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Manage articlesHigh School News2821Jay County Regional Preview
Jay County Regional spectators should be in for a day of top-notch wrestling as seventeen state ranked wrestlers toe the line this Saturday. Along with the seventeen ranked state ranked wrestlers, there are PLENTY more wrestlers ranked in the Fort Wayne Semi-State rankings.
106: The excitement starts early as the day should start off with two state ranked wrestlers toeing the line for the championship. South Adams freshman Wyatt Miller (#19) will face Yorktown’s freshman Christian Hunt (#8), there are only 3 losses between the two wrestlers. Other wrestlers looking to advance on are Adam Central’s Nick Liter, Union City’s Max Harris, and Muncie Central’s Brandon Wills.
113: Fans don’t have to wait to the finals for excitement in this weight class as there should be two great semi-final match ups. All eyes will be on Yorktown’s Josh Stephenson (#13) as he battles Bellmont’s Mason Mendez (#20). On the other side of the bracket we should see South Adams' Briar Goodwin battle Adams Central’s Anthony Mosser, who has been red hot lately. After that action expect more in an anticipated final.
120: South Adams' (#2) Sawyer Miller leads the field in yet another very competitive weight class. Expect a nail bitter in the semis as Jon Becker of Bellmont battles the powerful freshmen of Yorktown, Colt Rutter.
126: Only three points separated these two hammers last time they met up. Look for a finals match of Bellmont’s Daniel Gunsett and Yorktown’s Remington Hiestand. The next spots will be for whoever is on.
132: They’ve met twice, and they will probably meet again. Yorktown’s Jacob Stephenson (#16) will look to avenge two earlier losses to Delta’s Sage Coy (#14). My hopes are high for this one. Dallas Dudelston of Jay County will look to continue his hot streak and finish a strong third.
138: Wrestlers won’t be laughing after wrestling Brad Laughlin. The Tiger is currently ranked 7th in state. Laughlin not finishing first would be a GIANT upset, second through fourth is up for grabs.
145: Adam Central’s Bates has been atop the podium the past two weeks, but to get there again he will have his hands full, really, really full. The terrific Tiger Cael McCormick has only suffered one loss this season and is currently ranked 2nd in the state. Also look for an intense 3rd and 4th place match between two seniors, Bellmont’s Joe Becker and Southern Well’s Daniel Beeks.
152: This weight class could be as unpredictable as Indiana’s weather and as even as the number two. Yorktown’s Dru Berkebile, Bellmont’s Brad Busse, and the Raider’s TC Perry are all title competitors. Throw Jay County’s Tyler Leonard in the mix and you have an interesting weight class.
160: He is currently unbeaten, but Delta’s Jacob Gray (#13) will be tested, not once, but maybe twice this Saturday. Adams Central’s Luke Liter has shown he can score on the best and will battle Gray in the semis. The winner will take on 10th ranked Bryce Baumgartner of Bellmont.
170: Oh boy, thinking about this finals match already has me on the edge of my seat. A battle of two top ten ranked grapplers. Yorktown’s Dillon Jackson (#4) will look to avenge an early season loss to Adam Central’s Kaine Luginbill (#7). This is a match between two highly explosive wrestlers. Look for Bellmont’s Brett Baker to be in the mix.
182: Another weight class loaded with solid wrestlers, this weight class could simply come down to who is on this Saturday. At the head of the class is, Y-Town’s Hunter Hiestand, Jay County’s Andy Kohler. Close behind are Union City’s Charlie Baron, and Daleville’s Corbin Maddox.
195: Currently ranked 3rd in the state, if anyone scores a point on Yorktown’s Myron Howard-Anderson I will call that an upset. The next best are Bellmont’s Carter Friedt and Delta’s Scottie Evans.
220: Another highly competitive weight class, 220 should be a fun one. Lead by Winchester’s Dustyn Hangen, the senior only has a one loss on the season. Union City’s Jesus Ulloa and Yorktown’s Noah little (who isn’t very little) will look to give him all he can handle.
285: Spectators better make sure they don’t leave early, as some of the better heavies in the Fort Wayne Semi-State will battle it out. Currently ranked 19th in the state, Adam Central’s Isiah Bollenbacher will be tested by Yorktown’s small, but powerful Dax Hiestand. Bollenbacher will also be tested in the semi’s by Kaiser Phillips of Monroe Central, the senior is currently 29-4.
Feature Articles3367#WrestlingWednesday Feature: From Rivals to Training Partners
Brought to you by EI Sports
By JEREMY HINES
jerhines@cinergymetro.net
East Noble seniors Connor Knapp and Garrett Pepple weren’t exactly friends their freshman year. In fact, they didn’t even like each other much.
The two were competing for the same varsity spot at 106 pounds. It was a position they both wanted badly. Ultimately, Knapp won the weight class and Pepple spent most of the season on the junior varsity squad. Knapp went on to qualify for state as a freshman.
“My goal going into my freshman year was to qualify for state,†Pepple said. “I wanted to have a good record, too. But we had a solid team and I only weighed about 100 pounds. I had multiple chances to earn a spot. Connor and I wrestled off once, and he beat me. Then I went up to 113 pounds and I won the spot, until our 120 pounder dropped down and took it from me.
“When you compete for a spot with someone it’s hard to be close friends. There was a little hate between us.â€
The next year, things changed. Knapp moved up to 113 pounds and Pepple stayed at 106. The two were no longer competing for the same spot, and they started to become friends.
That season Pepple made a huge stride. He went from a JV wrestler the year before, to finishing second in the state as a sophomore. Knapp placed 4th.
“At first we didn’t really talk much at all,†Knapp said. “But the next year we started to become friends. We started training together. Now he’s like my brother.â€
The two seniors began pushing each other to get better. Pepple is considered a very good top wrestler, and Knapp needed work on bottom. Pepple’s top work helped.
“Garrett is really good on top,†Knapp said. “A lot of the stuff he does is what some of the top guys I go up against are going to do. He gives me a good idea of how to counter things. Pretty much in every position there are certain things he can do that normal wrestlers wouldn’t have the confidence to do. We both have our advantages and that helps push both of us.â€
As juniors Pepple placed second at 113 pounds. Knapp finished third at 120.
“After finishing second my sophomore year I was happy with that,†Pepple said. “Maybe I was even a little complacent. But my junior year, my goal was a state championship and nothing else. Placing second still haunts me. I don’t want it to happen again.â€
Pepple says he has been much more focused this season. He is the No. 1 ranked 113 pounder in the state.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of what it could be like to win a state championship,†Pepple said. “My dream, my goal is to be a state champ. That’s all I can think about. I’ve visualized myself winning so many times. I walk around my room just thinking about it for hours. I have even planned my celebration if I win. It won’t be anything cocky, but I’ll definitely celebrate if I can win it.â€
Both wrestlers are pushing each other to get better in the room. East Noble has had only one state champion before. Pepple and Knapp wants to change that.
“Iron sharpens iron,†Pepple said. “It’s great to have such a tough drill partner who is going to push you to be your best.â€
Outside of school Knapp loves to draw action pictures. It’s a talent not many know about. He is also an elementary school teaching assistant. He works one-on-one with children, and he said it’s something he absolutely loves doing. As far as the future, he is still trying to decide what he wants to do.
“I’m trying to decide on whether I want to wrestle in college or not,†Knapp said. “I’d like to be a Force Recon Marine. I’ve dreamed about that my whole life. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. Now I think, why not – I have the tools.â€
Pepple plans to attend Indiana University where he wants to wrestle. He is either going into the medical field, business or education.
Pepple says the biggest turning point so far in his career was when he shattered his lower leg playing sharks and minnows in practice before his freshman season. He broke two bones, and had to have multiple screws put in along with a metal plate to stabilize it.
“I didn’t know if I’d ever wrestle again,†he said. “But I worked hard and came back. That showed me I can overcome anything.â€
Both wrestlers are hoping they can overcome all of the obstacles the state tournament presents, and stand together as state champions.
If you have a #WrestlingWednesday idea, please contact Jeremy Hines at jerhines@cinergymetro.net.
High School News2076North Montgomery Regional Preview (Dingo style)
North Montgomery Regional Preview

106
#2 Klayton Anderson (#9 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) is a very large, very long lightweight. He uses his frame to brutalize his opponents when he's on top. At the Zionsville sectional, he rode a game Alexander Strueder for what seemed like the entire match. Picture a praying mantis toying with its prey. There doesn't appear to be anyone in this regional quite on his level, and he won't be truly tested until New Castle. The true battle is for second place, which should come down to Grino vs. Strueder. While Strueder was impressive at sectionals, Grino has wrestled some of the very best in the weight class, is a returning semistate qualifier, and ranked opponents account for 4 of his 5 losses. I give the edge to Grino, with Strueder battling the lanky Mennen for 3rd.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #2 Klayton Anderson, HSE
2. Alex Grino, Southmont
3. Alexander Strueder, Fishers
4. Colton Mennen, Clinton Central
Grab yer popcorn:
Grino vs. Strueder should be very competitive. While Grino has the superior record against possibly tougher competition, Strueder impressed at Zionsville and appears to be peaking at the right time.
Upset alert:
Colton Mennen has the size to neutralize some of Anderson's natural advantage. He also sports a pretty impressive W/L record. Anderson is the heavy favorite, and rightfully so, but crazy things happen this time of year. That said, with Anderson's signficant high-level experience, not to mention his impressive skills, it's hard to picture him losing this weekend.
