poitup123

I'm on the fence about this one as well. Singlets don't bother me, but I do think it hinders with recruitment of athletes. Many of them are insecure and wearing singlets push a lot of them away from the sport. Curious as to what others' thoughts on the topic are.

WHAT-IFS:
Griffith -- Reitz and the Champagnes
Lowell -- Cummings, Tucker, Hughes
Merrillville -- Covaciu, B Steveson, G Steveson, Streck
 
#BrinksTruck

I just want to give a big shout out to Alston Bane and all the wrestlers from Cathedral at state tonight. The Cathedral wrestlers and Alston paid tribute to my late son, who passed away in November. The Cathedral wrestlers wore green laces in their shoes, the green is to show support for mental health awareness and Alston wore green in his hair and on honored him on his warm-ups. I can't thank these young men enough for their show of support. It is much appreciated. Thanks again!

i owe everyone on this message board an apology. I looked selfish and ungrateful last night. Being frustrated is no reason to act the way I did. I apologize and appreciate the support through out my careere. Thank you

I always thought old region was the mill communities. I always looked at the region as the NWI times paper area. The wrestlers that would be selected to the old northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana bragging rights

This building is going to be hype

I thought maybe he had a disease, every kid he wrestled came off the mat rubbing the backs of their necks...maybe, he was inking them one in during the match...

Vega and Shaefer in 97 wasn't about their accolades but more about their personal rivalry.  In 95 Vega beat the number one ranked kid Smiley in the quarters and was beaten by the freshman Shaefer in the semis.  In 96 they met Saturday morning with Shaefer leading Vega threw him to his back for 5 with seconds to go in the match for the win.  I don't think I ever heard Market Square Arena so loud.  Then in 97 to both meet undefeated in the finals I can remember the crowd coming to their feet as they entered the mat.  A great rivalry that continued into college with both gaining victories over each other.  Fair to say if it wasn't for each other Vega would've been a 3x champ and Shaefer a 4x.

I think the number one way to identify a Region wrestling fan is to look for the guys cheering for the winners on Saturday night..  

11.  "Haircut worked for Rick Springfield in 1982, it works for me now."
10.  Argues over what "Da Region's" boundaries are and are not.
9.  Criticizes Donald Trump for "having too small of an ego."
8.  Utters "Da Region" every third sentence.
7.  Orange-colored tan.
6.  If the family has three wrestling brothers or more separated by at least three years, each went to a different high school.
5.  Speaks Rat Pidgin English fluently.
4.  Slings gratuitous slurs toward Ft. Wayne semistate wrestlers.
3.  Their "Lavoris" smells oddly of garlic and horseradish.
2.  Can't count to 21 without removing pants.
 
And the number one way to identify a Region wrestling fan:  "It ain't a real Team State title unless a Region team won it, DUH!"
 
...I await your snappy comebacks.
 
XOX,
Hook
 
 

Because it is a looming story that could only make it bigger.  Here is an example of how it could have been formed.  I did it off the top of my head in 2 minutes so its not perfect.  I'm not sure I would keep the mention of Micic in a final draft.  But hopefully you can see how the mention would only help build interest in this weekend and not take anything away from Red.
 
"that's the plan.
 
There is one more large hurdle looming, however.  Red is likely to meet Evansville Mater Dei junior Nick Lee in the finals.  Lee has a similar resume nationally and is ranked as high as #4 in the national polls.  Lee has one loss in high school, dropping a decision as a freshman to nationally ranked Stevan Micic, now wrestling for the University of Michigan.  Red is the favorite, and he has beaten other highly ranked wrestlers in his national tournaments but has never faced Lee.  Beating Nick Lee to cap off his 4th State Championship would undoubtedly add an extra exclamation point to a remarkable, if not unparalleled, career."

Not sure, but there's a feature on this site that is referred to as "results", you may find it to be interesting.

