Thornton

[table] Perry Meridian71Oak Hills (OH)3 Perry Meridian76Hamilton(OH)0 Perry Meridian39Glen Este(OH)23 Perry Meridian59Princeton (OH)6 Perry Meridian46Delaware Hayes (OH)18 [/table]

[table] Perry Meridian61Greenfield Central6 Perry Meridian79Roncalli0 Perry Meridian51Avon12 [/table]

[table] Perry Meridian84Southport0 [/table] Perry Meridian 84 Southport zero

While I do agree that Cathedral is loaded this year and that they may very well eventually win it all, I always held to notion that to be the champ you have to beat the champ. And while Perry's line-up is obviously different than last year's, they are still solid and should hold the top spot until someone takes it from them. Let's not annoint a champion, but rather let them earn it through their performance.

I would like to give thanks in advance for all that the Perry Meridian wrestling family and the wrestling community in general has done for me. Your generosity is most welcome.

We won't get a full picture until perhaps the Marion County Tournament. Nevertheless, there will be some good battles.

You have a full, rich fantasy life.

Every time this topic comes up I have to throw Gil Journey's name in the hat...he was 3rd as a sophomore and runner up as both a junior and senior. He was a takedown machine.

Perry Meridian has 4 qualifiers returning: Brett Johnson qualifier at 106, Jacob Cottey was 5th at 113, Brandon James was 5th at 126 and Cody Lecount was state champion at 132. We also have semi state qualifiers that will return: Aiden Kenny at 120, Michael Thomas at 145, Nathan Warman at 170 and Kaz Koehring at 195. That would make 8 with a solid chance to get to BLF.

Contradictions do not exist and the fact is Riley McClurg is the 160-pound state champion. And the Truth is Riley won. What evidence do you have that Riley lost? You have your supreme knowledge that McCloskey scored takedowns that were not accounted for. Takedowns that neither of the 2 licensed officials saw. And of course those officials would naturally be part of the grand conspiracy in favor of McClurg. Look, I understand how caught up we all get in this sport. That passion is part of the sport's allure. But ultimately, you have to come to grips with the decisions that are made. And if you truly believe that the refs are doing such a poor job, then take the test, put on the stripes work for a few years until you get a sectional, then a few more until you get a regional, a few more until you get a semi state and if you are one of the best you will get to officiate the state finals. Until then I will refer you to Teddy Roosevelt who said "It is not the critic who counts..." No matter what criticism you level at me, the officials, Perry Meridian in general or Riley McClurg specifically, it will not alter the fact that he is the state champion. No one, not you, any of your friends, any officials or commisioners, President Obama, the Dalai Lama, or the Pope will change that fact...ever. Deal with it and move on.

Where do you see me arguing for the collective good? Do you even know what that statement means...what the context is? And the "check you premises" line is first from Francisco, then later from Hugh Akston. You really don't want to get into an Ayn Rand/Atlas Shrugged debate with me. You guys just can't accept that Riley wrestled a smart match and he won the title. You all assume that if McCloskey had gotten a takedown, that McClurg would have just accepted a loss and not changed tactics.

Riley also lost to Rypel and Seitzinger this year. But you can't just assume previous results will equal future performances. Riley improved his focus and tactics and that translated into a state championship. That is a fact. Any comments you or anyone makes is pure speculation and will not alter that fact. Congratulation Riley McClurg - 2013 160 pound STATE CHAMPION.

Really Mr. Ayersman? If this is sarcasm, then so be it. But if you are serious, then we can start the "way to go Donte - now we know why Robinson went back to 220". At least that one would have some basis to it. But, I would simply congratulate Mitch, Gelen and all of the champs and not try to play some game of " yeah, you won, but it is not as impressive as ( fill in the blank)

Mr. Ayersman...perhaps you suld get all of the facts first...and if this is imploding, I hope we implode every year.

