NECC

If anyone has a suite in the lower bowl and is looking for more people to split the cost I have a small group that is extremely interested. We are just wrestling fans that go to the finals every year and would love suite access.....no specific school affiliation! Thanks!

I would have to say that since there seems to be only one person that is this upset about the seeds then I'd say they did a pretty nice job. You can't keep everyone happy and never will in these situations. I think warrior probably needs to take some of these issues up with the representative that should have been present at the meeting. From what I hear, there are several teams on a waiting list that are ready to step in if Merrillville feels they have been treated unfairly and would like to bow out. I'm sure thats not the case...so lets just wrestle and let the kids decide who the best is...thats the only way to know. Good luck to all...and yes..even those in purple.

So if Fairfield is out at Penn saturday...does that mean that they're IN at Westview or possibly somewhere else this weekend?

I think it's fair to say that most other teams are content with the few good wrestlers they have. Heights and FF are built as a team and will reload every year because thats how their built. Most other teams have a few good kids and it's a tossup for the rest of the matches...also I still see far too many forfeits. TEAMS!! aren't willing to just give up 6 that easy, there's always someone waiting in for a chance. In the smaller communities like ours, we are made of 3 sport athletes...at Heights...they wrestle...thats it! And they're supported well...not mocked or treated differently like at some other schools. I expect to see great representation in the Coliseum from both schools and hopefully more.

I mean the Michigan that for every all american they have there's 10 more shoulda coulda woulda's because they were the next best thing coming out. And the Indiana that, although we may not be known for our dominance, at least you know what you're getting. Remember they have 56 state champs every year to our 14, so thats 2744 since1961 to our 686. We're lucky that we're under the radar enough that if someone does well in college we can say we thought they would because of the success they had in HS here, yet not have the expectations to pump out national champs every year.

For those of you who are for class wrestling. I encourage you, especially those who saw how a real state finals should be...last weekend, to go to detroit next weekend for the michigan finals. It's 3 days, thursday, friday and saturday finals. If you go on friday night you will see the semi-finals that usually are at the skill level and excitement level of our regionals!! And if you go to the finals you'll be lucky enough to see all four state championship matches at each weight class wrestle AT THE SAME TIME!!! And if that doesn't confuse you enough.....you are left with the class a,b,c and d champs looking at eachother wondering who's the best? Of course you never find out because there is not even a tournament of champions. Thursday and friday are on 12 mats, good luck keeping up with those brackets. As I said before, my michigan friends now go to Indy to see the real deal and they all bash Michigan now for ruining their favorite sport. Just look at Michigan University's roster, filled with In-State guys and their just not strong enough to compete with the big ten schools who pull kids from states without class wrestling. Michigan State has a walk on right now from Bronson Michigan. He went to state last year and was ranked high. He was beat last year by a kid from lakeland by major decision. That kid for lakeland was a junior and didn't make it out of semi-state. By the way, the Bronson kid's career record was 91-52. How ofter do we see that down here? You're either the best....or you're not! Kudos to Indiana for getting and keeping it right. By the way, I will be at the finals next week in between sessions at the Big Ten Championships. I will be sure to update you on the next Metcalf coming out of Michigan. ( Even a blind dog gets a bone now and then!)

When will we see brackets?

Something I was wondering. If they want to have a high school kid do the anthem (which we do) then why not invite one of the states top choirs to do it. Maybe the defending state choir champions, or maybe a high school choir from within the city that has attained accolades and is well known for their singing prowess. Why does it always have to be "1" person??? Lets get a group of well deserving kids out there and give them the chance to make a memory at Conseco, just like the wrestlers get to!

For the record, I have seen both wrestle and am sure Sean will come away with it. However, after all the talk, I really hope McCray shows up like he should, takes his 3rd or 4th like I hope, and at least earns your guys respect as a really tough kid that lived up to the hype.....at least! Good luck to both!!! Classic case of one guy whose "been there, done that" and another guy who "if you wanna be the best, you gotta beat the best!" That's all it is guys........can't wait.......

I was going to ask Y2 is there is a school smaller that Prarie Heights with more kids at state, but I guess this answers my question. How about tied Y2, how big is the hamilton school?

I personally hope to see this match! McMurray is obviously the real deal and McCray looks like FREAKING CAPTAIN AMERICA!!! He has the most college ready body since Howe and wrestles in much the same way. He sucks you in like it's nothin and is just a monster. True, you would assume he's an 89 pounder by looking at him but......he's not. Don't hate on Y2 just cuz he's his guy, trust me he's a beast. He's one of the few guys that left a lasting impression on me last weekend and I hope we see this match!

Congrats to the NECC on the "7" state qualifiers. Largest number for us in a while, and to PH on their 4. To send more guys than Bellmont is a great feat in my eyes......Great Job!!