113
#7 Austin Holmes (#2 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) leads the field at 113. Last year's 4th place state finisher at 113, Holmes has battled a 'who's who' of opponents this year, which accounts for his 3 losses. While this is a solid group, there's no one here who can truly push him. Two weight classes in, the Royals will almost certainly have two #1 seeds heading into New Castle. The battle for the other three spots is much more interesting. 4th seed Reid Hutson is a returning semistate qualifier, and he's faced Hubble a couple of times this year, winning both matchups. Carmel's Jerde impresssed at Zionsville, upending a very tough returning semistate qualifier in Ellis of Zionsville en route to a 2nd place finish. Look for a Jerde/Holmes rematch in the regional finals.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #7 Austin Holmes, HSE
2. Adam Jerde, Carmel
3. Azariah Ellis, Zionsville
4. Reid Hutson, Westfield
Grab yer popcorn:
Hutson vs. top-seed Evan Hubble of Southmont in a tough opening round match. Hutson has an edge with his semistate experience, in addition to the head-to-head advantage this season. Both have faced very formidable competition all season, and this could go either way.
Upset alert:
Holmes is safe, but look for 4 seed Hutson to battle tooth and nail with 1 seed Hubble.
120
Here's where things get interesting and pretty wide-open. #12 Zach McCoy and #13 Caleb Bocock (#6 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) lead the parade at 120, but there are some very solid kids just below the top two. McCoy and Bocock have split two decision matchups, and this potential third one has some pretty significant implications. The winner has a big advantage at New Castle. Crum, Eiteljorge and Bobeyn would love to advance, but no one wants to be a 4 seed at New Castle.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #13 Caleb Bocock, Lebanon
2. #12 Zach McCoy, North Montgomery
3. Jack Eiteljorge, Carmel
4. Skylar Crum, Crawfordsville
Grab yer popcorn:
Bocock and McCoy should meet in what could be the match of the day. They know each other well, they're both talented and very well-coached, and they know how crucial a regional title is for State aspirations. Additionally, McCoy will be looking for atonement for last year's upset as a top seed to a 4 seed in his opening match.
Upset alert:
Eiteljorge had better not overlook his opening round opponent, Tanner Henry of Attica. While Attica clearly doesn't wrestle Carmel's schedule, a 29-3 record is impressive, no matter how you slice it. Similarly, #2 seed Skylar Crum might see a so-so record for Zionsville's Sam Gobeyn, but he's wrestled a very tough schedule and looked sharp this past Saturday. Lastly, McCoy's opening round match is with a 30+ win wrestler from the tough Fishers program, Caleb Wright.
126
This is definitely one of the strongest weight classes of the regional, led by #14 Boone Weliever (#10 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) of Southmont and #17 Skyler Collins of Frankfort. Between them, they have 5 losses, and all are to top-10 ranked opponents. Not too far behind these two are the always tough Zachary Steele of Westfield and Morgan Pruitt of Carmel, who have split matches with each other during the season. Look for Weliever to edge Collins in a thriller. Steele and Pruitt are equally well-matched; on a hunch, I'm going with Steele.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #14 Boone Weliever, Southmont
2. #17 Skyler Collins, Frankfort
3. Zachary Steele, Westfield
4. Morgan Pruitt, Carmel
Grab yer popcorn:
Weliever and Collins could be dynamite if it pans out. If seeds hold, Steele and Pruitt will meet yet again, and they are evenly matched and extremely well 'coached up'--a Pendoski vs. O'Neill battle.
Upset alert:
Weliever has to get by Steele, and Collins has to beat Pruitt to make the seeds hold. It's very possible that either Steele or Pruitt, or both, could put a wrinkle in those plans. Additionally, Weliever's opening opponent is a very tough Kody Wagner of Zionsville (28-9).
132
On the heels of a loaded weight class, comes 'the' loaded weight class at North Montgomery. Hamilton Southeastern's #5 Jack Chastain (#1 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) and Westfield's #6 Evan Eldred (#4 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) lead the field by a significant amount. It would be a monumental upset if they don't meet in the finals. If they do, it will be their fourth matchup, with Chastain leading the season series 3-1. Look for Attica's Hayden Estes and either Fisher's Noah Scott or C-ville's Cameron Douglass to join the two big dogs in New Castle.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #5 Jack Chastain, HSE
2. #6 Evan Eldred, Westfield
3. Hayden Estes, Attica
4. Noah Scott, Fishers
Grab yer popcorn:
Without a doubt, the feature matchup is last year's 5th place finisher Chastain, who very nearly upset Zach Davis, versus Fargo All-American Eldred. Both won regional titles last season, and each excels at wrestling his type of match. For the freestyle standout Eldred, that means pushing the action on his feet and trying to minimize Chastain's advantage on the mat. For Chastain, that means using his long body to excellent effect defensively on his feet, and making life difficult for opponents on the mat. While Chastain will be the favorite, Eldred has shown he can beat anyone, including Chastain.
Upset alert:
Estes could be tested by the 15-20 Cole Wilson of Zionsville, who is peaking despite his record.
138
#6 Keegan Stansberry is undefeated and will be a strong favorite to end Saturday with a still-spotless record. He is, seed-wise, most likely to face Southmont's Connor Moore, but don't overlook returning semistate qualifier Sam Kern of Zionsville, despite a mediocre W/L record. Jerrod Smith of Carmel and Alex Haddock of Fountain Central should be an interesting match to determine the fourth member of the New Castle quartet.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #6 Keegan Stansberry, HSE
2. Sam Kern, Zionsville
3. Connor Moore, Southmont
4. Jerrod Smith, Carmel
Grab yer popcorn:
Moore vs. Kern should be a great match. Moore sports a lofty 32-5 record against some pretty formidable opponents, while Kern has a 12-10 mark, also against some very tough competition. Smith vs. Haddock should be very interesting as well.
Upset alert:
Kern beating Moore would be an upset, although not a major one. Kern must first get by 27-5 Cody Parker of Attica, a senior who has been here before.
145
While lacking some of the heavy hitters of the previous few weight classes, 145 is a very tough weight from top to bottom. Leading the way, rankings-wise, is #17 Mason Gaines of Fishers. Awaiting Gaines in the semis, is the very tough Wayne Highfield of Southmont (29-3!!), and, on the other side of the bracket, a tough senior in Fountain Central's Collin Strange, the sectional champ.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #17 Mason Gaines, Fishers
2. Collin Strange, Fountain Central
3. Wayne Highfield, Southmont
4. Matt Kern, Zionsville
Grab yer popcorn:
There are several intriguing matchups at this weight. Gaines/Highfield could easily be a worth regional finals matchup. This matchup is a legitimate toss-up. The winner of that slugfest gets Strange, who must get by the tough Eagle senior Kern in the semis.
Upset alert:
You can't call Highfield over Gaines a real upset, but Kern is plenty capable of stealing the show and upsetting the top seed Strange en route to a finals berth.
152
The competition is tough and deep at 152, led by state #6 Kellen VanCamp (#5 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) of Lebanon and #20 Tanner Webster of North Montgomery. However, the foursome of Nic Blondeel of Attica (27-6), Corbin Gregg of HSE (31-10), Fountain Central's Laine Frazee (35-3) and Carmel's Sam Bublick (17-11) should provide some formidable competition for the two favorites and each other.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #6 Kellen VanCamp, Lebanon
2. #20 Tanner Webster, North Montgomery
3. Corbin Gregg, HSE
4. Laine Frazee, FC
Grab yer popcorn:
Despite meeting already a couple of times this year, with the returning state qualifier VanCamp coming out on top, the Tiger senior and Webster aren't light years apart. Webster actually finished ahead of VanCamp at last year's regional. HSE's Gregg is peaking, and shouldn't be overlooked by anyone, including Webster.
Upset alert:
Despite a so-so record, Carmel's Sam Bublick is a Pendoski product and is capable of beating Frazee and moving on to New Castle.
160
#14 Jesse Archer of North Montgomery somehow competed at 195 last season and was successful. This year, he's 35-0 and on a roll. He appears to have a leg up on returning semistate qualifier Evan Stambaugh, as evidenced by his win by fall earlier this year. Similarly, Stambaugh appears to be a very solid 2nd best here, as he really controlled his opposition at the Zionsville sectional.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #14 Jesse Archer, North Montgomery
2. Evan Stambaugh, Lebanon
3. Nick Fox, Carmel
4. Jack Banks, Zionsville
Grab yer popcorn:
Although Archer is the clear favorite, it will be interesting to see how he handles Stambaugh in a rematch, as Stambaugh has shown that he steps it up in the postseason.
Upset alert:
Banks kept it very close with Stambaugh last weekend, and it's within the realm of possibility that he could knock off the 1 seed.
170
Two ranked wrestlers, #18 Alex Ragains of Frankfort and #19 Spencer Irick of HSE, join the always tough Zach Worm of Southmont and Drew Williamson of Zville to form an extremely tough quartet at North Montgomery. Of these top 4 studs, only Worm made it to New Castle last year. This year, however, Ragains and Irick have traded wins with each other, and they each own wins over Worm. Even more confusing, Williamson owns a win over Irick this year. In short, take your local favorite and call it a day in what appears to be a 'whoever is on their game' type of weight class.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #19 Spencer Irick, HSE
2. #18 Alex Ragains, Frankfort
3. Drew Williamson, Zionsville
4. Zach Worm, Southmont
Grab yer popcorn:
Great matchups abound in this weight class, starting with opening round tilts between Ragains and 30-5 senior Matthew McMasters of Fountain Central, as well as Williamson and 33-6 Koby Wray of North Montgomery. From there, it only gets hairier--Worm vs. Ragains, Williamson vs. Irick, capped off with the winners meeting in the finals...whoever wins this weight class will be battle-tested heading into New Castle.
