BlackshirtD

Good post all the people around me talked about that stupid IHSAA advertisement that went around during the intros..We understand that it is an IHSAA event. The music for the intros was annoying..not that I hate AC/DC but I guess I'm still a sucker for old Market Square style...Bankers Life is awesome and I'm really happy it is there..but I really do miss Market square..it was a perfect arena for the greatest High school sporting event.

Yeah I was watching that match and my guys at the same time and I was just blown away to see a kid sprinting around for many seconds running behind the referee...just horrible. I couldn't believe it was happening. I saw the coaches going off but didn't really know what was going on so I can't comment on that but that was very sad.. I am not one to rip officiating because I wouldn't want to do it..especially on that stage but there was just so many arbitrary stalling calls....changed calls...and missed falls with 2 officials I found to be pretty awful in some cases. In some ways disappointed by some of the finals but in other ways the same guys that disappointed me by being in the finals thrilled me by pulling upsets to get there. The young man from Brown county..I totally get his frustration..absolutely understand it..but you gotta hold it together. There was some poor sportsmanship all weekend. I get that emotions run high...but shake your opponents hand and if your going to shake the opposing coaches hand ..shake it..don't slap it and sprint off the floor..I feel like pulling a Don Corleone and grabbing some of the kids like he did to Johnny Fontaine and scream "You can act like a man!!!) again I understand how hurt some kids are..but kids are doing more than I've ever sen before..running off..almost on purpose because that's becoming the tradition I mean better to lose your cool behind the scenes no doubt..but some kids really need to learn the humility of a loss and do it with dignity.

yeah you get a wahoo for sure. Everyone likes the Miracle story()Well most everyone) but You know it'd be a shame if Lee doesn't get his fair share of cheering when(if)he advances into Saturday. I watched a video of him and I like the way the kid wrestles..I think there will be a lot of fast paced action for people to cheer about on both sides..should be fun..I'm just rooting for a great match.

IMO I think Anton. The only reason I say that is because Radnovich was a big thrower and I just feel like Anton could stay out of those situations maybe better than most guys...My dream match up at 215 would have been Damon Hummel v.s. Dj Radnovich...Hummel being soo good but in 93-94 there was no 215.

no way 10 + Jason may have won but i bet there would be some crazy scrambles and a lot of fun.

Usual suspects of Howe,Escobedo,Tsirtsis(squared)Radnovich,Lance Ellis,..some other names Vega sr. Pat Cassidy sr. Bradley, Alex Ramos jr/sr(as dominant as I've seen for 2 years outside of say howe, escobedo, and jason now) Mcmurrray

Hey Cody Phillips is a kid..why are some people taking some cheap shots at him? He' is a teenager. Geez some of the same people that are saying how unclassy he is are the one's being real classy themselves saying how overrated he is. No matter how you feel about it these are all student athletes that command your respect for the time and sacrifices they have made and contributed greatly to the history of Indiana Wrestling..just take it easy on the kids okay.

I think Cosgrove would present some problems for J. Tsirtsis..but I'd take 08 Dewey over 04A. Tsirtsis maybe.

Thank you..but not very proud of that one..the only thing worse is thinking about squeezing my butt back into it..That was Cadet 154 now it would fat old basta$rd 225...barf

Claddagh Irish Pub..big fan

Been meaning to go there forever..this year for sure.

Sadly in the early 90's the pink singlets were floating around the freestyle circuit...and sadly I had one for state..dindn't look so bad on when I was winning but then Matt Fitzgerald (New Castle) and Chad Harper (Mishawaka) beat me up later in the day it looked damned silly!!..in the 90's also SB. Riley had great finals singlets and some small school had like candy kane singlets..wanna say like Wapahani or something..maybe it was monrovia but I can't remember..don't recall McCubbins wearing it though. The plaids were outstanding singlets.

just playing devils advocate on the trap game..Would Ayala not be a trap game for Vanhook knowing what he has coming for him?? Aaron Ayala may not be on the same level but is certainly capable of getting past VanHook...

