hook and half

Wrestleman out!?!? If you start referring to yourself in the third person, I'm giving up on you.

some great matches at the siac! a wild final at 285. it looked like cox was going to pin powell and powell comes back with a pin of his own. it should be fun to see these two go at it at the sectional. the castle sectional may be a replay of the kyles/barnes match. barnes wins with a huge pin, i expect kyles will think about it plenty this week. i don't know kyles, but i'll bet that is one entertaining kid. i would love to know what he said to barnes, after the match, that elicited a big smile from the two. the central sectional, at 160, could be one of the most thrilling in the state. i would bet that neither central or mater dei were satisfied with kemper's 15-13 win over forzley. will the next match produce another football score? throw in Tecumseh's wild card, Tristan McDaniel, and anything can happen. alex riegel shocked the crowd with his near fall of brendon Kelley. that was some cradle, as Kelley was eating his own knee. Kelley proceeded to put the underdog supporters in their place by scoring the three fastest takedowns i have ever seen. riegel is about the best example of what to do when you are overmatched: go after him and good things will happen. the kid is fearless, i would not be surprised to see him go to state. 138 was thrilling. two super uptempo guys going at it. petrig has really improved. seng and petrig have now split their series. the 113 semifinal was good, with ex-teammates matherly and luigs going at it. luigs grabbed a 7-4 win; i suspect we will see a rematch next week.

any new names or sleepers? a quick clarification: 1981 graduate and state qualifier jeff Parkinson says that a "hardscrabbler" is one who can come up with really tough, or hard, words in a scrabble game. sleepers- i don't know if any of these guys will win, but they have a good opportunity to place above their seed: matt cox- md Jordan libby- central Adrian butler- md seth orth- md jesse ivers- harrison ty winchell- north will van hook- reitz chance Williams- memorial aj Dixon- central billy procacina- harrison tanner bruce- reitz nick burke- north cody Baggett- central names: will "green eglis and ham" egli jay "ginger spice" hallowell conner "whatchew talkin bout" willis tarhel "north Carolina" brothers billy "funky cold" procacina alex "buick" reigel will "captain" van hook sam "hacksaw" dugan Jordan "on the label, label, label" libby landon "reverend sun" moon if you don't like these, come up with some better ones. it is hard to top "yo Adrian" and "Terrence trent". take care not to offend indy big un. he is known to offer insults in an English-similar language.

in no way, shape or form is "everyone on the Konrath bandwagon." i think people in mt Vernon are, because he is a terrific wrestler, and beat one of Indiana's best. talk to mater dei fans and you will find that, in your words, "everyone is on the Egli bandwagon". why? because he is a mater dei kid and has given mater dei fans excitement since he was in Kindergarten. talk to cathedral fans and they will tell you breyden bailey is going to win state. they are not on the universal konrath bandwagon that you describe. penn wrestles a brutal schedule; they have great confidence in Hildebrandt. probably not many konrath bandwagon riders there, either. furthermore, how do you know egli had an "off day"? did he tell you that? i have known the kid for many years and have never heard him make excuses. not once. while i will wager that he was disappointed with the outcome, i guarantee "off day" never came from his lips or from members of his family. to suggest that he had an "off day" minimizes egli, and for that matter, konrath's win over egli

say what, to clarify: Jourdan vs. Davis: First period- both tried a couple of leg attacks. neither took any real chances; they went out of bounds a couple of times for a restarts. toward the end of the period, jourdan had in underhooks and was trying to work a takedown, while davis was trying to work something underneath. at the end of the period, jourdan got loose and spun around for the takedown; the referee ruled that time expired. mater dei fans wanted two, but the referee probably made the correct call. second period- jourdan stood up and escaped 10-20 seconds into the period. 10-20 seconds later he scored on a single leg. third period- davis chose down and was on his stomach most of the period. he got to his base a few times and created some movement. final score, 3-0.

