Dwilly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phagxOal7_A
 
The Rodney Dangerfield of Team State?  

I just want to brag on my guy a bit. Aaron Black from Greensburg placed 8th at 182 as a first year wrestler. I couldn't be more proud of the work he puts in every day. Way to go Aaron!!

Today footage of a varsity wrestler in NJ went viral. The video is of the wrestler having his hair cut matside in what I imagine allowed it to meet the the requirements for wrestlers’ appearance and health in accordance to NFHS rule 4-2-1.
The wrestler appears to be African-American and his hair was in medium length dreadlocks. From what I gather, his hair cover wasn’t legal because it couldn’t be attached to his headgear. It is unclear to me if the hair cover he was trying to use was the same he had worn all year, or if it was different. I read that he had misplaced his normal headgear and was using something else. I also read that it was the same head cover and no other official made a big deal about it. You can’t always believe what you read on the internet, so I guess pick whichever version you like. Either way, something was apparently wrong.
The main reason this seems to have gotten attention is the shock and awe factor of them hastily cutting the young man’s hair in the middle of the gym while he is clearly frustrated and emotional about the whole thing. Now asking a wrestler to cut their hair because their hair didn’t meet the standard/rule and they didn’t have the proper equipment has happened before, but it normally takes place in a lockerroom or wrestling room prior to the meet (as it should be addressed at the time of weigh ins). Having it happen in the middle of the gym in front of all to see is a much different thing and I can see how this video might catch the eyes of people unfamiliar with our sport.
Many are sharing and commenting on the video and many people are viewing it through a racial lense—a white ref making the ruling while a white trainer/manager cuts a black adolescents hair while his white coach stands by allowing all this to happen. I get the optics. It isn’t good. Making matters worse, the ref who made the call allegedly had been disciplined a few years ago for using a racial slur to discribe another official. Really not good optics.
All of this could and should have went differently. The ref should have addressed the hair at the weigh in. The wrestler could have had the proper legal haircovering (assuming he didn’t). The coach, ref, or AD could have decided that cutting the hair matside was wrong. All these things could have happened differently. Hopefully this viral video prevents this from happening again.
I hope to never see this happen in Indiana. But it very well could. I could almost have seen it happen on my mat. As a ref, I have had to enforce this rule matside—just last weekend, even, at a multi-team individual tournament. Another ref forgot to check for hair coverings (probably assuming wrestlers had them but didn’t bring them to be approved as special equipment) during skin check and the the offending wrestler came onto the mat with hair similar to the boy in the viral video. Luckily the wrestler’s teammates had a spare legal covering and they were able to correct it (in my experience, this has always been the case). The offending wrestler pinned his opponent in the first period so the penalty didn’t play a factor. After the match he and his coach said they didn’t realize he needed the hair cover and said he had been wrestling like this all year. This is a problem.
I’ve had wrestlers try to use pantyhose, skull caps that don’t meet NHFS regulations, swim caps, and even had a wrestler try to use a textbook cover as hair covers. Luckily they were all shut down during weigh-in/skin checks. If, in the heat of the moment, a wrestler didn’t have the proper equipment available like in the situation I mentioned above, I can imaging seeing a coach quickly doing something like this and me—with everything that refs have on their mind at a tournament—not thinking about how it might look or if it is appropriate letting it happen.
We can do better to prevent these situations.
I don’t know if the official was making the kid cut his hair because of racial bias. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn’t. I try not to figure out intent—that isn’t my job. As a ref, I only see two colors: red and green. But I totally can see how this has become story. In the age of social media, stuff like this spreads fast and many people don’t care to look at all the facts. If this happened in the heat of the moment at a meet that I was working, I surely wouldn’t want people assocating my name with racism and hatred.
So...let’s make sure this doesn’t happen in the Hoosier state. Below are some rules for this year’s verson of the rule book that partain to this issue.
Rule 4-2-1
During competition all wrestlers shall be clean shaven, with sideburns trimmed no lower than earlobe level and hair trimmed and well groomed. The hair, in its natural state, shall not extend below the top of an ordinary shirt collar in the back; and on the sides, the hair shall not extend below the earlobe level; in the back; and on the sides, the hair shall not extend below earlobe level; in the front, the hair shall not extend below the eyebrows. A neatly trimmed mustache that does not extend below the line of the lower lip shall be permissible. If an individual has hair longer than allowed by rule, it may be braided or rolled if it is contained in a cover so that the hair rule is satisfied. The legal hair cover shall be attached to the ear guards. A bandanna is not considered a legal hair cover. The legal hair cover must be of solid material and be nonabrasive. The wrestler opting to wear a legal hair cover must wear it to the weigh-in procedure and be checked for grooming with it on. The legal hair cover must be removed prior to the wrestler stepping on the scale to be weighed. If a referee is not present at the weigh-ins, the hair cover must be checked by the meet referee upon arrival at the site.
If an individual has facial hair it must be covered with a face mask. All legal hair covers and face masks will be considered special equipment. If an individual’s hair is as abrasive as an unshaved face, the individual shall be required to shave the head as smooth as a face is required or wear legal hair cover.
7-3-5
Reporting to the scorers table, not properly equipt, or not ready to wrestle or any equipment that is detected as being illegal after the match as started is a technical violation.
According to 5-27, technical violations are to be penalized without warning.
Rule 8 covers penalties and injuries. 8-1-1 states:
Any contestant reporting to the scorers’ table not properly equipped or not ready to wrestle is a technical violation. A wrestler with greasy substance on the body or uniform, improper grooming, objectionable pads and braces, illegal equipment, illegal uniform or any equipment that is detected as being illegal after the match has started shall be disqualified if not removed or corrected within the 1 1/2-minute injury time.
...
Most refs don’t want to be bad guys. We want to grow the sport. Help us avoid these types of calls by familiarizing yourselves with the rules and please share the information and knowledge you have gained with others.
Also, if you have questions about these or any other rules, please use this site’s “Ask the Officials” Forum. A lot of times great questions can help us dig deeper into our knowledge of the rules and make us better officials...and from what I hear, everyone wants better officials.

