Page 23 - 2021-22 Wrestling State Finals Program

Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award Outstanding Official Award

At the conclusion of the state finals, the IHSAA Executive Committee presents the Ward E. Brown Josh Medvescek Honored as Top Wrestling Official
Mental Attitude Award to an outstanding senior participant in the Wrestling State Tournament. Josh Medvescek is the recipient of the 2021 He is a member of the Indiana Officials
The recipient of this award, who is nominated by his principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, Interscholastic Athletic Official Award for excellence Association and has worked as a IHSAA
scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in wrestling. in the sport of wrestling. Certification Clinician and Rules interpreter for the
Beginning in 1985, the award was named in honor of Mr. Brown, who served as the fourth commis- Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic sport of Wrestling for the past few years. He also
sioner of the IHSAA from 1976 until 1983. Association, in cooperation works as a Wrestling assigner for Zionsville
Previously, from 1966-71, the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association presented the with the National Federation Community Schools and is a coach for Zionsville
Harold F. Mumby Award to the state meet’s outstanding wrestler, in honor of the longtime Bloomington of Interscholastic Officials High School’s baseball team.
High School coach. From 1972 to 1984, the IHSAA Executive Committee sponsored the Harold F. Mumby Association, recognizes and Josh spends countless hours volunteering in
Ward E. Brown Award for Mental Attitude. honors an outstanding official his community, assisting with youth baseball,
IHSAA Commissioner Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presents a $1,000 scholarship to the school’s in each sport during the football, and wrestling in Zionsville and
1976-83 Indianapolis. He also takes time to mentor new
general scholarship fund in the name of the recipient. school year. Officials selected
for this distinction have gone IHSAA officials.
He currently resides in Zionsville with his wife,
Year Name School above and beyond to serve Nichole, and their four kids. He was a graduate of
their association, community,
1963-64 Rex Ryker Crawfordsville Pike High School and attended Ball State
1964-65 John (Randy) Goss South Bend Clay and the IHSAA. Each have
1965-66 Larry Smith Carmel shown exceptional qualities University and the University of Indianapolis. He
1966-67 Mickey Janes Anderson of leadership, dedication, and works as a Rehab Director at Life Care Center of
1967-68 Dale Barnard Franklin Central loyalty to their sport, our student-athletes, and their America.
1968-69 Warren Gamble Gary Mann
John Smith Franklin Central fellow officials. Josh was selected for this honor by a
1969-70 Henry Clouse Franklin Central Josh has been a licensed Wrestling official for committee representing the officials associations.
1970-71 Jim Cornwell Bloomington 21 years and has officiated 20 Sectionals, 14 In Indiana there are 24 associations made up of
1971-72 John Hobbs Indpls. Shortridge men and women who assist in providing
1972-73 Norman Hudson Manchester Regionals, 11 Semi-States, and seven (7) State
1973-74 Bud Palmer Muncie Northside Finals. wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for
1974-75 Vincent Keszei South Bend Jackson the student athletes in our state. Statewide, there
1975-76 James Runyon Elwood are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA
1976-77 Nelson Almond Fort Wayne Elmhurst in 11 sports
1977-78 Mark Harbold Valparaiso
1978-79 Ron Baker Yorktown
1979-80 Frank Patacsil Logansport
1980-81 Thomas Doyle Franklin Tournament History
1981-82 Glenn Glogas Jay County
1982-83 Fred Johnson Greenfield-Central
1983-84 David Locke Delta Many changes have been made to the Indiana state Due to the sport’s rapid growth, the IHSAA took
1984-85 Craig Campbell Delta
1985-86 Lance Lantz Wawasee 2021 Mental Attitude Award wrestling tournament since its inception, and to this day over sponsorship of the tournament from 1933 to
1986-87 Terry Kissel Gibson Southern it remains one of the most exciting and best-attended 1943, though the state finals were still held at Indiana
1987-88 Matt Morin Owen Valley Evan Shafer state finals events on the IHSAA calendar. University. However, as the Great Depression gripped
1988-89 Matt Koontz Whitko
1989-90 Eddie Palmer Huntington North Connersville While not officially sponsored by the IHSAA, but the country and the United States entered World War
1990-91 Jon McClain Western Boone held with special permission, the first state high school II, there was a gradual decline in the number of schools
1991-92 Tony Roush Eastbrook wrestling tournament took place in 1922 at Indiana participating. That forced the IHSAA to drop wrestling
1992-93 Matthew Armentano Evansville Mater Dei University.A total of 19 wrestlers from seven schools from its sponsorship from 1944 to 1949. During this
1993-94 Josh Hutchens Plymouth
1994-95 Tony Currie Adams Central participated in the first tournament. From 1922 to 1935, period, various participating schools kept the tourna-
1995-96 Derrick Miller Eastside a regulation high school wrestling match called for one ment going by holding an annual invitational state
1996-97 Jared Williams Evansville Harrison eight-minute period with both wrestlers starting in the tournament.
1997-98 Erik LeBeau Fort Wayne Concordia
1998-99 Ben Faurote Bellmont neutral position on their feet. No point system was in The IHSAA resumed sponsorship of the tourna-
1999-00 Marcus Schontube Lowell place, and the winner was determined solely on rid- ment in 1950 and continues to do so today. From
2000-01 J.T. Young Bloomington South ing time or by a fall. For the 1935-36 season, a point 1950 to 1959, Bloomington and Lafayette Jefferson
2001-02 Jason Cook Valparaiso
2002-03 John Sheets Bellmont system was installed and periods were added to make high schools alternated as the host school before the
2003-04 Blake Maurer Evansville Mater Dei the matches more interesting for fans. finals were moved in 1960 to Southport High School’s
2004-05 Casey Caldwell Union County From 1922 to 1951, the only IHSAA rules for 7,200-seat fieldhouse.
2005-06 Jeff Papiernik Fort Wayne Snider
2006-07 David Zimmer Angola wrestling were the same ones that applied to all sports The finals eventually required even more seating
2007-08 Eric Galka Hobart in the state, mainly eligibility and age requirements. and from 1981 to 1999 were held at Market Square
2008-09 Taylor March East Noble During this time, so-called gentlemens’ agreements Arena in Indianapolis before moving to what is now
2009-10 Francisco Porras Hobart
2010-11 Drake Stein Princeton were decided upon before meets by the coaches and Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2000.
2011-12 Abraham Hall Bremen these rules were enforced by the officials. From 1996 to 2012, a separate team tournament
2012-13 Luke Blanton Alexandria A new set of rules, written by coaches Chauncey was conducted in dual format to determine an overall
2013-14 Skyler Lykins Franklin Community McDaniel of Southport High School and Clifford Myers team state champion. The state finals were conducted
2014-15 Chase Osborn Penn
2016-17 Gunnar Larson Avon of Bloomington High School, were adopted by the IH- at Southport High School in 1996 and then culminated
2017-18 Mason Parris Lawrenceburg SAA beginning with the 1951-52 season. Modifications at Center Grove High School for the next 16 years.
2018-19 Hunter Watts Jimtown in the standing rules, most notably those that helped Beginning in 2013, the state championship team
2019-20 Jacob Maldonade Merrillville
2020-21 Evan Shafer Connersville to prevent excessive weight loss, were made in time was again determined by points accumulated by
for the 1957-58 wrestling season. Finally in 1973, us- individual wrestlers as it had been from 1936 to 1995.
ing Indiana’s rules as a measuring stick, the National
Wrestling Federation Rules were written and adopted.
22 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 23