Anthony Snyder

Vote-in candidates at 1A now updated to include Bremen according to our special covid-year provisions. They had 13 starters out due to quarantine. We found they had good evidence that their score would have most likely been between 154 and 166 (other vote-in candidates are at 153 to 169.5). They return 13 starters--all .500 records or better--and their lone senior starter had multiple wins over semi-state and state qualifiers.
 
Several other teams had me help them figure out the effects of covid on their score as well. No others were very close to justifying inclusion in the vote.

Just don't put yourself in that position...

If you think your team was so affected by Covid-19 at any level of the state series that it kept you from scoring enough points to be in voting consideration for Team State, please PM me on this site. 
 
Before you PM me, please look at the final leaderboards and the scoring rules links below. You will need to be able to give concrete data (head to heads from this season or advancement level last season) that proves you could have scored enough points to be in the voting if not for covid. You don't need to have all of that fully figured out, but you should look at where your team stands now and generally know how you think they would have scored differently to estimate if you really had a chance. If it's clear you would have been 100 points short, it's not worth digging into. Here are the links: 
 
Scoring rules: https://indianamat.com/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=2252
 
Leaderboards: 
 

Here is the 1A leaderboard through state.
 
Semi-state automatic bids: Prairie Heights, North Posey, Centerville, Rensselaer Central
Automatic wildcards: Rochester, Adams Central, Cowan, Southridge, Southmont, Daleville
 
Voting candidates for the 11th team: Bluffton, Tell City, Manchester, Winamac, Bremen
 
Remember that this year we will select the 12th team in mid-December from among all previously uninvited teams.
 

We have 591 kids in our school and we’ve started the last two seasons around 50.  We’ve finished both seasons above 40.  I’m sure this isn’t “normal”, but there wasn’t a magic formula to getting the kids out. 

I think its admirable what small schools like Rensalear Central, Bremen, North Posey, Garrett, Prairie Heights and others i might have had missed.  Obviously there's some positive leadership there with coaches that  energy and great knowledge.   But on the flip side,  Ive seen some small school programs be built, then the coach becomes very marketable to ADs looking for a good wrestling coach at a big school.   The coach most often leaves to the bigger program.  Cant blame them.  A lot of times the small schools are stepping stones.   I wont name names, but look at the resume's of the successful wrestling coaches and often you see they started with that small program.  Then an opportunity came, and these coaches have ambition and jump on the new opportunity.

It is cool to see programs like yours work toward being successful. Proof is in the pudding. Put the work in to build it, the athletes will come. My program has come a long way from nothing and we fully expect to be a contender because of the work we are putting in to make our program fun, interesting, and competitive by utilizing the offseason with as much mat time as possible. 
 
I started am offseason tournament when I was at Jimtown. We brought in teams like Brownsburg and others. I carried it over to Bremen, inviting teams like Brownsburg, Wawasee, FW Carroll, Franklin Central. We attend offseason tournaments, RWOs in our own room, other RTCs/RWOs. Midwest RTC recently opened up which is about 45 min from us. Midwest Xtreme opened not too long ago in the Mishawaka/South Bend area. There are opportunities out there, you just have to seize them. Again, it is not easy by any means. It takes passion, dedication, etc. Bremen is on the right path with parent and wrestler buy in. 

It is cool to see programs like yours work toward being successful. Proof is in the pudding. Put the work in to build it, the athletes will come. My program has come a long way from nothing and we fully expect to be a contender because of the work we are putting in to make our program fun, interesting, and competitive by utilizing the offseason with as much mat time as possible. 
 
I started am offseason tournament when I was at Jimtown. We brought in teams like Brownsburg and others. I carried it over to Bremen, inviting teams like Brownsburg, Wawasee, FW Carroll, Franklin Central. We attend offseason tournaments, RWOs in our own room, other RTCs/RWOs. Midwest RTC recently opened up which is about 45 min from us. Midwest Xtreme opened not too long ago in the Mishawaka/South Bend area. There are opportunities out there, you just have to seize them. Again, it is not easy by any means. It takes passion, dedication, etc. Bremen is on the right path with parent and wrestler buy in. 

Correct me if I'm wrong Matt, but what I think he's suggesting, and I agree, is that the numbers are not decreasing in New Jersey, who has a single-class system, and a comparable number of schools to IN. I think you have now rephrased what we are saying to "numbers are not growing" in these two states. The fact that NJ's numbers are holding steady could show that the sport is in a healthy spot, right now. 
 
But if our numbers are decreasing, and Jersey is holding steady, and both states have a comparable system, what is causing our numbers to decrease? Would classing it simply, increase numbers? 
 
