mockdad79

BOOM Fort Wayne!

Final Standings
 
East Chicago - 138, 195 = (2)
Evansville - 120, 145, 152, 170 = (4)
Ft. Wayne - 106, 160, 182, 285 = (4)
New Castle - 113, 126, 132, 220 = (4)
 
Gotta think the Region folks aren't going home happy!  Some were predicting 6 titles.  Nice job by Ft. Wayne equaling Evansville and New Castle.

From what ive seen i dont think the weight difference will effect his explosiveness on his takedowns. As for his hands, we shall see.

Delton Moore 160 Manchester over Noah King oak hill #8 fw ss 9-7

Just wanted to give an attaboy to James Troyer @ the Peru regional. I didn't care for him when i wrestled on the 80's, but have to give him props fir being one of the few refs that always puts himself between the kids and hitting tables, walks, gym floors and such. He did it today and I've seen him do it repeatedly more than any other ref in our area. Keeping the kids safe is what they're there for, good job Troyer!

Here we are again, anxiously awaiting another great day of wrestling at this years’ Peru Regional! As I’ve said before, I coach kids that will wrestle Saturday so I won’t be predicting the winners or the advancers in every weight class, but I’ve done some digging and have seen a lot of these kids wrestle so I’ll share some well-prepared thoughts and opinions! I’m sorry I got so long winded! I LOVE THIS STUFF! Enjoy!
 
106: Ranked wrestlers: JC Herring – 2nd in the FWSS/13th in the State and Peyton Lechner – 4th in the FWSS/17th in the State
 
Wrestling fans you do NOT want to miss this class of little studs! This bracket has everything from decorated veterans to rising stars and a couple that could sneak up and surprise some folks. For starters (as I’ve said before) JC Herring is a BEAST, not to mention a very nice kid; needless to say, I’m a huge fan. JC is a two-time regional champ, and a 2016 State Qualifier at this weight and it would be tough to bet against him to repeat a trip to the Bank. I’m sure the other veteran in this class, Mr. Lechner from Western who is a two-time regional finalist would love nothing more than to have a shot to avenge his 2 losses to Herring but he will have to get through the young stud Trey Sturgill to get that chance. Sturgill will have to watch Johnson from Marion as he’s had a great freshman season as well.
*First round match to watch: Lenoir from Kokomo (21-17) who is a returning SS Qualifier and Butcher from North Miami (22-10) who was the runner up to Sturgill at both the Peru Sectional and the TRC Championships.
*Semi-final barn burner: Lechner and Sturgill
 
113: This class is may be the toughest to predict as there are multiple kids that could do some damage! Seth Anderson from Peru is a two-time sectional champ and is looking to punch his first ticket to the SS. I’m very intrigued by the Brooks of Wabash and Ciscell of Western match up as these two freshmen are having GREAT rookie campaigns and both are wrestling well enough to represent their schools in the FW SS. On the bottom of the bracket is the freshman HHC Champ and Sectional Champ Pearson from Eastern who is on fire with a 20-2 record. He will be tough to bet against for the top spot on the podium.
*First round match to watch: Dyson from North Miami (30-8) versus Chauhan from Oak Hill (27-5). Dyson is the 2017 TRC Champ and Chauhan is the reigning CIC champ as well as the Western Open champ
*Semi-final barn burner: Anderson verses the winner of the Dyson/Chauhan match. Either one of these three young men could end up in the finals.
 
120: Ranked wrestler: Jabin Wright – 2nd in the SS/6th in the State
When it comes to his resume and accolades, Jabin Wright seems to be standing head and shoulders above this field of wrestlers this weekend. Besides his above stated rankings, he is a two-time State Qualifier and a THREE time (yes 3) Regional Champ! The young man who is arguably the 2nd best kid in the bracket might be returning FW SS Qualifier and reigning CIC Champ Courland Smith from Miss with his impressive 21-2 record. Young Smith won’t be uncontested as his first round match with Barnett from Southwood will be a dandy. Barnett is the 2017 TRC Champ and after dropping a semifinal match in sectional, I know he will be on a mission to avenge his disappointing finish last weekend.
*First round match to watch: Matchup of conference champs Smith from Miss (21-2) and Barnett from Southwood (31-10).
*Semi-final barn burner: Bottom bracket match between the winners of the Smith/Barnett match and the Stefanatos/Wilson match.
 