Here are my picks for Saturday
 
106
Best 1st Round
Ryne Webb Renselear vs Andres Moreno Lowell
Best Ticket Round
Brock Peele Portage vs Jose Diaz Wheeler
Bracket Buster Jose Diaz Wheeler
Top 4 Finishers
1. Jacob Moran CP
2. Kory Cavanaugh Penn
3. Brock Peele Portage
4. Trey McCarthy Harrison
Tough weight to call. Moran has looked great the last couple weeks and Cavanaugh is battled tested. Watch out for Jose Diaz, the sophomore from Wheeler was at the SS last year and his only losses this year have been against CP
  
113
Best First Round
Braxton Alexander Wawasee vs Austin Line Valpo
Best Ticket Round Obvious choice. My opinion the worst ticket round in the state
Colton Cummings Lowell vs Tylor Triana Hobart
Bracket Buster Tylor Triana Hobart
Top 4
1. Cummings Lowell
2. Poynter Portage
3. Slates Penn
4. Uribe CP
My top 2 picks will meet in the ticket round. Cummings has been the winner in every match up of their high school careers. But I wouldn't be surprised if Triana wins. If the Burkhart Finals were any indication to how this match will go, it will be fireworks. The Triana/Cummings winner will face Slates in the Semis I look for Poynter and Uribe to have a rematch of their marathon DAC Final. Donovan Johnson will also be in the mix. 
 
120
Best First Round
Cody Bethoune Harrison vs Julian Miranda Morton 
Best Ticket Round
Jeremiah Reitz Griffith vs Ian Dembowski Valpo
Bracket Buster Cody Bethoune Harrison
Top 4
1. Hildebrant Penn
2. Reitz Griffith
3. Anderson Jeff
4. Moran CP
Another nasty weight class where we could have 4 outstanding ticket round match ups. Cody Bethoune is a strong freshman. He could be a match up issue with Moran. This will be Hildebrant and Reitz's 3rd trip to the Semi State Finals. Reitz has a title and so does Drew. Reitz won his title in a rematch of his loss at the Harvest Classic to.... Hildebrant. Hildebrant beat Jeremiah this year at the Harvest. Does history repeat itself?
 
126
Best First Round
Bryce Niewoener KV vs Cole Cerventes Griffith
Best Ticket Round
Ryan Hardesty Mishawaka vs Michael Delapena Merrillville
Bracket Buster Reese Rodriguez Morton
Top 4
1. Torres Portage
2. De La Pena Merrillville
3. Cerventes Griffith
4. Goering SB Riley
We could have De La Pena vs Torres 5 for the finals. De La Pena will have SQ Hardesty in a possible ticket round match. The 4 man bracket of Biancardi CHES, Rodriguez Morton, Goering SB Riley and Watson Delphi can go either way. Whoever shows up will punch a ticket. Also, look for the Cerventes/Niewoehner winner to possibly punch a ticket.
 
132
Best First Round
Denver Smith KV vs Tristan Ponsler Wawasee
Best Ticket Round
Cody Crary Munster vs Jack Tolin Chesterton
Bracket Buster Cody Crary Munster
Top 4
1. Black Hobart
2. Rumph Portage
3. Tolin Chesterton
4. Strawsma Benton Central
Black is the top dog. I heard recently he has dyed his hair black in preparation for a Match up with Chad Red who dyes his hair Red. Rumph has been Portage's sleeper all year, he finally breaks out. The Tolin/Crary ticket round should be good. A possible Rumph/Tolin semi final will be a DAC rematch which Rumph won in OT
 
138
Best First Round
Jacy Leon Hobart vs Trace Manspeaker Penn
Best Ticket Round
Triston Dembowski Valpo vs Kyle Hatch Warsaw
Bracket Buster
Malik Hoover Merrillville
Top 4
1. Hatch Warsaw
2. Schurg CP
3. Crary Munster
4. Lukazka Benton Central
Another deep weight with an unfortunate draw. Dembowski lost a tight one to Schurg at the CP regional and now will face talented sophomore Myles Krintz first then a possible match with undefeated Kyle "the Sloth" Hatch. The winner of that match will have 2x medalist Jason Crary in the semis, a possible Al Smith rematch awaits Hatch. Cole Lukaszka has made 3 trips to semi state and ended the road there. This year could be different.
 
145
Best First Round
Cam Beam Penn vs Austin Morgan McCutcheon 
Best Ticket Round
Austen Laughlin SB Riley vs Noah Lamore CP
Bracket Buster Dante Colza Hobart 
Top 4
1. Rodriguez Culver
2. Laughlin SB Riley
3. McIntosh Portage
4. Colza Hobart
We could have a couple regional championship rematches in placement rounds. Austen Laughlin can have his hands full in the ticket round with Noah Lamore but if you were at semi state last year you know when Laughlin gets hot he will be tough to beat. But Culvers T-Rod beat Laughlin last week and is a real beast. Triston will be looking to win the semi state and follow the results of the last two culver semi state champs.
 
