The Illinois High School Association honored one of great behind-the-scenes contributors in the history of the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals at the tourney’s 2019 edition.

Prior to the Grand March and state championship matches on Saturday, February 16, Barry Mink was recognized in front of a near capacity State Farm Center crowd.

A teacher and cross country coach at Abingdon-Avon, Mink has been hand-writing the results of each bracket on the brackets provided to each state champion for the past 30 years. Mink and his wife Carolyn, previously shared the duties before she passed from breast cancer in May 2018.

For more on Mink’s legacy from the Champaign-Urbana's The New Gazette, click here.


Below is the PA announcement from Mink’s recognition that evening…

Wrestling fans: Please direct your attention to the arena floor for a special presentation.

To run an effective and efficient State Finals tournament, many people dedicate their time, talent, and countless hours to benefit our wrestlers.

One of our most dedicated tournament workers first joined us for the State Finals in 1990.

In the 30 years since then, Barry Mink has hand-written our IHSA State Finals bracket boards for over 1,000 state champions.

This is Barry’s final year as a part of our State Finals staff.

Please help us recognize Barry Mink for his 30 years of dedication and commitment to the IHSA State Finals.