Dingo Brigade

I thought about that as a possible solution, but then the issue of who coaches the teams arises. It definitely addresses a big part of the problem, though

I have some thoughts on this situation... First, this is a great event and could be a phenomenal, elite event if 'the word' got out a little more forcefully. Even considering the relative lack of publicity, there are some phenomenal wrestlers that have come through this tournament in recent years. Each participant is guaranteed a ton of high quality matches with generally high quality coaching as well. If more 'power' states sent some more of their best kids and fielded complete, stud-filled teams, this could be one of the very best events of the offseason. With Indiana's travel restrictions, this is one of the few opportunities for our best kids to face some of the best in the country. I have seen first-hand how much participation in this event has boosted the confidence and performance of Indiana's lesser-known wrestlers. Coach Cook does a great job running this challenging event and it's close to being one of the real highlights of national offseason wrestling. Although I don't have a perfect solution for the controversy with the indianamat team, I can say, without bias or hesitation, that the Indiana community needs to quit fighting with Joe Caprino. At some point, personal issues and pride need to take a backseat to the state's well-being as a whole. Whether or not some folks in the Indiana establishment like it, they need to accept that Joe is criticial to our state's improvement and national profile. Joe has created and developed one of the premier wrestling websites in the entire country. That is not a compliment, that is a fact. If you don't believe it, look around at the other states' sites in the USA. The site is viewed by national publications and entities. He also has created and developed an elite Midwest tournament, which is growing in size and stature each season. Obviously, he is very passionate about his various enterprises, but, to me, his personality is irrelevant. He is one of the strongest friends and supporters of this state's wrestlers....period. The IHSWCA needs to work with him and not cast him aside. I'm not saying they need to give in to his every whim, but they should definitely look at him as an ally and not an opponent. There are smart, passionate people involved....so let's put our heads together and look in the same direction and stop all the in-fighting. It absolutely hurts the state as a whole when there is conflict between the state's coaches and its biggest media supporter (by far), which not coincidentally is run by a fellow coach. C'mon, guys, let's stop all the feudin' and fussin'. We all love this sport and our state.

Oglesby down to start the 2nd. Hemmelgarn riding rough....Oglesby appears to be hurt....he's back in action, still down position. Hemmelgarn trying to corral him, finally Oglesby escapes, leads 1-0. VERY slow pace, Hemmelgarn moving forward more than Oglesby, but limited attack options for Hemmelgarn...finally snaps a sweet throw, but they roll out of bounds....1-0 Oglesby leads heading into the 3rd. Hemmelgarn down to start....out pretty quickly, ties it at 1-1....TD probably wins it....less than 90 secs left....nothing....60 secs left....nothing...Hemmel finally commits on a single attempt, slide by for Oglesby for the TD, leads 3-1....Hemmelgarn trying to work free of the bottom. Escapes with 25 secs left....a TD still wins it for Hemmelgarn, but he looks gassed...tries to throw Oglesby, can't...Oglesby gets the fall

Final match of the round Nice scramble between Oglesby and Hemmelgarn. THe BD big man tried to slide by and narrowly missed the TD by the edge of the mat. Scoreless thru 1st period...Winner gets Bernard in the finals.

Faulkenberg gets a big lift and return for 2 against Robinson, Briefly puts him near his back, but Robinson is incredibly strong and fights it off...12-3 to start the 3rd. Robinson gets underhooks and slams him one way, Faulk fights off with wizzer, then Gelen throws him in the other direction for more backs...looking for the fall now. Potentially dangerous penalty against Gelen...17-4 now. Faulkenberg appears to be choking a little during this injury timeout. Faulkenberg could've advanced with the illegal move by Robinson, but does not....so we're gonna have Miller/Robinson Part 2, Robinson wins 17-5

Robinson comes out guns blazing, puts Faulkenberg on his back....The Ritter senior nearly found himself pinned, but fought it. RObinson continues to pound him on top, now with a 5-0 lead, and Faulkenberg fights him....Robinson is a force of nature and is tough to deny, but Faulkenberg manages to stave off the fall. Robinson leads 8-0 heading into the 2nd. He needs a BIG move to try to salvage his finals bid. Esc. Robinson, 9-0. Back to neutral, Huge double-leg for Gelen. LEads now 11-0

Wags doing his part to avoid the Scott vs Scott Finals match. Leading 7-1 and really taking it to the talented junior. Enters the 3rd with a solid 7-1 lead...they start out in neutral...barring a big move or mistake, Wags is looking to improve on his 3rd place state finish last year. Another very smooth single-leg for Wags, opening up a 9-1 lead. Wagner grinding him out for the very impressive 9-1 win and a finals berth

Wagner gets another TD, opens up a 4-1 lead heading into the 2nd. Wagner down to start the 2nd, gets to his feets, escapes, leads 5-1. Impressive start for Wags so far

Wagner out quickly with a slick TD. Leads the Mooresville junior 2-0 with a minute gone in the first

Tying up, Howard-A looking for a winning move. Hits a nice single, whistle blows for blood on Chambers. LONG delay for blood....only 10 secs left for Howard-A....running out of time to make something happen. Howard-ANderson VERY nearly had a double leg on the edge of the mat.....doesn't get the call, CHambers on to the FInals match vs. Rypel with a 4-3 win Chris Lytle is matside, waiting for Wagner's match.