Upset alert:
Despite an average W/L record, Westfield's Liam Jagow was extremely competitive against tough competition at Zionsville. He very nearly took out Williamson, and Worm had better be on his toes against the ever-improving 'Rocks sophomore.
182
From top to bottom, this is probably the best weight class overall at North Montgomery. Leading the way are state #6 Jonathan Morales (#3 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) of WeBo, #7 Robert Manns (#7 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) of Crawfordsville, 30-1 senior and returning semistate qualifier Tanner Smith of South Vermillion and returning semistate qualifier Griffin Steffy (#8 pre-season regional Indianamat ranking) of Lebanon. That doesn't even include the very tough Freedom Mak-Dawson of Fishers and 31-3 senior Austin Hoover of Sheridan. While returning state placer Morales is the favorite, there are landmines aplenty in this field, most notably Manns, who dropped down from 195 last season and has split wins with Morales this season.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #6 Jonathan Morales, Western Boone
2. #7 Robert Manns, Crawfordsville
3. Griffin Steffey, Lebanon
4. Tanner Smith, South Vermillion
Grab yer popcorn:
Almost every match falls into this category, but Manns vs. Morales is a special matchup of state-caliber studs.
Upset alert:
Freedom Mak-Dawson is an awfully tough opening match for Tanner Smith. I would put Hoover in the 'very dangerous' class against anyone but Manns or Morales. Smith is capable of giving Morales a tough match, and the same is true of Steffey vs. Manns.
195
#10 Scott Fuller of Zville and #11 Eric Hipple of Carmel lead the way at 195. Look for Westfield's Nick Schaeffer to join either North Mont's Cole Slavens or HSE's Kolby Ferris in advancing to New Castle.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #11 Eric Hipple, Carmel
2. #10 Scott Fuller, Zionsville
3. Nick Schaeffer, Westfield
4. Kolby Ferris, HSE
Grab yer popcorn:
Hipple vs. Fuller yet again...these two are very evenly matched and know each other well. Fuller didn't look especially sharp last weekend, but he still managed a solid second. Ferris vs. Slavens should be an old-fashioned slobber-knocker, with the top-seed sophomore Slavens battling the 4th seeded junior. Showing just how small the margin is between victory and defeat, Ferris lost two 1 point matches to finish 4th at Zionsville.
Upset alert:
By seeding, Ferris over Slavens is an upset. However, Ferris is legit and can go with about anyone in the regional. Fuller had better not overlook returning regional qualifier Austin Eup of South Vermillion, as he sports a sterling 28-4 record.
220
#13 Erik Hart of Lebanon is a pretty strong favorite here, with #11 Matthew Penola of Zville unable to participate in the postseason. Hart dominated his sectional, and has a good shot at doing it again at the regional level. Penola's backup, Grant Grayson, impressively finished 3rd at sectionals and has a legit shot at advancing to New Castle. Look for Jimmy Ford of HSE and Caleb Martin of Southmont to join Hart and Grayson at semistate.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #13 Erik Hart, Lebanon
2. Jimmy Ford, HSE
3. Caleb Martin, Southmont
4. Grant Grayson, Zionsville
Grab yer popcorn:
Ford vs. Martin should be a rugged battle: both are seniors, both are extremely battle-tested and each wrestled well last weekend.
Upset alert:
Grayson, despite being mostly a seasonal backup and sporting a sub-.500 record, has a very solid shot vs. Garrett Reynolds of Covington. Ford has a very tough opening match vs. South Vermillion's Evan Piper. Jacob Eidson of Sheridan was competitive the entire day at Zionsville and could give Martin a tough match.
285
#14 Michael Smith of Lebanon is the lone ranked heavyweight in the regional. However, Zionsville's Drew Hobick outlasted the Tigers' big man in OT to take the sectional title. Look for sectional champ Nathan Bean of C-ville and the peaking Deshawn Williams of Carmel to join the Boone County duo in qualifying for semistate.
See ya in New Castle:
1. #14 Michael Smith, Lebanon
2. Drew Hobick, Zionsville
3. Nathan Bean, Crawfordsville
4. Deshawn Williams, Carmel
Grab yer popcorn:
Smith and Hobick have split matches this year, and while they are quite friendly with each other before and after the match, they go at each other tooth and nail. I think it's Smith's turn to return the favor to Hobick. Bean could give Smith some troubles in the semis.
Upset alert:
Westfield's Austin Dollens upset the favored Chakiry of Fishers to make it out of sectionals, and has the ability to pull an upset over Bean.
Mr. Gorilla Award31892015 Mr. Gorilla February Update
2015 Mr. Gorilla: Karl’s Kontenders
Year one of IndianaMat’s Mr. Gorilla award honoring the state’s top senior wrestler brings no shortage of contenders. We have seen many great matches during the regular season and are sure to see many more as the state tournament series continues. This article is not meant to exclude any potential winner of the award, it is only meant to highlight a few of the grapplers who have distinguished themselves at this point of the season. IndianaMat has assembled a blue ribbon group of voters from throughout the state and even have included national high school wrestling experts that will vote for the winner after the state finals on Feb.21st. Voters include a mixture of coaches, administrators, and members of the media.
Garrett Pepple – East Noble – 113
RESUME
- 2014 Super 32 4th at 113lbs
- 2014 USAW Junior Freestyle 8th at 113lbs
- 2014 IHSAA - 2nd at 113lbs
- 2014 USAW Folkstyle All-American 3rd at 113lbs
- 2013 IHSAA - 2nd at 106lbs
Career Record 126-7
Pepple has both the high school and off season bones to be a serious contender for the top senior. He also recently signed a letter of intent to continue wrestling for the Indiana Hoosiers. The only minor knock might be a less then top-flight regular season schedule and the fact that Pepple has only been in the line-up for three years.
Brandon James – Perry Meridian – 138
RESUME
- 2014 IHSAA 2nd at 132lbs
- 2014 Flo All-American 3rd at 120lbs
- 2013 Junior Freestyle 6th at 126lbs
- 2013 IHSAA 5th at 126lbs
- 2012 IHSAA 3rd at 113lbs
- 2012 Cadet Freestyle 6th at 120lbs
- 2011 Cadet Freestyle 8th at 112lbs
Career Record – 159-7
King James was probably considered by many to be a pre-season favorite for this award and his senior season to date has done nothing to diminish that standing. A three time state medalist, James is only missing the medal with the blue ribbon to complete his in state list of accolades. He has already posted a convincing win over Tommy Cash this season, has a scholarship to wrestle at Old Dominion, and many national placings to his credit.
Tommy Cash – Lawrence North – 138
RESUME
- 2014 IHSAA State Champion at 138lbs
- 2014 Flo All-American 5th at 132lbs
- 2012 IHSAA 5th at 106lbs
Career Record – 160-5
The first of two Tommys, Cash is another strong contender for Mr. Gorilla. He has a state title on his resume as well as fifth place finish in his freshman season. A sophomore season cut short due to injury and a loss to James earlier this season are to minor blemishes that could easily be wiped out if he were to take this year’s title and defeat James in the process. Don’t count out the IU bound Cash.
Tommy Forte – Mishawaka – 152
RESUME
- 2014 IHSAA 2nd at 145lbs
- 2014 Super 32 5th at 145lbs
- 2014 USAW All-American 7th at 152lbs
- 2013 IHSAA State Champion at 138lbs
- 2012 IHSAA 3rd at 132lbs
Career Record – 149-5
Three trips to the state semifinals along with a perfect season and state title in 2013 put Tommy Two in strong contention for being considered the top wrestler in the state. Forte has committed to follow former coach Bryce Hasseman and will wrestle for the University of Buffalo. Battling injuries and the lack of a bone fide rival this season might be the only stumbling blocks for this talented senior.
The Fab Five – Various Schools – 170
Dylan Lydy – Ben Davis – Lydy has the shortest resume of the Fab Five but is currently ranked #1 based on his wins over both Jackson and Stevenson and an undefeated record. Lydy had a win over eventual state champ Stevenson last year before he was DQ’d from the state tournament.
Ben Harvey – Cathedral – Harvey is currently ranked 2nd in the state. He holds two state medals and has qualified for state all three years. Harvey will be looking to join big brother as a state champion. He has split two meetings with Stevenson so far this year.
Joey Mammolenti – Penn – Coming in at #3 is Penn’s senior Joey Mammolenti. In his first two years in the Kingsman lineup, Mammolenti has qualified for state. Unfortunately, he has failed to medal the past two years. Dominating wins over highly regared Scottie Sopko and Cameron Jones have lifted Mammolenti into the conversation for the state’s top honor
Dillon Jackson – Yorktown – Another sibling stud is Yorktown’s Dillon Jackson. He burst onto the state stage last year with an impressive 3rd place performance. Jackson has lost to both Lydy and Harvey but boasts a win over last year’s titlist Jacob Steveson.
Jacob Stevenson – Franklin – Last but not least is 2014 state champion Jacob Stevenson. The mere fact that a returning state champion is ranked fifth in the state at the same weight class is testament to tremendous strength and depth in this class. Stevenson has a win over Harvey but has suffered losses to Lydy, Jackson and Harvey. Whomever navigates this tough weight class deserves strong consideration for being named Mr. Gorilla.
Chase Osborn – Penn – 182
RESUME
- 2014 IHSAA 2nd at 170lbs
- 2012 IHSAA State Qualifier at 132lbs
Career Record – 118-25
Osborn burst onto the scene in his freshman year when he was a surprise state qualifier for the Kingmen. His sophomore season ended at regional as he was going through a growth spurt but Osborn reemerged in a big way his junior year by making a run to the title match at 170. His senior year has been dominating and has only been tested once in the Al Smith finals by Chesterton’s Andrew Davison.
