bsisson

I understand that people want points, but those two wrestlers are bad ass dudes who’ve wrestled each other many times and are both two of the best re-attackers in the state. 

If you watch the big screen you can see their hand fighting and they are awesome. 
 
big props to Kade Law, that dude scares me. 
J Conway won two great finals. What an absolute beast. 

The coaching passes were limited last year because Bankers had restrictions on the number of people on the floor at any given time. That does not seem to be the reasoning this year.  They moved to wristbands a few years back but It was still a minimum of 3 passes. 2 coaches + assistant/manager.  Even for a team with 1 wrestler that 3rd pass is often very important. It might go to an assistant coach that works one on one with the guy, or it allows you to bring that partner that has worked with his friend all year to experience state and warm him up.
 
I'll also say that I am not in favor of the 2 sessions if it's is for the purpose of splitting weight classes. 

The coaching passes were limited last year because Bankers had restrictions on the number of people on the floor at any given time. That does not seem to be the reasoning this year.  They moved to wristbands a few years back but It was still a minimum of 3 passes. 2 coaches + assistant/manager.  Even for a team with 1 wrestler that 3rd pass is often very important. It might go to an assistant coach that works one on one with the guy, or it allows you to bring that partner that has worked with his friend all year to experience state and warm him up.
 
I'll also say that I am not in favor of the 2 sessions if it's is for the purpose of splitting weight classes. 

Today at Evansville, Bray Emerine was out at 182.  This bumped McBee up to the 2 spot and Rose to the 3 spot.  McBee went from a Clay Martin ticket round match to a Gunnar Henry ticket round match.  Subsequently McBee loses in the ticket round, Rose qualifies for state beating Martin, and McBee has beaten Rose in back to back weekends.
 
I am not saying that McBee would have 100% beaten Martin and qualified for state but... he beat Rose the past 2 weekends and had earned that better opportunity.
 
Could there not be a rule in place, where when a guy is out... McBee can choose to go to the 2 spot or stay put?  Then Rose can choose to go to the 2 spot or stay put.  Then if both guys decide to stay put, they could just put the alternate in the 2 spot.
 
I just hate to see someone have their opportunity basically taken away by something that was out of their control.  Any thoughts?

Updated all the semi-states with grades and a couple other small fixes.
 
No worries Sisson, I got all your grades!

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Having Cooper in the corner with you, along with Mr Petkovic in the room is amazing. Floyd Central has grown to new heights! Good luck this year coach!

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

Since Cooper Samuels became my head assistant 7 years ago we've placed 8 with 2 state Champs.  He's an amazing technician and a constant student of the sport.
 
Also Brian Foxworthy, who still helps me, was the man behind all of the medals and finals appearances during our run in the 2000s.  He's forgot more wrestling than I've ever known.
 
Momir Petkovic doesn't sit in the corner but having him in the room and listening to his approach about wrestling and the journey has been very special for our program.

From your lips...Win or Lose these kids deserve a chance. They didn't get it last year but this group deserves at least a chance to wrestle in this event.  

Before we start slaying giants in our dreams, let’s take a moment to put the positive thoughts out there for Columbus East getting to wrestle this year. 

Yesterday, Evansville Reitz Coach Scott Ferguson achieved his 400th Dual Meet win as the Panthers Head Wrestling Coach.  Coach Ferguson opened his 20th season yesterday at the Hill Classic and the Panthers finished the day 5-0.
 
Congrats to Coach Ferguson on this great accomplishment!!

We were really surprised with Jasper last year.  Caused me to really rethink the semi-state experience.  Up until last year, I just thought a painfully long check in, getting treated like we were children, and overall rude behavior of those running the tournament were all just a part of the semi-state experience.
 
Maybe no one explained to the Jasper AD and his crew that this was how semi-state was “supposed” to be.  Everything about how Jasper ran the tournament was first class…Genuinely nice, helpful, smooth process all around.

Congratulations to J Conway from Floyd Central for signing with Missouri. Projected to wrestle 165.
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Next year's Team State will tentatively be held on January 8, 2022. (January 1 is a Saturday.)
 