Mat 2 Chambers and Howar-A fighting to see who faces Rypel tonight. Chambers finally breaks through near the end of the period to take the lead 4-2. Howard-A on bottom to start the 3rd, Chambers warned for stalling....esc Howard-A....4-3 with 70 secs left in the match.

Mat 2 Howard-Anderson fights him off the rest of the 1st period. 2-1 to start the 2nd. Chambers down, escapes, ties it at 2-2.

Mat 2 Quick and slick TD for Howard-Anderson....esc 30 secs later for Chambers, 2-1 Howard-A leads.....45 secs left.

Mat 1 Big fall for Beeson. Steamrolled Duvall en route to the 5th place match.

Mat 1 Moving along, Beeson with a big and very loud takedown of Duvall...Leads 2-0 to start the 2nd Mat 2 Nothing going on at the moment

Mat 1 Guerra up 3-1 on Joest, has another single leg, 30 secs left in match...wins 5-1 Mat 2 Stevenson out quickly on Bates...leads 6-2 heading into 2nd. Stevenson locks up the cradle, gets the fall, heading to the finals

Mat 1 Johnson and Woods scoreless first period. Woods down and quickly escapes to lead 1-0 in 2nd period. Johnson starts to open up, gets a couple of TDs, leads 4-2....reversal WOods, action starting to really pick up, tied 4-4. Esc. Johnson 5-4 wins Mat 2 Corsaro with a TD after a minute, esc. Partee, 2-1 Corsaro. Corsaro works hard for a TD, gets it 4-2. Another TD for Corsaro 6-3. ANother one for Corsaro, leads 8-3

Mat 1 Morales continues on the comeback trail, taking the lead on a 3rd period shot and TD, leads 9-7....wins 9-7. Nice comeback for the WeBo junior Mat 2 Corsaro and Partee getting ready to "partee"

Mat 1 Morales in a bit of a hole, trailing 7-4....quickly turns Fischer on to his back, ties it at 7-7, 1:45 in 3rd period Mat 2 Schurg dominates and gets a TF 22-6. Schurg looked excellent in that match.

Mat 1 Near TD for Wilson on the edge of the mat. 10 secs left, riding out Kempf....wins 6-4 Fischer out quickly over Morales 4-0. Fischer down to start the 2nd period Mat 2. Schurg and Bauer came to score. 5-4 lead for Schurg after Bauer nearly pins himself. Now 6-4 in the 2nd. Schurg tilts Bauer for backs, starting to open up 11-4. esc Bauer, 11-5

Mat 1 Still neutral. Wilson works hard, gets a late TD, leads 2-1 heading into the 3rd. Wilson and Kempf have a flurry that ends with a TD for Wilson, but he comes up limping....6-4 lead for Carroll's senior standout, but he is limping and in injury time Mat 2 Optional start for Loe, 5-2 Forte leads. They're in neutral. 60 secs left. FOrte wins 7-3

Mat 1 Wilson and Kempf scoreless thru 1st period. Esc. Kempf, leads 1-0 30 secs into 2nd period. Neutral Mat 2 Esc Forte to start the 2nd. Remarkable quickness on display by the Caveman standout., leads 3-1. Nabs another TD, leads 5-1 heading into 3rd period

Mat 1 Jolas made hay on top in the 2nd, carries a 6-2 lead into the 3rd period. Back to neutral, near TD for Dole on the edge of the mat. Looked very close, but no dice from ref...TD for Jolas, leads 8-2...wins 8-2 Mat 2 Forte and Loe getting ready to do battle. Loe on his knees to begin match, Forte is stalking....counters a Loe shot with a lightning quick slide-around...leads 2-1

Mat 1 Sweet reversal for Jolas, very quick feet, ties it 2-2 heading into 2nd. Jolas opens up a bit in the 2nd, leads 6-2. Mat 2 30 seconds left, still 1-0. .Abram not able to break through Covaciu defense....Covaciu wins a snoozer 1-0. Congrats on the fine defense, but geez

Mat 1 Armstrong and Carrolls up now.. Carroll with a lightning quick TD and even quicker fall Dole with a quick TD on Jolas, leads 2-0 Mat 2 Covaciu chopping wood on top of Abram...no score. Using a spiral, Abram trying to fight hands....Cova rides him out the entire 2nd period. Now it's Cova's turn, but Abram lets him go...1-0 to start the 3rd