Norman Oglesby – Ben Davis – 285
RESUME
- 2014 2nd at 285lbs
- 2013 State Qualifier at 285lbs
Career Record – 135-15
Stormin’ Norman turned heads his sophomore year when he emerged as a semistate champion for the Giants. Last year, he repeated as the Evansville champ and won his first three matches at Banker’s Life. A runner-up finish to Cathedral’s Wes Bernard ended his season. Oglesby got a blue ring as a star Ben Davis football squad this fall and earned a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati.
High School News1855Castle Regional Preview
In the Evansville and Central sectionals, the big names rolled, while several upstarts made their presence known. The Castle regional--traditionally one of the toughest in the state--will feature a host of nail-biting first-round matches, semifinals and championship bouts.
106- Castle's Baxter Annakin bounded to a sectional title and is the favorite for a regional championship. In semifinal action, North Posey's Levi Miller will see the winner of the Harley Gorman (Mt. Vernon) and Kyler McKinney (Princeton) bout.
113- Southern Indiana wrestling fans breathed a sigh of relief when Mt. Vernon's Paul Konrath returned to action after a potential season-ending injury at the Big 8 championship. Konrath should see Mater Dei's Kyle Luigs in the semifinal. Logan Dilbeck of Gibson Southern will likely fill the other slot in the final. The trio also holds the top three rankings in the Evansville semi state. Don't be surprised to see them go at it again at the Ford Center.
120- After a two-month injury recovery, Reitz's Tyler Ferguson returned to action on Saturday. With only one match under his belt, Ferguson was sharp and mopped up the field. Mater Dei sophomore Will Egli has produced another stellar season and hopes to improve upon his fifth-place finish from the 2014 state tournament. Expect the duo to butt heads on the center mat.
126- Mater Dei's Alex Johnson looks to capture his third regional title. In order to do so, he will need to get past the winner of the Caleb Craig (Reitz) and Michael Polen (Gibson Southern) match. Craig and Polen are both very solid and will produce an interesting dust-up. The other side of the bracket will also be competitive, as Castle's 32-7 Braedon Clopton and North's 34-4 Nick Burke will meet for a title shot opportunity.
132- In his last six matches, Mater Dei's Nick Lee has spent less than six minutes on the mat. Ranked number-one in the state, expect Lee's rampage to continue. Mt. Vernon's Austin Bethel and Princeton's Chase Wilson should meet for a rematch of their Big 8 championship bout. The winner will meet Lee for the title.
138- A couple of weeks ago, southern Indiana 138-pounders began to re-think their weight class choice. There are five, top-shelf grapplers here; only four will advance. Gibson Southern's fifth-ranked Kyle Todrank will see Memorial's Johny Wargel in the first round. Both are seniors; one of them will see their high school career end here. Mater Dei's third-ranked freshman, Joe Lee, will likely meet Reitz's AJ Dixon in one semifinal. The Todrank/Wargel winner will meet Castle's ninth-ranked sectional champ, Austin Ramsey, in the other semifinal. Do not miss a match at 138!
145- Fifth-ranked Blake Jourdan of Mater Dei and Castle's tenth-ranked Patrick Schnell headline this very competitive weight class. Both are dynamic. Expect another exciting match. Memorial's Chance Williams, Central's Hunter McCormick and Mt. Vernon's Peyton Whoberry will fight it out to earn a semistate berth.
152- With a title this Saturday, Central's Isaiah Kemper will have earned three consecutive regional championships. Ranked second, Kemper will likely realize the accomplishment. On the other side of the bracket, Pike Central's Colton O'Neal and Castle's Jacob Farmer will meet. The winner gets Kemper in the final. Heritage Hills' Cordell Miller and Mater Dei's Mitch Lehman will also be in the medal hunt.
160- Populated by wrestlers who are defined by action, this class give the fans something for which to cheer. Castle's veteran senior Turner Lockyear has put up 37 wins on the season, in addition to SIAC and sectional titles. Lockyear's Warrick county rival, Tecumseh's Tristan McDaniel, scorched the field at Central. A senior, McDaniel looks poised for a post-season run. Do not overlook Tell City's Elliot Brown or Mater Dei's Nick Buedel, as both are capable of big wins and upsets.
170- 170 is a very balanced class, possessing three individuals with the potential to win. The toughest road belongs to Mater Dei's Ashton Forzley and Memorial's Noah Huelsing, as they will meet in the semifinal. Forzley, with a pair of state qualifications, is a big-match wrestler. Huelsing counters with a sizable gas tank and an early-season win over Forzley. Castle's Blake Jeffress, who finished second to Forzley at the SIAC meet, will inhabit the other slot in the final.
182- Mater Dei's 182-pound senior, Sam Bassemier, has wrestled a brutal schedule en route to a 26-1 record and continues to slide in the rankings, ending the season at 14th. On Saturday afternoon, expect to see him on the center mat. After this coming weekend, Tecumseh's Jeremy McKinley will no longer be off the radar. Expect him to give Mt. Vernon's Tyler DeKemper a very tough match. The winner earns a ticket to the final.
195- Beginning in the first round, when Central's Gabe Patterson meets the sectional champion, Jake LaMar of Castle, you will find many competitive matches at 195 pounds. Patterson, with his never-say-die attitude is likely the best fourth-place finisher in the field. Marcus Gahagen of Memorial will meet Tecumseh's Adam Lytle in another huge first round match. Gahagen has accumulated 21 wins against the backdrop of a tough schedule. Lytle suffered his first loss of the season at the Central sectional and will look for redemption. On the other side of the bracket, South Spencer's Keith Barclay will put his 38 wins against Vincennes Lincoln's Nic Dellion, the owner of 35 wins. The Barclay/Dellion winner will meet Mater Dei's Chase Anslinger in the semifinal. Try to pick 1-2-3-4!
220- If you have not seen Gibson Southern's Cory Klem, after Saturday, you will understand his sixth-ranking. Klem is up-tempo, strong and slick. He will be in the face off. Harrison's LaTerrance Kyles and Mater Dei's Kurtis Wilderman will dance in the bottom half of the bracket, in a rematch of their SIAC final. Mt. Vernon's Tristan Choate is formidable. He has spoiler potential and will look to maximize his regional performance.
285- Like 195, 285 has a number of potential champions. Mt. Vernon's Wade Ripple will square off with Tecumseh's Colton Dossett in the opening round. The duo has accounted for 53 wins against 12 losses. Pike Central's 24-2 Bryce Manning will meet Memorial's 27-11 Will Page, in another first-round barn burner. As sectional champs, Mater Dei's Adrian Butler and South Spencer's 42-7 RJ Shaw will also be in the hunt for a title.
Hook's Random Comments:
· Watch the Tecumseh fans. They are loud, rowdy and highly partisan. This tiny school provides the model of what wrestling fans should be!
· Hook's daugther, Hookticia, pointed out that Castle not only has huge slices of pizza, but offers baked potatoes "as big as your head."
· I love the intensity of Central's head coach, Mike Lapadat. How many calories does Lap burn on a typical Saturday? He is to coaching wrestling what James Brown was to show business.
· North Posey's coaches, Cody Moll and Sam Goebel, look lean and mean. I will wager, that with a week to cut, both could make weight.
I have been criticized for the fact that my previews are light on predictions. Since this is my last one of the year, I will go out on a limb.
These predictions are guaranteed.
· Mt Vernon's head coach, Tim Alcorn, will get very excited.
· At least once, in unison, the Mater Dei crowd will yell, "Two!"
· Castle will do an outstanding job of hosting.
· The Castle regional will produce a number of state placers...maybe a couple of champs.
· A Castle sectional vs. Central sectional post will be started on Indiana Mat.
"Your" welcome.
High School News2187 4Rochester Regional Preview
By Chad Hollenbaugh
IndianaMat Senior Writer
106
#15 Cavanaugh – Penn (24-7)
Kazmierczak –SBSt.Joseph (32-6)
Greene – Triton (29-7)
Zahl – SBAdams (22-8)
Records are deceiving here, at first glance this appears to be a balanced class of flyweights. Penn’s Kory Cavanaugh is the clear favorite due to the tough schedule that the Kingsmen wrestle. Cavanaugh is ranked 15th in the state and his losses are all to ranked kids. Triton’s Greene is intriguing because he wrestled 113 all season before a sectional cut to 106.
Rochester Royal Rumble (Match of the Day) – Malichi Greene vs. Joey Zahl – This battle looks to be even on paper and the winner will possible avoid an early morning date with Cummings or Triana next week.
113
Fans should be treated to a reunion of sorts in the finals at 113. Drew Hildebrandt is a clear front runner but fellow St. Joe County resident Adam Davis has quietly put together an outstanding frosh season for Culver Academy. The third ranked Hildebrandt should breeze here, he has too much experience for the young Eagle. Davis will be fun to follow as he continues his state series run.
Royal Rumble – Aaron Brooke vs. Bryton Goehring (South Bend Riley) – Brooke has the far better record but Riley’s Goering has wrestled a much better schedule. Should be an early morning donnybrook with the winner earning a trip to Merrillville.
#3 Hildebrandt – Penn (28-0)
Davis – CMA (29-5)
Brooke – Bremen (36-4)
DeVault – Plymouth (18-7)
120
#9 Hatch – Warsaw (36-1)
#10 Hartman – SBClay (41-0)
Hardesty – Mishawaka (27-6)
Tyler – SBWashington (20-5)
The finals at 120, should Warsaw’s #9 Kyle Hatch and Clay’s #10 Jake Hartman hold chalk, will be one of the marquee match ups of the day. With a combined record of 77-1, regional supremacy should be a whale of a match. Both are hammers in their top game so the margin might comedown to an escape, reversal or even an overtime scenario.