113 EVV is rough too!
#4 Cole Ross
#5 Ben Dalton
#6 Gavin Alstott
#8 Hayden Watson
#10 KT Nelson
#11 Cameron Allen
#12 Ashton Hayhurst 
#14 Logan Sutton
I would add in unranked Brady Stewart from Edgewood.

With team state fast approaching, analyzing the results may help in seeding.
106: 1st - Cottey (PM),2nd - Perry (WC), 4th - Glithero (Ron) // Perry defeated Glithero
113: 1st - Pierson (WC), 3rd - Haggerty (PM), 5th - Wilson (Ron) // Pierson defeated both Haggerty & Wilson
120: 1st - Lowery (Ron), 2nd - Stewart (WC), DNP - Venegas (PM)
126: 1st - Ross (WC), 2nd - Slivka (Ron), 5th - Anthony (PM) // Slivka defeated Anthony
132: 1st - Viduya (Ron), 2nd - Beatty (WC), DNP - Cavallero (PM)
138: 1st - Freije (Ron), 3rd - Smith (PM), 4th - Rowlett (WC) // Freije defeated Smith
145: 1st - Warren (PM), 2nd - Graves (WC), 4th - Page (Ron)
152: 1st - Coleman (WC), 2nd - Fair (PM), 5th - Smith (Ron) // Coleman defeated Smith
160: 1st - Taylor (WC), 2nd - Baker (PM), 5th - Salazar (Ron) // Baker defeated Salazar
170: 1st - Mahan (Ron), 2nd - Davis (PM),3rd - McClain (WC) // Davis defeated McClain
182: 4th - Dycus (WC), 5th - Clayton (PM), 6th - Peeples (Ron) // Dycus defeated Clayton
195: 3rd - Bishop (WC), 5th - Goodall (PM), DNP - Wade (Ron) // Bishop defeated Goodall
220: 2nd - Lane (PM), 3rd - Mitchell (WC), 5th - Fears (Ron) // Lane defeated Mitchell, Mitchell defeated Fears
285: 2nd - Harris (Ron), 5th - Hubbard (WC), DNP - Jones (PM) // Harris defeated Jones
HEAD TO HEAD:
Warren Central vs Roncalli: 5 wins for WC, 2 wins for Ron
Warren Central vs Perry Meridian: 5 wins for WC, 4 wins for PM
Roncalli vs Perry Meridian: 4 wins for Ron, 1 win for PM
TEAM SCORES:
Warren Central -- 294.50 (4 Champs)
Roncalli -- 241.50 (4 Champs)
Perry Meridian -- 225.0 (2 Champs)
BETTER PLACING:
Warren Central vs Roncalli: 9 for WC, 5 for Ron
Warren Central vs Perry Meridian: 9 for WC, 5 for PM
Roncalli vs Perry Meridian: 6 for Ron, 8 for PM
EVALUATION:
Warren Central was clearly the best team on Saturday placing all 14 wrestlers in the top 5.  Roncalli and Perry would be a close match and typical with close matches bonus points would be the deciding factor.

