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#Wrestling Wednesday Feature: State Rivalries
Brought to you by EI Sports
 

By JEREMY HINES
jerhines@cinergymetro.net
 
Rivalries bring a new level of intensity to sports. It’s what drew thousands to watch Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier go toe-to-toe three times. It’s why baseball games between the Red Sox and the Yankees are always a little bit more heated, and the fans a little bit more passionate. It’s why college stadiums sell out anytime Ohio State and Michigan square off.
 
But rivalries do more than just keep sports interesting. In wrestling, having a rival can be one of the biggest determining factors in an individual’s internal drive to success.
 
Some of Indiana’s greatest wrestling rivals admit that without their counterpart, they would not have been as good as what they were.
 
Perhaps the top rivalry in Indiana wrestling history was that of Anderson Highland’s Camden Eppert and Warren Central’s Brandon Wright.
 
The two squared off a total of 12 times in high school. Three of those times came in the championship match of the state finals. Wright owned the overall better record between the two at 7-5, but Eppert won two of the three championship matches.
 
“There were other people I knew I had to wrestle,” Eppert said. “But in the back of my mind I always knew Brandon was going to be in my way. We were always on the opposite side of the bracket in regionals, semistate and state. Everyone wanted to see us collide.”
 
Eppert, who was one grade ahead of Wright, defeated Wright 6-3 as a sophomore in 2007 to win the 103 pound class. Wright came back the next season and beat Eppert 5-2 to claim the 112 pound title.
The final showdown between the two ended up being the closest of them all.
 
The two met under the lights for the 119 pound championship in 2009. After three grueling periods the match went into overtime. Eventually Eppert escaped with a 3-2 victory.
 
“I’m glad I faced him,” Eppert said. “We developed something special. Even though I only faced one opponent in all three of the finals matches, I wouldn’t take it back for anything.”
 
Wright went on to dominate the 125 pound class the next season, after Eppert had graduated. He easily won the state title with a 9-1 victory.
 
“That rivalry really grew me as a wrestler,” Wright said. “It took both of us to a whole different level. I think it has to be the best rivalry in Indiana history.”
 
The two were certainly not the best of friends in high school.
 
“It was pretty cut throat,” Eppert said. “I don’t think we hated each other, but when I shook his hand before a match we both knew we were going for blood.”
 
Looking back, both wrestlers know that without each other, they may have never gotten as far as they did with the sport.
“We had such intense matches,” Wright said. “He made me focus more. Because of him I learned to prepare for matches. All of the hours I put into wrestling, he caused me to become strategic on the mat. That’s where I really learned the most. I knew I couldn’t just muscle him, I had to learn to be a better wrestler, mentally, when I went up against Camden.”
 
Eppert went on to wrestle at Purdue. Wright is currently wrestling for Grand View where he is a returning NAIA national champion.
 
Wright knows Eppert was always the one who pushed him the most in wrestling. So when he was in Indianapolis a while back and needed a drill partner, Eppert was the one he called.
 
“I talk to him quite a bit now,” Eppert said. “He will win another national championship this year. We stay in touch now and when he needs a drill partner, I’m there.”
 
Another great Indiana rivalry was built in one season. In 2007 Munster’s Eric McGill and Hobart’s Brennan Cosgrove met seven times at 140 pounds. The two were 3-3 against each other leading up to the championship match. McGill beat Cosgrove 6-5 in the final to win the series 4-3.
 
“Our rivalry was pretty heated,” McGill said. “We both wanted the same thing, and we were both standing in each other’s way.”
 
McGill won the first meeting between the two, a dual meet at Hobart. He scored a late takedown to earn the victory.
 
The second time the two squared off was at their county championship.
 
“That was probably my favorite of all of them,” McGill said. “He threw me in the first 30 seconds. I was down 5-0 and came all the way back and won 10-9. I had to have a bunch of takedowns at the end. I remember my last takedown came with under 20 seconds to go.”
 
Cosgrove bounced back though. In their conference meet he defeated McGill 3-1. Cosgrove went on to beat McGill at the Hobart Invitational and regional. He was winning the matchup in semistate as well until an illegal slam gave McGill the disqualification victory.
 
“That was the most dominating match of them all,” McGill said. “He was beating me badly. It was definitely the most one-sided of all of our matches.”
 
After losing three in a row, and then winning on a DQ, McGill began to question whether he could beat Cosgrove.
 
“That year we were head and shoulders above everyone else in the state in our class,” McGill said. “I major, teched or pinned everyone but him. To have someone that good right here in my backyard that I had to compete against seven times, more than anything, made me a better wrestler.
 
“It tested my resolve. It was the first time I had experienced a setback where I had lost to someone three times in a row. It was wearing on my mind wondering if I could turn it around. By semistate I started to think he was widening the gap. But our last match, I just told myself that whatever happens, happens. I’m going to live with the outcome. I wasn’t too nervous or too fired up.”
 
Cosgrove remembers wrestling McGill even in elementary school.
 
“We were the same age group and we went to the same camps together,” Cosgrove said. “In high school our matches were intense. It was awesome. I loved every one of them.”
 
The two are now friends, although both admit they weren’t at all during high school.
 
Cosgrove went on to wrestle for Purdue and McGill wrestled at Cornell.
 
“It’s hard to explain what having that rival out there does for you,” Cosgrove said. “But my experience with Eric back then was awesome. I hate losing, but when I would lose I walked off the mat knowing I wasn’t going to lose the next one. We pushed each other to be better wrestlers.”
 
Rivalries will always develop in wrestling. One of the newest rivalries is that between Fort Wayne Wayne junior Geoffrey Davis and Fort Wayne Northside junior Ben Streeter.
 
Last season Streeter wrestled Davis one time, and dominated to the tune of a 9-0 win.
 
Streeter and Davis have wrestled three times this season. They met in the Summit Athletic Conference finals, in regional and then again in semistate.
 
Davis turned things around at the SAC championship, winning the title.
 
“Honestly I came out at the SAC thinking I could just do what I did last time,” Streeter said. “I knew he was good competition, but I didn’t realize how much he improved. I wasn’t expecting him to beat me.”
 
That defeat refocused Streeter. The next time the two wrestled came in the regional final where he won 12-11.
 
Davis bounced back to win semistate 9-4 after trailing 4-0.
 
“I honestly think wrestling him makes me better,” Davis said. “You have to work twice as hard when you know there is a guy out there that can beat you.”
 
Streeter echoes Davis’ sentiments.
 
“If I win or lose, I know he’s out there working,” Streeter said. “He isn’t going to stop. You have to keep going too, because you know he’s going to. He could be that roadblock that I have to learn to get around.”
 
Both Streeter and Davis would like to face each other one more time this season. If so, it might mean they are wrestling under the lights against one another.
 
Perhaps the state championships this year will spawn even more Indiana rivalries.

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2015 State Finals Preview
Chad Hollenbaugh
IndianaMat Senior Writer
 

Cathedral Looks to Repeat, Red to Three-Peat


 
A number of great storylines accompany this weekend’s festivities in Indianapolis at the 2015 IHSAA State Wrestling finals. The incredibly deep 120 weight class should have outstanding matches starting early Friday evening and contains this year’s most compelling in season rivalry between Jeremiah Reitz of Griffith and Brendan Black of Hobart. The 170 pound class is wide open with five to six wrestlers that can legitimately make a run for the top of the podium and the heavyweight bracket contains three Division One athletes at the top of the rankings.
Although all three of these stories will quite compelling, two other stories have a special appeal. The team race currently has Penn High School in the pole position but last year’s champ, Indianapolis Cathedral, has the pieces in place to repeat should Penn falter. Other teams that should be in contention include Perry Meridian, Warren Central, Yorktown, and Avon.
The second major story will be the Chad Red show. Unbeaten in his first two seasons of high school, Red is a heavy favorite to continue his dominance and win a third straight state championship. If anyone was unsure of just how great Red is, Cael Sanderson’s recent visit to New Palestine should remove any doubts. In his junior season, Red is currently ranked first in the country by Flo Wrestling and number three by Intermat. Much like Stevan Micic last year and Jason Tsirtsis before him, Red appears to be that type of wrestler that seems to be destined to be a factor at the next level.
 
BREAKING IT DOWN
 
106
This year’s crop of flyweights contain the usual high number of new faces (9 freshmen) that look to make their bones on the Banker’s Life floor. Columbus East semi-state champ Graham Rooks, Hobart’s Tylor Triana and Avon’s Mason Miranda are the frosh poised to make the deepest run in this bracket.
 
POLE POSITION (FAVORITE)
 
COLTON CUMMINGS – LOWELL (41-1). Cummings will look to erase his Friday night memory of last year where he was pinned by Columbia City’s Hunter Langeloh in fifty nine seconds. Cummings has been nothing short of dominant (He has a win over Rooks) this year with his only loss coming while wrestling two weight classes up against Perry Meridian’s David Clayton.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER (RELATIVE UNKNOWN)
 
JON ANDERSON – LAFAYETTE JEFF (47-2) and CAINAN SCHAEFER – SOUTH DEARBORN (45-2). Anderson was a surprise runner up at Merrillville where he looked very solid against competition with more press clippings. Schaefer wrestles in the southeast corner of the state and gets very little press but he had a break out performance at the New Castle semi state where he pinned highly regarded Klayton Anderson of Hamilton Southeastern. These two hard chargers may meet Saturday morning with a trip to the semis on the line.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL (BEST FRIDAY NIGHT MATCH UP)
 
TYLOR TRIANA – HOBART (37-4) VS. MASON MIRANDA (20-5) – The winner here has a great opportunity to make a run to the finals. Triana is the higher ranked wrestler (5th vs 9th) but Miranda is wrestling very well and his team is in the hunt for state hardware.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Cummings.
 
113
East Noble’s Garrett Pepple has established himself as a force in this weight class but there is also outstanding depth here. Pepple season started with an All-American run at the pre-season Super 32 (4th) and has not been seriously tested. He currently holds top ten rankings nationally by both Flo and Intermat. Last year’s state runner up at 106, Paul Konrath of Mount Vernon seems to be wrestling with a bum leg but dominated the field at the Evansville semi state. Others looking to rain on Pepple’s parade include Hamilton Southeastern’s Austin Holmes, Penn’s undefeated Drew Hildebrandt and Fairfield’s Blake Glogouski (who has only lost to Pepple).
 
POLE POSITION
 
GARRETT PEPPLE – EAST NOBLE (42-0). All the pieces seem to be in place for the Indiana recruit. Pepple has experience (two runner-up finishes), training (teammate Conner Knapp and coach Andy Uhl), and confidence. If anyone were to topple Pepple, it would be considered a fairly substantial upset.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
BLAKE GLOGOUSKI – FAIRFIELD (49-2). Glogouski was knocked out in the ticket round last year but don’t be surprised if he has an outstanding weekend. The Falcon does have a brutal draw which might include Paul Konrath and Drew Hildebrandt to go along with Friday night’s tussle with New Pal’s Alec White.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
ALEC WHITE – NEW PALESTINE (40-4) VS. BLAKE GLOGOUSKI. White was one of the favorites to win the New Castle semi state but was pinned by Cathedral’s Skylour Turner in the semis. This set up the Friday night fight with Glogouski who finished second at Fort Wayne to Pepple.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Pepple.
 
120
This insanely deep class will be one of the best to watch starting on Friday night. Nearly a half dozen different wrestlers have a legitimate shot at taking the crown. Top ranked Breyden Bailey of Cathedral is undefeated and has won a couple of close matches with contender Cornelious Elliot of Perry Meridian. The state’s best in season rivalry between Brendan Black of Hobart and Jeremiah Reitz of Griffith could be played out one more time under the lights.
 
POLE POSITION
 
BREYDEN BAILEY – CATHEDRAL (43-0). Bailey has run the table this season and Cathedral’s schedule is no joke. Hobart’s Black is as hot as any wrestler in the state right now. No easy draws in this bracket.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
TYLER FERGUSON – EVANSVILLE REITZ (10-2). Ferguson has a fifth place medal from last year and started the year ranked first. He has been out of action for most of the season and many thought a comeback was not in the cards. This Panther certainly has the skills to sound that siren.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
BRENDAN BLACK – HOBART (30-3) VS. WILL EGLI – MATER DEI (29-4). Two medalists match up on Friday night in this battle. Other Friday night matches between returning medalists include Elliot vs. Langeloh and Ferguson vs. Reitz. Wow!
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Bailey.
 
126
Whereas there was no front runner at 120, the 126 class is about as sure bet as any class this weekend. Chad Red of New Palestine has shown no weaknesses in his game. On his feet, Red dominates. On the mat, Red dominates. He is the complete package. The drama here is who will Red meet in the finals. Portage’s Gaige Torres, Perry Meridian’s Ngun Uk, East Noble’s Nathan Weimer and Cathedral frosh Zach Melloh all could be under the lights.
 
POLE POSITION – CHAD RED – NEW PALESTINE (43-0). Red….’Nuff said.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
ZACH MELLOH – CATHEDRAL (36-7). Don’t call him Melloh Yellow, this Irish freshman has flown under the radar but has wrestled tough all season and run to the semi-finals is not out of the question.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
BRANDON TRUVER – LAKE CENTRAL (29-10) VS. DANIEL GUNSETT –BELMONT (32-9). Nineteen losses between these two does not mean either caught a break or were lucky in some way to qualify. These are two high quality kids that can beat anyone in the bracket not named Red.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Red.
 
132
Handicapping this bracket is much like the 126 bracket. All you have to do is substitute Mater Dei’s Nick Lee for Chad Red. Lee has been every bit as dominating as Red. The only difference is that Lee ran into the top wrestler in the country at 126 last year in Stevan Micic and finished third. The other side of the bracket offers up a few potential finalists in East Noble’s Conner Knapp, and Griffin Schermer of Bloomington South.
 
POLE POSITION
 
NICK LEE – MATER DEI (31-0). Lee is currently ranked 4th and 6th in country by Intermat and Flo. He had to spend less than six minutes on the mat last Saturday in winning his second semi state crown. He should not be seriously tested this weekend. He IS that good.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
SAGE COY – DELTA (39-1). Coy has had a series of unfortunate events during his first two high school seasons and his move from the closed down Muncie South to Delta has brought better luck. Coy brings a high energy attack that should be highly entertaining to watch this weekend.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
CONNER KNAPP – EAST NOBLE (41-2) VS. AUSTIN BETHAL – MT. VERNON (37-4). Bethal shocked the state with his stunning pin of super frosh and second ranked Brayton Lee of Brownsburg. Standing in his path on Friday night is veteran stud Conner Knapp of East Noble. Knapp already has two state medals on his resume. Honorable mention goes to Westfield’s Evan Eldred vs. Merrillville semi state champ, Austen Laughlin of South Bend Riley.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Lee.
 
138
A third straight class where one wrestler stands above the field. Amazingly, that wrestler is not returning state champion Tommy Cash but it is Perry Meridian’s Brandon James. James has three top-5 medals to his name and national rankings of 9th and 12th. You can’t count out returning champ Cash even though he has been beaten a couple of times by James. Out of the south is freshman Joe Lee, who has taken down James earlier in the season during his only loss. Clarence Johnson of Merrillville is wrestling awesome right now and Maldonado Magic always seems to strike during the state finals weekend.
 
POLE POSITION
 
BRANDON JAMES – PERRY MERIDIAN (41-0). James has been a formidable force in the Falcon line up and a threat to win a state title since his freshman season. The stars seem to be aligned for Coach Tonte’s star grappler this season. He will be relaxed, focused and motivated to win his first title on Saturday night.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
KYLE TODRANK – GIBSON SOUTHERN (43-3). Todrank is largely unknown but has progressed tremendously the past couple of years. He has wrestled Mater Dei super frosh Joe Lee tough the last couple of weeks.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
KASPER McINTOSH – PORTAGE (29-9) VS. CLAYTON MOORE – MANCHESTER (35-1). A four over one potential upset lurks here. Both are big and physical 138s who will mix it up. McIntosh is a freshman who wrestles one of the toughest schedules in the state. Moore is a returning qualifier from a small school where he rarely is tested.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – James.
 
145
We finally have a weight class where there is real drama involved. A nice Duneland conference rivalry has developed between returning runner up Jacob Covaciu of Merrillville and returning medalist Steven “Bam” Lawrence of Portage. Covaciu has a win over New Castle champ Trenton Pruitt of Warren Central on his resume. It’s strange to say but Yorktown’s Cael McCormick has kept a fairly low profile despite a dominating season where he often wrestled up a class. It would not be a huge upset if he were to topple Covaciu in the semi-finals.
 
POLE POSITION
 
JACOB COVACIU – MERRILLVILLE (40-1). Despite his loss in the semi state championship match, Covaciu still has to be considered the front-runner in this class. Lawrence and McCormick are not that far back.
 
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
ANDREW HERRIN – JENNINGS COUNTY (46-2) – Herrin wrestled awesome last weekend at semi state. He avenged one of his regular season losses with a win over Castles Patrick Schnell. Along the way he put the hammer to Mater Dei’s Blake Jourdan. A deep state run would not be out of the question.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
EVAN SMILEY – BEECH GROVE (39-5) VS. ANTHONY VAUGHN – ELKHART MEMORIAL (40-3). Two stud seniors will face off on Friday night. Both have been previous state qualifiers and appear to be evenly matched. Expect a very tight match here.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – McCormick.
 
152
Tommy Forte of Mishawaka is the wrestler to beat at 152. He has not been tested this season and I would be surprised if anyone gives him much resistance this weekend. Tommy’s knee is a little dinged up but it doesn’t show and he cruised to the semi state title last weekend. The other side of the bracket holds a few potential finalists in Yorktown’s Dru Berkebile, Lebanon’s Kellen VanCamp, and Forte’s conference rival Jarod Swank of Penn. Evansville Central’s Isiah Kemper deserves mention as he is a three time state qualifier.
 
POLE POSITION
 
TOMMY FORTE – MISHAWAKA (33-0). Forte is ranked 9th and 15th respectively by Intermat and Flo. He is wrestling next year for Buffalo and former coach Bryce Hasseman. It would be a huge upset if anyone were to beat Forte this year.
 
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
MARQUIS SCHIEBER – JIMTOWN (30-8). I saw Schieber wrestle during a couple of mid-season tournaments and frankly was quite disappointed. He looked disinterested and ready for it to end. After watching him at his conference meet, I saw a rebirth. Athletic and skilled this Jimmie is a difficult match up for anyone and has great momentum going into the state meet.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
ELIJAH DUNN – INDIAN CREEK (42-2) VS. JAROD SWANK – PENN (32-5). A contrast of styles between the funky Dunn and the controlled, methodical Swank should prove interesting. It will likely come down to who can impose their will on the other.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Forte.
 
160
Another weight class where the state’s top ranked wrestler also has national credentials and rankings on his resume. Lowell’s Drew Hughes is a favorite to become Lowell’s second state champ in 2015, joining Colton Cummings. He wrestled under the lights as a frosh and got spladled by Ty Fleenor last year on Saturday morning. Experience and motivation along with an unparalled ability to turn guys on top make Hughes a tough package to deal with.
 
POLE POSITION
 
HUGHES – LOWELL (40-0). A clear front runner but must face Edgewood’s Gabe Koontz in the quarter finals and possible Delta’s Jacob Gray, Avon’s Brandon Helm or local rival Darden Schurg from Crown Point in the finals.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
TRISTAN GOERING – SOUTH BEND RILEY (37-11). Goering got an absolute great draw for a fourth place finisher and has a good chance to reach the semi-finals for coach Bill Flatt and the Wildcats.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
ADAM DODSON – JOHN GLENN (36-2) VS. ETHAN BRIGGEMAN – CARDINAL RITTER (36-4). Two evenly matched senior studs from lesser known programs make this an interesting matchup. Each will be fighting to get on that podium and wrestle on day two.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Hughes.
 
170
The furious five (Stevenson, Lydy, Jackson, Harvey, Mammolenti) became the splendid six after watching the Google Hangout with state’s ‘experts’. I am convinced that Lawrence North’s Cameron Jones has the goods to challenge for a title as well. It did appear that returning state champ Jacob Stevenson might have seriously injured his leg at semi-state. Let’s all hope he can end his high school career on the mat.
 
POLE POSITION
 
DYLAN LYDY – BEN DAVIS (42-0). Lydy has wins over Stevenson, Jones and Dillon Jackson of Yorktown. This is just enough to edge Ben Harvey of Cathedral as the pre meet favorite. The top tier here is incredibly close and this should be one of the marquee weights to watch because just about any results are possible.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
CAMERON JONES – LAWRENCE NORTH (38-6) – If things fall right for Jones, he could find himself wrestling under the lights. However it shakes out, Jones has clearly put himself in position to be a serious state title threat as a senior next year.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
ISHMAEL CORNEJO – PORTAGE (29-7) VS. JACOB STEVENSON (34-6). Keep an eye on this match to see how last year’s state champ Jacob Stevenson is wrestling on his injured leg. He can’t expect any sympathy from Portage’s Cornejo.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Lydy.
 
182
Penn’s Chase Osborn is a returning state runner up and has been ranked #1 all season. That should make him the favorite to take home title but I have seen probably more variety of picks in this weight class than any other. Western’s Corey Hinkle, Chesterton’s Andrew Davison, Avon’s Evan Elmore and Lawrenceburg’s Mason Parris are all receiving some love as potential state champions. Osborn and Hinkle have the most experience, Elmore is coming in hot, and both Davison and Parris represent the future will be filled with great upper weight wrestling.
 
POLE POSITION
 
CHASE OSBORN – PENN (35-0). As mentioned before, Osborn has experience under the lights and an unblemished record this year. This adds up to a number 1 ranking and front runner status.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
GAGE GARPOW – WINAMAC (37-3). Garpow was one of the big surprises of the Merrillville semi state. He had Osborn on the ropes in their match up and dominated state ranked Jake Kliemola of Lake Central.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
CONNER JAMES – RONCALLI (44-1) VS. ANDREW DAVISON – CHESTERTON (38-2). An absolutely brutal Friday night matchup between two wrestlers with three losses between them. The winner will get the honor of facing Western’s undefeated Corey Hinkle. A nasty quarter bracket.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Davison.
 
195
This is one of the few brackets that should hold chalk through the semi-finals with all four semi state champs winning. That does not mean that the winner is in much question at this weight class. Cathedral’s junior Blake Rypel season has been every bit as dominating as Chad Red or Nick Lee. He is just too explosive for anyone to handle in the state of Indiana. Mooresville’s Randy Scott, Perry Meridian’s Tristan Tonte and Yorktown’s Myron Howard will battle it out for the chance to meet Rypel under the lights.
 
POLE POSITION
 
BLAKE RYPEL – CATHEDRAL (43-0). Rypel has the skills to lap the field here. Ranked seventh by Flo and tenth by Intermat, no one should challenge Rypel this weekend.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
TANNER BRADLEY – MISHAWAKA (26-4). Much like Sampson, there is much power in the hair of Tanner Bradley. Don’t get mesmerized by the mullet, Bradley is an athletic freak who can put you on your back at any time. A run to the finals is not out of the question for this Caveman.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
TRISTON TONTE – PERRY MERIDIAN (40-2) VS. MATT HEDRICK – PORTAGE (29-7). Tonte is a very exciting sophomore who will wrestle with no fear of the big stage. Hedrick wrestled smart tactical matches at semi state to earn his bid to Indy.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Rypel
 
220
The 220 class is led by preseason top ranked Kobe Woods of Penn. Woods has maintained that ranking by fashioning a perfect 40-0 record. In fact, Woods has even cracked the national rankings at #19 by Flo. This class is by no means a slam dunk (sorry) as several challengers could step up if Woods were to falter. Conference rival and returning state placer, Eliseo Guerra of Elkhart Central has had two tight matches with Woods. Warren Central Courvoisier Morrow was narrowly defeated by Woods at the Al Smith tournament.
 
POLE POSITION
 
KOBE WOODS – PENN (40-0). The Penn big man has gone wire to wire and has the experience, skill and coaching to bring home the gold.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
EVAN ELLIS – EASTERN (44-2). Ellis was a ticket round causality last year and wrestling at small school Eastern has kept him off many people’s radar. He is a talented wrestler that could make a run deep in this bracket.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
BLAKE DAVIS – GARRETT (47-4) VS. MORGAN KRAL – CROWN POINT (36-2). Davis has been largely over shadowed by his higher ranked older brother but one could argue that Blake has had a slightly better season than his brother Bo. He will face Kral, who is looking for his first state medal and has a state champion older brother in Tyler Kral.
 
DRINKING THE MILK - Woods
 
285
It looks like a two horse race for the big boys between nationally ranked top ten wrestlers Shawn Streck of Merrillville and Norman Oglesby of Ben Davis. There looks to be lots of purple under the lights on Saturday night. Both big men have state medals and lots of experience wrestling on Banker’s Life floor. Oglesby, a senior, has already accepted a football scholarship to Cincinnati while Streck is a junior who will likely have his pick of offers in both football and wrestling.
 
POLE POSITION
 
SHAWN STRECK – MERRILLVILLE (42-0). The bracket gods were kind to wrestling fans by putting Streck and Oglesby on opposite sides of this bracket.
 
HUNGUS’ HARD CHARGER
 
BRYCE BIDDLE – PLAINFIELD (30-3). Plainfield’s promising sophomore Bryce Biddle has had one of the toughest roads to qualify for state going clear back to his sectional. He got a nice draw and could parlay this to a semi-final trip in his sophomore campaign.
 
FRIDAY’S BRICKYARD BRAWL
 
QUINN YORK – FRANKLIN (40-4) VS. JASION BROGAN – WARREN CENTRAL (38-5). These two juniors are just a shade under the top tier heavyweights and will battle Friday night for state hardware.
 
DRINKING THE MILK – Streck.

5369 8
East Chicago Semi-State - Karl's Komments
A new era in the northwest part of the state will commence this Saturday at the John A. Baratto Athletic Center on the campus of East Chicago Central High School. After 40 plus years at Merrillville High School, the wrestling semi-state has changed venues and moved to the 2nd largest high school gymnasium in the nation. The additional space should allow for an earlier finish time but the biggest plus in my mind will be that athletes should have adequate space to warm up for their matches.
 
106 – Four state ranked flyweights headline the bill at 106. Penn’s returning state qualifier Kory Cavanaugh has a fine 35-4 record and will face fellow upper classman, Dylan Petrovski of Lake Central in round one before a match up between the winner of Rensselaer’s Ryne Webb and Lowell’s Andres Moreno. Cavanaugh is the heavy favorite.
On the same side of the bracket we find state ranked Jose Diaz of Wheeler. Looking to become Wheeler’s first state qualifier for their young program he must defeat Tyson Coon of Benton Central and then Portage’s Brock Peele. Not an easy task.
On the top half of the bracket is arguably the toughest quarter bracket. Crown Point regional champ Jacob Moran is the favorite by virtue of his 27-1 record and his #9 ranking in the state. But he will likely face a stiff challenge from state ranked (19) Angel Perez of Hammond Morton.
The last quarter bracket has no state ranked kids but does feature 50 match winner Trey McCartney of Lafayette Harrison.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Two great ticket round match ups are in this bracket. Crown Point’s rookie Moran vs. Angel Perez of Hammond Morton. The other is the likely matchup between Jose Diaz of Wheeler and the peaking Brock Peele of Portage
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Cavanaugh – Penn. 2. Moran – Crown Point 3. Peele – Portage, 4. McCartney – Harrison.
 
113 – Six state ranked wrestlers will make the 113 class highly competitive and highly entertaining. The top quarter bracket presents the most compelling story line with last year’s 106 pound state champion, Colton Cummings of Lowell likely squaring off with last year’s 5th place finisher at 106, Tylor Triana of Hobart. Triana is in the ticket round match because of another Portage Indian who is peaking at the right time.
Colin Poynter is that Indian who by virtue of defeating Triana last week has set himself up to make a run at Indy. He will likely face Duneland rival Austin Line of Valpo. Line is a senior and that will give him some extra motivation to qualify for state.
Austin Slates of Penn is the silent beast in the Kingsman lineup. He is not talked about very much but is a likely qualifier and will be a bad draw for someone next week at state.
In the final quarter bracket, an interesting battle between one lose junior Donavan Johnson of Logansport and super talented freshman Rehan Uribe of Crown Point is the likely ticket round match. Will the Berry ripen or burst in the Region?
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Three of the four quarter brackets have excellent potential ticket round tilts but the most competitive will likely be the donnybrook between Valpo’s Austin Line and Portage’s Colin Poynter. Will a senior trying to qualify for the first time be able to trump a sophomore coming off the biggest win of his career.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Cummings – Lowell 2. Poynter – Portage 3. Slates – Penn
4. Uribe – Crown Point.
 