Even if you win Friday night, you don't get your 2 advancement plus your 0 to 2 quality of decision points...and your placement points will be scored sometime on Saturday. So the team score after Friday night will be a multiple-way tie for 1st with 0 points.

first round matches do not score. Scoring begins with the quarter final round.

Thank you. That is what I would expect a champion to say. Best of luck this weekend and I hope for a rematch in the finals.

No he is not God's gift to referees...but I will defer to his judgement over a bunch of anonymous posters. If your judgement is superior to his, then take the test, put on the stripes and you go make the calls. The old adage holds true again...if you don't want to let a referee decide a match, then don't put yourself in that position. It is time to move on. Nothing will change anyone's opinion here.

And you are making one now by saying Tom Clark made the wrong call here.

I know DJ Radnovich had falls in all but 1 match his senior year, but I can't remember if it was 43 out of 44 or 45 out of 46...I know it was in the 40s.

In the match I saw at regionals, he won by 1 point. As for the slam, he was not going to be allowed to compete the rest of the day until his dad took him to a doctor in New Castle to get him cleared. Even then, one of the trainers was not going to let him wrestle for 3rd, but she was over-ruled. Brett then went out an scored a first period fall. Who are you, by the way? Did Brett beat your son or someone you support? If you have a problem with the outcome of those matches, don't blame the kid and if you are not a total coward, let everyone know who you are. Have the courage to stand by your vile remarks.

I know no one at Perry Meridian is expecting anything but a knock-down, drag out street fight for the title. We have all seen the best laid plans gone awry with a poor Friday night.I will offer this bit of analysis...call it me $.02... at 106: all 6 "contenders" have an entry...East Noble and Perry Meridian face each other with Pepple being the favorite. Yorktown and Warren Central also face each other with the edge going to the Warrior. Merrillville meets DJ Smith of Franklin in what I will call a toss up. And Bloomington South gets a tough draw in Sinkovics...EN, WC, MV advance here at 113: EN is favored to get to semis at least. PM should win Friday night and set up a rematch of an ot match against Penn. at 120: YK is a title favorite here with tough quarter and very tough semis looming. BS faces a tough Andrice Martin Friday. MV is favored Friday as is WC. They then meet Sat morning. 126: PM has title contender James, but Welch looms in the quarters and possible Denton in the semis 132: PM Lecount is the clear favorite while YK has a tough Friday match, with Martsolf 2nd and Moss waiting in the semis. BS has Krumlauf Friday with Lecount waiting Sat morning. MV drew Lecount Friday night. 138: PMs Bova and YKs Carroll look to meet Saturday morning, while MV has Loe Friday night with Hupp 2nd and Blanton in the semis 145: YK should advance to Sat with Roadruck in the quarters and Kelley in the semis. WC has a tough Jolas Friday, ,with Malloy there Sat morning. EN faces Elsea Fri with Macri then Malloy waiting on Sat. 160: PM vs MV Friday with the winner likely facing Seitzinger (BS). YK should clear Fri and meet super Frosh Rypel Sat morn with McClosky/Hughes in the semis. 170: MV title favorite. BS could get to semi to face Lefever. 182: PM vs YK Friday. Could see Busse in semi. WC has a toss up Fri, ,with Hurford Sat morn. BS should survive Fri, with a tough 2nd and Hurford in the semi 195: BS vs WC Friday night. 220: BS vs Undefeated Kokomo Fri. WC fav on Fri, then Boehm, then Gelen. EN vs Boehm Friday. 285: MV and PM both fav Friday, then meet Sat morn. Winner gets Hemmelgarn. EN has Carr 1st, ,then Bernard Sat morn. On paper, PM seems to have the best shot at the title with YK 2nd and BS/MV battling for 3rd. But we all know that we don't wrestle on paper, so come ready to wrestle and leave no regrets.

All farm fowl remain unaccounted for. Enumeration of feathered fryers to be done next Sunday.

Congratulations to Bloomington South, Yorktown, Merrillville and Perry Meridian for winning the first team semi states since 2008.