Page 23 - 2016-17 Wrestling State Finals Program

Outstanding Official Award

Greg Moe Named Top Wrestling Official

Greg Moe of Brazil is the recipient of the 2017 resenting the official’s associations across Indiana.
Interscholastic Athletic Official Award for excellence In Indiana there are 26 associations made
in the sport of wrestling. up of men and women who give up much of their
Each year, the Indiana personal time to assist in providing wholesome,
High School Athletic As- worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student
sociation, in cooperation athletes in our state. Statewide, there are more
with the National Federation than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11
of Interscholastic Officials sports.
Association, recognizes and Greg is a 1989 graduate of Jasper High School.
honors an outstanding official He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in
in each of 11 sports during Secondary Education (Physical Education/Health)
the school year. from Indiana State University in 1978, where he
After being licensed for also was a member of the wrestling team. Greg
29 years, Greg has officiated also earned a Master’s degree from Ball State.
more than 15 Wrestling State Finals (including Originally from Minnesota, he participated in the
Individual and Team). 1973 Football State Finals and the 1974 Wrestling
Greg is a member of the Calumet Officials As- State Finals for Caledonia High School. Greg and
sociation, where he is the current co-chairperson. his wife of 39 years, Christine, have four children –
He was selected for this honor by a committee rep- Becky, Trevor, Todd, and Lance.
Tournament History

Many changes have been made to the Indiana state number of schools participating. That forced the IHSAA to drop
wrestling tournament since its inception, and to this day it wrestling from its sponsorship from 1944 to 1949. During this
remains one of the most exciting and best-attended state period, various participating schools kept the tournament going
finals events on the IHSAA calendar. by holding an annual invitational state tournament.
While not officially sponsored by the IHSAA, but held The IHSAA resumed sponsorship of the tournament in 1950
with special permission, the first state high school wrestling and continues to do so today. From 1950 to 1959, Bloomington
tournament took place in 1922 at Indiana University. A total of and Lafayette Jefferson high schools alternated as the host
19 wrestlers from seven schools participated in the first tourna- school before the finals were moved in 1960 to Southport High
ment. From 1922 to1935, a regulation high school wrestling School’s 7,200-seat fieldhouse.
match called for one eight-minute period with both wrestlers The finals eventually required even more seating and from
starting in the neutral position on their feet. No point system 1981 to 1999 were held at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis
was in place, and the winner was determined solely on riding before moving to what is now Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2000.
time or by a fall. For the 1935-36 season, a point system was From 1996 to 2012, a separate team tournament was
installed and periods were added to make the matches more conducted in dual format to determine an overall team state
interesting for fans. champion. The state finals were conducted at Southport High
From 1922 to 1951, the only IHSAA rules for wrestling School in 1996 and then culminated at Center Grove High School
were the same ones that applied to all sports in the state, for the next 16 years.
mainly eligibility and age requirements. During this time, so- Beginning in 2013, the state championship team was again
called gentlemens’ agreements were decided upon before determined by points accumulated by individual wrestlers as it
meets by the coaches and these rules were enforced by had been from 1936 to 1995.
the officials.
A new set of rules, written by coaches Chauncey McDaniel
of Southport High School and Clifford Myers of Bloomington
High School, were adopted by the IHSAA beginning with the
1951-52 season. Modifications in the standing rules, most
notably those that helped to prevent excessive weight loss,
were made in time for the 1957-58 wrestling season. Finally in
1973, using Indiana’s rules as a measuring stick, the National
Wrestling Federation Rules were written and adopted.
Due to the sport’s rapid growth, the IHSAA took over
sponsorship of the tournament from 1933 to 1943, though
the state finals were still held at Indiana University. However,
as the Great Depression gripped the country and the United
States entered World War II, there was a gradual decline in the
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 23