grecoref

When the Ancient Elder used to post on here he considered Randy May one of the best ever high school wrestlers this state has seen.

Did somebody say Sweater vest? 

 

You know the IHSWCA prez and his crew roll sweater vest deep!!!

 

Hell I'm wearing mine at work right now!!!

 

#SweaterVestMafia

Scarlet and gray with a block O ?

Zach has been selected by United World Wrestling as one of just 2 USA referees and one of just 50 referees in the world to referee the 2016 Olympic games in Rio. Zach has also been selected as a UWW Instructor. Instructors are the Head Officials at World and Continental Championships. He was 1 of only 9 Instructors in the World, This is Zach's 2nd straight Olympic selection as he worked the 2012 Games in London.

The Olympic selection process can be very stressful. They seem to do it differently each time. As one who has been through it, I can only describe it as survival of the fittest or last man standing. It's not user friendly to say the least.

On the mat Zach is considered to be the best referee in the world, not only by me, but by his peers and the powers that be with UWW. When he is on the mat he gets the big matches as the referee or mat chairman. As young as he is, he's already considered one of the best, if not the best, referee the USA has put on the mat.

Congratulations my friend!

Joe was Jim Humphrey's assistant when Hump left IU for Foxcatcher.  Hump and his assistants had recruited their butts off and had built a great team. Joe left IU to become the Head Assistant at Michigan, his alma mater. He was brought in to succeed Dale Bahr, Joe's college coach who planned to retire in a few years. As the story goes he was paid more for being the top assistant at Michigan than he was for being the head coach at IU.

Caleb Smith from Princeton is also competing in GR. He placed in the top 8 in last year's national open.

Because that wouldn't be confusing for most casual wrestling fans...

Not to mention most referees. I'm not sure I would want to referee something like this.

I don't know you personally and with everything you've stated that you've done for this sport, I applaud you. However, I think the last 4 lines of your original post is what is offensive. That could have been just left out in my opinion.

Understand that isn't my opinion, rather it is what happened.

This whole lil story is offensive. First of all there is no Iraqi language. Britain the US and France made up Iraq. Secondly the language spoken in Iraq is Arabic, or Farsi. Thirdly I love Greco but I hope my Arabic named and some looking somewhere between Bob Marley and an Arab sons never crosses paths with you. He looked like Sadaam Hussien. Just not funny and in poor taste.

In my almost 30 years as international referee I was recognized as one who was honest and fair. I was selected to work gold medal matches between Russia and Iran, Iran and Korea, Turkey and Ukraine, etc... I was selected to work those matches because all of those countries knew I would call the match based on who did what not who was from what country and what their religious background was or their skin color. I am welcome in any of those countries with open arms.

One of the Iranian referees is one of my best friends. We used to refer to each other as "My Enemy". We greeted each other that way,

Around 1997 or 98 Les Gutches and Kevin Jackson were having battles to make the US Team. They were wrestling in the finals of the National Championships in Orlando. Bobby Douglas was coaching Jackson and asked who the referee was going to be for the final. When they told him it was me his response was "Absolutely no problem. He's fair." I consider that one of the greatest compliments I ever had.

I have been selected to work every World or Olympic Team Trial since 1992, the Pan Am Championships, the World Cup, 25 World Championships and the Olympic Games. Not one time has anyone questioned my integrity or my ethics. Until now...and I'm not sure you even know me.

Tom Clark

I was working the weigh ins at the Junior Worlds one year and the wrestler from Iraq came to the scale. Internationally the wrestlers have a license book with their picture and a stamp from the current year showing their federation paid for their license. We were told several times not to allow anyone to weigh in without the current stamp. The Iraqui hands me his book and starts to get on the scale. He doesn't have a stamp so I don't let him on.  I point to the spot where the stamp is supposed to be and tell him no. I give him the book back and point to the table where they are selling the stamps.

