|
|
|
 State Placers |
|
BRYCE HASSEMAN - 2000 STATE CHAMPION
|
|
Hasseman gets Franklin's 1st championship
By RICK MORWICK
Daily Journal assistant sports editor
Feb. 21, 2000
INDIANAPOLIS - Bryce Hasseman was more introspective than animated Saturday night after experiencing the greatest thrill of his athletic life.
Moments after becoming the first wrestling state champion in Franklin Community High School history, the soft-spoken senior pondered the majesty of his achievement in a quiet corner of Conseco Fieldhouse.
When he finally found words to express his cascading emotions, he declared his title a tribute to a very special man his coach and his father, Bob Hasseman.
In a way, I feel like I won it for him a little bit, said Bryce, who won the 160-pound championship in a 6-2 decision against Portage junior Rick Elkins.
Hasseman entered and exited the 62nd Annual IHSAA Individual State Finals ranked No. 1 in his weight class.
He won four matches en route to the title and concludes the individual portion of the state tournament with a 45-0 record.
I think thats the greatest, because not a whole lot of people in the state of Indiana can say they finished their senior year, or any year, completely undefeated, said Bryce, who was making the first state meet appearance of a brilliant four-year varsity career. Not only did I do that, but I also won a state championship, which I think is real good, too.
Coach Hasseman thinks the same thing.
Oh, it was great. What a great thing. It wont sink in for a while, said Bob Hasseman, who is winding down his 10th season with the Grizzly Cubs. Bryce is not only the schools first state champion, but also the first for Bob Hasseman as Franklins coach.
Thats unbelievable in itself. I fought back tears all day, Bob said. Your job is to keep the kids calm. I kept saying to myself, Dont screw him up. Dont get emotional. Keep your wits together. Be a coach, not a dad.
Its tough. Its tough.
In the end, Bryce made it look easy.
Apart from a dicey semifinal match against Bellmont sophomore Randy Baker, Bryce dominated throughout the tournament.
He pinned Franklin County senior Ryan Thompson in 58 seconds in Friday nights first round. He then earned a 21-10 major decision against Muncie Central freshman Jared Hargis in Saturdays quarterfinal before surviving a 4-3 semifinal thriller against Baker.
That kid was a good wrestler, Bryce said. That was a good win.
But the next win was even better.
Performing to chants of Lets go, Bryce from a spirited Franklin cheering section, Hasseman led Elkins (44-3) 2-0 after the first period and 4-1 after the second and wasnt seriously challenged in the third.
When the final buzzer sounded, Hasseman raised his arms in celebration. And after the referee lifted his arm in the traditional victory sign, he sprinted to the coachs corner and was greeted with a long, warm embrace from Bob.
Im so proud of him for obvious reasons, Bob said. Hes my kid, but he really shows what you can do with hard work and doing things right and handling pressure. There was a lot on him.
He did what he had to do to be a state champion. Im just real, real proud. I cant explain it. Its very, very emotional.
Besides being Franklins first state champion, Bryce is only the second Franklin wrestler to compete in the title match. Frank Doyle was runner-up at 177 pounds in 1981.
I knew I could do it. I put my mind to it, and I wrestled hard, said Bryce, whose career record is 124-20. He also has a school-record 244 takedowns. This was my first time at state, so it makes it that much better.
It feels great.
|
AARON CLARK - 2001 STATE CHAMPION
|
|
Franklin Wrestler Wins State Title
By RICK MORWICK
Daily Journal assistant sports editor
rmorwick@thejournalnet.com
Feb. 19, 2001
INDIANAPOLIS -- Aaron Clark had a hunch the days final task would be the toughest.
He was right.
Drawing on the invaluable experience of two previous trips to the IHSAA individual state wrestling meet, Clark conserved enough strength to emerge as the 103-pound champion in a thrilling finals match Saturday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.
After breezing through the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds with relatively quick pins, Clark had the stamina to rally in the third and final period for a 4-3 decision against sophomore Craig Macke of Evansville Mater Dei.
With the victory, Clark became Franklins second undefeated state champion in as many years and is only the second state champion in school history.
Former standout Bryce Hasseman finished last season unbeaten at 160 pounds.
This is what you work for, Clark said, moments after accomplishing what his season-long No. 1 ranking suggested he would do. You work for being a state champion.