I think @Antknee wrote something up last week that really resonated with me. We are also a 1A program that has seen a lot of growth in our numbers in the last 4-5 years. Team State has been HUGE for our program, but we have also put an emphasis on offseason wrestling, wrestling at out-of-season tournaments such as Frosh/Soph, ISWA, and I think will be making our first trip out to VA Beach with a few kids in April this spring. Our kids have bought-in to wrestling in the offseason. We do not have an academy in or near Rensselaer, we just open up our room for our kids and work. The closest Academies are RWA and Elite Academy (50-60 minutes), Midwest RTC (1.25 hours) and Contenders (1.5 hours). None of them are convenient, nor feasible options, yet we have seen growth in our small-school program. 
 
 

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Bremen is predominately Football, Basketball, and Soft Ball. Before I came to Bremen they had a decent wrestling program with not much emphasis on a wrestling off-season. When the former coach stepped down, things crumbled to literally nothing. There are kids that are 3 sport athletes. There are kids that are more focused on one sport than the other. My main focus when I took over was to build a youth program, get the word out that wrestling is available. I was at every home football game, youth football, etc handing out flyers and talking to kids. Myself and my staff do those type of things to this day. I've coached multiple 3 sport athletes. One in particular was an All -State Football player, 2x State Medalist in Wrestling, and a State Qualifier in Track. He dedicated time.
 
Obviously, Pre-Covid, we worked around the other sports during the off-season to dedicate time to wrestling. We preach off-season wrestling all season. We encourage our wrestlers to make time for wrestling. Clearly, not all are going to at once. It is a culture change. That is the biggest thing for me. We had to establish a culture. Something we can rely on as a tool for success. It wasn't done overnight. It has taken the better part of 4 years to do and we are still in the process of getting to where we want to be. This year was a huge step in the right direction. 
 
 
 
I appreciate your sentiment. It absolutely sucked.
 
There is something clear as day to me.... Coaches dedication and determination to make their program legit. Wrestling is 1v1 but the team aspect is what creates something special. I know of several coaches around the state that can say they've never seen a Bremen coach at ISWA State, HYWAY State, GRR, etc until we took over. You show time and effort towards the athlete and they'll want to be great for you and the program. I truly believe my staff and I are creating something pretty cool at Bremen and it is because we are passionate about this sport and helping young men and women become successful on and off the mat.
 
 

Bremen is predominately Football, Basketball, and Soft Ball. Before I came to Bremen they had a decent wrestling program with not much emphasis on a wrestling off-season. When the former coach stepped down, things crumbled to literally nothing. There are kids that are 3 sport athletes. There are kids that are more focused on one sport than the other. My main focus when I took over was to build a youth program, get the word out that wrestling is available. I was at every home football game, youth football, etc handing out flyers and talking to kids. Myself and my staff do those type of things to this day. I've coached multiple 3 sport athletes. One in particular was an All -State Football player, 2x State Medalist in Wrestling, and a State Qualifier in Track. He dedicated time.
 
Obviously, Pre-Covid, we worked around the other sports during the off-season to dedicate time to wrestling. We preach off-season wrestling all season. We encourage our wrestlers to make time for wrestling. Clearly, not all are going to at once. It is a culture change. That is the biggest thing for me. We had to establish a culture. Something we can rely on as a tool for success. It wasn't done overnight. It has taken the better part of 4 years to do and we are still in the process of getting to where we want to be. This year was a huge step in the right direction. 
 
 
 
I appreciate your sentiment. It absolutely sucked.
 
There is something clear as day to me.... Coaches dedication and determination to make their program legit. Wrestling is 1v1 but the team aspect is what creates something special. I know of several coaches around the state that can say they've never seen a Bremen coach at ISWA State, HYWAY State, GRR, etc until we took over. You show time and effort towards the athlete and they'll want to be great for you and the program. I truly believe my staff and I are creating something pretty cool at Bremen and it is because we are passionate about this sport and helping young men and women become successful on and off the mat.
 
 

Bremen is predominately Football, Basketball, and Soft Ball. Before I came to Bremen they had a decent wrestling program with not much emphasis on a wrestling off-season. When the former coach stepped down, things crumbled to literally nothing. There are kids that are 3 sport athletes. There are kids that are more focused on one sport than the other. My main focus when I took over was to build a youth program, get the word out that wrestling is available. I was at every home football game, youth football, etc handing out flyers and talking to kids. Myself and my staff do those type of things to this day. I've coached multiple 3 sport athletes. One in particular was an All -State Football player, 2x State Medalist in Wrestling, and a State Qualifier in Track. He dedicated time.
 
Obviously, Pre-Covid, we worked around the other sports during the off-season to dedicate time to wrestling. We preach off-season wrestling all season. We encourage our wrestlers to make time for wrestling. Clearly, not all are going to at once. It is a culture change. That is the biggest thing for me. We had to establish a culture. Something we can rely on as a tool for success. It wasn't done overnight. It has taken the better part of 4 years to do and we are still in the process of getting to where we want to be. This year was a huge step in the right direction. 
 
