Articles

Mike and Joe give you the lowdown on the state finals in Evansville.

We go over the weights 190, 106, 120, 285, 113, and 215. Another great state preview.

By JEREMY HINES
Thehines7@gmail.com
 
This Valentine’s Day Max Amberger has a lesson for all the fellas out there. Nice guys don’t always finish last.
 
Amberger, whom coach Matt Linkel says is one of the nicest kids he knows, is getting the royal treatment in Batesville this week. On Saturday he became the first Bulldog wrestler to advance to the state tournament since 1993.
 
“This has been a pretty awesome week for him,” Linkel said. “The wrestling program has really come to life through this. He got a police escort in town when he returned from semistate. The school has posters of him up. The administration is overly thrilled for him and are trying to get as many people as possible that want to go see him wrestle at state the ability to do so. They also announced him at the basketball game. The whole town seems to be behind him.”
 
For Amberger, who’s a reserved and quiet person, the sudden popularity has been fun to take in.
 
“Everyone has been congratulating me,” Amberger said. “A lot of people I don’t normally talk to have been coming up and telling me good job.”
 
Amberger wasn’t exactly a favorite to reach the state tournament. The junior heavyweight is unranked in the state and was ranked just 8th in the New Castle semistate. He won his sectional, but then lost in the regional championship the next week.
 
“I like being the underdog,” Amberger said. “But I knew what I was capable of. I knew I could beat some of the kids in the semistate. I was excited for the opportunity to prove what I could do.”
 
Amberger took on Frankton’s Ty Everson in the opening round of the New Castle semistate. He controlled the match and won 9-1 to set up his ticket round match.
 
Entering the ticket round there was a lot of pressure on Amberger. Since the beginning of the season coaches had told Amberger that it had been 31 years since a Bulldog wrestler had advanced to state – and they thought he could be the man to end that drought.
 
“For a high school kid, that’s a lot of pressure,” Linkel said. “He’s handled that well. We kept telling him about how it was 31 years since anyone punched their ticket to state. But Max is always so calm and composed, I don’t think he felt that pressure. He just said he wasn’t doing this for himself, this is for his team, his friends and his family.”
 
Amberger went up against Greenfield Central senior Brayden Flener in the ticket round. The two battled back and forth, but Amberger emerged with a 5-2 victory to punch his ticket.
 
“I knew he was a big guy that would try and throw me,” Amberger said. “I was keeping my hips back and trying not to get thrown. I ended up putting him on his back and they called the pin – but the call got reversed because it was an illegal headlock. I was, thankfully, able to still secure the win.
 
“It was a great feeling winning that match. I had a lot of friends and family there and the best moment was walking up and seeing all of them. That was one of the biggest crowds I have ever wrestled in front of.”
 
Friday night Amberger is matched up with Center Grove senior Nate Johnson. Johnson is ranked No. 4 in the weight class with a 23-1 record.
 
“All of my family and friends and some of my teammates are going down to watch me,” Amberger said. “I should have a lot of supporters there. I can’t wait to see how it is and to wrestle in front of that crowd.”
 
Amberger is on the smaller side for the heavyweight division. He relies on quickness rather than on brute strength. But, he’s also a concrete worker during his free time for his father’s company. He has endurance and can outlast a lot of his opponents.
 
“Max is a quiet, loyal kid,” Linkel said. “He’s a great team leader by example. A lot of kids look up to him. He has great grades and he works hard in every aspect of his life. He’s one of the hardest workers I know. He works in a concrete business anytime he can. I know a lot of his toughness comes from that.”
 
Amberger’s favorite sport is football. He helped lead Batesville to a sectional championship as a starting lineman.
 
“I love football because it’s a team sport,” Amberger said. “I always put the team first. I guess that’s just part of my personality.”
 
After high school Amberger plans to either go to a trade school or join his father’s business.

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%

This might be the single most important article to help you in the pick'ems... or more likely confuse you more! We have amassed as many of the losses as possible for all the 224 state qualifiers. This year's qualifiers have 978 losses with 623 or 63.7% to other state qualifiers. With some of the teams traveling out of state we also have 162 losses to out of state wrestlers. We have 11 wrestlers enter the fray on Friday with an unblemished record that will be pushed to the limit. 
 
As always if you can help with the missing data it is greatly appreciated.
 
Random Stats
Most losses to state qualifiers
Joseph Hamilton and Griffin Van Tichelt- 9
Dillon Graham, Zach Huckaby, Silas Frye, and Trey Dunning- 8
 
Most wins over state qualifiers
Clinton Shepherd- 11
Waylon Cressell, Revin Dickman, Jake Hockaday- 10
Nathan Rioux, Evan Roudebush, Gavin Jendreas, and Reese Courtney- 9
 
Non-State Qualifiers with the most wins over state qualifiers
Jacob McClure, Seer Godwise, and Will Kennedy- 5
John Orman, Abrum Swathwood, Dominic Brown, Brennan Leonard, Guillermo Rivera, and Isaac Campbell- 4
 
Undefeated Wrestlers
106    Mason Jones- Lake Central
106    Jensen Boyd- Delta
113    Ayden Bollinger- Delta
132    Hayden DeMarco- Chesterton
132    Jackson Bradley- Cowan
132    Tylin Thrine- New Castle
138    Tony Wood- Jay County
144    Easton Doster- New Haven
175    Aidan Costello- Hobart
190    Noah Weaver- Rossville
285    Juan Cruz- Bluffton
 
Records by Weight Class
106: 551-70 88.73%
113: 526-83 86.37%
120: 507-80 86.37%
126: 533-84 86.39%
132: 541-83 86.70%
138: 554-63 89.79%
144: 560-64 89.74%
150: 548-55 90.88%
157: 543-65 89.31%
165: 544-77 87.60%
175: 503-59 89.50%
190: 530-72 88.04%
215: 585-59 90.84%
285: 511-64 88.87%
 
#WAYL2
Who are your losses to?
 