I guess the takeaway is that if you want your kid to become a doctor, business owner, etc, (read: successful and/or with money) he should lose at regional or semistate. I wonder how many doctors are depressed or have unhappy lives? maybe if they had strived for much less, they would be happy... Questions like this are what caused Kwai Chang Caine to wander the earth. I keep trying to snatch the pebble; Wax on, wax off. Oops, sorry. I jumped "Asian Mentor" references. At any rate, good luck to your favorite athlete at his conference meet, or, all-valley karate tournament this weekend. Winners, enjoy your medal while you can, because you will likely end up in prison. Losers, hopefully you will go on to be a happy and successful physician.

it's a coaches prerogative whether or not to wrestle any kid any time he chooses. if mt. Vernon fans are unhappy, they should complain directly to the coach or their ad. if central's coach is unhappy, he should express his displeasure to the mt Vernon's coach. if he does not receive satisfaction, DONT PUT THEM ON YOUR SCHEDULE. if you are concerned about mt Vernon ducking your kid, get satisfaction from mt. Vernon's coach. if you don't get it, DONT PUT THEM ON YOUR SCHEDULE.

I saw smith gas in a tough match. I'll pick Williams, as he is in better shape.

Intentional? Did the kid get dq'd? That is terrible. I hope Clark is okay, as I remember from last year, he showed considerable promise.

I have just submitted the manuscript to the publisher. Distribution details have not yet been ironed out. I will keep you posted on the details, as they emerge.

Have the brackets been made?

dk- every match I have ever seen involved the losing wrestler, "getting caught."

So what happened with these matches?

That's an impressive match for both kids. Who won the meet? How did 120, 126 and 145 go down?

North has some kids with good records that are not on the list. Nick Burke, 120, 20-2 and Ryan Francis, 195, 13-6 . I haven't seen these kids? Where do they fall in the mix? I know Reitz's Tanner Bruce is solid and has had a good year at 126. He was not listed as wrestling against MD. What's his story? Wrestleman- Ramsey and Davis hook up tomorrow in Mt. Vernon. It will be interesting to see how far Ramsey has come and if he has anything for Davis. I expect that Davis will be highly motivated.

I encourage wrestlers, young adults and adults to understand the principles to which this solider was loyal. What was it that drove his extreme perseverance? Until 9/11, the Pearl Harbor attack was the largest terrorist action perpetrated on American soil. Imperial Japan stood for exterminating non-pure races and enslaving others to serve their purposes. Tens of thousands of pre-pubescent girls and teenagers were prostituted by the Japanese army as “comfort women” during WWII. Japanese cruelty was unparalleled. Wiki “Bataan Death March” and tell me what your impressions are. While you are at it, wiki “Japanese world war II” torture. Talk to your wrestlers about close examination of whom and what they follow. Hiroo Onoda was a fanatic “No Surrender” holdover from Imperial Japan. His unwavering dedication was to evil. I find it appalling that he is celebrated by the Japanese. Before you start telling me about his single-mindedness, resourcefulness, tenacity, etcetera, just remember: Adolph Hitler loved dogs. Anyone who loves dogs can’t be all bad…can they? In no way, shape or form was Onoda a hero, or should he be held up as any kind of role model. The tenor of the conversation concerning this man should be that the world is rid of a bad guy.

SIW- Good call. Care to prognosticate the siac? traditionally, wrestleman is "the man" on siac and sectional. you may be guy to unseat him from his lofty perch.

a great crowd was on hand, I would guess about 1600. unfortunately, the action on the mat did not match the enthusiasm of the fans. mater dei wins 58-9; starts three reserve wrestlers. reitz wins at 113 and 152. not many fireworks. the only real excitement came at 170. there were a couple of great scrambles that did not end with a score. md's kempf hits a spladle that turns into a fall. the crowd was into that one. #10 blake jourdan beats #4 josh davis, 3-0.

Predictions?

