Henry Wilk recognized for excellence in mat officiating STATE
Henry Wilk of Osceola, Indiana is the recipient of the 2022-23 Interscholastic Athletic Official Award for excellence in the sport of Wrestling.
Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each sport. Officials selected for this distinction have gone above and beyond to serve their association, community, and the IHSAA. Each have shown exceptional qualities of leadership, dedication, and loyalty to their sport, our student-athletes, and their fellow officials.
Henry has been a licensed Wrestling official for 16 years and has officiated 13 Sectionals, 13 Regionals, nine (9) SemiStates, and two (2) State Finals. He is a member of the St. Joe Valley Officials Association and served as Wrestling Vice President of the association from 20132019. Henry also volunteered as an IHSAA Wrestling Certification Clinician from 20132020, assisting with clinics and trainings in service to other officials in his community. In addition, he works to connect new officials in the St. Joe Valley Association with mentors and meet assignments in the area annually.
Henry has volunteered at countless meets outside of the IHSAA over the years, most notably the 1985 Junior Nationals at Notre Dame and 1988 NCAA Regionals. He’s worked as an official for many organizations, including the United States Wrestling Federation, Indiana State Wrestling Association, and USA Wrestling. The most enjoyable aspect of officiating to Henry is being a role model and trying to instill important values such as discipline, respect, and integrity to each student-athlete he comes across. Henry was selected for this honor by a committee representing the 24 officials associations in Indiana.
There are more than 6,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports. These officials work tirelessly to provide safe, competitive environments for over 160,000 student athletes in Indiana.
DuPont rode tough for over a minute before Davis looked close to finding a route to an escape and as the seconds ticked away on the Bellmont sophomore’s season, he continued to be held down by Dupont’s riding abilities, trapping Davis’ inside leg and keeping him from reaching his feet.
With 13 seconds remaining, the top wrestler was hit with stalling but it did no good. DuPont went right back to the same ride and gained his medal with a 3-2 victory.
In the opening session just one wrestler competed for county schools. Adams Central senior Logan Uhlman ended his career with a close loss to Christian Arberry of Warren
Central.
Uhlman tried a throwby early in the match and then rolled through and was in nearfall position momentarily but eventually rolled out of bounds.
With 30 seconds left, Uhlman used a great double leg to get behind Arberry, then took ten seconds to finally bring him down, trapping the arm just at the edge of the circle.
Uhlman began the second period in the down position and was saved from a shoulder injury by a potentially dangerous call. After the restart, Arberry was the more active wrestler and Uhlman was hit with a stalling warning halfway through the period. With 15 seconds remaining in the period, the senior got to his feet and scored his escape to take a 3-0 lead with his choice into the third period.
The choice was neutral for Uhlman and Arberry was again the aggressor, scoring on a double leg and then cutting Uhlman immediately. Barely a second later, Arberry attacked again, hitting a slick throw-by and scoring again.
After a quick timeout for blood, Arberry elected to start neutral and he scored another takedown to take the lead at 6-5 with 30 seconds remaining.
“I am proud of his effort,” said coach Tony Currie after the loss. “Logan had a great career and he came up just a little short today.”
Uhlman’s loss continued a trend for lightweights from the Fort Wayne semi-state as just nine wrestlers advanced in the lightest seven weights.
After Myers finally broke through with the victory, Keagan Martin followed soon after, taking on Devin Kendrex of Mount Vernon.
Martin was forced to belly out early on a double leg by Kendrex, who scored the opening points.
After a quick escape by Martin, there was plenty of hand fighting but no more points in the first.
Keagan deferred and Kendrex chose down, got his escape and then hit Martin with a low single and toppled him to build a 5-1 lead.
At the end of the second period, Kendrex dropped to the ground and then proceeded to use 90 seconds of injury time to work out a cramp in his right leg before the third period could commence.
Kendrex fought off all of Martin’s attempts throughout the third period and prevailed 5-1.
The night ended with Adams Central junior Zac Wurm taking on Andrew Just of Franklin Central.
Wurm and Andrew Just went scoreless through the first period like only heavyweights can do, then Wurm nearly reversed him in the second but they went out. Wurm was awarded an escape and he scored the first point of the match.
Wurm turned the wrong way and Just caught him and buried him, scoring the fall with 37 seconds remaining in the second period.
“Zac has continuously improved every single time out,” noted coach Currie. “Participating in the State Finals will help him heading into his senior season and hopefully give him the experience needed to earn a medal next season.”
Only Crown Point, Brownsburg and Center Grove advanced more than four, but the CP Bulldogs are heavy favorites heading into Saturday’s placement rounds.