Several changes will be mentioned in the Team State selection procedures document that will be out later this week. These are primarily being put in place to offset some of the impact that covid will have on teams' qualifying scores:
 
1. In 3A and 4A, exactly 6 of the 8 bids will be via automatic qualification, rather than 6 or 7. (Best 3 semi-state highest scores, 2 highest remaining scores as wildcards, then either the 4th semi-state "winner" if they are in the top 10 overall or a 3rd automatic wildcard.) The 1A and 2A classes remain unchanged in terms of automatic bids (10 of the 12).
 
Rationale: More flexibility for intelligently picking both the 7th and 8th teams in 3A and 4A with so many covid issues at play.
 
2. Only one of the two vote-in choices in each class will be made by the selection committee in April following the season. The final vote-in selection will be made in mid-December 2021 so that one team per class will receive a last-minute bid based on in-season evidence.
 
Rationale: Last-minute invitations after teams had to pull out this year worked well. Especially in a season that will still be so impacted by covid, this will give us the chance to do a trial run of inviting a few deserving teams based on in-season merit that may be hit by significant issues during the upcoming state series. It means four teams will have to pull out of event commitments at the last minute, but it feels like a sacrifice many will consider worth making--especially considering the unusual circumstances.
 
3. The vote-in pool for the April wildcard selection in each class will be expanded to consider certain covid-affected teams. Any team affected by covid that does not earn enough points to qualify for the voting process will be given a chance to present evidence based on a) individuals' in-season head-to-head wins or b) individuals' past season accomplishments that demonstrates they would have earned a qualifying score within 5 points of the first two available vote-in candidates. With this specific level of evidence, those covid-affected teams will be considered in the voting process in April for the next-to-last wildcard spot.
 
Rationale: Numerous schools that are clear contenders for spots are already being impacted significantly at sectional. Sadly, we imagine there will be others in the coming rounds. If results-based evidence for wrestlers who missed part or all of the state series because of covid can be presented, we want those kids' schools to be considered.
 
4. All schools in the state will be considered for the final spot in the event at the time of the December 2021 vote, regardless of their qualification score this season.
 
Rationale: This gives one final "catch-all" for recognizing one deserving team, previously uninvited because of covid or other issues, that should be in the event. With all that's happening surrounding this current season and the impact on next season, we imagine ADs and tournament directors will be flexible and understanding for 4 of the 300 schools in the state to make a last-minute change to their schedule. If it is received well by coaches and ADs, this procedure for last-minute bids for one school per class may continue beyond next year as well.
 
 

Today was an awesome day of wrestling at the Team State Duals. I was at the 3A tournament and was checking results all day from the other 2 locations. The team aspect of a good dual is one of the best parts of wrestling. Watching wrestlers sacrifice to cut a few extra pounds or willing to bump up a weight class to sacrifice for their team to try and get the win is really selfless. Watching teammates erupt from a pin and also watching teammates congratulate their teammate for getting beat by 13 and saving 2 team points is fun to watch.
 
In a year where we were told to stay away from each other, it was refreshing to see teammates jumping up and down in celebration. It made the stresses of 2020 seem distant.
 
This year took more work than ever. Coordinating with multiple locations, teams droppings out from quarantine, getting weigh-ins coordinated for 40 teams was really a struggle. 
 
It was a relief to finally have the day here. I think JD Minch and Pat Culp deserve some huge recognition for so much time working on this. Dane Fuelling seeding 40 teams is incredible. You honestly are an Indiana wrestling genius. Chuck Barnett sent me 6 revisions on officials assignments and was available always to help with any changes.
 
Franklin and Brownsburg stepped up to host their class, and I know that added work to their load. But those schools made this happen too. There was help from several people at each location that deserve recognition, and I won’t even try to say them all. But a great day of wrestling all over the state was possible because a lot of people worked hard. 
 
I’ll tell them all thanks personally, although we all may need a 24 hour break from each other. 
 
I got to catch some of the Facebook live from Joe and Mike too, and that was a great add for those at home.