120 – Another weight class with six state ranked wrestlers means that a couple of deserving kids will not be getting the opportunity to continue their season next week. The bracket gods were kind and put the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the state on opposite sides of the semi state bracket. #1 Drew Hildebrandt of Penn is looking to for a 2nd semi state crown but he should be tested by #2 Jeremiah Reitz of Griffith.
Jon Anderson of Lafayette Jeff and Jonathan Moran of Crown Point seem to be frontrunners for the other two spots in the state final bracket but their paths are both filled with potential trouble.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Anderson’s potential ticket round match with Culver Military’s Adam Davis should be excellent.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Hildebrandt – Penn 2. Reitz – Griffith 3. Moran – Crown Point
4. Anderson – Lafayette Jeff.
 
126 – Only 3 grapplers crack the states top 20 at 126 and two of them are in the same quarter bracket. To me that means this should be a wide open bracket where upsets will be common. Senior Gaige Torres of Portage is the clear favorite here. He has been there and done that, wrestling under the lights in Indy last year.
In the other quarter bracket, Torres’ likely semi final opponent is anyone’s guess. Steve Biancardi wrestled lights out this past Saturday and really seems to be hitting on all cylinders.
At the top of the bracket another wide open quarter bracket is found with one loss Justin Porter of Logansport facing the winner of Kankakee Valley’s Bryce Niewoehner and Griffith’s Cole Cervantes. These two seem very evenly matched.
The final golden ticket will probably be secured by the winner of a great match between Michael DeLaPena of Merrillville and Ryan Hardesty of Mishawaka. DeLaPena hammered Hardesty at the Al Smith but Hardesty is wrestling much better at this point in the season.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – DeLaPena vs. Hardesty. A great matchup between two blue blood programs as well as two former state qualifiers.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Torres – Portage 2. DeLaPena – Merrillville 3. Biancardi – Chesterton 4. Niewoehner – Kankakee Valley.
 
132 – I really like the way this bracket has taken shape. Like 126 it looks like much of the top talent is fairly evenly matched which makes for close matches, upsets and excitement all around. With that being said, Brendan Black of Hobart is a clear favorite to win this bracket. He should cruise into the semis where the funky Blake Strawsma of Benton Central is likely to meet him.
The other half of the bracket is full of regional flavor. Chesterton’s Jack Tolin is peaking at the right time and has a regional crown to prove it. He will have to slay the scary Cody Crary of Munster in the round to go to become a state qualifier. Mishawaka’s Preston Risner is another hot wrestler but he will have his hands full with battle tested Kris Rumph of Portage.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Tough call here. Risner vs. Rumph and Crary vs. Tolin should be tightly fought battles.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Black – Hobart 2. Tolin – Chesterton 3. Rumph – Portage
4. Strawsma – Benton Central
 
138 – A fistful of ranked wrestlers dot the bracket at 138 and many of them are familiar names to those who follow region wrestling. 9th ranked Daylan Schurg of Crown Point might be the thirty-fifth Schurg to wrestle for Crown Point but he is 34-1 with a regional crown to his name. He will most likely face the winner of #19 Jacy Leon of Hobart and Trace Manspeaker of Penn. Leon won a narrow 7-4 decision over Manspeaker back in December at the Al Smith.
After a long four year wait, the bracket gods seem to have looked favorably on Benton Central’s Cole Lukaszka. The long predicted state finals appearance will look to be a reality as Lukaszka’s three potential quarter bracket opponents have a combined 40 losses.
The bottom half of the bracket has the two highest ranked wrestlers with Jason Crary appearing to have the easier ticket to punch. In the final quarter bracket, Warsaw’s ‘Sloth’ Hatch will be tested in his quarter final round match by Valpo’s Tristan Dembowski but should make it through for his third trip to state.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Hatch versus Dembowski is the top ticket round match up in this bracket. Dembowski has the skill to pull off the upset but I am guessing he would rather be in another quarter bracket.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Hatch – Warsaw 2. Schurg – Crown Point 3. Crary – Munster 4. Lukaszka – Benton Central
 
145 – The 145 class returns 3 state qualifiers from last year and five state ranked wrestlers. Kasper McIntosh has a state medal to his name and looks to be the favorite in the top quarter bracket. He should have a very competitive ticket round match with Penn’s senior Cameron Beam.
Another former state qualifier looks to be the front runner in quarter bracket number 2. South Bend Riley’s 8th ranked Austen Laughlin went absolutely bananas last year at semistate on his way to a championship. He must defeat Crown Point’s Noah Lamore in what looks to be an epic ticket round match up.
The bottom half of the bracket features Logansport regional champ Clay Jones, who should be tested by Dante Colza. Jones’ funky style is tough to prepare for and look for the Broncho to move to the semis where he will seek revenge for one of his two losses on the season. Culver’s Triston Rodriguez narrowly topped Jones over Christmas break.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Two ticket round beauties await the fans at 145. In the top quarter bracket, a rematch from last year’s ticket round between Kasper McIntosh of Portage and Cameron Beam of Penn is likely. In the second quarter bracket, Riley’s explosive Austen Laughlin will mostly likely tilt with Crown Point’s steady Noah LaMore.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Rodriguez – Culver 2. Laughlin – SB Riley 3. Jones – Laf. Jeff
4. McIntosh – Portage
 
152 – 152 is a scary weight class that has seven to ten guys that have state level talent. Steven “BAM” Lawrence is the unquestioned favorite and one my favorites to watch in the entire state. Kassius Breathitt of South Bend Riley got the “death draw” notice on Saturday night and will have to pull off a miracle to be a qualifier.
Looking to meet BAM in the semi finals is a trio of grapplers I feel have state finalist level of talent. Unfortunately, only one of the three will qualify. Matt Grammer of Lafayette Jeff, Tavris Evans of South Bend Adams and Diego Lemley of Chesterton are all three excellent wrestlers. The two seniors, Evans and Grammer, will square off early Saturday morning for a chance to face super sophomore Lemley in the ticket round.
In the bottom half of the bracket are regional winners Denzyl Prentice of Penn and Cody Widner of Twin Lakes but neither is lock for state due to the depth at this weight class. Prentice must dispatch of 11th ranked Zach Lorek of Crown Point to earn his first trip to Indy. The final quarter bracket is the proverbial meat grinder with Widner having to beat studs Micah Calhoun of Plymouth and Lucas Scott of Lowell to punch the golden ticket.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – 3 of the 4 will be intense and some of the best wrestling all day. I’m not even that sure who will be in most of them.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. BAM - Portage 2. Prentice – Penn 3. Lemley – Chesterton
4. Calhoun – Plymouth
 
160 – Merrillville is making its debut when it comes to state qualifiers and they will do it with a bang due to the presence of defending state champion Jacob Covaciu. Covaciu has gone wire to wire this season and has barely been stressed. The University of Wisconsin recruit is the poster child for consistency and toughness.
The second quarter bracket features two of the top juniors in the semi state. Penn’s Jarod Swank and Valpo’s Greg Lichtenberger are both very seasoned and both have wrestled schedules to prepare them for this moment. Swank was dinged up earlier but appears to be clicking on all cylinders at this time.
Oszkar Kasch of Crown Point highlights the next group of four. He has put together a great sophomore campaign and has already won sectional and regional. He will be challenged by Duneland rival Drake Guerrero and Triton senior Gage Waddle.
Tavonte Malone is the definition of a bad draw for Logansport winner Dennis Ingle. Malone is a returning state finalist, strong, skilled and hungry after last weeks loss to Swank.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Swank of Penn versus Lichtenberger of Valpo is my top pick here. Both are hard nosed, lunch pail type kids who will leave it out on the mat.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Covaciu – Merrillville 2. Malone – SB Adams 3. Swank – Penn 4. Kasch – Crown Point
 
170 – One of the OG’s dominates the bracket at 170. That Original Gorilla is Drew Hughes of Lowell. Hughes has grown from a lil 120 pound freshman into the 170 beast in four years. He is very likely to pick up his second state title on his way to wrestle in East Lansing, Michigan for Sparty. He has been so dominant this year that only one wrestler has made it to the second period.
That wrestler who made it to the second period is Portage’s Ismael Cornejo. Cornejo has put together a 30-6 season with Portage’s brutal schedule and that’s a good enough resume for me to pick him as the runner up. Challenging Cornejo for a spot in the finals should be Delphi’s Hunter Mote. Seemingly around forever, this is Mote’s senior season and he would love to make the finals at Merrillville. Rounding out the fab four should be Tristan Goering of South Bend Riley.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Logan Nowak of Kankakee Valley will face Ismael Cornejo of Portage for the right to wrestle in Indy. It’s been a few years for a Wheatfield wrestler to make the big stage.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Hughes – Lowell 2. Cornejo – Portage 3. Mote – Delphi
4. Goering – South Bend Riley.
 
182 – In much the same Hughes has dominated the 170 class this season, Chesterton’s Andrew Davison has had his way with 182 class this season. Davison has already committed to the University of Michigan halfway through his junior season. Only a nationally ranked Blake Rypel is keeping Davison from being top ranked in the state.
In the fight for second place, Lowell’s Ike James looks to join his practice partner at the Big Show next week. There will be no easy tickets, however, and James will have to avenge an earlier season loss to Plymouth’s Jeremy Splix in order to qualify.
The other two qualifiers will also not be regional champs according to my prognostications. I see South Bend Clay’s Mason Cao earning a trip for himself and first year coach, Adam O’Neil. Hanover Central’s Ashton Mutuwa seems poised to be Hanover Central’s next state qualifier but he must defeat Logansport regional champ Isaac Mathis of Lafayette Harrison to do so.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – South Bend Clay’s Mason Cao and Lake Central’s Russell Gibbs look to be the top ticket round tilt.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Davison – Chesterton 2. James – Lowell 3. Cao – SB Clay
4. Mutuwa – Hanover Central
 
195 – One of the worst death draws at East Chicago is in the top quarter bracket at 195. 6th ranked Jake Kleimola of Lake Central will likely match up with Chesterton sophomore, Lucas Davison. Both of these guys deserve a spot at the state finals.
The second group of four is tough to call. The regional champ here is the largely unknown Damari Embery of South Newton. The Rebel has only one loss but South Newton is so far off the grid that Embery doesn’t even appear in the semi state rankings. Embery will have to knock off either LaVille’s Corrian Correll or Plymouth’s peaking sophomore, Nate LaFree.
In the third quarter bracket another brutal ticket round match loom between one match Evan Larsen of Hanover Central and Chris Kidwell of West Lafayette. Larsen’s father was a state champ for the Wildcats and Evan has been to the semi state 3 times.
The final berth is wide open as none of the four wrestlers look to be favorites. The interesting thing about this last quarter bracket is that there is a grappler from Penn, Portage and Crown Point. Whomever comes out on top of this group will have helped their team tremendously.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Kleimola vs Davison will be fun for the fans but heart breaking for the loser.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Kleimola – Lake Central 2. Evan Larsen – Hanover Central 3. Damari Embery – South Newton 4. Vakalahi – Penn
 
220 – Penn’s Kobe Woods is a runaway favorite here and might not be tested until the semifinals of state. The Purdue recruit might be looking for bonus points all day in order to help his team secure a semi state crown. Returning state qualifier Justin Akers of Crown Point got the proverbial death draw and will likely face Woods in the ticket round.
Facing Woods in the semi finals and earning a trip to state will be the goal of regional champ Brandon Streck. Coming off of injury might be a barrier for Streck 2.0 and seniors Dan Mochen of Chesterton and Dylan Trent of West Lafayette will be gunning for that state berth.
Big Alex Kukurugya of Valpo is the favorite at the top of the bracket. Mishawaka Marian’s Patrick Ernst will be no pushover for Big Green. In the final quarter bracket Warsaw’s Andrew Brock seems likely to battle with regional champ Donnie Crider of Lafayette Harrison.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Kukurugya of Valpo and Ernst of Mishawaka Marian should be outstanding. A contrast of styles usually makes for good entertainment.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Woods – Penn 2. Kukurugya – Valpo 3. Dan Mochen – Chesterton 4. Andrew Brock - Warsaw
 
285 – Streck 1.0 has been a real joy to watch over the past 4 years. He would be my pick for the best heavyweight wrestler the state has ever produced. In the East Chicago semi state he will probably face either Duneland rival Gio Murillo or big Aron Ceglarek of Kankakee Valley. Ceglarek has really impressed me over the past two weeks.
Isiah McWilliams of South Bend Washington is a fast rising sophomore who looks like he could bench press a Buick. He will likely face Delphi’s Garrett Clark in the 3rd and 4th place match-up.
 
Top Ticket Round Tilt(s) – Ceglarek of Kankakee Valley and Gio Murillo should be a doosy. Murillo has faced the best and Ceglarek moves very well for a big man.
 
4 on the Floor - 1. Streck – Merrillville 2. Ceglarek – Kankakee Valley 3. McWilliams – South Bend Washington 4. Clark – Delphi

6697 8
Fort Wayne Semi State Preview
Fort Wayne is quickly becoming the wrestling hub in Indiana and the War Memorial Coliseum plays host to three of the big events. This weekend the friendly confines will hold the all-important semi-state wrestling tournament. With that comes 56 golden tickets to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
 
This year’s semi-state will provide a great day of wrestling with some very good entertainment from start to finish. At both ends, 106 and 285 you have weights that have many close competitors that will battle it out from the first whistle. Look for some hot and heavy action from all the weights as this might be the most unpredictable year in recent memory for this semi state.
 
On the team side you have the regulars vying for the title with Yorktown looking like a slight favorite over regional foes Bellmont and Delta, along with Carroll and Elkhart Memorial in the mix. On paper Yorktown has the horses and enough ponies to out distance the field, however that is on paper. Never count out Bellmont in big matches, nor look past a solid Carroll squad. Elkhart Memorial and Delta have the potential for a couple champs and could get a few others through to score some points. Overall with about eight weights that are total toss-ups, the team race will also be fun to watch.
 
As a friendly reminder all you men out there make sure you get your Valentine’s Day cards, flowers, and chocolate on Friday so you aren’t getting the “draw of death” from your lady on Sunday.
 
As with last year, due to many wrestlers from Carroll at the event I will refrain from mostly biased picks on the weight classes.
 
106lbs
Don’t sleep in on Saturday, get to the Coliseum early because if you don’t you’ll miss some of the best wrestling of the day. Returning State Streeter…Ben Streeter was a semi state finalist last year, but he’ll be pushed early on by a couple freshmen in Hunter Watts and Kade Zadylak. Brayden Curtis of Yorktown has come on strong this year. Curtis will have to manage a solid quarter bracket to punch his first ticket to state. The mighty little Panther Tanner DeMien is as tough as they come and was on the podium at state last year. The top of the bottom half has some interesting matches with JC Herring of Oak Hill sporting only one blemish on his record, but he can’t overlook the firepower of the Starfire Wyatt Miller, nor the Cougar little man Tanner Schoeff.
 
#WAYL2
Curtis- Jordan Slivka, Seth Horty, Christian Mejia(113)
DeMien- Cayden Rooks, Christian Mejia(113)
Zadylak- Brayden Curtis, Wyatt Miller
Herring- Brycen Denny
Streeter- Gavis Rose, Goeffrey Davis(113), KeeghanOverton
Schoeff- Brayden Shearer, Kade Zadylak, Hunter Watts(2 times)
Miller- Geoffrey Davis(113), Kade Zadylak, Brayden Curtis, Chris Schuller
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Tanner Schoeff- Central Noble vs. Wyatt Miller- South Adams
Kade Zadylak- Norwell vs. Hunter Watts- Jimtown
 
Ticket Round Tussles
JC Herring- Oak Hill vs. Schoeff/Miller winner
Ben Streeter- North Side vs. Zadylak/Watts winner
 
113lbs
Moving up to 113lbs we have another SAC favorite in the heralded General Geoffrey Davis. Last year he was the semi state champ and brought back a 4th place medal to the south side of Fort Wayne. The other big name to watch for is the Wildkat Jabin Wright. He was at state last year and comes in with expectations of going back this year. Others to watch are #9 Josh Stephenson and #20 Christian Mejia who both come in as regional champions. Some guys to watch that had a blemish last week include Zach Johnson, Trevor Boyce, and Hunter Whitman.
 
#WAYL2
Mejia- Colin Poynter, Jake Schoennegge, Austin Slates
Johnson- Geoffrey Davis(2 times), Owen Krider, Donavon Johnson
Wright- Jordan Slivka, Donavon Johnson(2 times), Jack Franklin(126), Blake Glogouski(120)
Davis- Skylour Turner, Jordan Slivka
Stephenson- Alec White, Nick Weaver, Matt Gimson, Noah Hunt
Summers- Jabin Wright(3 times), Geoffrey Davis, Alex DeLuna
Whitman- Austin Slates(2 times), Christian Mejia(3 times)
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Andrew Wertman- Garrett vs. Nick Liter- Adams Central
Garrett Summers- Marion vs. Trevor Boyce- Dekalb
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Geoffrey Davis- Wayne vs. Trevor Boyce- Dekalb
Josh Stephenson- Yorktown vs. Hunter Whitman- Jimtown
 
120lbs
This weight will feature three wrestlers with state medals along with another one that has state experience. Unfortunately the bracket gods did not separate them all and one will be sent to the showers early. Both Christian Hunt and Blake Glogouski finished 5th last year in the state finals at 106lbs and 120lbs respectively. Hunter Langeloh has had a great senior campaign after placing as a sophomore and qualifying for state last season. Flying Jet Anthony Mosser caught fire last year and made his way to Banker’s Life at 113lbs, but this year he’ll have to punch his ticket by going through Glogouski. This weight should be one of the more open weights with lots of great matches from start to finish.
 
#WAYL2
Langeloh- Michael Higley(Michigan)
Moore- Blake Glogouski(2 times)
Hunt- Breyden Bailey, Blake Mulkey, Marcus Mejia(126)
Glogouski- Hunter Langeloh
Mendez- Christian Hunt, Graham Rooks, Noah Hunt, David Clayton, Kyle Davis, Dylan Culp
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Anthony Mosser- Adams Central vs. Joel Byman- Carroll
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Austin Moore- Central Noble vs. Hunter Langeloh- Columbia City
Blake Glogouski- Fairfield vs. Mosser/Byman winner
 
126lbs
Jon Becker of Bellmont is the only wrestler in this weight with state experience, however it was in 2014. Past him you have a lot of guys with good records and solid resumes, which will make for a very eventful weight to watch. At the top you have a very solid senior in Oak Hill’s Travis Davenport. He has been to semi-state what it seems like about 14 times, this year could be his year to punch his ticket to state. Marcus Mejia is a tough wrestler from Elkhart that was painstakingly close to punching his ticket last year. At the bottom you’ll have the favorite in Homestead’s Jack Franklin, but he can’t overlook a pair of seniors that will want one more week of wrestling in Brock House and Chad Elmore.
 
#WAYL2
Mejia-Brock Hudkins, Blake Glogouski(120)
Davenport- Chris Loy, Jayce Meyer
Franklin- Breyden Bailey, Isaac Gomez, Blake Glogouski(120)
Becker- Michael DeLaPena, Ryan Hardesty,
Standridge- Jack Franklin, Ryan Bigelow, Ryan Hardesty, Michael DeLaPena, Dawson Combest, Drake Rhodes
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Brock House- Delta vs. Chad Elmore- Taylor
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Travis Davenport- Oak Hill vs. Zane Standridge- Carroll
Jack Franklin- Homestead vs. House/Elmore winner
 
132lbs
This weight has been one that people have been talking about all season long. This was probably the first weight most fans clicked on when the brackets came out to see the draws. Starting off you had four returning state qualifiers and another that has been knocking on the door. Unfortunately one of the state qualifiers Kobe Raypole has pulled out of the weight, but that still leaves a lot of great matches on Saturday. The top bracket could be interesting to say the least, Drake Rhodes has been on fire this year until he was upended the past two weeks by Owen Doster. Rhodes will be pushed by Delta’s Noah Richardson and Northwestern’s Hunter Kellogg who is having a very good post season run. Fernando Luevano returns to this weight after qualifying last year for the Chargers. He has yet to be defeated and is one that is very exciting to watch. Returning state qualifiers Daniel Gunsett and Owen Doster are both the favorites in their quarter brackets. Gunsett could face one of two wrestlers with only 6 losses in Kaleb Mooney and Drew Clark. Doster will have the winner of Devin Maggard and Dillon Yoder, both who have good wins on their resume.
 
#WAYL2
Rhodes- Doster(2 times)
Doster- Drake Rhodes, Zach Melloh, Chris Donovan(Ohio)
Gunsett- Owen Doster(2 times), Brendan Black
Maggard- Drew Clark, Dallas Dudelston, ???
Kellog- Hunter Haynes, Caleb Archibald, ???, ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Chase Hissong- Leo vs. Dallas Dudelston- Jay County
Drew Clark- Northfield vs. Kaleb Mooney- Central Noble
Devin Maggard- Marion vs. Dillon Yoder- Fairfield
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Daniel Gunsett- Bellmont vs. Clark/Mooney winner
Owen Doster- New Haven vs. Yoder/Maggard winner
 
138lbs
Last year at 132lbs it was the Sage Coy show, this year seems to be more of the same up at 138lbs. Coy finished a fantastic junior campaign with a 3rd place medal and is eyeing the top step of the podium this year. Others to watch include Riley Rasler who has had a very good year for the Panthers and comes in with only one loss. Joel Arney has come on strong for the Super Chargers the past few weeks after taking some lumps during the regular season. He will have the winner of a tough match between Blade Corpe and Colt Rutter. In the bottom bracket you will have four seniors duking it out for their state ticket. This one is a pick’em and your guess is as good as mine on who advances.
 
#WAYL2
Rasler- Kris Rumph, Jason Crary, Drake Rhodes
Hall- Joel Arney, TT Allen, Brad Smith
Woenker- Joel Arney, Devin Maggard(132), Austin Ochoa, ???
Corpe- Dillon Humbert, Jason Crary, Trace Manspeaker, Kyle Hatch, Nathan Housholder
Arney- Anthony Williams, Kris Rumph, Sage Coy, Cale McCory, Evan Eldred, Nick Ellis, Kody Wagner
Rutter- Sage Coy(2 times), Brooks Wathen, Austin Ramsey, Riley Rasler, James Pritchett, Jaycob Bechtol(Michigan)
Brown- Sage Coy(3 times), Colt Rutter(2 times), ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Colt Rutter- Yorktown vs. Blade Corpe- Elkhart Memorial
Nathan Housholder- East Noble vs. Exuse Brown- Muncie Central
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Riley Rasler- Prairie Heights vs. Skyler Hall- Wabash
Joel Arney- Carroll vs. Corpe/Rutter winner
TT Allen- Kokomo vs. Brown/Householder winner
145lbs
I’m wiping the drool off my screen just looking at this bracket. First you start with two state placers in Isaac Eicher and Brad Laughlin at this weight. Let’s throw in another state placer in Nathan Weimer for some added spice. What? You say you want MORE spice…well here goes, let’s add a little Kerrn, Kenny Kernn that is! This weight is going to be F-U-N to watch. Even the ticket round matches will be interesting with Eicher having a tough Christian Bratcher or NE8 rival Grant Gutierrez. Kerrn will have a very game Corbin Hetzner of Eastern. Ohhh Laughlin will have Weimer in the ticket round most likely. The bottom quarter bracket lacks the drama, but will be one to watch as there is no clear cut favorite.
 
#WAYL2
Laughlin- Cayden Whitaker(160)
Bratcher- TC Perry, Szhantrayle Roberson
Kerrn- Denzyl Prentice, Triston Rodriguez(2 times)
Capps- Corbin Hetzner, Isaac Eicher, Alberto Solis, Tucker Coffman, Nate Weimer
Weimer - Jamal Scott, Isaac Eicher, Jack Eiteljorge(2 times), Patrick Waugh, ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Vince Prescott- Winchester vs. Corbin Hetzner- Eastern
Jamal Scott- Elkhart Central vs. Ethan Hicks- Carroll
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Brad Laughlin- Yorktown vs. Nathan Weimer- East Noble
Szhantrayl Roberson- Kokomo vs. Scott/Hicks winner
Isaac Eicher- Leo vs. Christian Bratcher- Eastbrook
 
152lbs
Three returning state qualifiers highlight this weight at Fort Wayne. The head of the class is probably Cael McCormick of Yorktown who has two state medals, but he cannot look past Doug Levitz or Peyton Sturgill on his way to another semi-state title. Levitz will have the toughest route to qualify for state as he will need to avenge a mid-season loss to Hunter Bates. Sturgill will be pushed by a tough Nick Miller of Snider. In the middle you have a very interesting bracket with Cross Dietrich who has two losses to out of state competition as the regional champ. He will have the winner of Brody Hardcastle and Tyler Leonard to punch his ticket.
 
#WAYL2
Dietrich- Kohle Clellan(Ohio), Quintin Smith(Michigan)
Levitz- Steven Lawrence, Hunter Bates, Brad Laughlin(160)
Sturgill- Tavris Evans, Denzyl Prentice, Micah Calhoun, Kassius Breathitt
Bates- Cael McCormick(2 times), Tyler Leonhard, Ethan Stock, Trent Pruitt
Miller- Elijah Dunn, TC Perry(160), Cross Dietrich, ???, ???
Griffin- Doug Levitz, Micah Calhoun, Nick Miller
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Tyler Leonard- Jay County vs. Brody Harcastle- Oak Hill
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Doug Levitz- Prairie Heights vs. Hunter Bates- Adams Central
Nick Miller- Snider vs. Peyton Sturgill- Peru
Cael McCormick- Yorktown vs. Garrett Griffin- Northwood
Cross Dietrich- Columbia City vs. Leonard/Hardcastle winner
 
160lbs
This weight is one that will probably have much less drama than most. The favorite is state qualifier Josh Garman of Carroll. After him it looks as if anyone can beat anyone at this weight. One loss Blaney Harrison is the wildcard as he has come on strong this year. Don’t overlook Tony Busse of Bellmont either, he has been battle tested throughout the season. One of the most intriguing matches in the ticket round will be Nick Potter against Jed Levitz. Potter won round one, but this round has much more at stake.
 
#WAYL2
Garman- Jacob Gray(170)
Harrison- Will Bratcher
Levitz- Jordan Rader(2 times), Nick Potter, Cael McCormick(152), Gage Delong
Perry- Tony Busse, Brad Laughlin(145), Hunter Bates, Cody Widner, Doug Levitz
Busse- Jordan Rader, Tavonte Malone, TC Perry, Blake Dager, Noah Warren
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Ronnie Longbrake- Elkhart Memorial vs. TC Perry- Southern Wells
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Blaney Harrison- Oak Hill vs. Longbrake/Perry winner
Jed Levitz- Prairie Heights vs. Nick Potter- New Haven
 
170lbs
As we get to the upper weights the action will heat up with a lot of intriguing matches. You’ll likely see round two of Baumgartner and Gray as long as they navigate the semi state minefield. There are some very good wrestlers including one loss Quentin Moore, returning state qualifier Zach Davis amongst others that they will need to beat in order to meet again. Seven wrestlers sport five or less losses with most of them at the hands of another semi state competitor. Nick Ritchie could be a surprise wrestler as his only losses were at the Al Smith.
 
#WAYL2
Baumgartner- Drew Hughes
Moore- Amere Dozier
Gray- Bryce Baumgartner
Ritchie- Coy Park, Eli Pokorney
Burns- Caleb Partin, Zach Davis, Robbie Bowers(Ohio)
Davis- Caleb Partin, Noah Cressell, ???
Partin- Tate Burns(2), Tykease Baker, Hunter Mote, Zach Davis
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Noah Cressell- Wabash vs. Brady Johnson- Prairie Heights
Tykease Baker- Elkhart Central vs. DaShaun Barbary- Kokomo
Caleb Partin- Churubusco vs. Jacob Gray- Delta
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Zach Davis- Concordia vs. Cressell/Johnson winner
Quentin Moore- Manchester vs. Partin/Gray winner
Nick Ritchie- Elkhart Memorial vs. Tate Burns- Eastside
 
182lbs
Before sectional this weight was looking to be really nasty. Even with a couple guys moving up this weight still is going to be one to watch. The bracket gods separated the better guys with no killer ticket round matches. Probably the most intriguing early match will be a rematch of last year’s ticket round between Andy Kohler and Wyatt Clem. Kohler was a state qualifier at this weight last year, while #800lbGorilla David Eli placed 7th. Look for some great matches in the semi-finals and finals at this weight.
 
