bdavidson

Love to see Conway vs. Phillips too... but it’s gonna have to be in the semi-finals or finals.  Regional Champ Baby... 🔥

Alstott vs Rulhman @ Bloomington South. 

Comparing official high school events and some of the "club" level events operated by third parties is like comparing apples and oranges. At one pre-season club event I attended that had all age groups, duals and individual there were WAAAAAY too many people. Snot nosed tikes running about, grandparents in wheelchairs, people crowding the mats, etc. Even in a non-pandemic year, these things sometimes feel like a loosely organized prison fight.
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum, all of the official high school events we've participated in have been well organized. Attendance limited to immediate family (parents and siblings). Seating generally grouped by team, etc. People being generous, smart and giving each other their space. Host schools kept extra cleaning staff on hand to continuously wipe down commonly touched surfaces.  
 
With the regular season now over, I would suggest that what the Indiana High School wrestling teams, coaches, schools have pulled off this year was an incredible success. We did NOT hear reports of massive spread between wrestlers in practice, duals or tournaments. We did NOT hear any stories about getting fans in attendance sick.
 
Wrestling is a misunderstood sport even in good times. At a lot of schools, even our principals and ADs were skeptical about whether wrestling should proceed. But we did what wrestlers do. We looked at the rules, added our own common sense, stayed focused and disciplined. People didn't think we could pull it off, but we did. Not hanging a "victory" banner just yet, but just look at what we accomplished. We should give ourselves a little credit (because nobody else will!).

Indiana vs. Michigan Bout Scores 
165: #16 Cameron Amine (MICH) def. #26 Nick South (IU) 8-3 decision (IU 0, MICH 3)
174: #2 Logan Massa (MICH) def. #28 Donnell Washington (IU) fall at 6:38 (IU 0, MICH 9)
184: Jaden Bullock (MICH) def. Drayton Harris(IU) tech fall 16-0/3:48 (IU 0, MICH 14)
197:  Nick Willham (IU) def. Andrew Davison (MICH) 4-2 decision (IU 3, MICH 14)
285: #2 Mason Parris (MICH) def. Rudy Streck(IU) fall at 2:06 (IU 3, MICH 20)
125: #10 Dylan Ragusin (MICH) def. Brock Hudkins (IU) 6-4 decision (IU 3, MICH 23)
133: Asa Garcia (IU) def.  Jack Medley (MICH) 11-6 decision (IU 6, MICH 23)
141: Drew Mattin (MICH) def. Kyle Luigs (IU) 11-6 decision (IU 6, MICH 26)
149: #6 Kanen Storr (MICH) def. Luke Baughman(IU) 5-2 decision (IU 6, MICH 29)
157: #8 Will Lewan (MICH) def. Matt Ortiz (IU) 8-3 decision (IU 6, MICH 32)
 
Extra Matches
157: Fidel Mayora (MICH) def. Jonathan Kervin(IU) 6-2 decision
125: Jacob Moran (IU) def. Kurt McHenry (MICH) 4-1 decision
141: Pat Nolan (MICH) def. Nico Bolivar (IU) 4-1 decision
165: Layne Van Anrooy (MICH) def. Derek Gilcher(IU) 7-3 decision
174: Max Maylor (MICH) def. Robert Deters (IU) 12-0 major decision
285: Luke Ready (MICH) def. Jacob Bullock (IU) 5-3 decision
157: Jonathan Kervin (IU) def. Ameen Hamdan (MICH) 5-2 decision

Sectional and Regional schools that are allowing no fans or putting severe restrictions on fans should not be allowed to host. 
 
2 spectators per wrestler is reasonable and should be a requirement by the IHSAA to host a sectional or regional. 

Feeler also pinned #19 Heaston from IC about a month ago at Ev Memorial Invite.

First off we have to be very thankful we are having a season. It doesn't look promising for the states that have moved their seasons and we are extremely lucky here. I wasn't sure we would get through a month of the football season. I wasn't sure we would get through a month of the wrestling season, but here we are. 
 
We all want fans at our events to cheer on the kids. This year has been really weird without fans in the stands. Last night was our first home meet with fans and it felt different and nice to have to people yelling and screaming. 
 
With everything else going on in this world our kids having wrestling is even more important. Be appreciative of the efforts of the administrations from the IHSAA to local schools for working with us during this time. Our kids are having a season and it is looks good that we will complete it. That is something many states may not be able to say.

I’ll again defer to the progressive stance of the IHSAA for football and continue along that thought process. They allowed 2 tickets per participant. Though they were outside venues, the venues were still smaller than both semi-state and state venues for wrestling minus Lucas Oil and perhaps a 6A stadium. 
 
So, my math says 16 wrestlers X 14 weights plus two coaches each is still under 1000 attendees. Throw in referees, table help, trainers, perhaps even concessions, and you have around 1500 per tourney venue. Looks like the two biggest non-coliseums in Indiana are East Chicago and New Castle checking in at right around 8000 seats. I have that at 18.75% occupancy for the smallest semi-state venues. 
 
For Bankers Life at 20,000 capacity, all wrestlers, 2 coaches, 2 participant tickets, and tournament help of, let’s just say, 2000 would be only 10% capacity. 

So, yeah, I can see fans at all venues for the entire tournament. IHSAA gives zero fecks about the Rona impeding their tournaments. They understand the role these sports are playing on our kids’ sanity. It’s a damn blessing and an an honor to be part of setting the bar for the country. Read no farther than landing the entire March Madness in Indy starting 2 weeks after the IHSAA finals.
 
 

Feeler also pinned #19 Heaston from IC about a month ago at Ev Memorial Invite.

Here’s our gear. Think the kids like the new bags the most.

A quick update...
 
Brute and Cliff Keen,  Both are true WRESTLING SUPPLIERS and have been for many years.  Both have supplied NCAA and HS teams across the country as long as any of us can remember.
 
Both are producing singlets is the Good Ol USA.  Cliff Keen in Michigan and Brute in Pennsylvania.  At this time both are running 3 weeks MAX on uniform production.  If your up for new uni's this season and want to get an American made product, at a great price, with a great lead time....Give E.I. Sports and Apparel a call.  812-474-1836 or eisports@sigecom.net.