Page 23 - 2023-24 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 Steve Ziembo Honored as Top Wrestling Official
Mental Attitude Award to an outstanding senior participant in the Wrestling State Tournament.
The recipient of this award, who is nominated by his principal and coach, must excel in mental attitude, Steve Ziembo of Fort Wayne, Indiana is the recipient of Steve wrestled competitively for Bishop Dwenger High
scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in wrestling. the 2023-24 Interscholastic Athletic Official Award for School in Fort Wayne and moved on to coach at Snider
Beginning in 1985, the award was named in honor of Mr. Brown, who served as the fourth commis- excellence in the sport of Wrestling. High School in Fort Wayne from 1999-2006. Steve
sioner of the IHSAA from 1976 until 1983. currently works as the Athletic Director of Snider High
Previously, from 1966-71, the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association presented the Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic School and has been a part of hosting numerous
Harold F. Mumby Award to the state meet’s outstanding wrestler, in honor of the longtime Bloomington Association, in cooperation with the wrestling tournaments during his
Ward E. Brown High School coach. From 1972 to 1984, the IHSAA Executive Committee sponsored the Harold F. Mumby National Federation of Interscholastic tenure.
Officials Association, recognizes
Award for Mental Attitude.
IHSAA Commissioner Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presents a $1,000 scholarship to the school’s and honors an outstanding official The most enjoyable aspect of
1976-83 in each sport. Officials selected for officiating for Steve is staying
general scholarship fund in the name of the recipient. this distinction have gone above and connected in the sport of Wrestling.
beyond to serve their association, Working as an athletic director, it
Year Name School community, and the IHSAA. Each can get very busy throughout the
1964-65 John (Randy) Goss South Bend Clay have shown exceptional qualities of school year and officiating wrestling
1965-66 Larry Smith Carmel leadership, dedication, and loyalty to
1966-67 Mickey Janes Anderson provides him with a break from the
1967-68 Dale Barnard Franklin Central their sport, our student-athletes, and action.
1968-69 Warren Gamble Gary Mann their fellow officials.
John Smith Franklin Central
1969-70 Henry Clouse Franklin Central Steve has been a licensed Wrestling Steve was selected for this honor
1970-71 Jim Cornwell Bloomington by a committee representing the
1971-72 John Hobbs Indpls. Shortridge official for 19 years and has officiated 24 officials associations in Indiana.
1972-73 Norman Hudson Manchester 17 Sectionals, 13 Regionals, 10
1973-74 Bud Palmer Muncie Northside Semi-States, and six (6) State Finals, There are more than 6,000 officials
1974-75 Vincent Keszei South Bend Jackson including this weekend’s event. He licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.
1975-76 James Runyon Elwood These officials work tirelessly to
1976-77 Nelson Almond Fort Wayne Elmhurst is a member of the Calumet Officials provide safe, competitive
1977-78 Mark Harbold Valparaiso Association and Northeastern Officials Association and
1978-79 Ron Baker Yorktown has been integral in the recruitment and training of environments for over 160,000 student athletes in
1979-80 Frank Patacsil Logansport officials in Northeast Indiana. Additionally, Steve has Indiana.
1980-81 Thomas Doyle Franklin
1981-82 Glenn Glogas Jay County volunteered his time as an IHSAA Wrestling Certification
1982-83 Fred Johnson Greenfield-Central Clinician and IHSAA Rules Interpreter, assisting with
1983-84 David Locke Delta clinics and trainings in service to other officials in his
1984-85 Craig Campbell Delta
1985-86 Lance Lantz Wawasee community and leading live demonstrations regarding
1986-87 Terry Kissel Gibson Southern Wrestling rules and procedures.
