hook and half
-
Posts
983 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
12
Content Type
Articles
Coach
Teams
Team History
Wrestlers
Wrestler Accomplishments
Dual Results
Individual Results
Team Rankings
Individual Rankings Master
Individual Ranking Detail
Tournament Results
Brackets
College Signings
Media
State Bracket Year Info
Team Firsts and Lasts
Family History
Schedule-Main
Schedule-Details
Team History Accomplishments
Current Year Dual Results
Current Year Tournament Results
Forums
Events
Store
Downloads
Everything posted by hook and half
-
No renegades all star team?
-
Julius Irvings?
-
If you don't like the rule, get it changed. There is another word for "bending". It's called cheating.
-
We Are... MD! A History of Mater Dei Wrestling book review
hook and half replied to TripleB's topic in Past Discussions
WFIE gave some nice coverage. Thanks, Mike Blake! https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=744701942281324&set=vb.619018248183028&type=2&theater -
Very impressive. How has seltzer done it?
-
The following is an excerpt from "We are MD...A History of Mater Dei Wrestling" The Wildcats travelled to Columbus, Ohio on January 18 to compete in the National College Duals. Mater Dei rolled over, Lisbon, 56-12 in the first round, and Cincinnati Lakota East, 58-13, in the second round. Their last opponent, St. Paris Graham, was much more formidable. The national polls had Mater Dei at 11th, while St. Paris Graham was ranked second. St. Paris Graham was a buzz saw and defeated the ‘Cats, 39-15. The loss broke Mater Dei’s 116-match winning streak and handed Mater Dei its second dual loss in 253 matches. "If our streak mattered, we wouldn't have accepted this challenge,” said Mike Goebel. “We never talk about that. We just saw this as a chance to wrestle a quality opponent, somebody who will make us better in the long run.” St. Paris Graham was the real deal. Standard-bearer Blake Maurer lost only the second match of his career, a 3-1 decision to Joe Dennis. "It was a great match," said Goebel. “He (Dennis) got a takedown with two seconds left. We didn't question it when we were there, but when we watched the tape, Blake was clearly out of bounds and Dennis' foot was on the line. The match should've gone overtime, I guess. But that doesn't necessarily change the outcome. The guy was a bear. Blake will learn from it, go on and get better." "The guys came back to the room and decided they needed to work harder, and that's what they've done," said Goebel. "We didn't lose anything that really mattered, we just lost a match. But even at that, if we win all four of our close matches, it's a tie. And if we get those and Craig Weinzapfel gets the pin at 145, which we thought he had, well, we could conceivably win." Maurer faced an unfamiliar foe in his match with Dennis: Nerves. “To be totally honest, I was very nervous,” said Maurer. “The match was at Ohio State. I really wanted to go to Ohio State. After my warm-up, I look in the stands and there is Russ Hellickson (Ohio State’s wrestling coach) setting next to my dad. I’m like, ‘Holy crap, I need to get it done out here.’” Mater Dei tallied wins from Matt Coughlin, Craig Weinzapfel, Sam Wildeman and Chaz Schwartz. Schwartz won with an eight-second pin at heavyweight. The Wildcats were disappointed with their performance. “The whole dual was about ‘What ifs?’” said Craig Weinzapfel. “We had a bunch of one-point matches that went the wrong way. To not do our best was a real let-down.” In Paris St. Graham, Mater Dei found themselves sampling their own medicine. “Everywhere we wrestled, people always talked about what good shape we were in,” said Craig Weinzapfel. “That team (St. Paris Graham) was in incredible shape; incredibly strong. It seemed like they had the mentality that they were going to go as hard as they could no matter what.” “We were at the weigh-in,” said Wildeman. “I’m looking at this guy, and he is around my size (160 pounds). One of the guys on the team, said ‘No, that’s who Macke (125 pounds) has. The guy was huge. He was a man.” “Graham won all of the close matches,” said Maurer. “Their conditioning was better than ours. We had our opportunities; we just didn’t get it done.”