126: Ranked wrestler: Hunter Cottingham – 8th in the SS and 16th in the State
 
This is a VERY interesting weight class with a can’t-wait-to-see finals match. On the top side of the bracket you have the always strong Kasey Deardorff from North Miami. Kasey is in very familiar territory; as a junior he has been to the FW SS twice in as many tries, has been a TRC champ in all three attempts and is the reigning regional champ. This kid is SOLID to say the least. On the bottom side of the bracket you have the other end of the spectrum. Coach Shephard and his team have done an excellent job with the freshman Cottingham as he sports a phenomenal 36-1 record and has himself ranked in the state in his first year of high school in a very tough weight class. If this finals match does take place, it will be a great one! One person trying to throw a monkey wrench in that finals match happening is Jaylon Gibson from Marion. Jaylon is a returning FWSS qualifier and a reining Western Open champ as well as a Whitko invite champ. He and Deardorff’s semi’s match will be a MUST SEE.
*First round match to watch: No one match stands out.
*Semi-final barn burner: Kasey Deardorff (32-7) and Jaylon Gibson (36-4). Again, a MUST SEE.
 
132: When it comes to post season action this is the most inexperienced group of the day, thus making it what I’ll call the most wide-open “anybody’s to win” bracket we’ll see in Peru. There is one athlete that appears to lead the way in this bracket and that’s Eastern’s freshman Tytus Morrisett. Morrisett comes into this meet as a Sectional Champ with a 31-5 record and is a force to reckon with. Bullock from Mac had a great showing winning the TRC Championship at this weight but it was Forrest from Peru who was victorious in a hard-fought battle for the sectional title.
*First round match to watch: Dylan Goudy from Western (27-12) and Wyatt Fletcher North Miami (27-5)
*Semi-finals barn burner: Morrisett of Eastern (31-5) and Bullock of Mac (28-8). Bullock will push him till the end for sure.
 
138: This group looks to be led by returning FW SS qualifier and sectional champ from Marion Lorenzo Trevino. On the bottom side the Peru champ Kintner seems to be peaking at just the right time as he’s been on top of the podium in both the TRC Championships and the Peru sectional in the past two weeks.
*First round match to watch: Macaully Miller of Northfield (17-8) is looking very solid and strong right now and he will face CIC Champ Keith Evans of Oak Hill (21-13). Should be a tight one till the end.
*Semi-final barn burner: Cartner Kitner of Peru (22-9) and Aren Turner of Eastern (25-10)
 
145: This crazy bracket has two young men that are both two-time FW SS Qualifiers in it, which is exciting BUT…they have unfortunately found each other going head to head in the first round! Wyatt Dyson of North Miami is one and the other one is Cole Ridgeway of Oak Hill, both on the top side of this bracket. Ridgeway won the Western Invite where he beat Eli Elkins of Eastern, but then as the season progressed Elkins emerged as the #1 seed at Sectional…then “out of the bushes” came Western’s Carter Ciscell as the 4th seed who beat the #1 seed Elkins in the semis and then pinned the #2 seed Ridgeway from OH in the finals to win the sectional title! Also in the top side of that bracket is the Peru Champ who is also on a role, Collin Meggison of Manchester (27-7) is fresh off of two first place finishes at the TRC Championships and the Peru sectional.
*First round match to watch: Definitely has to be the above mentioned match of Dyson of NM (28-12) and Ridgeway of OH (23-9).
*Semi-Final barn burner: IF it happens will be the heated rematch between Ciscell of Western (14-5) and Elkins of Eastern (21-7)
 
152: Ranked wrestler – Christian Bratcher 6th in the FW SS and 13 in the State.
 
This weight class is one that I’ll call loaded for sure, having 4 guys that have all been to the FW SS, 2 of them multiple times! Christian Bratcher is the only undefeated (and ranked) wrestler in the field. As a junior he is a two-time FW SS qualifier and owns a major decision victory over Hetzner of Eastern. Hetzner is certainly a formidable opponent as a two time regional finalist and a three time FW SS qualifier and is the reigning Hoosier Heartland Conference Champ. In this bracket we also have returning FW SS qualifier and TRC Champ Layne Evans of Northfield. Layne was beaten by the other returning FW SS qualifier Wade France of Manchester as France stepped up and avenged his earlier season 2 losses by Evans.
*First round match to watch: Layne Evans of Northfield (31-2) and Donavan Shepherd of Western (25-13). No opponent should ever overlook a young man with the last name of Shepherd from Western! That family and that team simply knows how to win!
*Semi-final barn burner: Christian Bratcher of EB (35-0) and Layne Evans of Northfield (31-2). With darn near 70 wins between these two men this year, neither of them have any interest in losing this match!
 