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
Strength, speed and strategy have helped Victor Lee achieve success inside the wrestling circle.
Creativity and drive have allowed him to excel away from it.
The Marion grappler is hoping for even more mat achievements in his last high school go-round and a future filled with wrestling and film.
A state qualifier at 195 pounds in 2017-18, Lee is currently ranked among the top competitors at 220.
“I’m a naturally strong guy,” says Lee. “Speed is something I rely on most. I usually try to attack below the knee.”
Giants head coach Lonnie Johnson likes the way the 5-foot-11 Lee moves on the mat.
“He’s really mobile for a bigger guy,” says Johnson. “I want him to be a go-go-go guy and wear guys down. He’s in pretty good shape. I want him to pick up the pace a little.”
Lee has been working hard on his stance since last season. If he has a signature maneuver it would be his high crotch.
It’s what Ohio State University’s Kollin Moore used against University of Missouri’s J’den Cox.
“It’s a move to be feared,” says Lee, who started his wrestling career in sixth grade, grappled in the 215 class as a middle schooler and was at 195 his first three seasons of high school.
Gabe Watkins (285) and Corey Horne (152) have served as practice partners for Lee, each giving him a different look.
Lee has studied the methods of Cox, who was a bronze medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“He has a very strategic way of practicing and coming from different angles,” says Lee of Cox. “He tries to keep his attack percentage really high. He’s not real aggressive like (Arizona State’s Zahid) Valencia.
“He’s very technical. I try to emulate that. I use hand fighting to tire the other guy out and keep his head down so all he’s looking at is the mat.”
Johnson is a 1995 Marion graduate. He wrestled at 189 his first three seasons and 215 as a senior. He has coached in the Giants system for two decades and is in his third season as head coach.
The coach has offered advice that has stuck with Lee.
“He says to always be confident in my shots, be persistent and always finish through them,” says Lee of Johnson. “Last year, he sometimes got himself in a bind with 30 seconds to go. I want him to get up on guys 10-3 or 10-4 and then stick them.
“He reminds me of Darryn Scott (who was a two-time state qualifier and placed sixth in the 2010 State Finals at 189) with his strength and his speed. (Scott) would go at you. (Lee) sits back and tries to pick you apart.”
Lee won his first sectional title and qualified for his third regional in 2018. After reigning at the Oak Hill Sectional and qualifying for his third regional. He placed second to Maconaquah’s Aaron Sedwick at the Peru Regional then third at the Fort Wayne Semistate, his first appearance there.
“I was always trying to prove myself, says Lee, who lost 6-3 to West Noble’s Draven Rasler in the semistate semifinals. Rasler then was pinned by New Haven’s Jaxson Savieo in the finals.
Lee was pinned by New Albany’s Jaden Sonner in the first round at the State Finals, but got a taste of that big stage in Indianapolis.
“I won’t be blinded by all those fans,” says Lee, who plans to be back at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in February 2019. “I’ll be going to State with better confidence in my abilities.”

Besides his wrestling prowess, Lee is also a solid student.
“I’ve never had a teacher complain about him,” says Johnson. “I don’t have to worry about the attitude.
“When it comes to that he’s maintenance-free.”
Lee plans to major in drama and film and cinematography at Indiana University and hopes wrestling will also be a part of his college experience.
It’s the behind-the-scenes side of the arts that Lee appreciates most.
“I don’t do acting,” says Lee, who intends to take theater and drama classes at IU next summer. “I mostly direct and writing scripts for plays. I hope one day I can make movies.”
Lee has made a few small films on his own and has started an Instagram account with a friend that he can see leading to film production company.
Why the interest in film.
“Me and mom watched movies a lot together and it just stuck with me,” says Lee, who is the oldest of four adopted by single mother Rosalind Lee. Victor is 18, Zella 17, Levi 16 and Diamond 15.
Foster children at first, the four youngsters were allowed to choose their new first and middle names at the time of the adoption.
During his freshmen year, Javion Mack became Victor Lee.
“We try to make it easier on her,” says Victor of what he and his siblings do for their mother. “We do our chores and we all try to stay
out of the house so it’s not so cluttered.”
Levi is a 220-pound sophomore who came out for wrestling for the first time last season.
“He’s getting pretty decent at it,” says Victor of Levi. “I spar with him sometime then give him another partner so he can speed up.”

View full article

Congratulations to Carson Brewer from Avon for signing with Ohio. He is projected to wrestle 184.