Key
*- State Qualifier
(Losses/ State Qualifier Losses/ State Qualifier Wins)
106lbs
Mason Jones- Lake Central(0/0/6): 
Jensen Boyd- Delta(0/0/3): 
Peyton Schoettle- Roncalli(1/0/5): Isaac Campbell
Rex Moore- Manchester(1/1/2): Julianna Ocampo*
Heather Crull- Northeastern(1/1/1): Peyton Schoettle*
Royce Malone- Monrovia(2/2/5): Jensen Boyd*, Peyton Schoettle*
Julianna Ocampo- New Haven(2/1/1): Abrum Swathwood, Jensen Boyd*
Alonzo Chantea- Plymouth(3/2/4): John Bissmeyer*, Justus Thrasher, Teigan Newell*
Talon Jessup- Columbus East(3/3/2): Mason Jones*, Royce Malone(2)*
Mason Goelz- Avon(5/2/5): Braxton Corbett (Union County), Eli Ogle, Isaac Campbell, Royce Malone*, Talon Jessup*
Grant Holloway- Rochester(6/5/0): Alonzo Chantea(3)*, Brody Blevins, Mason Jones*, Rex Moore*
Caleb Morrow- Indianapolis Lutheran(6/4/0): ???, Blake Getz*, Heather Crull*, Hruai Lian, John Bissmeyer*, Peyton Schoettle*
Charlie Fleshman- Central Noble(6/2/0): Brock McCartney, Griffin Byrum, Ian Berry, Jaxsen Jean, Jensen Boyd*, Rex Moore*
Teigan Newell- Crown Point(9/3/1): Alonzo Chantea*, Caleb Noble (Warren Township), Cash Mays, Dealon Britt (Bishop McCort), Jaden Torres (Arrowhead Union), Kavel Moore (Mount Carmel), Mason Jones(2)*, Mason Katschor (Dundee)
John Bissmeyer- Indianapolis Cathedral(11/7/2): Eli Ogle, , Justus Thrasher(2), Mason Goelz(2)*, Mason Jones(2)*, Nick Lawrensen (Dublin Coffman), Peyton Schoettle(2)*, Talon Jessup*
Joseph Hamilton- Center Grove(14/9/0): ???, Brennan Leonard, Eli Ogle, Gavin Lewis*, Isaac Campbell, Mason Goelz(3)*, Nathan Reyes(2)*, Royce Malone(2)*, Sully Frazier*, Tyler Tun
113lbs
Ayden Bollinger- Delta(0/0/3): 
Jalen Sawyer-May- Kokomo(1/1/1): Ayden Bollinger*
Revin Dickman- Brownsburg(2/0/10): Ayden Smith (Notre Dame), Davis Motyka (Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Bradyn Volz- Eastern Hancock(2/2/1): Blake Getz*, Jett McGuire*
Blake Getz- Roncalli(3/2/4): Caleb Schaefer*, Cameron Meier, Gavin Ash*
Brady Harper- Penn(4/2/2): Caleb Halfacre, Gavin Lewis(2)*, Owen Bunton
Kaleb Salazar- Wawasee(4/1/2): , Abrum Swathwood(2), Connor Bayliss, Jalen Sawyer-May*
Nathan Rioux- Avon(5/5/9): Revin Dickman(5)*
Gavin Lewis- Crown Point(5/1/5): Chase Walker (Cleveland), Cole Welte (Skutt Catholic), Hunter Taylor (Liberty), Justin Williamson (Mount Carmel), Revin Dickman*
Caleb Schaefer- Evansville Mater Dei(6/5/3): Nathan Rioux(4)*, Revin Dickman*, Wyatt Ulrey
Mario Orueta- Lake Central(7/4/1): Brady Harper*, Connor Bayliss, Gavin Lewis*, Nathan Reyes(2)*, , Owen Bunton(2)
Gavin Ash- Monrovia(7/4/1): , , Brennan Leonard(3), Caleb Schaefer*, Kaleb Salazar*, Revin Dickman(2)*
Beck Doughty- Rensselaer Central(7/4/0): , ???(2), Caleb Halfacre, Gavin Lewis*, Karrington Cooper(2)*, Mario Orueta*
Sully Frazier- Zionsville(8/6/1): Abrum Swathwood, Blake Getz*, Caleb Schaefer*, Nathan Reyes(2)*, Nathan Rioux(2)*, Roman Valera (Trinity)
Nathan Reyes- Indianapolis Cathedral(10/6/6): Blake Getz*, Brady Harper*, Bradyn Volz*, Connor Bayliss, Dylan Wills, Isaac Campbell, Nathan Rioux(2)*, Revin Dickman*, Spencer Shore (St. Paris Graham)
Karrington Cooper- New Haven(12/2/2): ???, Ayden Bollinger*, Blake Byerley, Brayden Juday, Chase Kline, Deacon Rhodes, Jason Prough, Kaleb Salazar*, Kameron Baker, Kealen Fuller, Kennith Sellers, Will Franze
120lbs
Ty Henderson- Evansville Mater Dei(1/1/4): Isaac Ash*
Tanner Tishner- Western(2/2/3): Charlie Larocca*, Gavin Jendreas*
Gavin Jendreas- Crown Point(3/0/9): Isaiah Jones (Bixby), Keanu Dillard (Bethlehem Catholic), Lincoln Sledzianowski (Bishop McCort)
Seth Aubin- Hobart(3/3/4): Cameron Woods*, Gavin Jendreas(2)*
Chayce Yant- Fishers(3/1/3): Guillermo Rivera, Gunner Butt*, Preston Haines
Isaac Ash- Monrovia(3/3/2): Charlie Larocca(3)*
Adrian Origel- North Newton(4/4/0): Cameron Woods*, Gavin Jendreas(2)*, Seth Aubin*
Jett McGuire- Greenfield-Central(5/4/6): Chayce Yant*, Nathan Rioux*, Richard Rogers(2)*, Wesley Harbert
Charlie LaRocca- Center Grove(5/3/5): Devon Harrison (Liberty), Gavin Jendreas*, Nathan Desmond (Wyoming Seminary (PA), Seth Aubin*, Ty Henderson*
Tommy Frazier- Zionsville(5/4/1): Chayce Yant*, Jett McGuire*, John Orman, Richard Rogers*, Ty Henderson*
Hunter Douglas- Norwell(6/3/2): ???, Henry Faurote*, Jordan Korreckt, Kaid Jackson*, Tanner Tishner*, Timmy Rocha
Kaid Jackson- Delta(7/5/3): Ezra Fye, Henry Faurote(2)*, Isaac Ash*, Jayden Owsley, Jett McGuire(2)*
Richard Rogers- Franklin Central(7/5/3): Anthony Kessinger*, Chase Kline, Chayce Yant*, Jett McGuire*, John Orman, Kaid Jackson*, Tommy Frazier*
Cameron Woods- Portage(7/4/3): Aiden Dallinger, Gavin Jendreas(3)*, Josh Kite, Maximus Quiroz, Seth Aubin*
Anthony Kessinger- Floyd Central(9/4/1): Bradley Ruckman (Civic Memorial), Charlie Larocca*, Jett McGuire*, , John Orman(2), Ryan Taylor, Ty Henderson(2)*, Walter Hagedorn
Henry Faurote- Bellmont(10/6/3): Ayden Bollinger*, Berke Eisenhauer, Cameron Woods*, Hunter Douglas(2)*, Jason Prough, Kaid Jackson*, Ryan Bos, Sean Harris, Tanner Tishner*
126lbs
Layne Horn- Rochester(1/1/2): Landon Hawkins*
Isaiah Schaefer- Evansville Mater Dei(2/0/6): , Jayden Raney (Union County)(2)
Bradin Daniels- Union City(2/1/3): Cody Rowles*, Jason Shuey
Neal Mosier- Delta(3/3/4): Bradin Daniels*, Cody Rowles*, Drew Waldon*
LT Hawkins- Crown Point(4/0/7): Andrew Binni (Canon-McMillan), , Jackson Blum (Lowell)(2), Seth Mendoza (Mt. Carmel)
Eli Broady- Mount Vernon (Fortville)(4/3/5): Dominic Brown, Gunner Butt*, Landon Hawkins*, Neal Mosier*
Peter Nguyen- Guerin Catholic(4/4/0): Gavin Bragg(2)*, Gunner Butt*, Neal Mosier*
Luke Rioux- Avon(5/5/8): Braylon Reynolds*, Isaiah Schaefer(4)*
Gunner Butt- New Palestine(5/3/4): Dominic Brown, Elijah Broady(2)*, Neal Mosier*, Peyton Richards
Matthew Maldonado- Merrillville(5/3/1): Chance Woods (Evergreen Park), Dominic Brown, Elijah Broady*, Landon Hawkins(2)*
Drew Waldon- Dekalb(5/2/1): Cody Rowles*, Nolan Butcher, Roman Cordoba (Napoleon), Seth Aubin*, Trevor Wilcox (Otsego)
Fynn Douglas- Floyd Central(7/4/0): Ayden Campbell, Braylon Reynolds*, Caleb Scott (Civic Memorial), Luke Rioux(3)*, Terry Easley
Gavin Bragg- Indianapolis Cathedral(8/4/3): Dominic Brown, Elijah Broady*, Landen Haines, Landon Evans (Ryle), Landon Hawkins*, Logan Dean (Bethel-Tate), Luke Rioux(2)*
Dylan Bennett- Penn(9/6/0): Dawson Brimmer (Clyde), Elijah Broady*, Gavin Bragg*, Gunner Butt*, Jason Shuey, Layne Horn(2)*, Matthew Maldonado*, Rowdy Benner (Great Crossing)
Cody Rowles- Jay County(10/7/4): Bradin Daniels(2)*, Brason Schortgen, Corbin Kimmel (Wayne), Dylan Fernandez*, Isaac Kuhn*, Neal Mosier*, Sam Mosier, Tanner Tishner*, Tye Linser*
Braylon Reynolds- Brownsburg(10/7/2): Christian Belford (Edmond North), Isaiah Schaefer(2)*, Landon Hawkins(2)*, Luke Rioux(3)*, , Seth Mendoza (Mt. Carmel)(2)
132lbs
Hayden DeMarco- Chesterton(0/0/8): 
Jackson Bradley- Cowan(0/0/5): 
Tylin Thrine- New Castle(0/0/3): 
Jake Hockaday- Brownsburg(2/0/10): Mason Gibson (Bishop McCort), Mathew Botello (Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Jack Davis- Indianapolis Bishop Chatard(3/2/5): Cameron Volz, Tylin Thrine(2)*
Tye Linser- Western(3/2/5): Angelo Vargo, Carter Fielden*, Jackson Bradley*
Hayden Fritz- West Central(3/2/2): Hayden Demarco*, Jackson Bradley*, Sol Siburcrist
Eddie Goss- Center Grove(5/4/5): Dillon Campbell (Legacy Christian Academy), Hayden Demarco*, Jake Hockaday(3)*