-
This weekend, at the Castle 6-way, Bloomington South and Mater Dei will meet on the mat for the 36th time over six and a half decades. The following are excerpts from my book "We are MD...A history of Mater Dei Wrestling." In 1950, Mater Dei became the 22nd Indiana school to field a wrestling team. Coach Gus Peters intended for the 50/51 season to only serve as a development season. However, so great was the progress of his charges, Peters decided to enter his team in the sectional. A quick call to Indianapolis revealed that the Wildcats would be compelled to compete in a least one regular season match in order to compete in the sectional. As a result, on the Wednesday before the sectional, a meeting was hastily scheduled with Bloomington's junior varsity squad. The team left school at noon in order to allow time for the long drive. “We knew about Bloomington, with all of their State Championships and how good they were,” recalled Tom Scheller. “Gus tried to keep us loose. They had a lot of people there to watch. They had proper uniforms and warm-ups. We were pretty nervous; we didn’t know if we would get our necks broken.” Mater Dei won 6 of 11 matches, but lost the dual, 21-20. The Mater Dei community quickly adopted wrestling as a major sport. Large numbers of athletes swelled the wrestling room and in 1953, Mater Dei claimed its first State Champion. Joe Gossman took the reins in 1956. A navy boxer and college football player, Gossman was a hard-driving, cigar-chomping old-school taskmaster. Gossman built upon Peters' success. Soon, the Wildcats dominated Evansville-area schools and regularly defeated opponents from Indianapolis. *** The Wildcats began the 1958-59 campaign under tough conditions. In the pre-dawn hours of that December 13th morning, the team gathered in Mater Dei’s parking lot and was met with frosty, ten-degree temperatures. A long, cold ride to Bloomington was in front of them. Tougher yet, was what was waiting for the ‘Cats—the powerful Bloomington Panthers. The 17-time Indiana State Champions were coached by the legendary Clifford “Two Bit” Myers. A high school State Champion, Myers also wrestled at Indiana University. A fiery competitor, Myers found his match in Joe Gossman. Seldom was there a meet involving Mater Dei and Bloomington where the two would not experience a testy exchange. Red-faced confrontations were a usual and customary occurrence. Off the mat, it was a different story. The pair enjoyed a collegial relationship, often sharing dinner or drinks—after the day’s hostilities had ceased. Gossman worked hard to get his Wildcats top-notch competition. He found it in Bloomington, along with great frustration. The Bloomington boys had a huge fan following, top-notch gear and a rich wrestling tradition. Mater Dei countered with a very small fan base—few, if any, parents or fans attended away meets. The Wildcats wore wear mis-matched sweats as warm-ups and wrestled bare-chested with long tights. Worst of all, the Wildcats had never beaten the Panthers. Joe Gossman needed his team to slay the Bloomington dragon. Bloomington was led by 112 pound Dennis Hutcherson. Hutcherson placed third in the 1958 State Final and second in the 1959 State Final. The Wildcats were led by senior Jerry Head. Head placed fourth in the 1959 State Final. Loryl Lackey, Mike Jankowski, Bob Petrig and Mike Helfrich were also stand-out wrestlers for the Red and Gold. Adults paid 25 cents to see the match while students were charged 15. In the opening the match, the ‘Cats got a break. Bloomington’s 95-pounder was sick, so Loryl Lackey claimed a win by forfeit. At 103 pounds, Jim Seibert squeezed out a crucial, 3-2 win over Housit to put the ‘Cats on top 8-0. Myers’ gamesmanship backfired at 112 pounds. Banking that his star, Dennis Hutcherson, could win at 120, Myers bumped him up and inserted Walker at 112. Jim Russler took full advantage, pinning Walker with only nine seconds remaining in the match to make it 13-0. Hutcherson did win at 120, but Mater Dei’s Ed Schnautz minimized the damage, losing 7-0. Richard Head gave up a pin at 133, but Jerry Head snatched the lead back, beat George Finley, 3-1. Mike Jankowski scored a first period takedown that held up for a 3-1 win over Calvert. A few moments into the second period, Bob Petrig managed to turn Bruce and score a huge fall for the ‘Cats. Regular starter Fred Wahnsiedler was sick and unavailable to wrestle. His backup, Lee, succumbed to a pin at 154 pounds. Down 24-13, the Panthers would need to sweep the final three matches and score bonus points in order to prevail. Mike Helfrich lost a tight, 6-3 decision to Rawlins followed by Rodger Duncan’s 4-0 loss to Taylor. Now down 24-19 Bloomington required a pin by their heavyweight, Davidson, in order to tie the match. Mater Dei’s Jim Browning did his job and denied the Panthers any bonus points, losing to Davidson, 4-0. Final Score: Mater Dei- 24, Bloomington-22. In Mater Dei’s eighth season, the victory over Bloomington marked the program’s most significant win. “This is a great win for Mater Dei,” exclaimed Gossman. “A lot of people thought we would never be able to beat a team like Bloomington. I think this opened up some eyes.” After a 20-year career at Bloomington, Two Bit Myers retired in 1963. Myers’ teams won eight State Championships and 35 individual titles. The annual series between Bloomington and Mater Dei extended sporadically through 1970. During that period, Mater Dei went 3-4. Bloomington has the dubious distinction of handing Mater Dei its two worst losses in the