Royal Rumble – The potential 3rd/4th place match between Washington’s Tondrew Tyler and Mishawaka’s Ryan Hardesty should be filled with scoring as both these young men fight for the right not to face a regional champ next week.
126
After a promising freshman campaign, Wawasee’s Tristin Ponsler struggled last year and didn’t even qualify for regionals. Much like Austin Powers, Ponsler has found his mojo this season. He looked very sharp in the sectional finals where he defeated state ranked John Hunting of Rochester. These two should face off again this week.
Royal Rumble – Season survival will be on the line in the first round when Penn’s Jarrett Selis and Plymouth’s Cody Allmon do battle. The outcome between these to savvy vets should be very close in this deep weight class.
Ponsler – Wawasee (38-1)
#20 Hunting – Rochester (32-5)
Allmon - Plymouth (28-7)
Beaver – Mishawaka (18-13)
132
Another very deep and talented weight class with very little separation at the top. Valley’s Devin Childers has a state ranking and state experience. Riley’s Austen Laughlin has had an outstanding season with a conference and sectional title to add to his third place finish at Al Smith. Rishod Cotton of Clay has taken losses to both by the narrowest of margins. Throw in Bremen’s Joey Bailey, who wrestled most the season at 138, and you have a real meat grinder here.
Royal Rumble – Both semifinal matches should be wars. I love the talent in this class.
#15 Childers – Tippy Valley (37-1)
Laughlin – SBRiley (41-4)
Cotton – SBCotton (36-6)
Bailey – Bremen (35-3)
138
Wow! The great wrestling continues in this weight class where any of six grapplers have a legitimate shot at making the finals. Penn’s Cameron Beam was the titlist at Mishawaka and Culver’s Triston Rodriguez took the crown at Plymouth. Tippy Valley’s Wyatt Nelson is wrestling as well as I have ever seen him in his senior season. Rochester’s Josh Heckathorn and South Bend Adams’ Tarvis Evans are studs. Culver Academy’s young Miles Krintz will look to continue his season.
Royal Rumble – First round tilts featuring Nelson/Beam and Heckathorn/Evans would be the equal of final matches in many of the regionals around the state. Great weight class.
#17 Rodriguez – Culver Community (33-1)
Beam – Penn (9-0)
Krintz – CMA (28-9)
Evans – SBAdams (27-7)
145
A couple of super sophs headline the 145 class where Adams’ Tavonte Malone is the big dog. Not far behind is his conference rival Kassius Breathitt. Malone won by a single point in the sectional final. Rochester’s Justin Schroder had a disappointing Al Smith tourney but is wrestling lights out right now. He was very impressive in shutting out Culver Academy’s Noah Trevino last Saturday.
Royal Rumble – I’m keeping my eye on the semifinal matchup between Rochester’s Schroder and Riley’s Breathitt. It should be a doozy.
#14 Malone – SBAdams (29-2)
#20 Breathitt – SBRiley (28-8)
Schroder – Rochester (32-4)
Hochstetler – Penn (24-11)
152
This class is obviously top heavy with Tommy Forte and Jared Swank. They both have an excellent change to medal at state. Forte seems to be rounding into form as he stuck Swank last Saturday. Swank is a tough customer and will be back for more this week. Triton’s Stichter impressively beat Bremen’s Bollenbacher in the sectional final.
Royal Rumble – The finals match is state semifinal quality.
#1 Forte – Mishawaka (26-0)
#4 Swank – Penn (27-3)
Stichter – Triton (27-9)
Bollenbacher – Bremen (30-8)
160
Penn’s Denzyl Prentice has had an outstanding first full season in the Kingsman lineup as evidenced by his #9 state ranking. Triton’s Gage Waddle and St. Joe’s Norm Hezlip are not that far behind. The athleticism in this class will make many of the matches highly entertaining.
Royal Rumble – The potential semifinal matchup between Waddle and Hezlip will be epic. They matched up about six weeks ago in the same gym and Hezlip came away with an exciting one point victory.
#9 Prentice – Penn (26-2)
Waddle – Triton (26-6)
Hezlip – SBSt. Joseph (36-3)
Goering- SBRiley (33-8)
170
The Penn parade of champions will continue here as #3 ranked Joey Mammolenti should have little trouble with this field. Mishawaka’s Chase Deal had a nice upset win over James Malone of South Bend Riley last week. Triton’s Nate Spangle is the Plymouth sectionals best and looks to be the fourth Trojan to qualify for semistate.
Royal Rumble – A semifinal tilt between Caveman Deal and Triton’s Spangle has potential to be a good one. Deal is wrestling well at the right time and Spangle has a sterling record mostly fashioned at the 182 pound weight class.
#3 Mammolenti – Penn (29-2)
Deal – Mishawaka (24-9)
#20 Malone – SBRiley (36-9)
Spangle – Triton (33-3)
182
Penn’s top ranked Chase Osborn should dominate the field at 182. If he has to spend more than five minutes on the mat it would be surprising. That is not a knock on the rest of the field, it is a testament to how dominant Osborn has been this season. He should be tested again at semi state.
Royal Rumble – If the bracket holds, we should see a 3rd place matchup between Plymouth’s Jeremy Splix and Clay’s Mason Cao. These two battled in the semis of the McKee invite six week ago and Splix came away with a narrow one point win.
#1 Osborn – Penn (28-0)
Bell – Tippy Valley (35-2)
Splix – Plymouth (29-4)
Cao – SBClay (39-4)
195
The list of weight classes deep with talent is long at the Rochester regional this year and the 195 pound class is more evidence of the point. Wes Beck was dominating in the Plymouth sectional and Tanner Bradley battled to a slim one point victory Gabino Perez of South Bend Riley.
Royal Rumble – A semifinal matchup of Beck and Perez has great potential. Beck is a clear favorite but if he is looking past Perez he could find himself on the short end of a tight match.
#14 Beck – Rochester (36-3)
#16 Bradley – Mishawaka (20-3)
Perez – SBRiley (23-8)
Nolin – Warsaw (32-4)
220
#1 Woods – Penn (32-0)
Ernst – Mishawaka Marian (22-7)
Troxel – SBRiley (31-14)
Hess – Mishawaka (12-12)
Top ranked Kobe Woods is in much the same situation as his teammate Chase Osborn. He should dominate this field and not have to spend much time on the mat. Athletic, strong, experienced and technically sound, Woods is joy to watch on the mat. The battle here is for 2nd place.
Royal Rumble – I like the first round match up between big Andrew Brock of Warsaw and the .500 Caveman Jake Hess. Hess was able to clip him at the Al Smith Invite. He will have to repeat to continue his season.
285
Penn big man Cory Christman is a strong favorite to become the 7th Kingsman regional champion. His pin over Riley’s Brian Shaw makes me think he is peaking at the right time.
Royal Rumble – The semifinal matchup between Shaw and Jordan Shafer of Rochester is probably the most compelling contest in this bracket. Both are athletic heavyweights who like to score.
#9 Christman – Penn (27-3)
Shaw – SBRiley (24-9)
Shafer – Rochester (34-4)
Koebel – SBSt. Joseph (25-13)
High School News2718Evansville Central Sectional Preview
Regarded as one of the tougher sectionals in Hoosier land, the 2015 Central sectional will provide spectators with exciting match-ups, colorful coaches...and the inevitable upsets. Cobbling together pieces of five counties and four conferences, the Evansville Central sectional produces first-time match-ups and seeding anomalies.
Gibson Southern, fresh off another PAC team title while claiming six individual champions, looks to challenge Greg Schaefer's Mater Dei Wildcats for supremacy on the North side.
106- North Posey's first-year coach, Cody Moll, is charged with reviving the Viking program. In Poseyville, they are excited about their number-one seed, freshman Levi Miller (SS#7). On the other side of the bracket, Princeton's Kyler McKinney is riding high after a Big 8 title he earned last Saturday. Look for an exciting semifinal match between McKinney and Mater Dei's SIAC runner-up, Nolan Weidner. The winner should see Miller in the final.
113- 113 is loaded! Princeton's Luke Dunn wrestled a brutal schedule, won the Big 8 and did not receive a seed. Dunn's quarterfinal match with Central's Carson Willis should be fun to watch. Should Willis get by Dunn, he will likely meet Mater Dei's Kyle Luigs in the semifinal, their third meeting of the year. Excitement punctuated their SIAC title match; this one could be very good, as well. Gibson Southern's Logan Dilbeck will put his 33 wins against Pike Central's Dylan Jones, in the other semifinal.
120- Mater Dei's one-seed, Will Egli, is clear to the semis, where he should meet Tecumseh's Zach Graham. At the bottom half of the bracket, Gibson Southern's Christian Pellacer, the PAC champion, will face North's Dawson Matherly in a very competitive race. The winner will likely meet Egli for all the marbles on First Avenue.
126- Mater Dei senior Alex Johnson has a third sectional title in his sights. To do so, he will need a win in the semis against Central's Connor Willis or Gibson Southern's PAC champion, Michael Polen. Two-seed Nick Burke of North has put up 31 wins on the year and will battle Dalton Ashby of Wood Memorial for the other spot in the final.
132- Mater Dei's #1-ranked sophomore, Nick Lee, will continue to terrorize his opponents at the Central sectional. Gibson Southern's Hunter Baehl (#6SS) counts this sectional as his fourth; he should be in the medal mix. Princeton's Chase Wilson will meet the two-seed, North's Josh Elpers, in the other semifinal.