Carter Fielden- Garrett(5/3/3): Brayden Clauser, Guillermo Rivera, Hayden Demarco(2)*, Jackson Bradley*
Isaac Kuhn- Hamilton Heights(6/6/3): Cole Vandygriff*, Jack Davis(3)*, Tye Linser(2)*
Keith Parker- Ben Davis(6/5/3): Donald Bowie, Jake Hockaday(2)*, Quinten Schoeff(3)*
Cole Vandygriff- New Palestine(7/3/1): ???, Angelo Vargo, , Cameron Volz(2), Jack Davis(2)*, Tylin Thrine*
Quinten Schoeff- Avon(8/7/3): Eddie Goss(3)*, Jake Hockaday(3)*, Jordyn Raney (Union County), Keith Parker*
Cole Stuffel- Yorktown(10/6/0): ???, Carter Fielden*, Cody Rowles*, Gauge Clark, Jackson Bradley*, Keith Parker(2)*, , Sam Mosier(2), Tye Linser*
Sontonio Sessa- Crown Point(12/6/1): Ben Davino (St. Charles East), Carter Fielden*, Eddie Goss*, Evan Stanley (Mt. Carmel), , Guillermo Rivera(2), Hayden Demarco(3)*, Jake Hockaday*, Logan Dawson (Lowell), Thomas Silva (Hononegah)
Dylan Fernandez- Harrison (WL)(13/7/1): ???, Alex Heineman, Caleb Mattingly, Eddie Goss*, Hayden Fritz(2)*, Isaac Kuhn(2)*, Jackson Ingram, Kaleb Caliz, Sonny Sessa*, Tye Linser*, Wesley Murphy
138lbs
Tony Wood- Jay County(0/0/3): 
Kyrel Leavell- Warren Central(1/1/5): Clinton Shepherd*
Gavyn Whitehead- New Castle(1/1/3): Kyrel Leavell*
Luke Reid- Valparaiso(2/2/3): Clinton Shepherd(2)*
Justice Thornton- Columbus North(2/2/2): Brady Ison*, Zar Walker*
Wesley Smith- Plymouth(2/2/2): Clinton Shepherd(2)*
Chase Stephens- Tell City(2/2/1): Brady Ison*, Jake Hockaday*
Clinton Shepherd- Crown Point(3/0/11): Bo Bassett (Bishop McCort), Chance Ruble (Seckman), Walker Turley (St Christopher`s School)
Linkin Carter- Eastside(3/3/1): Hayden Demarco*, Tony Wood(2)*
Jaylen Covington- Pendleton Heights(4/1/1): Evan Smith, Justin Boone, Kyrel Leavell*, Peyton Hornsby, Teyon Leonard
Cameron Dews- Elkhart(5/4/1): Caleb Kirkpatrick, Jackson Bradley*, Kyrel Leavell*, Tony Wood*, William Vander Luitgaren*
Brady Ison- Brownsburg(6/2/2): Clinton Shepherd(2)*, Hunter Hollingsworth (Edmond North), Mathew Hart (Baylor School), Trevor Boone (Lowell), Wyatt Medlin (Washington Community)
Taiden Chambers- West Noble(6/3/0): Brody Hagewood*, Cam Dews*, Ethan Fike, Jaylyn Pugh, Linkin Carter*, Matthew Senn
Blake Jones- Lawrence North(7/4/1): ???, Gavyn Whitehead*, Jaylen Covington*, Justin Boone, Kyrel Leavell(2)*, Peyton Hornsby
Josh England- LaPorte(9/6/0): Caleb Kirkpatrick, Clinton Shepherd(2)*, Kendi Quoi, Luke Reid(3)*, Lynkyn Ratcliff, Wesley Smith*
William Vander Luitgaren- Center Grove(10/7/1): Blake Jones*, Camden Baumann, Chase Stephens*, Clinton Shepherd(2)*, Justice Thornton(2)*, Peyton Hornsby, Seth Syra, Wesley Smith*
144lbs
Easton Doster- New Haven(0/0/4): 
Zar Walker- Mishawaka(1/1/7): Christian Arberry*
Jeffrey Huyvaert- New Prairie(1/1/3): Zar Walker*
Branson Weaver- Owen Valley(1/1/1): Parker Reynolds*
Reese Courtney- Center Grove(2/0/9): Jackson Tucker (Hillsboro), Lucan O`Brien (St. Edward)
Christian Arberry- Warren Central(2/2/7): Reese Courtney(2)*
Marlone Kirksy- Merrillville(3/2/2): Christian Arberry*, Michael Ortega, Zar Walker*
Marlin Williams- Southmont(3/3/1): Bryce Doss*, Christian Arberry*, Colton Bollenbacher*
Colt Bollenbacher- South Adams(4/3/3): Easton Doster*, Gavyn Whitehead(2)*, Oshea Phillips
Emilio Liscano- Oak Hill(4/4/0): Brody Hagewood*, Colton Bollenbacher*, Easton Doster*, Jeffrey Huyvaert*
Brody Hagewood- Prairie Heights(5/5/2): Colton Bollenbacher*, Dillon Graham*, Easton Doster(2)*, Zar Walker*
Avery Stanley- Rensselaer Central(5/3/0): , Jack Todd(2), Jeffrey Huyvaert*, Marlone Kirksy(2)*
Parker Reynolds- Brownsburg(6/2/1): Blake Cosby (Dundee), Jayden Colon (St. Charles East), Reese Courtney(2)*, Sam Herring (Bishop McCort), Tyson Sherlock (Gilman School)
Gabe Rose- Switzerland County(7/2/0): ???, Branson Weaver*, , , Caleb Cooper(3), Nate Miller, Reese Courtney*
Dillon Graham- Indianapolis Cathedral(10/8/2): Christian Arberry(2)*, Jeffrey Huyvaert*, Omar Ayoub (Dublin Coffman), Reese Courtney(3)*, Rider Trumble (Ryle), Zar Walker(2)*
Bryce Doss- New Palestine(10/5/1): Christian Arberry(2)*, Dillon Graham*, Jack Todd, Kameron Mikesell, Kannon Zuber, Reese Courtney*, Sam Bustamante, William May, Zar Walker*
150lbs
Christopher Bohn- Munster(1/1/5): Wesley Harper*
Hunter May- Floyd Central(1/1/1): Wyatt Krejsa*
Wyatt Krejsa- Center Grove(2/0/5): Gianni Maldonado (Lake Gibson), Vince Bouzakis (Wyoming Seminary (PA)
Wesley Harper- Penn(2/1/4): Isreal Petite (Nordonia), Wyatt Krejsa*
Carson Fettig- Hamilton Heights(2/1/2): Braden Getz*, Wyatt Davis
Luke Teusch- Huntington North(2/1/2): Jayden Jett*, Rylee Biddle
Braden Getz- Roncalli(3/1/4): Aaron Durham, Ayden Lehman (Trinity), Jessie Franklin, Moses Stevenson*
Tyler Vanover- Evansville Mater Dei(3/2/2): Hunter May*, Tommy Gibbs, Wyatt Krejsa*
Aidan Elkins- New Haven(3/2/2): Brock Hagewood*, Luke Teusch*, Rylee Biddle
Jayden Jett- Cowan(3/1/1): Aidan Elkins*, Jacob Weaver, Wyatt Davis
Brock Hagewood- Prairie Heights(4/3/2): Aidan Elkins*, Evan Cruz, Luke Teusch*, Wesley Harper*
Moses Stevenson- Franklin Central(5/3/2): Braden Getz(2)*, Christopher Bohn*, Michael Neidigh, Tommy Gibbs
Kaptur Nowaczyk- Crown Point(5/2/1): Christopher Bohn*, Malachi Rider (Nixa), Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy), Tommy Gibbs, Wyatt Krejsa*
Alex Smith- Heritage Hills(5/3/0): , ???(2), Tyler Vanover(2)*, Wyatt Krejsa*
Mason Adams- Western Boone(6/3/0): , ???(2), Carson Fettig*, Marlin Williams*, Moses Stevenson*, Rylee Biddle
Chase Kasprzak- Lake Central(8/6/0): Brock Hagewood*, Caydn Smith, Christopher Bohn(2)*, Evan Cruz, Kaptur Nowaczyk*, Wesley Harper(2)*
157lbs
Mitchell Betz- Western(1/1/6): Adrian Pellot*
Adrian Pellot- Merrillville(1/1/5): *
Beau Brabender- Mishawaka(1/1/5): Adrian Pellot*
Gavin Davis- Bellmont(1/1/2): Mitchell Betz*
Asher Ratliff- Columbus North(2/2/4): Beau Brabender*, Silas Stits*
Anthony Cashman- Warren Central(3/3/7): Beau Brabender(2)*, Silas Foster*, Silas Stits*
Silas Foster- Purdue Polytechnic(3/3/2): Aidan Kincaide*, Anthony Cashman II(2)*
Javon Frost- Delphi(3/3/0): Beau Brabender*, Carson Fettig*, Griffin Van Tichelt*
Teegan Clouse- West Noble(4/3/1): Ben Barker, Christopher Bohn*, Michael Cain*, Mitchell Betz*
Mason Day- Brownsburg(5/1/6): Asher Ratliff*, Devon Magro (Bishop McCort), Jared Boone (Lowell), Jeremy Ginter (Whitmer), Max Stein (Faith Christian Academy)
Aidan Kincaide- Noblesville(5/5/3): Anthony Cashman II*, Braden Getz*, Mason Day*, Michael Cain*, Xavier Smith*
Cael Hickok- Bloomington North(5/3/0): Asher Ratliff*, Evan Hamblin, Mason Day*, Shawn Raymon, Silas Stits*
Silas Stits- Center Grove(7/5/5): Adrian Pellot*, Anthony Cashman II*, Asher Ratliff*, Devon Magro (Bishop McCort), Edmund Enright (Mt. Carmel), Mason Day*, Mitchell Betz*
Michael Cain- Hamilton Heights(7/7/2): Aidan Kincaide(2)*, Anthony Cashman II*, Isaac Sinks(2)*, Mitchell Betz*, Silas Foster*
Kévon Russell- Fort Wayne Snider(7/7/0): Asher Ratliff*, Beau Brabender*, Gavin Davis(2)*, Mitchell Betz*, Silas Stits*, Teegan Clouse*
Griffin VanTichelt- Crown Point(10/9/1): Adrian Pellot(2)*, Anthony Cashman II(2)*, Mason Day(3)*, Mitchell Betz*, Silas Stits*, Trey Parker (Dundee)
165lbs
Waylon Cressell- Warren Central(1/1/10): Anthony Rinehart*
Isaac Sinks- Harrison (WL)(1/1/3): Anthony Rinehart*
Brant Beck- Rochester(1/1/3): Anthony Rinehart*
Evan Roudebush- Bloomington South(2/1/9): Bryce Griffin(Civic Memorial), Waylon Cressell*