program’s history. In 1967, Bloomington defeated Mater Dei, 50-5, followed by the 1969 debacle, a match Mater Dei lost 52-0. The 1969 match also marks the only time a Mater Dei team has been shut out. Bloomington South’s weapon—the cradle—was not well known by the Wildcats. While aware that Bloomington would use it, Mater Dei was not adequately prepared to counter it. The Panthers were very good with it and used it to wreak great destruction. Joe Gossman was very unhappy with his team’s performance. “He threw a fit,” said Art Happe. “He, too, was unaware of the cradle. But, his theory was, if you kept moving, no one could get a hold on you. If you kept moving, you can’t get pinned.” Tom Schapker was not so sure about the theory. “You could just as easily move into the cradle,” Schapker said. “That cradle was devastating,” said Mike Goebel. “Coach Gossman was yelling at us, ‘Don’t let ‘em do that.’ ‘What are they doing, Coach?’ we asked. He would say, ‘I don’t know, just don’t let them lock their hands.’” In 1973, the Bloomington school district built a new school and named it Bloomington North. The old Bloomington High became known as Bloomington South. The Mater Dei/Bloomington South series resumed in 1991. From then, through 2013, the Wildcats have posted a 20-2 mark against the Panthers. In its 20 losses, Bloomington South averaged 12 points. Mater Dei suffered a bitter loss to Bloomington South at the 2012 Indiana State Championship Duals. Opening the match, spotting the Panthers two forfeits, the Wildcats scratched their way to a 30-30 tie, only to lose on the seventh criteria, the most points scored in individual contests. Regarded as one of Indiana’s great wrestling rivalries, fans and wrestlers circle the annual meeting on their calendars. When the Panthers and the 'Cats take the mat, sparks are sure to fly.
-
Tuesday night, Evansville North and Mater Dei will meet for the 60th time. The two schools have enjoyed a seven decade-long rivalry. The following is an excerpt from "We are MD...A History of Mater Dei Wrestling." On January 15, 1958, in the third meeting between Evansville North and Mater Dei, second-year coach Joe Gossman expected a tough match. Mater Dei wrestled North twice in 1957, beating the Huskies 36-12 in the first match and 28-24 in the second. North boasted strong athletes complemented by full varsity and junior varsity teams. The bottom of the Wildcat line-up was anchored by the Gossman-named “Big Four”. Jim Jankowski, Bill “Bucky” Killebrew, Ron Tepool and John Meredith were often called upon by Gossman to put up wins in order to carry the ‘Cats to victory. “They (The Big Four) got meaner as they went up,” recalled Student Manager, and future Mater Dei Athletic Director, Joe Dippel. “Gossman loved to talk about them. He would say, ‘We start with Jankowski and he looked like he had hurt somebody. Killebrew got a hold of the next guy and they thought they were hurt. When Tepool got a hold of them, they were hurt; when Meredith got a hold of them they were dead.’ They were Mater Dei’s version of The Four Horsemen.” The Big Four built substantial credentials; entering the post season, the quartet boasted a 71-6 record. First-year wrestler, junior Jerry Head, also added fire power. Head placed in the sectional in 1958 and was a State Placer in 1959. Entering the match, both teams were undefeated in City play. Opening at 95 pounds, North opened with a decision win over Loryl Lackey and Mike Taylor defeating Jim Russler to build a 6-0 lead. Ed Schnautz got the Wildcats on the board at 112 pounds, posting a tight, 4-2 decision over Dickman. Richard Head, Jim Siebert, Bob Petrig lost consecutive decisions, as the Huskies raced to a 15-3 lead. Winning five of the first six matches, North looked golden. Jerry Head got the ‘Cats untracked with a 6-1 win over McCormick, followed by Larry May’s 4-0 win over McAdams at 145 pounds. Now trailing 15-9, the ‘Cats were within striking distance. “The Big Four” delivered as Jankowski, Killebrew, Tepool and Meredith offered successive pins to close out the Huskies. Final Score: Mater Dei- 29, North- 15. The win kept Mater Dei’s undefeated season intact; “The Big Four” all won sectional championships to advance to the regional. John Meredith finished third in the State Championship. North gained a measure of revenge, beating the Wildcats in 1960 and 1961. North also nudged Mater Dei for the 1960 City Title. *** A retired educator and superintendent, John Meredith resides in Nashville, Tennessee. He makes a half-dozen trips to his home town every year to visit his best friend, Bucky Killebrew. *** Evansville North’s Mike Taylor joined the Army and was recruited by the Green Berets. As a Green Beret, Taylor fought the Viet Cong and trained the Montagnard, the aboriginal Vietnamese people. After his Army career ended, Taylor became a Judo expert, fighting internationally and winning several Senior National Championships. In 1984, at the age of 41, Taylor became the first alternate on the United States Olympic pistol shooting team. Taylor retired from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department and later from the United States Marshals. Today, Taylor is mostly retired. He still keeps his low-altitude parachuting skills sharp, and occasionally trains Rangers for the United States Army. *** In 1962, Jim Jankowski graduated from Purdue University and entered the Army as a second lieutenant. Jankowski became a Ranger and accumulated three years of combat experience in Vietnam and an additional one during the Dominican