Description: This award goes to the coach and staff who best elevated their team. 

Breakdown: This award was really a two-man race, and ultimately, I chose to give it to the team that put it on the line. Whiteland won its first state championship in wrestling this year, led by Justin Cooper and company, and has a strong argument that this award should be theirs. However, I chose to go with Doug Strayer and his staff because after a strong performance at the Fairgrounds, finishing second, they took their team a week later and put it on the line at the state duals, which they won. Their performances this season show that while they have hammers, evident by the five they put on the podium, they have a complete team as well.  Congratulations to Coach Strayer and his staff on winning this year's Hoosiermat Coach of the Year Award.

 

Season Accolades:

Highland Girls Invite | 2nd

Columbia City 2-Day Wrestling Invite | 3rd

Al Smith | 2nd

MIC Conference | 1st

Sectional | 1st

Regional | 1st

IHSAA State | 2nd

IHSGWCA Team State | 1st

 

Runner-up: Justin Cooper and staff | Whiteland

3rd Place: Tomas Westbrg and staff | Hobart

4th Place: Ty Olds and staff | Columbus East