160: Ranked wrestler – Noah King 8th in the FW SS
 
160 at the Peru sectional will be a fun one this year as well. Manchester’s super sophomore Delton Moore has had a phenomenal season and the past two weeks has been atop the podium at both the TRC Championships and the Peru Sectional in dominating fashion, winning by fall in the TRC Finals and by a quick tech fall in the sectional finals. In that top side of the bracket in the semis Moore might see a familiar foe in returning FW SS and former Sectional Champ Michael Ford of Northfield. The bottom of the bracket is highlighted by returning FW SS qualifier Noah King of Oak Hill who is having a great season earning a 28-5 record thus far.
*First round match to watch: Micheal Ford of NHS (23-10) and Kevin Lenahan of WE (28-11)
*Semi-final barn burner: Moore and the winner of the above first round match
 
170: Ranked wrestlers: Jordan Rader – 3rd in the FWSS and 15th in the State. Brody Hardcastle – 4th in the FWSS and 19th in the state. Quentin Moore – 5th in the FWSS
 
Where to start… how bout I start with saying WOW WHAT A WEIGHT CLASS! These guys have been beating each other up all year. The mighty Jordan Rader from Peru is the only previous State Qualifier in the group, as well as highest ranked in the class and owns the best record.  Coach Hobbs and Coach Fuller have to be proud of how this kid is wrestling! Brody Hardcastle of Oak Hill is a former Sectional and Regional champ and a two time FW SS qualifier and has won the CIC this year along with winning the Western Invite where Hetzner of Eastern and Carson of Western (who won the Whitko invite) competed as well. I have no doubt that future hall of famer Coach King has Brody ready for action. Evan Cardwell of Northwestern is having a very solid junior campaign. He is a returning FW SS qualifier and is a Conference champ from this year. The Manchester Monster Moore is a THREE time FW SS qualifier, a former Sectional, Regional and TRC champ is fresh off of a win by fall over Cardwell but having dealt with back to back losses to Rader at conference and sectional.
*First round match to watch: Jordan Rader of Peru (32-2) and Trevon Carson of Marion (29-5). Carson is tough and NO one expected Carson to be a ‘4’ coming into regional. This will be a great match.
*Semi-final barn burner: Quentin Moore of Manchester (29-5) and Brody Hardcastle of OH (29-3). You do NOT want to miss this match!!!!!!!
 
182: Ranked wrestlers: Noah Cressell – 4th in the FWSS and 13th in the State. Blaney Harrison – 5th in the FWSS and 15th in the State. DaShaun Barbary – 6th in the FWSS and 20th in the State
 
This is truly another WOW weight class. These top three are battle tested and READY to go! The AWESOME Apache Noah Cressell is a returning FW SS qualifier and is straight up tough. He looks tough…he wrestles tough…and according to Coach Jake O’neil he practices tough. Next on the bill is Oak Hill’s Blaney Harrison. Blaney is a former Sectional, Regional and Conference champ and is sitting on a 30-1 record, having only felt defeat at the hands of the mighty Cressell by major decision earlier in the season at the Western Invite. The next guy to mention is the battle tested Dashaun Barbary from Kokomo. He is a two-time FW SS qualifier and is a two time regional finalist and will fight with Cressell till the end to earn his third trip back under the lights in Peru Saturday.
*First round match to watch: No one match stands out.
*Semi-final barn burner: Noah Cressell (35-1) and DaShaun Barbary (30-5) The only time today you will see two STATE RANKED men meet in the SEMI-FINALS!
 
195: Ranked wrestler – Aaron Sedwick – 6th in the FWSS
 
Maconaquah’s mighty Brave Aaron Sedwick is a returning Regional and current Sectional Champ and TRC Champ and is sporting a near perfect 32-1 record. ON the bottom of the bracket is Kokomo’s Gavin Herrera who is a two-time FWSS qualifier and is hot off his upset win over top seeded Tony Fuller of Oak Hill in the sectional finals. If this match takes place it will be a GREAT final between these two men.
*First round match to watch: Victor Lee of Marion (32-10) and Sedwick of Mac. Lee, with his shocking 4th place performance last week is the reigning Western Invite champ and owns a win by fall of sectional finalist Sammons of Wabash. This kid is only a sophomore, so I’ll be paying close attention to him!
*Semi-final barn burner: Sedwick Mac (32-1) and Fuller of OH (28-5)
 
220: Ranked wrestler – Nick Fox – 8th in the FW SS
 
This weight class is possibly going to produce an AMAZING finals matchup between OH Sectional Champ Nick Fox of Kokomo (31-5) who is a two time regional finalist and FWSS qualifier and Reigning Peru Sectional champ and Conference Champ Max Clark of Northwestern who is also a returning FWSS Qualifier and is currently boasting a perfect 27-0 record!! There are two first round matches that will be ones not to miss…in the top side returning FWSS qualifier Josh Gadd of Marion (28-8) and TRC Champ Cavin Beavers (28-9) will be great as well as Jackson Bush of EB (21-8) and Collin Silvers of Mac (29-10). All 4 of those young men are capable of punching their ticket to Fort Wayne in this first round.
*First round match to watch: Mentioned above.
*Semi-finals barn burner: For the first time I’m going to have to say both. The two champs will have their hands full with either of the winners of the first round bouts I’ve highlighted above.
 