1987-88 Matt Morin Owen Valley
1988-89 Matt Koontz Whitko 2023 Mental Attitude Award
1989-90 Eddie Palmer Huntington North
1990-91 Jon McClain Western Boone Ashton Jackson
1991-92 Tony Roush Eastbrook LaPorte Tournament History
1992-93 Matthew Armentano Evansville Mater Dei
1993-94 Josh Hutchens Plymouth
1994-95 Tony Currie Adams Central
1995-96 Derrick Miller Eastside Many changes have been made to the Indiana state 1973, using Indiana’s rules as a measuring stick, the National
1996-97 Jared Williams Evansville Harrison wrestling tournament since its inception, and to this day it Wrestling Federation Rules were written and adopted.
1997-98 Erik LeBeau Fort Wayne Concordia remains one of the most exciting and best-attended state Due to the sport’s rapid growth, the IHSAA took over
1998-99 Ben Faurote Bellmont finals events on the IHSAA calendar. sponsorship of the tournament from 1933 to 1943, though
1999-00 Marcus Schontube Lowell While not officially sponsored by the IHSAA, but held the state finals were still held at Indiana University. However,
2000-01 J.T. Young Bloomington South
2001-02 Jason Cook Valparaiso with special permission, the first state high school wrestling as the Great Depression gripped the country and the United
2002-03 John Sheets Bellmont tournament took place in 1922 at Indiana University.A total of States entered World War II, there was a gradual decline in
2003-04 Blake Maurer Evansville Mater Dei 19 wrestlers from seven schools participated in the first tourna- the number of schools participating. That forced the IHSAA to
2004-05 Casey Caldwell Union County ment. From 1922 to 1935, a regulation high school wrestling drop wrestling from its sponsorship from 1944 to 1949. During
2005-06 Jeff Papiernik Fort Wayne Snider match called for one eight-minute period with both wrestlers this period, various participating schools kept the tournament
2006-07 David Zimmer Angola
2007-08 Eric Galka Hobart starting in the neutral position on their feet. No point system going by holding an annual invitational state tournament.
2008-09 Taylor March East Noble was in place, and the winner was determined solely on riding The IHSAA resumed sponsorship of the tournament
2009-10 Francisco Porras Hobart time or by a fall. For the 1935-36 season, a point system was in 1950 and continues to do so today. From 1950 to 1959,
2010-11 Drake Stein Princeton installed and periods were added to make the matches more Bloomington and Lafayette Jefferson high schools alternated
2011-12 Abraham Hall Bremen interesting for fans. as the host school before the finals were moved in 1960 to
2012-13 Luke Blanton Alexandria
2013-14 Skyler Lykins Franklin Community From 1922 to 1951, the only IHSAA rules for wrestling Southport High School’s 7,200-seat fieldhouse.
2014-15 Chase Osborn Penn were the same ones that applied to all sports in the state, The finals eventually required even more seating and from
2016-17 Gunnar Larson Avon mainly eligibility and age requirements. During this time, so- 1981 to 1999 were held at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis
2017-18 Mason Parris Lawrenceburg called gentlemens’ agreements were decided upon before before moving to what is now Bankers Life Fieldhouse in 2000.
2018-19 Hunter Watts Jimtown meets by the coaches and these rules were enforced by From 1996 to 2012, a separate team tournament was
2019-20 Jacob Maldonade Merrillville
2020-21 Evan Shafer Connersville the officials. conducted in dual format to determine an overall team state
2021-22 Drake Buchanan Center Grove A new set of rules, written by coaches Chauncey McDaniel champion. The state finals were conducted at Southport High
2022-23 Ashton Jackson LaPorte of Southport High School and Clifford Myers of Bloomington School in 1996 and then culminated at Center Grove High
High School, were adopted by the IHSAA beginning with the School for the next 16 years.
1951-52 season. Modifications in the standing rules, most Beginning in 2013, the state championship team was again
notably those that helped to prevent excessive weight loss, determined by points accumulated by individual wrestlers as
were made in time for the 1957-58 wrestling season. Finally in it had been from 1936 to 1995.
22 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 23