aoberlin

I have thought long and hard on this and hurts me dearly to admit it because I want to get under those lights sooner or later. But.... it's time we class Indiana High School wrestling. The skill level of wrestling has only increased and is only increasing across the board in Indiana. We aren't being fair to our kids to say we don't want to class it because we enjoy the show so much. It's like we are enjoying watching a real live Hunger Game. As coaches and fans there is no difference between us not wanting to change to class wrestling than the IHSAA not giving us wrestlebacks. We know the IHSAA isn't going to do that. Then what should we do in order level the playing field a little more so our kids get more opportunities and we try to grow the sport at every school? Bring on the hate.... but the kids need to come first. Oh... and quit wearing jeans when you coach at the high school level.

For any that read the comments before they were deleted. I would like to apologize. It seems that I took The Generals DM out of context and let anger get the best of me. Carry on with the freestyle/greco convo.

You are right. I apologize and will delete all comments.

Ditch your head on the outside singles and high crotches. Focus on head up inside singles and finishing off the mat. Defensively start with stepping around the corner and crotch lifts. Then start with good old gut wrenches and defending them. Tell them stand ups can be bad news. Let them know to have some fun. Oh and drill back arch and turns for a while.

For the love of wrestling can Verizon get another tower in that area? Or really good public Wifi? Other than that it was a well oiled machine.

I am aware of your situation and I don’t disagree with your decision. Totally different than what others are talking about. That is why I said there are different circumstances.

Well the goal should be that your wrestler is a leader the program needs to start the fire again. Every program needs a spark every now and then. When those sparks go to other schools it doesn't help grow the sport in my opinion. But... every circumstance is different.

I have permission to host this at Homestead. We are still shooting for this year possible mid April if not we will be looking at next year. Trying not to conflict with other events.

Meh… it’s still a crap thing to do and basketball sucks.

These 2 things go together. Will Sheridan have chairs with cushions? If so I vote for it and that will help my butt.

I disagree. I am sure the facility was subsidized and has been given tax breaks to be there. To my knowledge Gainbridge is a fieldhouse used for many different things. Basketball being the main one. IHSAA is a non-profit that promotes amateur youth sports in the State of Indiana. Our tax dollars help keep that place alive. I am sure they make plenty of money for IHSAA State wrestling and have over the years. Just because they can make more money than what they make on us doesn't make it right. I guess choose your battles but as a tax payer and someone that has spent a ton of money in Indy over the last 30 years during this weekend I feel slighted. Also I have sour grapes because I know Fort Wayne was not really considered in this process so I am being petty. To add to that the IHSAA is no joke. They hold real weight. Youth sports is a huge money maker for local businesses. They have levers they can use for sure.

Is it too late to just say this is bullpucky that we even have to move it? It's what contracts are meant for. I would like to see the clause that says. "If there is something better that weekend you guys can't have it." What lawyer looked at the contract that was originally signed or who created the contract? Did the IHSAA at least get some kick back for being thrown out next year or at least a discount for the year after? I hope so because it is just bad business. Don't worry about the loyal 13000 wrestling fans that have supported your facility and downtown district for many decades.

Sorry coach if this happens and you can't get a refund I will repay you by giving you a free camp or 2 for your kid. But.... you have to help coach again.

So.... I shouldn't have used Priceline without insurance?

Crazy this topic is going after I already told you it will be Evansville.

Not all schools have coaches that have the time to coach 365 days out of the year. Some academies have to be open 365 of the year because there are bills to pay on the monthly that will not go away. Parent coaches can be 365 days out of the year because they are invested in their wrestler and they can bring others along for the ride but those parents usually graduate with their wrestlers. Many times that is why you see a program spark up for a little while then die back down. Academies attract the kids and parents that are looking to put in that extra work when every other room is closed or when their isn't enough competition in their own room or a wrestler connects with a certain coach. At it's best an academy is supposed to be a supplement for a wrestler to get better and improve all the while working along side the school system they go to. At it's worst it is used as a recruiting ground to help a high school program. Recruiting happens and will continue to happen, it is what it is. I have an extremely open room policy. I love when high school coaches come and help with the practices. As matter of fact you start getting more kids from that particular school coming because the coach is part of the process. To push back a little on money helping I am not sure I buy that. No pun attended. There is way more dynamics that go into other than money. I have offered many many things for free with World level talent and I have had those opportunities passed up many times. It's about motivation, rather that comes from the parents, coaches, or the wrestlers own hunger. But... if you have a whole community dumping money into a program that there is allot of pressure and motivation to make things happen. So... in that sense I may agree.

I believe you are talking about the wrong match.

Personally I didn’t like when they changed the rule to the merkle being a takedown. It changed the way finishing a head on the inside single that goes to the mat. It use to be a good limp arm out and you were good to go now if they catch that arm you are caught in the merkle position. So now it has turned into chasing the ankle. Which many times can turn into a stalemate. You are seeing more half slidebys and elbow slides going to merkles to get the 2. I just don’t see it as control. I think it is more of a 50/50 situation but once the ref calls 2 it changes how the wrestlers react. But… that is just me.

When have you ever known me to be wrong? And... you can't ask my wife.

Buy your hotel rooms for Evansville. It's a done deal.

From the book Outliers. It was found when flying having the co-pilot be the more experienced pilot and having some authority caused less plane crashes for many different reasons. Just some food for thought.

It's Evansville. I'll bet a wrestling facility but... you have to take over the bills and the loan.

From what I heard the head ref does not have to listen to what the assistant ref says he saw and that may have been the case in this instance.

I see some wrestlers we didn’t think qualified. If they are on the list of wrestlers does it mean they did? Thank you!

Thank you. I will be posting this as a blog on my website. The article is more for those that are just learning about Indiana wrestling. Most of you already know everything that was written.