WaltHarris
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WaltHarris got a reaction from DCHawks in Bob Foster
An awesome man. Did not hear he had passed away. Very sad. Had Bob been ill?
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WaltHarris got a reaction from loscoz in Junior National Duals
I like many of your suggestions on other topics, however I disagree on part of this one. I don't care for there being a camp/qualifier right after high school state. HS kids are at their most banged up right after HS state. But I get where you are coming from. I guess I still like earning a Fargo spot by placement at FS state because it rewards kids who truly make the commitment. The two tournament qualifier has clearly hurt the number of kids who will make that commitment although. If we ever go to a different system in Indiana of qualifying for Fargo, I would really suggest we put together three separate (but equal) teams: North, Central and South. For example, that way the kids in the far south could practice together and build a culture together. We can't get everyone to Indy all the time. And a one-stop qualifier in Indy will evaporate the remaining north and south kids still doing FS. Having a north and central and south team might also give the ISWA a list of committed kids to hand pick from for Cadet and Junior Duals.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from throw45 in Junior National Duals
I like many of your suggestions on other topics, however I disagree on part of this one. I don't care for there being a camp/qualifier right after high school state. HS kids are at their most banged up right after HS state. But I get where you are coming from. I guess I still like earning a Fargo spot by placement at FS state because it rewards kids who truly make the commitment. The two tournament qualifier has clearly hurt the number of kids who will make that commitment although. If we ever go to a different system in Indiana of qualifying for Fargo, I would really suggest we put together three separate (but equal) teams: North, Central and South. For example, that way the kids in the far south could practice together and build a culture together. We can't get everyone to Indy all the time. And a one-stop qualifier in Indy will evaporate the remaining north and south kids still doing FS. Having a north and central and south team might also give the ISWA a list of committed kids to hand pick from for Cadet and Junior Duals.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from Mattyb in Junior National Duals
I like many of your suggestions on other topics, however I disagree on part of this one. I don't care for there being a camp/qualifier right after high school state. HS kids are at their most banged up right after HS state. But I get where you are coming from. I guess I still like earning a Fargo spot by placement at FS state because it rewards kids who truly make the commitment. The two tournament qualifier has clearly hurt the number of kids who will make that commitment although. If we ever go to a different system in Indiana of qualifying for Fargo, I would really suggest we put together three separate (but equal) teams: North, Central and South. For example, that way the kids in the far south could practice together and build a culture together. We can't get everyone to Indy all the time. And a one-stop qualifier in Indy will evaporate the remaining north and south kids still doing FS. Having a north and central and south team might also give the ISWA a list of committed kids to hand pick from for Cadet and Junior Duals.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from TripleB in Boycott Freestyle State
There seems to be a great deal of consensus that ISWA folkstyle state for juniors/cadets is unnecessary. Perhaps, redundant. I know ISWA really would like to keep those junior and cadet entry fees at folkstyle state. But if they truly want to display a commitment to fs/gr, then eliminate junior/cadet folk state, which would add another weekend opportunity into the fs/gr calendar for tournaments.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from grecoref in Boycott Freestyle State
If you do not notify the public about a qualifier, how can it possibly be a qualifier? Everyone should have an equal opportunity to qualify.
Imagine if United World Wrestling published to everyone the only two Olympic qualifiers remaining were Mongolia and Turkey. But then without public notice UWW held a privately approved secret qualifier in Las Vegas only for Mexico, Canada and USA. The rest of the world would go ballistic. And rightfully so.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from Y2CJ41 in Boycott Freestyle State
A qualifying event would have four non-negotiable elements:
1. A weigh in
2. Skin checks
3. USAW licensed official
4. Information readily available with plenty of advance public notice on iswa.com or the iswa annual booklet on time/location/registration
Every qualifying event thus far I know of had these four required elements. A person can debate whether or not other elements might be required like age divisions, pairing clerks, gym or wrestling room. But these four elements must be present.