Kaeb Stebbins- Delta(2/2/4): Duke Myers(2)*
Anthony Rinehart- Crown Point(3/0/6): Joe Sealey (Wyoming Seminary (PA), Logan Fowler (Cleveland), Nick Singer (Faith Christian Academy)
Duke Myers- Bellmont(3/3/4): Anthony Rinehart*, Evan Roudebush*, Kaeb Stebbins*
Xavier Smith- Fishers(3/2/4): Evan Roudebush*, Michael Mavros, Waylon Cressell*
Oliver Hallett- Indian Creek(3/3/1): Bray Emerine*, Coy Bender*, Evan Roudebush*
Levi Abbott- Cowan(6/6/2): Brant Beck(2)*, Duke Myers*, Kaeb Stebbins(3)*
Ethan Smith- Fort Wayne Snider(6/3/0): Duke Myers*, Emilio Tirado*, Jackson Haston, Levi Abbott*, , Will Kennedy(2)
Coy Bender- Terre Haute South(7/6/2): Evan Roudebush(4)*, Gage Eckels, Jesse Derringer*, Levi Abbott*
Zach Huckaby- Perry Meridian(7/8/1): Anthony Rinehart*, James Dozier*, Jesse Derringer*, Oliver Hallett*, Waylon Cressell(4)*
Jesse Derringer- Brownsburg(9/3/2): Aidan White*, Bryce Kohler (St. Paris Graham), Evan Roudebush*, Kole Katschor (Dundee), Nick Singer (Faith Christian Academy), Owen McMullen (Bishop McCort), Royce Lopez (Warren), William Henckel (Blair Academy), Xavier Smith*
James Dozier- Roncalli(10/7/1): ???, Brenton Russell*, Coy Bender*, Jake Dowdy (Union County), Michael White(2)*, Waylon Cressell*, Will Kennedy, Xavier Smith*, Zach Huckaby*
Emilio Tirado- Lake Central(14/5/1): Anthony Rinehart*, Brant Beck*, Lucas Anderson, Cory Fuller, Evan Roudebush*, Gabino Perez (Brother Rice), Hunter Sopkowski, Isaac Sinks*, Marques Young(2), Michael Mavros, , Will Kennedy(2), Xavier Smith*
175lbs
Aidan Costello- Hobart(0/0/5): 
Bray Emerine- Floyd Central(1/1/8): Waylon Cressell*
Brenton Russell- Warren Central(1/1/7): Chase Leech*
Zymarion Hollyfield- Penn(1/2/1): Aidan Costello(2)*
Ethan Popp- Harrison (WL)(1/1/1): Zymarion Hollyfield*
Braxton Russell- Delta(2/2/4): Chase Leech*, Cooper McCloy*
Chase Leech- Garrett(2/2/3): Aidan Costello*, Michael White*
Laish Detwiler- Goshen(2/1/1): Chase Leech*, Mason Kobelt
Kyle Harden- Indianapolis Cathedral(2/1/1): Jean Cirosil (Arsenal Tech), Michael White*
Ethan Farnell- Maconaquah(3/2/0): Braxton Russell*, Evan Miller, Laish Detwiler*
Noah Clouser- Center Grove(4/2/3): Aidan Costello*, Bray Emerine*, Nathan Taylor (Green Farms Academy), Westin Hoffschneider (Ponderosa)
Cooper McCloy- Terre Haute South(5/3/2): ???, Bray Emerine(2)*, James Hastings, Noah Clouser*
Michael White- Lawrence North(7/5/5): ???, Bray Emerine*, Brenton Russell(3)*, Seer Godwise, Waylon Cressell*
Noah Sumner- Martinsville(7/6/0): Braxton Russell*, Bray Emerine(2)*, Cooper McCloy*, Noah Clouser(2)*, Seer Godwise
Aidan White- Crown Point(9/3/1): Aidan Costello*, Brenton Russell*, , Cameron Crisp(2), Colin Kelley (Mount Carmel), Ethan Popp*, Hudson Rogers (Meridian), Peyton Westpfahl (Liberty), Seer Godwise
Silas Frye- Greenfield-Central(12/8/0): Braxton Russell(2)*, Bray Emerine*, Brenton Russell(2)*, Crew Farrell, Kyle Harden*, Michael White*, Seer Godwise(2), Tyler Lake, Waylon Cressell*
190lbs
Noah Weaver- Rossville(0/0/4): 
Kenneth Bisping- Lowell(1/1/6): Luke Penola*
Elias Cressell- Wabash(1/0/2): Austin Ringeisen
Luke Penola- Zionsville(2/2/2): Noah Weaver(2)*
Eli Coolman- Leo(2/1/1): Elias Cressell*, Mickey Daring
Vincent Freeman- Penn(3/1/5): Gage Yackee (Toledo St. Johns), Kenneth Bisping*, Xander Myers (Liberty Center)
Gunner Henry- Brownsburg(3/0/4): Chett Mannier (St Paris Graham), Leimana Fager (Corner Canyon), Matthew Kowalski (Springboro)
Noah Terry- Tell City(3/2/2): Gunner Henry(2)*, Lane Kiser (Trinity)
Kaden McConnell- Center Grove(4/2/2): Danny Zmorowski (Lake Catholic), Gunner Henry(2)*, Noah Onkst (McDonogh School)
Collin Casad- Terre Haute South(4/4/0): Kaden McConnell*, Noah Terry(2)*, Noah Weaver*
Donovan Blair- Wawasee(5/3/5): Austin Reading, Eli Coolman*, Keith Miller*, Kenneth Bisping*, Mickey Daring
Aleksandar Tatum- Hobart(6/5/1): Colin Whetsel*, De'Aris Beason, Kenneth Bisping(3)*, Vinny Freeman*
Colin Whetsel- New Palestine(7/1/2): ???, Caleb Evans, , Clay Guenin(2), Connor Leins, Jaylen Young, Noah Weaver*
Keith Miller- Northwood(9/7/2): Austin Reading, Breckan Maran, Donovan Blair(4)*, Elias Cressell*, Trey Dunning(2)*
Trey Dunning- Mishawaka(11/8/2): Aleksandar Tatum*, , Colin Weiand(2), Donovan Blair*, Keith Miller*, Kellen Fellure, Kenneth Bisping*, Vinny Freeman(4)*
Nathan Shafer- New Castle(11/2/0): , , , ???(4), Breck Bohman, Colin Whetsel*, Harry Boshears, Jacob Smith, Jaylon Van Slyke, Juaquin Flores, Luke Penola*
215lbs
Travis Henke- Northridge(1/0/3): Kameron Kauffman
Julante Hinton- Fort Wayne Northrop(1/1/2): Keagan Martin*
Cole Chicione- McCutcheon(1/1/2): Will Clark*
Wyatt Woodall- Southmont(1/1/1): Jackson Weingart*
Keagan Martin- Bellmont(2/2/3): Travis Henke*, Will Clark*
Alex Deming- Rochester(2/2/2): Cole Chicoine*, Jayden Bartoszek*
Will Clark- Crown Point(3/0/8): Kai Calcutt (Loyola Academy), Michael Calcagno (IC Catholic Prep), Michael Mocco (Cardinal Gibbons)
Brandon Johnson- Lawrence North(3/2/3): Devin Kendrex*, Jackson Weingart*, Shaun Glass
Landon Terry- Tell City(4/3/3): Caden Brewer(2)*, Parker Hart*, Tyson Ruhe
Caden Brewer- Brownsburg(5/3/5): Jackson Weingart*, Jason Singer (Faith Christian Academy), Rune Lawrence (Frazier ), Will Clark(2)*
Jackson Weingart- Indianapolis Cathedral(5/2/3): Andrew Troy, Kaden McConnell*, Kameron Kauffman, Will Clark*, Wyatt Walker (Edgewood)
Jayden Bartoszek- Hanover Central(5/5/1): Cole Chicoine*, Devin Kendrex*, Will Clark(3)*
Preston Duffy- Manchester(5/5/0): Alex Deming(2)*, Julante Hinton(2)*, Travis Henke*
Devin Kendrex- Mount Vernon (Fortville)(6/5/2): Brandon Johnson(3)*, Kameron Kauffman, Keagan Martin*, Wyatt Woodall*
Parker Hart- Heritage Hills(7/5/1): Aiden Beadles*, Brayden Rouse, Caden Brewer*, Keagan Martin*, Landon Terry(2)*, Tyson Ruhe
Aiden Beadles- South Putnam(8/3/1): , ???(2), Aidan Hinchee, Bryce Hann (Danville), Caden Brewer(2)*, Dominick Mercer, Landon Terry*
285lbs
Juan Cruz- Bluffton(0/0/2): 
Nate Johnson- Center Grove(1/1/7): Paul Clark*
Brady Beck- Rochester(1/1/4): Paul Clark*
Austin Hastings- Noblesville(2/1/2): Collin Foy, Hosia Smith*
Aramis McNutt- Highland(2/2/0): Anthony Popi*, Brady Beck*
Isaiah Coolman- Leo(3/2/5): Ethan Dodson*, Juan Cruz*, Makel Adaji(Penn)
Paul Clark- Crown Point(3/0/4): Aidan Fockler (Massillon Perry), Sampson Stillwell (St Micheal the Archangel), Spencer Lanosga (Jesuit New Orleans)
Hayden Smith- Heritage Hills(3/2/0): ???, Justin Brown*, Nate Johnson*
Justin Brown- Floyd Central(4/3/2): Carter Guillaume (St. Xavier), Hosia Smith*, Joseph Orisadare*, Nate Johnson*
Max Amberger- Batesville(4/2/0): Austin Hastings*, Levi DeGroat, Michael Henderson, Perris Green*
Anthony Popi- Plymouth(6/6/2): Brady Beck(3)*, Nate Johnson*, Paul Clark*, Travis Henke*
James Hartleroad- Dekalb(6/4/1): Ethan Dodson*, Isaac Lehman(Napoleon), Isaiah Coolman(3)*, Terry Henion
Hosia Smith- Indianapolis Cathedral(7/4/4): Austin Hastings*, Ethan Dodson*, , Jacob McClure(2), Nate Johnson*, Paul Clark*, Tyler Schott
Ethan Dodson- Fort Wayne Snider(7/6/3): Anthony Popi*, Isaiah Coolman(2)*, James Hartleroad*, Juan Cruz*, Nate Johnson*, William Glesing
Perris Green- Warren Central(7/1/1): Aiden Padgett, Brayden Flener, Hosia Smith*, , Jacob McClure(2), Maximus Forrester, Tyric Hinton
Oluwagbenga Orisadare- Avon(8/4/1): ???, Hosia Smith*, Jacob McClure, Justin Brown*, Maximus Forrester, Nate Johnson(2)*, Tyler Schott