#WAYL2
Kohler- Caleb Hankenson
Blakeley- David Eli(2 times), Isaac James
Eli- Cam Jones(2 times), Alejandro Castro
Hankenson- Andy Kohler, Rhett Mappes, David Eli, Joey Blakely
Ault- Stephen Nix(2 times), Caleb Blevins, Stephen Possell, Sam Moon
Clem- Andy Kohler, CJ Damler, Hunter Dalton, DaShaun Barbary, Joey Blakely, Stephen Nix
Graber- Jeremy Splix(2 times), David Eli, Joey Blakely, Wyatt Clem, ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Stephen Nix- Bishop Dwenger vs. Conner Graber- Northridge
Heath Ault- Northrop vs. Joey Blakeley- Prairie Heights
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Caleb Hankenson- Bellmont vs. Nix/Graber winner
Andy Kohler- Jay County vs. Wyatt Clem- Homestead
Aaron Sedwick- Maconaquah vs. Ault/Blakeley winner
 
195lbs
Both Corbin Maddox and Luke Elliott wrestled most of the season at 182lbs and made a late jump to this weight even though they both only had one loss during the regular season. Those two added quite a bit of spice to an already wide open weight. Delta’s Scottie Evans is the only returning state qualifier at this weight and will need to navigate a solid quarter-bracket to punch another ticket to Banker’s Life. At the top you’ll have the last(thankfully for most in this area) of the Davis brothers from Garrett against Austin Evans of Lakeland. The two NECC rivals are 1-1 against eachother with Evans getting the win just three weeks ago. Going down the bracket Corbin Maddox has come on strong, but he’ll be pushed by two Al Smith placers in Nate Williams and runner-up Erik Hobbs. Jarod Hayes won regional last week…his reward is a potential pre-Valentine date with state qualifier Scottie Evans. In the bottom bracket you have one loss Elliott with a couple up and comes Isaiah Baumgartner and Tyson Whitner.
 
#WAYL2
Elliott- Corbin Maddox
Maddox- Andy Kohler(182)
Davis- Erik Hobbs, Michael Leonard, Nick Fox, Austin Evans,
Austin Evans- Jennigns Nickolson, Anthony Neal(Michigan), Beck Davis, Jarod Hayes
Baumgartner- Scottie Evans, Andy Kohler, ???
Hobbs- Luke Elliott, Scottie Evans, Cole Slavens, Chris Kidwell, Jake Kleimola
Eckrote 5- Michael Leonard, Erik Hobbs, Luke Elliott, ???, ???
Scottie Evans 5- Corbin Maddox(2 times), Landon Burton, David Delph, ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
Lane Eckrote- North Miami vs. Austin Evans- Lakeland
Nate Williams- Elkhart Memorial vs. Erik Hobbs- Peru
Tyson Whitner- North Side vs. Isaiah Baumgartner- South Adams
 
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Beck Davis- Garrett vs. Eckrote/Evans winner
Corbin Maddox- Daleville vs. Williams/Hobbs winner
Jarod Hayes- Jimtown vs. Scottie Evans- Delta
Luke Elliott- Eastbrook vs. Whitner/Baumgartner winner
 
220lbs
All season long this weight has seemed to have three competitors that are ahead of the field. With that said it leaves open a 4th spot that is ripe for the taking. Returning semi state runner-up Evan Ellis comes in undefeated, while Blake Davis is the only other wrestler with state experience in the field. Goshen RedHAWK Derek Paz is as tough as they come and will look to punch his first ticket to state. The bottom of the top bracket will be the interesting one with three wrestlers who can all get to state in Joey Pier, Max Clark, and JT Kilgore. Davis and Ellis should navigate their brackets to setup a semi-finals match.
 
#WAYL2
Paz- Kobe Woods, Trent Bixler, Evan Ellis
Isaacson- Jacob McClaine, Blake Davis, JT Kilgore
Asher- JT Kilgore, PJ Ernst, John Isaacson, Blake Davis
Davis- Braxton Amos(285), Derek Paz, Sam Hipple, Tyler McKeever
Kilgore- Blake Davis(3 times), Tyler McKeever, PJ Ernst
Clark- Trevor Brown, Nick Fox, Tyler Moser, Evan Ellis, ???
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
JT Kilgore- Churubusco vs. Max Clark- Northwestern
Evan Ellis- Eastern vs. Noah Asher- Concordia
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Derek Paz- Goshen vs. John Isaacson- Leo
Joey Pier- Yorktown vs. Clark/Kilgore winner
 
285lbs
Much like 195, this weight is one that is a pick’em from start to finish. If you wrestle this weight 10 times you’ll get 10 different outcomes. As Coach P said on Tuesday, it will come down to who manages risks the best. Two surprise regional champs are at the top half in Bellmont’s Braiden Shaw and Dwenger’s Landon Campbell. Shaw will be pushed by Braxton Amos in the ticket round while Campbell will have a good one with the winner of Jose Montanez and DeAndre Hodge. In the bottom half Owen Perkins qualified for state in 2014 and will have to go through Carroll’s Jessie Lawson to get another ticket to state. Nick Mammolenti of Jimtown had a great regional and will have to get through a tough Ryan George in the quarters. In a weight usually dominated by seniors, we only have five in the field this year. This could be very interesting not only this year, but next!
 
#WAYL2
Perkins- Garrett Clark
Hodge- Owen Perkins(2 times), Jordan Rogers, ???
George- Jessie Lawson, Braiden Shaw(2 times), Ethan Heffernan
Lawson- Robert Samuels(2 times), Nick Mammolenti, Sean Galligar, Landon Campbell
Amos- Blake Davis(220), Givoni Murillo, Sean Galligar, Ethan Bunce, Nick Mammolenti, ???
Mammolenti- Landon Campbell, Isaiah McWilliams, Givoni Murillo, Scott Fuller, William Vakalahi, Blake Davis(220), Braxton Amos
Campbell- Jessie Lawson, Dakota Ault(2 times), Jordan Libby, Jacob Obst, Nick Conner,William Vakalahi
Shaw- Jessie Lawson, Dylan Schumm, Nick Mammolenti, Sean Galligar, Dan Cutter, Chris Ridle
 
Early #SlobberKnockers
DeAndre Hodge- Marion vs. Jose Montanez- Goshen
 
Ticket Round Tussles
Braiden Shaw- Bellmont vs. Braxton Amos- Prairie Heights
Landon Campbell- Bishop Dwenger vs. Montanez/Hodge winner
Owen Perkins- Oak Hill vs. Jessie Lawson- Carroll
Nick Mammolenti- Jimtown vs. Ryan George- Delta

3447 8
2017 East Chicago Semi-State Preview
Chad Hollenbaugh
IndianaMat Senior Writer
 
Deep in the heart of Lake County lies East Chicago Central High School and their spectacular gymnasium. The second largest gym in the world will play host after debuting last year and doing an outstanding job. Sightlines and room to stretch for the fans, a warm up location in the same area code for the wrestlers, and a hospitality room for the refs and coaches all make the new location an excellent venue.
 
In honor or our new President, I will be taking a political tact for this year’s preview. For each of the weight classes, I will choose:
 
1. Trump’s Tremendous Top Dog
2. Pence’s Second Fiddle
3. Sean Spicer to Show
4. Kelly Conway’s Yellow Ribbon Rastler
 
Where appropriate, I will also highlight:
 
1. Tight Primary Challenges – First round fights
2. 270 to Win – Ticket round tilts.
3. Steve Bannon Death Draw – A likely state qualifier with wrestlebacks.
4. Alternative Facts – A possible sleeper state finalist.
 
Without further ado, let’s start picking the matches and make Da Region Da Greatest Again.
 
106
As stated in the Google Hangout on Tuesday, the flyweight division is probably not as deep as it usual. However, as usual, it looks like the Region Regionals will dominate the placers.
 
Primary Challenges
1. The bitty Bobcat Giovanni Diaz from Wheeler has put together a fine 33-5 record in his rookie campaign. He has a great practice partner in his state qualifier brother but he will be tested by South Bend Riley sophomore Trevor Penrod. Penrod is a high risk wrestler and always fun to watch.
2. My other early bird special pits Ty Haskins from one of the state’s best programs (Portage) versus Jake Armstrong who hails from one of the most remote schools in the semi-state, Winamac. Haskins has wrestled a brutal schedule and lapse last week at regional put him in a tough quarterbracket.
 
270 to Win – Blood Round Battles
1. Undefeated Frontier Falcon Colin Reagan might have the entire town of Chalmers in section AA rooting on their favorite son in his attempt to become Frontier’s first state qualifier. He will battle the winner of Penrod and Gio Diaz. I think the winner of that tilt will end young Reagan’s dream season.
2. The very best ticket round match up is at the bottom of the bracket where I see Portage’s Ty Haskins matching up with Lowell’s Shawn Hollis. Hollis is ranked 15th in the state and Haskins is ranked 16th . This should be a tightly contested and heated battle.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Ty Haskins or Shawn Hollis – Both of these guys deserve a shot at the state finals.
 
Alternative Facts
It would not be surprising at all if either Danny Tolin of Chesterton or Eli Hickman from Rennselaer Central would sneak through their quarter bracket and earned a spot in Indy.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Hollis (Lowell)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Martin Cruz (Merrillville)
Sean Spicer to Show – Evan Light (Penn)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Diaz (Wheeler)
 
113
This bracket features five state ranked grapplers and the grid appears to be evenly balanced. At least on top 12 wrestler will not be getting in free next week which means there should be some fireworks in the ticket round.
 
Primary Challenge
1. Brayden Ruiz of New Prairie and Garrett Stuckman of Wawasee have put up nearly 75 wins between them and both bring a great deal of athleticism to this round one war. The winner has to like their chances in the ticket round which will drive the intensity meter high early Saturday morning.
 
270 to Win – Ticket Round Tilts
1. Penn wrestles one of the toughest schedules in the state and their senior 113 pounder, 4th ranked Kory Cavanaugh, has lost to only one other grappler still in the state series (Hunter Watts). He has since avenged that loss. It would seem like he should cruise in the ticket round where he is matched with a freshman with double digit losses. Not so fast my friend. That frosh has the last name is of Maldonado and is the fast improving son of Merrillville head coach David. Expect the Maldonado brain trust to have a game plan ready for the Kingsman.
2. The second ticket round tussle pits the 11th and 12th ranked wrestlers in the state. Just like at 106, it will pit a Red Devil from Lowell, Andres Moreno (12th) against 11th ranked Portage Indian Brock Peele. Peele has had Moreno’s number this year but anything can happen when a trip to Indy is on the line.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Jacob Maldonado and Andres “The Big Cat” Moreno both have big talent but might have to wait a year to be seen on the big stage.
 
Alternative Facts
Josh Wade of Harrison has found 47 wrestlers to beat this year so he knows how to get his hand raised. A long shot worth keeping an eye on.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Cavanaugh (Penn)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Peele (Portage)
Sean Spicer to Show – Jose Diaz (Wheeler)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Garrett Stuckman (Wawasee)
 
120
This is hands down, the toughest weight class at East Chicago with multiple exciting first round and ticket round match ups. The top two kids, in terms of ranking, are on opposite sides and should make for a great match under the lights for the second week in a row.
 
Primary Challenges
1. The depth of this weight class has made for a couple of great first round matches. The first one that stands out is the battle between Logansport senior and returning state medalist, Donavon Johnson and Plymouth Rockie, Zane DeVault. Johnson is a veteran with a mean top game and DeVault will be physical and in your face for 6 minutes.
2. In another first round rumble, Penn’s Tanner DeMien will face off with Harrison’s Trey McCartney. DeMien already has two state final appearances as well as a state medal on his resume. McCartney, like most of his Raider teammates, has piled up a slew of wins.
 
270 to Win – Ticket Round Toughies
All four of the potential ticket round matches are nasty and several state worthy grapplers will be sent home unhappy.
 
 
 
 

1. Leading off in the top quarter bracket is Jeff’s Jon Anderson and his likely opponent Colin Poynter of Portage. Anderson is ranked 9 th and Poynter is 5 th in the state.
2. Wawasee’s Braxton Alexander is unranked but not unnoticed. He should give Crown Point’s 16 th ranked Kaelin Kelly everything he wants.
3. In the bottom half, Tylor Triana of Hobart is ranked 2 nd in the state but might have interesting style match up with Donavan “I Choose Top” Johnson.
4. Finally, in the last quarter bracket is the fourth great ticket round match up. Penn’s 10 th ranked DeMien has the more impressive resume but Hanover Cental’s Alex Bautista will not be intimidated as he has wrestled Triana as tough as anyone this year.  
Steve Bannon Death Draw
One could make a case for about five guys having a death draw but Jeff’s Jon Anderson is the winner based on his poor fortune at last year’s semi state.
Alternative Facts
There are no real strong sleeper candidates in this bracket. There are just too many studs for any sleepers to emerge.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Triana (Hobart)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Poynter (Portage)
Sean Spicer to Show – Bautista (Hanover Central)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Braxton Alexander (Wawasee)
 
126
The 126 class is not quite as deep as the 120 class but it is close and there should be many tough matches and potential state champion in this bracket.
 
Primary Challenge
My top first rounder in the 126 class involves a pair of unheralded seniors who will be battling for a place in the ticket round. West Lafayette’s Aaron Casillas has put together a fine 25-4 record for the improving Red Devil program. He will match up with Triton’s Malachi Greene (30-6). Greene has been the cornerstone of the Trojan program that has appeared in two straight team state finals.
 
270 to Win
The most intriguing ticket round battle looks to be located in the bottom quarter bracket where Harrison’s regional champ ,Cody Betourne will try to punch his ticket versus the vicious Viking from Valpo, Ian Dembowski. Betourne has nearly 50 wins and is ranked 19th where Dembowski is ranked 11th and has given Michael Delapena some great matches this season.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
The dubious honor goes to Harrison’s Cody Betourne. Bringing a 49-2 record and a regional championship to semi-state would seem like a good road to Indy. However, when you draw into the same quarter bracket with Ian Dembowski your chances go down immediately. Many would argue that Dembowski is a top 8 guy at state.
 
Alternative Facts
Digging deep into this bracket, I see a potential sleeper in Wawasee’s Geremia Brooks. The transfer from Whiteland has would have to pull of a big upset over Merrillville’s Michael Delapena but crazier things have happened.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Colton Cummings (Lowell)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Ian Dembowski (Valparaiso)
Sean Spicer to Show – Delapena (Merrillville)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Adam Davis (Culver Military)
 
132
Two division one wrestling recruits and a third that will likely join them at the D-1 level highlight the 132 class at East Chicago. A balanced bracket should set up for excellent semifinal matches.
 
Primary Challenge
The best first round battle might have some effect on the team race as two grapplers from powerhouse programs go at it. Penn’s Preston Risner will face off against Merrillville’s Ahzsur Ursery. This should be an evenly matched tilt where Risner will be looking to avenge a 4-2 loss at the Al Smith.
 
270 to Win
 

1. I like the potential in top half of the bracket as it could produce two outstanding ticket round slugfests. At the top, Jack Tolin, ranked 13 th and from Chesterton might meet up with the unranked Ursery of Merrillville. Tolin has the D-1 offer from Northwestern and an early season win over his Pirate rival but Ursery might just conjure up some Maldonado magic when a trip to Indy is on the line.
2. The second quarter bracket potentially pits 12 th ranked Portage Indian, Miguel Prado against Delphi junior and regional champ Ty Watson. Delphi is the one school from the Logansport regional that has consistently been able to qualify wrestlers to Indy over the past 10 year. Watson will be ready.  
Steve Bannon Death Draw
I have to go with Watson drawing the short straw. Prado is tough as nails and would be a regional champ in many regionals but he happens to be in the same regional with an absolute hammer in Jeremiah Reitz. If Watson doesn’t pull the upset, at least he has next year.
 
Alternative Facts
Merrillville’s Ahzsur Ursery has little statewide street cred but the boys in the region know he is right there with some of the best 132 pounders in the north.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Jeremiah Reitz (Griffith)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Miguel Prado (Portage)
Sean Spicer to Show – Manzona Bryant (Culver Military)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Jack Tolin (Chesterton)
 
138
This bracket has excitement written all over with two of the best kids in the state renewing their rivalry as well as two of the best freshmen in the state. Several state worthy grapplers will be paying for their ticket at Banker’s Life next week.
Primary Challenges
 

1. A Duneland Conference rivalry match will take place in the first round between Merrillville’s Aaron Griggs and Crown Point’s Jacob Burford. Both are tough customers but Griggs got the best of Burford at the conference meet and I like him here on Saturday morning
2. A second opening round tilt that promises some fireworks is the match between South Bend St. Joseph’s Jared Kazmierczak and North White’s regional champ, Jake Quasebarth. Kaz placed forth in a loaded Rochester regional and should give the one loss Quasebarth a great match.  
270 to Win
1. Three tough as nails ticket round tilts highlight the 138 pound bracket. Starting right at the top, Kris Rumph of Portage will have to defeat a game senior from Penn, Trace Manspeaker. Rumph is ranked 3rd and Manspeaker is ranked 7th in the state.
2. The second quarter bracket will pit the winner of Griggs/Burford match against one of the toughest freshmen in the state, Jacob LaPlace of Mishawaka. Don’t expect the young Caveman to be intimidated as he has been around and has plenty of coaches that have been there and done that.
3. The best ticket round match might just be at the bottom of the bracket where Munster veteran, Cody Crary will try to topple Plymouth Rockie rookie, Graham Calhoun for a second time this season. This is a match up between the 15th and 16 ranked kids in the state. Indiana Mudflap gives this match up 4 Golden Eagles!!!
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
7th ranked Trace Manspeaker most definitely got the toughest draw in bracket. Expect this Kingsman to battle his tail off in an effort to secure that elusive state berth. Kris Rumph is a tough draw. Honorable mention goes to the loser of Calhoun/Crary battle.
 
Alternative Facts
The winner of the Griggs/Burford match is probably the best candidate to be a sleeper that advances to Indy.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Brendan Black (Hobart)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Kris Rumph (Portage)
Sean Spicer to Show – Graham Calhoun (Plymouth)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Aaron Griggs (Merrillville)
 
145
The studs in the 145 pound bracket at East Chicago looks to be evenly distributed across the quarter brackets. Four wrestler are ranked and one ranked kid is in each of the quarter brackets.
 
Primary Challenge
One match stands above all the rest in this weight class and that is the Mario Traficanti/Malik Hoover battle. This is another in the long line of rivalry matches between Crown Point and Merrillville. Traficanti looks to have a small edge at this point.
 
270 to Win
The best ticket round match looks like it might be a battle between Hobart’s 12th ranked Dante Colza and small school regional champ, Leevin Ball of North White. I would love to see a Devildog product at state but can’t bet against Colza.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
A balanced bracket does not set up for bad draws and this line up looks like it will hold chalk with the four ranked kids punching their ticket.
 
Alternative Facts
It’s tough to label a Penn kid as a sleeper, only because they are one of the most high profile programs in the state. However, Penn’s Haden Hensley is largely unknown but brings an outstanding 20-3 record into East Chicago. A ticket round match up versus Munster’s Jason Crary is not insurmountable.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Kasper McIntosh (Portage)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Jason Crary (Munster)
Sean Spicer to Show – Mario Traficanti (Crown Point)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Dante Colza (Hobart)
 
152
The middleweights at 152 promise to put on a great show for the fans as 5 ranked kids will battle the rest of the field. A lot of high energy, explosive and just plain fun kids to watch dot this bracket.
 
Primary Challenge
The Crown Point regional was loaded this year so it’s third place finisher, Vince Liggin of Hanover Central is no slouch. He has a first round match with Kassius Breathitt of South Bend Riley that could be a good one. Riley wrestles a good schedule and Breathitt is 30-3 this year.
 
270 to Win
1. With 5 ranked wrestlers and a couple of other tough cookies from strong programs thrown in the mix there promises to be some great blood round battles. 10th ranked Clay Jones of Jeff is a returning state qualifier with only one blemish on his record. I love his funky style but his probable opponent in the round to go will probably want to brawl with Jones. Valparaiso’s 14th ranked Greg Lichtenberger has navigated the Duneland wars with an outstanding 35-5 record.
2. A second great match in the ticket round pits 8th ranked Kassius Breathitt against Portage’s unranked Zach Nugent. Portage will be gunning for a semi state title and a win here would be huge for the Indians.
3. At the bottom of the bracket, Crown Points 12th ranked Noah Lamore looks to be the strong favorite but Hobart senior Matt Burns will not go down without a fight.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Valparaiso’s Greg Lichtenberger earns the death draw label at 152. He is certainly capable of beating Jones. It will probably come down to who imposes their will when it comes to the style of the match. I just feel Jones has too many tools in his bag of tricks.
 
Alternative Facts
Hanover Central’s Vince Liggin looks like an interesting sleeper pick. Beating Breathitt in the first round is a tall order but not impossible. He then would likely match up with an eleven loss Zach Nugent of Portage.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Kyle Hatch (Warsaw)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Kassius Breathitt (South Bend Riley)
Sean Spicer to Show – Clay Jones (Lafayette Jeff)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Noah Lamore (Crown Point)
 
160
160 is another bracket where the four ranked wrestlers are spread across the four quarter brackets. Although it is certainly possible for upsets to happen, I feel the first two rounds will hold chalk.
 
Primary Challengers
1. Two first round matches stand out in the 160 pound bracket that need to be highlighted. The first involves two underclassmen with high ceilings. Brandon Lucero is a sophomore from Merrillville and he will take on the talented Jacob Adkins of South Bend Riley. Looks like a true toss up.
2. Two juniors will face off in another evenly matched first round tilt. Portage will send 27 match winner Drake Guerro out to face Culver Military’s Michael Boland. Guerro has plenty of experience but Boland is strong and tough to score on. Should be a good one.
 
270 to Win
 

1. The top ticket round bout looks like a Highway 30 battle between Plymouth’s once beaten senior Micah Calhoun and Valpo’s Mike Lichtenberger. Calhoun comes in with a #17 state ranking and has been able to cruise through the sectional and regional. Lichtenberger, on the other hand, has given top ten wrestlers in the region fits all year.  
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Hobart’s Angelo Guarnero earned the wrath of the bracket gods this week by drawing into the same quarter bracket as Penn’s grinder Rockne Hurley and Crown Point’s top ten stud Oszkar Kasch. No rewards for Angelo after winning the Calumet Regional.
 
Alternative Facts
A potential long shot sleeper pick is Freshman Jacob Adkins of South Bend Riley. After watching him frustrate veteran wrestlers last week with his take down defense, I have a hunch that he might just make a run this Saturday. If not, this youngster is one to keep an eye on in the future.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Diego Lemley (Chesterton)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Micah Calhoun (Plymouth)
Sean Spicer to Show – Oszkar Kasch (Crown Point)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Myles Krintz (Harrison)
 
170
A Division One recruit, an Al Smith finalist and a wide open quarter bracket high light the 170 class at East Chicago. There might not be a state champ in this group but it still should be an exciting and competitive day.
 
Primary Challenges
1. At the top of the bracket one of the top first round matches of the day will take place between 30-5 Plymouth Rockie Colton Schuler and Cade Girgenti of Chesterton. Girgenti is a Duneland Conference runner-up and Schuler had a monster regional to get through.
2. The bottom quarter bracket has two interesting first round matches just because there is no clear favorite in the quartet. Lafayette Jeff’s Garrett Fair and River Forest Ingot Bradley Groover have similar records and both are juniors. This looks like a toss up. The other first rounder pits South Bend Clay’s Amere Dozier versus LaPorte’s young Noah Perez. Perez is improving fast but is a tier below his Duneland rivals while Dozier has only wrestled half a season. Another toss up?
 
270 to Win
1. Zach Fattore (Hobart) vs. Tavonte Malone (South Bend Adams) – Both of these studs are ranked top 10 in the state and one will be going home with out a ticket to Indy.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
See above. It’s a shame that there are no wrestle backs.
 
Alternative Facts
My sleeper pick for this weight class is none other than Hammond Gavit Gladiator Jamari Washington. Washington has put together a great regular and post season. Inside sources say he will have something ready for Saturday’s ticket round match.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Jarod Swank (Penn)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Zach Fattore (Hobart)
Sean Spicer to Show – Ishmael Cornejo (Portage)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Amere Dozier (South Bend Clay)
 
182
The 182 bracket introduces us to the first of the two Davison brothers. I expect both brothers to make their presence felt with authority both this weekend and next.
 
Primary Challenge
Seth Jones of Lafayette Jeff has regional crown on his resume but the last time he ventured to the region he was beaten by his first round opponent, Jacob Bohling of LaPorte. Jones is riding a wave of momentum but will it be enough to avenge his early season loss.
 
270 to Win
 

1. The aforementioned Bohling from Laporte should be matched up with conference rival Tyjohn Lockett of Merrillville. Bohling got the Pirate by a point during their conference 3 rd place match a couple of weeks ago.
2. Another quality ticket round battle should be between Mishawaka’s Austin Faulkner and Kankakee Valley’s Logan Nowak. Two solidly built athletes with excellent records should make for an excellent match when a trip to Indy is on the line.  
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Logan Nowak only lost one match in the regular season but his loss to Lucas Davison of Chesterton at regional put him at risk of drawing into Austin Faulkner and that is exactly what happened. Faulkner is wrestling awesome right now and it will take a monster effort out of Nowak to topple the Caveman.
 
Alternative Facts
If you like playing the long odds when picking your state qualifiers, I give you Tyjohn Lockett of Merrillville. Sure he has double digit losses, but he made a run to the semi finals at the Al Smith, he is in the most winnable quarter bracket, and he has the Merrillville staff in his corner. Longshot Lockett might make some magic.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Lucas Davison (Chesterton)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Austin Faulkner (Mishawaka)
Sean Spicer to Show – Jeremy Torres (Portage)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Tyjohn Lockett (Merrillville)
 
195
Michigan recruit Andrew Davison highlights this bracket. He should not be challenged and the race will be for second place. This bracket is loaded with four ranked wrestlers in the bottom half of the bracket which means some talented kids will not qualify for state.
Primary Challenges
1. Walker Brummett (Lake Central) vs. Bryson Ford (Benton Central) – This could be a four over a one. Brummett is battle tested and has some nice wins on the season
2. Nick Schoonveld (Kankakee Valley) vs. Nate LaFree – Two physical in your face wrestlers will face off here. Not for the faint of heart.
 
270 to Win
1. Tyler Moser (Bremen) vs. AJ Fowler (Calumet) – Two ranked studs should battle for a free trip to Indy. Moser beat Fowler earlier in the year but it was a closely contested battle.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Aron Corralez of Merrillville definitely drew the short straw and will have the tall task of defeating Andrew Davison to punch his state ticket. Not likely.
 
Alternative Facts
The previously mentioned Walker Brummett of Lake Central has the talent, coaching and draw to make a run to the semi finals despite his double digit losses.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Andrew Davison (Chesterton)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Anthony Maceo (Portage)
Sean Spicer to Show – Tyler Moser (Bremen)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Bryson Ford (Benton Central)
 
220
Another example of where the ranked wrestlers are split up and spread across the bracket. Three top ten grapplers highlight this group which should make for some nice semi finals and final matches.
Primary Challenges
 

1. The best looking first round match up is down at the bottom of the bracket where Merrillville’s 20 th ranked Andrew Vander Woude will face off against Plymouth fireplug Sam Stayton. Vander Woude is the favorite but Stayton brings a physical style that will be tough to deal with.  
270 to Win
1. The top ticket round bout will likely occur between Merrillville’s Vander Woude and big Donnie Crider of Harrison. Crider is ranked 6th in the state and is a match up nightmare as he stands about 6 ‘8”.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Munster’s Caleb Thomas was the regional champ at Calumet and he got rewarded by drawing the 5th ranked wrestler in the state for a berth to the state finals. It will be a tall order to topple the Al Smith champion, Eli Pokorney.
 
Alternative Facts
Chester Swopes of Portage is my sleeper pick for this weight class based on his excellent practice partners and excellent coaching. He would have to upset 18th ranked Will Vakalahi in order to make that magical run to state.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Eli Pokorney (Chesterton)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Donnie Crider (Harrison)
Sean Spicer to Show – Jeremy Akers (Crown Point)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Will Vakalahi (Penn)
 
285
Two wrestlers appear to have separated themselves from the field and seem like strong candidates to meet in the finals. The real story is who will be in the third and fourth place slots.
 
Primary Challenges
1. Alex Faulkner (Mishawaka) vs Alex Cartwright (LaVille) – The Alex War should will pit the Caveman’s savvy versus the Lancer’s brute strength.
2. Michael Foster (Crown Point) vs Dan “Truck” Clark (Rochester) – The Truck is tough to score on and frustrates his opponents. He has been outstanding this post season.
 
270 to Win
1. Clark vs. Keion Williams (Lafayette Jeff) – This bout would be a rematch from earlier in the season where Williams squeaked by the big Zebra.
2. Aron Ceglarek (Kankakee Valley) vs. Gio Murillo (Portage) – Murillo is a returning state qualifier who can keep it close with just about anyone. Geglarek is a big thick kid who moves well.
 
