s improved in one year, hats off to him. Taking nothing away from him though, Chad Red is still Chad Red. He’s a big match guy and always gives us some big wins when it matters most. They’re both two-time All-Americans on the Division I level for a reason, and both are capable of winning the 141 lb class. Keep it classy and let’s continue to keep negativity away from these young men on either end.  

120 – Andrew Haggerty (Perry Meridian) | Battle-tested kid who’s had just about everyone you could have on the schedule.
 
152 – Kade Law (Columbus East) | Al Smith champ, faced a who’s who at 152; close battle with Freije at Team State.
 
160 – Tyler Fuqua (Franklin) | Only losses to Dickens and Law (152) in the UTB.
 
220 – Alex Hernandez (Warren Central) | Solid big man from the east side room who’s faced great competition. If he’s healthy, he can make a deep run. 

285 – Jacob Johnson (Franklin) | Ranked eighth in the semi-state with five losses all coming in OT to wrestlers in the top ten. 

In my first year as a volunteer assistant coach, I see a lot of things, good and bad, that go on in the wrestling room that I question as an adult, but also think to myself, “Is that how my old teams and I were?” As a former competitor, it’s natural to feel like you could whoop up on the new high school kids of today, but you know as time passes, talent evolves and so does the sport which means that the way things are done have to be adapted to more current styles of coaching and learning. However, I wonder sometimes if things are devolving and actually worse for the athletes. The reason I say that is because I noticed the coaches are a little more cautious in how they approach their athletes these days because parents are more involved (sometimes too involved) on how a coach runs his team. Some kids in our room questioned why they had to go so hard and what the purpose for all of the intense drills was. Our Head Coach, visibly frustrated, explained calmly what the reason was. It caught me by surprise because their HC was my former HC and he was a lot harder and blunt on my teams. It made us better and we appreciated it. We also had lots of competition born inside the room due to our depth, and me and some of my best friends to this day would be cussing at each other and beating the crap out of each other because we cared that much about winning. It’s the nature of the sport. So, I tried to explain to our athletes that real friends push each other and beat up on each other in the room, working for takedowns and drilling hard to reach their goals and they looked kind of confused at that. Maybe my methods are outdated. I’m just wondering is there something I can do that can help push them to break their bad habits such as lazy drilling and a way to be assertive or a way to tell them to be assertive to one another without it becoming an incident. Every time it seems to happen, parents get involved. I don’t wanna call them soft, but at the same time I don’t think I’m telling them anything wrong. I think healthy competition in the room is necessary to be successful, but are their mindsets too weak/too naive to understand this, or is mine broken?