285: Ranked wrestlers: Evan Ellis – 1st in the FWSS and 2nd in the State. Owen Perkins – 3rd in the FWSS and 6th in the State.
 
This weight class has the highest two ranked wrestlers in the tournament…yes in the same class. These two GIANTS are men among boys to say the least and are VERY familiar with each other. Evan Ellis of Eastern is 35-0 and is a 3 time FWSS qualifier and a two time state Medalist placing 8th as a sophomore and 3rd last year. Owen Perkins of Oak Hill is also a 3 time FWSS qualifier and a 2 time State Qualifier and is sporting a 29-3 record…having only lost to Evan Ellis this year. This is definitely the year that the fans will NOT want to leave prior to the heavy’s wrestle because you do not want to miss this match!
*First round match to watch: Peru Sectional Champ Avery Jones of Peru (27-9) and Marion’s Gabe Watkins (21-3)
*Semi-finals barn burner: None. There are some really good wrestlers in this class but the Ellis and Perkins are just that dominant.

Best of luck to you all!

I have watched the video twice and come up with 11-11 at the end of the match both times?  What am I missing?

By JEREMY HINES
Thehines7@gmail.com
 
There is an episode of ‘Malcom In the Middle’ where a few teenagers pick on an elderly man and then run away from him. As they run, they taunt the man – knowing they are much younger and faster than he is. The old man is persistent though. He never stops moving forward. Eventually, much to the surprise of the teens, he catches up to them and beats the tar out of them.
 
Delta’s Jacob Gray is a lot like that old man. He’s not slow, by any means, but he is relentless. He’s always pressing forward. Every time an opponent looks up, Gray’s massive 182 pound frame is right in front of them.
 
“Jacob is a meat and potatoes kind of wrestler,” Delta coach Gary Schleissman said. “He’s not fancy. He doesn’t do funk. He’s straight forward and relentless. He sticks to the basics, and he does them very well. He wrestles smart and doesn’t waste any movement. He’s always been that way.”
 
Gray has 141 varsity victories and only 11 losses. As a freshman he lost in the ticket round at semistate. His sophomore year he lost just twice, both in the state finals. He ended up placing sixth that year. Last year Gray went 37-3 and lost Friday night at state.
 
This season Gray is 28-2. Both of his losses came at the hands of the state’s No. 1-ranked 182 pounder, Nathan Walton. The first time the two wrestled Walton won 5-2. Gray narrowed the gap the next time they squared off – losing by just one point, 1-0.
 
“Those losses have made me want to work harder,” Gray said. “You just think of how close the matches have been, and how a takedown, a reversal or something could have changed the outcome.”
 
Gray, who has never been pinned in high school, has made it a point this season to attack more.
 
“I am pressing the action a lot more,” Gray said. “I started noticing how in harder matches I was getting a little fatigued. Now that I’m trying to put up more points, I’m not getting as tired. I feel like it has helped me get in better shape.”
 
One of Gray’s physical attributes that has helped him on the mat is his ridiculous hand strength.
 
“His hand strength is absolutely crazy,” Schleissman said. “When I wrestle around with him in the room, it really hit me how strong his hands were last season. He’d grab a hold of my wrist and – holy crap”
 
Gray is fueled by competing at a school with a rich wrestling history. Delta is fourth on Indiana’s all-time team state championships list with five. The school, located on the outskirts of Muncie, has had 13 individual champions. The list of individual champs include: Tim Klingensmith (1970), Chris Campbell (1981), Don Heintzelman (1981), Greg Gadbury (1981), David Palmer (1981, 1982), John Ginther (1983, 1984), Ron Riggin (1984), David Locke (1984), Craig Campbell (1985), Trent McCormick (1986), Jeff Tuttle (1987), Craig Locke (1990) and Eric Kerkhof (1994, 1996).
 
“I want to be one of those guys you think about when you think of Delta wrestling,” Gray said. “Our coaches, teachers and a lot of people in our community talk about how good we were. All of my friends’ dads talk about the glory days. I see the pictures on the wall every day of all of our state champions, and I know I can be our next one.”
 
Gray got his wrestling start at the Muncie Pal Club. According to coach Schleissman, the Pal Club was a place where “a bunch of rough neck kids would go in and beat the crap out of each other every day.”
 
Bryce Baumgartner, Sage Coy, Luke Schleissman and Gray were a few of the wrestlers that emerged from the Pal Club.
 
