The Clash went to Cashe

- Mishawaka defends its team title at Al Smith

[caption id=attachment_169" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="Quiroga vs. Harper][/caption]

In the most anticipated match-up of the season, one that fans throughout the state thought they would see at Calumet a month ago, Lawrence North's Cashe Quiroga solidified his claim as Indiana's best pound for pound wrestler by bumping up a weight class and defeating Mishawaka's three time state champ, Josh Harper 2-1.

The first period had Quiroga pressing the action with leg attacks on Harper.  Harper nicely countered two deep shots and the stanza ended deadlocked at 0-0.

[caption id=attachment_182" align="alignright" width="225" caption="Hungus' Perch][/caption]

Quiroga's decision to choose neutral to begin the second period proved to be most important because off an early single leg attempt by Harper, Cashe countered with a front headlock that he turned into a very tight nearside cradle to secure a takedown.  Quiroga patiently worked the cradle in an effort to turn Harper for the remainder of the period.  Harper gamely fought off multiple attempts by Quiroga and the second period ended with Cashe holding a slim 2-0 advantage.

Down by two and possible protecting a healing shoulder, Harper chose top position in the third period.  Harper went to work with his leech like riding ability to throw in leg and began to work a power half.  Quiroga was able to weather the two minute assault on his shoulder giving up only a stalling point to win this clash, 2-1.

In the team race, Mishawaka defended the home cave in topping Lawrence North and Bellmont by 45 and 47 points respectively.  This is most impressive because the Cavemen were missing their varsity 103 and 171 pound wrestlers.

FINALS SUMMARIES

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103: Lake Central's young freshman #5 ranked Kyle Ayersmen used superior skills on his feet to earn three takedowns on fellow Duneland grappler, #4 Merrillville's Zack Stevens to earn a 6-3 decision and his first Al Smith championship.

112: In another battle of highly ranked wrestlers, Lawrence North's #2 Brandon Nelson topped #5 Paul Beck of Mishawaka with a takedown off of a scramble in overtime to win 2-0.

119: The number two seed and tenth ranked Jake Lamb of Lowell scored a minor upset by defeating Center Grove's #9 ranked Matt Milton 6-3.  Lamb was most impressive, controlling the action throughout.

[caption id=attachment_174" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Brooks vs. Napules][/caption]

125: Three time Al Smith champ Justin Brooks of Warsaw bumped up a weight class to challenge Merrillville's outstanding Anthony Napules. Brooks sealed his third title by hitting a granby roll and locking up a Peterson early in the third period to secure an 8-5 victory.

135: Third ranked Johnny Dillon of Hobart escaped the hold of second ranked Taylor March of East Noble late in the third period to win a tight 4-3 decision.

140: Returning state champ Steven Sandefer of Mishawaka looked most impressive both days and controlled much of the action in his 4-2 victory over #7 Ryan Stahl of Elkhart Memorial.

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145: Zach Corpe of Elkhart Memorial made it two Chargers in a row to the finals and put on a dominating display with his pin of Lawrence North's Matt Goodwin in 1:09.

152: Drake Stein of Princeton made sure that the south would be heard from as he looked very slick on his feet, scoring numerous takedowns in his 10-1 major decision of Peru's Dustin Kern.

160: Lowell's seventh ranked Kurt Monix looked very athletic and dangerous on his feet when he majored #1 seed and fourteenth ranked Quinn Kurtz of Prairie Heights, 13-4.

171: IndianaMat's rankings proved accurate again as #2 seed but higher ranked #4 Shelby Mappes of Center Grove utilized an early take down to defeat #1 seed and fifth ranked George Lopez of Northwood.

189: In what looked like a Greco-Roman battle, Benton Central's #15 Travis Kepner came out on top of an exciting 9-7 decision over unseeded Daniel Sandberg of Lawrence Central.

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215: Bellmont would not go home to Decatur without a champion as #1 ranked Billy Baker used an early takedown and good riding to top second ranked Nathan Cleveland of Lowell 2-1.

285: Merrillville also got their first champion late in the day when #9 James Travis scrambled for a takedown in overtime to defeat #10 Travis Thomas of Mishawaka 4-2.  This battle of juniors could be a preview of the state finals in 2010.  Or maybe this year???