There is no better place to spend Valentine's Day than the War Memorial Coliseum for semi-state wrestling action. This year an extra 56 wrestlers get to wrestle in the friendly confines of the Coliseum as the fourth place finisher from regional now advances to semi-state. The teams with the most representatives are Yorktown with 10, Bellmont and Peru with 9, and Carroll, South Adams and Elkhart Central with 7. The action will be hot and heavy this year as there are numerous great match-ups in the ticket round and before.
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Bishop Dwenger's Austen Vore comes in undefeated and is the favorite here. Travis Bryant of Muncie Central will try to knock off the senior as he is currently wrestling really well at the right time. This weight class will be a dogfight from the beginning with great matches from the first round onward. Vore will be tested early with Elkhart Central's Abraham Que in a potential ticket round match.
The Big Enchilada: Austen Vore- Bishop Dwenger
Other State Streeters
Travis Bryant- Muncie Central
Todd Batt- South Adams
Shannon Garrettson- Peru
Early Matches to Watch
Austen Vore vs. Abraham Que- Elkhart Central
Todd Batt vs. Trenton Gremmil- Central Noble
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Many of the 112lbers and their coaches in the Fort Wayne Semi-State were very anxious to see where the draws played out here. There are five returning state qualifiers in this weight class and add to that freshman phenom Devon Jackson. Jackson is the favorite here, but he will have to fend off stiff challengers from the beginning to the end. The five returning state qualifiers that will be going at it for the four spots at state include Prairie Heights' Travis Barroquillo, Steven Ross of Concord, Northwestern's Matt Miller, Steve Gonzales of Delta and Muncie South's Jacob Armantrout. Armantrout and Miller will be squaring off in the first round with the winner getting the priviledge of wrestling Barrquillo in the ticket round.
The Big Enchilada: #6 Devon Jackson- Yorktown
Other State Streeters
#7 Travis Barroquillo- Prairie Heights
#9 Steven Ross- Concord
#11 Steve Gonzales- Delta
Early Matches to Watch
#7 Travis Barroquillo vs. Matt Miller- Northwestern
#9 Steven Ross vs. Logan Randle-Huntington North
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Returning state runner-up, Casey Kenney of Jay County, is the headliner in this weight class. He survived round #1 with Yorktown's Derek Bevans and would like nothing more than to leave Fort Wayne with his second semi-state championship. Bevans was the 112lb semi-state champion last year. Others to watch include Bellmont's Brooks Faurote who has quite the family lineage and Alex Filer of Elkhart Central.
The Big Enchilada: #8 Casey Kenney- Jay County
Other State Streeters
#7 Derek Bevans- Yorktown
Alex Filer- Elkhart Central
Brooks Faurote- Bellmont
Early Matches to Watch
Alex Filer vs. Bobby Perry- Bluffton
Brooks Faurote vs. Marquis Williams- Snider
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Two returning state placers headline this weight class in Tony Lovejoy and Will Sheets. Sheets comes in with 10 losses on the season, but most were while wrestling up at 130lbs for the team during the regular season. One wrestler to keep your eye on is Angola's undefeated Ricky Furar. He could possibly see Sheets in the ticket round if they both win their first round matches. Another great potential ticket round match will be between Troy Fiechter of Southern Wells and returning state qualifier Aaron Garrettson of Peru.
The Big Enchilada: #6 Tony Lovejoy- Bishop Luers
Other State Streeters
#15 Andrew Heistand- Yorktown
Troy Fiechter- Southern Wells
#4 Will Sheets- Bellmont
Early Matches to Watch
Troy Fiechter vs. Aaron Garrettson- Peru
#4 Will Sheets vs. Ricky Furar- Angola
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The top quarter-bracket in this weight class is absolutely LOADED. All of the wrestlers have four or less losses on the season and two were state qualifiers last year. Unfortunately only one of these wrestlers will get in free to Conseco next week. Columbia City's Austin Egolf leads the way in this quarter-bracket as he was a state qualifier last year at this weight. Austin Shepherd was a state qualifier at 112lbs last year and is the latest in a long line of Shepherds to come through the Western program. The other wrestlers are Southern Wells' Darin Fiechter and West Noble's Ty Alles. Both have experience at the Coliseum, but have yet to wrestle at Conseco.
