anklepick

In case you missed it on X or the college thread: Christian Mejia from Elkhart Memorial, Derek Blubaugh from Bloomington South, and Shawn Streck from Merrillville all picked up D2 national titles last night.
 
Mejia had finished 5th twice before, was seeded only 3rd, and was in his final year of eligibility. 
 
Blubaugh had twice been national runner-up to his finals opponent, and had lost to him 5-0 two weeks ago, but finally got over the hump.
 
Streck picked up his second consecutive title. 
 
Congrats, guys!!
 
 

Just wanted to say the Rioux Fam appreciate all the kind words! Unbelievably proud of Luke and Nate for all their hard work and Luke for getting it done... even if he had to call me out in the interview afterwards! 

BN and Bs aren't WIC

TRIPLE_B EVANSVILLE SEMI-STATE SPECTACULAR PREVIEW!!!!!!
 
This year Trips will hit turn the big 4-4 on Saturday, Mrs 3B will be in attendance for her first SS ever, will this be the greatest Evansville SS of all time?? Dirty brackets, blood round matches that feel like your cutting fresh onions, and all around excitement will fill The FORD Saturday February 10th. 
 
Evansville is THE BEST Semi-State in the land!! 224 wrestlers will be battling for 56 Golden tickets to Indy…..errrr…. Back to Evansville!!! Out of those 224, 138 are Semi-State ranked and 98, I Said 98 (!!!!!!) are ranked in the IndianaMat State Rankings!! Lawwwwwdy have Mercy!!!! This might be the big one Elizabeth!!!! 
 

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Can't wait 

144 - Weaver/Cooksey had an exciting match in the regular season with Weaver getting the win 2-0. It was chippy at the end with the young sophomore not backing down from the undefeated senior. This matchup will be fun to watch again.

When a wrestler checks the corner for choice, gives you the neutral sign, you choose down, and they roll their eyes.  “If you want to be neutral, then get neutral!”

I have coached a long time and I feel I am starting to see more and more wrestlers call their own injury time. Many times it is because they are gassed and need a break. Something needs to change with this. One of the goals of the sport is to break your opponent. I find anymore as soon as you break your opponent their knee or shoulder magically hurts. Something needs to change. Coaches need to also step up and not let their athlete pull this stuff. It’s hurts the sport. I know college lets the other wrestler have choice after this happens. 

I ain't like that.  I ordered two hot dogs, a pretzel, and a coke and I was good for most of the day.  Just a side note, I don't even eat hot dogs all that often, but for some reason enjoying a hot dog at a wrestling meet or tournament puts a smile on my face.  

Malone v Boyd final would be exciting

I have "real life" experience on this one.  I was in 10th grade during the 1971-72 season.  I was not very good and never expected to be actually wrestling in a meet so I was not concerned about ny weight.  It is a long story, but events conspired to make me our JV entrant for a match the next evening.  I was ten pounds over.  I had never lost weight in my life, but I knew what some of the guys did.  I wanted to make sure I made weight so I did alot.  The net evening when I weighed in I was almost seven pounds under weight.  To wrestle heavyweight back then you had to weigh no more than 245 pounds.  I believe it had been that way for quite some time.  I believe we still had the 245 pound class when I was a Junior, but by the time my Senior season rolled around the IHSAA/National Federation had removed the limit.  The biggest guy I wrestled, as a Junior and Senior, was a 420 pounder.  I weighed about 240 at that time.  I had took up lifting and working out and managed to actually become worthy of wrestling Varsity.  I often got a bit crazy....I shot on the 420 pounder, and he crushed me.  Actually put me on my back.  I fought like crazy until the period ran out, and then ended up pinning him in the next period.  In the 80's they put the 275 weight limit in because at least one wrestler was injured (broken next) because he was wrestling the unlimited class while weighing around 180 pounds.  I think there were several instances of severe injury.  I think the reason they initially went to an unlijmited class was because of all the hype surrounding Chris Taylor (Iowa State).  THere were also other big men in NCAA wrestling like Tab Thacker.  Another one was the guy who was in the movie "Stir Crazy" with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.  Besides being an outstanding wrestler he was also a really good opera singer.

