matts

Frustrating that schools like Rider, Little Rock (x2), Campbell, and Columbia can put people on the podium, but both our B1G schools are shut out again.  

I know IU is getting better, and Purdue had success last year, but still frustrating nonetheless.

22 minutes ago, Disco said:

For Washington I’m not so sure he cares. I hate to say it. 

For the last part of this year, the HEW and continual nagging injury seemed pretty evident.

Lance Ellis

Angel Escobedo

No matter what happens with happens with him this year, I hope future potential Indana recruits take note of his career.  He went from being a zero time state champion to a solid D1/B1G wrestler and a legitimate AA contender.  Heck, he even has signature wins against a number of notable names including one from PSU who will go down as one of the best ever.   That is much for DJ and the IU coaching staff to be proud of.  Cheers to him.

So, understand Chat GPT can be fed new data and will learn from this information.  I copy/pasted all the team state championships and the number of individual state champions per school.  I just copied from the IHSAA pdf and am not sure if the text lined up perfectly, but here is its new top ten.  This is a pretty solid historical viewpoint.  

This is brilliant. 

The Tech Sectional has Cathedral and...

Southport Sectional has Beech Grove, Lawrence Central, Lawrence North, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), North Central(Indianapolis), Perry Meridian, Roncalli, and Southport.

Cathedral will pretty much always have 14 sectional champs.

Are schools not filling these positions, or is this list not being updated?

Paris' Hodge trophy and a junior world gold are a big deal.

Angel's NCAA title, 4 AAs, and trip to a Senior World medal match are pretty huge, too.

I think it is a fun discussion between Paris, Angel, Lee, and Howe.  One can make a great case for any of these four. 

If you went back a ways ((pre-late 1990s?) before the creation of the current format, there was a time when only the two finalists went to Regionals.  All it took was three good schools, and many very good kids would finish their year after the semifinals.  One such example was the old Brebeuf Sectional.  in the late 1980s and through the early1990s Cathedral, North Central, and Chatard were all top 15 teams.  Then throw in Brebeuf's three or four very tough kids, and the semifinals were full of great wrestling. 

Gonna have to say it... 

...3 x state Champ, Junior World Champ, B1G Champ, 3 X All American, NCAA Champ, and now a Hodge Trophy...  

Mason Parris = Indiana Goat

20 hours ago, SunDevils said:

When you take high school and college combined he just might be the GOAT of Indiana. Strong case for Mason, Howe, and Lee.

Escobedo has to be in the equation... 

...and, for what it's worth, Sarah Hildebrandt's senior-level world hardware probably makes her the overall Indiana GOAT.

Parris is for sure in the conversation mix now.  I think he needs to make a senior team to contend for the Indiana GOAT title.  That being said, I will not be surprised when that happens.  

Is it a foregone conclusion Harris is taking over at one of the three big schools listed above?

Any hope of DJ Washington getting an at-large bid?

A total misconception that all Big 10 teams must field the same sports.  For example, Wisconsin does not have a baseball team.  

5 hours ago, Wrestling Scholar said:

Also, word on street is this that if this goes down, that Purdue would let XXX restraunt run a concession stand at Mackey during the event.  I don't if know if the Fort or Evansville could top that.  

XXX is the only redeeming aspect of all things Purdue.  Love that place.

3 hours ago, HWTDAD said:

That is a fact.  I believe Mater Dei held the team score record at 112 until last year. All 3 teams smashed that.

Wow.  I had no idea.  The spread between 3rd and 4th place is fascinating, too.

10 minutes ago, Websterk149 said:

Maybe I am but probably not. Just the “class state” and how Indiana wrestling is just becoming a sport for the elite and wealthy is so negative and way more harm than good. 

I am from one of the smallest schools in Indiana (Shenandoah) and I totally hate classing the tourney. I love class team state duals but I fell in love in 8th grade when I went to state and saw small schools just like me with a kids in the placings. It showed me that you CAN compete and beat these 4-6a school kids.
We are in a sport where if you don’t like the kid that got 1st, YOU can change that by your efforts and we’re in 1 of 3 states where if YOU don’t like a team that won a tourney, YOU can change it.
 

Silas Allred is an elite kid for our state that came out of the freaking “old middle school gym/cafeteria” of podunk Shenandoah that has a daggum wind turbine in its backyard. He did it all with shoes, a mat, a couple good partners, couple dedicated coaches/community and massive PASSION to be great and compete. Thrine just won a title with literally only wrestling his partners and listening to his coaches. 
 

These elite kids don’t just flee because they’re smarter than us and know they’re going to face a couple other elite challengers along the way and want to be apart of Indiana history legacy and truly grow our state in this awesome sport. “Iron Sharpens Iron” 

To be clear, no where did I mention anything about the size of school or class sports. 

I merely wondered if the nationwide trend toward elite wrestling academies, national pre/post season tournaments (Super 32, Beast of the East, Poweraid, etc...), and some of the best kids forgoing high school seasons to train with RTCs is truly best for the sport.  Maybe it is.  I am just not so sure yet, and I hardly call it negative to discuss such.

Like it or not, the biggest academies, national travel, and the rise of powerhouse private schools like Sem, Valiant Prep, etc...  are aspects of our sport that are here and deserve to be explored and scrutinized.   

4 hours ago, Websterk149 said:

Agreed. It’s great for the sport no doubt...

Is it really?  I can't help but wonder if high school wrestling is on the cusp of becoming like high school tennis...  Where the best don't bother competing for their school, the few that do have little to do with the high school program, national tourneys are all that matter, and a sport for the very wealthy.  Im not saying its there now, but think maybe this is where we are headed.

4 hours ago, decbell1 said:

You can listen to the Finals for free on WZBD

Thanks for this.  Seems a radio broadcast is the best I can do here in SE Asia.

For years the IHSAA played the finals for free for those of us outside of Indiana.  Guess that option is gone now.

21 hours ago, Ed Pendoski said:

Just for nostalgia...I'll start my two favorite Kevin Whitehead names of IHSAA State Finals of the past.

 

TEEEEEEE. JAYYYYYY HAYES!!!!!!!!

It was a couple years of that and it got louder every year.  When I moved to Indy I remember meeting the Wagners in Zionsville's room.  My first thought was "that's the guy that ruined Mr. Whitehead saying TJ Hayes"

 

Mr. Whitehead was also spectacular announcing Anton Talamantez.  

My favorite:  Maaallll doooo naaaa dooooo!!!! (There were many different first names over the years)

Perhaps hew is HEW?  He has grinded forever and a ligering injury can take its toll.  I sure hope not, but I would get it.  He certainly has a had an amazing career no matter what happens.

Purdue lost to Maryland.  

At times it seems coaches of all levels are doing all they can to make the sport difficult for all but the absolute elite and most hardcore fans:

-Marathon youth tournaments

-Sucking weight

-Ditching hs duals in favor of marathon tournaments every single Saturday

-Ducking to protect seeds (When does this trickle down to hs?)

-"Pitch counts" for current stars

-Duals that mean zero to anyone

-Forfeits on the back side...heck even in the B1G finals...

-Some of our biggest senior level stars wrestle one event a year.

The list grow more and more every year.