152
Best First Round
Matt Burns Hobart vs Lucas Scott Lowell
Best Ticket Round
Zack Lorek CP vs Denzyl Prentice Penn
Bracket Buster Kassious Brethitt SB Riley
Top 4
1. Lawrence Portage
2. Prentice Penn
3. Lemley Chesterton
4. Widner Twin Lakes
Another very good weight class. Bam Lawrence is the favorite ranked #1 in the State and was semi state champion last year. The other ticket round match ups could be brawls Scott/Burns have brawled all year, winner gets Cody Widner. Prentice has Illinois third placer Zack Lorek CP and Diego Lemley should also face a tough one in the Grammer/Evans winner. 
 
160
Best First Round
Trey Buehler Wheeler vs Kevin Gonzalez Logansport
Best Ticket Round
Drake Guerreo Portage vs Oskar Kasch CP
Bracket Buster Drake Guerreo Portage
Top 4
1. Covaciu Merrilville 
2. Malone SB Adams
3. Swank Penn
4. Kasch CP
Jacob Covaciu is the State Champ and the #1 ranked wrestler in the State. He is a favorite at the Semi State and State Championship. The rest of the brackets will be tough Penn's Swank will possibly meet Covaciu in the semis. Malone, the Al smith runner-up, will be the favorite and Gurerro and Kasch should keep the budding Portage/Crown Point rivalry going.
 
170
Best First Round
Eli Pokorney Chesterton vs Tristan Goering SB Riley
Best Ticket Round
Logan Nowak KV vs Ismael Cornejo Portage
Bracket Buster Mario Traficanti Crown Point
1. Hughes Lowell
2. Cornejo Portage
3. Goering SB Riley
4. Mote Delphi
I would guess this will be the Drew Hughes Show. No one has made it six minutes with the defending champ. Drew will be looking for his fourth semi state title. Cornejo, who is one of two wrestlers to make it to the second period with Hughes, will likely face two-time state qualifier Hunter Mote in the semis. Goerning SB Riley will see Hughes in the semis. He was also in the semis of the state finals last season with Hughes.
 
182
Best First Round
Mason Cao SB Clay vs KJ Munson Benton Central
Best Ticket Round
Ike James Lowell vs Jeremy Splix Plymouth 
Bracket Buster Randy Sneed Kankakee Valley
Top 4
1. Davison Chesterton
2. James Lowell
3. Mutuwa Hanover Central
4. Gibbs Lake Central
Davison is ranked #2 in the state and was a match away from a national triple crown. The other three tickets will be hotly contested Splix and James who have some history. Mutuwa has a tough first round match with Calumet freshman AJ Fowler. The winner of Cao and Munson will wrestle regional champ Gibbs. I have the CP regional taking three tickets.
 
195
Best First Round
Corrian Correl Laville vs Nate Lafree Plymouth
Best Ticket Round
Jake Kleimola Lake Central vs Lucas Davison Chesterton
Bracket Buster Jeremy Torres Portage
Top 4
1. Jake Kleimola Lake Central
2. Evan Larsen Hanover Central
3. Damari Embery South Newton
4. Jeremy Torres Portage
Evan Larson has put himself in a great position to punch a ticket to Indy in his fourth trip to semi state. In turn, his regional win created a match up for Kleimola and Davison. They have three loses between the two of them all to each other, Jake being up 2-1. The other two tickets should go to whoever is hottest this Saturday.
 
220
Best First Round
Dustin Baldwin Jeff vs Justin Akers CP
Best Ticket Round
Brandon Streck Merrillville vs Dylan Trent West Lafayette
Bracket Buster Patrick Ernst Mishawaka Marian
Top 4
1. Woods Penn
2, Kukurugya Valpo
3. Crider Harrison
4. Streck Merrillville
Woods is nationally ranked and is the returning State Champion. Akers lost a couple close ones to Kuku-rooga which landed him with the worst draw, Kobe Woods. Logansport regional is very tough at this weight and I wouldn't be surprised to see them possibly punch 3 tickets. Some young talent here looks good for the future.
 