TND- Send me an email-- jsjohnson@ccol.net I have a couple of items on your dad. -hook

The annual Reitz/Mater Dei game was recently selected as the greatest football rivalry among Indiana high schools. West siders will tell you the Panthers and Wildcats also enjoy the best wrestling rivalry the Hoosier state has to offer. Ask any wrestler who has donned the Red & Gold or Blue & Gray and he will tell you about his greatest glory—or nadir of agony—and how it related to the annual Reitz/Mater Dei meet. For nearly three-quarters of a century, young wrestlers on the west side have grown up with the dream of wearing his school colors and having his hand raised, signifying a win over his arch-rival. One-year-old Mater Dei got a head start on the Panthers, fielding its first team in 1950. Three years later, Reitz followed suit. Mater Dei hosted Reitz on January 15, 1953, in what would be the first wrestling dual of the series. The Wildcats were led by volunteer coach and ex-Chicago Bear, Gus Peters. Reitz legend Allan Horn coached the Panthers. Both would later be elected to the Indiana High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. “The Mater Dei and Reitz rivalry was in full swing,” said Bob Drone, Mater Dei class of 1953. “There were about 150 fans showed up for it. No one knew much about wrestling, but they cheered for their team.” “Reitz had some big-name football players on the wrestling team,” said Tom Scheller, Mater Dei class of 1954. “But, we were so fired up, it didn’t matter. This was wrestling, not football. Everyone was very determined.” The Wildcats’ experience and pluck proved to be too much for the Panthers and Allan Horn’s grapplers succumbed, 51-2. Ron Kempf, Curt Seib, Don Schenk, Bob Brenner, Jim Schenk, Tom Scheller, Urban Seibert, Jim Seibert, Bob Drone, Don Deer and Bill Trainer claimed victories for the Red & Gold. Reitz earned two points by the John Rebstock and Noel McDonald match which ended in a draw. By the mid-1960s, wrestling had taken a firm foothold in Evansville and was spreading to neighboring counties. Harrison, North, Bosse, Central, Reitz and Mater Dei had full, or nearly full, varsity, junior varsity and freshman rosters. Reitz and Mater Dei had established themselves as local powerhouses and players in the State wrestling scene. Mater Dei claimed two State Champions, Fred Happe and Bill Trainer, while both schools boasted several State Placers. The rivalry entered its golden era. Fan interest was sky-high for January 23, 1966 dust up. Reitz coach Don Henry tapped Reitz’s pool of athletes to field a physical and tough team. 13 years into its program, Reitz, an owner of only two wins and a draw against the Wildcats, had made enormous strides. The Hilltoppers felt that this could be the team to defeat the ‘Cats. Henry put the match into perspective. “If a person who doesn’t know a thing about wrestling can go out and sit through a Reitz/Mater Dei match without getting excited, he’s just not a competitor,” he said. On the heels of pins by 95 pound Larry Barchet and 103 pound Steve Jarboe, Reitz jumped out to a 10-0 lead. The Wildcats clawed their way back in and took a 21-16 lead when Bill Hausmann turned in a pin at 154 pounds. Reitz’s Larry Merritt and Bill Hape claimed back-to-back decision victories to post the Panthers a one-point lead. The meet came down to the heavyweights. Mater Dei’s Bill Pfister took the mat to face Reitz’s Dan Labhart. To the screams of 1,100 rabid fans, Pfister wasted no time, going after Labhart and getting the fall at the 3:04 mark. Big Ten referee Bill Bruce officiated the match. “You know,” he said. “I’ve never seen as big a wrestling crowd as this anywhere in Indiana. Not even in the sectional or regional.” Final score: Mater Dei- 26, Reitz- 22. The following season, Reitz and Mater Dei, both undefeated in City play, met on January 19, 1967. Don Henry was bullish about his team’s prospects. “This is one of the best teams we have had in eight or nine years,” declared Henry. Reitz hit Mater Dei hard, early and often, opening the match with wins by Larry Barchet, Steve Jarboe, Tony Trammel, Randy Hahn, Bill Majors and Dick Metz. Only Mater Dei’s Gary Martin stopped the Panthers from claiming all of the first seven bouts. The Wildcats won some matches in the upper weights, but the damage was done as the Panthers turned in a dominating, 26-13 victory in front of 1,000 delirious Panther fans in Reitz’s gym. The defeat marked the first City loss for Mater Dei since 1959 and earned Reitz the City title. In 1968, Harrison dominated the local wrestling scene. Although Harrison had already clinched the City title, interest was extremely