Steve Bannon Death Draw
Ceglarek, the regional champ, drew into the one ticket round foe he probably would least like to see in Gio Murillo. The Portage warpath will going strong and that momentum might be difficult to deal with.
 
Alternative Facts
The big man with the best chance of shocking the semi state is Michael Foster of Crown Point. Both his first round and potential ticket round matches are very winnable for this unheralded Bulldog.
 
Trumps Top Dog – Isiah “Bus” McWilliams (South Bend Washington)
Pence’s Second Fiddle – Brendan Streck (Merrillville)
Sean Spicer to Show – Gio Murillo (Portage)
Yellow Ribbon Rastler – Dan “Truck” Clark (Rochester)

3322 8
Tonte moving back to the south side
After four years at the helm of Warren Central Jim Tonte will head back south to take over the Franklin Grizzly Cubs this year. In his first year guiding the Warriors Tonte captured his fourth state title as a coach and became the first coach in Indiana history to coach two different schools to a state title.
Tonte spent 19 years at the helm of Perry Meridian where they captured state titles in 2011, 2012,and 2013. The first two titles were in the dual meet championship era and in 2013 was when the scoring at the state finals determined the team champions.
Longtime Franklin coach Bob Hasseman stepped down last month after leading the Grizzly Cubs for 33 years. The Grizzly Cub program is heavily involved with the ISWA and always has a strong youth presence. 
Tonte will leave open a prime position at Warren Central that returns two state placers and was runner-up at Team State last year. He will have to leave behind his trademark gold jacket, but don't be surprised to see him in a flashy new silver on at the state finals this year.

1792 8
State Finals #WAYL2
We have 16 wrestlers that enter Friday without a loss on their record. However, the other 208 wrestlers have a combined 935 losses between them. Most of the losses are to state level competitors. Here is a listing of all the losses for each wrestler at state this weekend.
Note: If you know any of the missing or incorrect results please notify me.
 
Random Stats
Most losses to state qualifiers
Braden Haines, Isaiah Ponce- 10
Stefan Vitello, Damon McClain, Jacob Johnson- 8
Johnny Cortez, Dylan Driver, AJ Dull, Dennis Hubbard- 7
 
Most wins over state qualifiers
Graham Calhoun- 11
Logan Frazier- 10
Aiden Warren, Sam Goin, Alex Cottey, Zeke Seltzer, Dorian Keys- 9
Elliott Rodgers, William Fiechter, Isaac Ruble, Brock Ellis- 8
 
Non-State Qualifiers with the most wins over state qualifiers
Tyler Conley, Yehezquel DeVault- 6
Aundre Beatty, Jajuan Dale, Josh Howell, Matt Neff, Ryan Sheets- 4
Brock Hueber, Chad McLean, Jack Hargan, Ryan Purvis- 3
 
Undefeated Wrestlers
106 Bryce Lowery
120 Zeke Seltzer
126 Dylan Stroud
145 Brock Ellis, Alec Viduya
152 Brice Coleman, Logan Boe, Garrett Stuckman
160 Isiah Levitz
170 Graham Calhoun
195 Jacob Laplace, Silas Allred
220 Drew Webster, Cale Gray
285 Dorian Keys, Logan Swallow
 
#WAYL2
Who are your losses to?
 
Key
*- State Qualifier
(Losses/ State Qualifier Losses/ State Qualifier Wins)
 
106
Bryce Lowery(0/0/6)
Isaac Ruble(1/1/8): Sam Goin*
Sam Goin(1/1/9): Logan Miller*
Logan Miller(2/0/4): Ben Aranda(IL), Caden Horwath(MI)
Jeff Bailey(2/2/5): Johnny Cortez*, Sam Goin*
Anthony Martin(3/2/1): ???, Hayden Brady*, Isaac Ruble*
Suhas Chundi(3/3/2): Bryce Lowery*, Logan Miller*, Sam Goin*
Cash Turner(4/3/1): Isaac Ruble*, Jason Heasten, Kyler West*, Suhas Chundi*
Josh Johnson(5/3/2): Bryce Lowery(3)*, Keaton Morton, Nathan Smith
Keegan Malott(5/5/0): Anthony Martin*, Hayden Brady(2)*, Isaac Ruble(2)*
Hayden Brady(5/4/4): Isaac Ruble(3)*, Logan Stuckman, Sam Goin*
Coy Hammack(5/3/0): Blake Zirkelbach, Cash Turner*, Kyler West*, Logan Miller*, Reed Egli
Kyler West(6/2/2): Bryce Lowery*, Logan Miller*, Logan Sutton(2), Reed Egli, Trayce Eckman(KY)
Evan Dickey(7/6/1): Bryce Lowery*, Cooper Shore(OH), Hayden Brady*, Josh Johnson(2)*, Sam Goin*, Suhas Chundi*
Trevor Triana(9/6/1): ???(2), Emmanuel Ellis, Isaac Ruble*, Jeff Bailey(4)*, Johnny Cortez*
Johnny Cortez(10/7/2): ???, Doug Waters*, Emmanuel Ellis, Evan Dickey*, Karter Guzman(IL), Sam Goin(4)*, Trevor Triana*
 
113
Alex Cottey(1/0/9): Kody Glithero
Lane Gilbert(1/1/2): Cole Ross*
Logan Frazier(2/2/10): Alex Cottey*, Brac Hooper*
Aidan Sprague(2/1/4): Preston Teusch, Trey Sturgill*
Cole Ross(2/2/5): Alex Cottey*, Lane Gilbert*
Elijah Anthony(3/3/2): Alex Cottey*, Brac Hooper(2)*
Trey Sturgill(3/1/2): Elijah Anthony*, Ryan Purvis, Trevor Schammert
Cheaney Schoeff(4/3/4): Cole Ross(2)*, Lane Gilbert*, Mason Yarbrough(OH)
Ethan Reiley(5/4/0): Aidan Sprague(2)*, Colton Weimer(2)*, Drayk Kallenberger(OH)
Brac Hooper(5/4/7): Alex Cottey(3)*, Dylan Driver*, Logan Carrender
Colton Weimer(7/3/2): Aidan Sprague*, Hyatt Yeager, Justin Brantley, Karson Everett, Nam Doan*, Nick Olson, Trey Sturgill*
Nam Doan(7/5/4): Alex Cottey*, Logan Frazier*, Logan Frazier(2)*, Ryan Purvis(2)
Doug Waters(9/5/5): Anthony Streib(IL), Chad Bellis(IL), Hyatt Yeager, Logan Frazier*, Nam Doan(3)*, Stefan Vitello*, Trevor Schammert
Stefan Vitello(10/8/1): ???, Aidan Sprague*, Anthony Bahl, Doug Waters(4)*, Logan Frazier(3)*
Dylan Driver(10/7/2): Alex Cottey*, Blake Wolf, Brac Hooper(3)*, Braden Haines*, Elijah Anthony*, Griffin Ingalls(2), Logan Frazier*
Braden Haines(16/10/1): Aiden Smith(MI), Alex Cottey*, Brac Hooper*, Cheaney Schoeff(4)*, Cody Goebel(WI), Cole Ross(2)*, Dylan Driver*, Kaden Chinavare(MI), Logan Frazier*, Marquarias Wilburn, Ramsy Mutschler(MI), Tommy Porter(IL)
 
120
Zeke Seltzer(0/0/9)
Dominic Heath(1/0/2): Ben Miller
Giovanni Diaz(1/1/5): Riley Bettich*
Alec Freeman(2/2/5): Zeke Seltzer(2)*
Carson Eldred(2/2/4): Zeke Seltzer(2)*
Delaney Ruhlman(3/2/3): Alec Freeman*, Brady Ester, Riley Bettich*
Sam Scott(3/2/2): Alec Freeman*, Delaney Ruhlman*, Jacob Simone
John Robinson(3/3/1): Carson Eldred*, Christian White*, Dominic Heath*
Ethan Higgins(3/2/0): Jett Boots*, John Robinson*, Preston Teusch
Riley Bettich(4/4/6): Giovanni Diaz(3)*, Zeke Seltzer*
Cole Solomy(4/4/1): Giovanni Diaz*, Jeff Bailey*, Riley Bettich(2)*
Christian White(4/2/2): Carlton Perry(2), Zeke Seltzer(2)*
Jett Boots(4/1/1): Ben Miller, Deandrea Darden(OH), Dominic Heath*, Harper Dedman
Malik Hall(5/4/0): Cole Solomy*, Giovanni Diaz*, Riley Bettich(2)*, Ty Haskins
Anthony Hughes(8/6/0): Antonio Jefferson, Carson Eldred*, Christian White*, Delaney Ruhlman(2)*, Kody Glithero, Zeke Seltzer(2)*
Aydan Amento(10/6/0): ???(3), Alec Freeman(3)*, Carson Eldred*, Chris Newman, Sam Scott(2)*
 
126
Dylan Stroud(0/0/2)
Raymond Rioux(1/0/9): Kyren Butler(OH)
Landon Bertsch(1/1/1): Dylan Stroud*
Stephen Roberson(2/0/7): Jake Rundell(IL), Zach Strueder
Ben Dalton(2/2/1): Kysen Montgomery(2)*
Brayden Lowery(2/1/6): Gavinn Alstott, Raymond Rioux*
Jace Alexander(2/2/3): Aidan Torres(2)*
Payne Blackburn(3/1/1): Cameron Allen, Dominic Litchfield, Dylan Stroud*
Camren Toole(3/2/0): ???, Brayden Lowery*, Willie Dennison*
Willie Dennison(3/3/1): Carson Eldred*, David Pierson*, Jace Alexander*
David Pierson(3/3/2): Brayden Lowery(3)*
Beau Humphrey(4/2/0): Alex Slates, Collin Ruemler, Landon Bertsch*, Payne Blackburn*
Aidan Torres(5/5/3): Stephen Roberson(5)*
Ashton Hayhurst(7/6/1): Ben Dalton*, Brayden Lowery(2)*, Josue Dawson(OH), Kysen Montgomery*, Raymond Rioux(2)*
Kysen Montgomery(8/6/3): David Pierson*, Jake Rundell(IL), Mason Shrader(MI), Raymond Rioux(4)*, Stephen Roberson*
Brendon Mark(9/6/0): Aidan Torres*, Ashton Hayhurst*, Conner Kleinberg(OH), Gavinn Alstott, Jace Alexander(2)*, Luke Gonzalez, Raymond Rioux*, Stephen Roberson*
 
132
Jesse Mendez(1/0/9): Nico bolivar
Hayden Watson(1/1/6): Jesse Mendez*
Ian Heath(1/1/5): Hunter Cottingham*
Hunter Cottingham(2/1/6): Aundre Beatty, Reakus Shelton*
Matt Koontz(3/2/6): Aundre Beatty, Logan Wagner*, Luke Goodwin*
Jared Brown(4/3/0): Andrew Wilson, Hunter Cottingham*, Luke Goodwin*, Sam Slivka*
Brody Arthur(5/4/0): Hunter Cottingham(3)*, Ian Heath*, Lane Deckard
Connor Holt(5/3/3): ???, Hayden Watson(2)*, Kane Egli*, Tyler Conley
Luke Goodwin(5/4/3): Aiden Bunce, Matt Koontz(2)*, Sam Slivka(2)*
Kane Egli(5/3/1): David Davis(OH), Hayden Watson*, Matt Koontz*, Max Boaz(OH), Raymond Rioux*
Reakus Shelton(7/5/4): Cameron Mason, Christian Pfeiffer-Laguerre, Ian Heath(4)*, Vince Sparrow*
Vince Sparrow(7/4/3): Jesse Mendez(2)*, Mason Kleinberg(OH), Reakus Shelton(2)*, Tyler Conley(2)
Bradley Conrad(7/4/4): ???(2), Gabe Adams(KY), Jesse Mendez(3)*, Sam Slivka*
Sam Slivka(7/3/4): Andrew Wilson, Aundre Beatty, Conner Alcala*, Gabe Adams(KY), Luke Goodwin*, Matt Koontz*, Tyler Conley
Conner Alcala(8/5/1): ???, Connor Holt(3)*, Hayden Watson(2)*, Thomas Deck(KY), Tyler Conley
Isaiah Ponce(12/10/0): Aidan Hansen(IL), Bradley Conrad(4)*, Dillon Carlson(IL), Jesse Mendez(3)*, Reakus Shelton*, Vince Sparrow(2)*
 
138
Drake Campbell(1/1/6): Logan Wagner*
J Conway(2/2/1): Blake Boarman*, Drake Campbell*
Logan Bailey(2/2/4): Blake Boarman*, Logan Wagner*
Eli Hickman(2/2/3): Ethan Kaiser*, Hunter Cottingham*
Kyle Lawson(3/3/4): Elijah Chacon*, Matt Koontz*, Tyson Nisley*
Blake Boarman(3/3/3): Drake Campbell(2)*, Logan Bailey*
Logan Wagner(3/3/6): Brendan Mattingly*, Gabe Sollars*, Logan Bailey*
Brendan Mattingly(5/5/3): Drake Campbell*, Hayden Watson*, Logan Bailey*, Logan Wagner*, Orlando Cruz*
Ethan Kaiser(5/2/2): Bryce Shelton(IL), Cody Goodwin, Jay Orman, Nick Tattini*, Tyson Nisley*
Elijah Chacon(5/1/3): ???(2), Kyle Lawson*, Ryan Sheets, Sebastien Bryant
Hayden Shepherd(5/2/1): ???, Eli Hickman*, Elijah Chacon*, Jevian Ross, Sebastien Bryant
Tyson Nisley(5/5/5): Eli Hickman*, Logan Wagner*, Matt Koontz*, Orlando Cruz(2)*
Dylan Dorman(6/3/0): Aundre Beatty, Brendan Mattingly*, Jeivan Ross, Logan Bailey*, Logan Wagner*, Sebastian Bryant
Landon Boe(7/5/0): ???, Blake Boarman*, Brendan Mattingly*, Drake Campbell(2)*, J Conway*, Tyler Conley
Lane Burns(8/4/0): Conner Douglass(OH), Elijah Chacon*, Hayden Shepherd*, Isaac Hawkins, Josue Sotero, Kyle Lawson(2)*, Sevaugh Carter(OH)
Nick Tattini(10/5/1): Anthony Rivera(2), Droshawn Lewis, Eli Hickman*, Ethan Kaiser*, Jack Krause, Jake Damron, Kyle Lawson*, Tyson Nisley(2)*
 
145
Brock Ellis(0/0/8)
Alec Viduya(0/0/6)
Jacob Maldonado(1/1/1): Brock Ellis*
Aj Poindexter(2/2/2): Jacob Maldonado*, Orlando Cruz*
William Fiechter(2/2/8): AJ Poindexter*, Evan Ulrick*
Jaden Reynolds(4/3/5): Alec Viduya*, Brody Baumann*, Dustin Morgillo(OH), Reece Luhmann*
Brody Baumann(4/3/2): ???, Alec Viduya*, Jaden Reynolds(2)*
Jajuan Anderson(4/3/6): Alec Viduya*, Chris Wilkerson, Jaden Reynolds*, Reece Luhmann*
Alex Currie(5/4/4): Tyler Vredeveld, William Fiechter(4)*
Orlando Cruz(6/5/5): Brock Ellis(5)*, Joshua Ogunsanya(IL)
Reece Luhmann(6/5/4): Alec Viduya*, Jajuan Anderson(3)*, Jake Shafer*, Nick Cicciarelli
Riley Rust(7/5/2): Brody Baumann*, Ethan Nash*, Jaden Reynolds*, Jake Shafer(2)*, Justice Cash, Kailan Keith
Aj Dull(8/7/0): Alex Currie(3)*, Gabe Steyer(OH), Jorden Douglass*, William Fiechter(3)*
Jake Shafer(9/6/3): AJ Poindexter*, Alec Viduya*, Jajuan Anderson(2)*, Justice Cash, Noah Baker, Reece Luhmann(2)*, Seth Willems
Evan Ulrick(11/4/1): Alec Viduya*, Alex Currie*, Brock Ellis*, Chris Wilkerson, Garrett Manley, Garrett Stewart, Jajuan Anderson*, Kailan Keith, Mark Everman, Ryan Sheets(2)
Ethan Nash(11/4/1): Conner Gilles, Garrett Stewart, Jaden Reynolds*, Nick Cicciarelli, Ralph Thompson(MI), Riley Rust(2)*, Shane Braunecker, Simeon Norton, Tristan Martin, Tyson Nisley*
 
152
Logan Boe(0/0/3)
Brice Coleman(0/0/4)
Garrett Stuckman(0/0/2)
Jordan Fulks(1/1/1): Logan Boe*
Bryer Hall(1/1/3): Brice Coleman*
Jonathan Kervin(2/1/1): Logan Boe*, Payne Carr(KY)
Aidan Hardcastle(2/1/2): Ethan Mason*, Ryan Sheets
Ethan Mason(2/1/2): ???, Aidan Hardcastle*
Cody Mccune(2/2/3): Brice Coleman*, Ethan Mason*
Shane Bates(2/1/1): Bryer Hall*, Kade Law
Jorden Douglass(4/2/1): David Davis(IL), Shane Braunecker, Shawn Hollis*, Tyler Turley*
Shawn Hollis(4/3/4): ???, Garrett Stuckman*, Tyler Turley(2)*
Eli Hilger(5/5/0): Aidan Hardcastle*, Cody McCune(3)*, Shawn Hollis*
Anthony Walker(7/3/0): ???, Jonathan Kervin*, Jordan Fulks*, Logan Boe*, Moses Hamm, Noah Baker, Scottie Saylor
Tyler Turley(7/5/3): ???, Brock Ellis*, Garrett Stuckman*, Kade Law, Orlando Cruz*, Shawn Hollis(2)*
Tyler Jones(7/5/0): ???, Brice Coleman(2)*, Bryer Hall*, Elliott Rodgers*, Shane Bates*, Zach Hoyt
 
160
Isiah Levitz(0/0/6)
Cooper Noehre(2/2/4): Elliott Rodgers(2)*
Jackson Pettigrew(2/2/2): Clayton Fielden*, Isiah Levitz*
Tytus Morrisett(2/2/1): Jackson Pettigrew*, Jed Perry*
Eli Dickens(2/0/4): Brett McIntosh(OH)(2)
Andrew Roth(2/2/1): Bryer Hall*, Elliott Rodgers*
Jed Perry(2/2/2): Cooper Noehre*, Isiah Levitz*
Elliott Rodgers(3/3/8): Eli Dickens(2)*, Isiah Levitz*
Noah Hollendonner(4/0/7): Bradley Gillum(IL), Jajuan Dale, Joe Chapman(IL), Luke Davis
Jacob Linky(4/2/2): Isiah Levitz*, Jacob Kreager, Jajuan Dale, Noah Hollendonner*
Sam Schroeder(5/5/0): Isiah Levitz*, Peyton Asbury*, Robert Deters(2)*, Sam Morrill*
Sam Morrill(5/3/2): Eli Dickens*, Elliott Rodgers(2)*, Jajuan Dale, Kamden Goering
Peyton Asbury(6/3/2): Bradley Gillum(IL), Eli Dickens*, Noah Hollendonner*, Sam Morrill*, Scott Fitts, Stoney Buell(MI)
Aj Steenbeke(7/4/1): Elliott Rodgers*, Jacob Linky*, Kamden Goering), Luke Davis, Noah Hollendonner(2)*, Stacey Terry(IL)
Nick Winland(8/6/0): AJ Steenbeke*, Isiah Levitz*, Jacob Linky*, Kaden Randazzo(IL), Kamare Dunlap, Noah Hollendonner(3)*
Damon Mcclain(8/8/0): Andrew Roth*, Braden Welch*, Cooper Noehre(3)*, Elliott Rodgers*, Peyton Asbury*, Tyler Wagner*
 
170
Graham Calhoun(0/0/11)
Robert Deters(1/1/7): Tristan Ruhlman*
Clayton Fielden(1/1/5): Tristan Ruhlman*
Brodie Porter(2/2/1): Clayton Lundy*, Jed Perry*
Bradley Harrington(3/3/3): Hayden Filipovich*, Tyler Wagner(2)*
Tristan Ruhlman(3/3/4): Gabe Sollars(2)*, Graham Calhoun*
Jacob Duncan(3/3/0): Brodie Porter*, Clayton Fielden*, Tytus Morrisett*
Gabe Davin(4/3/2): Bradley Harrington(2)*, Jajuan Dale, Robert Deters*
Braden Welch(4/3/4): Cody Timmerman*, Graham Calhoun(2)*, Hadyn Danals(OH)
Gabe Sollars(5/4/6): ???, Robert Deters(3)*, Tyler Wagner*
Tyler Wagner(5/5/7): Braden Welch*, Bradley Harrington*, Clayton Fielden*, Gabe Sollars*, Gavin Layman*
Gavin Layman(6/3/2): Clayton Fielden*, Graham Calhoun(2)*, Matt Neff(3)
Marcus Malson(6/2/0): Gabe Davin*, Seth Ortel, Tyler Wagner*, Tytus Ragle, Van Skinner(2)
Clayton Lundy(6/5/1): Clayton Fielden*, Graham Calhoun(3)*, Matt Neff, Tyler Wagner*
Jalen Ward(7/6/0): Braden Welch*, Gabe Sollars*, Robert Deters*, Tristan Ruhlman(2)*, Ty Welliever, Tyler Wagner*
Cody Timmerman(10/6/1): Abel Verbeek, Braden Welch*, Gabe Davin*, Gabe Sollars*, Gavin Layman*, Graham Calhoun(2)*, Jacob Simpson, Ronin Hammond, Will Coffield(OH)
 
182
Mason Winner(1/1/4): Jake Lone*
Macartney Parkinson(2/1/5): ???, Joseph Walker*
Jake Lone(2/2/5): Graham Calhoun*, Joseph Walker*
Colin Kwiatkowski(2/2/1): Khris Walton(2)*
Connor Barket(2/2/1): Khris Walton*, Zian Constable*
Joseph Walker(2/2/5): Colin Kwiatkowski*, Connor Barket*
Aiden Warren(3/2/9): Ahijah Sandifer, Joseph Walker*, MaCartney Parkinson*
Drake Buchanan(3/3/1): Caden Friedt*, Jake Lone*, MaCartney Parkinson*
Brendan Mcpike(3/3/0): MaCartney Parkinson*, Noah White(2)*
Kole Viel(4/2/0): Aiden Warren*, Colton Quantz(OH), Johnny Parker*, Noah Duke(KY)
Khris Walton(4/3/4): Jake Lone*, Johnny Parker*, Noah White*, Ray Arebalo(IL)
Hayden Filipovich(4/3/2): Aiden Warren(3)*, Brach Carrington
Zian Constable(5/5/2): Aiden Warren*, Caden Friedt*, Jacob LaPlace*, Khris Walton*, Mason Winner*
Noah White(6/6/5): Aiden Warren(2)*, Drake Buchanan*, Jake Lone*, Johnny Parker*, Joseph Walker*
Johnny Parker(6/6/4): Aiden Warren*, Hayden Filipovich*, Joseph Walker*, MaCartney Parkinson*, Noah White(2)*
Sam Walker(9/6/0): Blake Rowe, Caden Friedt*, Christian Summersett, Jackson Pettigrew*, Jake Lone*, Mason Winner(2)*, Tytan Grote(OH), Zian Constable*
 
195
Jacob Laplace(0/0/7)
Silas Allred(0/0/5)
Eli Pack(2/2/4): Jacob LaPlace(2)*
Mckinley Kemper(2/1/2): ???, Phoenix Rodgers*
Phoenix Rodgers(2/1/2): Luke Kemper, McKinley Kemper*
Jd Farrell(2/2/3): Silas Allred(2)*
Kyler Funk(2/2/4): Silas Allred(2)*
Matt Lepper(3/2/2): Ben Kahl, Caden Friedt*, Jacob LaPlace*
Caden Friedt(4/4/4): Aiden Warren*, Johnny Parker*, Kyler Funk*, Mason Winner*
Harris Eason(4/4/1): Eli Pack(2)*, Isaiah Street*, McKinley Kemper*
Ibrahim Khaoucha(6/3/0): Brock Hueber, Jacob LaPlace*, Jaden Miller(2), Kyler Funk*, Matt Lepper*
Richard Clevenger(7/5/0): Braden Rodriguez, Jacob Huffman(2)*, Jacob Platt, JD Farrell*, Kyler Funk*, Luke Bakeis*
Luke Bakeis(8/4/2): ???, Diego Garcia, Jack Hargan(2), Jacob LaPlace*, Jason Streck*, JD Farrell*, Kyler Funk*
Isaiah Street(9/3/1): Daemyen Middlebrooks(IL), Harris Eason*, Jack Hargan, Jacob Arengo(OH), Jacob Hough(MI), JD Farrell*, Phoenix Rodgers*, Ryan Krimpelbein(WI), Tucker Ikens(IL)
Gage Demarco(9/4/1): Brock Hueber, Chad Cowart(IL), Deshawn Young*, Eli Pack*, Jevonte Williams, Luke Bakeis*, Matt Lepper*, Nico Lopez(IL), Shea Jackson
Jacob Huffman(11/5/2): Brock Hueber, Commander Jenkins, Eli Pack*, Gage Demarco*, Jacob LaPlace*, Keon Sullivan(2), MaCartney Parkinson*, Owen Amburgy(OH)(2), Silas Allred*
 
220
Drew Webster(0/0/3)
Cale Gray(0/0/2)
Evan Bates(1/1/4): Andres Larios*
Nathan Willman(1/1/3): Will Stewart*
Fred Durben(1/1/3): Tristen Martz*
Deshawn Young(2/2/3): Drew Webster*, Micah Dodson*
Micah Dodson(2/1/5): Josh Howell, Nathan Willman*
Jason Streck(3/3/2): Evan Bates(2)*, William Crider*
Tristen Martz(4/2/1): Alex Hernandez, Cale Gray*, Drew Webster*, Parker Smitley
Blaine Pierce(4/2/1): Drew Webster*, Evan Shafer, Josh Howell, William Crider*
Will Stewart(4/2/2): ???, Macray Robinson, Micah Dodson*, Nathan Willman*
William Crider(4/3/4): Andrew Irick*, Braydon Erb*, Evan Bates*, Jonathan Williams
Jonathan Thomas(5/2/2): Chad McLean, Evan Bates*, Jason Streck*, Yehezquel DeVault(2)
Grant Warmuth(7/4/0): ???(3), Cale Gray*, Fred Durben(3)*
Haakon Van Beynen(10/4/1): Alexander Hernandez, Blaine Pierce*, Dakota Arvin, Deshawn Young*, Jeff McClure, Jonathan Thomas*, Josh Howell, Leighton Jones, Micah Dodson*, Scott Monteleone(KY)
Reese Condon(11/6/0): ???, Aataeveon Jordan, Deshawn Young*, Haakon Van Beynen*, Josh Howell, Leighton Jones, Macray Robinson, Micah Dodson(2)*, Nathan Willman*, Will Stewart*
 
285
Dorian Keys(0/0/9)
Logan Swallow(0/0/2)
Andrew Irick(1/1/6): Dorian Keys*
Damari Dancy(2/0/5): Dustin Olmstead(IL), Yehezquel DeVault
Reeve Muncie(3/2/2): Chad McLean, Holden Parsons*, Logan Swallow*
Braydon Erb(3/3/2): Andrew Irick*, Dennis Hubbard*, Reeve Muncie*
Holden Parsons(4/2/5): Andrew Irick*, Damari Dancy*, Ethan Alderson, Yehezquel DeVault
Sam Perez(5/2/5): Adam Warren, Damari Dancy(2)*, Daniel Thompson, Mason Toth
Robbie Gentry(5/3/5): Antone Alexander*, Dorian Keys(2)*, Matthew Munoz, Race Stewart
Ke`Tre Dickens(6/5/1): Dorian Keys(3)*, Jacob Johnson*, James Ralph, Robbie Gentry*
Antone Alexander(6/5/2): Andrew Irick(2)*, Dennis Hubbard(2)*, Dorian Keys*, Race Stewart
Andres Larios(6/5/2): Jorge Martinez, Sam Perez(5)*
Andrew Himes(7/5/0): Andres Larios*, Blake Herr, Damari Dancy*, Jonathan Thomas*, Jose Rosales*, William Crider*, Yehezquel DeVault
Jose Rosales(8/3/1): Blake Herr, Braydon Erb*, Chad McLean, Jacob Sommer, John Hinen, Logan Swallow*, William Crider*, Yehezquel DeVault
Jacob Johnson(9/8/1): Damari Dancy*, Dorian Keys*, Holden Parsons*, Ke`Tre Dickens*, Matt Munoz, Robbie Gentry(4)*
Dennis Hubbard(9/7/3): Andrew Irick*, Antone Alexander*, Cade Campbell(2), Dorian Keys*, Holden Parsons(3)*, Reeve Muncie*

4033 8
Oberlin taking over Homestead program
By DANE FUELLING There will be a new coach in the chair for Homestead High School come November, as the Southwest Allen County school named Andy Oberlin the next head coach of the wrestling team.    “I am extremely excited to be running the program,” said Oberlin in an interview Monday with the DDD. “As with most wrestlers, I like to be in control and have opinions on how things should be done and now I will get a chance to see if they will work.”   Oberlin takes over the Spartan program from former Snider wrestler Nathan Devaux, and heads a program that he has been coaching in some capacity since 2014. Oberlin says that for the first time in his personal life, he finally has time to balance his family, work and a head coaching job.    Devaux will continue with the program as an assistant, as well as Brent Stockman, who wrestled at Toledo University. Other assistants for 2020-21 will be Josh Michaels (Columbia City), Rick Greenwood (Elmhurst) and Mason Gaines (Fishers).    The new coach is a graduate of DeKalb High School, where he graduated in 1994.    “I had the pleasure of wrestling TIm Myers six times my sophomore and junior year,” Oberlin chuckled. Of the six losses he had his sophomore and junior year, four of them came from Myers. He was eliminated from the state tournament both years by Myers in the ticket round.    Oberlin’s Bellmont connection continued his senior year, where he handed Jason Hayes his only two losses of the year prior to his appearance in the state championship bout in 1994. The Baron wrestler finished fourth that year at 119.    His wrestling career continued at North Central College, a D3 school. A decade after leaving North Central, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Purdue University.    Oberlin began his coaching career in 1997 as an assistant for the well-travelled Rod Williams at Norwell. He returned to Dekalb a few years after that and coached under Tom Blackburn and later Jason Hunter.    “I truly love coaching kids because of what this sport did for me and what I see it do for athletes. There is a bond between a wrestling coach and an athlete that I personally don’t see in other sports. You are truly going into battle with them and that solidifies that bond. Personally, there is nothing better than watching a child start wrestling as a youth and then see that athlete wrestle his senior year.”   A full program, not just at the high school level, but all the way through the youth program, is Oberlin’s ultimate goal at one of the largest high schools in northeast Indiana.    “Over the last six years, we have taken a club of about 10 to 20 kids to a little more than 100 last year. Our middle school programs are starting to develop and grow.”   Over 70 kids competed on the district’s two middle school programs this season and the success of the program was higher than in recent memory.    When asked for goals for his tenure, Oberlin looked at the bigger picture.   “We, as a community, have to work to raise the level of wrestling in our area. I want Homestead to be a part of lifting this semi-state back up.”   A berth at Team State and a few state medals were just some of the big goals he has for the program. Oberlin noted that he worked with other coaches on a ten year plan when he came to the program and feels that with three years left, Homestead is still on pace to accomplish many of the original standards he set in 2014.    Oberlin admitted that competing with Bellmont is a goal of his.    “We have a pretty strong Thanksgiving Duals and I will make sure that Bellmont has a standing invitation to that.”   An invitation to compete at the prestigious Al Smith tournament at Mishawaka over the holidays is something that Oberlin feels his program can earn in the coming years.    Oberlin and his wife and three children reside in the SACS district. 
1802 8 2
Sarah Huse IndianaMat's first Miss Gorilla award winner
By JEREMY HINES
Thehines7@gmail.com
 
Sarah Huse didn’t know it, but she needed wrestling. Once she found it, her life has changed for the better.
 