View full signing

Maybe he is just concerned about his son and wants some opinions from the wrestling community. No harm in asking questions.

The site continues to evolve and get better every year - great work Joe and others.  Indiana wrestling fans are spoiled with the amount of information available and the banter among fans. Wondering who will be this season's Caliboy...

https://fox59.com/2018/11/15/the-man-upstairs-has-a-plan-for-him-warren-central-wrestler-survives-shooting-succeeds-on-national-stage/
 
A really great and inspiring story about one of our own here at Dub-C of something really crazy that happened over summer. Hope everyone watches and enjoys!

As we started this season, I reached out to some former wrestlers for words to provide to the guys who think the sport isn't for them. These were guys who weren't "wrestling first" guys. These were guys who either had to be talked into being on the team, were there specifically to prep for football, chose not to wrestle one year, etc. This particular reply stood out, and I thought the Gorilla community might enjoy it. For the record, this is from a 2013 graduate. This particular wrestler was a one time sectional champion and did not qualify for semi-state. Somehow I find that makes his words more powerful...not from a top-dog guy. From a guy who was grinding every day just getting what he could out of the sport. Almost better than this longer version is the text he sent me later when I thanked him - "It's simple though, mentally, wrestling makes all other high school sports easier."
 
The Struggle is REAL:
Wrestling at first glance seems like it’s mostly physical. I wrestled for four years and didn’t understand what it was doing for my mental development yet, so regretfully I took a year off. After a year away, luckily I enjoyed what it did for me enough physically to come back to the mat for another three years. I wish someone could snap their fingers, tell you that your hard work will be worth it, and you will just believe it.   Sorry, too bad it’s harder than that.   At first glance, it’s doesn’t seem so, but wrestling is more mentally than physically beneficial.    You know that feeling you have deep inside when you’re struggling? Just trust in yourself and know, that feeling is the first sign that you’re about to learn something new about yourself. Be conscious, have the wherewithal to push through the struggle for a solution, then take the time to reflect on what pushing through that struggle taught you, and ultimately you will have truly learned that NOTHING worth learning is easy. Each time you learn something new, it will breathe new confidence within you to go through the next struggle or barrier in your way.   Whatever you do, take the measures and have targeted objectives to get better at struggling. Break down personal barriers and do yourself a favor, use what you’ve learned to struggle for a shorter period the next time. Make the valleys shallower and the peaks higher with each learning experience.   Put in the time to learn the mental chess game that wrestling really is, and you won’t regret that decision. Learn how to strategically and more efficiently employ both your body and mind. Once you’ve learned how to tie a few good moves together, counter your opponent, and mentally grind through a full three periods, then win or lose you just took the measures to think one step ahead of the person in front of you; a skill you’ll use for the rest of your life.   Struggles will come as long as you live. Wrestling has mentally prepared me for handling trials and tribulations. I hope that you’ll have that same experience.     

Amen!
This strikes a nerve with me. My freshman son is 85lbs soaking wet, but he's a pretty decent wrestler. He can compete with bigger kids, but giving up +20lbs is a stretch (particularly to the Cottey's, Dalton's, & Nelson's, etc). 
Competing on a level playing field was the whole reason that I encouraged him to wrestle. He wrestles year-round in the academies, and I can assure you there are a number of very good kids at or around his weight. Many parents just hold their kids back; who can blame them. We can't, in good conscience, do that, so one way or the other he's going to take his lumps. It is what it is. I understand the rationale, but given how hard he (and the other little guys) have worked; the idea of 110 as the lowest class gets me a bit frosty.
 

I like the idea of 15, but adding it to the middle of the lineup.
106, 113, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 170,182, 195, 220, 285

Everyone is inevitably going to make some type of weight cut in this sport, however I do agree with you Jenny that the extreme cut from kids should be stopped. Most of those guys that are cutting that much weight are probably still a top tier kid in either weight class.  So why go thru the misery, and it is misery, of cutting all that weight.  I can tell you from my personal experience, experience with other athletes, and with my own son, that my preference is going to be wrestle up the weight class.  Feel good at practice all 5 days.  Optimize that training time and let the weight come off progressively. Of course as mentioned here too, hit that weight room, because there is nothing that replaces strength at any level.  I also disagree that there is no pressure from coaches and parents for most kids to make the cut and the decision is solely theirs.  Maybe they are not aggressively telling them to make the cut, but not advising them otherwise when we know their decision make that cut, is a poor one, is just as bad.  As Coaches it is just as much our responsibility to correct these bad decisions as it is to correct their wrestling technique.
 