The Big Enchilada: #8 Brock Norton- Carroll
Other State Streeters
Jimmy LaRowe- East Noble
Josh Ehr- South Adams
#11 Austin Egolf- Columbia City
Early Matches to Watch
Austin Shepherd- Western vs. Darin Fiechter- Southern Wells
#11 Austin Egolf vs. Tyler Alles- West Noble
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The headliner in this weight class is East Noble's Taylor March. He is looking to come home with a gold medal this year after taking silver as a freshman and sophomore and the bronze last year. March only has one loss on the season and that is to Johnny Dillon at the Al Smith. Another wrestler to watch in this weight class is #11 Matt Gerber of Bluffton who has dominated the competition for the past three weeks. Gerber will be tested in the ticket round by Jimtown's Jeremy Hill. Another ticket round match to watch is Jace German of Garrett against Steve Farrah of Elkhart Central.
The Big Enchilada: #3 Taylor March- East Noble
Other State Streeters
#11 Matt Gerber- Bluffton
Austin Waite- Maconaquah
Jace German- Garrett
Early Matches to Watch
Jace German vs. Steven Farrah- Elkhart Central
#11 Matt Gerber vs. #16 Jeremy Hill- Jimtown
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This weight class sports three ranked wrestlers and the bracket and the wrestling bracket gods at the IHSAA separated all three into separate quarter brackets. The one to watch is #5 Ryan Stahl of Elkhart Memorial. He was a qualifier in 2007 at 112lbs, but was knocked out of the tournament by Will Sheets at 125lbs last year. Stahl would love nothing more than to bring home another state title to hang beside the one his brother won last year. The other challengers to watch are Eastern's Chad Barrett who placed 6th last year and Garrett's Bryce Schendel. Schendel will have to knock off undefeated Josh Martin of Randolph Southern in the ticket round to make it to state for a second year in a row.
The Big Enchilada: #5 Ryan Stahl- Elkhart Memorial
Other State Streeters
#8 Chad Barrett- Eastern
Justin Beck- Leo
#13 Bryce Schendel- Garrett
Early Matches to Watch
#5 Ryan Stahl vs. Jeremy Sisk- North Miami
#11 Bryce Schendel vs. Josh Martin- Randolph Southern
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Along with 140lbs, this is another weight class with three ranked wrestlers. Any of these three wrestlers could take home the blue ribbon on any given day. The favorite is returning champion Jordan Dulaney of Yorktown. Dulaney took home a championship last year, but was upended at state in the first round. Others to watch are Elkhart Memorial's pinning machine Zach Corpe and Leo's Cam Friend. Friend and Corpe both have older brothers that wrestled under the spotlight and would love to duplicate those feats. The match to watch early on is Corpe vs. returning state qualifier Corey Richards of Churubusco.
The Big Enchilada: #10 Jordan Dulaney- Yorktown
Other State Streeters
#12 Cam Friend- Leo
Dalton Sparks- Peru
#4 Zach Corpe- Elkhart Memorial
Early Matches to Watch
#12 Cam Friend vs. Ryley Hankenson- Bellmont
#4 Zach Corpe vs. Corey Richards- Churubusco
#10 Jordan Dulaney vs. Chandler Pogue- Mississinewa
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When you talk about pinning this year you cannot leave out Kyle Mosier of Yorktown who is coming to the Coliseum with pins in 36 out of 38 matches. He has pinned at least four of the top competitors in this bracket and would love nothing more than to pin his way to a title. Mosier is a two-time state placer, placing 4th in 2007 and 2008. Tyler Baker of Bellmont who placed 6th last year will look to knock off Mosier along with two time state qualifier Bryant Whitaker of Muncie South. Both Baker and Whitaker cannot overlook their early round matches as they will both have to battle to punch another free ride to Conseco.
The Big Enchilada: #2 Kyle Mosier- Yorktown
Other State Streeters
#10 Tyler Baker- Bellmont
#6 Bryant Whitaker- Muncie South
Matt Davenport- Oak Hill
Early Matches to Watch
#10 Tyler Baker vs. Quinn Kurtz- Prairie Heights
#6 Bryant Whitaker vs. Zac McCray- Garrett
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Returning state qualifier Ross Powell is the headliner in this group. He comes in undefeated this year and relatively untested. Another top contender at this weight is Eastbrook's Jackson Bratcher. He will look to reverse his fortunes of last year as he came in undefeated only to get upset in the ticket round. Bellmont's Trent Busse is riding a big winning streak after missing a couple weeks late in the season due to injury. Drew Walters of Elkhart Central is a returning state qualifier, but will have to avenge an early season loss to Jordan Hamilton of Churubusco to qualify for state again.