285
Best First Round
Dan Cutter Chesterton vs Will Vakalahi Penn
Best Ticket Round
Gio Murillo Portage vs Aron Ceglarek Kankakee Valley
Bracket Buster Jacob Jeeniga Crown Point
Top 4
1. Shawn Streck Merrillville
2. Gio Murillo Portage
3. Clark Delphi
4. McWilliams SB Washington
What can you say, Streck is one of the best 285's in the country. He can set a pace not many can go with and he is looking to add to his state title collection and cement himself in the long line of Pirate heavy weights. I have Murillo meeting him in the finals. Murillo has 13 losses but 13 very good losses if there is such a thing. He will be looking to follow the Merrillville senior all the way. McWilliams and Clark are both very tough but it will be Shawn's night.
 
Just a couple thoughts.
I am excited to see how East Chicago handles its first semi state. The people I have talked to say they used a lot of the criticism that was posted to this board as input for the tournament this year. Seating through the first two rounds at Merrillville has always been a sore subject but EC Central has plenty of seating so that should no longer be a problem. Other upgrades include a bigger selection of food and I am hearing wrestlers will have an area nearby to warm up. Remember this is their first time hosting the tournament so work with them and lets make this new venue home. 

Please watch over and protect our youth as they begin this challenge in their lives. Teach them and show them the strength of the efforts.
 
Above all, please keep them safe and healthy through this endeavour.

Merrillville advanced all 14 including 4x sectional champions Covaciu and Streck who each wrestled a total of :37 seconds

For sectionals, EC can fit three mats across WITH the lower-bowl basketball bleachers all the way out. The nationally ranked seating capacity is listed at around 8,300, so even if all the hoops bleachers were pushed all the way in (I'm guessing they just push one side in so as to maintain the PA/press tables) and 4-6 mats laid out, we're still talking much more capacity than LC or Merrillville at full no-mat/basketball strength.
Fire Marshall Bill will have no beef here.
Agree with indianmorg that it's not the Bahamas in terms of desirable entertainment/shopping spots, especially hotels (northern Hammond will earn some of that economic impact), but quaint Whiting is just up the road with a nice downtown area, including a small movie theater, and there are two McDonald's within a mile or two, Subway, 2 BKs, gyros joints, pizza, plenty of sitdown authentic Mexican places, etc. And for the over-21 crowd interested in "gaming" there are options *floating* around nearby as well.

For sectionals, EC can fit three mats across WITH the lower-bowl basketball bleachers all the way out. The nationally ranked seating capacity is listed at around 8,300, so even if all the hoops bleachers were pushed all the way in (I'm guessing they just push one side in so as to maintain the PA/press tables) and 4-6 mats laid out, we're still talking much more capacity than LC or Merrillville at full no-mat/basketball strength.
Fire Marshall Bill will have no beef here.
Agree with indianmorg that it's not the Bahamas in terms of desirable entertainment/shopping spots, especially hotels (northern Hammond will earn some of that economic impact), but quaint Whiting is just up the road with a nice downtown area, including a small movie theater, and there are two McDonald's within a mile or two, Subway, 2 BKs, gyros joints, pizza, plenty of sitdown authentic Mexican places, etc. And for the over-21 crowd interested in "gaming" there are options *floating* around nearby as well.

Boone Grove is not looking to get into this tournament.

Im kinna disapointed i was looking for 10 champs - we know how to roll wit da best in da land of steel 

Take your team out on the mat before the tourney begins and pull out your tape measure and measure the mats in front of them...then say, "I think you will find these are the same size as our mats back in Hickory" ( or Lawrenceburg/North Posey/Cass/Northview/Manchester/Praire Heights/Centervillw, etc.)
 
Seriously though. McGill is right...enjoy the festivities but dont forget why you are there and what got you there.

Cainan Schaefer #17 could do quite a bit better than his rank.
 
120 is about as easy to predict as winning the lottery 3 days in a row.
 
126 I think this guy named Chad could make a little noise if he plays his cards right and has a spunky enough outfit.

I was extremely impressed by the 2 Laf Jeff flyweights Miller and Anderson. Not sure about their draws but those 2 looked good. Coming from the Logan regional and not being named Lukaszka they haven't received much pub. Both long/strong and technically sound.

I'm guessing that you haven't seen the Hoosiers wrestle this year

Place 6. Yea,  then we would have to give out 5th and 6th place ribbons to 112 more wrestlers even though they didnt earn it, and also have the false satisfaction of achieving something even though they didnt earn it.   These guys bedrooms would look like Gaylord Faulker's bedroom,  with their sixth place ribbons and participation certificates.  This would be another brick in the sissification wall of America.

That mullet should get its own Mental Attitude Award.