“Everyone has their own sob story, I guess,” Huse, a senior at Lebanon High School, said. “But it’s what you do to overcome that story that matters.”
 
In 8th grade Huse struggled with her weight, and her confidence. She was 245 pounds, and according to her, still trying to figure out who she wanted to be.
 
So, she started trying to get in better shape. She took up dance, which helped with her flexibility and balance. Then, as a sophomore, a friend talked her into going out for wrestling. That’s where Huse started to make her mark.
 
In just three years she has went from a beginner, to a two-time state champion with multiple college offers. She is also this year’s Indianamat Miss Gorilla award winner, which recognizes the best senior female wrestler in the state.
 
Huse has pinned every single opponent through the IHSGW tournament for two consecutive years. This year she defeated Northview’s Mercedes Tellechea in the championship, pinning her in just 1:09 to win the 170-pound class. Huse also took home the Katie Downing Mental Attitude Award.
 
“When I started winning in wrestling is when I started feeling my best, mentally,” Huse said. “I was finally able to look myself in the mirror and be proud of who I am.”
 
When Huse first started wrestling, she was nervous to tell her family. Her dad, J, wrestled collegiately, but she wasn’t sure how he would react.
 
“I waited a few weeks before I told my family I was wrestling,” Sarah said. “When I finally told them, I think they thought I was kidding. When they found out I wasn’t kidding, my dad has been in my corner helping coach me ever since and my mom is always in the stands watching and cheering me on. When I get my hand raised, I always look to find her in the stands. That’s my favorite moment in wrestling.”
 
In addition to winning the individual title, Sarah also led Lebanon to the school’s first girls state team championship.
 
The team title is what Huse said she is most proud of, and coach Jeremy Goodlett knows she had a huge part in the Tiger’s success.
 
“Her attitude and work ethic are infectious with the other girls,” Goodlett said. “When we went up to the Penn tournament, we only had four girls go, because half the team was quarantined. She couldn’t go, but she woke up early and came and saw the girls off on the bus. She wanted to do a prayer session before everyone was going to wrestle. She was Facetiming girls after they got off the mat, giving them critiques and pointers and trying to encourage them.”
 
Huse said she wanted to win state as an individual, but she wanted even more to win the team title.
 
Huse regrets not getting involved with wrestling at a younger age. She said it has now become such a big part of her life.
 
“If I were to give advice to younger girls thinking about wrestling, I’d tell them you can’t be afraid to work for something,” Huse said. “It’s going to be hard, but you’re stronger than you believe and when you put your heart and work into it, it will be worth it.”
 
On the mat Sarah is an aggressive wrestler that likes to hit the single-leg takedowns. She’s 6-0 tall, so she uses her length to her advantage.
 
“She is always on the attack,” Goodlett said. “She is not a defensive wrestler. She is in your face. She’s going to club your head, snap you down and go for inside singles.”
 
Outside of wrestling Huse wants to go into the medical field. She is a good student with a 4.0 GPA. She loves hanging out with her teammates, going out to eat in the offseason, sledding in the winter and going to the Bible study her and her teammates started.
 
“Sarah is a very hard-working, fun-loving and caring person,” Goodlett said. “She is the type of person that no matter what type of day you’re having, she can make you smile or laugh. As a wrestler, she’s a coach’s dream. She’s a practice junkie and she’s always learning and trying new stuff. That will be important for her because she has little experience with freestyle, and that’s what women’s wrestling is in college.”

1905 8 1
National Event Preview for April 23-25th
The national scene for wrestling is starting to get back to normal this spring. In the past the spring has been littered with national level events and this week is no different with two big events going on. In Wisconsin there will be the UWW Cadet, UWW U15 and UWW Futures divisions and in Virginia Beach the NHSCA grade level nationals will be held. Indiana will have many representatives in each event.
 
UWW Cadet/U15/Futures in Wisconsin
As of registration on Thursday morning Indiana will have 15 different wrestlers participating at this event with most of them doubling up in both freestyle and Greco-roman. The UWW Cadet division has a lot at stake as winners will be representing the USA in the world and Pan Am championships this off-season. The UWW U15 age group winners will represent the USA at the Pan Am championships this off-season. At the cadet division you will see wrestlers from 15 to 17 years old, which encompasses basically 8th graders through high school juniors. The U15 age group is 13 to 15 year olds and the Futures division is 10-12 year old competitors.
 
In the Futures division we have two competitors, Samuel Rioux and Elias Faith. Rioux is a name that will likely be in the Avon lineup until about the year 3000, so keep an eye on all of the brothers coming up. Samuel is a multiple time ISWA placer. Faith is wrestling in both styles and is a multiple time ISWA champion and placer. He wrestles for the Maurer Coughlin wrestling club. Both of these guys are wrestling at the 28kg weight class which is just under 62lbs.
 
The U15 age group has some very intriguing wrestlers to watch for the future in Indiana wrestling. At 38kg we have both Nathan Rioux and Caleb Schaefer. Rioux has had an immense amount of success at the state level. Schaefer is the son of Mater Dei coach Greg Schaefer and has had quite a bit of success himself. Revin Dickman is one to keep an eye on not only this weekend, but in the years to come. He has been nationally ranked for a couple years and certainly is a contender for a title here. He will be wrestling 41kg. Another Rioux will take the mat at 44kg in Luke. He was a starter this year for Avon and while undersized had a fine freshman year. Speaking of brothers Isaiah Schaefer will be wrestling 48kg. He was a middle school state runner-up and has been a fixture at the top of ISWA events for a while. Delta freshman Wyatt Krejsa will be wrestling 62kg. He was a semi-state qualifier this year at 126lbs and has won folkstyle state and Indy Nationals this off-season so far. Lastly, De’Alcapon Veazy will be taking his talents to the mat at 85kg. Veazy is another one that has been recognized in the national rankings and will be one to watch this weekend. Both Rioux’s, Dickman, Krejsa, and Veazy will all be wrestling both styles this weekend.
 
Six wrestlers will test their abilities against the best in the country trying to make the UWW Cadet World Team this weekend. Leading the way is state champion Sergio Lemley at 60kg. According to the experts he is a strong contender to win the spot in a very deep weight class. Indiana will have some very talented wrestlers in the upper weights. At 80kg Seth Willems and Drake Buchanan will both be participating. Buchanan was on the U15 Pan Am team before his freshman year and was a runner-up this year at state. Willems has been a solid contributor in the upper weights for Crown Point. At 92kg we will have West Lafayette’s Connor Barket. He has steadily improved each year finishing this year as a state placer. Leighton Jones will be a contender at 110kg. Jones placed third this past year at heavyweight and was a Cadet Greco-Roman All-American back in 2019. Michael Tharpe of Center Grove is the last competitor from Indiana. He will be wrestling 55kg. He was a state qualifier at 126lbs this season. All six of these wrestlers will be wrestling both styles to increase their chances of making Team USA.
 
Schedule
Friday, April 23rd
Session I
UWW U15 Greco-Roman
UWW Cadet Greco-Roman
Preliminaries and Consolation
10:00am – 2:00pm
 
Session II
UWW U15 Greco-Roman
UWW Cadet Greco-Roman
Consolation, Semifinals, Consolation Semis, 3rd-7th place matches, Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals
4:00pm – 8:00pm
 
Saturday, April 24th
Session III
UWW U15 Freestyle
UWW Cadet Freestyle
Preliminaries and Consolation
10:00am – 2:00pm
 
Session IV
UWW U15 Freestyle
UWW Cadet Freestyle
Quarterfinals, Consolations
4:00pm – 8:00pm
 
UWW Futures Freestyle
Preliminaries to completion
4:00pm – 8:00pm
 
Sunday, April 25th
Session V
UWW U15 Freestyle
UWW Cadet Freestyle
Semifinals, Consolation, Cons Semis, Best 2 out of 3 Championship Finals, 3rd-7th place matches.
10:00am – 2:00pm
 
UWW Futures Greco-Roman
Preliminaries to completion
10:00am – 2:00pm
 
Brackets
On Arena.Flowrestling.org
Participants
Age Weight Name Team U15 Freestyle 38 kg Nathan Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 38 kg Caleb Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 41 kg Revin Dickman Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 44 kg Luke Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 48 kg Isaiah Schaefer Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club U15 Freestyle 62 kg Wyatt Krejsa High Rollers Wrestling Academy U15 Freestyle 85 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Warrior Elite Wrestling U15 Greco-Roman 38 kg Nathan Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 41 kg Revin Dickman Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 44 kg Luke Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 62 kg Wyatt Krejsa High Rollers Wrestling Academy U15 Greco-Roman 85 kg De'Alcapon Veazy Warrior Elite Wrestling UWW Cadet Freestyle 110 kg Leighton Jones Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Freestyle 55 kg Michael Tharpe Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 60 kg Sergio Lemley Region Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Freestyle 80 kg Seth Willems Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 80 kg Drake Buchanan Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Freestyle 92 kg Connor Barket Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 110 kg Leighton Jones Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 55 kg Michael Tharpe Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 60 kg Sergio Lemley Region Wrestling Academy UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 80 kg Seth Willems Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 80 kg Drake Buchanan Center Grove Wrestling Club UWW Cadet Greco-Roman 92 kg Connor Barket Red Cobra Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Freestyle 28 kg Samuel Rioux Contenders Wrestling Academy UWW Futures Freestyle 28 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club UWW Futures Greco-Roman 28 kg Elias Faith Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club  
 
NHSCA Nationals
The NHSCA grade level nationals always brings in the best competition from around the country. This year Indiana will have 34 wrestlers participating with most of them from the Indianapolis area. Perry Meridian is bringing 16 of those wrestlers with Warren Central and Southport having four representatives each. Unlike the event in Wisconsin, this is a folkstyle event.
 
In the senior divison we will have only two wrestlers. Southport’s Luke Goodwin will be wrestling at 132lbs. Goodwin placed 7th the past two years at 132lbs and 138lbs respectively. Perry Meridian’s Aidan Warren will be wrestling at 182lbs. Warren is no stranger to national level competition and accumulated three third place medals during his career as a Falcon.
 
The junior division will have three wrestlers with state placements in the mix. At 106lbs Southport’s Nathan Smith will be competing. He was 7th this year at 106lbs. Penn’s Matteo Vargo is no stranger to the area and will bring his 5th place finish back to an area that he is familiar with. Tyler Jones of Warren Central will be wrestling at 160lbs. He has placed 6th and 7th the past two years.
 
Leading the way in the sophomore division will be two-time state runner-up Cheaney Schoeff of Avon. He will be at 126lbs. The only other state placer in the field from Indiana is Perry Meridian’s Toby Billerman. He was 3rd at 106lbs this year and is at that weight this weekend. A pair of state qualifiers rounds out the top wrestlers in Hobart’s Devin Wible at 126lbs and Perry Meridian’s Keaton Morton at 120lbs.
 
State third placer Kyrel Leavell will be at 113lbs in the freshman division. Leavell was very impressive for the Warriors this past year. State qualifier Duke Myers will be at 170lbs representing the storied Bellmont program. He is no stranger to national level success so keep an eye out for him.
Do not be surprised if some of the young studs from Perry Meridian or Warren Central have deep runs in this division. Both teams have some very good wrestlers entered that will make an impact soon on the state level.
 
In the middle school division keep an eye on ISWA champion Angelo Vargo from Penn. Others that were recent ISWA folkstyle placers include Perry Meridian’s Peyton Brummitt and Hobart’s Seth Aubin.
 
Schedule
Friday April 23rd
7:45am: Session 1 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
Boys Freshman Division: 106lbs-HWT
Boys Sophomore Division: 170lbs -HWT
 
11:00am: Session 2 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
Boys Sophomore Division: 106lbs-160lbs
 
2:15pm: Session 3 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
Boys Junior Division: 106lbs-160lbs
 
5:30pm: Session 4 Championship Matches Only, No Consolation Matches
Boys Junior Division: 170lbs-HWT
Boys Senior Division: 113lbs-HWT
 
Saturday April 24th
7:45am: Session 1
Boys Freshman Division: 106lbs-HWT
Boys Sophomore Division: 170lbs -HWT
 
11:00am: Session 2
Boys Sophomore Division: 106lbs-160lbs
 
2:15pm: Session 3
Boys Junior Division: 106lbs-160lbs
 
5:30pm: Session 4
Session 2 wrestlers
 
Sunday April 25th
7:45am: Session 1
High School All-Americans
 
11:00am: Session 2
Middle School and Girls High School
 
Brackets
https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/34134d1f-0569-4435-b8bb-db2266ec16f6
 
Participants
Senior(2)
132 Luke Goodwin- Southport
182 Aiden Warren- Perry Meridian
 
Junior(6)
106 Nathan Smith- Southport
120 Trevor Schammert- Hobart
126 Matteo Vargo- Penn
160 Tyler Jones- Warren Central
170 Jesse Herrera- Highland
285 Kai SanAgustin- Perry Meridian
 
Sophomore(9)
106 Toby Billerman- Perry Meridian
120 Kenny Shotts- Perry Meridian
120 Keaton Morton- Perry Meridian
126 Cheaney Schoeff- Avon
126 Devin Wible- Hobart
138 Andrew Goodwin- Southport
160 Daunte Hon- Perry Meridian
195 Ronin Hammond- Perry Meridian
285 Nolan Martin- Perry Meridian
 
Freshman(12)
113 Ryan Taylor- Perry Meridian
113 Kyrel Leavell- Warren Central
126 Keegan Logan- Southport
132 Zachariah Harris- Perry Meridian
132 Kohlten Rhonemus- Delta
152 Zach Huckaby- Perry Meridian
152 Branson Beckam- Perry Meridian
160 Anthony Cashman- Warren Central
170 Duke Myers- Bellmont
170 Cadyn McBride- Perry Meridian
220 Jaylen Young- Perry Meridian
220 Timothy Wine- Delta
 
Middle School(5)
85 Jack Richardson- Perry Meridian
95 Peyton Brummitt- Perry Meridian
105 Seth Aubin- Hobart
112 Angelo Vargo- Penn
127 Michael Ortega- Portage
 

6115 8
2023 Semi-State Information Center
Date: Saturday February 11, 2023
Admission: $12 per person. Children age 5 and younger admitted free.
Advancement: The top four place winners in each weight class advance to the state finals.
Streaming: A bundled package that includes access to all four semi-state sites, as well as next weekend's state finals, is available via IHSAAtv.org for $25. Access to all four semi-states only is available for $15. If you have a FloPro+ plan, you may also view the livestream at FloWrestling.com.
 
1. East Chicago Central (John C. Baratto Athletic Center) | 9 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Crown Point, Hobart, Logansport, Penn.
TrackWrestling Brackets
IndianaMat Brackets
Pick'ems Link
 
2. New Haven (Allen County War Memorial Coliseum) | 8:30 am ET
Feeder Regionals: Carroll (Fort Wayne), Goshen, Jay County, Peru.
TrackWrestling Brackets
IndianaMat Brackets
Pick'ems Link
 
3. New Castle (New Castle Fieldhouse) | 9 am ET
Feeder Regionals: Frankfort, Pendleton Heights, Perry Meridian, Richmond.
TrackWrestling Brackets
IndianaMat Brackets
Pick'ems Link
 
 
4. Evansville F.J. Reitz  (Ford Center) | 9 am CT
Feeder Regionals: Bloomington South, Castle, Jeffersonville, Mooresville.
TrackWrestling Brackets
IndianaMat Brackets
Pick'ems Link
 
All-Time Pick'em History
Click here to see where you stand in the all-time history of IndianaMat(and even BEFORE) pick'ems
 
Podcasts
High School Wrestling Weekly
Gorilla Radio #151 East Chicago along with 106lbs and 126lbs from New Castle
Gorilla Radio #152 with Dustin Bentz talking about Evansville
 
Articles
Evansville Semi-State Preview

1101 8
Who do you want in your corner at state? 2024 Version
Our latest edition of this annual article will always garner lots of responses from everyone. The simple fact is, we have coaches that have a lot of success of Friday night. Winning on Friday gets the kid to the award stand and they get to take home a nice souvenir. This year's list has the usual suspects at the top in Sean McGinley, Darrick Snyder, Branden Lorek, and the pride of Osceola Jerimiah Maggart. Obviously these guys do not do it alone and are surrounded by great assistants, but the bottom line is when these guys are the leaders good things happen on Friday night.
 
Over the course of Indiana history only two coaches have reached 100 state placers during their career. Sean McGinley heads into the state finals with 97 state placers and he has seven chances to get three to the podium. Not too far behind is Brownsburg's Darrick Snyder who is at 87 and will have a shot to hit 100 next year with a good Friday evening.
 
Check out our coaches history page for more information on the top coaches
https://indianamat.com/index.php?/history/coachingstate.html/
 
Remember this is strictly data driven analysis and we will all have our own opinions based on who we want in the corner. 
 
If you want to see all the data here is the link. 
Click here for all of the data
 
Current coaches with 10+ state qualifiers from 1992-2023

Coach Qualifiers Placers Fri % Current School Sean McGinley 127 97 76.38% Indianapolis Cathedral Darrick Snyder 115 87 75.65% Brownsburg Branden Lorek 52 39 75.00% Crown Point Jerimiah Maggart 12 9 75.00% Jimtown Zach Whickcar 11 8 72.73% Elkhart Alex Johns 10 7 70.00% Avon Chris Cooper 42 29 69.05% Columbus East Joshua Holden 19 13 68.42% Greenfield-Central Maurice Swain 36 24 66.67% Center Grove Greg Schaefer 94 61 64.89% Evansville Mater Dei Jake O'Neill 14 9 64.29% Warren Central Gary Black 11 7 63.64% New Castle Pat Dowty 11 7 63.64% Indian Creek David Maldonado 93 59 63.44% Merrillville Jim Tonte 112 71 63.39% Franklin Community Matt Schoettle 43 25 58.14% Perry Meridian Bill Flatt 23 13 56.52% South Bend Riley Dan Briggs 25 14 56.00% Carroll (Fort Wayne) Tony Abbott 36 20 55.56% Cowan Bob Harmon 63 34 53.97% Castle Mike Runyon 25 13 52.00% Bloomington South Chad Shepherd 29 15 51.72% Western Ed Pendoski 82 42 51.22% Carmel Doug Welch 14 7 50.00% Zionsville Louie Kuzdas 29 14 48.28% LaPorte Dennis Lewis 27 13 48.15% NorthWood Jim Pickard 44 21 47.73% Goshen Gabe Cook 13 6 46.15% Terre Haute South Clint Gard 24 11 45.83% Rochester Jason Cook 11 5 45.45% Wheeler Eric Myers 32 14 43.75% Jay County Scott Ferguson 39 17 43.59% Evansville Reitz Brandon Sisson 21 9 42.86% Floyd Central Brad Harper 82 33 40.24% Penn Dan Mikesell 15 6 40.00% Mooresville Luke Triveline 10 4 40.00% Lake Central Adam Wolf 10 4 40.00% East Central Andy Hobbs 43 17 39.53% Peru Danny Struck 21 8 38.10% Jeffersonville Dean Branstetter 16 6 37.50% Attica Tony Currie 19 7 36.84% Adams Central Dave Cloud 30 11 36.67% Pendleton Heights Nick Brobst 11 4 36.36% Hamilton Southeastern Jamie Welliever 14 5 35.71% Southmont James Linn 14 5 35.71% New Haven Doug Smoker 21 7 33.33% Eastside Andrew King 28 9 32.14% Oak Hill Brett Smith 13 4 30.77% Prairie Heights Johnny Henry 13 4 30.77% Harrison (WL) Jim Wadkins 22 6 27.27% Calumet Steven Sandefer 22 6 27.27% Mishawaka Bobby Whitenack 11 3 27.27% New Prairie Sam Riesen 11 3 27.27% East Noble Nick Kraus 21 5 23.81% Garrett Blane Culp 17 4 23.53% Columbia City Doug Deters 13 3 23.08% Franklin County Tom Miller 18 2 11.11% Lafayette Jefferson  
All coaches with 10+ state qualifiers from 1992-2023

Coach Qualifiers Placers Fri % Wiley Craft 12 11 91.67% Todd Kendrick 13 11 84.62% Frank Svarczkopf, Jr. 12 10 83.33% Wade McClurg 17 14 82.35% Travis Walls 26 21 80.77% Dan Gelarden 15 12 80.00% Brett Crousore 39 31 79.49% Nick Petrov 24 19 79.17% Perry Summitt 13 10 76.92% Sean McGinley 127 97 76.38% Darrick Snyder 115 87 75.65% Branden Lorek 52 39 75.00% Jerimiah Maggart 12 9 75.00% Brian Weaver 12 9 75.00% Al Smith 26 19 73.08% Zach Whickcar 11 8 72.73% Justin Smith 11 8 72.73% Rod Wartman 11 8 72.73% Alex Johns 10 7 70.00% Keith Grant 10 7 70.00% Alan Goddard 10 7 70.00% Dennis Miesle 10 7 70.00% Duboris Dickerson 13 9 69.23% Grodie Crick 13 9 69.23% Chris Cooper 42 29 69.05% Joshua Holden 19 13 68.42% Mike Atwood 19 13 68.42% Paul Nicodemus 19 13 68.42% Lance Rhodes 31 21 67.74% Mike Goebel 111 74 66.67% Maurice Swain 36 24 66.67% Paul Voigt 15 10 66.67% Kevin Blundell 12 8 66.67% Bill Kelly 26 17 65.38% Greg Schaefer 94 61 64.89% Lance Ellis 17 11 64.71% Jake O'Neill 14 9 64.29% Zach Errett 28 18 64.29% Chad Red 25 16 64.00% Gary Black 11 7 63.64% Pat Dowty 11 7 63.64% Joe Virgin 11 7 63.64% David Maldonado 93 59 63.44% Jim Tonte 112 71 63.39% Matthew Behling 19 12 63.16% Brian Seltzer 40 25 62.50% Robert Emerick 29 18 62.07% Bob Jarrett 13 8 61.54% Jack Grimaldi 13 8 61.54% Rob Willman 18 11 61.11% John Kopnisky 10 6 60.00% Brent Faurote 109 65 59.63% Kevin Troy 32 19 59.38% David Walpole 17 10 58.82% Russel Feigert 41 24 58.54% Dave Thompson 24 14 58.33% Matt Schoettle 43 25 58.14% Royce Deckard 64 37 57.81% Steve Balash 52 30 57.69% Bob Read 26 15 57.69% Keith Hoffar 28 16 57.14% Kyle Poyer 28 16 57.14% Mike Smorin 14 8 57.14% Jim Nicholson 14 8 57.14% Bill Flatt 23 13 56.52% Larry Tharp 23 13 56.52% Trent McCormick 103 58 56.31% Bobby Howard 16 9 56.25% John Cook 16 9 56.25% Dan Briggs 25 14 56.00% Bob Hasseman 68 38 55.88% Tony Abbott 36 20 55.56% Lance Beehler 18 10 55.56% Danny Williams 20 11 55.00% Jamie Wingler 11 6 54.55% Jason Warthan 11 6 54.55% James Colias 11 6 54.55% Kenny Wallace 11 6 54.55% Clarence Warthan 24 13 54.17% Israel Blevins 37 20 54.05% Chris Joll 63 34 53.97% Bob Harmon 63 34 53.97% Mike Ester 26 14 53.85% Jake Harreld 13 7 53.85% Bob Brennan 15 8 53.33% Jared Williams 40 21 52.50% Rex Peckinpaugh 73 38 52.05% Mike Runyon 25 13 52.00% Chad Shepherd 29 15 51.72% Andy Simon 35 18 51.43% Scott Vlink 76 39 51.32% Ed Pendoski 82 42 51.22% Leroy Vega 43 22 51.16% Randy Kearby 34 17 50.00% Jim Ledbetter 28 14 50.00% Doug Welch 14 7 50.00% T. Howard Jones Jr. 22 11 50.00% Todd Sacksteder 20 10 50.00% Kevin King 18 9 50.00% Frank Bumgardner 16 8 50.00% Chris Campbell 14 7 50.00% Bill Yozipovich 14 7 50.00% Mark Bruner 12 6 50.00% Mark Kirchgassner 12 6 50.00% Lee Fry 10 5 50.00% Chris Svarczkopf 10 5 50.00% Larry Hazuga 10 5 50.00% Christopher Kern 10 5 50.00% Henry Wilk 43 21 48.84% Mark Kerrn 39 19 48.72% Louie Kuzdas 29 14 48.28% Dennis Lewis 27 13 48.15% Jim Pickard 44 21 47.73% Terry O'Neill 19 9 47.37% Scott Dehart 17 8 47.06% Cale Hoover 26 12 46.15% Gabe Cook 13 6 46.15% Rod Williams 13 6 46.15% Tony Boley 24 11 45.83% Clint Gard 24 11 45.83% Jason Cook 11 5 45.45% Bud Palmer 11 5 45.45% Steve Wewe 11 5 45.45% Bo Henry 11 5 45.45% Eric Myers 32 14 43.75% Phil Smith 16 7 43.75% Scott Ferguson 39 17 43.59% Brandon Sisson 21 9 42.86% Rick Stenftenagel 14 6 42.86% David Caple 14 6 42.86% Lou Silverman 40 17 42.50% Scott Schwarz 26 11 42.31% Eric Highley 19 8 42.11% Jim HIttler 12 5 41.67% Ryan Wells 17 7 41.18% Steve VanderAa 17 7 41.18% Larry Mattingly 37 15 40.54% Brad Harper 82 33 40.24% Mark Line 20 8 40.00% Dan Mikesell 15 6 40.00% Luke Triveline 10 4 40.00% Adam Wolf 10 4 40.00% Scott Raypole 15 6 40.00% Ryan Landis 10 4 40.00% James Binkley 10 4 40.00% Sam DiPrimio 10 4 40.00% Gene Backes 10 4 40.00% Murray Miller 10 4 40.00% James Phillips 10 4 40.00% Kevin Taylor 10 4 40.00% Andy Hobbs 43 17 39.53% Steve Pugliese 23 9 39.13% Al Hartman 36 14 38.89% Ed Fox 13 5 38.46% Greg Gastineau 13 5 38.46% Danny Struck 21 8 38.10% Dean Branstetter 16 6 37.50% Tony Currie 19 7 36.84% Dave Cloud 30 11 36.67% Nick Brobst 11 4 36.36% Gary Fox 11 4 36.36% Gary Schliessman 11 4 36.36% Tony Grater 11 4 36.36% Tony Starks 11 4 36.36% Derek Bocock 14 5 35.71% Jamie Welliever 14 5 35.71% James Linn 14 5 35.71% Mark Scott 20 7 35.00% Paul Gunsett 20 7 35.00% David Errett 20 7 35.00% Barry Humble 18 6 33.33% Robert Freije 18 6 33.33% Josh Dommer 15 5 33.33% Doug Smoker 21 7 33.33% Todd Fakes 12 4 33.33% Andrew King 28 9 32.14% Matt Koontz 13 4 30.77% Randy Pursley 13 4 30.77% Brett Smith 13 4 30.77% Johnny Henry 13 4 30.77% Chuck Fleshman 10 3 30.00% John Bennett 10 3 30.00% Lonnie Chamberlain 10 3 30.00% Nicholas Eckert 14 4 28.57% George Gardner 18 5 27.78% Jim Wadkins 22 6 27.27% Steven Sandefer 22 6 27.27% Bobby Whitenack 11 3 27.27% Tim Alcorn 11 3 27.27% Sam Riesen 11 3 27.27% Ron Anderson 11 3 27.27% Eric Burres 12 3 25.00% Nick Kraus 21 5 23.81% Blane Culp 17 4 23.53% Doug Deters 13 3 23.08% Byron Sweet 10 2 20.00% Kevin Wilkinson 10 2 20.00% Ken Houston 16 3 18.75% Denny Schwartz 16 3 18.75% Scott VanDerAa 15 2 13.33% Tom Miller 18 2 11.11% Al Thomas 10 1 10.00% Tim Sloffer 12 1 8.33% Doug Schultz 13 1 7.69%
4660 7
Big Seven Seniors Announce College Choices
The last of the big seven has announced his college plans as Merrillville’s Purple Hulk is going to be a Boilermaker next year. Streck is going to take on double duty as he will play football also in West Lafayette.
 