high for the Reitz/Mater Dei dual. On January 25, 1,500 fans filed into Mater Dei’s gym to witness a classic. Reitz jumped on Mater Dei early, getting pins from Bill Steiner and Larry Barchet to grab a 10-0 lead. Mater Dei dominated the middle weights, getting wins from Greg Kempf, Art Happe, and Tom Schapker. Reitz answered with their own run, posting wins by Randy Hahn, Bill Bish and Dick Metz. With three bouts remaining and a 22-13 lead, one more win by the Panthers would guarantee a win. Mater Dei narrowed Reitz’s lead when Mike Forche beat Reitz’s Bill Hewig, 6-4. At 180 pounds, the Wildcats’ Steve Pfister got a first period takedown and never trailed, holding on for a nail biting, 4-2 win. With Reitz clinging to a 22-19 lead, the dual would be decided by the heavyweights. Wildcat Frank Buerger immediately attacked Walter Carr and scored a first period fall, sending the Mater Dei Nation into hysterics. Final score: Mater Dei- 24, Reitz- 22. “These guys have overcome a lot of adversity,” praised Mater Dei boss Joe Gossman. “To come in here and win a match like this, well, it just means a lot.” In 1969, 2000 fans, a new attendance record, gathered in Reitz’s gym on January 30 to witness the annual donnybrook. The Panthers came out on fire, opening with six wins in the first seven weight classes. The strong start ignited Reitz’s fans making the Wildcats task even more desperate in hostile territory. Despite winning matches in the upper weights, the deficit was too large to overcome and the Panthers prevailed, 26-16. “To those who understand wrestling,” said Don Henry, “It would be the winning in our lower weight classes, because we’re weaker in the heavier divisions. If we hadn’t won those at first, we could have been in trouble.” A frustrated Joe Gossman agreed. “You can’t come out and lose like we did in the beginning and expect to win,” he said. Reitz’s Gil Barchet, Larry Barchet, Bill Steiner, Craig Deig and Charlie Cook all turned in wins to maintain their unblemished records. Mater Dei’s Art Happe and John Cartwright also kept their unbeaten seasons intact. The see-saw series continued, with Reitz grabbing a 23-15, 1970 verdict. Mater Dei returned the favor with a 34-8 victory over the Panthers in 1971. The contests between 1966 and 1971 were the highest-attended wrestling meets in Indiana. Most years, including the past five, the annual dual has set the standard for Indiana wrestling attendance. This Thursday's match will mark the 76th meeting of the west side powers. For the series, Mater Dei has claimed 65 wins, while Reitz owns eight. Two of the matches have ended in a tie. Now in its seventh decade, the rivalry thrives. Fans and coaches circle this date on the calendar with a red pen. For the coaches and spectators, there are only two outcomes: euphoria or misery. For the combatants, the evening always carries special importance. While many of the boys are neighbors and friends off the mat, the conviviality ends when the grapplers toe the line. This is the night to perform. For many of the athletes, this will be the biggest stage on which they will ever compete. Any wrestler, who grows up on the wrestling-mad west side, has daydreamed about delivering his team to victory in front of a packed, raucous house. At stake is a lifetime of bragging rights. This is the night for dreams to come true. We are MD...A History of Mater Dei Wrestling will be released in October, 2014.

I kinda like the mole. he may be my favorite rodent on Indiana mat. that's right, I went there.

any brackets? semi final or final scores?

while I don't find y2's comments offensive or sarcastic, let's assume that you do. now what? do you have substantive disagreement with his ideas? did you hear his endorsement of the event, in general? if his ideas are put into action, you will find this event become even better than it was this year. rather than parse his words and attack the messenger, let's find a way to elevate Team State. as a matter of fact, here's my idea for the evening: let's begin referring to the event as "Team State." that gives the event the gravity and importance of which it deserves. i know...some teams should not have been there; some should have been. as a mater dei fan, losing to franklin was painful. that being said, i have no problem stating that on January 4, 2014 franklin was the best team in the state. that's the nature of any championship; on that day, at that hour, one team is the best. at any rate, the ihswca event is already superior to that of the ihsaa (who abandoned us). tweak a couple of things, boost attendance, improve the venue and Indiana wrestling has a grand slam home run.

I love y2...