Northern

Glenville State College in W.Va.

Days & Time ??

Chris Espinoza, McCreary Central's Hwt, was picked for the individual sportsmanship award at State. I heard a story the other day that may explain why he got this award. Young, Oldham's Hwt, had a broken hand at the tournament. He was trying to hide it, but word got out. During the Espinoza/Young match, Chris noticed that Young flinched when he grabbed one of his hands. He let go of that hand and would only grab the wrist for the remainder of the match. When Young asked him about it after the match, Espinoza told him that if he wanted to win by outwrestling his opponent, not by taking advantage of an injury. That's class! While others are tapping out, we have a wrestler that wants to win by earning it.

Dave Barnett's opinion used to be, "If they say that they can't breathe - they'll get all the air they want in 2 seconds when I hit the mat." Yet, he was the ref that was giving most of the tap-outs! I wonder if KHSAA had addressed this with the refs in advance and said that their priority was the safety of the wrestlers. Safety is one issue - but so is integrity. If this sport is going to be reputable, then a tap out needs to be the end of the match.

Johnny is a tremendous wrestler, but I can't agree that 'no one will ever challenge him'. Scott Wheeler pushed him to the limit.

I had not seen Ryan earlier in the season. I was very impressed - then in awe when I heard that he was only a sophomore. We'll be seeing him on the podium for the next few years. GREAT WRESTLER!!! Hope that the recovery is quick.

Alternates only take the place of somebody that can't be in the tournament because of injury, sickness, grades, etc. They will be notified prior to weigh-in if they will be rolled up. The reasoning behind not using an alternate to replace those that didn't make weight is that once somebody steps on the scale, they are officially qualifying for the tournament. If they don't make weight - then they forfeit. The alternate cannot be put in to replace a forfeited position.

Where did I have any inference to the Warner /Peace match? I was simply making a comment that we hear too many guys making excuses about a few pounds. Wrestlers in the 125-145 range are not that far apart, but they will continuously use a few pounds as an excuse for losing or not wrestling their best. "No wonder I lost, he ate more and had at least a two pound advantage on me!" I actually heard that excuse. As far as Warner, he knows what is best for him. If he felt that the challenge had an advantage - he would have taken it. He probably was focusing on getting ready for State without the distraction of a meaningless exhibition.

I hate it when wrestlers use the weight differential as an excuse. Both wrestlers are usually getting to weight and then gaining a bit after eating, so the actual difference remains the same - it does not increase. The difference between the weight classes in the 125-140 range is around 4% of your body weight. This IS insignificant. Wrestlers in the upper weight move up a class and they are giving up much greater percentages. The difference between 160-171 is about 7%; 171-189 about 11%; 189-215 about 14%; 215-285 about 33%. To put it in perspective, if you wrestled somebody that had a body weight 11% greater than your own, as a 125 you would be wrestling somebody weighing 139 (140 lb class). If a 171 can move up a class and win, why are you arguing about a few pounds? You should be able to take on a 140 and beat them. The real difference is not the weight, it's your desire.

Something that few people realize - Warner has not been scored on this season. This includes matches against some top level Indiana opponents. The only points scored have been escapes that he gave up to for takedown opportunities.

KHSAA sent out a retraction. Here's the most recent information. I thought I had removed all references but apparently that one remained. There is NOT a 50% rule, only a requirement that the athlete make scratch weight (including growth allowance) at least once before January 27th, 2007. I am sorry about the inconvenience. The fourth bullet should say - WR117

Earlier in the year, coaches were notified that wrestlers had to make weight by Jan 27 and have four matches to qualify for Regional. It was stated by coaches at several meetings that the 50% rule was no longer in effect. The teams just received information from Julian Tackett about Regional requirements and it said in bold letters that you MUST have 50% of your matches at the weight you wrestle for Regional. "KHSAA does not have the authority to change the 50% rule". I'm sure that this will impact some of the wrestlers who followed the body fat calculator and finally made weight late in the season. Maybe by next year they'll have this thing figured out in advance and stop changing the rules as they go.

Dual tournaments during July are very difficult for Kentucky teams for several reasons: 1. Teams don't have access to their budget yet and individuals can't afford to travel. 2. The dead period eliminates the chance to practice together. 3. Many of the wrestlers play football and their season starts in July. 4. Coaches are not allowed to be around their wrestlers in the off-season while school is in session. This leaves very little time to get prepared.

Here's what I have on the matches. I was distracted for some of them and I'm not sure of the results. 103 1-James Badgett BC 2-Shawn Johnson Laf 3-Adam Mann Dobyns-Bennet, TN 4- Jose Soriano Bour 112 1- Ross Carpenter-Frazier Mon 2-J J Jude JC 3 & 4 ??? 119 1- Matt Zarth HC 2- Cory Spencer JC 3 & 4 ??? 125 1-Trey Morlatt OC 2-Kasey Hedges TC 3- Bryan Thompson Fran 4-Casey Spencer JC 130 1-Nathan Speck Laf 2- Tyler Grim JC 3- Jeremy Bollman OC 4-Chris Walker Mon 135 1-Justin Walls BC 2-Alex Allman Laf 3- Adam Metzger DB 4- Mark Wright Wood 140 1-Jamel Mohammed TC 2-Matt Rostosky Laf 3-Akeem Bennett BC 4-? ? ? 145 1-Ryan Tingle Fran 2-Jordan Freeman JC Cody Young BC 4- Mark Erwin DB 152 1-Jeremiah Walls BC 2- Austin Cincotta Mon 3-John Golsby Holm 4-Todd Sytes JC 160 1-David Suter Br S 2-Matt Baskin Dan 3-Joey Davis BC 4-Mason Meek JC 171 1-Zack Guiler HC 2-Dan Griggs TC 3-Thomas Hardwick JC 4-Dusty Thompson Laf 189 1-Joe Conlon TC 2-Jeff Smith OC 3/4 Evan Hester Dan vs Matt Howe DB 215 1-Matt Green Laf 2-Josh Young OC 3/4 Jeremy Barnett Fran vs Daniel Preston DB 285 1-Evan Bullock Laf 2-Nathan Gray TC 3/4 ? ? ?

Here are some of the 3rd/4th placers 103 3rd Goodwin (John Hardin) 4th Brown (Tates Creek) 112 3rd Warra (Seneca) 4th Reichmuth (PRP) 119 3rd Zarth (Henry Clay) 4th Johnson (John Hardin) 125 3rd Morlatt (Oldham) 4th Mills (PRP) 130 ??? 135 3rd Stewart (Fern Creek) 4th Poulton (Seneca) 140 3rd Mohammed (Tates Creek) 4th Scott (Woodford) 145 3rd Quigley (Dunbar) 4th Tingle (Fern Creek) 152 3rd Walls (Bourbon) 4th White (Anderson) 160 3rd Wright (Seneca) 4th Brim (Ballard) 171 3rd Likoy (Dunbar) 4th Salter (Bourbon) 189 3rd Harlow (McCreary) 4th Roe (Unattached/McCreary) 215 3rd Chaney (Fern Creek) 4th Hartman (South Oldham) 275 3rd Mastrovich (South Oldham) 4th Gray (Tates Creek)