With Streck’s announcement it wraps up a lot of projecting and speculating of where our top seniors are headed. The first ones to announce their intentions were Kobe Woods and Blake Rypel who both project at the 197lbs weight class. Both will stay in-state with Woods going to Purdue and Rypel to Indiana.
 
The next big announcement was Chad Red’s plans. There had been much speculation on his destination as he is one of the top recruits in the country. Red decided to head west to the Big Red and Nebraska.
 
Within the past two weeks we have had announcements from Drew Hughes, Jacob Covaciu, and Brock Hudkins. Hughes will head north and sport some green while wrestling for Michigan State. Covaicu will also head north, but his destination is Madison and to join the Badgers. Lastly, Brock Hudkins will head to Northern Illinois next year.
 
While the seven returning champions have received the most press in regards to their college choices, there have been others that have made early commitments. Austin Holmes of Hamilton Southeastern will join the Indiana Hoosiers. Drew Hildebrandt will look to man the 125lbs spot at Central Michigan. Finally, Cael McCormick will join Army West Point next year.
Good luck to all these athletes as they represent the state at the collegiate level.

2549 7
2019-2020 Genius Ratings
Here are Genius Ratings for the full season of 2019-20 in Indiana. Remember that they use the same baseline mathematical system that is used by mainstream sports websites' "computer ratings" and by Las Vegas in determining point spreads. These ratings consider every dual and tournament in the IndianaMat database for the whole year, with the exception of some specific early-season results for teams that played football late. The difference in rating between two teams represents roughly the expected point spread if those two teams wrestled a dual. Multiply that same point spread by 3 to estimate the favored team's expected gap in a tournament. 
 
 
Rank Team Rating SoS SoS Rank 1 Evansville Mater Dei 114.90 59.04 15 2 Indianapolis Cathedral 109.74 59.53 12 3 Brownsburg 104.74 61.47 4 4 Warren Central 99.62 56.94 18 5 Carmel 98.96 64.37 3 6 Crown Point 96.83 53.17 29 7 Chesterton 93.77 60.56 8 8 Perry Meridian 89.21 61.13 5 9 Mishawaka 86.07 60.12 9 10 East Central 85.79 29.73 176 11 Northridge 82.95 40.58 104 12 Franklin Community 79.75 53.90 25 13 Harrison (WL) 78.15 44.73 76 14 Roncalli 77.93 49.60 51 15 Avon 77.23 70.59 1 16 Hobart 75.64 49.57 52 17 Carroll(Fort Wayne) 73.08 52.12 33 18 Mount Vernon (Fortville) 73.01 41.29 97 19 Westfield 72.42 53.50 27 20 North Posey 71.99 36.92 125 21 Merrillville 71.96 51.20 39 22 Garrett 71.48 42.63 91 23 Columbus East 71.38 58.28 16 24 Bellmont 70.64 52.12 32 25 Penn 69.63 56.48 19 26 Terre Haute South 69.54 32.70 160 27 Hamilton Southeastern 67.50 50.10 47 28 Zionsville 67.32 59.09 14 29 Columbia City 66.90 48.57 56 30 Portage 66.42 50.05 48 31 Oak Hill 66.40 25.92 215 32 Center Grove 65.20 56.22 22 33 Franklin Central 63.75 52.09 34 34 Norwell 61.98 43.72 83 35 Western 61.91 37.26 121 36 Greenfield-Central 61.23 52.07 35 37 Jimtown 61.15 41.20 98 38 Lake Central 60.18 56.25 21 39 Bloomington South 58.92 65.54 2 40 Wawasee 58.53 47.98 61 41 Floyd Central 58.30 50.72 41 42 Mount Vernon (Posey) 58.27 32.28 163 43 Greencastle 57.82 23.68 243 44 Kokomo 57.80 26.68 207 45 Centerville 56.63 12.03 305 46 Fishers 56.35 38.97 111 47 South Bend Riley 54.42 48.84 55 48 Edgewood 54.38 42.64 90 49 Castle 54.11 46.82 66 50 Plymouth 53.83 50.19 45 51 New Prairie 53.47 16.20 285 52 Southport 52.71 27.42 201 53 LaPorte 52.60 60.58 7 54 New Palestine 52.46 48.14 59 55 Goshen 52.09 56.10 23 56 Peru 51.90 40.71 102 57 Evansville Memorial 51.69 52.03 36 58 Homestead 51.44 34.51 140 59 Mooresville 51.30 53.58 26 60 Fort Wayne Snider 51.26 48.31 58 61 Bluffton 51.15 22.13 255 62 NorthWood 50.71 41.63 96 63 Delta 50.62 40.96 101 64 Wabash 49.87 37.27 120 65 Jeffersonville 49.65 59.69 11 66 Southmont 49.62 23.44 246 67 Plainfield 49.46 48.48 57 68 Martinsville 49.01 43.44 86 69 Lowell 49.01 49.98 49 70 Southridge 48.95 37.64 116 71 Ben Davis 48.79 43.73 82 72 North Central 48.49 51.87 38 73 Pendleton Heights 48.39 43.89 79 74 Monrovia 48.00 26.94 204 75 Warsaw 47.46 47.59 63 76 Tell City 47.39 37.79 115 77 Charlestown 47.19 40.19 106 78 McCutcheon 47.07 42.81 88 79 Valparaiso 47.04 50.75 40 80 Hamilton Heights 46.58 32.40 162 81 Lawrence North 46.37 45.86 72 82 Evansville Reitz 46.29 43.83 80 83 Leo 44.19 40.07 107 84 Frankton 43.99 21.36 260 85 Fairhaven 43.74 33.20 153 86 Maconaquah 43.48 21.50 259 87 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger 43.34 33.99 144 88 Gibson Southern 43.32 54.91 24 89 Prairie Heights 43.32 41.06 100 90 Jasper 42.81 34.50 141 91 Boonville 42.55 22.07 257 92 Decatur Central 42.11 41.14 99 93 Terre Haute North 41.69 26.48 211 94 West Vigo 41.64 34.19 143 95 Huntington North 41.61 47.65 62 96 Alexandria 41.47 12.50 304 97 Churubusco 41.17 30.41 172 98 Adams Central 40.32 34.76 137 99 Tippecanoe Valley 39.72 16.86 282 100 Manchester 39.66 16.27 284 101 Cowan 39.35 14.01 298 102 Elkhart Central 38.69 46.78 67 103 Marion 38.56 17.76 273 104 Noblesville 38.53 49.61 50 105 Lawrenceburg 38.42 23.85 240 106 Anderson 38.04 29.22 182 107 Evansville Central 37.97 51.87 37 108 Eastside 37.72 28.13 190 109 Jennings County 37.70 43.50 85 110 Jay County 37.58 35.42 132 111 Rensselaer Central 37.13 14.05 296 112 Whiteland 37.11 34.71 138 113 Fremont 36.85 19.99 268 114 Winamac 36.00 10.13 306 115 Frankfort 35.64 22.30 254 116 DeKalb 35.07 31.68 167 117 Madison 34.88 6.23 309 118 Heritage Hills 34.62 47.05 65 119 Greenwood 34.57 48.10 60 120 Attica 33.35 19.38 269 121 Lebanon 33.29 50.42 44 122 Lafayette Jefferson 33.18 25.27 227 123 New Haven 32.94 37.16 122 124 Eastern (Greentown) 32.83 29.71 177 125 Milan 32.03 14.03 297 126 Sullivan 31.69 45.95 71 127 South Dearborn 31.54 39.98 108 128 East Noble 31.49 43.77 81 129 Rushville 31.39 27.70 194 130 Kankakee Valley 31.32 29.05 185 131 Northview 31.31 30.93 171 132 Elkhart Memorial 31.00 60.83 6 133 South Adams 30.96 24.14 237 134 Evansville North 30.72 59.72 10 135 South Bend Adams 30.56 57.48 17 136 Highland 30.36 26.14 213 137 Daleville 29.85 18.09 271 138 Hammond Gavit 29.80 46.21 69 139 West Noble 29.78 32.72 159 140 Bloomington North 29.44 42.20 93 141 Indianapolis Lutheran 29.09 36.17 130 142 Beech Grove 28.16 33.82 148 143 Concord 27.65 45.15 74 144 Indianapolis Scecina 27.48 25.81 218 145 Eastern (Pekin) 25.88 2.82 311 146 Lawrence Central 25.06 37.40 119 147 North Montgomery 24.72 43.62 84 148 Fort Wayne Concordia 24.71 23.39 247 149 Monroe Central 24.57 13.66 300 150 Richmond 23.93 33.00 155 151 Western Boone 23.70 17.66 274 152 South Vermillion 23.64 9.75 307 153 River Forest 23.62 25.31 226 154 Corydon Central 23.31 17.15 276 155 Southern Wells 23.19 21.25 261 156 Rochester 22.37 34.27 142 157 Indian Creek 22.37 49.43 53 158 Pike 21.97 27.22 202 159 North Newton 21.93 12.75 303 160 New Castle 21.71 39.58 109 161 Knightstown 21.63 13.83 299 162 Cascade 21.10 22.78 252 163 Madison-Grant 20.91 28.39 189 164 Seymour 20.60 50.14 46 165 John Glenn 20.22 17.09 277 166 Purdue Polytechnic 19.55 13.16 302 167 Brown County 19.42 38.41 114 168 Angola 19.31 42.82 87 169 Seeger 19.29 13.44 301 170 Lafayette Central Catholic 19.20 29.55 180 171 Northwestern 18.91 26.61 208 172 Sheridan 18.42 24.01 239 173 Owen Valley 18.22 36.79 126 174 Franklin County 18.11 45.08 75 175 Union City 18.07 26.52 210 176 Shenandoah 18.02 14.48 293 177 Cloverdale 17.87 17.52 275 178 Crawfordsville 17.48 32.75 158 179 Vincennes Lincoln 17.44 52.49 30 180 Twin Lakes 17.28 33.30 152 181 Triton Central 17.21 32.80 157 182 Lake Station Edison 17.18 37.14 123 183 Griffith 17.08 28.13 191 184 Calumet 16.66 31.09 169 185 LaVille 16.55 6.01 310 186 Hebron 15.73 20.24 265 187 West Lafayette 15.67 25.84 217 188 Guerin Catholic 15.47 31.71 166 189 Columbus North 15.21 53.34 28 190 Benton Central 15.04 15.42 287 191 Woodlan 14.90 28.98 186 192 Cass 14.32 16.91 280 193 Faith Christian 14.02 14.38 295 194 Pike Central 13.98 44.65 77 195 Culver Academies 13.94 56.31 20 196 Munster 13.36 31.90 165 197 Cambridge City Lincoln 12.68 29.61 178 198 Hanover Central 12.62 27.67 195 199 Danville 12.57 42.68 89 200 Connersville 12.48 24.68 233 201 Northfield 12.21 36.52 127 202 East Chicago Central 12.03 25.80 219 203 Evansville Harrison 11.91 23.10 251 204 Mississinewa 11.79 38.56 113 205 Fort Wayne South Side 11.54 20.35 264 206 Princeton 11.09 42.05 94 207 Wheeler 11.02 25.71 222 208 Lapel 11.01 22.74 253 209 Clinton Prairie 10.78 16.65 283 210 Carroll (Flora) 10.59 21.24 262 211 Illiana Christian 10.45 41.78 95 212 Tecumseh 9.65 50.45 43 213 New Albany 9.24 46.19 70 214 Shelbyville 9.16 40.30 105 215 Winchester 8.87 24.05 238 216 Batesville 8.65 33.83 147 217 South Bend Washington 8.64 27.56 200 218 Yorktown 8.43 35.47 131 219 Forest Park 8.15 49.15 54 220 Tri-Central 7.58 23.74 241 221 Bedford North Lawrence 7.40 33.31 151 222 Northeastern 7.12 26.11 214 223 South Spencer 6.79 45.29 73 224 Logansport 6.38 31.41 168 225 Fort Wayne Wayne 6.38 24.90 232 226 Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter 6.14 29.35 181 227 Lakeland 6.11 26.84 205 228 Indianapolis Arsenal Tech 4.98 23.20 250 229 Rossville 4.81 25.24 228 230 North Putnam 4.21 36.21 129 231 Southwestern (Hanover) 3.38 38.63 112 232 Speedway 3.09 37.60 118 233 Delphi 2.56 18.55 270 234 Tipton 1.98 32.81 156 235 Indiana Deaf 1.85 26.72 206 236 Brebeuf Jesuit 1.39 44.44 78 237 Fairfield 1.13 42.59 92 238 Muncie Central 1.05 26.29 212 239 Bremen 1.03 6.49 308 240 West Central 1.00 25.64 223 241 Covington 0.94 24.27 235 242 Fort Wayne Northrop 0.80 24.25 236 243 North Knox 0.75 59.25 13 244 Hammond Morton -0.51 29.85 174 245 Heritage -0.69 27.86 193 246 Fountain Central -0.69 23.60 245 247 South Bend Clay -0.81 35.24 133 248 Andrean -1.84 33.33 150 249 Union County -1.98 33.15 154 250 North Miami -2.02 26.57 209 251 Crawford County -2.12 28.68 188 252 Scottsburg -2.38 33.95 145 253 Greensburg -2.67 32.17 164 254 Gary West Side -3.55 25.39 224 255 Hagerstown -3.73 24.55 234 256 North White -3.79 25.33 225 257 Frontier -4.69 14.92 289 258 Boone Grove -4.76 28.84 187 259 South Newton -4.88 23.32 248 260 Paoli -4.96 25.13 230 261 Central Noble -5.23 40.66 103 262 Indianapolis Howe Academy -5.99 20.62 263 263 Blackford -6.27 29.58 179 264 Elwood -6.43 26.98 203 265 Wes-Del -7.11 27.61 197 266 Hammond Clark -7.60 17.06 278 267 Indianapolis Bishop Chatard -7.73 29.16 183 268 Clinton Central -7.92 36.96 124 269 Culver Community -8.26 15.86 286 270 Wapahani -8.90 25.74 221 271 Eastern Hancock -9.26 27.63 196 272 Hammond -9.53 29.98 173 273 West Washington -9.91 14.42 294 274 Fort Wayne North Side -10.04 32.70 161 275 Triton -10.06 20.20 266 276 Indianapolis Crispus Attucks -10.20 22.13 256 277 Southwood -11.33 33.95 146 278 North Judson -11.57 21.53 258 279 Borden -13.12 25.88 216 280 Michigan City -13.22 52.46 31 281 Providence Cristo Rey -13.22 34.98 134 282 Mitchell -13.53 29.07 184 283 Tri -13.74 27.59 199 284 Fort Wayne Bishop Luers -13.75 16.91 281 285 Salem -14.30 23.70 242 286 Tri-West -14.70 46.38 68 287 Washington -14.76 50.58 42 288 Westview -14.79 30.99 170 289 Eastbrook -15.06 37.62 117 290 Switzerland County -16.45 34.88 135 291 North Harrison -17.22 20.12 267 292 Whitko -17.69 25.23 229 293 South Putnam -18.79 33.58 149 294 Caston -19.26 14.53 292 295 Providence -19.49 28.11 192 296 Knox -19.54 25.79 220 297 Pioneer -21.72 15.23 288 298 South Bend St. Joseph -22.21 34.51 139 299 Taylor -22.70 36.45 128 300 Parke Heritage -22.72 17.85 272 301 Randolph Southern -23.39 17.00 279 302 New Washington -23.89 29.78 175 303 Indianapolis George Washington -26.12 14.68 291 304 Indianapolis Emmerich Manual -27.15 14.76 290 305 Whiting -28.32 24.93 231 306 Evansville Bosse -30.12 47.39 64 307 North Vermillion -33.36 23.64 244 308 Silver Creek -33.78 34.88 136 309 Mishawaka Marian -35.40 27.60 198 310 Victory College Prep -35.86 39.25 110 311 Tri County -42.03 23.22 249
1614 7
Indiana Natives to Watch at NAIA Nationals
By Drew Hughes
 
The 2021 NAIA Wrestling National Championships are set to take place March 5-6 in Park City, Kansas. There are 12 Indiana natives that will be competing at this tournament with 5 of the 11 being ranked in the top 8 of the latest NAIA rankings. Listed below are the NAIA National qualifiers.
 
Name
School
Hometown/High School
Weight
Ranking
Ty Haskins
Marian (Ind.)
Valparaiso, Portage High School
125
19th
Matt Gimson
Indiana Tech
Elkhart, Jimtown High School
133
2nd
Connor Gimson
Indiana Tech
Elkhart, Jimtown High School
133
7th
Blake Mulkey
Marian (Ind.)
Brownsburg, Brownsburg High School
141
5th
Bailey Moore
Marian (Ind.)
Indianapolis, Beech Grove High School
149
9th
Brice Coleman
Indiana Tech
Indianapolis, Warren Central High School
157
18th
Tristan Sellmer
Campbellsville
Jeffersonville, Floyd Central high School
157
NR
Elliott Rodgers
Marian (Ind.)
Noblesville, Cathedral High school
165
15th
Kolby Ferris
Indiana Tech
Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern High School
174
7th
Jarod Swank
Cumberlands (Ky.)
Granger, Penn High School
165
9th
Sam Osho
Marian (Ind.)
Avon, Avon High School
184
9th
Jack Servies
Marian (Ind.)
Indianapolis, Perry Meridian High School
197
13th
Ethan Bunce
Marian (Ind.)
Indianapolis, Lawrence Central High School
285
8th
 
For those that may be unfamiliar with how NAIA works, a team can enter 2 individuals at a weight for 2 different weight classes. With that being said, that is how brothers Matt and Connor Grimson both qualified at the same weight and took 1st and 2nd at their conference. Also winning conference titles where Blake Mulkey, Brice Coleman, Elliot Rodgers, Kolby Ferris, Jack Servies, and Jarod Swank.
 
With the exception of Jarod Swank, who competed in the Mid-South Conference, all of the other Indiana Natives competed in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. This was the first year of this conference where Indiana Tech beat Marian in the team race by a score of 163.5 to 144.
 
With in person attendance likely limited, the tournament will be on trackwrestling where you can follow the brackets and even watch live for a fee.
 
Click here for TrackWrestling brackets

2124 7
2021 USAW Folkstyle National Entries from Indiana
This weekend USAW is hosting their annual Folkstyle Nationals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. As usual, Indiana has many entries in this prestigious event across every age division. Here is a listing of all the entries that registered for the event. As with any tournament some athletes may not attend the event or may move up or down a weight class.
 
You can follow all the action at the following link on TrackWrestling.
USAW Preseason Nationals Brackets
 
Schedule
Thursday, April 1st
Session I - 16U (Preliminaries, Consolation and Quarterfinals)
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Session II – Junior (Preliminaries, Consolation and Quarterfinals) 
3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Friday, April 2nd
Session III - Junior & 16U Session II (Semifinals, Consolations, Medal Matches) 
16U and Junior Finals at 11am
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Session IV - 14U (Preliminaries, Consolation and Quarterfinals) 
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
 
Session V – 14U (Semifinals, Consolations, Medal Matches) 
3:00pm – 7:00pm
 
Session V – 12U & 10U (Preliminaries, Consolation, Quarterfinals) 
3:00pm – 7:00pm
 
Session V – 8U (Preliminaries through medal matches) 
3:00pm – 7:00pm
 
Saturday, April 3rd
Session VI – 12U & 10U (Semifinals, Consolations Medal Matches) 
9:00am – 12:00pm
 
Session VI - Masters Competition 
9:00 AM – 4:00pm
 
Session VI - College Open Competition 
9:00am – 4:00pm
 
Division Weight Name Team 10U Boys 105 lbs Noah Fitzgerald Indian Creek Wrestling Club 10U Boys 120 lbs Gavin Brown Indian Creek Wrestling Club 10U Boys 56 lbs Jeremiah Maldonado   10U Boys 59 lbs Tucker Dowty Indian Creek Wrestling Club 10U Boys 71 lbs William Smith Patriots Wrestling Club 10U Boys 71 lbs Alexander Ponce Merrillville Pirates Wrestling Club 10U Boys 71 lbs Ethan Alvarez   10U Boys 77 lbs JJ Doty Red Cobra Wrestling Academy 10U Boys 93 lbs Azarius Overstreet   12U Boys 108 lbs Jackson Smith Patriots Wrestling Club 12U Boys 67 lbs Jeremy Carver Delta Wrestling Club Inc. 12U Boys 78 lbs Cruz Orueta Merrillville Pirates Wrestling Club 12U Boys 78 lbs Timothy Maldonado   12U Boys 78 lbs Colton Stinson Indian Creek Wrestling Club 12U Boys 86 lbs Patrick Dowty Indian Creek Wrestling Club 14U Boys 102 lbs Griffin Van Tichelt Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club 14U Boys 106 lbs Evan Stanley Region Wrestling Academy 14U Boys 119 lbs Oliver Hallett Indian Creek Wrestling Club 14U Boys 130 lbs Christian Arberry Warren Wrestling Academy 14U Boys 149 lbs Zachary Blevens   14U Boys 165 lbs Kyle Harden Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling 14U Boys 165 lbs Hayden Smith Patriots Wrestling Club 14U Boys 165 lbs Miguel Rojas   14U Boys 77 lbs Case Bell Contenders Wrestling Academy 14U Boys 83 lbs Lincoln Underwood Peacock Wrestling Club, LLC 14U Boys 83 lbs Ayden Campbell Peacock Wrestling Club, LLC 14U Boys 83 lbs Justin Williamson Region Wrestling Academy 14U Boys 87 lbs Gavin Lewis   16U Boys 106 lbs Tanner Tishner Western Wrestling Club 16U Boys 106 lbs Lincoln Parsons Greenfield Wrestling Club 16U Boys 120 lbs Kyrel Leavell Warren Wrestling Academy 16U Boys 126 lbs Gavin Phillips Greenfield Wrestling Club 16U Boys 126 lbs Adrian Cohen Warren Wrestling Academy 16U Boys 132 lbs Cohen Hager Greenfield Wrestling Club 16U Boys 138 lbs Isaiah Holden Greenfield Wrestling Club 16U Boys 138 lbs Aidan Torres Region Wrestling Academy 16U Boys 138 lbs Alexander Smith Patriots Wrestling Club 16U Boys 145 lbs Mitchell Betz Western Wrestling Club 16U Boys 145 lbs Rider Searcy East Central Wrestling Club 16U Boys 160 lbs Clay Guenin Greenfield Wrestling Club 16U Boys 160 lbs Anthony Cashman Warren Wrestling Academy 16U Boys 220 lbs Brandon Johnson Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling 16U Boys 285 lbs Dominic Burgett Legends of Gold 16U Boys 88 lbs Jude Heaston Indian Creek Wrestling Club 8U Boys 85 lbs Isabella Smith Patriots Wrestling Club College Men 197 lbs Jacob Huffman Fighting Irish Wrestling Club College Men 285 lbs Ethan Bunce KNIGHTS WRESTLING CLUB Junior Boys 106 lbs Jackson Heaston Indian Creek Wrestling Club Junior Boys 120 lbs Michael Tharpe Center Grove Wrestling Club Junior Boys 126 lbs Sergio Lemley Region Wrestling Academy Junior Boys 126 lbs Matteo Vargo Penn Wrestling Club Junior Boys 126 lbs Anthony Hughes Lawrence North Wildcat Wrestling Club Junior Boys 132 lbs David Pierson Warren Wrestling Academy Junior Boys 132 lbs Jeremiah Henderson Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling Junior Boys 145 lbs Cody Goodwin Peacock Wrestling Club, LLC Junior Boys 145 lbs James Smith Penn Wrestling Club (PWC) Junior Boys 195 lbs Connor Barket Red Cobra Wrestling Academy Junior Boys 220 lbs Ali Richardson Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling Masters A 100 kg Joshua Branson   Masters A 78 kg Brendon Helm   Masters A 88 kg Mark Maldonado Highland Wrestling Club Masters B 100 kg Christopher Myers Carroll Wrestling Club Masters C 100 kg Adam Miller Shelbyville Wrestling Club
1780 7
2021 Super 32 Entries
High School
Name Weight School Jake Hockaday 106 Brownsburg Gavin Jendreas 106 Crown point Isaiah Schaefer 106 Mater Dei High School Tanner Tishner 106 Western Toby Billerman 113 Perry Meridian Evan Dickey 113 Cathedral High School Ashton Jackson 113 Laporte high school Damian Resendez 113 Mount Carmel High School Zane Schreck 113 Corydon Central Evan Cruz 120 Crown Point High School Anthony Bahl 126 Crown Point High School Logan Frazier 126 Crown Point High School Sergio Lemley 126 Mount Carmel Michael Tharpe 126 Center Grove HS Matteo Vargo 126 Penn High School Tony Wood 126 Jay County High School Coy Hammack 132 Tell City High School Brac Hooper 132 Zionsville Cheaney Schoeff 132 Avon High School Zeke Seltzer 132 Indianapolis Cathedral Jesse Mendez 138 Crown Point Matthew Koontz 145 Perry Meridian Hayden Watson 145 Center Grove High School Toby Abbott 152 Cowan High School Toby Abbott 152 Cowan High School Sam Goin 152 Crown Point High school Delaney Ruhlman 152 Bloomington High School South Nick Cicciarelli 160 Brownsburg HS Jeb Prechtel 160 Jasper High School AJ Cashman 170 Warren central Orlando Cruz 170 Crown Point High School Drake Buchanan 182 Center Grove Gunner Henry 195 Brownsburg High School Gabe Sollars 195 Mater Dei High School Christian Carroll 220 New Prairie Nathan Critchfield 220 Mater Dei High School Devin Kendrex 220 Mount Vernon high school  
Middle School
Name Weight School Club Alex Huddleston 70 Brownsburg east middle school Red Cobra wrestling Zavier Acuna 75 Willowcreek REGION WRESTLING ACADEMY Revin Dickman 85 Brownsburg Brownsburg Layne Horn 90 Rochester Midwest RTC Justin Williamson 90 Hobart middle Region wrestling academy Logan Haney 95 Colonel Wheeler Midfle School Region Wrestlung Academy Teigan Newell 95 Crown Point Region Wrestling Academy Colin Strayer 95 Trinity Lutheran Region Wrestling Academy Elijah Gahl 100 Northfield middle school   Braylon Reynolds 100 Avon Red Cobra Wrestling Academy Landen Haines 105 Brownsburg East MS Red Cobra Sontonio Sessa 105 Crown point Region wrestling academy Clinton Shepherd 105 West central Midwest rtc Jackson Bradley 112 Cowan Cowan Wrestling Club Evan Stanley 112 Lowell Region wrestling academy Griffin Van Tichelt 112 Colonel John Wheeler Region Wrestling Academy Jairo Acuna 120 Mount Carmel Region Wrestling Landon Hawkins 120 Conolel J. Wheeler MS Region Wresting Academy Angelo Vargo 120 Discovery Middle MXW jeffrey huyvaert 128 new prairie middle school midwest rtc Parker Reynolds 128 Brownsburg Red Cobra Sam Howard 136 Boonville Maurer Coughlin WC Miguel Rojas 157 Brownsburg Red cobra  
Elementary
Name Weight School Club Antino Acuna 50 Union Center Region wrestling Academy Xavier Flores 80 Center Grove Center Grove Wrestling Club Easton Smith 60 Holy Spirit MCWC Elias Faith 65 Resurrection School Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Maverick Hoehn 90 North posey MCWC Suncera Dickman 45 Brownsburg Brownsburg  
Girls
Name Weight School Trinity Malave 108 Munster High School Joy Cantu 108 Merrillville Kyra Tomlinson 130 Noblesville High school Rose Kaplan 123 West Lafayette High School Anna Krejsa 123 Center Grove High School Ella Gahl 123 Northfield  

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2024 Evansville Semi-State Preview
TRIPLE_B EVANSVILLE SEMI-STATE SPECTACULAR PREVIEW!!!!!!
 