Republic’s civil war. His final assignment landed him at the Pentagon, serving the Secretary of the Army and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After 30 years of service, Jankowski retired from the Army a full Colonel. With over 50 medals and ribbons to his credit, including four bronze stars, Jankowski enjoyed a wonderful military career. He credits his alma mater for its contribution. “My training at Mater Dei really helped me in the military,” said Jankowski. “The Rangers’ training was in line with what I had done.” More than five decades removed from Mater Dei’s mats—his wits intact and body tuned—Colonel Jankowski remains squared away. “I could go on active duty, today,” Jankowski declared. *** After graduating from Evansville College, Ron Tepool worked for NASA. Tepool was a lead engineer for engines that powered the Saturn-series rockets—the vehicles that put a man on the moon. Tepool later became the Chief Engineer of the Space Shuttle Propulsion Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
-
Ask any Indiana high school wrestlers from the 1950's what the greatest rivalry between two grapplers was and they will likely point you to the heavyweight match-ups between Vernon Rohr of Lafayette Jefferson and Bill Trainer of Evansville Mater Dei. The following contains excerpts from "We are MD...A History of Mater Dei Wrestling" and conversations I had with Vernon Rohr. Entering the 1953 State Championship, Mater Dei coach, Gus Peters, was concerned about the readiness of Bill Trainer. Trainer was undefeated entering the State Meet, and had only been pushed a couple of times. Consequently, Coach Gus Peters was concerned about Trainer’s mental and physical toughness. Trainer’s first round opponent was Tony Corrado of Howe Military Academy. Trainer won, 8-0. In the round of four, Trainer advanced to the final by virtue of a 6-0 win over Kokomo’s Blaine Merrell. Trainer’s title opponent, Vernon Rohr of Lafayette Jefferson, was also undefeated. The pair was amazingly similar in physique. Rohr tipped the scales at 192 pounds, only giving him a two-pound advantage over Trainer. “I wore 32-inch waist pants,” said Vernon Rohr. “I was all upper body and legs. We (Trainer and Rohr) were mirror images.” The two were the smallest heavyweights in the field. Rohr had redemption on his mind. In 1952, as a sophomore, Rohr contracted pneumonia. Rohr’s doctor advised against wrestling and gave him a shot of penicillin. His physical state diminished, Rohr entered the sectional and managed to advance to the final against Crawfordsville’s Keith Stephens, but lost by decision. Stephens proceeded to place third at the State Meet. Rohr had an uncle who resided in Bloomington and attended the sectional to scout his potential opponents. “He called me and said ‘This Trainer kid is really good,’” said Rohr. “I had never heard of Evansville Mater Dei. How good could they be?” Moments before the match, Trainer was extremely nervous. “I feel shaky and weak,” said Trainer to coach Gus Peters. “I’m not sure I can even wrestle.” The title match was the closest of Trainer’s State Series tournament. The first period did not yield a score. “Trainer was terrible on his feet,” said Rohr. “At that time, I was too. Trainer liked to tie up.” Rohr won the toss and got on the scoreboard first with a reversal and rode Trainer most of the period before Trainer scored an escape before the buzzer to make it 2-1. Trainer chose down in the third period and promptly reversed Rohr, followed by a quick escape by Rohr. With time winding down and the score knotted at 3-3, Lafayette Jeff’s coaches made a crucial error. “They yelled ‘You’ve got him on riding time,’” said Rohr. “I stayed away and thought I had the match.” The riding time was not counted, throwing the outcome to a referee’s decision. The head referee conferred with the two side judges. With tension mounting, the referee slowly walked back to the center of the mat, clasped each wrestler’s wrist and raised Trainer’s hand. A winner by referee’s decision, Bill Trainer became Mater Dei’s first State Champion. “It was also a great moment for dad,” said Donald Peters, Gus’ son. “He was very proud of Trainer.” It was a rough day for the Lafayette Jeff coaching staff. “It was really tough on my coaches,” said Rohr. “They took it very hard.” For Vernon Rohr, the loss triggered a 365-day march. “From that night (the evening of the loss) on, I wrestled Trainer every night (in my mind),” Rohr said. “It was a mountain to climb. I had lost one match in two years, and it was on a referee’s decision.” Rohr trained hard for the meeting. “I didn’t get much competition my senior year,” he said. “Purdue’s wrestling coach, Claude Reek, contacted me and asked if I wanted to train with them. I worked on a lot of wrestling from my feet. A Purdue guy I trained with was the Big Ten champ that year. Another guy was runner-up in the NCAAs. From then on, no one could compete with me from my feet. That was the push I needed.” Still stung over the crucial, 1953 coaching mistake, the Lafayette Jeff staff allowed no room for error. “The night before the tournament,” said Rohr. “My coach called my mom and said ‘I’d like to have Vern come and spend the night with me, I don’t want him going out with his girl tonight.’ It didn’t happen. Mom made sure that I stayed at home.” Lafayette Jefferson High School was packed for the State Championship on February 20. Bill Trainer opened his day with a 10-2 win over Smock of Broad Ripple. South Bend Central’s Ed Nailon fell to Trainer in the semifinal, 9-3. Trainer's win guaranteed a rematch with Rohr, the most-anticipated one of the tournament. The State Champ against the runner-up—the pair having only produced a single loss between them in two seasons. Rohr’s off-season work from his feet paid off, as he scored a quick, first period takedown and a third period reversal for a 4-1 win. It was Trainer’s first loss since his sophomore year. “Dad was bitter about Trainer’s loss,” said Donald Peters, Gus’ son. “Bill had a girlfriend that he spent a lot of time with. Dad did not approve. He thought that you needed to stay home, go to bed early and train hard; there would be time for a girlfriend when the season was over.” Author’s Notes: Calendar-wise, Bill Trainer’s winning streak is the second-longest in Mater Dei’s history. Had Trainer won the 1954 State Title, he would have equaled Matt Coughlin’s winning streak of two entire seasons. When Matt Coughlin’s hand was raised in 2005 at Indianapolis’ Conseco Field house, signifying his second consecutive State Championship, Trainer’s 51 year-old record was broken. *** Trainer was recruited by many colleges, including Indiana University, to play football and wrestle. He opted to join the Marine Corps. Having found only one person who attended the Trainer/Rohr match-ups, I felt compelled to learn a more complete accounting of one of Mater Dei’s greatest champions. As a result, Vernon Rohr was the only Mater Dei antagonist interviewed for this book. The effort to find and interview him was rewarded in spades. I called him, introduced myself and told him of my project. I asked him if he remembered a guy named Bill Trainer. The question was followed by a pregnant pause, then the reply: “You bet I do!” The 78-year-old Rohr lives with his wife in Greenwood, Indiana. I found him to be genial, gracious and an engaging storyteller. The similarities between Rohr and Trainer are startling. Both were undersized heavyweights with huge hands and tremendous physical strength. Both were outstanding tackles on their respective football teams. Rohr was recruited to wrestle and play football at Notre Dame, Michigan, Purdue and Iowa. Like Trainer, he opted out of college. Neither Rohr nor Trainer produced any sons; in this category, Rohr possesses a slight edge. Rohr sired four daughters while Trainer claimed three. Rohr eventually attended Purdue University and became a successful entrepreneur. In 2011, a granddaughter attending Lafayette Jeff High School called him. “Grandpa!” she said excitedly. “You’re in the Hall of Fame.” Unbeknownst to him, he had indeed been inducted into the Lafayette Jeff Athletic Hall of Fame. 60 years, or 22,000 days, have followed the Trainer/Rohr match-ups. Bill Trainer is still on Vernon Rohr’s mind. “A least once a week it happens,” said Rohr. “You know how when you go to bed and you are about half asleep? It comes to mind. When it happens, there is no getting back to sleep. I rehash it. It takes me about 30 minutes to wind down and go back to sleep.” Rohr recalled to me, in splendid detail, his 1953 loss to Trainer. However, the minutia of his 1954 State Championship win over Bill Trainer is not part of his conscience. He was not even sure of the final score of his greatest victory. So goes the life of a wrestler… Click here to view the article
-
Ask any Indiana high school wrestlers from the 1950's what the greatest rivalry between two grapplers was and they will likely point you to the heavyweight match-ups between Vernon Rohr of Lafayette Jefferson and Bill Trainer of Evansville Mater Dei. The following contains excerpts from "We are MD...A History of Mater Dei Wrestling" and conversations I had with Vernon Rohr. Entering the 1953 State Championship, Mater Dei coach, Gus Peters, was concerned about the readiness of Bill Trainer. Trainer was undefeated entering the State Meet, and had only been pushed a couple of times. Consequently, Coach Gus Peters was concerned about Trainer’s mental and physical toughness. Trainer’s first round opponent was Tony Corrado of Howe Military Academy. Trainer won, 8-0. In the round of four, Trainer advanced to the final by virtue of a 6-0 win over Kokomo’s Blaine Merrell. Trainer’s title opponent, Vernon Rohr of Lafayette Jefferson, was also undefeated. The pair was amazingly similar in physique. Rohr tipped the scales at 192 pounds, only giving him a two-pound advantage over Trainer. “I wore 32-inch waist pants,†said Vernon Rohr. “I was all upper body and legs. We (Trainer and Rohr) were mirror images.†The two were the smallest heavyweights in the field. Rohr had redemption on his mind. In 1952, as a sophomore, Rohr contracted pneumonia. Rohr’s doctor advised against wrestling and gave him a shot of penicillin. His physical state diminished, Rohr entered the sectional and managed to advance to the final against Crawfordsville’s Keith Stephens, but lost by decision. Stephens proceeded to place third at the State Meet. Rohr had an uncle who resided in Bloomington and attended the sectional to scout his potential opponents. “He called me and said ‘This Trainer kid is really good,’†said Rohr. “I had never heard of Evansville Mater Dei. How good could they be?†Moments before the match, Trainer was extremely nervous. “I feel shaky and weak,†said Trainer to coach Gus Peters. “I’m not sure I can even wrestle.†The title match was the closest of Trainer’s State Series tournament. The first period did not yield a score. “Trainer was terrible on his feet,†said Rohr. “At that time, I was too. Trainer liked to tie up.