Page 18 - 2008-09 Team Wrestling State Finals Program

Tournament History

Many changes have been made to the Indiana state Indiana High School
wrestling tournament since its inception, and to this day it
remains one of the most exciting and best-attended state Wrestling Coaches
finals event. Association
While not officially sponsored by the IHSAA, but held
with special permission, the first state high school wrestling Final Regular Season Poll
tournament took place in 1922 at Indiana University. A total of
19 wrestlers from seven schools participated in the first tourna-
ment. From 1922 to1935, a regulation high school wrestling 1. Mishawaka
match called for one eight-minute period with both wrestlers 2. Evansville Mater Dei
starting in the neutral position on their feet. No point system 3. Crown Point
was in place, and the winner was determined solely on riding 4. Indianapolis Cathedral
time or by a fall. For the 1935-36 season, a point system was 5. Perry Meridian
installed and periods were added to make the matches more 6. Merrillville
interesting for fans. 7. Bellmont
From 1922 to 1951, the only IHSAA rules for wrestling 8. Evansville Reitz
were the same ones that applied to all sports in the state, 9. Portage
mainly eligibility and age requirements. During this time, so-
called gentlemens’ agreements were decided upon before 10. Lawrence North
meets by the coaches and these rules were enforced by 11. Castle
the officials. 12. Yorktown
A new set of rules, written by coaches Chauncey McDaniel 13. New Palestine
of Southport High School and Clifford Myers of Bloomington 14. S.B. Riley
High School, were adopted by the IHSAA beginning with the 15. Carmel
1951-52 season. Modifications in the standing rules, most 16. Center Grove
notably those that helped to prevent excessive weight loss, 17. Penn
were made in time for the 1957-58 wrestling season. Finally in 18. Elkhart Memorial
1973, using Indiana’s rules as a measuring stick, the National
Wrestling Federation Rules were written and adopted. 19. Warren Central
Due to the sport’s rapid growth, the IHSAA took over 20. Hamilton Heights
sponsorship of the tournament from 1933 to 1943, though
the state finals were still held at Indiana University. However, *Teams in BOLD competing in State Finals
as the Great Depression gripped the country and the United
States entered World War II, there was a gradual decline in
the number of schools participating. That forced the IHSAA to
drop wrestling from its sponsorship from 1944 to 1949. During Indiana State High School Championships
this period, various participating schools kept the tournament Sponsored by Indiana University
going by holding an annual invitational state tournament.
The IHSAA resumed sponsorship of the tournament in Year Winner Coach
1950 and continues to do so today. From 1950 to 1959, 1922 Terre Haute Wiley ...............Guy Stantz
Bloomington and Lafayette Jefferson high schools alternated 1923 Terre Haute Wiley ...............Guy Stantz
as the host school before the finals were moved in 1960 to 1924 Bloomington .......................Harold Mumby
Southport High School’s 7,200-seat fieldhouse. 1925 Bloomington .......................Harold Mumby
The finals eventually required even more seating and 1926 Elwood ................................Theodore Koontz
from 1981 to 1999 were held at Market Square Arena in 1927 Wabash ..............................Billy Thom
Indianapolis before moving to Conseco Fieldhouse in 2000. 1928 Wabash ..............................No Coach
Over the last 80 years, the wrestling tournament has grown 1929 Bedford ...............................Emil Held
from a two-day event in the early years to one that consists of 1930 Bloomington .......................Harold Mumby
separate team and individual competitions over a four-week 1931 Bloomington .......................Harold Mumby
period, including 64 sectionals, 16 regionals, four semi-states 1932 Muncie ................................Walter Fisher
and the state finals.
In 1996, individual champions in each weight class and Indiana State High School Invitational
a team champion were crowned for the first time on separate War Year Champions
weekends. The IHSAA individual wrestling tournament has Year Winner Coach
been conducted under its usual format with the state finals 1944 Southport ............................Arlington Pitcher
culminating at Conseco Fieldhouse. The team tournament 1945 Bloomington .......................Harold Mumby
calls for the sectional champions to advance to eight, four- 1946 Bloomington .......................Clifford Myers
team regionals; winners at the eight regional sites advance 1947 Bloomington .......................Clifford Myers
to the state finals at Center Grove High School. 1948 Bloomington .......................Clifford Myers
1949 Bloomington .......................Clifford Myers
16 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!