I actually thought it was quite classless of the garrett kid to chase him down and dump him like that. I'm surprised it didn't start a fight or cause an injury. He should have just stood there and posed or better yet start walked the other way. Ya just did what every wrestler hopes to do to his opponent. Ya made him quit.......I think there was a fair share of that booing at the end for the winner as well. Legal.....yes.....unnecessary......yes!!

The best solution that I've found is to leave after the ticket round. It was after 4:00 when the ticket round ended......they were gonna take a short break and start the semi-finals even though the program said the finas would begin at 4:30.......I don't think they were gonna make it! I can see staying for the entire thing if this is as far as you're going, but I'm always at state which has the only final round that is important!!! We used to see some great matches for 3rd and 4th at regionals and semi-state cuz THOSE were the ticket matches. It's been watered down soooooo much now. It's starting to remind me of the michigan state tournaments......the "everybody gets a chance" attitude sounds good for the kids but it's not good for the sport. I have michigan friend that I've bought to the indiana state tournament and they've all changed thier minds on class wrestling and say that Indiana is where it's at, where you're either the best or you're not. I beg you.....let's not keep leaning the wrong way!!

I agree, congrats to PH and WV sectional and the NECC for that matter, Fairfield kids are from my conference too so I support those guys as I would if they were from WV sectional. We definetly should have had a better showing but hey, that's how it goes sometimes, you gotta show up ready and some kids just didn't. Having said that, I would also like to say kudos to the WV sectional for going out and actually wrestling for 6 minutes, can't say the same for those guys that felt the need to build a lead and then play dead on the mat. Well within the rules I know, but sad to see coming from guys that are supposed to be some of the best around. I like to put those matches in my memory bank for when I'm down at state, and I see the shock on those kids faces when refs actually call stalling on them and they start giving up points. Playing dead only gets you so far boys, see it every year.

I personally would like to see phillips and brooks start the finals off right with an instant classic this year. But looking back, I would have to agree with the zimmer (6 overtimes?) thriller.

The average school board member makes around 100 dollars a month to be a sbm. It basically IS a voluntary position. Just an elected one. It's the superintendents that make the big bucks. One proposal on the table is to consolidate superintendents to possibly one per county instead of one per school system. I'm never in favor of someone losing their job, but this proposal might just make sense........

To K.M. - I heard it through the grapevine that you took offense to my comments about your little bro, and I understand your need to stick up for him as I would probably do the same........however.....this site is for those of us who love wrestling as much as your family does and the fact of the matter is that when a semi-state qualifier from the previous year is basically AWOL for the season.....that's just newsworthy. It's not meant as a personal attack, kevin's absense has been the talk of the conference this year, and in case you didn't know it........kids talk. As for the loss your program suffered, I remember it well.....and I hope his son tears it up this year and goes on to have the career his dad would have hoped for. I also wish that Kevin could have found a way to use it as a motivation for this season as well.................

Food for thought. Schrock from lakeland is surprisingly at 160 now and looks good at that weight, however so far it hasn't produced much better results. I still think he may deserve the open #8 spot at your 160# rankings, and this will allow someone on your radar at 171# to slide in his vacant spot. Also Rimmel finally lost his first match last weekend, and apparantly Marsh from West Noble is officailly done for the season with grade issues. Sad to see really, sometimes you need to stop worrying about how to slide your way in to an "easier weight", if there is such a thing, and just go out and wrestle. Maybe he could've focused on his grades more if he wasn't so woried about other things...........

Thanks Y2!

Tourney!!..................sorry! :-\

Does anyone know who is going to be there?

Dekalb was absolutely the class of the field at Westview saturday. I believe they had 9 kids in the finals in what was a very disappointing turnout this year with only 8 teams. This used to be 12 and 13 strong with solid competition, but this year I think there were only 3 teams that fielded all of the roster spots. Never the less, most of the sectional teams they will face were there except for Heights and EN. so kudos to Dekalb, they did it quietly too. Not a lot of cockiness and fanfare, just business as usual. Classy groug of young men. Definetly the favorite for the sectional crown now.

Wow, an upset for sure....Rupright over Bateman. I bet you won't see Bateman at 152 again. Rupright is a tough kid though and can hold his own......wonder why the step up in weight for Bateman. Word is that West Noble is forfeiting 3 to 4 spots, so maybe he did it just to get a match??? Did Marsh wrestle last night? Semi-State qualifier that only has a few matches under his belt so far. I'm guessing some weight issues and potentially a little protection going on. Possibly staying away from Barroquillo and Wilms?? Hopefully he's in for Westview tomorrow.....I'd like to see the strongest field possible.

The Westview Sectional should be between Prarie Heights and Lakeland this year, with Dekalb and East Noble right there also. This may come down to how hard the coaches fight for seedings. These also may be the only 4 teams that fill all weight classes......I'm hearing Noble is down this year but until I see it for myself I'll just assume they'll be ready as always.........