†Rohr won the toss and got on the scoreboard first with a reversal and rode Trainer most of the period before Trainer scored an escape before the buzzer to make it 2-1. Trainer chose down in the third period and promptly reversed Rohr, followed by a quick escape by Rohr. With time winding down and the score knotted at 3-3, Lafayette Jeff’s coaches made a crucial error. “They yelled ‘You’ve got him on riding time,’†said Rohr. “I stayed away and thought I had the match.†The riding time was not counted, throwing the outcome to a referee’s decision. The head referee conferred with the two side judges. With tension mounting, the referee slowly walked back to the center of the mat, clasped each wrestler’s wrist and raised Trainer’s hand. A winner by referee’s decision, Bill Trainer became Mater Dei’s first State Champion. “It was also a great moment for dad,†said Donald Peters, Gus’ son. “He was very proud of Trainer.†It was a rough day for the Lafayette Jeff coaching staff. “It was really tough on my coaches,†said Rohr. “They took it very hard.†For Vernon Rohr, the loss triggered a 365-day march. “From that night (the evening of the loss) on, I wrestled Trainer every night (in my mind),†Rohr said. “It was a mountain to climb. I had lost one match in two years, and it was on a referee’s decision.†Rohr trained hard for the meeting. “I didn’t get much competition my senior year,†he said. “Purdue’s wrestling coach, Claude Reek, contacted me and asked if I wanted to train with them. I worked on a lot of wrestling from my feet. A Purdue guy I trained with was the Big Ten champ that year. Another guy was runner-up in the NCAAs. From then on, no one could compete with me from my feet. That was the push I needed.†Still stung over the crucial, 1953 coaching mistake, the Lafayette Jeff staff allowed no room for error. “The night before the tournament,†said Rohr. “My coach called my mom and said ‘I’d like to have Vern come and spend the night with me, I don’t want him going out with his girl tonight.’ It didn’t happen. Mom made sure that I stayed at home.†Lafayette Jefferson High School was packed for the State Championship on February 20. Bill Trainer opened his day with a 10-2 win over Smock of Broad Ripple. South Bend Central’s Ed Nailon fell to Trainer in the semifinal, 9-3. Trainer's win guaranteed a rematch with Rohr, the most-anticipated one of the tournament. The State Champ against the runner-up—the pair having only produced a single loss between them in two seasons. Rohr’s off-season work from his feet paid off, as he scored a quick, first period takedown and a third period reversal for a 4-1 win. It was Trainer’s first loss since his sophomore year. “Dad was bitter about Trainer’s loss,†said Donald Peters, Gus’ son. “Bill had a girlfriend that he spent a lot of time with. Dad did not approve. He thought that you needed to stay home, go to bed early and train hard; there would be time for a girlfriend when the season was over.†Author’s Notes: Calendar-wise, Bill Trainer’s winning streak is the second-longest in Mater Dei’s history. Had Trainer won the 1954 State Title, he would have equaled Matt Coughlin’s winning streak of two entire seasons. When Matt Coughlin’s hand was raised in 2005 at Indianapolis’ Conseco Field house, signifying his second consecutive State Championship, Trainer’s 51 year-old record was broken. *** Trainer was recruited by many colleges, including Indiana University, to play football and wrestle. He opted to join the Marine Corps. Having found only one person who attended the Trainer/Rohr match-ups, I felt compelled to learn a more complete accounting of one of Mater Dei’s greatest champions. As a result, Vernon Rohr was the only Mater Dei antagonist interviewed for this book. The effort to find and interview him was rewarded in spades. I called him, introduced myself and told him of my project. I asked him if he remembered a guy named Bill Trainer. The question was followed by a pregnant pause, then the reply: “You bet I do!†The 78-year-old Rohr lives with his wife in Greenwood, Indiana. I found him to be genial, gracious and an engaging storyteller. The similarities between Rohr and Trainer are startling. Both were undersized heavyweights with huge hands and tremendous physical strength. Both were outstanding tackles on their respective football teams. Rohr was recruited to wrestle and play football at Notre Dame, Michigan, Purdue and Iowa. Like Trainer, he opted out of college. Neither Rohr nor Trainer produced any sons; in this category, Rohr possesses a slight edge. Rohr sired four daughters while Trainer claimed three. Rohr eventually attended Purdue University and became a successful entrepreneur. In 2011, a granddaughter attending Lafayette Jeff High School called him. “Grandpa!†she said excitedly. “You’re in the Hall of Fame.†Unbeknownst to him, he had indeed been inducted into the Lafayette Jeff Athletic Hall of Fame. 60 years, or 22,000 days, have followed the Trainer/Rohr match-ups. Bill Trainer is still on Vernon Rohr’s mind. “A least once a week it happens,†said Rohr. “You know how when you go to bed and you are about half asleep? It comes to mind. When it happens, there is no getting back to sleep. I rehash it. It takes me about 30 minutes to wind down and go back to sleep.†Rohr recalled to me, in splendid detail, his 1953 loss to Trainer. However, the minutia of his 1954 State Championship win over Bill Trainer is not part of his conscience. He was not even sure of the final score of his greatest victory. So goes the life of a wrestler… -
bethel was dq'd in overtime? no injury default?
