IHSAA wrestling in Indianapolis react

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Shock waves were sent through the wrestling world following the announcement the sport would no longer be a part of the Olympic Games starting in 2020.

After the announcement, the president of the International Wrestling Federation, Raphael Martinetti, quit.

This weekend the best of the best wrestlers in Indiana were at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse for the IHSAA state championship. Fans and wrestlers were buzzing about the decision.

“That's like everybody's dream when they're a wrestler. There's not a pro sport for it, so the Olympics is basically the only pro sport,” says Breydan Bailey who won a state championship in middle school.

Breydan Bailey hopes one day of being an Olympian. Unfortunately he has one shot the games of 2016.

“When I was little my dad would wrestle in high school and I always wanted to be a wrestler from the start since I was 6,” says Bailey.

The International Olympic Committee voted to drop wrestling starting in 2020. According to IOC officials their decision came down to ticket sales, television ratings and popularity. 

“They just came out with a bunch of excuses that I didn't think were, that didn't matter much at all,” says Alex Delonis a former wrestler and fan.

A lot of the fans at the IHSAA say there has been a movement to bring back wrestling to the Olympic Games. A lot of them say they are hopeful it will return 2024.