138- Third-ranked freshman, Joe Lee, should dance with fifth-ranked Kyle Todrank of Gibson Southern in the marquee match of the 2015 Central sectional. These two are very familiar with one another; if you like this match-up, you are in luck...you may see it three or four more times. You can guarantee that Greg Schaefer and Blake Maurer's respective brain trusts are working overtime on this one!
145- Mater Dei one-seed, junior Blake Jourdan, was upset in the championship match of the 2014 sectional. The remembrance of that loss will sharpen his focus for the week ahead. Central's two-seed, Hunter McCormick, will face PAC champ, Gibson Southern's Kaleb Greenwell, for the other slot in the final.
152- Central's Isaiah Kemper sent shockwaves throughout the Indiana wrestling community when he dropped to 152. Currently ranked second, Kemper anticipates a deep run in the state tournament. Following graduated senior's Brendon Kelly's state title, Central coach Mike Lapadat may be coaching under the lights again in February.
Graham Dougan, Princeton's freshly-crowned Big 8 champ, will square off with Pike Central's Colton O'Neal in the bottom of the bracket for a shot at the title. Mater Dei's Mitch Lehman and North's Logan Matherly will also contend for a high vantage point on the podium.
160- Top-seeded Tristan McDaniel of Tecumseh has been a cornerstone of coach Aaron Chambers' line-up, which landed a 2015 Team State bid. Mater Dei senior Nick Buedel is 22-4 and should meet McDaniel in the final. Proceed with caution, as Julius Malone of Vincennes Lincoln was the Big 8 champ, while Pike Central's Jaylon Owens has 31 wins on the season. Malone and Owens would love to be spoilers.
170- Mater Dei's Ashton Forzley, a 2x state qualifier, has strung together another great season and earned the top-seed. In the bracket's lower half, North's Justin Naylor and Wood Memorial's Louis Hoover will compete in what should be an exciting semifinal. The winner will meet Forzley for bragging rights.
182- Outside the glare of the spotlight on Mater Dei's light and middle weights, underrated senior Sam Bassemier has compiled a 23-1 record and intends to garner his second sectional bracket board. Tecumseh's Jeremy McKinley has piled up 38 wins and won the PAC tourney last Saturday. He will match up with North's Ty Winchell for the right to wrestle Bassemier.
195- Who can beat Tecumseh's 11th-ranked Adam Lytle? So far, no one. However, do not be fooled by the ten losses on Central's Gabe Patterson's record. Patterson is tough and should give Lytle a tussle in the semifinal. Senior Chase Anslinger is riding high in his maiden varsity season at Mater Dei. He should meet Vincennes Lincoln's very solid Nic Dellion in the bottom bracket's semifinal.
220- Question: Who trains daily with the most successful sibling duo in Indiana history? Answer: Gibson Southern's sixth-ranked Cory Klem. With only three prep losses, four state titles and a third-place finish between Blake and Dane Maurer, you can wager that Klem has been stress-tested.
Second question: Name a quarterback that wrestles and competes in the 220-pound division.
Answer: The only one I know of is Mater Dei's Kurtis Wilderman. Wilderman has turned in a rock-solid season against tough competition and has won some big matches for the Wildcats. You will get your money's worth out of a Klem/Wilderman final. Look for Central's Caleb Hart to also find high ground on the podium.
285- Boasting a 34-1 record, Tecumseh's Colton Dossett gets the top-seed in the big boy division. Mater Dei's SIAC champ, Adrian Butler, will face the two-seed, Pike Central's Bryce Manning, for the right to tangle with Dossett in the final. Central's Jordan Libby will also figure into the medal race.
Best Quarterfinal Match- 126: Gibson Southern's Michael Polen vs. Central's Connor Willis. Both have significant skills and are looking to gather some momentum. Each views this as a big match.
Best Semifinal Matches- 132: Josh Elpers of North vs. Chase Wilson of Princeton. Wilson has a Bo Henry title and 35 wins next to his name. Elpers counters with a formidable offense that will be on display against Wilson. 145: Central's Hunter McCormick vs. Gibson Southern's Kaleb Greenwell. Both are 4-year starters and have center mat experience. This bout has regional and semi state implications; expect a superb effort. 195: Vincennes Lincoln's Nic Dellion vs. Mater Dei's Chase Anslinger. Dellion beat Anslinger on December 27. Anslinger returned the favor on December 28. Either would relish an opportunity to be the first to put a blemish on Lytle's record. In order to do so, one has to win the semifinal match.
Best Championship Matches- 113: No doubt exists that Mater Dei's Will Egli has warned his classmate, the fourth-ranked Kyle Luigs, about Gibson Southern's 12th-ranked junior, Logan Dilbeck. In 2014, Egli escaped with a hard-fought, 3-1, sectional victory over Dilbeck. Dilbeck and Luigs are athletic and flashy; this one should be a slobber knocker. 160: Tecumseh's Tristan McDaniel vs. Mater Dei's Nick Buedel. Buedel is very tall, strong and believes in scoring a lot of points. McDaniel is very tall, strong and believes in scoring a lot of points. See where this is going?
Team- Folks in Fort Branch are thrilled with coach Blake Maurer's elevation of the Gibson Southern program. The Titans qualified for Team State and, if things go well, will have a couple of grapplers on the podium at Banker's Life. However, Gibson Southern is compelled to share sectional mats with the Mater Dei Wildcats. Look for the 1300 Harmony Way crew to take home their 39th consecutive sectional championship. The 13-4 Central Bears also see opportunity. Properly motivated, the Bears have a shot at knocking Gibson Southern out of the bridesmaid position. The Tecumseh Braves and DG Asay's North Huskies have veteran teams; they will also look for a high finish.
Hook's Recommendations
· Get up early and have breakfast at the Pie Pan. After your omelet, have a piece of pumpkin or pecan pie...that's what it is there for!
· After wrestling is complete, head about a mile north for a protein download at Wolf's Bar-B-Q buffet. Los Bravos is a great choice for family Mexican fare. If you like sushi or hibachi, Fujiyama offers the best value for Japanese cuisine in the city. It is Mrs. Hook's favorite place to eat. Banzai!
· Watch out for parking lot scourges. Three years ago, someone backed into my HUV (Hook Utility Vehicle) and damaged it. No note!
· Founded in 1854, Evansville Central It is the oldest high school in continuous operation west of the Allegheny Mountains. Revel in the history!
Feature Articles3034 2#WrestlingWednesday Feature: Portage is Back on the Map
Brought to you by EI Sports
By JEREMY HINES
jerhines@cinergymetro.net
If anyone can teach a team to believe in itself, it’s Leroy Vega.
Vega, who was told he was too small to wrestle collegiately, even after winning two Indiana state championships, went on to become a three time All-American at the University of Minnesota.
Now Vega is instilling that confidence in the Portage High School team he coaches.
“There are always going to be doubters that will tell you that you can’t do things,†Vega said. “Nobody knows the hard work you put in. Actions speak louder than words. If you do all the right things, things that matter, you’ll start to see the payoff. That’s what we are trying to do and all of the guys are buying into it.â€
Vega says that Portage put themselves on the state map this season after winning the prestigious Lake Central Harvest tournament.
“We started the season out a little off the radar,†Vega said. “Then we won the Lake Central Harvest tournament, beating Penn who was ranked No. 1 at the time. All 14 of our guys placed. People started to take notice. From there we have kept improving.â€
Portage lost just one dual this season, falling to Penn in a rematch.
“We have a really solid 14,†Vega said. “We don’t have any holes in our lineup. Heading into the post season everyone is healthy. If things work out we can get some guys to state and a couple of guys into the finals.â€
One of Portage’s top wrestlers this season has been junior 145-pounder Steven Lawrence. Lawrence is currently ranked No. 3 in the weight class. One of Lawrence’s few losses came at the hands of No. 1-ranked Jacob Covaciu in a 2-1 decision.
“We all push each other in the wrestling room,†Lawrence said. “And one of the team’s big focuses is to make sure we do something every day to get better. We don’t want to go a day without improving.â€
Vega is the first to admit that it takes a more than just one coach to make a successful team.
“My assistant coaches have all really helped make us successful,†Vega said. “Each one of them has a different role. They have been outstanding.â€
Portage has seven different wrestlers ranked in the top 20 of their weight classes this season. Lawrence (145) and junior Gaige Torres (126) are both ranked No. 3. Senior Matt Hedrick (195) is ranked 10th in the state with freshman (106) Collin Poynter joining in the rankings at No. 13.
Senior Davin Gonzalez (152), sophomore Ismeal Cornejo (170) and junior Braden Majewski (220( are all ranked No. 16 in their respective weight classes.
“I’d probably say Ismeal Cornejo is the guy that leads by example on this team,†Vega said. “He’s always staying after practice and putting in extra work to get better. But really all the guys do that.â€
Vega said that there is hardly a day that has went by in the last 33 years that he hasn’t laced up his wrestling shoes and went on the mat. He loves coaching and the competitive rivalry he is building with the other coaches across the state. He said it still doesn’t replace that feeling of going out there and wrestling himself, but it’s a way to still be competitive.
“Wrestling has taught me a lot about discipline, hard work and dedication,†Vega said. “Now I’m competing as a coach and I’m getting the team ready. We want to someday win a state title and we’d love to have an individual win a title.â€
Vega started wrestling when he was four years old. Now his four-year-old son Lydon Jay (named after Jay Robinson), is in love with the sport as well. He wants to be at every Portage practice. He watches film and he looks up to the guys on the team.
“I’m so glad he has fallen in love with this sport,†Vega said.
Portage will wrestle in the Calumet sectional on Saturday.