-
i hope bethel is not seriously injured... until that point, how did the match go down?
-
Any updates? Notable matches?
-
your right!
-
1. "Your right! I'm looking for a dominate performance." 2. "He is going to surprise some people." IE, last year he was not potty-trained. this year, we are shooting for unsoiled singlets---therefore, he is going to surprise some people. 3. Any blatant non-sequitor to shamelessly promote your kid. For example, the topic is "Most likely to finish the season without a loss" and the poster writes: "Billy Steve lost 28 matches last year, but i really look for him to get out of the sectional this year. He will surprise some people." 4. Any posts by Wrestleman. Is this a grown man? Really? 5. "Don't count out...." No way! I always discount the lower-seeded wrestler. ALWAYS. But then again, I could be wrong, IMO. All of this is just so much talk...whoever is on a mission will be at the top of the podium. and, at the end of the day, that's the only ranking that matters! i also find that champions rebound from early season high-profile losses to other very good wrestlers, especially after there is a lot of chatter on the message board. Why? Because after the loss, the loser "goes back to the room and works extra hard." generally, the winner, feeling very confident after the win, takes a few weeks off and is out of shape for the revenge match and loses. IMO. on a serious note, "team" state should be abolished. for example, if the eighth ranked team turns down an invitation, "team" state is invalid! even if the top 12 teams did come, if it is not at the end of the season, or sanctioned by the IHSAA, it is a joke! get over yourselves. IMO.
-
it would be a big cut to 138. i saw him step on the scale last week. he was very lean and weighed 155.
-
What happened with the Tommy Cash match? I see where he was beaten by an "MFF" by the eventual champion.
-
well played...
-
We are...MD! A History of Mater Dei Wrestling will be released by MT Publishing on October 1. The book is a coffee table hardback edition with 272 pages and over 300 photographs. Here is a preview: How can a parochial school, with 250 boys, annually field a powerhouse wrestling team for over six decades? How can this school set over 20 Indiana wrestling records and a half-dozen IHSAA all-sports records? How can this institution claim national records and occasional national rankings? To outsiders, Mater Dei Wrestling is an enigma. The reasons given for the success of the program is often described in unflattering terms. Mater Dei’s local competitors paint a different picture: hard-nosed athletes and a team fed by a seemingly endless pipeline. The fifteenth man on the roster—a large, fanatic and nomadic base of followers—is the “X” factor in the Mater Dei Wrestling equation. Paradoxically, in the most individual and demanding sport offered by high school athletics, Mater Dei Wrestling is about something bigger. Greg Schaefer described it best: “As good as you may be, Mater Dei Wrestling is not about you. It never can be, it never will be. Mater Dei Wrestling is about Team.” Mater Dei wrestlers learn this lesson quickly. When one wears the iconic “MD” on his chest, he is not just representing himself. Nearly three-quarters of a century of grapplers went before him, constructing the very platform on which he stands. Accordingly, expectations are sky-high. The community demands it. Long-time Athletic Director Joe Dippel summed it up: “We are Catholic by faith,” said Dippel. “But, our religion is wrestling.” John S. Johnson takes you from the nascent days of Mater Dei’s wrestling program to its current edition. You will be fascinated by the ascension of Mater Dei Wrestling and its rarified place in Indiana athletics. To pre-order go to: http://mtpublishing.com/index.php/default/catalog/product/view/id/435/s/mater-dei-wrestling-group/#.Uzx4z6
-
as long as coughlin ducks red, he is not the man.