Despite his success on the mat, Gray isn’t one to brag on himself.
 
“Jacob is just a great kid,” Schleissman said. “He’s very humble and very quiet. He’s polite and everyone respects him. I have watched him wrestle since he was very young. He’s my go to kid in practice. After this year, I’m really going to miss him.”
 
After high school he plans to wrestle in college, but has not decided where he wants to go or what he wants to study. Right now he’s focusing on getting to the top rung of the podium at Banker’s Life in February. Jacob wants to go out on top – like all senior wrestlers.
 
Click here to view the article

Since I coach in the conference I won't give my picks top to bottom but I did have some fun putting together a "preview" if you will of this Saturday's action!
 
106 - Trey Sturgill from Peru is having a very good freshman season for the tigers and will be tough to stop this weekend in North Miami. The 2nd seed is from North Miami and the 3rd seed from Rochester are both freshman with almost identical records (18-8 and 18-9) and that match in the semis should be a good one to see who will get to see Sturgill.
 
113 - Peru's Anderson is at the top of the bracket at this point and looks to be the favorite. Anderson was the 2016 TRC Champ at 113 so he knows what it's like to be on top of the podium. The 2nd seed from Rochester was 3rd at 106 last year and I'm sure would like to improve that position this year but will have to get past the very strong youngster from Wabash Braden Brooks who will stop at nothing to battle his way to the top.
 
120 - Some may not agree with me but I think 120 is very wide open at this year's TRC meet. First seeded Logan Busz from Whitko will have a tough time getting through freshman Barnett (who has the most wins on the season of anyone in the bracket) in the semi's. TV's 2nd seeded Bandow and Wabash's 3rd seeded Goodwin will go at in the lower part of the bracket with both having the ability to win that match! I'll be cliché here and say it will boil down to "who wants it more".
 
126 - Red hot youngster Levi Cunningham from Peru tops off this tough bracket at 126. Before he can be crowned champ he will likely have to face the battle tested Kasey Deardorff of NM who has won the Three Rivers Conference twice already in as many tries and is VERY determined to go for a third on his way to being a 4 time TRC Champ. Kasey's semis match will be a fun one to watch as Mathias of Manchester is a very tough kid who will work his butt off to dethrone the veteran Warrior and punch his ticket to the finals.
 
132 - Wyatt Fletcher was a TRC finalist in 2016 and is having a great season this year. Bullock from Mac will likely be his finals opponent and that county rivalry will be one to watch for sure!
 
138 - Top seeded Peru's Kitner is the only senior in this bracket and is definitely battle tested. You won't want to miss the 2nd seed from Rochester and Northfield's 3rd seeded Miller's match in the semi's. These two wrestled a great match last weekend and neither will be interested in losing this one! This finals match should be a good one as well.
 
145 - Manchester's top seeded Meggison is a very hard working kid and will go, go, go until he's at the top of that TRC podium. Dyson from NM has been around the block and knows how to win. After a tough 2nd round match with Kennedy (who is a prior TRC finalist and could shake things up)could see his way into what could be a very good finals match with Meggison.
 
152 - Northfield's senior Layne Evans is 25-1 and is hell bent on winning a TRC title in his final season for the Norse. Layne will probably face a familiar foe in Manchester's France (a 2016 SS Qualifier) in the finals who will battle Evans until the whistle. That will be a great match for sure.
 
160 - Manchester's super sophomore Delton Moore is a BEAST. I can't say his wins this class easily as the 3rd seeded Ford is a defending sectional champ and SS qualifier and is out for revenge after getting pinned by Moore in their last outing. To get his chance though Ford will beat 2nd seeded Gilbreath from Rochester who put a whipping on Ford last weekend and that rematch is one to look forward to. Fun weight class to watch for sure.
 
170 - If I got my way (and I won't ha ha) this finals match, which will likely be Jordan Rader of Peru and Quinten Moore of Manchester would be the LAST match of the day... the MAIN EVENT so to speak! I don't want to dismiss everyone else in this bracket as there are some good kids at this weight, but these two are really at another level here...they are both ranked highly in the semi state and both have full intentions on wrestling at the BANK in Indy in a month. These guys both won a TRC title a year ago and neither are interested in giving up their crown. In there last outing Rader came out victorious and I know Mr. Moore very well and he has thought about that rematch at likely every practice and match since then. This finals match is definitely the ONE TO WATCH!
 
182 - The big Apache Noah Cressell from Wabash is a MONSTER...no other way to describe him. Strong as they come at this weight and has the speed and the determination to match it. The semis match between the super strong Knight Adams and Whitko's Walters will be a great match to watch for sure, but the winner will have to have the match of his career to beat Noah.
 