Mike and Joe are joined by the honorary mayor of Evansville Dustin Bentz to go over the semi-states and preview 8 weight classes. They hit the randomizer and talk about 157, 132, 175, 165, 144, 138, 126, and 150.

By STEVE KRAH
stvkrh905@gmail.com
 
Bradin Daniels became the first Union City Junior/City wrestler to qualify for the IHSAA State Finals in a dozen years when the junior won the 126-pound title at the 2024 Fort Wayne Semi-State.
 
Before the Feb. 10 accomplishment, the last Indian to punch his ticket to the state tournament’s last stage was Kyle Walters at 160 in 2011-12, a season in which he want 40-4.
 
As a Union City assistant coach, Walters has been in Daniels’ corner along with Indians head coach Kevin Lawrence.
 
“He’s just a hard worker,” says Walters of Daniels. “He’s worked for it all season.”
 
Away from the mat, Lawrence owns a construction company and Walters is a software engineer.
 
Because of NBA All-Star Game activities, the site of the State Finals has been moved this year from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis to the Ford Center in Evansville.
 
The first round is Friday, Feb. 16. There will be two sessions (152-285 and 106-144). First-round survivors compete Saturday, Feb. 17.
 
Daniels heads to the Pocket City at 38-2 on the season.
 
Union City is a Randolph County school with an enrollment around 250.
 
“I did it for these guys over here,” says Daniels, who pointed to the UC faithful that came to cheer Saturday at Allen County Memorial Coliseum and saw him defeat NorthWood junior Will Hahn (pin in 2:42), Marion freshman Hixon Love (6-0 decision), Delta senior Neal Mosier (6-5 overtime decision) and Jay County senior Cody Rowles (8-4 decision). “I did it for my coaches. I did it for me. I did it for my family (including parents Devon and Samantha Daniels and brothers Gage and Blayne).
 
“They all knew I had it in me. This year it changed.”
 
Says Lawrence, “it was more the way he wrestled. He’s more patient now then he was before. He now knows that all he has to do is win a match. He doesn’t necessarily have to do it all in the first period.
 
“He can wrestle a three-period match now and go six minutes.”
 
Daniels said he became serious about wrestle in sixth grade.
 
“I placed second at Middle School State and I was like ‘Wow!,’” says Daniels. “My freshman year I missed weight at sectional and last year I got in my head because I had to face the No. 1 seed.”
 
Daniels gave himself a pep talk going into 2023-24.
 
