aoberlin

Carroll Sectional is already watered down.

I was talking about the teams that will be there jerk.

Not worried about the rankings.  Just glad to have him back.  You guys do a great job.  Not sure where you find the time though.

Have you figured out the match ups for that day yet?

We also have one back that was injured for all of last season. 

Quit messing with my head.

We are going to spank the 26th ranked team.  :o

Call me "Mr Broken Record" but gaining weight to make a weight is a fantasy.  Until every kid is matside weighed in, this will never be a reality.  The majority of kids cut to get an advantage and those that don't get manhandled by those that do.   

Yep.  And to add to that, in a society of over weight kids do we really want to promote gaining weight?  Because just like kids cut weight the wrong way they will also attempt to gain weight the wrong way.

You must not have read my post in full.  I'm absolutely back-tracking. 

The change in heart was from all the numbers I kept seeing for off-season events--and realizing this same thing has been going on for years.  I realized my previous stance was "we should give opportunities to the most people possible" without any consideration for the fact that all the most dedicated kids were the ones getting slighted.  I didn't have any data like I've compiled now to support an opinion with more than just emotions. 

Now that there's data for all sides, we can have serious discussions about our biases and philosophies that contribute to having a particular view.

I can respect someone changing his mind after getting all of the facts.  This happens far too little anymore.  It's not always a flip-flop it is more of becoming more educated and stepping back and re-evaluating.  In my opinion it is not to late to change the weight classes back if it is found necessary.  It want happen this year or maybe the next but if it is found to be flawed why not change it back?

I think we should. I tend to believe there is a very simple reason why the small/middle weight kids are the most likely to fall in love w/ wrestling, therefore becoming the most dedicated. They are often the same kids who got discouraged in other sports because they sat the bench, despite being the hardest workers, because they werent 6' tall and 200 lbs.

I could not agree more.  That is supposed to be the great thing about the sport.  It doesn't matter what size you are.  I got reminded this weekend just how much I love watching the big guys just push each other around.

Tim Myers

I am still sticking with hormones in the milk and high fructose corn syrup to blame.  Oh yeah and video games. 

The question is not do you have enough money to do the things you think are right.  How about buy uniforms for the team?  Giving your kids advantages in their life is awesome for a parent.  However, some parents cross the line because they think money means they can tell the coach how to coach.  For example they may want you to do a certain favor for their son.  They may text you all day telling you what "their son needs".  Coaches have to be very careful when money and parents get mixed in with a program.  You don't want the parents feeling like the  coach owes them something.  Donate money and time, Great.  Expect extra favors forget it.  Just my two cents worth. 

Sound like politics.  Good post.

Hmmm...  I am sorry I forgot I know nothing about wrestling or about the 103 to 119 weight classes.  Oh wait I do, I have been coaching for around 14 years and I wrestled 103 and 119 in high school. And 118-126 in college.  Did you not hear me say I wrestled Anthony Wilkes quite a few times. Strongest light weight I have ever seen.  The rumor was that kid could bench 275 when he wrestled 103.  But you could see it when you looked at him.  What I am saying is that it is not the norm and that if they can bench that much they are probably upper class man at that weight class.  I know there a ton of coaches on here I will kindly shut my mouth if other coaches will say I have 112 pounders all the time that can bench 225.  Also I would not count a kid that was weighing 125 at the beginning of season and benching 225 and then cutting to 112 because I bet he could no longer bench 225.

But hey I could be wrong it wouldn't be the first time.  But I doubt it.

I'd be willing to wager that Jarred Brooks or Cody Phillips could do the same. Not all that unrealistic

You just named 2 of the best 112 pounders the state has seen in years.  Not good examples.   

Let's not lose focus on this piddly stuff.  I want to see the video of the 112 pound Caprino benching 225. 

You crack me up.

Sometimes technique plays a part in winning and losing wresting matches also. 

Did you just cut on yourself?  I am just messing with you, actually I would have to say that Garrett has always produced some strong kids.  Their weight program has been top notch for a long time.  Even back in your old @#$ day.

I am not saying that is not possible.  Trust me I wrestling Anthony Wilkes quite a few times I think he benched that when he wrestled 103.  But what I am saying is that Joseph might be a little full of it here, and if he could bench that much his wrestling record should have reflected that.    Don't get too mad at me Joe I still love ya.

112 benching 225.  Ya right I would have liked to seen your spotters face as you did it.  Thanks for the laugh Y2

My dad Is in international business and has 14 months left on a project. Also I feel like going to Graham would help me become a better person in the long run on and off the mat. I also have a lot of friends that go to a Graham so it's not like I'm leaving all of my friends in some cases I'm just getting to know others better.I'm also excited to wrestle at the Ironman and Clash, and compete with more nationally ranked guys.

Fair enough.  Good luck.

Really?????  And everyone thinks this is how it should be and it is OK?  I can understand moving to a school before you start high school or deciding which school you would like to commute to, but going to another school in another state after you had an undefeafeted freshman year and were a State Champion.  Does he not like the coaches?  Did no one there help get him to where he is now?  Is LN that bad of a school?  Do the kids at his school pick on him?

I wish him the best he seems like a nice kid and is obviously a great wrestler.  But this is a big loss for Indiana, LN, and probably his friends where he is at now.  I also hope there are some serious educational reasons behind this.

On a side note, must be nice to be such a powerhouse you can recruit State Champions from another state.  Imagine the recruiting that is done in their own State. Ridiculous.

Now you are starting to piss me off.  It is not always about the size of the school.  It is also about the demographic of an area.  Homestead is a great example.  Pursley is an awesome coach but struggles with the type of kid you get at Homestead.  Put him in a blue collar working class demographic and I guarantee he will produce top notch teams every year.  (Not that his teams now are bad)  As any wrestler or coach knows we are a different breed of person some schools have more of them some schools have less.  Yes you can build a school up and the school will start taking pride in their wrestling program and you get better and more athletes.  But some schools will be at a disadvantage from the start, just by the type of kid that goes to the school or the fact that the school is focused on other sports.  (basketball)

Quit trying to pigeon hole a problem that is more complex than "my school is big and your school is small."  I would kill for some of the kids that go to Garrett and they are very small school compared to us.  Yes they do a good job with their kids and ours also.   But there was a day that even though our school was much bigger our open mats had two to three times as many Garrett kids as our kids.  Don't you dare say it is because the smaller schools work harder, because there is more to it than just that and it is an insult to a lot of coaches that work their tail off just to get to where they are now.

I just wish big schools could be as awesome as the little schools.  I think the awesome coaches at the little scools should get jobs at all the underperforming big schools and show them how it's done.  They'd then have all the resources and student body numbers and they would be able to march to a team title every year regardless if the team title is decided by the Coaches Trophy or dual format.  But let me guess.  You guys are too committed to the small schools and don't want to abandon them.  Leave them in the lurch, etc.  In business, when small branches are doing a great, they take the managers from those branches and move them out.  Kind of a cross pollinization effect.  I think you guys should stop hiding your light under a bushel and go out there and show everyone how it's done.  C'mon, guys.  Step up, please.  For the good of Indiana wrestling.  For the good of humanity.   

LOL

Awesome.  I am sure that Ester will do a great job with him.