He comes back with his coach and both are smiling and saying "It's ok now". The kid puts the book in the pile with the other guys from his weight. I pick up the book and still no stamp. Again, I don't let him on the scale. Now the coach who looks exactly like Sadam Huessein is screaming at me in Iraqui. I had enough and tell him in English to go do something physically impossible (keeping it PG rated). All of the sudden in perfect English he says "USA, you bombed my house!" The other USA referee who was alerted to the situation was standing next to him and replied "And it's too bad you weren't in it!." Armed security comes and takes the coach and the wrestler away. He never did weigh in.

Fun times for sure!

Coach,

The referees have been instructed not to answer questions regarding qualifying weights/weigh-ins. We are to refer those questions to Mr. Faulkens at the IHSAA.

I have been asked three questions such as this already this week and I have advised the coaches to contact Mr. Faulkens.

I'm sorry I could not have been more helpful.

Tom Clark

IHSAA Rules Interpreter

This is a silly statement to just throw out there.  There's no coach that isn't a "fan" of any kid that can contribute positively to the program and help them win.

I agree that is a silly statement. Purdue has several Indiana kids in their lineup who can and will help them win. Just because they don't sign a kid doesn't mean that they haven't tried or aren't interested.  I have had several conversations with Coach Ersland and I know he wants Indiana kids.

I can't stand Christian Pyles. I do like Willie, however.

How about a group photo of all the Cardinal fans weeping with sadness.

This is a HUGE step in gaining national respect for Indiana. Thanks for making this happen Joe!

I had an older couple approach me Sunday and the man said "You look a lot like a guy named Tom Clark I used to know in Ohio." I said that's me and he laughed and said he knew it. They were there watching their grandson wrestle in the tournament. Their son who wrestled for me when I coached in Ohio was watching online while on a business trip to Japan. He sent a text to his Dad and told him he saw me refereeing and they came down to say hello. I had not seen them in over 20 years.

The backroom collaboration would surprise you. Think back to the GR 120kg gold medal match. You saw Lopez all day. Do you think that match was legit?

Don't put it past the Iranian to lose on purpose to eliminate Metcalf. It happens more than you know.

I refereed the Women's World Cup in Japan once. About 20,000 people in attendance and the place was going nuts! Women's wrestling is very popular in Japan.

Yoshida continues her unbeaten lifetime streak in world competition. She'll face Stadnyk in the finals. Greco semis up now

Yoshida's 16 World or Olympic Gold Medals is probably unheard of in any sport. She's aging a little, but in her prime she was heads and shoulders above anyone in the weight class.

With 5 weight classes being contested it's going to be a long day!

Dingo...I always thought Lopez could go directly to the NFL as a Defensive End. What's your take on his athleticism?

So far, the match of the day is at 66kg, where Austria's Benedikt Puffer and Tajikhstan's Khusrav Obloberdiev are facing off. They've exchanged big throws and each has nearly pinned the other. 4-4 the final, with Puffer winning on criteria.

 

No sooner than I had described this previous match as the best match of the day...along comes # 3 and former world champ Russian Roman Vlasov and former world champ #2 Arsen Julfalakyan of Armenia. Very quickly, Vlasov slams Julfalakyan with incredible force squarely on his head. The crowd let out a collective gasp, as it looked like a potential serious injury. As quickly as the thought came, Julfalakyan started waving his hands while on his back to instruct his team to challenge that the move took place in bounds. The toughness of wrestlers is sometimes stupefying...Vlasov with a surprisingly easy time against Julfalakyan. Vlasov in control, wins 6-0. You won't find a more vicious looking slam than Vlasov's against the Armenian.

Indiana's Zach Errett was the referee for Vlasov-Julfalakyan match. Zach is the best referee in the world and that's why he was selected to work this match.

Coming from a university that dropped wrestling...even though their most famous wrestler, Larry Owings was the only person to defeat this country's most famous wrestler, Dan Gable in a high school or college match that counted.

My guess is Folkstyle and the NCAA's are not what he is setting his sights on. He wants to be an Olympic Champion and get an education. An NCAA championship would just be an added bonus if he could squeeze it in. Keep up the good work Micic.

Why anyone would think that being an Olympic or World Champion is more important than being an NCCA Champion is way beyond me. This is America and this is Indiana and by God we are folkstylers!

At least he won't have to wear one of those ugly helmets if he decides to enroll at that school up north.