Clint Gard

Lol...still am. 2 day event. Started at 10am this morning. The team race is tight. Kids, coaches, and teams are fighting for everything. Great celebrations, disappointing heartbreak...the whole thing you'd expect from a great wrestling event. Guys I'm telling you right now, that Rocky Burkett and the Aberdeen Central Eagles don't give two craps that this is a classed event. They want to win their 2nd state title! Its a great venue. Very similar to bankers life...I'm enjoying life in a suite as I type this. Fans are great and into following their teams.

I don't usually get into many discussions on here, especially about class wrestling. I just feel like we are too divided and no matter how I express my point, I'm never going to convince those that believe "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I for one love our individual state finals and I really enjoyed our experience at team state this year. But...our individual finals is broken. When you have the disparity we have in SQ and place winners that we have, something is wrong.
 
I'll give you an example that is not wrestling related. My daughter qualified with her 200 relay team for the swim state finals this year. She's a fine swimmer and works her tail off, so did her teammates! They were seeded 32 and finished 29th. Rochester was the smallest school represented at state in ANY events! Twin Lakes was the second smallest. Everyone one else were 4A and 5A schools. If it was classed my daughter and her team would have been state champs in the 200 free relay. No other times from small schools were even close. They, our school, and her mom and I would have been just fine with that because they put in the work to be that good. The issue is we don't have the same resources that the Carmels, Penns, etc have. We just don't. That's not a matter of opinion...its a fact because I live it. We provide her with every opportunity we can but we can't provide her with what the Carmel Swim club can provide its' kids. If you think sports like wrestling and swimming shouldn't be classed, then you just dont get it or you don't care to.
 
Tomorrow Rochester will play Tippy Valley for the class 2A semi state bball title and I'll bet anyone we have more fans in attendance for the little ole 2A game then you will for any other game in the state. Over 5,000 tickets have been pre sold and they are not sure there will be enough parking at Warsaw HS (5A) school. Class all sports, give the small schools a chance to build their brand, and I think you'll see some great stuff happen in Indiana Wrestling. As an association we can get this done if we get on the same page!!

Lol...still am. 2 day event. Started at 10am this morning. The team race is tight. Kids, coaches, and teams are fighting for everything. Great celebrations, disappointing heartbreak...the whole thing you'd expect from a great wrestling event. Guys I'm telling you right now, that Rocky Burkett and the Aberdeen Central Eagles don't give two craps that this is a classed event. They want to win their 2nd state title! Its a great venue. Very similar to bankers life...I'm enjoying life in a suite as I type this. Fans are great and into following their teams.

I don't usually get into many discussions on here, especially about class wrestling. I just feel like we are too divided and no matter how I express my point, I'm never going to convince those that believe "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I for one love our individual state finals and I really enjoyed our experience at team state this year. But...our individual finals is broken. When you have the disparity we have in SQ and place winners that we have, something is wrong.
 
I'll give you an example that is not wrestling related. My daughter qualified with her 200 relay team for the swim state finals this year. She's a fine swimmer and works her tail off, so did her teammates! They were seeded 32 and finished 29th. Rochester was the smallest school represented at state in ANY events! Twin Lakes was the second smallest. Everyone one else were 4A and 5A schools. If it was classed my daughter and her team would have been state champs in the 200 free relay. No other times from small schools were even close. They, our school, and her mom and I would have been just fine with that because they put in the work to be that good. The issue is we don't have the same resources that the Carmels, Penns, etc have. We just don't. That's not a matter of opinion...its a fact because I live it. We provide her with every opportunity we can but we can't provide her with what the Carmel Swim club can provide its' kids. If you think sports like wrestling and swimming shouldn't be classed, then you just dont get it or you don't care to.
 
Tomorrow Rochester will play Tippy Valley for the class 2A semi state bball title and I'll bet anyone we have more fans in attendance for the little ole 2A game then you will for any other game in the state. Over 5,000 tickets have been pre sold and they are not sure there will be enough parking at Warsaw HS (5A) school. Class all sports, give the small schools a chance to build their brand, and I think you'll see some great stuff happen in Indiana Wrestling. As an association we can get this done if we get on the same page!!

I don't usually get into many discussions on here, especially about class wrestling. I just feel like we are too divided and no matter how I express my point, I'm never going to convince those that believe "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I for one love our individual state finals and I really enjoyed our experience at team state this year. But...our individual finals is broken. When you have the disparity we have in SQ and place winners that we have, something is wrong.
 
I'll give you an example that is not wrestling related. My daughter qualified with her 200 relay team for the swim state finals this year. She's a fine swimmer and works her tail off, so did her teammates! They were seeded 32 and finished 29th. Rochester was the smallest school represented at state in ANY events! Twin Lakes was the second smallest. Everyone one else were 4A and 5A schools. If it was classed my daughter and her team would have been state champs in the 200 free relay. No other times from small schools were even close. They, our school, and her mom and I would have been just fine with that because they put in the work to be that good. The issue is we don't have the same resources that the Carmels, Penns, etc have. We just don't. That's not a matter of opinion...its a fact because I live it. We provide her with every opportunity we can but we can't provide her with what the Carmel Swim club can provide its' kids. If you think sports like wrestling and swimming shouldn't be classed, then you just dont get it or you don't care to.
 
Tomorrow Rochester will play Tippy Valley for the class 2A semi state bball title and I'll bet anyone we have more fans in attendance for the little ole 2A game then you will for any other game in the state. Over 5,000 tickets have been pre sold and they are not sure there will be enough parking at Warsaw HS (5A) school. Class all sports, give the small schools a chance to build their brand, and I think you'll see some great stuff happen in Indiana Wrestling. As an association we can get this done if we get on the same page!!

John Hunting has a win against Strawsma at 132 but probably won't affect his ranking at 126.  Josh Heckathorn beat Krintz 4-2 and Lost to  Lukazka 12-10 in 3OT's.

Clint Gard
Rochester High School