High School News1530SIAC Preview
The youth movement is real in the SIAC as five favorites are freshmen or sophomores. 15 wrestlers in the field boast state rankings and an additional 12 hold semi state rankings.
106- Freshman sensation Baxter Annakin has thrilled the folks in Paradise with his 12th state ranking and number one seed in the SIAC tourney. Annakin seems likely to begin the post-season with an SIAC title. In his path is Mater Dei's two-seed, Nolan Weidner.
113- Mater Dei's sophomore Kyle Luigs is no longer under radar. Beating three ranked opponents at team state vaulted Luigs to a state ranking of fourth. Memorial's Seth Horty and Central's Carson Willis should battle it out for the other slot in the final.
120- Luig's classmate, Will Egli, begins his post season quest looking for a second SIAC championship. Ranked seventh, Egli has another year of seasoning under his belt and looks to be the best in the field. Kyle McBride (6th SS) and North's Dawson Matherly will lock horns for the other spot in the final.
126- The "Nick Lee Effect" is on display at 126. A 2014 SSQ, Central's Conner Willis could muster no better than a fourth-seed in this deep class. This has the attention of Mater Dei's top-seed, senior Alex Johnson. Willis always wrestles Johnson tough and will do so again in the semi final. Last Saturday, Castle's Braedon Clopton and Reitz's Caleb Craig had a barnburner; expect a semifinal of the same magnitude on January 24.
132- Mater Dei's top-ranked sophomore, Nick Lee, has not been scored upon this year and brings his 18-0 record to the table. Expect him to meet North's Josh Elpers in the final.
138- Joe Lee gets the other end of big brother's effect, competing in the deepest weight class in the field. Leading Mater Dei in takedowns, Lee has built an impressive freshman portfolio, culminating with the top SIAC seed. Memorial's Johny Wargel has drifted in and out of the state rankings and should meet Lee in the semi final. Reitz's AJ Dixon and Castle's Austin Ramsey went to war last Saturday; seven days later, they will do it again in Paradise. The winner gets a slot in the final.
145- Returning SIAC champ, junior Blake Jourdan, is midway through a tremendous junior season with a 15-2 record. Bosse's four-seed, Nigel Buchannan meets Reitz's Tyler Kloenhamer in an interesting first-round bout. The winner will get Jourdan in the semi final. On the other side of the bracket is Castle senior Patrick Schnell and Central senior, Hunter McCormick. Schnell is the favorite to prevail in his semi final match-up with McCormick. Schnell is a proven veteran and is bent on evening the score after dropping an early-season decision to Jourdan.
152- Starting at running back last fall, Central's Isaiah Kemper ran the ball over 50 times against Reitz's vaunted defense. One-on-one on the wrestling mat is no big deal; Kemper will be in the final. Only a sophomore, Castle's Jacob Farmer (5th SS) is already a tested veteran. He will have a showdown with Mater Dei junior Mitch Lehman (7th SS) in the semifinal for the right to face Kemper for an SIAC title.
160- Turner Lockyear has met expectations and delivered a stellar senior campaign, rolling up 30 wins against only two setbacks. Mater Dei's Nick Buedel is a first-year starter. At the end of the day, expect Buedel and Lockyear to mix it up on the center mat.
170- Castle's Blake Jeffress has quietly put together at 22-win season resulting in his top seed. A 2x state qualifier, Mater Dei's Ashton Forzley should meet him in the final. This is my pick for the second-best championship match. North's Justin Naylor meets Memorial's Chris Voegel in the first round, in what should be a good race.
182- Mater Dei senior Sam Bassemier returns to this weight class and looks to a likely rematch of last year's final with Castle's Evan Dowell. This should be a humdinger as Bassemier puts his 12th state ranking on the line against Dowell's 4th SS ranking.
195- Chase Anslinger get the nod for the top-seed at 195. The Mater Dei senior will likely meet Memorial's Marcus Gahagen or Castle's Jake Lamar in the final. Lamar will need to be on his toes the first round. Reitz's Blake Huggins knows how to control the tempo and presents a formidable opponent.
220- LaTerrance Kyles is this year's standard-bearer for Coach Mark Mastison's Harrison Warriors. Kyles leads the entire field in wins with 43. Reitz's Adam Auten and North's Cody Smith will meet in the first round for a very competitive bout. Look for Mater Dei's Kurtis Wilderman to compete with Kyles for the top spot on the podium, my pick for the third-best final.
285- Mater Dei's Adrian Butler (7th SS) get the nod for the top-seed. Danger lurks, as Butler will likely meet Memorial's Will Page in the semi final. Page is very solid and quite capable of an upset. Central's Jordan Libby and Castle's Jake Kough will meet in the other semifinal in what should also be a very good match.
Best First Round Matches: 113 pounds, Reitz's Alec McNeely vs. Castle's Bailey Anderson. McNeely is better than his 13-15 record reflects and is capable of an upset. 145 pounds, Nigel Buchannan of Bosse vs. Tyler Kloenhamer of Reitz. Buchannan has put together a solid season, defeating Reitz's Jacob Pace before he moved to 152. Buchannan/Pace should be a good one!
Best Semifinal Match: 120 pounds, Castle's Kyle McBride vs. North's Dawson Matherly. McBride has put together a solid freshman campaign and seems poised for a break-out performance. Matherly brings a lot of athleticism, 28 wins and an early-season, 2-0 win over McBride. This one is a coin toss.
Best Final: 160 will be a study in contrast. Castle's Turner Lockyear is calculating and rock-solid.
Mater Dei's Nick Buedel is unpredictable and can be wild. Look for a high-scoring, very entertaining affair.
Team- Mater Dei will place a large percentage of their roster en route to a team title, followed closely by Castle. Central and Memorial will battle for third. Reitz is in a position for some upsets. If they perform, they can crack the top four.
Hook and Half's Recommendations: #1- Castle's parking lot can be cold and windy, so park on the south side of the building. It is a short walk to an entrance door. #2- Castle gets an A plus for serving up pizza slices as big as your face. #3- Thank the Castle folks for hosting. They know what they are doing and keep things moving. #4- If you are a Reitz, Central, Mater Dei or North fan, do not be at the intersection of Highway 41 and the Lloyd. I realize it is Saturday; do not chance it. #5- Find WrestleMan or BlueBolt and engage them in an insane wrestling conversation. No, wait. I recommend that you DO NOT do that.
Feature Articles2031 6#WrestlingWednesday Feature: Red's Quest for Perfection
Brought to you by EI Sports
JEREMY HINES
jerhines@cinergymetro.net
Chad Red, Jr., or C.J as he is known, is one of Indiana’s most dominating high school wrestlers this season. He is the top 126-pounder in the state, and the No. 1 wrestler at that weight in the nation according to FloWrestling. Still, Red is always afraid that the next match might be the one he messes up in and loses. That’s what fuels him.
“My goal is to be first in everything I do,†Red said. “I don’t like being ranked. I like to try and beat the odds. Now I have that number sign in front of my name. It doesn’t mean anything to me except that people are going to come at me harder, and want to beat me that much worse. I know I have to go out each time and work as hard as I can and wrestle the best I can, or I’ll lose.â€
Red, who wrestles for his dad Chad, Sr., at New Palestine High School, has been beaten before. He hasn’t lost in the Indiana high school seasons. He is a two time state champion and is undefeated in his high school career. But in the national tournaments, he has tasted defeat. He hated it.
“I remember I was up 2-0 in a tournament and got caught in a headlock,†C.J. said. “I immediately called my dad and told him what happened. We talked for a few minutes then I turned off the phone and went back to training.â€
Coach Red says that is one of his son’s strengths. He can take a defeat and learn much more from that than he ever could from a win.
But those defeats are very rare. So coach Red makes sure to keep his son grounded after each match. If C.J. takes a sloppy shot, or doesn’t have good foot movement, coach Red will point that out – even in victory. Coach Red does not want his son being satisfied with a mediocre win.
“Wrestling for my dad has its ups and downs,†C.J. said. “He’s always on me. He tells me how I didn’t do this right, or that. I know it’s all constructive criticism, and I like it. It’s good. It makes me want to work harder.
“I’ll go out there and feel like I wrestled a very good match. But when my dad tells me I did a good job, that’s when I really know I accomplished something. “
Inside, C.J. feels vulnerability. He knows he has weaknesses. But on the outside, he has always been a pillar of confidence.
“We do not allow him to be cocky at all,†coach Red said. “We do not tolerate that. With Chad though, he has a swag of some sort. He has a confidence. That’s Chad. He’s been that way since he was born. He’s always been confident in himself. There is nothing wrong with that. He has to believe in what he’s doing. We, as coaches, can’t call plays or audibles from the sidelines in wrestling. He has to have his best every time he steps out on the mat.â€
That’s one of the reason C.J. loves wrestling.
“It’s only you out there,†he said. “If you lose, you can only blame it on yourself. There are no excuses in wrestling.â€
C.J. wrestles a lot of Greco during the summers, despite his dad wishing he wouldn’t. But the 126-pound junior feels that is a way to get better. He wants to push himself, even when it means working on things he is not quite as good at.
Coach Red sees a bright future in the sport of wrestling for his son. That’s why they work as hard as they do.
“A lot of people tell Chad that he is good,†coach Red said. “I think he’s pretty good. I’m his biggest fan, but also his biggest critic. We have very high expectations for how he can perform. There is a big prize down the road for him if he continues to work. Whether it’s a college scholarship or whatever, there is something out there waiting on him. And there is always someone out there working to beat him.â€
New Palestine’s 120-pounder, Eugene Starks, is one of C.J.’s main practice partners in the Dragon wrestling room.