I think she’s may still be dealing with the effects of he previous concussion problem.  If some of you are not aware it was a pretty scary situation and she just recently got someone to clear her in time for a last min. wrestle-off.   While the concussion itself may not be the issue with her loss, the lack of preparation (training, conditioning, focus, etc.) for the last several months may have left her open to something that she previously wouldn’t have fall into.   At least I hope it was just preparation rather than the concussion symptoms still being there which may be a sign she should be done with her competitive career. 

51 Indiana kids. 14 left... tough day. But really.. the best of the best are here. It’s tough to describe until you see it. Every kid is ripped and as tough as nails. Still wanting to see double digit Placers tomorrow. 

Hey guys!  Wanna see where your conditioning is at the beginning of the season?  Come out to South Putnam on Saturday, November 3 at 10:00am for the first annual Eagle Fitness Challenge!  A 5k run, pushup challenge, dumbell carry, wieghted rope pull, lunges, and burpees...any one of these individually would be no problem, but all of them in succession will test your conditioning!  Here is a flyer.  If you have questions, please let me know!!
EAGLE FITNESS CHALLENGE Flyer.docx

Actually, I said a divorce was more likely than the explanation that your house was completely destroyed at that point of the storm.  It was an example of probabilities, an exaggeration to make the point that neither were likely possible.  As it turns out, I was right.  The original post insinuated your home had already been destroyed and you were transferring back to HH.  I was simply making a point to make a point.  Sorry if everyone missed that.  Not having a clue who you or your family is personally only should have made it more obvious of the point I was making.  Next time I'll use flying monkeys as an example and my point will be the same and just as accurate.
So just to be clear and not defensive.  My post was never meant to infer anything about your family.  I was merely trying to make a point about how ludicrous the original post indicating your home had already been destroyed at the time it was made.  Had that post come a week later, I wouldn't have questioned it.  It was all about challenging someone that was spreading rumors and the stupidity of the timing of the info in said rumors.  Sorry if it struck you the wrong way.  
Good luck in NC

Exactly, we should all want our kids to do better than us, to have a better life. What I am talking about is parents pushing their own dreams on their kids because they did not accomplish their own goals for one excuse or another, but that is another topic and not the purpose of this thread. Sorry, if I got off topic. 
Good luck this season.

Great job all the Indiana guys. We tried catching all the matches. I guess 8 don’t understand how it’s ran. We beat the champion and beat th3 kid 11-2 who beat the kid who got third. Finished 3-1 and finished 9th. Doesn’t matter I guess. We wen5 to wrestle some nationally ranked kids and get better. Great event

Angel Escobedo got 5th in the world and was an NCAA champ. Andrew Howe was also an NCAA champ and was the 3rd or 4th best freestyle wrestler in the United States for several years but couldn't quite get over the hump against a guy named Jordan Burroughs. He would have medaled every year at Euros for about 5 years in his freestyle prime. I also think Humphrey would have medaled at the Euros about half the time over a 6 or 8-year period if he'd been eligible. 
I just mean to say I don't think Micic stands alone at the top of the mountain. However, he is unbelievable and an all-time great. Definitely hoping he can get the right kind of draw at worlds next year or in Olympic qualifiers so we can see him in Tokyo in 2020.

Possibly have an interest at 113. Reach out please

I for one a long time supporter of HH, by no means putting this on coach Bell. Coach Bell took these kids all over the nation and was totally committed. I think the disconnect is the AD, 4 coaches in 6 years plus many more coaching changes is on the AD.  Why do we have swimming, baseball, volleyball, boys basketball, wrestling all leaving within the past 4 years. Yes, I precise any coach that is committed I just think there is a bigger issue with the coaching carousel in all sports at HH. I don't understand why we as adults can't be a positive influence in our youth without taking stabs at our hard working youth, example NC 1A podium, how do you know this do you know what school he is at because I don't?
A mature response to my original post would of been "I wish him luck" but then again that would of been an adult mature response.  Of course I wish great things for HH and Coach Zollmam but that does not negate the fact coach Bell took over the program with 6 wrestlers and within three years had more than that qualifying for regionals. Maybe you don't like coach Bell so you try and degrade is son which is wrong we should support all our youth no matter what school. Take you personal issues up with coach Bell and leave Devon out if it.
 

Heritage Hills lost a quality kid with incoming freshman Devon Bell relocating to North Carolina. Would of been maybe at 138-152, solid kid with a lot of national level experience.  Has won national titles and placed several times at national level tourneys. 

- I really hope you are not a parent, surely you can't be.  Actually, hopefully not a coach either.