I would argue if the four elements are not present, then it cannot be a qualifying event.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from Y2CJ41 in Boycott Freestyle State
Just an opinion, but I don’t feel comfortable with the sand shifting under our feet. These ‘opportunities’ seem contrived and could create inequity. I don’t want to be mean to ISWA, just want to make a point.
Example from back when I was teaching. I tell kids months beforehand a term paper is due May 7. No one is allowed to use web resources. Then in the last weeks leading up to the May 7 due date, a couple students privately tell me they are having a hard time completing the paper, so can they use the web? I give the kids permission to use web. But I don’t announce that it’s now okay to use the web to the class.
I think some other students and parents would be upset about that because they put in a lot of extra work.
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WaltHarris got a reaction from Y2CJ41 in NWCA Duals schedule
Way too much obsession with this. What is the big deal with the Gorillas wrestling? Honestly, every picture posted of the Gorillas shows kids with huge smiles.
Our society is just too obsessive about things people want to be exclusive. Must get into Harvard not for education but because it’s exclusive. Must stay at the Plaza in NY not because it's comfortable but because it’s exclusive. Must be on the gold team not for the experience but because it excludes those ‘others.’
Yeah, let’s keep that riff-raff out of Harvard or the Plaza or the gold team.
Holy molely, are we so obsessed with exclusivity that kids’ happiness takes a back seat? (see photos of the Gorillas being happy) Not everything needs to be Super32 or Fargo or Olympics. Sometimes it is just nice to have an event where kids smile and have fun that isn’t a local tournament.
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WaltHarris reacted to Sydokun in NWCA Duals schedule
First off I want to say Thank you to Y2 and Fabio. Without the Gorillas my son might not have gotten a chance to wrestling in this event. I know he had a lot of fun met alot of new friends. Wrestling aside. What I have learned is the kids want to be with there friends and have a fun time. If they can do that and wrestle they will head to that team kids are kids. Granted we did not have 1 dominate team but had a lot of young Indiana wrestlers getting more experience and making them better Vs just a select few. This improves the state as a whole.. just my 2 cents
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WaltHarris reacted to hook and half in NWCA Duals schedule
It begs the question: the very top kids get to be on an Indiana " sponsored team", coached by HOF staff, yet consistently choose the gorillas. Why?
If gold and blue want to have a better team, they should look at what the gorillas are doing.
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WaltHarris reacted to KarlHungus in NWCA Duals schedule
With only six states represented, the focus should be on improving the event instead of worrying about who is on what team.
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WaltHarris reacted to 800lbs Gorilla Mama in NWCA Duals schedule
I would disagree with the 2 teams. Just 1 one weight class (220) the past 4 years, having 2 teams would have eliminated Kobe Woods, Gunnar Larson and Evan Ellis. I know there are many more examples, but keeping these 3 out does not seem right. All 3 wrestled for the Gorilla's because they were not picked by IHSWCA. All 3 are multiple State Medal winners.
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WaltHarris reacted to Smooth34 in NWCA Duals schedule
Are people that bent out of shape? The Gorillas weren't even the best team from Indiana. Could the Gold team have been better with a few other guys....sure? But who cares. Give as many kids as possible a chance to wrestle. If they want to wrestle with their friends, let them. Isn't this sport supposed to be fun?
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WaltHarris reacted to grecoref in If this guy wins at freestyle OTTs, it means we have the best chance at a medal...POST-MORTEM
Yes to the 2012 question.
Not exactly to the second question. Marable didn't "miss weight"...he just didn't weigh in. He got a medical exemption because a Doctor signed off on it.
There have been others as well that involved litigation. The Seracki-Lindland match that was ordered to be rewrestled in 2000 is just an example. I was asked to be one of the referees for the rewrestle but I refused to go because I didn't agree with the litigation.
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WaltHarris reacted to grecoref in If this guy wins at freestyle OTTs, it means we have the best chance at a medal...POST-MORTEM
Nobody is picking a champion, just a team member. Why not put the guy who has the best chance of winning on the mat?
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WaltHarris got a reaction from pfk_86 in Saturday tourneys
Said it before... and will stay it again. Half the hs/college season should be FS, the other half should be folk.