“I told myself there’s nothing stopping me this year,” says Daniels. “You’re going to go and win it whether you like it or not.”
 
Gage and Blayne Daniels both wrestled for UC.
 
“They’re over there rooting me on,” says Bradin. “They tell me that no matter what else is going on, just wrestle.”
 
Other season highlights for the youngest Daniels boy include winning his second Tri-Eastern Conference championship (pinning Winchester junior Isaiah Spurlin in the finals) and placing first for the second straight Bill Kerbel Invitational at New Haven (beating Northfield freshman Elijah Gahl by 13-0 major decision for the crown).
 
Daniels also earned his first Jay County Sectional title (besting Rowles 4-0 in the championship bout). He placed second at the Jay County Regional (losing to Rowles by fall in the finals) then won the Fort Wayne Semi-State.
 
As a sophomore, Daniels was a sectional runner-up and came in fourth at regional and did not place at semi-state.
 
Bradin came in third at the past two East Central Indiana Classic tournaments.
 
“He’s always had the ability,” says Lawrence. “Little things here and there he was able to put together this year.
 
“That’s been the difference.”
 
The past two seasons, Daniels competed at 126. He began the current season at 132, but continued to lose weight and went back to 126.
 
Union City’s Matt Taylor placed fourth at the State Finals in 1991.
 
Besides Taylor in 1990 and Walters in 2012, other state qualifiers include Kyle Anderson in 2007, Zach Woodbury in 2004, Jim Garrett in 1992 and Rob Bousman in 1987.
 
 

Overall
Another year, another ranking breakdown for the state finals. As always Mike Reiser does a knock out job. He has consistently done a great job with our rankings even with locking them before the first whistle at sectional. This year's total of 193 ranked wrestlers is second only to last year's 200. Most of these wrestlers were in the state rankings at some point and are currently in the semi-state rankings. While ranking high school wrestling is not an easy job, Mike and the rest of the crew make it look easy. As we always say, the best part of the rankings is you get to prove them on the mat. Good luck to all the wrestlers in Evansville.
 
As always our information center has brackets and will be updated multiple times with information throughout the week. Bookmark this page and check it often for updates.
Click here for the Info Center with links to download the brackets
 
Season by season ranked wrestlers advancing to state
*Note Mike Reiser took over the rankings in 2012
2024- 193
2023- 200
2022- 190
2021- 186
2020- 180
2019- 175
2018- 179
2017- 169
2016- 175
2015- 172
2014- 171
2013- 171
2012- 170
2011- 157
2010- 159
2009- 143
 
Wrestlers not in either the final state or semi-state rankings:
106lbs Caleb Morrow (Indianapolis Lutheran)
113lbs Bradyn Volz (Eastern Hancock)
132lbs Dylan Fernandez (Lafayette Harrison)
190lbs Nathan Shafer (New Castle)
215lbs Aiden Beadles (South Putnam)
 
106lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Caleb Morrow (Indianapolis Lutheran)
Charlie Fleshman (Central Noble)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#5 Peyton Schoettle (Roncalli) vs. #17 Joseph Hamilton (Center Grove)
#9 Rex Moore (Manchester) vs. #13 Teigan Newell (Crown Point)
#11 Alonzo Chantea (Plymouth) vs. #7 Julianna Ocampo (New Haven)
#1 Jensen Boyd (Delta) vs. #25 Grant Holloway (Rochester)
#14 Mason Goelz (Avon) vs. #10 Heather Crull (Northeastern)
#15 John Bissmeyer (Indianapolis Cathedral) vs. #8 Talon Jessup (Columbus East)
 
113lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 12
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Beck Doughty (Rensselaer Central)
Bradyn Volz (Eastern Hancock)
Karrington Cooper (New Haven)
Sully Frazier (Zionsville)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#3 Ayden Bollinger (Delta) vs. #19 Gavin Ash (Monrovia)
#12 Nathan Reyes (Indianapolis Cathedral) vs. #13 Brady Harper (Penn)
#8 Caleb Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei) vs. #4 Jalen Sawyer-May (Kokomo)
#16 Kaleb Salazar (Wawasee) vs. #2 Nathan Rioux (Avon)

120lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 13
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Cameron Woods (Portage)
Henry Faurote (Bellmont)
Hunter Douglas (Norwell)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#1 Gavin Jendreas (Crown Point) vs. #23 Tony Kessinger (Floyd Central)
#5 Charlie LaRocca (Center Grove) vs. #18 Adrian Origel (North Newton)
#15 Kaid Jackson (Delta) vs. #14 Jett McGuire (Greenfield-Central)
#6 Tanner Tishner (Western) vs. #13 Richard Rogers (Franklin Central)
#2 Seth Aubin (Hobart) vs. #7 Isaac Ash (Monrovia)
 
126lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Bradin Daniels (Union City)
Fynn Douglas (Floyd Central)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#2 Landon Hawkins (Crown Point) vs. #5 Neal Mosier (Delta)
#8 Gavin Bragg (Indianapolis Cathedral) vs. #4 Braylon Reynolds (Brownsburg)
#3 Luke Rioux (Avon) vs. #9 Eli Broady (Mount Vernon (Fortville))
#7 Layne Horn (Rochester) vs. #18 Cody Rowles (Jay County)
#16 Drew Waldon (DeKalb) vs. #10 Matthew Maldonado (Merrillville)
#1 Isaiah Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei) vs. #14 Peter Nguyen (Guerin Catholic)
 
132lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 13
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Cole Stuffel (Yorktown)
Dylan Fernandez (Lafayette Harrison)
Hayden Fritz (West Central)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#15 Jack Davis (Indianapolis Bishop Chatard) vs. #4 Eddie Goss (Center Grove)
#13 Keith Parker (Ben Davis) vs. #20 Cole Vandygriff (New Palestine)
#1 Jake Hockaday (Brownsburg) vs. #19 Isaac Kuhn (Hamilton Heights)
#7 Carter Fielden (Garrett) vs. #8 Sonny Sessa (Crown Point)
#2 Tylin Thrine (New Castle) vs. #10 Quinten Schoeff (Avon)
 
138lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 12
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Blake Jones (Lawrence North)
Jaylen Covington (Pendleton Heights)
Josh England (LaPorte)
Taiden Chambers (West Noble)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#11 Chase Stephens (Tell City) vs. #10 Luke Reid (Valparaiso)
#5 Wesley Smith (Plymouth) vs. #13 Justice Thornton (Columbus North)
#25 Cam Dews (Elkhart) vs. #6 Gavyn Whitehead (New Castle)
#1 Clinton Shepherd (Crown Point) vs. #14 William Vander Luitgaren (Center Grove)
 
144lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 16
 
Unranked qualifiers:
None
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#6 Zar Walker (Mishawaka) vs. #25 Marlin Williams (Southmont)
#23 Colton Bollenbacher (South Adams) vs. #2 Parker Reynolds (Brownsburg)
#4 Christian Arberry (Warren Central) vs. #17 Avery Stanley (Rensselaer Central)
#8 Branson Weaver (Owen Valley) vs. #10 Brody Hagewood (Prairie Heights)
#1 Reese Courtney (Center Grove) vs. #18 Emilio Liscano (Oak Hill)
#16 Bryce Doss (New Palestine) vs. #3 Jeffrey Huyvaert (New Prairie)
#12 Marlone Kirksy (Merrillville) vs. #7 Dillon Graham (Indianapolis Cathedral)
#5 Easton Doster (New Haven) vs. #24 Gabe Rose (Switzerland County)
 
150lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Aidan Elkins (New Haven)
Mason Adams (Western Boone)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#21 Luke Teusch (Huntington North) vs. #10 Christopher Bohn (Munster)
#8 Braden Getz (Roncalli) vs. #11 Alex Smith (Heritage Hills)
#9 Kaptur Nowaczyk (Crown Point) vs. #19 Jayden Jett (Cowan)
#5 Wesley Harper (Penn) vs. #12 Brock Hagewood (Prairie Heights)
#6 Tyler Vanover (Evansville Mater Dei) vs. #16 Carson Fettig (Hamilton Heights)
#20 Moses Stevenson (Franklin Central) vs. #2 Hunter May (Floyd Central)
 
157lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 15
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Cael Hickok (Bloomington North
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#3 Mitchell Betz (Western) vs. #11 Michael Cain (Hamilton Heights)
#7 Mason Day (Brownsburg) vs. #1 Beau Brabender (Mishawaka)
#5 Anthony Cashman II (Warren Central) vs. #14 Kevon Russell (Fort Wayne Snider)
#10 Griffin Van Tichelt (Crown Point) vs. #6 Silas Stits (Center Grove)
#4 Silas Foster (Purdue Polytechnic) vs. #15 Teegan Clouse (West Noble)
#8 Gavin Davis (Bellmont) vs. #12 Aidan Kincaide (Noblesville)
#9 Asher Ratliff (Columbus North) vs. #19 Javon Frost (Delphi)
 
165lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Emilio Tirado (Lake Central)
Ethan Smith (Fort Wayne Snider)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#15 Xavier Smith (Fishers) vs. #16 Jesse Derringer (Brownsburg)
#14 Coy Bender (Terre Haute South) vs. #17 Zach Huckaby (Perry Meridian)
#2 Waylon Cressell (Warren Central) vs. #8 Oliver Hallett (Indian Creek)
#7 Isaac Sinks (Harrison (WL)) vs. #4 Kaeb Stebbins (Delta)
#10 Levi Abbott (Cowan) vs. #6 Brant Beck (Rochester)
#3 Evan Roudebush (Bloomington South) vs. #25 James Dozier (Roncalli)
 
175lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 15
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Aidan White (Crown Point)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#11 Kyle Harden (Indianapolis Cathedral) vs. #6 Braxton Russell (Delta)
#1 Aidan Costello (Hobart) vs. #14 Noah Sumner (Martinsville)
#8 Laish Detwiler (Goshen) vs. #16 Michael White (Lawrence North)
#3 Brenton Russell (Warren Central) vs. #17 Ethan Farnell (Maconaquah)
#18 Cooper McCloy (Terre Haute South) vs. #13 Zymarion Hollyfield (Penn)
#7 Ethan Popp (Harrison (WL)) vs. #4 Noah Clouser (Center Grove)
#2 Chase Leech (Garrett) vs. #19 Silas Frye (Greenfield-Central)
 
190lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 13
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Keith Miller (Northwood)
Nathan Shafer (New Castle)
Trey Dunning (Mishawaka High School)
 
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#4 Vinny Freeman (Penn) vs. #3 Luke Penola (Zionsville)
#20 Elias Cressell (Wabash) vs. #11 Collin Casad (Terre Haute South)
#25 Colin Whetsel (New Palestine) vs. #16 Aleksandar Tatum (Hobart)
#6 Noah Terry (Tell City) vs. #14 Eli Coolman (Leo)
#23 Donovan Blair (Wawasee) vs. #2 Kaden McConnell (Center Grove)
 
215lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Aiden Beadles (South Putnam)
Preston Duffy (Manchester)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:
#2 Cole Chicoine (McCutcheon) vs. #13 Wyatt Woodall (Southmont)
#18 Travis Henke (Northridge) vs. #19 Parker Hart (Heritage Hills)
#6 Brandon Johnson (Lawrence North) vs. #12 Jayden Bartoszek (Hanover Central)
#1 Will Clark (Crown Point) vs. #9 Devin Kendrex (Mount Vernon (Fortville))
#4 Julante Hinton (Fort Wayne Northrop) vs. #17 Landon Terry (Tell City)
#8 Jackson Weingart (Indianapolis Cathedral) vs. #5 Alex Deming (Rochester)
 
285lbs
Number of Ranked Wrestlers Qualifying: 14
 
Unranked qualifiers:
Max Amberger (Batesville)
Perris Green (Warren Central)
 
First round match-ups of ranked wrestlers:#1 Paul Clark (Crown Point) vs. #22 James Hartleroad (DeKalb)
#10 Juan Cruz (Bluffton) vs. #3 Aramis McNutt (Highland)
#11 Justin Brown (Floyd Central) vs. #8 Hosia Smith (Indianapolis Cathedral)
#7 Austin Hastings (Noblesville) vs. #18 Hayden Smith (Heritage Hills)
#5 Anthony Popi (Plymouth) vs. #23 Ethan Dodson (Fort Wayne Snider)
#20 Isaiah Coolman (Leo) vs. #2 Brady Beck (Rochester)

The state qualifier streaks are always fun to keep an eye on. This year we have a lot of teams with 10+ straight years of state experience that might have their streaks broken. While we expect most of these teams to continue their streaks they do have intriguing ticket round match-ups for their top wrestlers.
 
Perry Meridian
22 year streak, 5th longest active streak
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/#5 Colin Clark
113lbs #19/#6 Hruai Lian
120lbs NR/NR RJ Taylor
165lbs #11/#3 Zach Huckaby
175lbs #13/#3 Seer Godwise
190lbs #13/#3 Jaylen Young
285lbs #17/#1 Jacob McClure

 
Best Chance to Advance
There are very few easy paths out of New Castle and it seems Perry Meridian received some tough draws. Hruai Lian comes in with a solid shot of continuing the streak. His biggest obstacle will be one loss freshman Bradyn Volz of Eastern Hancock. Two-time qualifier Zach Huckaby comes in at #11 in the state and will have to go through #22 Kade Rickard of Bishop Chatard.
 
Tough road to Evansville
The others in the field got about the worst possible draws. Collin Clark runs into undefeated Heather Crull at 106lbs. Returning state qualifier RJ Taylor could meet up with semi-state #1 Chace Yant. Seer Godwise runs into state placer Kyle Harden at 175lbs. Jaylen Young comes in at #3 in the semi-state, but has Noah Weaver in the ticket round. Lastly, the big guy Jacob McClure has a combination of Killian Miller and state placer Hosia Smith to punch his ticket.
 
Bloomington South
26 years, 5th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/#10 Jaxsen Jean
132lbs NR/NR Amrin Pratt
144lbs #13/#4 Wyatt Cooksey
165lbs #3/#1 Evan Roudebush
175lbs NR/NR Tristian Hicks
 
Best Chance to Advance
Junior Evan Roudebush(pronounced ROWDY-bush) comes in as the 3rd ranked wrestler in the state, but will have to go through either #19 or #21 to make his way to Evansville for two straight weeks.
 
Tough road to Evansville
Little guy Jaxsen Jean will have to go through state ranked Eli Ogle and Talon Jessup to punch his ticket to Evansville. Amrin Pratt will have to go through #17 Kellan Carter in the first round. If he wins that he’ll likely see two-time state champ Jake Hockaday. Wyatt Cooksey has had a great sophomore year, but will likely see #1 Reese Courtney in the ticket round. Tristan Hicks will have to go through undefeated Sam Howard and #14 Noah Sumner if he is to punch his ticket to state.
 
Adams Central
25 years, 7th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/#10 Myles Kaehr
113lbs NR/NR Kale Beer
132lbs NR/#5 Brason Schortgen
138lbs #16/#5 Maverick Dubach
150lbs NR/NR Max Byerly
190lbs #16/#3 Trevor Currie
215lbs NR/#6 Keegan Bluhm
285lbs #13/#4 Zac Wurm
 
Best Chance to Advance
Maverick Dubach has wrestled well his sophomore year and ranked #18 in the state. He will be a slight underdog against #12 Linkin Carter of Eastside in the ticket round. Keegan Bluhm at 215lbs comes in with the best ranking in his quarter bracket at #6 in the semi-state. He will have #10 Matt Poiry and #7 Preston Duffy to go through. Heavyweight Zac Wurm will also come in with the best ranking. However, he has #9 in the semi-state Vincent Parke first round and #22 in the state James Hartleroad in the ticket round.
 
Tough road to Evansville
To start out for the Flying Jets Myles Kaehr will have two state ranked wrestlers in his quarter bracket including state qualifier Rex Moore. Kale Beer is in the same boat with state ranked Abrum Swathwood and Kaleb Salazar in his way to Evansville. Freshman Brason Shortgen has had a great year, but runs into state placer Carter Fielden in the first round. Max Byerly will have to go through either Aidan Elkins or Porter Kleeberg who are both semi-state ranked to advance. Trevor Currie won a tough regional and got put into a quarter bracket with two other state ranked wrestlers. The #15th ranked wrestler will get the winner of #9 Chad Washburn and #14 Eli Coolman in the ticket round.
 