195 - At 26-1, Sedwick of Mac is the favorite by far. Samons and Charles, the 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively, have wrestled a couple times and will have a good battle to determines who sees the Battling Brave in the finals.
 
220 - The top two seeds in this bracket are very familiar foes. Bevers of SW the top seed and Ramirez of Manchester the 2 seed have wrestled each other at HWT last year and now at 220 this year. Ramirez will have his hands full with the 3rd seeded Silvers of Mac who is also a sophomore and boasts an almost identical record as the big Squire. With the top three records in this class being 23-8, 21-7 and 23-8 it's hard to argue that this weight class is another one of those wide open "who wants it" brackets! I can't want to see the answer to that!
 
285 - The big Zebra Dan Clark looks to be poised to repeat his TRC Championship performance from a year ago. He and Jones of Peru and again familiar foes and wrestled a very very close match last weekend where Clark barely came out on top! Don't count out Bowman from Mac who will be looking to earn his way to the finals when he sees Jones in the semis. That will be a great match as well.
 
This was fun to write, which is why I do it. Remember my previews are purely for entertainment purposes only! Enjoy!

http://athletics.uindy.edu/news/2017/1/14/wrestling-knocks-off-1-and-5-at-ranger-duals.aspx

As regards to my son, no final decision has been made whether he is going to be released from Perry. It is looking like it will not go in our favor the coaching staff at Perry are working hard to get their AD to release him. To the outside world that does not know everything that has been going on, only the recent drama around his wrestling, it would appear this is strictly wrestling related. I can only tell you that, first, I have two daughters in Center Grove, we have always and still live in Center Grove. He went to Center Grove from kindergarten to eighth grade, 8 years. Went to Perry because it is literally 5 minutes from our house we live on the south side of county line which puts us technically in Center Grove. As we were planning on moving over into Perry District we wanted him to start and finish at that High School. My daughter being a Jr and my other daughter in middle school did not want to change schools, so we decided not to move out of Center Grove but just make it work. I never had any expectations of him being able to finish out this season. I already knew that was one thing he was going to have to deal with because of my mistake of starting out of the district. And to think he may have to sit out until this time next year because of decisions adults have made. I've always said I cannot believe that the kids are the ones to get caught up with this stuff. Lastly, if by some chance it all gets worked out and Brayden is released to wrestle this season, we would never step into a room and wrestle off the kid that has been in that spot because we transferred. We are not that type of people and Brayden is not that type of kid. The only way he steps into a spot in that room is if it is agreed upon by that kid. Y'all that don't know us may not believe that, but you all that do, you know that that is the way we are. This is not the way I want his memories of high school to be. Just everybody try to remember that when you're on here talking about all this stuff, if it is good or for kids bad or whatever it is about the kids. They get on here probably as much as we do. I would never want Brayden to get on here and talk about somebody, calling him garbage or some of the stuff I've seen. I'm not judging anybody. Just asking everybody to remember what this is all about.

Also hopefully everyone catches we added college committment to the rankings page. Also we have notable results for almost every wranked wrestler. Thank you for everyone who sends them in, we appreciate it

I don't see a profile/results for him, so you could always enlighten us with his accomplishments if he deserves to be in to try and speed up the process.

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
 
Penn has been an IHSAA state championship contender in most years since Brad Harper took over as head coach of the Kingsmen in 2006.
 
In 2015, Penn won its first state team title.
 
The goal every year is reach the top of the Indiana heap.
 
It’s also to grow the program’s reputation in the state and beyond.
 
At any given time during the high school season, there are around close to 100 wrestlers striving to get better while also forming a bond.
 
“The family atmosphere — that’s huge for us,” Harper said. “That’s why we have 90 kids on the team.
 
“We probably have 14 seniors and only three of them start. Why are you letting the seniors stay out? Because they want to be a part of it.”
 
Long-time assistant coach Chad Hershberger, a 2000 Penn graduate, hears the word every time the Kingsmen break from a meet or a practice: “Family!”
 
“That’s what we are,” Hershberger said. “We are a family from the time we step into that (practice) room until we leave. It’s 24-7, 365.”
 
One of Harper’s teammates at Mishawaka High School (Brad won a state title in 1998 and was a state runner-up in 1999) was Mike Cramer, who is now associate pastor at New Life Baptist Church in Osceola.
 
Cramer has been coming to Friday practices for years to give motivational talks that relate life to wrestling. Topics include hard work, teamwork, determination and — of course — family.
 
Not every athlete buys into the family values that the coaching staff of 20 constantly talks about.
 
But most do and thrive because of it.
 
They gravitate to coaches like five men who have been at the core of the coaching staff for the past decade — Harper, Hershberger, Dave Manspeaker, Jim Rhoads and Tom Dolly.
 
