The fourth round of team rankings for the 2007-08 wrestling season has been released by the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association, and the big news is Evansville Mater Dei no longer rules the roost. That’s because the 12-time state champion has fallen to the second spot as defending state runner-up Mishawaka takes over at the top.
Elsewhere, Avon and Castle make great leaps in the pre-Christmas poll as the Orioles jump from 18th to eighth while the Knights barrel all the from the ranks of the unranked to ninth. Like Castle, a trio of other teams – Floyd Central (16th), New Haven (17th), and South Bend Riley (19th) – cracks the Top 20.
The rest of the top five – No. 3 Perry Meridian, No. 4 Indianapolis Cathedral, and fifth-ranked Crown Point – remains the same.
Teams are listed by rank followed by school and number of votes received. Here is your Top 20-plus from Dec. 17 – and check out comments from poll coordinator Darrick Snyder below!):
1. Mishawaka 391
2. Evansville Mater Dei 385
3. Perry Meridian 378
4. Indianapolis Cathedral 317
5. Crown Point 313
6. New Palestine 296
7. Bellmont 287
8. Avon 221
9. Castle 219
10. Lawrence North 143
11. Elkhart Memorial 116
12. Merrillville 115
13. Evansville Reitz 109
14. Warren Central 91
15. Carmel 86
16. Floyd Central 83
17. New Haven 81
18. Columbus North 75
19. Franklin 73
19. South Bend Riley 73
20. Bloomington South 67
Also receiving votes: Anderson Highland, Center Grove, Columbia City, East Central, Elkhart Central, Evansville Memorial, Hamilton Heights, Jeffersonville, LaPorte, Peru, Portage, Yorktown, Zionsville
From Darrick Snyder, Mishawaka wrestling coach …
“Team rankings are certainly always open to lots of debate. These were some of the closest votes we have had the last couple of years, and several teams were very close to being ranked or moving up. I want to thank the coaches for taking the time to vote and thank all of you who helped to provide extra information, especially decbell1 – now that is one organized guy.
“I also wanted to mention that I did not have us (Mishawaka) ranked No. 1. I have always been of the opinion that Mater Dei is first until someone in Indiana defeats them. I am asked, however, to collect the results and post so that is what I did even though I know that it just put a huge target on our backs. Thanks, coaches (ha ha)!
“Good luck to everyone. I truly feel like Indiana is headed in the right direction, and I see so many teams taking positive steps to get to the next level. It is going to be a fun ride.
Remember to talk to your principals and athletic directors … and make sure they know how important Team State is for our sport.â€
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