Clark had to work a little harder than most.
A three-time, top-five finisher, Clark was fifth last year at 112 pounds. But to better serve Franklins team needs, he dropped to 103 pounds and had to exercise remarkable self-discipline all season to make weight.
But in the afterglow of his rare achievement, Clark didnt mind the sacrifice and four years of tireless work it took to take the top step on the awards podium.
Its all worthwhile, said Clark, who is 48-0 heading into Saturdays team state meet at Center Grove. To top it off with a state championship? Its a major accomplishment.
Im carrying on a little tradition. Bryce did it last year, so I might as well do it this year.
In the morning quarterfinal, he pinned Perus Nic May in 50 seconds. In the afternoon semifinal, he pinned Munsters Tim Hunt in three minutes, 16 seconds.
The relatively quick work gave Clark ample time to rest and focus on the evenings championship final, which would prove to be his toughest match of the season.
Clark and Macke (39-3) had met two previous times during the year, with Clark winning the first two by lopsided scores of 12-2 and 14-1. But in light of what was at stake, and because both wrestlers had watched countless hours of tape of each other and had intimate knowledge of the others style, Clark correctly surmised that the third rematch would not be easy.
We knew what we were going to do on each other, Clark said. He studied tapes on me and I watched movies all week on him and the other guys I wrestled. We knew what each other were capable of, and we had to go after it. He knew everything I was going to do.
I didnt have any secrets out there. Usually, (opponents) dont know what Im going to do. The first two kids I wrestled, they didnt have a clue.
Clark scored first in the opening period with a two-point takedown, which Macke answered shortly thereafter with a one-point reversal. Clark led 2-1 at the end of the period.
In the second, Macke accomplished a rare feat for a Clark opponent when he went up 3-2 on a reversal, a lead that he took into the final two-minute period.
With time running out and the match already going much longer than a typical Clark outing, Clark scored on a two-point reversal to go up 4-3 with 1:40 left.
From that point, it was a matter of maintaining control and not allowing Macke any quarter to maneuver an incredibly grueling task with so much time remaining and 10,000-plus fans cheering on.
With 43 seconds left, the Franklin faithful got a scare when the match was stopped for an injury timeout. Clark got hit in the groin but was able to continue after a brief break.
He then controlled Macke for the remaining time and, when the horn sounded, pumped his fists in the air as the nights first crowned champion.
What a great match, said coach Bob Hasseman, who embraced his wrestler in a bear hug in the jubilant Franklin corner. Aaron hit an emotional point in that match, then he regrouped and got a reversal. He did a great job of riding him that last 45 seconds. If youve never been under that spotlight, that spotlight does strange things to a kid.
Clark, who had only gone the distance in three previous matches this season, never panicked.
Youve got to keep your mindset that you can stay in the match, he said. Two points or so, you can come back and get those points easy.
Clark credits the brevity of his quarterfinal and semifinal matches for his ability to recoup the two vital points.
Two pins early was big for me, he said. Getting that extra rest is always big in a meet like this. Youve got to get in and get out as quick as you can, because all the matches are going to be tough.
Maybe if I would have had a tougher match earlier, it might have went the other way. You never know.
What is certain is that Clark, regardless of what happens at the team state meet, will leave Franklin with the most wins in school history.
He is a four-time sectional and two-time regional and semistate champion and is only the seventh wrestler in Johnson County history to win a state title.
Hes been a great talent, said Hasseman, who relived much of the same excitement when his son Bryce won last season. Its amazing, isnt it? Ill never be as weak-kneed as I was last year having the first (champion) and having it be your own (son). But what a great accomplishment it is for any kid to be able to do this.
To stand on that podium No. 1, its a big deal. Im just real happy him.
Incredibly, Clark hasnt seen the last of Macke.
Fifth-ranked Franklin tangles with No. 1-ranked, six-time defending champion Evansville Mater Dei in the first round of Saturdays team state meet at Center Grove.
Although he is hungry for victory No. 4 against Macke, Clark also craves his final shot at a team state championship.
You work for being a champion, Clark said. Now what weve got to work for is the team title.
|
|
|
 |
SEAN SCHMALTZ - 2003 STATE RUNNER-UP
|
|
Franklin wrestler plans to give Purdue a boost
By RICK MORWICK
Daily Journal sports editor
rmorwick@thejournalnet.com
April 18, 2003 If nothing else, Sean Schmaltz has confidence.