Carroll (Fort Wayne)
17 years, 10th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/NR Boston Blake
165lbs NR/NR August Adams
 
Best Chance to Advance
With both wrestlers drawing state qualifiers in the first round the best chance to keep the streak alive is August Adams. Adams won a sectional title and was runner-up at regional. 
 
Tough road to Evansville
Little guy Boston Blake has undefeated and returning state qualifier Rex Moore first round. Adams will start his quest with Cowan state qualifier Levi Abbott. Neither is a good draw which is not good for the 17 year streak in Huntertown.
 
Westfield
13 years, 12th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/NR Keegan Carson
120lbs #11/#3 Porter Temples
126lbs NR/NR Carter Niccum
132lbs NR/NR Chase Camire
138lbs NR/#10 Jake Saez
150lbs NR/NR Graydon Staley
157lbs NR/NR Eli Turner
165lbs NR/NR Hunter Lancaster
 
Best Chance to Advance
Sophomore little guy Keegan Carson won a regional title and landed in a spot with only one opponent with a ranking in #4 semi-state Kendall Moe. Returning state qualifier Porter Temples is a slight ranking underdog at 120lbs, however he has a solid shot to make his way back to state.
 
Tough road to Evansville
Carter Niccum was a regional runner-up and runs into a tough Gavin Bragg in the ticket round. Chase Camire will likely have to go through state ranked Donald Bowie and Jack Davis to wrestle in Evansville. Junior Jake Saez is another one with two state ranked wrestlers in his quarter bracket. He has state placer Gavyn Whitehead and tough freshman Peyton Hornsby. Graydon Staley will have #16 Carson Fettig in the first round. Junior Eli Turner will have tough freshman Aidan Kincaide in his opening match. Hunter Lancaster will have #25 James Dozier in the opening round and undefeated Damien Dance possibly in the ticket round.
 
Zionsville
11 years, 16th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
113lbs NR/#7 Sully Frazier
120lbs #20/#5 Tommy Frazier
126lbs NR/NR Quinn Stauffacher
132lbs NR/NR Jalin England
144lbs #16/#9 Hank Phenicie
157lbs #20/#7 Blake Wahl
175lbs NR/#6 Jon Mangus
190lbs #3/#1 Luke Penola
215lbs NR/NR Kian Maclauchlan
285lbs NR/NR Dace McNeil
 
Best Chance to Advance
Regional champ Sully Frazier opens with state ranked Keegan Dresllar of Southport. Tommy Frazier is in a good spot, but could meet semi-state ranked Cole Freese or Jack Richardson in the ticket round. Luke Penola brought back a state medal last year, but has a tough ticket round match with #10 Clay Guenin looming. It’s one of the bigger ticket round matches in the semi-state.
 
Tough road to Evansville
Quinn Stauffacher and Jalin England both come in with losing records and draw into tough quarter brackets with ranked wrestlers. Al Smith placer Hank Phenicie will have a tough match to start with #16 Bryce Doss. If he wins his reward will be #22 Oshea Phillips of Centerville. Senior Blake Wahl’s path to state is through state placer Anthony Cashman. Jon Mangus is ranked #6 in the semi-state, but has #16 in the state Michael White in the ticket round. Kain Maclauchlan will start the day with state placer Devin Kendrex. Heavyweight Dace McNeil will have Warren Central’s #7 in the semi-state Perris Green in his first match.
 
Carmel
11 years, 16th longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/#10 Carlo Federici
113lbs NR/#8 Tamir Halevi
132lbs NR/#8 Caleb Mattingly
150lbs NR/NR Jackson Schmidt
157lbs NR/#10 Jario Ojeda-Cortes
285lbs NR/#4 Killian Miller
 
Best Chance to Advance
Caleb Mattingly comes in as a regional champ and ranked #22. He will have #10 in the semi-state Alex Plahitko to open up and then possibly #19 Isaac Kuhn.
 
Tough road to Evansville
Carlo Federici has had a good freshman year, but will run into #1 in the semi-state Peyton Schoettle in the ticket round. Tamir Halevi was a state qualifier in 2022 and looking for another trip. He will however run into two state ranked wrestlers in Connor Bayliss and Nathan Reyes to make a return trip. Jackson Schmidt will have to go through tough sophomore #20 Moses Stevenson to punch a ticket. Another Greyhound with two state ranked wrestlers in his quarter-bracket is Jario Ojeda-Cortes. He will have to go though #11 Michael Cain and #25 Kaleb Wilburn. To keep the same theme, Killian Miller has #14 Jacob McClure to open up his day and if he wins that likely gets #8 Hosia Smith.
 
Columbia City 
10 years, 22nd longest active
Semi-State Qualifiers
106lbs NR/#5 Ian Berry
285lbs NR/#9 Vincent Parke
 
Best Chance to Advance
Vincent Parke comes in with a lot of experience battling the top big guys in the area. His draw however did him no favors.
 
Tough road to Evansville
Ian Berry has put together a fine freshman year, but after losing to NE8 rival Julianna Ocampo at regional he has to go through #1 Jensen Boyd to punch his ticket. After a regional runner-up finish Parke fell into a quarter bracket with state qualifier Zac Wurm and Fargo champ James Hartleroad who are both state ranked.
 

Mike and Joe talk about East Chicago

Mike and Joe talk about New Castle

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!!! 

By Anna Kayser
 
One year after losing in the quarterfinals and wrestling his way back to fifth place at 106 pounds at the IHSAA State Finals, Lake Central senior Mason Jones is looking to leave it all on the mat.
 
Throughout his high school career, he hasn’t taken too many losses. Eleven as a sophomore, two a year ago – the second coming in that pivotal quarterfinal match that would inevitably propel him into his final high school campaign – and none thus far as he gears up for semi-state this coming weekend.
 
If you’re counting along, that means Mason Jones has racked up a lot of wins through three years as a varsity wrestler for Lake Central. There was just more to learn in the losses.
 
“I feel like I took away from just my overall season last year that there was always more I could do, more I could work towards especially when I came up short,” Jones said. “Last year at state, it felt like everything stopped and that it was all over. I had to take some time, sit down and remember that it wasn’t over, there was still more to go.”
 
Jones now enters his final run at a state title ranked No. 1 in his semi-state 106 pounds and No. 2 in the state, trailing only Delta freshman Jensen Boyd. The rankings are one aspect that has helped him build that strong mental foundation.
 
“I’d say it is a bit of a confidence boost, seeing that after all this time – all the work that I’ve put in to get to where I am now – I’m getting a bit of recognition,” Jones said.
 
Looking back on last year’s state run, his mental game is strides ahead of where it was last February. Following his quarterfinals loss, his coaches expressed the importance of confidence and staying true to his wrestling style even under the bright lights.
 
After getting his first state finals experience under his belt last year, he now steps into an opportunity this year with a more collected demeanor.
 
“His mental game wasn’t 100 percent there yet [last year], but the biggest difference this year is the confidence,” Lake Central head coach Luke Triveline said. “He’s putting in work in the offseason, he put in the work in the offseason, he’s doing his conditioning, he’s got good practice partners, obviously our team is doing well. And he’s really putting in the effort to mentally believe in himself and put him in a position to make a state title run.
 
That confidence is just a sliver of his mental game, something that was torn down after that loss in the quarterfinals and something he’s built back up to become one of the best wrestlers in the state.
 
“My dad is always telling me, ‘On any given day, anybody can win and anybody can lose. You have to go out there and give it 100 percent every time you step onto the mat’” Jones said. “I go out there knowing that I just have to outwork whoever I’m wrestling, otherwise there’s no guarantee that I get my hand raised.”
 
There’s a balance between being humble and not taking a season record or ranking for good, and Jones works hard to keep that balance in check.
 
“We just try to keep them humble, keep them hungry and keep them working to do what a state champion does,” Triveline said. “There’s only one state champ in each weight class, so you’ve got to be able to do more and push yourself more than you think you’re even capable of.”
 
Now, Jones is focusing on giving all he can to finish out his high school career on his terms, leaving everything he has on the mat as opposed to walking away thinking he could have given more.