This year Trips will hit turn the big 4-4 on Saturday, Mrs 3B will be in attendance for her first SS ever, will this be the greatest Evansville SS of all time?? Dirty brackets, blood round matches that feel like your cutting fresh onions, and all around excitement will fill The FORD Saturday February 10th. 
 
Evansville is THE BEST Semi-State in the land!! 224 wrestlers will be battling for 56 Golden tickets to Indy…..errrr…. Back to Evansville!!! Out of those 224, 138 are Semi-State ranked and 98, I Said 98 (!!!!!!) are ranked in the IndianaMat State Rankings!! Lawwwwwdy have Mercy!!!! This might be the big one Elizabeth!!!! 
 
Here’s some quotes from my rankers…. Just in case you needed more convincing of the bloodbath that is Evansville:
 
“The land encompassing Evansville was formally relinquished by the Delaware Indians in 1805 to General William Henry Harrison, then the governor of the Indiana Territory, and the namesake of Evansville’s Harrison High School.  On Saturday should anyone surrender a late takedown, escape or back points, they will find themselves relinquishing a spot on the podium.  Faltering in the first couple of rounds will likely mean a one-way ticket to palookaville.”
 
“There is going to be some blood shed this weekend. Dirty South has some match-ups that just plain SAY'S Wrestle back are NEEDED!!!! Damn Travesty! EVSS has 8 Brackets with 3 Top 25 Ranked wrestlers & the other Semi-States combined only have 9..
So yes, if you make it out of the South 
"You are a BAD Dude" pain and simple!!  Go Dirty South”
 
“Some of these were tough. I HATE these freakin' draws man! Evansville gets screwed. Crown Point looks amazing with their 'easy' draws. BB and CG get picked apart down in the toughest semi state.”
 
In other words…… WE BUILT DIFFERENT!!!!!!



 
House keeping items - 
 
Here is the link for the Indianamat Semi-State Hub - 
 
https://indianamat.com/index.php?/articles.html/high-school-news/2024-semi-state-information-center-r1358/
 
From our former inside man Markio - Ford Arena info:
 
NEW DOOR ENTRY PROCESS FOR WRESTLERS SEE UNDERLINED INFO BELOW

 
Parking and general information about the arena can be found at www.thefordcenter.com Wrestlers can enter the arena at 7:30am for weigh-ins. Wrestlers and coaches will enter at the rear double doors on 6th Street near the corner of 6th Street and Bob Jones Way.  You will pick up your credentials here. The only coolers allowed are for wrestlers and must enter at the check in table through the rear wrestlers entrance door. NO OUTSIDE FOOD OR DRINK for anyone else is allowed inside unfortunately. Not my rules, just standard building policy.  Public doors open at 8:00am CST. Enter on Main Street through the main lobby. We will look to create a separate door/entrance for those that already have tickets. $12 dollars for all session ticket, $10 for finals only.  There is NO onsite parking. Please do not have any team vehicles attempt to park in the loading dock or attached outer lot. These are reserved spots. There is no public Wi-Fi.  Please do not jump over the dasher walls to access the floor. They try to control access to the floor, so you need to enter from the lower level hallway under section 103. You wouldn't jump the wall at Gainbridge would you? lol The hospitality room for officials, etc. will be in the Corner Club. Enter from the main lobby and hang a right at the lower level hallway. If you are going to set up a camera please do not have the cord running across the aisle. You will be made to unplug any cords running across an aisle. We will have full concessions available throughout the day. Coffee and hot chocolate are also available all day as well. (get the bbq pork nachos, huge and awesome) There is no smoking on or in the Ford Center property, this includes e-cigarettes. Brackets will be updated throughout the day and posted on several of the 170 or so TVs located all over the arena. The brackets end up kind of small, but hey, they are everywhere and pretty cool. Lastly,if you are a wrestler that loses please don't kick,throw,or punch Ford Center property. We had a kid break off a door handle last year.Sent the bill to the school.   
How does this work - The exclusive Evansville Championship Selection Committee (ECSC) spent 2 days in hard deliberations over their Ford Fab 4 picks. Each member selected their ballot, points were accumulated, and from there the picks started falling into place.
 
Article features: 
 
The Charles Barkley “Turrible”  Draws - ticket round matches that shouldn’t be happening in the ticket round!
 
The Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerkers - Best first round matches!
 
The Built Ford Tough Locks - Any weight class where the pick for champion was unanimous, makes it a Ford Tough Lock. This year we have, what may be a record, 10, yes 10 FORD TOUGH LOCKS!
 
Ford Fab 4 - After the picks were gathered, points distributed, and the dust settled, we’ll have the Ford Fab 4.
 
Rankings will be featured like such (State Rank/SS Rank)
 
A big shout out to Navy80, BigToe19, DuckTails (Wooohoo!), Hook&Half and The DONNIE BAKER for their contributions. I will add some commentary throughout from our great pickers.
 
What if I didn’t agree with the ECSC or I thought they made a terrible error? Then have no fear - The TripleB Guarantee will help you sort out the madness. 

 
106: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 8/10
 
(19/7) David Alstadt crumbled this bracket up last week at Regionals and tossed it in the can. We have several great opening matches and the ticket round matches should all be competitive and great for the fans. 8 State ranked wrestlers will be competing for the 4 spots. This weight class has it all! The winner of Malone/Byrd will be the favorite, no offense Wildcat nation, and really after what we saw last weekend this weight could be wide open. Alstadt/Goelz/Jessup/Ogle/Malone/Byrd could all win or can lose in the ticket round. I’m not sure we’ve seen 106 so up for grabs in a long time!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - There’s not alot on paper here. Let’s go with 2 great programs and 2 SS ranked wrestlers - Bloomington South’s (SS10) Jaxsen Jean and Brownsburg’s (12/5) Eli Ogle. Jean ranked 10th in the SS and Ogle is ranked 5th, both coaches know how to get their kids ready.
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - We aren’t gonna wait long for blood rounds… soooo HERE….WE….GO…. Monrovia has been known for putting out quality kids and Freshman Royce Malone will look to continue the hammers the Bulldogs. Washington Senior Brady Byrd ran off 42 straight wins…. Until getting upset last week at Regionals by Mater Dei’s David Alstadt. This now sets up a turrrrible draw… as (6/3) Malone will take on (4/2) Byrd. A Frosh vs a Senior… LETSSS GOOOOOO
 
Don’t sleep on…. Switzerland County has been building a reputation in the southeast part of the state for a few years. Sophomore Ethan Rose is making his second trip to the FORD, can he become the first Pacer to punch their ticket to state? He does have a favorable draw by avoiding all the top ranked guys!
 
The Hook&Half DL:  “Brownsburg’s Eli Ogle will pull off two—count ‘em—two upsets en route to the semis, where he will meet the winner of EMD’s David Atlstadt and Avon’s Mason Goelz.  It’s a crying shame; in opposite brackets you could be looking at a finals match between the Oriole and the Wildcat.”
 
Ford Fab 4 - Royce Malone Monrovia, Mason Goelz Avon, Talon Jessup Columbus East, Joey Hamilton Center Grove
 
113: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 6/9
 
The 4 quarter brackets at 113 couldn’t look anymore different. 2 brackets feature locks in returning state champ (1/1) Revin Dickman from Brownsburg and his counterpart Avon’s (2/2) Nate Rioux. The other 2 feature first round matches that could determine the 3rd place match. Which we’ll cover below. The big story: can the Castle Regional crash the Mooresville Party?
 
Also: Despite having a returning state champ, we do not have our first LOCK (Momma2Dickmans don’t try to fight me in the hotel lobby again). Can Rioux get one on Dickman? They’ve wrestled 1,000,453 times… and both are in the same room in the offseason at Contenders, if anyone knows Revin, it’s Nate. Could Saturday be the day?
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - Now business is about to pick up!! 2 Fab Frosh from down South looks to end the season of 2 Juniors from the Mooresville Regional. In our first match up (10/3) Jr. Brennan Leonard from Martinsville gets Mater Dei’s (8/4) Freshman Caleb Schaefer. Schaefer is ranked higher in the state, Leonard is ranked higher in the semi-state. What a match!!
 
Our other first round match of state ranked wrestlers features Freshman (24/7) Wyatt Ulrey of Boonville taking on Junior (19/5) Gavin Ash of Monrovia. Will this be our first Mooresville 4 over a 1? It probably won’t be our last. 
 
Can the Castle Regional Freshman send home the Mooresville Juniors?  
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - See Leonard/Schaefer above. Two top 10 state ranked wrestlers going at it in the first round is absurd. These two should be wrestling next Friday at the Ford!!!
 
Don’t sleep on…. The “Other Guys”. After winning those first round matches will the victors look past Eli Collier from Owen Valley and Tom Nguyen from New Albany? Let me tell you, if they do, their day will end pretty quick!
 
Also a shoutout to my man Ethan “Eazy E” Pittman, Madison Freshman and Regional Champ. I don’t know who that kid’s youth coach was,but if I was a young wrestler in Southern Indiana, I’d find that guy….. Oh yeah, I’m THAT GUY!
 
Ford Fab 4 -  Revin Dickman Brownsburg, Nate Rioux Avon, Caleb Schaefer Evansville Mater Dei, Gavin Ash Monrovia
 
120: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 8/11
 
Let’s pour more gas on this fire!! All 4 quarter final matchups will feature 8 state ranked wrestlers with 2 of those matches pitting top 10 ranked wrestlers against each other!!!  120 also features one of the worst Turrible Draws of all time. This weight class is so loaded, we have 2 top ten ticket round matches!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - A pair of super sophomores will be battling it out early. Heritage Hills Berke Eisenhauer brings a stunning 41-4 record into this match and will be battling it out with Edgewood’s John Orman. Both of these lads are battle tested and the winner gets…. Returning state champ Charlie LaRocca. But I digress, enjoy this match as it’s a warm up for the quarters!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - Ohhhhh boy…. When Brownsburg’s Preston Haines lost in Regionals last week, every single regional started buzzing, we all knew what was gonna happen. A Haines/Hendeson ticket round match. We will get a state ranked top 4 match, in the ticket round. This just isn’t fair. Henderson got the big pinfall dub at State duals over Haines. Can Hendo do it again-o?  This match is so big it overshadows the other top 10 matchup of Walter Hagerdorn from Tell City and Isaac Ash of Monrovia. 
 
Don’t sleep on…. Floyd Central Freshman Tony Kessinger. Dude is mean and built different. He will draw a familiar foe in Corydon’s Jayden Owsley in the quarter finals. Two of Isaac Knable’s Invicta grapplers going at it with a trip to state on the line.
 
Ford Fab 4: Charlie LaRocca Center Grove, Ty Henderson Evansville Mater Dei, Isaac Ash Monrovia, Tony Kessinger Floyd Central
 
126: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 7/10
 
126 has it all, but the word is disparity as we got our first unranked quarter bracket, 2 big state ranked ticket round matches and our first of 8 First Ford Tough Locks!! I love the unranked quarterbrackets, sheer chaos and every kid wrestling like crazy. What makes this semi-state great is brackets like 126. 
 
Isaiah Schaefer also looks to join his pops as an IHSAA state champion with being our first FORD Tough Lock!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - 2 state ranked wrestlers will be going at it with in the opening round. Returning state qualifier and #6 ranked Dominic Brown will meet up with Terre Haute South’s 19th ranked Nathan Bryan. Terre Haute has been on a tear the last few years and Brown is in that tough Center Grove room. This match should deliver!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - Speaking of Dom Brown, if he’s successful against Bryan, it will set up another top state ranked match up in the quarters as #1 ranked Isiah Schaefer will be waiting. Here’s what I know - Schaefer is a two time state medalists and has that Schaefer dog in him. Brown is in a room full of medalists and hammers. Schaefer had a quick fall at team state and that can’t sit well w/ Brown. 
 
Switzerland County’s Peyton Richards brings in a stunning 84-1 career record into Sem–State, as a sophomore! His one loss was last year to Eddie Goss in the ticket round. This year the Pacer has Avon’s Luke Rioux. Rioux, a former state medalists, lost a tough 5-4 to eventual state runner up Jackson Heaston. It’s #11 vs #3 and maybe not a turrrrible draw, but a match for sure to watch!
 
 
Don’t sleep on…. The bottom quarter bracket, someone is gonna “sneak” thru, the early favorite is Floyd Central’s Fynn Douglas. But Heritage Hills has a one loss Freshman in Eli Hedges that could also get through. The only SS ranked wrestler in this bracket is a “Mooresville 4” in Greenwood’s Keegan Murray. And Jeff is like Charlie Puth… .they are… headlock….away!
 
Ford Tough Lock: Isaiah Schaefer Evansville Mater Dei
 
Ford Fab 4: Isaiah Schaefer Evansville Mater Dei, Braylon Reynolds Brownsburg, Luke Rioux Avon, Fynn Douglas Floyd Central
 
132: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 7/10
 
Mooresville is known for bringing absolute studs to Evansville. 2 terms have been coined because of the strength of the Mooresville Regional - The Mooresville Sweep and The Mooresville 4. We might see both here as Mooresville looks to sweep the top 4 spots and possibly our first Mooresville 4th place finisher sends a regional champ packing!
 
132 also features our next LOCK but we will keep that a secret for now! SUSPENSEFUL!!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerkers -  An interesting quarter-bracket where a “Mooresville 4” is favored to win, but when you really look at it anybody can! Mt Vernon Sophomore Jayden Stillwagoner brings a regional championship and 32-4 record from the always tough Castle Regional while Keith Parker brings a state ranking of 13th and is a top 4 SS ranked wrestler. In the other match up. SS #12 Keegan Jochim of Franklin will take on (23/8) Hunter Banet of Floyd Central. Who’s one of those 4 losses STillwagoner has to? Hunter Banet!!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - There are no real “Turrible Draws” if we go by criteria. We do have 2 seniors w/ phenomenal records that look to be victims of the dreaded Mooresville Regional. Terre Haute South’s Josiah Dedeaux (16/5) will go at it with Avon’s (10/3) Quentin Schoeff. Josiah has put together a great body of work. Schoeff is an Oriole from Avon and the young Oriole has had a great season. What happens when these two meet up is anyone’s guess!  The other Senior is Scottsburg’s Kellan Carter. A truly great story of toughness and grit, after missing his Junior season the Warrior from Scottsburg has put in work. He wrestled over 70 matches in the off season and has grinded non-stop. Last weekend at regionals he was upended by Columbus North Freshman (coughTripleBtrainedcough) Cohen Long. The bracket god weren’t kind w/ Carter drawing 2x state champ and Oklahoma Sooner commit Jake Hockaday in the ticket round!
 
Don’t sleep on…. It’s a turrible draw, but gotta give love to Former RoughNeck and one of TripleB OG’s - Cohen Long. The Columbus North Freshman grabbed him a regional title last weekend and will get (2/4) Eddie Goss in the ticket round!
 
Ford Tough Lock: Jake Hockaday Brownsburg
 
Ford Fab 4 - Jake Hockaday Brownsburg, Eddie Goss Center Grove, Quinten Schoeff Avon, Keith Parker Ben Davis
 
138: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 9/11
 
We have another LOCK at 138 but after Brady Ison, this weight class will be fun. After proving the doubters (myself included) wrong, no one is questioning Brady this year! A Syra/Thornton ticket round match had the rankers at odds. Tons of possible sleepers litter this bracket. Some state ranked first round matches. Don’t miss 138 on Saturday!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker -  Let’s look at state ranked match ups in the first round. The first one is Columbus East’s (22/7) Kaleb Kirkpatrick taking on (16/12) Camden Baumann from Evansville Mater Dei. It’s OTR’s rankings vs TripleB’s rankings as Kirkpatrick is ranked higher in the semi-state but Baumann is higher in the state rankings. Grrrrrrr!!! 
 
The other state ranked draw is Floyd Central Junior (23/8) Vince Kessinger taking on (15/4) Seth Syra of Avon. Syra has all eyes on a rematch with Justice Thornton but if he’s caught dreaming of Justice…. Vinny take out his knees!!! Heeeeyyyy!!!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - Speaking of the Syra/Thornton rematch. This was a ticket rounder a year ago and it was a banger!! Thornton won a late reversal and fought off a last second takedown attempt by Syra. Syra got redemption at IHPO with a pinfall victory. Syra is 2-1 in head to heads, can Justice prevail this time?!?!!?
 
Don’t sleep on….Landon Horning - Evansville Memorial, with all eyes on the team race and William Vander Luitgaren getting all the love from the rankers, can Horning spoil the Sophomores run in the ticket round? This is a battle built for Ancient Greece, the Tiger vs the Trojan!!! 
 
Ford Tough Lock: Brady Ison Brownsburg
 
Ford Fab 4 - Brady Ison Brownsburg, Justice Thornton Columbus North, Chase Stephens Tell City, William Vander Luitgaren Center Grove 
 
144: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 7/11
 
We are on LOCKdown as we have another LOCK, Reese Courtney will look to hold COURT on 144! The rankers actually all liked the same 4 but just in some different orders. Almost a chalk weight for the crew. Parker Reynolds will look to overcome his ticket round upset last year and he continues to show his resolve after off season health issues (look up the article on IndianaMat!). Can Branson Weaver crash this party?? Find out Saturday!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - A rematch from the Hoosier Hills Conference finals highlights the opening matches at 144. Columbus East Caleb Cooper (19/7) has won just about everything this year - Columbus Invite, HHC, Sectionals, and Regionals. The Olympian grappler will have to get by a game Webster (SS10) to keep his run going. This match was 4-2 back in January. The Bulldog Senior will not want his season to end with another loss to Cooper!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - Bloomington South’s Wyatt Cooksey (13/4) has been chasing Branson Weaver of Owen Valley all post season. He’s yet to cook up the recipe to knock him off and that has left him w/ turrible draw of returning state runner-up and #1 ranked Reese Courtney of Center Grove! Yet another ticket round match of top 4 ranked SS guys.
 
Don’t sleep on…. This weight class was hard, lots of good kids. Last year I cursed Gabe Rose w/ the TripleB Guarantee so I’ll stay away from that. I’ve gotten several texts about this freshman from Gibson Southern. However, I’m going to go w/ one of the favorites; Owen Valleys Branson Weaver. With the #1 and #2 wrestlers in the state, Weaver will get overlooked. He is a returning SQ and has the tools to WEAVE together an impressive day Saturday. Everyone says 144 is the most wide open weight at state and I think we might also see that trickle down to Semi-State also!
 
FORD Tough Lock: Reese Courtney Center Grove
 
Ford Fab 4 - Reese Courtney Center Grove, Parker Reynolds Brownsburg, Branson Weaver Owen Valley, Deacon Dressler Gibson Southern
 
150: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 8/10
 
Nothing much going on at 150, just the top 3 ranked wrestlers in the state and one of them will not be advancing to the IHSAA state finals next weekend! I said 126 featured one of the worst Turrible draws ever, but now it’s #2… How in the world.. Nevermind we will get into it later. We have a lock… that’s not a returning state runner up… 150 is bananas… b-a-n-a-n-a-s…BANANAS!!! 
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - I’ll take Nate “Dogg” Anderson (25/8) vs Griffin “The Col” Sanders (22/6). This match features 2 seniors, with 9 total losses and this bracket really is wide open. The winner puts themselves into the blood round and one more step closer to that golden ticket!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - Floyd’s Hunter May is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the state; 3 time state medalist, returning SS champ, Returning state runner up, returning FORD Tough LOCK. You’d think he’d be another Lock, but no fast my friend, the voters are split!! Some like (3/3) Brownsburg’s Tommy Gibbs! That’s not a typo, we have the #2 and #3 ranked wrestlers in the state going at it for a chance to just get into the top 4 at Semi-State. But NOOOOOOOO we don’t need no wrestlebacks! SMDH!!!
 
Don’t sleep on….The winner of Anderson/Griffin will get Heritage Hills Junior Alex Smith. Smith was in an open bracket last year and took a trip to Greco City, the trip became a nightmare for this Patriot. Look for Smith to get the winner of Anderson/Griffin and not take any exits on his way to the semis!
 
The Hook&Half DL: “I like North’s Cale Bonenberger.  I hate his draw against CG’s Wyatt Krejsa.  Krejsa wrestles like you kicked his dog.  Equally, Floyd Central fans hate Hunter May’s ticket round draw against Brownsburg Sophomore Tommy Gibbs.  Gibbs is going to let it fly and claim the “V”.”
 
FORD Tough Lock: Wyatt Kresja Center Grove
 
Ford Fab 4 - Wyatt Kresja Center Grove, Tommy Gibbs Brownsburg, Tyler Vanover Evansville Mater Dei, Alex Smith Heritage Hills
 
TRIBLEB GUARANTEE - Not sure why there’s a lack of respect for Hunter May, but he won’t go down without a fight! Donnie Baker and ducktails told me to bet the boat and call Randy because we ain’t coming in Monday! Da Knobs will be rocking and rolling lead by Hunter May and the rest of his state qualifiers teammates!!
 
157:  State ranked/Semi State ranked = 7/10
 
157 features our first Turrible draw in the first round! Also not a Lock after a few weights of nailing them down. Also the Jeff Regional (for once) and the Mooresville Regional will look to shut out the other 2 regionals here. Silas Stits was as close as one can be to being a LOCK but one ranker was feeling upsets in his bones at 157!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker/Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - Let’s just kill 2 birds w/ one stone. We got a first round match featuring our #3 and #4 ranked SS wrestlers. How does this happened\?!?!?! Well it’s old news now, The Mooresville Regional, that’s how this happened. Columbus North’s (9/3)  Asher Ratliff took home a regional championship last weekend and his reward is Martinsville’s (16/4) Evan Hamblin. This match was an 8-6 victory for Ratliff in the regular season. It looks like Hamblin is/was dealing w/ some type of injury. Let’s hope he’s ready to go Saturday!
 
Don’t sleep on…. Indian Creek Freshman Elijah Guyer is the popular pick in his quarter bracket but don’t sleep on Bloomington North’s Cael Hickok. He brings a sectional and regional championship and also is flying under the radar being unranked. The FORD Center might be full of Cougars Saturday, but will Hickok be the luckiest one there?
 
Ford Fab 4 - Silas Stits Center Grove, Mason Day Brownsburg, Asher Ratliff Columbus North, Elijah Guyer Indian Creek
 
165: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 8/10
 
After a slight opening, we are back on LOCKDOWN! Hey doesn’t it seem like Bloomington South always has “that guy”? This year that guy is Evan Roudebush and he’s the prohibitive favorite at 165. Be on the lookout for a great semi-final match where Indian Creek’s Oliver Hallett will go toe to toe with Roudebush. That match should be great! Hallet just has to survive a TURRIBLE draw in the quarters to get there!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerkers - 2 matches in the 165lb bracket will get the party started for his weight class. Just wait a second on the pulled pork nachos… you got matches to watch!. 
 
I’ve heard this alot this year “I really like _____” and these names all fit in that sentence: (21/6) Matthew Pegram from Evansville North, (19/8) David Oyebode from Decatur Central, (12/3) Gage Eckels from Ben Davis, and (23/7) Spencer Turner of Evansville Mater Dei. So imagine my happiness when I saw them all pitted together Saturday in the opening round!!! Letssss GOOOOOOO!!!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draw - We got another top 4 ticket round match… Jeeze Louise!!! Indian Creek Sophmore (8/2) Oliver Hallet will wrestle the winner of Eckels/Turner. While TripleB never counts one of his WildCats out, lets just assume Eckels wins. This match will be great. Eckels is a senior and a returning qualifier, does this Giant have one more Giant match in him? Or can Hallet bring the Giant down to size?
 
Don’t sleep on…. Can Spencer Turner pull some Mater Magic at the Ford and beat two top ranked SS kids?
 
FORD Tough Lock: Evan Roudebush Bloomington South
 
Ford Fab 4 - Evan Roudebush Bloomington South, Jesser Derringer Brownsburg, Coy Bender Terre Haute South, Oliver Hallett Indian Creek

 
175: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 6/8
 
Hey…. did you know that once upon a time Noah Clouser and Bray Emerine were teammates and workout partners? It’s true!!! Is that not a way to set up a potential finals match?? Two old workout partners going at it for a semi-state title on the line?!?!? Probably due to their familiarity and closeness, we don’t have a lock at 175! Will there be a “Mooresville 4” strike also at 175??
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - This first round match up features contest between two wrestlers that’s flown under the radar. Columbus North’s Keller Despain has been in and out of the line up all season with injuries and Brownsburg’s Griffin Cambpell has also had some injuries keep him sidelined. These two seniors will be going at it to try to keep their careers alive!
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - The Mooresville Regional Strikes Again!!! This time we will get (9/3) Freshman Phenom Sam Howard of Boonville (51 matches?!?!?) and (14/4) Noah Sumner of Martinsville. Their combined record is 84-5!! TUUUURRRRRIIIBBBLLLEEE
 
Don’t sleep on…. Columbus East loves pulling seniors out of nowhere and sending them to the big show. This year that could be Tyler Lake. Lake won Regionals last week, giving him the best path to a semi-final appearance. McCloy is the heavy favorite and already owns a pinfall win over Lake. Will McCloy be focused on a potential semi-final match up with Noah Clouser? If so he might drown in the Lake!
 
Ford Fab 4 - Bray Emerine Floyd Central, Noah Clouser Center Grove, Sam Howard Boonville, Cooper McCloy Terre Haute South
 
190:  State ranked/Semi State ranked = 6/10
 
If there’s one thing this Semi-State delivers, it’s exciting ticket round matches and Turrrible draws. 190 will keep that coming with Goldsberry/McConnell. I won’t spoil anymore, but this match will highlight 190. Also a potential Terry/Henry rematch. Those guys tore down Jeffersonville earlier in the year!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - 2 more seniors going at it in the first round and the winner will be the favorite in the quarters. Pike Senior (SS7) Kameron Biven will take on Terre Haute South’s (11/5) Collin Casad. On paper The Brave looks like the favorite but Biven is battle tested and has had some close matches with some high ranked wrestlers. The other first match between state ranked wrestlers is (6/3) Noah Terry vs. (18/6) Braxton Lewis of Cascade. Terry and Gunner Henry are a potential semi-final match and had absolute barn burner (won 8-7 by Henry) back in December. IF Terry is looking past Lewis, we all know Cascade has that magic at Evansville and can certainly drop some upset L’s on people.
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - McConnell/Goldsberry…. Mannnnnnnnn……are you serious right now? Kaden McConnel is the returning state runner up and is currently ranked 2nd to his nemesis from The Burg, Gunner Henry. Jett Goldsberry is a returning SQ and is currently ranked (8/4). These two hammers will meet in the ticket round to determine who advances to the IHSAA State Championships. 
 
