You know wrestling is a popular sport in Indiana when the Indiana High School Athletic Association State Finals are held at an NBA arena. This was something to behold. Watching, it was easy to forget that these are teenagers. A clash of two titans in the 285-lb weight class, evenly matched, brought the entire arena to its feet in riotous cheers. And that was for 3rd place. In another match, after suffering what appeared to the crowd to be a broken ankle, fans watched as an impending forfeit turned into a victory.
Visibly bruised and battered, these student athletes left it all on the mat. It is important to note the “student” part as well. As finalists were introduced, most, if not all, had a GPA near or above 4.0 and many seniors were heading off to Big Ten and Ivy League universities in the fall.
If you have a chance to check out any wrestling meets next season I highly recommend it. You don’t even need a working knowledge of the sport to appreciate the skill and toughness of the athletes.
Great stuff Zach. You have captured many images that show why high school sports are great.
Thanks for having me out! I’m always appreciative of the IHSAA and Three Sixty Group for coordinating everything and making sure I have the access I need to get the photos that show what’s great about high school sports.