I wasn't there to see the antics and t me it doesn't really matter because the thread was Crume V.s. Phillips..not Phillips v.s. 3rd place. or Phillips v.s. sportsmanship. I'm not in the kids head, or a part of the program..until now I've never heard anything bad about him so in my mind it was a bad day at the office..now to the match.. I reeeally like Crume and I think if he can pull this match out it might be that booster in confidence that could take him to the top of the podium. I can't say enough about how awesome Ayersman is wrestling...I think he is the head of the class but Crume and phillips are certainly capable of wrestling a great match and getting a W against him....Phillips I would assume that anyway you cut it when he didn't wrestle for 3rd or 4th knew he could have Crume or Ayersman first thing and didn't care because he knows what it takes to be a champ and you have to beat them all anyway so he has that confidence in himself and I really enjoy watching him. I haven't filled my bracket out yet but this is gonna be something special for all us on Friday night.. There are a few big showdowns right away but I don't know if in the 20+ yrs I've been going down that I've seen anything like this in the first round. A first round match that is worthy of putting in the middle with the lamp on...I'm leaning toward Crume maybe just on the chance the Phillips is injured or maybe even just down a little in the mental part right at the moment..Can you imagine though the bracket comes out and you are Crume and you see that you drew Cody Phillips. It had to be like getting punched in the gut for the evening....but I'm willing to bet that wrestling room is rocking as hard as it ever has in Jimtown right now..He's gotta be so amped up right now.This is gonna be awesome!!

I respectfully disagree..Many of these guys have met a couple times now and some looked more cautious than before. If all 4 placers are on the podium on Saturday night I wouldn't be surprised. I don't see 220 as being weak..I see it as a buzzsaw that won't be 1 or 2 guys deep. I see it as a weight class that will keep the fans there instead of getting a jump on finding something to eat Friday night and saturday afternoon. Should be fun and how about a big hat off to the champ from Clay..He was very active all day and I liked his style..saw him at Al Smith and he looks like he's peaking at the right time. Kral will be fine and I look for a good run next week and Gelen Robinson has every bit of a chance to bring home a title next week as well. Sliga v.s. Berry is interesting..It'll be interesting to see how Berry does in deep water as he has ran through people this season..Will he be ready for that next step????

Hammond civic center..A.R.C. Valpo U..Purdue..There are places..Ecc(they have one of the biggest gyms in the State)...isn't there domes and field houses popping up all over Crown Point..I'm so sick of the band box at Merrillville meanwhile the other semi-states are in places where fans and wrestlers can both be comfortable...great post.

Yeah not a lot of love for Brickie wrestlers in these picks. Don't know much about the kid Obermeyer with one loss but I have to believe Ayala has wrestled(and beaten) more quality opponents. I really think, although many people have sopko losing in ticket round, Shurg and sopko will be a fun semi with Stevenson waiting for the winner. Rodriguez at 170 I think has a great chance. Patrick Manning has a very good chance..He will have to wrestle his but off v's' Mavros but it's doable..Vasquez at 138 is certainly capable of moving past Varner and Roach even if not favored...Realistically for the Hobart 7...3 should get through.4 getting through would be a great day and if somehow 5 got through it will have been a banner day..Morales at 152 has a tall order in the ticket round and Villenuava the HWT is a pretty big long shot..Good luck Brickies!

yeah it has that feel to it doesn't it.

I'm pretty sure Sopko and Stevenson are always a pt. or 2 apart and Stevenson is awesome but I see another tight one..and think we'll see a lot of tight ones for the next few years. Sopko isn't all that flashy but he is really good and if not for Stevenson he'd have a lot of hype I'm sure..should some fun ones between these two for the next few weeks!

Congrats 132 on hall of fame!!

always a beacon light of hope ;D I think regardless if this is our "good year" (which there is no denying) I'm seeing more and more young wrestlers evolving..It's not just the light weights where the freshmen are coming in having success anymore. I think all the CIA's and things of that nature are progressing kids in Indiana faster and I think it is fair to say Indiana is getting better and will continue to do so.

Class act kid!! Good luck at Northwestern! Can't wait to watch you..now I believe you have some business to attend to.....glad you got the decision made before the season gets rolling..again great choice, and good luck!

thanks Y2

Yeah the cage thing is a different animal. It's a different style of wrestling..it's more that their experience wrestling helped them in the cage..not vice-versa . The biggest benefit is probably how hard they have trained for that and the extra toughness that goes along with it. I'm sure it served them well..but they had the wrestling skills already..nothing in the cage made them better at actual mat wrestling..maybe picked up some little tricks along the way, but outside of stamina,toughness and not that these kids needed it but more no fear attitude and confidence. They are already at an elite level..I'd hate to see mid level kids go to the cage when they need to be drilling and cleaning up their skills in a wrsetling room, and getting mat time elsewhere.

Who are some of the top incoming freshmen and what weight?