This finally was delivered to Whiteland Community High school! Just to not leave any loose ends. 

Prior to 2011 I don't think East had won a sectional since the early 80's, they had never won a conference title, or a regional title, and never had an individual state champion. Few can turn a program like that into what East has become now
 

I know I am not the only one who enjoys this weekend the most in the state series.  For some, I know they expect to be here and at next week's slamdango for the precious metals.  Yet, I think a lot of wrestlers making it here for perhaps the first or the last times have to be gratified to see their hard work paying off.  Every lap, sprint, shark tank, four-hour drive, close loss and quick pin....the growing wrestler has endured so, so much on this uphill journey.  Some will reach a career highlight in the second round, while some will not.  Others, again, will expect to be here and will move on.  Yet, some expectations will be unmet.
 
Oh, how well we know this is an individual sport!  By this time, the wrestler has pushed their body and mind to their known limits in hopes of attaining success.  Many may not realize that during this pursuit, greatness has already been achieved.  Acts of perseverance, willingness, and respect for the sport and those who continue to carve legacies add up.  The discipline it takes to properly nourish the mind in the classroom and the body at the dinner table does build the toughness needed to get to this stage as well.
 
Clearly, the spirit of victory can be felt by flesh and blood and the pain of loss can likewise be as deeply known.   As exhilarating and stark the extremes may be for the wrestler, the coaches, parents and teammates have played a game or two of Chutes and Ladders themselves.  They will continue to venerate your name and deeds no matter the outcome.  May you continue to profit both in wrestling and in every facet of life from your priceless sacrifices.
 
 
 
 

I will never understand the fear some parents have for their kids to compete vs kids their own age.

Congratulations to Eli Hinshaw from Owen Valley for signing with Indianapolis. Projected to wrestle 197.
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Congratulations to Michael Hutchison from Cascade for signing with Milikin. Projected to wrestle 157.
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You can't be more dominant than a fall.  What happens before matters not.  "If, If was a fifth we'd all ..........

I guess Getting a pin isn't dominant, next time I'm going to make sure I ask the post police how I should word MY posts. 
 

#11 Branson Weaver 15-0 wins by pin over Kelby Glenn 19-1. Kelby was up 5-3 in the 3rd when Branson pinned him. 
 
Kelby isn't ranked in state or semi state but he's been around forever. He lost to Joey Butler 7-4 in the ticket round.
 
Look for Weaver and Glenn at semi state to try their best to punch their ticket.

So....Owen Valley for the 2A vote-in spot, right? 

By JEREMY HINES
Thehines7@gmail.com
 
The Owen Valley High School wrestling team has one main goal – to make the Class 2A Team state tournament. On Sunday the Patriots will find out if they get invited to the tourney.
 
“Last year getting to team state was our goal,” Patriot coach Steven Spicer said. “Nothing’s changed for this year. We have talked about it all offseason. The guys know what the goal is. They have bought in. If we get in, it will be huge for our program.”
 
Last season was the first time Owen Valley’s wrestling team was ever ranked in Class 2A. Spicer felt it would come down to a dual meet between the Patriots and Monrovia for the final spot in the team state field. In that dual meet Monrovia won by three points, and got in.

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Anyone see Krueger/Billerman at Perry? I bet it was good with a 15-12 score and their styles

Match was fire. Toby came out the gate hot, but Liam battled back and eventually took the lead before Toby, down 11-8, scored an escape, takedown, and 3 near fall from a tilt. Liam got the escape to make it 14-12, and I forgot where Toby’s last point came from though. Worth the price of admission as the saying goes.

Anyone see Krueger/Billerman at Perry? I bet it was good with a 15-12 score and their styles