“Chad is very aggressive and quick on his feet,†Starks said. “In practice I try to put up a fight with him. It has helped me tremendously. His shots are so good, it helps me learn to defend the shot better. He’s a great partner and a great teammate.â€
Red won state as a freshman at 106 pounds. Last year he was crowned the 120-pound champ. He has a goal to go undefeated in high school and win four state championships in the process.
“It’s been a real blessing having a kid like Chad,†coach Red said. “He’s a great son, and a friend. I think the sky is the limit for him. He’s very solid and has a chance to really do something special. But like I always tell him, he has to keep a level head, stay focused on the prize and work to achieve it.â€
If you have a #WrestlingWednesday feature idea, email it to jerhines@cinergymetro.net
Feature Articles3803 3#WrestlingWednesday Feature: Mater Dei Returns to the Top
Brought to you by EI Sports
By JEREMY HINES
jerhines@cinergymetro.net
Evansville Mater Dei got a late start to the wrestling season, like many teams with a successful football team. The school of just over 500 students reached the state championship game on the gridiron. That left little time to prepare for wrestling.
But Mater Dei quickly adjusted, and is now a dominating force on the mats.
“We got off to a late start because of football,†Wildcats coach Greg Schaefer said. “Over half of our lineup plays football. It’s not just our big guys either.â€
Schaefer wasn’t entirely pleased with the team’s early dual meets. It wasn’t that Mater Dei had done poorly, it was just that Schaefer puts high expectations on the team with one of the richest wrestling traditions in the state.
Soon, things started to click for the Wildcats. The turning point of the season, according to Schaefer, was the team state meet.
“The guys really turned the corner at team state,†Schaefer said. “The New Palestine match, we had guys step up and get some big wins. Then we just seem to have a progression the rest of the day. “
Mater Dei defeated Westfield 73-3, New Palestine 56-9, Warren Central 42-23 and Perry Meridian 31-27 to claim the IHSWCA Team State title for class 3A.
Statistically speaking, the Mater Dei lineup is absolutely stacked. Seven weight classes have wrestlers ranked in the top 12.
Sophomore Will Egli is currently ranked No. 7 at 120 pounds. Senior Alex Johnson is No. 4 at 126. The Lee brothers, sophomore Nick and freshman Joe, are both highly ranked. Nick is No. 1 at 132 while Joe is No. 3 at 138.
“The Lee brothers are hard working kids that maintain good attitudes,†Schaefer said. “They are good teammates. As a coach you really appreciate those type of athletes. It’s not always about them, they are team-first wrestlers. They are good young men as well as good wrestlers.â€
Junior Blake Jourdan is ranked No. 5 at 145 pounds with senior Ashton Forzley ranked No. 9 at 160. Senior Sam Bassemier is the No. 12-ranked 182 pounder in the state.
“It’s hard to say where we are at in the history of Mater Dei wrestling,†Schaefer said. “I will say that from top to bottom this is one of the stronger teams we have had since I’ve been coaching.â€
Mater Dei has roughly 35 kids on its team this season. That depth has helped lead to success on the mat.
“Tradition sums up a lot of what Mater Dei wrestling is about,†Schaefer said. “We have strong families with a strong sense of community. They take ownership and responsibility to represent the school to the best of their ability. That has led to a lot of our success.
“We have great feeder league coaches that have been around for a long time. They take a lot of pride in what they do.
“And we also have guys that people don’t know about that are really the backbone of our program. It’s not the ones that get their names in the paper. It’s the guys who go to practice and do their jobs every day. You can’t have a good team without good people to practice with. Those guys push the guys in the lineup because there is always competition for those spots.â€
Schaefer does not appoint team captains. He feels the true leaders of the team will step up when the time comes and become the unofficial captains. Everyone on the team is responsible for holding each other accountable in the classroom, after school and on the mats.
Mater Dei’s team goals this season were to win every dual meet. They have just one more dual this season, tomorrow night against rival Evansville Reitz. The team also placed a goal of winning the team state tournament.
Individually Schaefer is hoping to have several state placers this season. Mater Dei has not had a state champ in 10 years. The last Wildcat champion was Matt Coughlin at 152 pounds in 2005.
“We’ve had a few runners up and a few place winners since then,†Schaefer said. “But to win a state title it takes more than just being a good wrestler. Things have to go your way. In many cases you have to overcome circumstances or calls. You can’t just be good. You also have to put yourself in the right circumstances.â€
Schaefer would know. He is a two-time state champion.
Schaefer is a theology teacher at Mater Dei as well as the wrestling coach. It’s a job he loves and plans to stay at for a very long time.
High School News2716Manchester Black and Gold capture SMC title
NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Paced by four individual weight class champions, Manchester University gave the home crowd at the 2015 Spartan Mat Classic plenty to cheer about Saturday, Jan. 10.
Freshman 125-pounder Ruben Rodriguez, Jr., (Hammond, Ind.) and junior 141-pounderJosh Juarez (South Bend, Ind.) rolled through their round-robins with unblemished marks. Sophomore 174-pounder Dylan Lauffer (Fairfield, Ohio) and junior heavyweight Dustin Kult (Lafayette, Ind.) each worked their way through traditional brackets for championships.
The Spartans posted 131 points, besting the five team field competing inside Stauffer-Wolfe Arena by 43.5 points. Wabash College placed second (87.5 points), and Ohio Northern University was close behind in third (72 points).
Lauffer, en route to Outstanding Wrestler honors, picked up his team-leading eighth fall in the semifinals after registering a 7-0 shutout in the first round. In the championship, against Heidelberg College of Ohio's Patrick Brown, he led from the start, piling up 10 points as part of a 10-4 decision. The three wins moved his season record to 17-11. Kult, also capturing three victories, registered a major decision and fall to match up with Ohio Northern's Greg Biben in the final. After working to a 2-2 tie over the regulation seven minutes, Kult, improving to 8-5, brought the MU crowd to its feet with an overtime takedown on the edge of the mat for a 4-2 victory, marking his second invitational title of the season. Rodriguez, Jr., marching towards leveling his season record (8-9), pieced together a decision, fall and injury default, while Juarez, moving over .500 (8-7), reeled off a technical fall, major decision and decision.
MU continues traditional tournament competition Saturday, Jan. 17. They travel to Elmhurst College of Illinois for the Al Hanke Invitational.
NOTES: Freshmen Chase Wilson and Matt Ruddick just missed adding to the home squad's individual champion total. Wilson, a native of Peru, Ind., went 3-1 in the 133-pound robin, with a hard-fought 4-2 loss to Wabash's Jacob Cottey sending him to second. Ruddick, a native of Seymour, Ind., and the second seed at 165, roared into the finals with a fall and major decision before Heidelberg's Myles Wright caught him for a first period pin.
High School News2001Thunder Split on Final Day of Budd Whitehill Duals
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.-- Trine split a pair of duals to finish 14th in the Budd Whitehill Duals, hosted by Lycoming College.
The Thunder defeated Case Western Reserve, 28-21, before dropping their final match of the tournament to Rochester Institute of Technology, 39-9. Michael Conner (Zionsville, Ind./Zionsvile) won both of his matches to finish the weekend a perfect 5-0. David Moore(Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion), Jeffrey Helm (Westfield, Ind./Westfield), Cody Konieczki(Jackson, Mich./Michigan Center) and Jaycee Jensen (Burns Harbor, Ind./Chesterton) added wins. Trine concluded their performance in the tournament 1-4. The Thunder are now 2-7 in duals this season.
Conner earned a convincing win by major decision, and prevailed 10-9 in a hotly-contested match over RIT's Jake Swearingen to wrap up an undefeated weekend. The junior is now 17-6 on the season. His performance in the Budd Whitehill Duals included four wins by decision, and one by major decision.
Helm and Jensen each added pins. Helm's performance in the Budd Whitehill Duals included two wins. Jensen's pin was the first of his collegiate career, and came shortly into the second period.
Moore and Konieczki each picked up victories. Moore's win came by 12-6 decision, while Konieczki controlled the entirety his match with a 7-0 decision.
Trine returns to action to action next Saturday, Jan. 17 at Elmhurst College's Al Hanke Invitational.
Box scores from both of today's matches can be found below.
Trine 28, Case Western Reserve 21
125- David Moore (TRINE) over Nate Lee, Dec. 12-6
133- Josh Hall (CWR) won by forfeit
141- Jeffrey Helm (TRINE) over Travis Alexander, Fall 5:24
149- Cody Konieczki (TRINE) over Kenny Gironda, Dec. 7-0
157- Adam Boles (TRINE) won by forfeit
165- Jaycee Jensen (TRINE) over Nick Tommas, Fall 3:22
174- Nick Lees (CWR) over Kerry Raab, Fall 1:35
184- Ahmid Katib (CWR) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (TRINE) over Cito Balsells, Maj. 10-2
285- Nate Lewis (CWR) over Tyler Prater, Dec. 7-3
Rochester Institute of Technology 39, Trine 9
125- David Moore (TRINE) won by forfeit
133- Kevin Palmeri (RIT) won by forfeit
141- Jake Sepor (RIT) over Jeffrey Helm, Dec. 8-4
149- Brad Maybille (RIT) over Cody Konieczki, Fall 1:18
157- Wonsik Kim (RIT) over Adam Boles, Dec. 10-4
165- Nicholas Greenquist (RIT) over Jaycee Jensen, TF 19-4
174- Tory Cain (RIT) over Kerry Raab, Fall, 1:56
184- Nick Fisk (RIT) won by forfeit
197- Michael Conner (TRINE) over Jake Swearingen, Dec. 10-9
285- Sam Weinger (RIT) over Tyler Prater, Maj. 8-0