They also go to the many longtime volunteers to learn wrestling technique, but also to be motivated or to just have a friend and role model.
 
“We mentor some of these kids,” Hershberger said. “Some of them don’t have much and they just want to be a part of something.”
 
So while individuals set their own goals, the team goal is always a high one and everyone is expected to contribute.
 
At some schools, they call them “program kids.”
 
At Penn, it’s “next guy in.”
 
“You’ve got to be ready because you never know when someone is going to go down,” Harper said.
 
Getting wrestlers ready to jump into the fire is a schedule that has junior varsity wrestlers taking part in many varsity tournaments.
 
“The only way that some of these kids were going to be able to step into that role is to have the varsity experience,” Hershberger said. “Are we always going to win? No. But that’s not what we ask. It’s about getting better and getting that varsity competition so when we do have injuries, that next kid is ready to step in. They are battle-tested.”
 
Penn, which placed sixth in Class 3A at the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association State Duals Friday, Dec. 23 in Fort Wayne, also derives success from its feeder program. Three middle schools — Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker are all on the same page with the high school.
 
The Penn Wrestling Club begins with pre-kindergarten grapplers and goes all the way through high school, where it’s known as Midwest Extreme Wrestling (MXW) and wrestlers come from all over to take part in national team events.
 
It begins with the Kings Kids (Pre-K through First Grade) and goes to the Noble Kingsmen (Grades 2-5) Elite Kingsmen (Grades 2-6) and Black Knights (Grades (6-8) before high school.
 
Chad Harper, Brad’s brother and a member of Mishawaka’s 1991 IHSAA team champions, is club’s event coordinator and vice president on the board of directors. He said there are currently 176 active wrestlers though eight grade and there are 40 or more in the high school club.
 
When the high schoolers travel to Indiana events, they tend to go as the Penn Wrestling Club. At national tournaments, they tend to represent MXW.
 
MXW promotes wrestling regionally, nationally and possibly at the world level.
 
“It just makes for a good wrestling room,” Chad Harper said.
 
Through fundraising efforts (each wrestler has their own account), club wrestlers travel all over the nation — from Las Vegas to the Fargo Nationals to the Disney Duals in Florida and more.
 
“We’re seeing competition nationwide and that’s huge,” Brad Harper said. “Our goal is not just to be good in the state, we want to be No. 1 in the nation.”
 
On April 7-8, 2017, PWC and MXW will again host a national dual tournament inside Compton Family Ice Arena at the University of Notre Dame. The 2016 duals — the first wrestling meet on the ND campus since 1992 — drew eight regional teams and the hope for 2017 is 16.
 
“We want to grow it every year,” Chad Harper said. “We want to help build up the Notre Dame club.”
 
Fran McCann, who helps coach at the high school and club levels at Penn, was the Notre Dame head coach when the school discontinued intercollegiate wrestling.
 
Heading into 2016-17, Penn’s single-season leaders were Austin Kunze (217 takedowns in 2009-10), Tim Koch (37 reversals in 1987-88), Alex Gregory (35 pins and 50 wins in 2010-11), Derrick Jones (87 near falls in 1997-98) and Trevor Manspeaker (31 technical falls in 2012-13). Career leaders were Kenny Kaiser (331 takedowns from 1985-88), Tom Ginter (62 reversals from 2002-05), Alex Gregory (102 pins from 2007-11), Jeremiah Maggart (197 near falls from 2004-07), Trevor Manspeaker (93 technical falls from 2012-13) and Zach Davis (169 wins from 2011-14).
 
Penn won its first Northern Indiana Conference title in 1980. The Kingsmen went into this season with a five-year streak of NIC crowns.
 
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I say we make an unofficial dual meet between Bellmont and North Montgomery for #2. Problem solved.

I guess the first thing that comes to mind as I sift through these posts is "perspective."  Just who are you in relation to the issue?  Are you a coach, a grandfather of a wrestler, an ex-wrestler, a current high school wrestler?  If you are a coach, you will likely understand the dynamics of a small school better than most, as compared to a large school. (i.e. - lesser resources to work with, smaller coaching staff, fewer drill partners in the practice room, smaller gene pool of athletes to pull from, etc)  I would also caution that the vantage point of a "teacher-coach" is much, much different than that of a "lay coach."  I have been both.  I was a lay coach for 18 years before becoming a teacher for the past 10 years.  Even as a lay coach, I had no idea about the dynamics and inter-workings surrounding the students and their available resources during the school day and on the athletic field.
 
If we want to grow actual wrestling in our state, class wrestling is the way to go.  It offers fair and equitable opportunities to all who participate across the state.  We should class Indiana wrestling for the very same reasons we now class Indiana football, Indiana baseball, etc...   The days of Hickory HS and the movie Hoosiers is long gone.  Community and school dynamics have changed drastically in recent decades.  
 