-
ah! the old "if and buts, candy and nuts all-star team"... I know a couple of guys that got beat the first round of sectional. if they had been really good, they would be on this list! maybe Olympians!
-
for the mater dei holiday classic, frank schaefer serves buffalo bratwurst. he raises the bison, butchers 'em and turns 'em into sausage right there on the family farm.
-
yes, they meet the criteria.
-
Folks do not stick around for the heavyweight matches because, by and large (pun intended), they are BORING! Before you point to a Wesley Bernard, Andy Schneider, etcetera, I will concede that they were/are exciting athletes that graced they heavyweight class with their presence. They are also the outliers. The vast majority of heavyweight matches involve two super-tankers, standing straight up, pushing on each other for six minutes. Really? That is wrestling? Butts in the seats is the ultimate vote. Fans leave because the product on the mat is uninteresting.
-
Mater Dei- Top Wrestler by Weight, Each Wrestler May Appear in Only One Class 95 Pounds: Larry Pendley- 4th Place, 1962 Regional 98 Pounds: Dan Burch- 1979 State Qualifier 100 Pounds: Greg Schaefer- 1995 State Champion 103 Pounds: Gabe Zirkelbach- 1988 State Champion 105 Pounds: Mike Happe- 1986 State Runner-Up 106 Pounds: Will Egli- 5th Place, 2014 State Championship 107 Pounds: Tom Cartwright- 1970 Sectional Runner-Up 112 Pounds: Chip Elderkin- 1986 State Champion, Craig Weinzapfel- 2001 State Champion 113 Pounds: Mitch Lehman, 2013 Semi State Qualifier 119 Pounds: Rusty Head- 1991 State Runner-Up, Alex Weinzapfel- 2008 State Runner-Up 120 Pounds: Alex Johnson- 6th Place, 2014 State Championship 123 Pounds: John Cartwright- 1970 Regional Qualifier 125 Pounds: Scott Schaefer- 1996 State Runner-Up 126 Pounds: Nick Lee- 3rd Place, 2014 Championship 127 Pounds: Steve Moore- 4th Place, 1965 State Championship 130 Pounds: Bart Zirkelbach- 1990 State Runner-Up 132 Pounds: Bob Dezember- 1985 State Qualifier, Tim Mayer- 1986 State Qualifier, Blake Jourdan- 2014 State Qualifier 133 Pounds: Jerry Head- 4th Place, 1959 State Championship 134 Pounds: Brad Folz- 4th Place, 1995 State Championship 135 Pounds: Craig Elpers- 1992 State Runner-Up 137 Pounds: Mike Goebel- 4th Place, 1970 Sectional 138 Pounds: Buzz Mieras- 1986 State Champion 140 Pounds: Matt Conkling- 2002 State Runner-Up 142 Pounds: Mike Bishop- 4th Place, 1995 Sectional 145 Pounds: Fred Happe- 1964 State Champion, Chris Wildeman- 1981 State Champion, Bret Schnur- 1987 State Champion 151 Pounds: Tim Ritzert- 1995 Semi State Qualifier 152 Pounds: Matt Armentano- 1993 State Champion, Dustin Nosko- 2003 State Champion, Matt Coughlin- 2004 & 2005 State Champion 154 Pounds: Jim Seibert- 1953 State Qualifier 155 Pounds: John Schroeder- 1978 State Runner-Up 160 Pounds: Nick Mayer- 1996 State Champion, Allen Weinzapfel- 2001 State Champion, Sam Wildeman- 2003 State Champion 165 Pounds: Don “Ape” Scheller- 1954 State Qualifier, Tom May- 1956 State Qualifier 167 Pounds: Gerard Boots- 4th Place, 1972 State Championship 170 Pounds: Bennet Kempf- 8th Place, 2014 State Championship 171 Pounds: Blake Maurer- 2003 & 2004 State Champion 172 Pounds: Jeff McDurmon- 1995 Semi State Qualifier 175 Pounds: Paul Hamilton- 4th Place, 1962 State Championship 177 Pounds: Tim Boots, 1980 State Champion 180 Pounds: Steve Pfister, 1968 Regional Qualifier 182 Pounds: Dalton Brandenstein, 6th Place- 2012 State Championship 185 Pounds: Andy McDonald, 1995 State Runner-Up 189 Pounds: Jacob Schneider, 3rd Place- 2008 State Championship 195 Pounds: Dane Maurer, 3rd Place- 2012 State Championship 215 Pounds: Zach Goebel, 2007 State Qualifier 220 Pounds: Evan Collins, 2012 Semi State Qualifier Heavyweight: Bill Trainer, 1953 State Champion At Large: Craig Macke- 4x State Placer At Large: John Sims- 4x State Placer
