Wrestling sectional trophy decorated with trash at Noblesville bar
Saturday afternoon Noblesville High School (NHS) athletes won the school’s first wrestling team sectional since 2021. A few hours later NHS coaches were celebrating at Syd’s Bar, 808 Logan St., Noblesville. That evening, the trophy those young athletes had worked so hard to earn was decorated with at least one crushed beer can and an empty cocktail glass.
Witnesses told The Reporter NHS coaches were seen “licking” and doing other inappropriate things to the trophy during the course of their celebration. Coaches and others in NHS-branded shirts were also seen building a tower of empty beer cans on the table where the trophy was on public display.
By 7:30 p.m. at least one can of the same brand of beer was crushed and placed on the base of the trophy, as seen in photos in today’s edition. An empty plastic cocktail glass, inverted, was placed atop the trophy.
Photo provided
One group of witnesses told The Reporter the coaches’ group was “so obnoxious” the witnesses felt compelled to leave.
NHS officials told The Reporter the trophy was not damaged, and the school “disagrees” with allegations of licking and other inappropriate behavior performed on the trophy.
In an email reply to our request for comment, NHS officials told The Reporter, “Several friends of one of our coaches was [sic] at a separate table at Syd’s. These friends were the ones building beer can pyramids, not our coaches. Having said all that, it was not appropriate for our coaches to bring the trophy to Syd’s for a personal celebration.”
Contrary to a statement from NHS officials, the IHSAA sectional trophy was in fact on display on the same table as the tower of empty beer cans on Saturday night, and NHS coaches were clearly at the same table. (Photo provided)
It should be noted that the tower of cans is clearly seen at a table with people wearing NHS shirts and two coaches holding the same brand of beer are standing at the same table with said tower and trophy.
“While these coaches and their friends were on their own time, bringing the team trophy to a personal celebration was not appropriate,” Athletic Director Leah Wooldridge told The Reporter. “Thankfully the trophy was not damaged. We apologize for the poor choice that was made and have addressed this with our coaching staff.”
While they addressed other questions from this newspaper, it should be noted that NHS officials chose not to comment about the trophy being adorned with trash from the public party.
Photo provided
So, the thing is, nobody would’ve known they had won this trophy until you posted about it. So good on the coaches for earning the publicity, I guess. I honestly thought this article was going to be satire; front page news it is not.
Shameful report. Reporter should be taken to the wood shed or made to go through a wrestling practice.
Shameful display of journalism. I am glad the Noblesville coaches had enough passion to celebrate the victory. Congrats Millers! Winners celebrate in life.
What is shameful is that these are adults and they did nothing wrong and some Karen thought that telling on them was news worthy. And that you reported it. How pathetic of a society have we become that this is what we resort to as news. I mean seriously. These are adult men drinking beer in a public place. I’m pretty sure that the trophy is not and cannot be offended. I’m pretty sure that the kids didn’t think anything of it and would not have even known had someone not decided to tell on them. This is pathetic.
With all of the real problems going on in our communities why crucify these coaches that are paid crap to coach and lead these kids to that trophy. These are high school kids not toddlers and I know they have seen or been around worse things than that, a few guys celebrating a win, that the problem? Worry about bigger concerns in our community like drugs and things that are hurting our kids.
When I first read this article, I was somewhat confused thinking it was funny. I do like the beer can pyramid. These coaches need time to celebrate and unwind. Love the “wood shed” comment. Karens, oh my! Wherever the trophy ends up, it made history in Syd’s.
WHO CARES!! If no kids were present, then why is it ANYONES business??
These guys are all over 21, and they put in long hours for little compensation.
Sid’s is a local bar and the ideal place for coaches to unwind.
No laws were broken.
I would suggest minding your own business.
WOW- this is “front page” news?! How about you publish a story about the team’s win, not attempt to shame the coaches for celebrating ON THEIR OWN TIME. Shame on the editor for publishing a story like this. Had I been in that bar, I would have added a beer can to that pile and given those hard-working, underpaid coaches my congratulations.
Jennifer — The Reporter published the story of the Millers’ Saturday sectional win at the top of the first page of our Sports Section in this week’s print edition, which was published on Monday, Jan. 29. Here is the link to the story on this website: https://readthereporter.com/wrestling-millers-win-first-team-sectional-trophy-since-2021-gcs-nguyen-heights-moe-win-titles/
How is this even an article? What does this actually accomplish? Shameful display by the writer and even bigger shame on the editorial staff for allowing it to go forward.
Womp womp
Yes. This is sad. It’s good to celebrate absolutely! BUT. It’s sad to see how grow adults aren’t aware of where they are… Going into a local bar with a trophy that these ATHLETES have earned. It’s sad to see how people are letting disrespect slide as well, while looking through these comments. If I was an athlete of this team my heart would be broken seeing my 30+ year old coaches putting their trash on a trophy my team won. It’s sad to see how no one sees this as somewhat odd, shameful and flat out rude to parents of the team and teammates. What happened to shame everyone? Thank you to the reporter for shedding light on what grown MEN do now. Go trash your trophy in private.
Hey Emily, as a current 4 year varsity wrestler of this team and a two year captain I can say these COACHES have earned that trophy just as much as we did. As an athlete of this team I am so very happy to see these coaches celebrating. They are grown adults celebrating a hard earned win let them celebrate how they want because I speak for my fellow wrestlers we don’t care whatsoever and we are extremely happy to see them proud of this TEAM win. A TEAM is just as much the players as it is the coaches. Thank you.
Definitely not a good look. YIKES!!
Guys, If you’re going to drink beer, at least drink ‘GOOD’ beer.
That’s the only misbehavior I see here.
Crazy to see the blatant disregard that these coaches have for the student athletes. Putting trash on a trophy is celebrating a win? Would they have put trash on the trophy in front of their student athletes?
Peaked in high school.
Serious apologies need to be made from these coaches, especially to their teammates.
Thank God in heaven we have a no-nonsense, journalistic juggernaut in The Reporter to keep us abreast of what’s really important at the local level.
But .. what of those muffins ?
The ones in plain view & adorned with (gasp!) sprinkles, there’s evil at work here in the form of those questionable muffins & as such, they warrant a full investigation as only The Reporter can be trusted to do.
.
Everyone makes mistakes. This too is just an oversight. Let’s not overreact to a bad decision by compounding the problems. These coaches are respected by kids and those kids work hard for them. Let this be a good life lesson for all parties.
as apart of the varsity wrestling team, i am proud of my coaches for celebrating our win and it just brings me so much happiness to see them satisfied with our performance saturday. this reporter should be ashamed of what he has done to this group of phenomenal coaches.
All I see trash left on tables .
That should have been attended to.
This is Family side.
Problem & Controversy avoided .
Anonymous reporting. Screams Pot Stirring