Taking part in the Parade of Champions during the opening ceremonies of the IHSAA State Wrestling Finals is a thrill that stays with competitors and coaches for as long as they’ll remember.
For some, taking part in the ceremonial start for the state finals is the best memory.
Whether it’s because they were able to take a moment to realize where they were and what they had accomplished just by qualifying for state or because their stay on the mats ended with a loss on Friday night depends on each person who has laced up a pair of wrestling shoes on the biggest stage for a high school wrestler in Indiana.
For those who have never been to the state wrestling finals, here’s a brief synopsis of the Parade of Champions.
Think of the opening ceremonies to the Olympics.
On Friday, 224 wrestlers and their coaches will be introduced to the crowd at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse as they enter the arena.
The competitors are introduced alphabetically according to school.
Every color of every school represented then assembles on the mats before the evening’s matches begin.
Friday’s matches are to determine who will go on to Saturday’s finals and earn, at least, a spot on the podium as one of the top eight wrestlers in Indiana in their respective weight class.
Out of that group of 224, four will be representing schools in The Herald Bulletin’s coverage area.
Alexandria junior Luke Blanton will be making his second trip after a sixth-place finish last season.
From Pendleton Heights, defending state champion Mason Todd is going for the fourth time.
Fellow Arabian Clint Nicholson makes his first trip to the state tourney in his senior season.
Shenandoah junior Jacob Lumpkin will be the first Raiders wrestler to be in the parade since 1997.
There will be a more in-depth look at the competitors in Thursday’s and Friday’s editions of The Herald Bulletin.
Are all four capable of ending up on the podium on Saturday night? Sure.
That’s an easy thing to say.
Just like saying I’m capable of losing 50 pounds in three months, but that’s not an easy task to actually accomplish either.
The phrase “nature of the beast” is one that I employ quite a bit. And never is it more applicable than to the event that is a little over 72 hours away.
If ever there was a perfect environment to serve as an example of natural selection in sports, where only the strong thrive and survive, it’s the individual state wrestling tournament.
Another cliche that I believe in is if something is worth having, it won’t be easy to get it.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the easiest thing any of the aforementioned foursome attained was their wrestling shoes.
After all, you can buy those.
You can’t buy much else when it comes to wrestling.
Contact Quintin Harlan: 640-4835, quintin.harlan@heraldbulletin.com.
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Contact Quintin Harlan: 640-4835, quintin.harlan@heraldbulletin.com
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Quintin Harlan: Wrestlers prep for state finals
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