On Wednesday, the Franklin Community High School senior signed a letter of intent to continue his wrestling career at Purdue University.
Barring an unforeseen circumstance, Schmaltz expects to make an immediate impact for the Boilermakers, who finished 14th at the March 22 NCAA Division I Championships.
Therell be a lot of tough competition, said Schmaltz, who was recruited to fill a void at 125 pounds. Im sure theyre still looking at other 125-pounders to bring in, but I think Ill be able to contribute right away.
Franklin wrestling coach Bob Hasseman agrees.
A three-time state meet qualifier, Schmaltz finished in the top five all three times. In February, he finished runner-up at 119 pounds.
Hes a tough wrestler. He might start for them next year, Hasseman said. Theyre going to get a hard worker. Hes a college-style wrestler, an in-your-face guy.
Hell learn, and hell give them all hes got.
An honors student, Schmaltz chose Purdue over an offer from Indiana University. The Boilermakers partial scholarship was a bit more attractive, defraying about 40 percent of total costs.
But Schmaltz also preferred the strength of Purdues program. The individual he expects to replace at 125 pounds finished second at the NCAA Championships.
That wrestler, Chris Fleeger, is not a senior. But Schmaltz said Fleeger is expected to sit out next season as a redshirt.
Schmaltz looks forward to his shot at filling the void.
I just try to stay aggressive for the whole match and look for scoring opportunities, Schmaltz said. When ones there, youve got to go. Thats just how I look at it.
Schmaltzs career record at Franklin is 133-9. In his sophomore year, he placed fourth at the state meet at 112 pounds. He was fifth the following season at 125 pounds.
This year, he was runner-up at 119 following an 8-1 loss against Fort Wayne Southsides Gralan Early, who finished the season undefeated.
Schmaltz took a 46-0 mark into the championship match. He finished 46-1.
(My high school career) was definitely one of the best times of my life so far, Schmaltz said. I enjoyed wrestling with all the different people.
I enjoyed the competition and all the big meets.
Schmaltz plans to major in business.
|
JESSE HASSEMAN - 2004 STATE RUNNER-UP
|
|
No Shame In Second
Sunday, February 22, 2004
By JEFF DECKER
Daily Journal Assistant Sports Editor, jdecker@thejournalnet.com
INDIANAPOLIS
Franklin wrestler Jesse Hasseman can take comfort in this: Hes got plenty of company among those who have lost to Evansville Mater Deis Blake Mauer.
Mauer, a senior, wrestled in 188 matches in his high school career and lost just twice. He made Hasseman his 186th victim when he beat the Franklin senior 9-5 for the 171-pound championship in the IHSAA Individual State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse on Saturday.
Mauer became just the sixth wrestler in tournament history to win four individual titles. He also won at 171 last season, at 145 as a sophomore and at 130 as a freshman. On Saturday, he added the Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award to his honors.
Earlier in Saturdays state finals, Griffiths Alex Tsirtsis also became a four-time state champ when he won the title at 145 pounds.
Hasseman was one of two state-meet medalists from Johnson County. Indian Creek junior Justin LaFlower finished fifth at 103 pounds by pinning Hamilton Southeastern sophomore Joshua Sung in the consolation round.
Hasseman lost just three times in 46 matches this season; all three were to Mauer.
Still, Hasseman had faith he could win a state championship.
I went into the match thinking he could be beaten, Hasseman said. If anybody in the state had a chance of beating him, I always thought it was me.
Mauer got the first takedown just 11 seconds into the title match. Hasseman held his own but never led, getting all five of his points on escapes.
Both wrestlers were aggressive throughout the match.
I didnt take any different approach, Hasseman said. I just think when you wrestle someone like Blake, you have to stay in his face, push him, try to get a takedown and stay as close as you can.
Hes probably the better wrestler, Hasseman added. I have a long way to go. He wrestled better than I did.
Bob Hasseman, Jesses father and coach, knew that his son faced a difficult challenge in the final. But he was pleased with the way his youngest son finished his high school career.
Jesse wrestled hard. He wrestled a good match, wrestled with a lot of heart, Bob Hasseman said. I was really proud of him. It was just the culmination of a great career.
|
|
|
