Evansville Semi-State Preview

By Justin Cooper

This weekend 224 wrestlers from the southern half of Indiana will do battle at Robert's Stadium. A state high 58 ranked wrestlers are in this Semi-State, but only 56 will get to make the trip to the Big Show. Due to the stacked regionals there will be some great ticket round matches.

103:

Favorite: Brian Kuhn- Evansville Reitz (47-1)

Look for Brian Kuhn to meet up Jacob Boomsma in the finals. While Dylan Hall and Dusty Kief battle it out for 3rd.

Others heading to State

Dylan Hall Evansville Harrison

Jacob Boomsma Bloomington South

Dusty Kief Franklin

Best Ticket Round Match

Jordan Judy (40-2) vs. Jacob Boomsma (33-2)

112:

Favorite: Francisco Colon- Columbus North (36-3)

This is one of the most open weight classes where a lot of great wrestlers and a lot of great match ups. Colon looks to make another trip to state after getting injured last year at Semi State.

Others heading to State

Curtis Smith Jeffersonville

Shawn Miracle Bloomington North

Derek Fisher Martinsville

Best Ticket round Match

Derek Fisher (32-3) vs. Alex Griesemer (36-4)

Blaine Hall (21-2) Vs. Francisco Colon (36-3)

119:

Favorite: Ethan Raley- Indian Creek (28-0)

The potential finals match-up between Raley and Alex Johns of Reitz is one of the matches to watch, but Raley and Johns cannot overlook the other competitors in this weight.

Others heading to State

Alex Johns Evansville Reitz

Jordan Jensen Terre Haute South

Matt Milton Center Grove

Best Ticket Round Match

Jeff Stotridge Charlestown (37-1) vs Returning State place winner Matt Milton (25-7)

125:

Favorite: Matt Adams- Center Grove (30-4)

This is a very deep weight class with a lot of talent. The championship will go to whomever brings their ‘A' game on Saturday.

Others heading to State

Blake Reuger Evansville Reitz

Eddie Durran Charlestown

Zach Henderson Mater Dei

Best Ticket Round Match

Zach Henerson Mater Dei (31-5) vs. Luke Pingelton Northview (31-5)

Cole Vanhorn Franklin (33-7) vs. Eddie Durran Charlestown (36-1)

130:

Favorite: Brannigan Barlow- Bloomington South (38-4)

Barlow is the man to beat, this year he has victories over some of the best the state has to offer. This is another very deep weight class with a lot of good first and second round matches. It will be interesting to see if senior Caleb Purtlebaugh can upset freshman Quincy Richey in the round to go.

Others heading to State

Andrew Seitz Castle

Brett Walker Jeffersonville

Quincy Richey Brown County

Best Ticket Round Match

Quincy Richey Brown County (30-1) vs. Caleb Purtlebaugh Martinsville (22-4)

135:

Favorite: Mitchell Richey- Brown Country (36-0)

There are six ranked wrestlers in this weight class alone and we should see some great battles all day long.

Others heading to state

Doug Welch Castle

Nick Smith Franklin

Zach DeHaven Evansville Memorial

Best Ticket Round Match

Nick Smith Franklin (36-4) Vs. Aaron May Charelstown (35-7)

140:

Favorite: John Sims- Mater Dei (32-2)

This is one of the most stacked weight classes at any Semi State. There will be some great wrestlers sent home because of their draws.

Others heading to State

Jerod Crump Center Grove

Jacob Milenbaugh Columbus North

Garret Smith Cascade

Best Ticket Round Matches

Garret Smith Cascade (40-1) vs. Chad Welch Castle (39-4)

Zach Wojdyla Brown County (36-3) Vs. John Sims Mater Dei (32-2)

James Walker Martinsville (20-3) vs. Jacob Milenbaugh (Great 1st round match-up)

145:

Favorite: Preston Richard- Castle (40-3)

The Zenthoefer vs. Spicer match may be the match of the day, both are seniors with great records looking to extend their post season one more week. Look for Krulik and Richard to have a great finals match.

Others heading to State

Jordan Krulik Martinsville

Steve Spicer Edgewood

Ben Moberly Floyd Central

Best Ticket Round Match

Steve Spicer Edgewood (36-2) vs. Zeke Zenthoefer Mater Dei (34-4)

152:

Favorite: Drake Stein- Princeton (41-0)

Well known Drake Stein will have a great battle with little known Ryan Kolb if both make it to the finals. The spoiler in this weight class is Trey Reese looking to knock off unbeaten Holden Fudurich in the ticket round.

Others heading to State

Ryan Kolb Tri West

Jeff Weiss Heritage Hills

Trey Reese Indian Creek

Best Ticket Round Match

Trey Reese Indian Creek (31-3) vs. Holden Fudurich Sullivan (33-0)

Josh Sampson New Washington (44-2) vs. Jeff Weiss Heritage Hills (43-5)

160:

Favorite: Briar Runyan- Martinsville (35-0)

This is Briar Runyan's weight class, he is an unbeaten senior and has pinned every opponent except for Dalton Jones of Avon. After a 3rd and a 2nd place finish at State Runyan will look to win that elusive State Championship.

Others heading to State

Dalton Jones Avon

Josh Sparks Edgewood

Zach Easterling Mater Dei

Best Ticket Round Match

Zach Easterling Mater Dei (27-6) vs. Terry Terrell Bloomington South (31-9)

171:

Favorite: #3 Tanner Wedding- Evansville Memorial (32-1)

Tanner Wedding will be set to do battle with returning state qualifier #5 Shelby Mappes in the semi-finals and the winner will most likely go on to win the Semi-State Championship.

Others heading to State

Shelby Mappes Center Grove

Gabe Watson Columbus North

Caleb Browner Jeffersonville

Best Ticket Round Match

Caleb Browner Jeffersonville (38-5) vs. Ryan Mann Castle (36-7)

189:

Favorite: Aaron Stevenson- Indian Creek (38-0)

Sophomore sensation Aaron Stevenson will look to add to his unbeaten season. With five ranked wrestlers this looks to be one of the more interesting weight classes of the day.

Others heading to State

Patrick Price North Posey

Andrew Leach Avon

Darren Eads Bloomington South

Best Ticket Round Match

Ethan Cook Providence (31-2) vs. Alex Rosebrock Castle (40-3) or Andrew Leach Avon (29-3)

215:

Favorite: Clay Robinson- Castle (43-0)

Robinson will look to keep his unbeaten senior season alive going up against many good wrestlers. The draw of this weight class will send a few great wrestlers home early.

Others heading to State

Tyler Jenkins Jasper

Dylan Froelich Tell City

Jacob Vandeventer Bloomington North

Best Ticket Round Match

Adam Howland Brownsburg (29-4) vs. Dylan Froelich Tell City (39-4)

285:

Favorite: Alex White- Mt. Vernon (46-1)

This is the best weight class of the meet, nearly everyone in this class has a great record, but records will mean nothing if you do not show up to wrestle. Look for Senior Alex White of Mt. Vernon to keep his State Championship hopes alive with some big wins at Semi State.

Others heading to State

Nate Richey Brownsburg

Jowan Gill Columbus North

John Clark Jeffersonville

Best Ticket Round Match

Joe Arthur Bloomington North (35-3) vs. John Clark Jeffersonville (28-1)