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WaltHarris reacted to Clan Campbell in Plea to ISWA parents
My wife and son went to the entry doors get some fresh air between his semi-final and final match. They returned 5 minutes later, when asked whats up, she said they couldn't make it past the cloud of smoke and he didn't feel much like taking his wrestling shoes off to walk out into rain past all the smoke. When we left and walked past all the butts, I literally commented to my wife "wow, I thought this was a tobacco free campus, this is embarrassing." It'll be a shame if ISWA has to hire additional security just to enforce a no smoking policy, but that may be what it'll have to come down too. So when entry fees need to be raised to offset this additional security, a lot of us will understand why and support it.
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WaltHarris reacted to Mattyb in Plea to ISWA parents
Amen!!! Remember this when you all come to Avon for freestyle and Greco. We typically have to tell the same people over and over not to smoke. Picking up after yourselves will help a lot also.
With all of this said, 90 percent of our wrestling families get it. They understand that it is all about the kids and are very thankful to be able to wrestle in a nice facility. If you see something say something. We all want the best for the kids. Don't let the vast minority ruin it for the rest of us.
If you absolutely need a heater.... Get in your car and take a drive.
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WaltHarris reacted to SpunkyPotato in Plea to ISWA parents
This isn't just a location specific issue. I think this just needs to be a plea to all wrestling fans on take pride in the way you take care of where you are. Leaving trash on the ground or smoking on a smoke free campus is disrespectful of property whether it be just a small school or bankers life. There are people who work their tails off to clean the facilities we take for granted and the least we can do is make their job easier. Taking something outside of school property or throwing away trash is an easy task to perform, and there are many more things that could go on this list
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WaltHarris reacted to sslaymon in Plea to ISWA parents
Can't say this enough. Also, if you are a parent, please watch your children during the day, or at least check on them. I don't know how many were sneaking off into back hallways, jumping on stuff they didn't need to be on without a parent in site. If you can't watch them, please find someone to watch them while you attend. It is out of courtesy and respect to the school, the ISWA staff and volunteers.
I was coaching one of the last matches Saturday night in the main gym with the Cadets. I can't believe how much trash people leave sitting behind without putting it in a trash can. I know their are custodians paid to clean, but isn't it just common courtesy to throw your own mess away?
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WaltHarris reacted to grappleapple in Plea to ISWA parents
I couldn't agree more. I think Warren is a great venue. I never felt crowded, even with the huge number of wrestlers. I couldn't agree more about the smoking/littering. Be respectful. Signs everywhere say it's a non-smoking facility. Those signs don't mean it's non smoking for everyone but you.
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WaltHarris reacted to Walter Sobchak in Plea to ISWA parents
Be more respectful of the things you have and don't forget where you came from. Many of you don't realize the growth of the ISWA folkstyle state. It has grown from a small tournament in a sports complex in Bloomington to the Mellancamp facility (with two restrooms) to a dungeon industrial warehouse with leaky port 'o pottys to Lawrence Central (jeeze that was a nightmare made space in a crowded subway look comfortable) to two different weekends at two different schools to what we have now. What we have now is by far the best.
I only have one concern. Using Warren Central is fantastic, plenty of space and bathrooms ect. I'm worried that non respectful parents are going to ruin the ISWA's chance to continue to use the school. Warren like most High schools is a tobacco free campus. When I left on Saturday afternoon I noticed hundreds of cigarette butts laying on the ground outside the entrance. It appears to me as if the staff and students take pride in their school. If was the principal of Warren, that very well could be a deal breaker for me using my school.
The ISWA does not always please everyone, but with over 2100 athletes along with their coaches and fans getting in and out of that place like it was done this weekend is a small miracle.
So if we want to continue to keep using this facility, be respectful, pick up after yourself, dont scratch walls and break things, be careful and mindful that this public facility but the school corporation and administration staff has been kind enough to give the stamp of approval. We are only there 2 days of the year the students are there for 180 and they obviously have a nice facility to be proud of.