vito pepperelli

I don't know how Indiana wrestling survived before you, Y2. 

I love that this is being handled via social media. Maybe some of the involved parties should "unfriend" each other? That will really prove a point. 

How ironic.  Because all I've read through multiple posts is adults expressing the supposed opinions of the kids.  When one group back stabs the other and vice versa, how do you expect kids to respond? 
 
This whole affair has become an ego trip for the adults.  

My son Mason has been on Indiana Gold team the last 2 years and will be on it again this year.  The tournament has been great , the coaches have been great no complaints here at all.  It's been a great experience....  I also believe the best that Indiana can put on the mat should be on one team, and then have as many IN. teams as you want.  

Y2's a big boy, you don't have to speak for him. 

Ha

Actually, shouldn't you be thanking me since views = $$ ?

It was pretty boring and they didn't have the coverage they have now.
 
You're welcome by the way.

I love that this is being handled via social media. Maybe some of the involved parties should "unfriend" each other? That will really prove a point. 

Im in agreement w/ Coop, one team should have our 14 best guys. 
 
It's dumb to split everybody up at what's considered a "national" tournament. 

Because those are the rules. The goal of the Indiana Gold team is to have the best kids. As a coach, if I have a kid that is eligible to be on the Gold team and money is the reason he won't be able to do it, I'll work to help him raise money.
 
Put the best team possible together.

This post is age discrimination! Good wrestling existed before 2009.  Just sayin. 

This post is age discrimination! Good wrestling existed before 2009.  Just sayin. 

This post is age discrimination! Good wrestling existed before 2009.  Just sayin. 

Class wrestling + Open enrollment = Title chasing?

I'm saying that if my son attends a small school and is interested in wrestling then I need to realistically consider my options
 
1. I encourage him to enjoy the small school environment -- one that allows kids to play 3 different sports where a student at a large school may not get that chance. I support the wrestling team in any way possible, and probably try to talk his buddies into trying it with him. I don't expect him to get a look by college wrestling coaches, or really college coaches for any sport (unless he is a freak athlete!). Our school's academic opportunities may also not be the same as BigTown HS down the highway -- they have fancy chemistry labs, new computer equipment, robotics, a huge theatre, etc.  I still encourage my kid to take advantage of what opportunities he has and try to excel in his studies anyways.
 
2. I want him to be a college wrestler (let me restate that -- HE wants to be a college wrestler, shouldn't matter what I want right?).  So, in addition to our 5-man wrestling team, in the offseason I take him to RWA or RoadRunner or MaurerCoughlin or wherever.  I buy wrestling DVDs so he can learn from others in the comfort of our home. We go to RTCs when they are available. Probably encourage him to wrestle freestyle/greco or any opportunity he gets. We are super excited when he beats kids that we consider better than he is - regardless of what size school they are from. He hopefully increases in his wrestling ability as the years go on and he advances through sectional, regional, ......
 
There's your choices. If you want to call it "things arent' fair deal with it" then go for it.  The second option is the same advice I would give to a kid at a large school that wants to get better also.

This is the normal culmination of the class wrestling argument.  The class proponents use the solution to dictate and justify the needs (should be the other way around)
 
I definitely believe that small schools are at a disadvantage. As you said Joe, if you try to get small school kids to specialize then there will be a revolt.  Well, if that is true, then unless the small school kid is blessed with freakish physical gifts, they are never going to be able to perform at the level that an athletic kid who goes to year round academy training is able to do.  As the overstated saying goes "It is what it is..."  Small schools are at a disadvantage unless they choose to take the specialization route
 
Does this mean that we should create a class so that these disadvantaged young people can win a "championship"?  In my opinion, no it does not
 
Does this mean that the disadvantaged young people who may never reach the technical capabilities of year-round wrestlers specializing at large schools should somehow "deserve" more exposure to college coaches?  In my opinion, no it does not
 
Before we can agree on the solution, we need to agree upon the needs not vice versa

My response to my son would probably be that life is about choices.  Sometimes there are no good choices.  Sometimes there are 2 different good choices and you have to pick one of them. My sporting days are long gone, so as a parent I would say to my son when you finish high school, the best measure of success is sometimes that you have no regrets.  If you are in a sport that you don't enjoy at all, then maybe find one that you do enjoy.
 
In the case you mention above, it's a choice of personal gain versus "team" gain.  That's a difficult choice between 2 good paths.  I'd say pick one (have a conversation with your buddies if you pick going after the wrestling one) and then don't look back.  Hindsight is 20/20 but people who are constantly thinking "what if" are a dime a dozen. If you choose football, then relish the chance you have and the experiences you will have with your friends.  If you choose going the wrestling path alone, then enjoy that and try to support your football buddies in other ways.

Sleeping on Shaffer at 195 are we?  He did major Wilderman last week (15-4) who beat Tonte at Team State in 2016.  Just sayin'. 

MattM, the post clearly asked for a definition, not a picture.  Please follow directions and make sure to write in complete sentences. 

Wrestling Scholar posted a clear definition above.  I figured I'd help the visual learners out too.

If placing a friendly wager and your only options were one wrestler or "the field."  
 
If you're willing to take the one wrestler over the 15, that's a lock IMO. 
 
Would enjoy reading other thoughts on what their definition of a lock is and who their locks are this weekend.

Per Websters
 
a mechanism for keeping a door, lid, etc., fastened, typically operated only by a key of a particular form:

This is Coltons mom, I'm sure his number one fan .... I don't believe I have  been more proud of my son , as I am right now , reading your post .....  I, like all parents at one time , encouraged  and pushed my son to be part of an organized competitive sport  for these reasons, to teach him...  teamwork, compassion, hard work, character building  , and  learn the joys of winning,  and the heartaches of losing..... He has  experienced it all !!..   Making him who he is today .. Thank you for recognizing these qualities in him and sharing with others 
 I hope and wish all  your athletes /children the same journey  Colton has had the opportunity  to  experience .....Its been a ride 

Cummings is one awesome young man. I will tell you a story in my first encounter with him. My son decided he wanted to wrestle and after not winning a spot in 7th grade and wreslting part time during the season. One of his friends who was really good told him to come out to RWA and train after the season. My son was out of shape (just like me ) and we didn't push him into anything unless he asked. He hadn't asked till he was 12. I sign him up for RWA and he is having a really hard time - one day about a month after we were going a young man comes over to my son and works with him and talks to him. Tells him don't give up and you can improve and encourages him all practice. That young man was Colton - I didn't know him or his family and his dad also encouraged my son that night. My son stuck with it that summer and went back and won a spot as an 8th grader. This year as a sophomore he went to regionals out of a tough sectional - he wrestled 120 for 3 years if that tells you how out of shape he was. This year he jumped up with growth. Without Cummings and young men like him my son might have given up. It's that type of character this sport builds and win or lose this weekend that kid is one awesome young man