Miss-Delectable
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Deaf Hoosiers repeat as national champions | IndyStar.com
Two years ago, the Indiana School for the Deaf wrestling team traveled to Texas to compete in the National Deaf Prep Duals and came away with a third-place finish.
Last season, the Deaf Hoosiers went to California to compete in the same tournament and came away as national champs.
Hosting the tournament last weekend, the Deaf Hoosiers were favored to repeat. They didn't disappoint as they dominated the field to capture the dual-meet national team championship and six individual titles.
The pressure of being the favorites seemed to have little effect on Indiana Deaf, which won its six dual meets by an average of 38.7 points.
"I think it's the nature of anything . . . that when you're on top, people want to knock you off," Deaf Hoosiers coach Michael Paulone said through an interpreter. "That's usually going to be a consequence, but I was really impressed by our kids. It was difficult with the pressure that was on them, but our hard practices really paid off."
The Deaf Hoosiers downed Riverside (Calif.) 71-12, Model (Calif.) 66-12, Florida 54-26, Maryland 54-23, Fremont (Calif.) 54-26 and Texas 56-24.
"In our first match we started out a little rough," Paulone said. "But once we got to 152 (pounds), I felt pretty good. I knew our team would do well because we had all our boys back from last year. I knew we would have a good team, and I thought we probably could have some good success."
Six of the school's wrestlers went undefeated during the dual-meet portion of the tournament. Michael Garman (119 pounds), Justin Hernandez (135), Tony Slone (160), Chasz Jordan (171), Corey Burton (215) and Jamie Winslow-Johnson all went 6-0. Jordan pinned all six opponents in just less than 12 minutes total, while Garman, Hernandez and Winslow-Johnson each had five pins. Burton and Slone pinned four opponents.
In the individual portion of the tournament, Garman, Hernandez, Slone, Burton and Winslow-Johnson won tournament championships, as did Mark Alcozer (171 pounds). Alcozer lost to Maryland's Mark Cross in the dual-meet portion of the tournament but bounced back to beat Cross in the individual final.
Although winning was nice, that's not all last weekend was about for Paulone. It's also about camaraderie between the teams.
"We live in a small world. Making and having friends like these from (the National) is really pretty special."
Also wrestling for the Deaf Hoosiers during the tournament were Tyler West, Colin Analco, Jose Mast, Robert Goolsby, Michal Snead, Isaac Olvey and William Fetzer. Indiana Deaf wrestlers are from all over Indiana, including Brownsburg, Noblesville, Carmel and Indianapolis.
"We have boys with a lot of heart who love wrestling," Paulone said.
Two years ago, the Indiana School for the Deaf wrestling team traveled to Texas to compete in the National Deaf Prep Duals and came away with a third-place finish.
Last season, the Deaf Hoosiers went to California to compete in the same tournament and came away as national champs.
Hosting the tournament last weekend, the Deaf Hoosiers were favored to repeat. They didn't disappoint as they dominated the field to capture the dual-meet national team championship and six individual titles.
The pressure of being the favorites seemed to have little effect on Indiana Deaf, which won its six dual meets by an average of 38.7 points.
"I think it's the nature of anything . . . that when you're on top, people want to knock you off," Deaf Hoosiers coach Michael Paulone said through an interpreter. "That's usually going to be a consequence, but I was really impressed by our kids. It was difficult with the pressure that was on them, but our hard practices really paid off."
The Deaf Hoosiers downed Riverside (Calif.) 71-12, Model (Calif.) 66-12, Florida 54-26, Maryland 54-23, Fremont (Calif.) 54-26 and Texas 56-24.
"In our first match we started out a little rough," Paulone said. "But once we got to 152 (pounds), I felt pretty good. I knew our team would do well because we had all our boys back from last year. I knew we would have a good team, and I thought we probably could have some good success."
Six of the school's wrestlers went undefeated during the dual-meet portion of the tournament. Michael Garman (119 pounds), Justin Hernandez (135), Tony Slone (160), Chasz Jordan (171), Corey Burton (215) and Jamie Winslow-Johnson all went 6-0. Jordan pinned all six opponents in just less than 12 minutes total, while Garman, Hernandez and Winslow-Johnson each had five pins. Burton and Slone pinned four opponents.
In the individual portion of the tournament, Garman, Hernandez, Slone, Burton and Winslow-Johnson won tournament championships, as did Mark Alcozer (171 pounds). Alcozer lost to Maryland's Mark Cross in the dual-meet portion of the tournament but bounced back to beat Cross in the individual final.
Although winning was nice, that's not all last weekend was about for Paulone. It's also about camaraderie between the teams.
"We live in a small world. Making and having friends like these from (the National) is really pretty special."
Also wrestling for the Deaf Hoosiers during the tournament were Tyler West, Colin Analco, Jose Mast, Robert Goolsby, Michal Snead, Isaac Olvey and William Fetzer. Indiana Deaf wrestlers are from all over Indiana, including Brownsburg, Noblesville, Carmel and Indianapolis.
"We have boys with a lot of heart who love wrestling," Paulone said.
to the deaf Hoosiers!
Perhaps they just may go for 3, 3 being the 'charm'. 