Don’t sleep on…. The aforementioned Kameron Biven
 
Ford Fab 4 - Gunner Henry Brownsburg, Kaden McConnell Brownsburg, Noah Terry Tell City, Collin Casad Terre Haute South
 
215:   State ranked/Semi State ranked = 5/9
 
Another bracket of unranked wrestlers, a Turrible draw and a LOCK all highlight 215! Caden Brewer’s High School story has been one of upsets and redemption, His freshman year he won a sectional and regional and got put out at Semi-State, last year he won sectionals, regionals, semi-state and got knocked out the opening round of state. This year the Bulldog from Brownsburg looks to take that next step as he hopes to climb on the podium in his Junior year, he is the LOCK at 215! From a lock…. To a wide open bracket, which we will discuss below. 215 will be a great weight class come Saturday!
 
Barry Horowitz Best Curtain Jerker - We have a quarter bracket w/ zero ranked state wrestlers and only one ranked SS wrestler. Keep your eyes on Kellen Fellure (a 3B guarantee), Noah Owens, Aiden Beadles, and Brant Oakley. This bracket is up for grabs. There were disagreements everywhere as TripleB descented from the pickers! 
 
Charles Barkley Turrible Draws - We also have a bracket where 2 top 4 SS guys will go at it for a spot in the state finals. Junior from Tell City (17/4) Landon Terry will hope to follow in his brother’s footsteps, but first must get through (14/3) Spencer Watson from Tri-West. Despite being the favorite in both rankings, Watson finds himself as the underdog in this match up!
 
Don’t sleep on…. Heritage Hills Parker Hart, he has a win over Terry early in the season and has been in several close matches. He does have a loss to his potential ticket round opponent, Tyson Ruhe, but still the Patriot knows what it takes to win!
 
FORD Tough Lock: Caden Brewer Brownsburg
 
Ford Fab 4 - Caden Brewer Brownsburg, Landon Terry Tell City, Tyson Ruhe Jasper, Austin Beadles South Putnam
 
TRIPLE B GUARANTEE: The Blue Cactus in Franklin Indiana will be throwing a wild party of all you can eat Chili Cheese Burritos when Franklin Community Freshman Kellen Fellure punches that ticket!!! We can’t have state in Evansville w/o a Tonte Suit on Friday!!!
 
285: State ranked/Semi State ranked = 6/9
 
One of the rare, maybe only weights where there were no official curtain jerkers as it’s all ranked vs unranked individuals. Also no Turrible Draws, none of that means this weight class won’t be fun. While it does have our last lock, Center Grove’s Nate Johnson, and all 4 picks were unanimous, not chalk, I’d be shocked if they all held up. The big quarterfinal match will feature returning state qualifier Ben Land taking on Avon Senior Oluwagbenga Orisadare. Another match up where the favored wrestler wasn’t picked to advance as the pickers like (16/5) Orisadare to beat (13/4) Land. 
 
Don’t sleep on…. Big Ben Land, dude is a throwing machine and never stops wrestling. In his earlier season 16-5 loss to (11/3) Justin Brown from Floyd, Land just kept coming and coming and giving up points to try to score points. He’s not a boring wrestler at all!
 
FORD Tough Lock: Nate Johnson Center Grove
 
Ford Fab 4 - Nate Johnson Center Grove, Justin Brown Floyd Central, Oluwagbenga Orisadare Avon, Hayden Smith Heritage Hills
 
Man we made it…….let’s end w my favorite - food recommendations
 
Hilltop Inn - Fried Brain sandwiches. Brains aren’t your thing? Turonis is a local pizza place that’s dynamite. Like German? Gerst Haus is phenomenal. Want to head out for some adult beverages? Go to Franklin St, Gerst Haus is there and a number of other watering holes and great restaurants. I’m never up early enough for Breakfast so I have no clue. I hear the nachos at the Ford are great and worth the $. And a tradition on the way home used to be Stoll’s Country Diner (RIP). 
 
We’ll end w/ this unreleased track…. I love the Ford!
 
An homage to the best Wrestling Semi-State in the Indiana! 
 
We got winners
We got losers
Dippers and boozers
We got WildCats
We got Bulldogs
We got angry fathers
And the moms all dressed up in their glitter
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love the FORD
We got Trojans
We got Olympians
Broken-hearted wrestlers and seniors
And we got state placers
We got fighters
Early-pinners and over-timers
And the old timers in letter jackets talk about their battle scars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love the FORD
I love THE FORD
It's my kind of place
Just walkin' through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It’s actually pretty far
Come as you are
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love the FORD
 
See everybody Saturday!!! 

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2015 State Finals Pick'ems
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2505 6
Luke Blanton Takes Big 10 Wrestler of the Week Honors
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Big Ten Conference announced Tuesday the winner of this week's Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor. Indiana sophomore Luke Blanton (149) picked up his first career weekly award.
 
Blanton had one of the best weekends of his young Indiana career. On December 11, at 20th-ranked Minnesota, Blanton came from behind to upset No. 10 Jake Short in the penultimate bout of the dual. Blanton was behind 6-4 after two periods, then surged ahead with an 11-4 third round in his favor. Blanton sealed the win with a clutch takedown and a two-point nearfall on the edge of the mat with 30 seconds remaining. The win also lifted Indiana to a 19-18 team win over Minnesota, their first Big Ten dual win since 2011.
 
On Sunday, December 13, the Hoosiers took on Eastern Michigan, a team on the brink of cracking the national top 25. Indiana battled to a hard-earned 25-9 win over the Eagles, highlighted by Blanton's win over No. 16 Nicholas Barber in the 149 lbs. bout. Blanton took the dual win on a 4-0 decision, in which the Hoosier displayed excellent defensive work.
 
With this award, Blanton becomes the first Hoosier this season to win the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week honor. He's the first Hoosier to win the award since NCAA runner-up Taylor Walsh (December 31, 2014).
 
The pair of wins garnered national recognition for Blanton. He rose to the No. 20 spot in the latest Asics FloRankings, and sits at 29th in the latest Dual Impact Index polls.
 
After a strong 3-0 weekend, Indiana earned their first national rankings of the season. The Hoosiers are 20th in the latest InterMat team dual rankings, and 22nd in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches Poll.
 
The Hoosiers return to action on Sunday, December 20, when they'll take part in the Reno Tournament of Champions in Reno, Nev.
 
2015-16 Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 3 Nathan Tomasello, So., OSU
Nov. 10 Brett Pfarr, Jr., MINN
Nov. 17 Sammy Brooks, Jr., IOWA
Nov. 24 Bo Nickal, Fr., PSU
Dec. 1 Isaiah Martinez, So., ILL
Dec. 8 Micah Jordan, Fr., OSU
Dec. 15 Luke Blanton, So., IND

1317 6
2019 East Chicago Semi-State Preview
By Chad Hollenbaugh
The annual region rumble will again invade the mammoth East Chicago Central gymnasium this Saturday morning.   And after an exclusive 12 month tour of Europe, Scandinavia and the Subcontinent, Karl Hungus has returned to both fix the cable and regale the region rats and rat wannabes with his potent predictions. 
 
TEAM RACE
            Three Duneland Conference powers look to battle it out for the Semi-State title.  Merrillville has used their outstanding depth to win both the conference title as well as sectional and regional crowns.  Rival Portage has been nipping at the heels of the Pirates and their frontline hammers could pull them through to a title this weekend.  Crown Point is not far behind and will definitely be a player this weekend.  Penn and upstart Culver Academies will be looking to break the region stranglehold over this semi state.
106 
The bracket gods did not line up things right as the two prospective top lightweights are on the same side of the bracket in Culver Military’s 2nd ranked Brennen Cernus and Crown Point’s 5th ranked Stephan Roberson.  One of these two studs will be sent to the 3rd/4th match this Saturday.  On the other side of the bracket, Merrillville’s mighty mite Malik Hall appears to have an excellent shot at making it to the finals.  The final spot should come down to Lafayette Central Catholic’s regional champ Alex Skees and Chesterton’s Luke Steno.
113
The region is usually particularly tough in the lighter weight classes, and the 113 class Is no exception as number 1 ranked Jacob Moran of Portage continues in his quest of a state title.  Moran has not been seriously tested by anyone in state this year.  Look for him to cruise to the title.  4th ranked Gio Diaz of Wheeler is on the other side of the bracket and will most like make a return trip to Banker’s Life.  Mishawaka’s Brodie Fogerty appears to have gotten the sweetest draw in this bracket and Frontier’s Colin Reagan (ranked 10th) or Merrillville’s Martin Cruz (ranked 7th) have the death draw as both these potential podium placers will likely meet up in a ticket round tussle.
120
This weight class might produce the first real fireworks of the day and some legitimate dog fights for that coveted ticket to Indy.  3rd ranked Riley Battich of Crown Point and 8th ranked Trey Finnearty of Culver Military look to lock up a state birth in their quarter brackets.  The other two groups of 4 should produce some awesome match ups.  Wawasee’s sophomore stud, Jace Alexander was able to slide past rival Vince Sparrow at regional via an injury default.  As a result, he should be able to punch a ticket to state.  The final slot will likely come down to Duneland rivals Ty Haskins of Portage and Danny Tolin of Chesterton.  Tolin has had the slight advantage recently but anything can happen at semi state.
126
Karl’s favorite guitarist from the 1970s Smokey and Bandit series, Jerry Reed, once sang a song titled When Your Hot Your Hot, When Your Not Your Not.  No this was not a comparison of ontherise219 and Broken Towel Rack, but it does describe the Penn Regional and how those wrestlers will play out at semi state.  Mishawaka’s Brendon Mark got hot at the right time and won a regional title.  That put him in excellent position to make a semi state run to Indy.  Seniors Trevor Penrod from South Bend Riley and Logan Hill of Penn did not have the hot streak and face longer odds. McCutheon’s 16th ranked Evan Burge appears to be lined up to power through his quarter bracket and punch his state ticket.  The class of the bracket is in the bottom half where top ranked frosh Jesse Mendez of Crown Point and veteran stud Brock Peele of Portage will likely battle in the semi finals.
132
There looks to little drama in this weight class as the champs from the four regionals look to be the favorites to also qualify for state.  Geremia Brooks of Wawasee is ranked fourth in the state and only has one blemish on his record. Undefeated Andres Moreno of Lowell looms on the other side of the bracket with a possible semi state title on the line.  I like Rensselaer Central’s Elijah Hickman and Portage grinder Rickey Hegedus as the other two state streeters in this mix.
138
This bracket appears to be a little more topsy-turvy than 132 as several potential upsets appear to possible.  This should make for a very interesting weight class. Two great ticket round possibilities might take place in the top half of the bracket as Merrillville’s Anthony Rivera and Mishawaka’s Gabe Weeks will likely square off with a state berth on the line.  A similar prospect might emerge in the second quarter bracket with Chesterton’s Cade Johnson and Harrison’s AJ Poindexter likely to meet in the ticket round.  The bottom half of the bracket seems a little more settled with LaPorte Slicer regional champ Tyler Nicely and longtime Wawasee Warrior Braxton Alexander likely to meet in the semis.  Alexander is the class of this weight class.
145
A couple of relative upstarts look to control this bracket as 8th ranked Jacob Burford of Crown Point and small school stud Jorden Dougglas of Attica (6th ranked) appear on opposite sides of the bracket.  These two are looking to make a name for themselves on the state level next week.  The fight for the other two state berths will be hotly contested as Merrillville’s Jacob Maldonado should be tested by Wawasee’s Garrett Stuckman and Penn’s Jeffrey Harper will have his hands full with either Lake Central’s Daniel Park or Morton’s Isiah Watts.
152
Much like the 145 bracket, the 152 set of 16 will feature two state ranked grapplers and a host of others looking to break out onto the state scene.  The big dog in this weight class is eighth ranked Chesterton Trojan Brock Ellis.  He owns a big 17-5 victory over the other state ranked grappler in this class, Cole Cervantes of Griffith.  Both of these region rumblers possess the talent to win on Friday night in Indy.  Regional champs Drew Mason of Mishawaka and Spencer Phillips of McCutcheon appear to peaking at the right time and have the right draw to advance.
160
Only two state ranked wrestlers are in this bracket as the rest of this semi state seems to be trying to avoid Portage super stud, Donell Washington.  The leader of the Indian squad is a runaway favorite to dominate at East Chicago.  All others will be fighting for runner up status barring a huge upset.  13th ranked Brock Merkel of Harrison will likely have his hands full with Abel Verbeek of Lowell. LaPorte Slicer Matt Neff and Culver Academy’s freshman Braden Welch appear to be peaking at the right time and have good draws to make it to the Circle City.
170
A deep and talented field of middle weights will entertain wrestling fans in the region this Saturday.  Most non-partisan fans will be hoping for the rubber match between junior class rivals Graham Calhoun of Plymouth (2nd ranked) and 4th ranked Joseph Walker of Mishawaka.  They have split two previous matches this year.  This could be a potential match for all the marbles next week.  Portage wrestles a killer schedule and that should prepare grizzled vet Josh Warmick to make a state run in the bottom half of the bracket.  The last spot will be hard fought with three super sophs battling for the final state slot.  Culver Military’s Eli Pack, Merrillville’s Jason Streck, and Kankakee Valley’s regional champ Aiden Sneed will bet duking it out for that 4th ticket to Indy.
 182
Karl Hungus loves watching the upper weights battle and the 182 weight class is a personal favorite.  East Chicago’s Semi State will not disappoint this year as a host of studs populate bracket.  In the top quarter bracket, regional champ Jack Hargan of Attica will be in a dogfight with the physical Noah Perez of LaPorte. Frosh phenom Andrew Donahue of Culver Military look to have the easiest path to Indy in this bracket.  In the bottom half….Whoa Nelly!  5th ranked Jacob Bates of Chesterton will likely brawl with 2nd ranked Jake LaPlace of Mishawaka with a state berth on the line.  This one will be worth the price of admission. The last spot in this tough, tough class will likely come down to Penn’s Noah Brown and Merrillville’s Khris Walton.  A match that might play a role in the team race. 
195
Wow!  Another absolutely loaded class with athletic brawlers. Four state ranked studs will be in the fight of their lives with other lesser known studs trying to punch that elusive ticket to Banker’s Life.  Each quarter bracket features matches that will be so tough to call.  One loss Jacob Trefan of Culver Military will likely battle 2nd ranked Ewan Donavan for the golden ticket.  Seniors Braden Oakley of Harrison and Rockne Hurley of Penn will duke it out for the second slot.  The third quarter bracket is a best.  Any of the four grapplers could take that ticket to state.  Sophomore Bobby Babcock is Hungus’ pick to click.  Triton’s James “Bo” Snyder avenged his sectional loss and will be in a slobber knocker with veteran Crown Point Bulldog Ethan Potosky.  Wow!
 220
These upper weight classes at East Chicago are absolute meat grinders and so difficult to predict.  Merrillville’s Drew Bailey came up big at regional and defeated neighborhood rival Art Fowler.   This put the 10th ranked Bailey in a great position to qualify for state this weekend.  The 2nd ranked Fowler dropped to the last quarter bracket where he will have to contend with the sensational John Thomas of South Bend Adams.  Two of the best big man athletes in the state will be on display in this ticket round tilt.  Joey Kidwell of West Lafayette has a sparkling 40-1 record but must contend with Caveman Garrett Sandefur for that elusive state slot.
 285
Wrapping up the East Chicago Semi state with the Big Boys.  It appears that three of the four quarter brackets should go the way of chalk and the final slot will be a great ticket round match.  Massive Alex Cartwright of LaVille is 5th ranked and coming off his best win of the year defeating 2nd ranked Yehezequal DeVault of Penn in the regional finals.  Cartwright has been a stud for 3 years and has just had a some bad luck at semi state.  He can contend for a state title. DeVault is on the other side of the bracket but will have no cakewalk in his ticket round as he will likely face regional champ Nick Garcia of Lake Central.  Will Crider of Harrison and Anthony Atria of Merrillville will look to continue the tradition of fine heavyweight wrestlers at their respective schools.

12461 6 2
2019 State Finals Information Center
State Finals Hashtag: #INWRState19
Social Media
IHSAA on Twiiter
IndianaMat on Twitter
Finals Broadcast TV Listing
Click here for a list of providers
Brackets
TrackWrestling.com
IndianaMat with rankings
Pick'em Contests
Standings after semi-state
State Finals Pick'em Top 8
Mat Burns Pick the Champions
Gorilla Radio
Episode 67 talking about 106-145
Episode 68 talking about 152-285
Featured Articles
State Finals by the Numbers
State Finals #WAYL2
IHSAA State Finals Preview
2019 State Finals Media Guide
Top 5 Storylines
History of the State Tournament
General Information
Site: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | Website
Security: All people as well as their bags, purses, and coolers (athletes only) entering Bankers Life Fieldhouse will be subject to a security inspection. A full list of prohibited items can be found in the Fieldhouse Fan Guide. Additionally, misconduct, mistreatment of Fieldhouse staff, or other prohibited behavior will be addressed promptly and violators are subject to ejection from the premises or arrest. The code of conduct is found in the Fieldhouse Fan Guide.
Admission: $8 per session or $20 both days. Children 24 months old and younger admitted free of charge. 
Television: Saturday's state championship bouts in each weight class will air live on Fox Sports Indiana. Hosted by Mark Jaynes (play-by-play), Mike Goebel (analyst), Blake Maurer (analyst) and Greg Rakestraw (mat interviews).
Webstream: Friday's first round and Saturday's quarterfinals, semifinals and consolation matches may be viewed via live stream for a subscription fee at TrackWrestling.com. For Saturday night's championship round, viewers outside of the Fox Sports Indiana coverage area, a live stream will be available at IHSAAtv.org. For those within the FSI coverage area, the stream will be available only on delayed basis following the conclusion of the telecast.
State Finals Pairings Show
The brackets in each weight class will be announced exclusively via IHSAAtv.org beginning at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT on Sunday, February 10, 2019. Greg Rakestraw and Hall of Fame coach Mike Goebel will serve as hosts.
Friday, Feb. 15, 2019
Parade of Champions 5:45 pm ET
First Round | 6 pm ET (Gates open at 4:30 pm ET)
Saturday, Feb. 16, 2019
Quarterfinals | 9:30 am ET with semifinals to follow (Gates open at 8 am ET)
Consolations | 5 pm ET (Gates open at 4 pm ET)
Finals | 7:30 pm ET

1547 6
2020 IndianaMat/WZBD State Pre-Show
Subscribe on itunes | Subscribe on Google Play Music
Dane Fuelling and Rex Brewer talk with Kevin Whitehead, Nick Kraus, Mike Reiser, and Mike Goebel about wrestling.

1895 6 2
ISWA State, Junior and Senior Nationals Preview
We are in full swing of the international styles and this weekend will be no different as three big events are taking place. First, we have the ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman state finals at Avon. The two other events will run simultaneously in Iowa. The UWW Junior World Team Trials and Senior Nationals will be held in Coralville, Iowa.
 
ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Finals
Over 900 wrestlers are currently registered for this year’s event that is schedule to take place at Avon High School. From 5 years old to 40+ wrestlers will be looking for a coveted ISWA state title. In the 14U, 16U, and Junior age groups spots on Team Indiana are on the line. Wrestlers who win those divisions will be offered the opportunity to represent the state in the USAW duals and potentially at Fargo this summer. There are many deep weight classes that will be fun to watch play out with many state qualifiers, placers, and champs in the brackets.
 
Here is the link to registration to see the current entries(click continue as guest)
https://www.trackwrestling.com/registration/TW_Register.jsp?tournamentGroupId=195735132
 
Brackets
Freestyle
https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=627909132
Greco-Roman
https://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/opentournaments/VerifyPassword.jsp?tournamentId=627915132
 
ISWA Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Schedule
Saturday Freestyle
Session I
8 AM EST Pee Wee, Bantam, Schoolboy Junior, UN/SR/VT 
Session II
2 PM EST: Intermediate, Novice & Cadet
 
Sunday Greco-Roman
Session I:
8 AM EST Bantam, Schoolboy, Cadet, UN/SR,/VT
 
Session II:
1:00 pm EST Intermediate, Novice, Junior
 
Session III:
10 am EST SUNDAY Girls Freestyle all divisions 
 
Senior Nationals
Iowa will once again play host to another big USAW event. The Senior Nationals will serve as a qualifier for the World Team Trials in September. After the Olympics UWW will still host a World Championship event, so the top 5 finishers will join the previous qualifiers that were at the Olympic Trials for a World team spot.
 
Indiana will be represented by eight wrestlers in the senior division. Vanessa Ramirez wrestling for McKendree and the former Warren Central wrestler will be in the women’s freestyle portion, while everyone else will be in the men’s freestyle division.
 
Former Junior World Team members Brayton Lee and Lucas Davision lead the way for the men’s freestyle division. Lee will be at 70kg, while Davison is scheduled to wrestle 125kg. Dylan Lydy who recently took his talents to Bloomington will represent the Indiana RTC at 79kg. He will be joined by current Indiana grappler Graham Rooks at 65kg. Current DIII wrestlers Kyle Hatch and Kobe Woods will test their skills at the senior level. Hatch will represent the Little Giants at 79kg, while Woods will represent Wartburg at 97kg. Lastly, two-time state champion Shawn Streck is entered at 125kg.
 
Brackets
https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/e275b9c6-ddff-bf7b-0f6f-16b08df88a28
 
Schedule
Friday
Session I
Senior Women's Freestyle
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals  and Consolations
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
 
Session II
Senior Women's Freestyle
Consolations and Medals
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Session III
Senior Women's Freestyle
1st Place Matches
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Saturday
Session IV
Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and consolations
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
 
Session V
Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
Consolations, Consolation Semifinals and 3rd, 5th and 7th place
4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
 
Senior Men’s Freestyle- All weights
1st Place Matches
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
 
Entries
Freestyle 65 kg Graham Rooks Indiana RTC Freestyle 70 kg Brayton Lee Gopher Wrestling Club - RTC Freestyle 79 kg Dylan Lydy Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Kyle Hatch Wabash Freestyle 97 kg Kobe Woods Burg Training Center Freestyle 125 kg Lucas Davison Wildcat Wrestling Club Freestyle 125 kg Shawn Streck Titan Mercury Wrestling Club (TMWC) Women's Freestyle 53 kg Vanessa Ramirez McKendree(Warren Central)  
Junior World Team Trials
Indiana will be well represented in the Junior World Team Trials this weekend with 24 wrestlers taking the mat. Wrestlers will wrestle in a full bracket with the championship finals be a best of three series to determine a spot on the world team. The last time there was a Junior World Team trials Indiana was represented by three athletes in Brayton Lee, Lucas Davison, and Mason Parris. The Junior age group is basically anyone who turns 18-20 years old during the current year. This division is always very intriguing as it matches up some of the top high school talent with wrestlers who have a year or two of college experience. From the early registration it looks like Purdue, Indiana, and Marian all have sent a good number of athletes to compete.
 
Only one wrestler will participate in Greco-Roman as Christian Carroll will be doubling up at the event. He is slated to wrestle 97kg in both styles. There are a handful of other current high schoolers in the field including three-time state champion Jesse Mendez. Mendez is a former Cadet World Team member and would have been a favorite to represent the USA last year. Others still in high school include Mendez’s teammate Logan Frazier and a trio of Mater Dei wrestlers in Blake Boarman, Brody Baumann, and Gabe Sollars.
 
The other 18 entries from Indiana are all in college and have a mixture of experience in freestyle. Penn State’s Matt Lee will wrestle at 70kg. Two current Purdue Boilermakers will enter the field with true freshmen Cooper Noehre and Macartney Parkinson wrestling at 74kg and 86kg respectively. Five current Indiana wrestlers will join Lydy and Rooks at the event. True freshmen Jonathan Kervin, Isiah Levitz, Paul(Robert) Deters, and Andrew Irick will join sophomore Donnell Washington. The biggest contingent will be Steven Bradley’s Marian squad who will have ten wrestlers in the event. They will be lead by state champion Elliott Rodgers along with placers Jacob Simone, Aundre Beatty, Seth Johnson, and Will Stewart.
 
Brackets
https://arena.flowrestling.org/event/e275b9c6-ddff-bf7b-0f6f-16b08df88a28
 
Schedule
Friday
Session I
UWW Junior Greco-Roman
Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals  and Consolations
10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
 
Session II
UWW Junior Greco-Roman
Consolations and Medals
3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
 
UWW Junior Greco-Roman
Best 2 out of 3 Finals
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Saturday
Session IV
UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
Preliminaries and consolations
10:00 AM – 2:30 PM
 
Session V
UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Consolations
4:30 PM - 9:00 PM
 
Sunday
Session VI
UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
Consolation, Consolation Semifinals, 3rd Place, 5th Place and 7th Place
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Session VII
UWW Junior Freestyle- All weights
UWW Junior Best 2 out of 3 Finals
12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
 
Entries
 
Freestyle 57 kg Jacob Simone Marian Freestyle 57 kg Logan Frazier Region Wrestling Academy Freestyle 61 kg Jesse Mendez Region Wrestling Academy Freestyle 65 kg Aundre Beatty Marian Freestyle 65 kg Blake Boarman Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 70 kg Matt Lee Nittany Lion Wrestling Club Freestyle 70 kg Ricky Hegedus Marian Freestyle 70 kg Seth Johnson Marian Freestyle 74 kg Brody Baumann Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 74 kg Cooper Noehre Boilermaker RTC Freestyle 74 kg Elliott Rodgers Marian Freestyle 74 kg Jonathan Kervin Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Aaron McKinley Marian Freestyle 79 kg Donnell Washington Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Isiah Levitz Indiana RTC Freestyle 79 kg Joe Rice Marian Freestyle 79 kg Paul Deters Indiana RTC Freestyle 86 kg Gabe Sollars Maurer Coughlin Wrestling Club Freestyle 86 kg Macartney Parkinson Boilermaker RTC Freestyle 86 kg William Stewart Marian Freestyle 92 kg Christian Carroll Midwest Regional Training Center Freestyle 97 kg Austin Lane Marian Freestyle 125 kg Andrew Irick Indiana RTC Freestyle 125 kg Jacob Bullock Marian Greco-Roman 97 kg Christian Carroll Midwest Regional Training Center
4518 5
2015 State Finals: Takedown and Release
A family that wrestles together stays together
There are seven sets of brothers at the state finals this year, including two sets from Crown Point. The biggest difference in weight is between the Akers brothers coming in at 138lbs and 195lbs.
Sets of Brothers
Riley and Justin Akers from Crown Point
Bo and Blake Davis from Garrett
Dax and Hunter Hiestand from Yorktown
Nick and Joe Lee from Evansville Mater Dei
Darden and Daylan Schurg from Crown Point
Evan and Ethan Smiley from Beech Groove
Jake and Nate Weimer from East Noble
 
Grade Breakdown
There are 19 freshmen that qualified for state, none above 182lbs and 8 qualified at 106lbs.
There are 43 sophomores that qualified for state with nine coming at 113lbs and at least one in every weight class.
There are 66 juniors that qualified for state with the most being at 145lbs with 8 and least being 285lbs with 3.
There are 96 seniors that qualified for state with 10 at 138lbs and 285lbs and with zero at 106lbs.
 
Wins are good, losses are bad
The most wins coming into the event is 52 by Harrison’s Seth Meyer. Mason Parris of Lawrenceberg has the most wins without a loss with 51. There are 21 wrestlers with zero losses, 22 with one loss, and 25 with two losses.
 
The most losses belong to Gleason Mappes of Center Grove with 19 losses on the season. There are 15 wrestlers with 10 or more losses.
 
In total the wrestlers at the state finals have combined for 8,149 wins and 989 losses or an average of 36.4 wins and 4.4 losses.
 
Rankings Matter
In the preseason magazine there were 166 wrestlers ranked that made the state finals, which is 66%. Note that the preseason rankings only rank 16 wrestlers. In the final rankings there were 172 ranked wrestlers or 75% that qualified for state. Of the unranked wrestlers to make it to state, three were semi-state champions: Austen Laughlin, Dru Berkebile, and Dezman Goddard.
 
I am #1
Seven wrestlers were ranked preseason #1 and still ranked #1 at the end of the season: Colten Cummings at 106lbs, Garrett Pepple at 113lbs, Chad Red at 126lbs, Tommy Forte at 152lbs, Blake Rypel at 182lbs(now at 195lbs), Kobe Woods at 220lbs, and Shawn Streck at 285lbs. Brandon James started the season ranked #1 at 138lbs, but was #2 for a few weeks and now is #1 once again. The same goes for Dylan Lydy at 170lbs, who started the season at #1 and fell, but is now back at #1.
 
Conference foes qualify for state
Four wrestlers from the Northeast Hoosier Conference all qualified for state at 126lbs: Nate Weimer, Owen Doster, Daniel Gunsett, and Kobe Raypole. Even more interesting is all of these wrestlers are underclassmen AND the alternate is also from the same conference.