Jimtown 138

Great interview with Coach Warthan and the Associate AD Jackie Paquett talking about this weekend's Midwest Classic and the UIndy program itself.
http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/uindys-jason-warthan-and-jackie-paquette-on-the-impact-of-the-40th-midwest-classic/

This would be a shallow topic if we did not expound upon the toughest tournament in the state and and arguably the best in the nation, if we leave out the Al Smith Wrestling Tournament.
   For those of you who don't know who Coach Al Smith is, I will start out with just a few staggering statistics.  Coach Smith has close to 100 former wrestlers that are, or have coached at the Elementary, High School, Collegiate and International levels. Coach Smith has coached several athletes who have gone on to become National Freestyle Champions and Collegiate All Americans. Coach Smith is also responsible for close to 100 wrestlers, coaches, contributors and officials who have been inducted into the IHSWCA Hall of Fame as he sits on the Hall of  Fame Nomination committee.
   Coach Smith was also the President of the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association on several different occasions. Back in the 60's we had 16 team sectionals where only the champion advanced. Regionals that were comparable to today's semistates where only the champion qualified for the state championships, meaning there were only 4 wrestlers in the state finals!  You couldn't have a bad weekend! Coach Smith was responsible for battling with the IHSAA to expand and enhance the number of qualifiers for the next stage of the state tournament.  The element of having a "bad weekend" or maybe victimized by a tough call gave wrestlers a better opportunity for advancement.  Some of the battles he won and some he lost, but he impressed upon State Officials that wrestling was important to this State!
  In the early 70's when freestyle competition began to take roots in Indiana, Coach Smith would take wrestlers (not only Mishawaka wrestlers) to tournaments in Southern Michigan and Opens in Indiana too.  My most memorable times would be the early 70's and the AAU State Freestyle meets at Indianapolis Tech where he would hall wrestlers down to compete, he would coach, officiate, (at times feed)  and encourage other coaches to help officiate a style of wrestling that was foreign to most us. Back in those days we had just a hand full of freestyle officials. It was not uncommon to see Coach Smith in the corner coaching a wrestler who was not even a Mishawaka kid either chewing them out for not hitting a move, or patting them on the back encouraging their efforts. He truly was the pioneer in at least Northern Indiana, if not the state. I chuckle when I hear cheap talk about growing this great  sport! Al Smith is the epitome of growing the sport!
   In the 1972 Olympic team trials, held in Anoka, Minnesota, Coach Smith drove  Penn's first State Champion,  Al Dover to compete in the 149.5 lb. weight class.  Dover ended up wrestling the eventual Olympic Champion, a guy by the name of Dan Gable. Obviously Al Dover lost, but what other coach would drive 7 hours to give a young man an opportunity to chase his dream?
  Coach Smith's coaching record is astounding by itself, attested by his total number of state champs and team State Championship in '91, but it goes a lot deeper than that.  The best way I can describe a conversation with Coach Smith is that when you walk away from him, you feel like a breath of fresh air has just run through you.  He made you feel good about yourself! With his positive attitude, humble demeanor and competitive nature, Coach Al Smith made his wrestlers love this great sport of wrestling!
   Hopefully, I've given you some incite on why the Al Smith Wrestling tournament, which started as an 8 team invitational in the '70's, to the tournament it is today! Also a little information about one of Indiana's Legendary Wrestling figures, Al Smith!
In Wrestling,
Henry Wilk
 

A bit dated but appropro nonetheless for the Henry Wilk Classic next weekend.

The flying Superman punch at one of the first IHPO tournaments!

The flying Superman punch at one of the first IHPO tournaments!

I would say cutting weight is not working for him. Also, drop the Hi C and drink Pedialyte...

No quit and no fear for Hunter Watts.

December 28th and 29th...

Congratulations to Conner Gimson from Jimtown for signing with Indiana Tech. He is projected to wrestle 133, 141.

View full signing

Congratulations to Matt Gimson from Jimtown for signing with Indiana Tech. He is projected to wrestle 133, 141.

View full signing

They are only allowed to do this if the head coach is wearing a 1980's reversible singlet.

Kayla thrashes the Uzbek and advances to the bronze medal match against a very tough German girl who has been their senior world team rep the past 3 years. Both Kayla and the German, Niemesch, have teched all their opponents except the Ukrainian who beat them (who is also a senior world-teamer that won bronze at the senior-level euro's this year).
The finals start at 11am eastern time this morning. Kayla should go on the mat at about 11:45 or a little after.

Nice to see Jimtown back in. Some good challenges heading into team state and the Al Smith.

December 15. Name change it is Springboro, OH not Strongboro.

Congratulations to Giran Kunkel from Central Noble for signing with Indiana Tech. He is projected to wrestle 157, 165.

View full signing

Here we go! The season is on. The first arguments over trivial things.  My KFC almost cost twice as much as this magazine today and I got grease on my keyboard as I read it.  Sorry you are disappointed jason. Maybe the person you were hoping to read about will become good and make the headlines next time.

Finally....
http://www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/1528825

Congrats Smalley! Great school and top notch wrestling program. 

Please enlighten me on this rule that allows Coaches to cheat?  As a coach I turn in my weigh-ins weekly to our ad who in turn sends those to the IHSAA.  Wrestlers have to pass hydration tests so that they can be on their weight loss plan which allows for only 1.5% weight loss a week.  Anything more than that isn't a qualifying weigh-in.  They need 6 of those, and a scratch weight at their weight class also.  

I’m not a high school coach, but I ask my sons what they weigh everyday. 
But as far as coaches go... they should follow the rules. If they think a kid has a poor diet, or is not getting on weight properly. They should talk with the kid and his parents to attempt to educate them on proper nutrition for sure!!! 
Again... it starts at home.
Btw... Ratliff... your the man!

You should have been around in the 70's when the weight cutting rituals were medieval...

Sarah DOMINATES her Canadian semi-finals opponent 10-0 in just 3:38 and heads to the GOLD MEDAL FINAL tomorrow at noon!!

Paul sells autographs at all of the RTC’s for 75 cents... Still struggles with his name

PRETTY CLOSE