The Big Enchilada: #4 Ross Powell- Northridge
Other State Streeters
Jordan Hamilton- Churubusco
Trent Busse- Bellmont
#13 Jackson Bratcher- Eastbrook
Early Matches to Watch
Jordan Hamilton vs. Drew Walters- Elkhart Central
#13 Jackson Bratcher vs. Trent Castner- Yorktown
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Don't worry everyone, the George Lopez at this weight class was not the star of Beverly Hill Chihuahua so don't go asking for autographs! Ok, sorry for the lame attempt at humor, but the George Lopez from Napanee is as talented a wrestler as George Lopez is a comedian.....minus Beverly Hills Chihuahua! He was a state qualifier last year and an Al Smith runner-up this year. Lopez will be tested by the likes of Trey Shultz of Adams Central and Marqueen Suel of Harding. Suel had Lopez on the ropes last year in the ticket round in a great match that he pulled out late in the third period. Returning state qualifier Martin Lantz of Fairfield dropped down a weight this year and will have to go through Shultz to qualify again for state.
The Big Enchilada: #6 George Lopez- Northwood
Other State Streeters
Spencer Fenner- Eastbrook
Marqueen Suel- Harding
#8 Trey Shultz- Adams Central
Early Matches to Watch
Marqueen Suel vs. Grant Melcher- Bellmont
#8 Trey Shultz vs. Martin Lantz- Fairfield
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Drew Graber came out of nowhere to place second in the state at 171lbs last year. This year people know who he is and he is still dominating them. Graber is looking to finish one notch higher on the podium at Conseco, but will have to navigate through a tough field at the Coliseum first. The first test could be in the semi-finals with Huntington North's Zach Abbott. Graber only beat Abbott by one point last year. Others to watch for are Peru's Brett Worden and #15 Darryn Scott of Marion.
The Big Enchilada: #3 Drew Graber- Northridge
Other State Streeters
#4 Zach Abbott- Huntington North
Brett Worden- Peru
#15 Darryn Scott- Marion
Early Matches to Watch
Brett Worden vs. Travis Thatcher- Bellmont
#15 Darryn Scott vs. Josh Grider- South Side
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When was the last time there wasn't a Baker wrestling for Bellmont? Maybe the 1800's? As usual, there are some Bakers in the Bellmont lineup and they are all STUDS! Billy Baker however had to watch the state finals last year from the stands as he was eliminated in the ticket round by the eventual state champion Steve Stahl. Baker has come back bigger and meaner after leading the Braves football team to a state championship in the fall. The undefeated Baker will definitely be tested this week by an equally accomplished wrestler in North Side's Aris Allen. Allen also comes in undefeated and he has passed the "look test" since his sophomore year. The Allen vs. Baker match is one to watch for on Saturday, but they will have to get through the likes of Jimmie King of Muncie South and Austin Phillips of Elkhart Central to make this match happen.
The Big Enchilada: #1 Billy Baker- Bellmont
Other State Streeters
#12 Aris Allen- North Side
Austin Phillips- Elkhart Central
Jimmie King- Muncie South
Early Matches to Watch
Jimmie King vs. Dylan Green- Kokomo
Austin Phillps vs. Anthony Fondrea- Winchester
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Last year's state runner-up didn't even win the semi-state! Chalfant lost a close match to New Haven's Matt Cheviron due to penalty points and had to settle for 3rd place. This year Chalfant again brings an undefeated record to the Coliseum, but he plans on keeping the zero at the end. He will be challenged however by relative unknown Evan Floyd of Northwestern who comes in with only one loss on the season. The other closest competitors in Ross Janey of Yorktown and Jim West of South Adams have both been caught counting the lights when they wrestled Chalfant.
The Big Enchilada: #1 Adam Chalfant- Winchester
Other State Streeters
Evan Floyd- Northwestern
#11 Ross Janney- Yorktown
Jim West- South Adams
Early Matches to Watch
Evan Floyd vs. Daniel Meyer- Bellmont
Evan Floyd vs. #15 Zack Stone- Jimtown
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