Class wrestling works in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois to name just a few, and it would work tremendously in Indiana.  I don't think anyone can say that the class system has hurt wrestling in any of these other states that surround us.
 
So back to perspective...  just who should have the final say on this topic, since so many people are divided on the issue?  The fan in the stands who doesn't have a singlet on?  The IHSAA who only seems to care about money and self-preservation?  Or should the schools/teams who are the ones in the trenches have the final say-so?
 
I think this point has been made before, but I will mention it again.  If there is no use for "class anything", then let's do away with class football in Indiana.  It's 11 vs 11 right?  Them there small schools should be able to hang with Warren Central and Ben Davis on the gridiron.  While we are at it, let's do away with DI, DII and DIII classifications at the collegiate level!  Those DIII wrestlers need to quit making excuses and man up against Penn State, Oklahoma State and Iowa!  That's a fair assessment isn't it?
 
There are classifications of all kinds in our society's infrastructure in the name of "fair play."  It is time Indiana class its high school wrestling season to offer more equitable opportunities to kids from varying communities and school districts across the state and to grow the sport as a whole.  Mark my words... if we implement class wrestling, our numbers and overall strength of the sport will sky rocket across the state!
 
Coach McCormick
 
 

I am a PA resident and have been to the Indiana state wrestling finals for the last 5 years. I like the fact that there are not separate classes.
However, the way the tournament is run with no wrestle backs until Saturday is a slap in the face to the 8 wrestlers who lost on Friday night.
I watched this year alone, a bunch of top ranked wrestlers loose a tough match on Friday and they were done. This is just down grading to a wrestler who has worked his tail off to get to this point. It does not give you your true placing.
With the blind draw you could end up with the top 2 wrestlers in the weight class on the same side of the bracket and meet before the finals and then one of them can only finish as good as fifth. No way is that fair to these young wrestlers.
If Red and Lee happened to be on the same side of the bracket, that great finals match would never have happened.  Lee could of only then finished fifth.
Do you think that is fair?  No way.  Wrestle backs should be a part of these Brackets and the wrestlers should be seeded and placed in the brackets accordingly.  This is the only way you will get your true top 8 wrestlers in the end.
It is just an in justice to these guys who have worked so, so hard to get to this point to be denied a true placing because of one loss. 
This really needs to be looked at and corrected. I talked to so many people at the state finals that expressed the same thoughts that I have.
All the coaches need to all get together and take this to the IHSAA board and get this changed!! 
Come on man!! Give these wrestlers what they deserve.

Hildebrandt vs Glogouski was an exciting one.

I've been around this sport for a long time and I've never seen Banker's Life have that kind of atmosphere - it was just awesome to be a part of it. I was "Team Lee" before the match and despite the outcome, I'm still "Team Lee" - he's an outstanding technical wrestler and is just pure class. He now has 2 losses - Micic & Red - the simple fact that he could walk into the room and choose what weight he wants to wrestle and those are where he chose to go says all that needs to be said about Nick Lee - he knew the risks and rewards and he chose to go after it - I'd take that kind of fight in the wrestling room every time. This fine young man will continue to do great things - us fans are the lucky ones along for the ride.
 
Chad Red has been wowing us for four years - again - us fans were the lucky ones. I've been lucky enough to witness the careers of 5 out of 9 4xers - becoming a 4 x state champion is not a fluke - you earn that one match at a time. Congrats to Chad Red - you've joined an elite list. Good luck in your NCAA wrestling career.
 
Am I the only one already planning my trip to the Big10 Championships for a rematch?!?

I have been to every final since 1974 and never have I seen this much excitement over one match. Wrestling fans won tonight and the two young men who didn't run from each other but faced each other won as well. That I can respect. Both young men made Indiana Proud and will go on to represent Indiana in the same fashion.

First off congrats to Chad Red. He proved why he is where he is. Fought his way back into a match against a top 10% wrestler in the country. C.J. you are a true great in our sport. Nick Lee, what a classy kid!!! Shook hands kept composure and was ever so gracious in defeat. You win like a champ and lost like a champ because you are one. Great job boys thats what our sport is missing.

Congratulations to all the Academic All-State wrestlers this year! It is great to see so many wrestlers not only striving for excellence on the mat, but in the classroom.
 
IHSWCA Academic All-State.pdf

50 unranked kids out of 224 that's pretty good. Gotta pull for the underdogs! Thanks for the brackets!!

I think this is a slap in the face to all the other wrestlers competing Red and Lee aren't anymore special than any of the other wrestlers who have worked so hard to get there!!!!!