 
 
I appreciate your sentiment. It absolutely sucked.
 
There is something clear as day to me.... Coaches dedication and determination to make their program legit. Wrestling is 1v1 but the team aspect is what creates something special. I know of several coaches around the state that can say they've never seen a Bremen coach at ISWA State, HYWAY State, GRR, etc until we took over. You show time and effort towards the athlete and they'll want to be great for you and the program. I truly believe my staff and I are creating something pretty cool at Bremen and it is because we are passionate about this sport and helping young men and women become successful on and off the mat.
 
 

Bremen is predominately Football, Basketball, and Soft Ball. Before I came to Bremen they had a decent wrestling program with not much emphasis on a wrestling off-season. When the former coach stepped down, things crumbled to literally nothing. There are kids that are 3 sport athletes. There are kids that are more focused on one sport than the other. My main focus when I took over was to build a youth program, get the word out that wrestling is available. I was at every home football game, youth football, etc handing out flyers and talking to kids. Myself and my staff do those type of things to this day. I've coached multiple 3 sport athletes. One in particular was an All -State Football player, 2x State Medalist in Wrestling, and a State Qualifier in Track. He dedicated time.
 
Obviously, Pre-Covid, we worked around the other sports during the off-season to dedicate time to wrestling. We preach off-season wrestling all season. We encourage our wrestlers to make time for wrestling. Clearly, not all are going to at once. It is a culture change. That is the biggest thing for me. We had to establish a culture. Something we can rely on as a tool for success. It wasn't done overnight. It has taken the better part of 4 years to do and we are still in the process of getting to where we want to be. This year was a huge step in the right direction. 
 
 
 
I appreciate your sentiment. It absolutely sucked.
 
There is something clear as day to me.... Coaches dedication and determination to make their program legit. Wrestling is 1v1 but the team aspect is what creates something special. I know of several coaches around the state that can say they've never seen a Bremen coach at ISWA State, HYWAY State, GRR, etc until we took over. You show time and effort towards the athlete and they'll want to be great for you and the program. I truly believe my staff and I are creating something pretty cool at Bremen and it is because we are passionate about this sport and helping young men and women become successful on and off the mat.
 
 

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

1 class 

Yes, I graduated from a "Big" school (Mishawaka) where wrestling was/is a top sport for that community. We won Team State back when we had an IHSAA Team State, multiple times.
 
I coached there for 2 years and then moved on to a "smaller" school (Jimtown). At Jimtown I had no inclination that anything was different. The same mindset and "Team" aspect was preached everyday. Individual successes came along with the success of the team. So, with the development of the classed team state tournament, it helped gain traction with younger kids at the middle school and elementary level. We went on to upset a forceful Yorktown team in the semi finals to earn a chance at the 2A team state title. Jimtown has been at the IHSWCA just about every year except for maybe 1-2 times, since its inception. Individually we had multiple kids that were contenders for State Titles, Placements.
 
Now, I am the Head Coach at Bremen, a 1A school. This program was in ruins. 3 total kids when my staff and I took over. We now have over 40 club kids, 30+ middle schoolers, and this past season a full varsity lineup that could've done great things in the state series and qualified for a team state berth, had it not been for Quarantine issues. We preach every day about our goals for the program. With Bremen being a smaller school, it is not easy to create a wrestling atmosphere from nothing, but we are and man is it worth it to see the payoff. 
 
Classed Individual State is a no for me. Realignment of Sectional to Regional to Semi-State, I'm down for.

First post?!  You hit class wrestling, wrestle backs, seeding and sanctioning girls wrestling.  Quite a entrance!
 

Why is the matches that decide who moves on & who goes home more exciting if it happens in the first 2 rounds?
 
It has already been pointed out but I will repeat it, wrestlebacks do not eliminate ticket round matches. They merely cause them to happen at a different point in the tournament. The excitement of those matches are going to be the same because the stakes have not changed.
 
It has also already been stated, but wrestlebacks are not for determining the Champion. They are for ensuring the most deserving wrestlers are the ones moving on & ultimately placing at State.
 
And given the team title is determined from the individual tournament, wrestlebacks can also have a big effect on that outcome. Case in point, Egli drawing Cottey Friday night. Those might be some very crucial team points lost that could be recovered with wrestlebacks.
 
But lastly to address your initial question regarding how anyone can be in favor of wrestlebacks but not class wrestling. This is because wrestlebacks are about ensuring the best 8 wrestlers get rewarded in the end. While class wrestling is about giving the opportunity for success to more kids. There is a distinct difference there.