Go Big Blue

Kyle got sick and couldn't compete in the tournament.

Correct, we will not be combining our high schools. Not saying something like this will never happen in Wabash county, but not this fall like they were talking.

I'll be there! Evening wise...haven't got that figured out yet!

I would love to hear the answer to that myself! Brunner was VERY impressive Friday night upsetting 11th ranked Robertson.

Very well done. Thank you very much.

Anyone have any top 4 predictions?

Appreciate the kind words. See you Saturday!

Sorry bout that!

Here we are again, anxiously awaiting another great day of wrestling at this years’ Peru Regional! As I’ve said before, I coach kids that will wrestle Saturday so I won’t be predicting the winners or the advancers in every weight class, but I’ve done some digging and have seen a lot of these kids wrestle so I’ll share some well-prepared thoughts and opinions! I’m sorry I got so long winded! I LOVE THIS STUFF! Enjoy! 106: Ranked wrestlers: JC Herring – 2nd in the FWSS/13th in the State and Peyton Lechner – 4th in the FWSS/17th in the State Wrestling fans you do NOT want to miss this class of little studs! This bracket has everything from decorated veterans to rising stars and a couple that could sneak up and surprise some folks. For starters (as I’ve said before) JC Herring is a BEAST, not to mention a very nice kid; needless to say, I’m a huge fan. JC is a two-time regional champ, and a 2016 State Qualifier at this weight and it would be tough to bet against him to repeat a trip to the Bank. I’m sure the other veteran in this class, Mr. Lechner from Western who is a two-time regional finalist would love nothing more than to have a shot to avenge his 2 losses to Herring but he will have to get through the young stud Trey Sturgill to get that chance. Sturgill will have to watch Johnson from Marion as he’s had a great freshman season as well. *First round match to watch: Lenoir from Kokomo (21-17) who is a returning SS Qualifier and Butcher from North Miami (22-10) who was the runner up to Sturgill at both the Peru Sectional and the TRC Championships. *Semi-final barn burner: Lechner and Sturgill 113: This class is may be the toughest to predict as there are multiple kids that could do some damage! Seth Anderson from Peru is a two-time sectional champ and is looking to punch his first ticket to the SS. I’m very intrigued by the Brooks of Wabash and Ciscell of Western match up as these two freshmen are having GREAT rookie campaigns and both are wrestling well enough to represent their schools in the FW SS. On the bottom of the bracket is the freshman HHC Champ and Sectional Champ Pearson from Eastern who is on fire with a 20-2 record. He will be tough to bet against for the top spot on the podium. *First round match to watch: Dyson from North Miami (30-8) versus Chauhan from Oak Hill (27-5). Dyson is the 2017 TRC Champ and Chauhan is the reigning CIC champ as well as the Western Open champ *Semi-final barn burner: Anderson verses the winner of the Dyson/Chauhan match. Either one of these three young men could end up in the finals. 120: Ranked wrestler: Jabin Wright – 2nd in the SS/6th in the State When it comes to his resume and accolades, Jabin Wright seems to be standing head and shoulders above this field of wrestlers this weekend. Besides his above stated rankings, he is a two-time State Qualifier and a THREE time (yes 3) Regional Champ! The young man who is arguably the 2nd best kid in the bracket might be returning FW SS Qualifier and reigning CIC Champ Courland Smith from Miss with his impressive 21-2 record. Young Smith won’t be uncontested as his first round match with Barnett from Southwood will be a dandy. Barnett is the 2017 TRC Champ and after dropping a semifinal match in sectional, I know he will be on a mission to avenge his disappointing finish last weekend. *First round match to watch: Matchup of conference champs Smith from Miss (21-2) and Barnett from Southwood (31-10). *Semi-final barn burner: Bottom bracket match between the winners of the Smith/Barnett match and the Stefanatos/Wilson match. 126: Ranked wrestler: Hunter Cottingham – 8th in the SS and 16th in the State This is a VERY interesting weight class with a can’t-wait-to-see finals match. On the top side of the bracket you have the always strong Kasey Deardorff from North Miami. Kasey is in very familiar territory; as a junior he has been to the FW SS twice in as many tries, has been a TRC champ in all three attempts and is the reigning regional champ. This kid is SOLID to say the least. On the bottom side of the bracket you have the other end of the spectrum. Coach Shephard and his team have done an excellent job with the freshman Cottingham as he sports a phenomenal 36-1 record and has himself ranked in the state in his first year of high school in a very tough weight class. If this finals match does take place, it will be a great one! One person trying to throw a monkey wrench in that finals match happening is Jaylon Gibson from Marion. Jaylon is a returning FWSS qualifier and a reining Western Open champ as well as a Whitko invite champ. He and Deardorff’s semi’s match will be a MUST SEE. *First round match to watch: No one match stands out. *Semi-final barn burner: Kasey Deardorff (32-7) and Jaylon Gibson (36-4). Again, a MUST SEE. 132: When it comes to post season action this is the most inexperienced group of the day, thus making it what I’ll call the most wide-open “anybody’s to win” bracket we’ll see in Peru. There is one athlete that appears to lead the way in this bracket and that’s Eastern’s freshman Tytus Morrisett. Morrisett comes into this meet as a Sectional Champ with a 31-5 record and is a force to reckon with. Bullock from Mac had a great showing winning the TRC Championship at this weight but it was Forrest from Peru who was victorious in a hard-fought battle for the sectional title. *First round match to watch: Dylan Goudy from Western (27-12) and Wyatt Fletcher North Miami (27-5) *Semi-finals barn burner: Morrisett of Eastern (31-5) and Bullock of Mac (28-8). Bullock will push him till the end for sure. 138: This group looks to be led by returning FW SS qualifier and sectional champ from Marion Lorenzo Trevino. On the bottom side the Peru champ Kintner seems to be peaking at just the right time as he’s been on top of the podium in both the TRC Championships and the Peru sectional in the past two weeks. *First round match to watch: Macaully Miller of Northfield (17-8) is looking very solid and strong right now and he will face CIC Champ Keith Evans of Oak Hill (21-13). Should be a tight one till the end. *Semi-final barn burner: Cartner Kitner of Peru (22-9) and Aren Turner of Eastern (25-10) 145: This crazy bracket has two young men that are both two-time FW SS Qualifiers in it, which is exciting BUT…they have unfortunately found each other going head to head in the first round! Wyatt Dyson of North Miami is one and the other one is Cole Ridgeway of Oak Hill, both on the top side of this bracket. Ridgeway won the Western Invite where he beat Eli Elkins of Eastern, but then as the season progressed Elkins emerged as the #1 seed at Sectional…then “out of the bushes” came Western’s Carter Ciscell as the 4th seed who beat the #1 seed Elkins in the semis and then pinned the #2 seed Ridgeway from OH in the finals to win the sectional title! Also in the top side of that bracket is the Peru Champ who is also on a role, Collin Meggison of Manchester (27-7) is fresh off of two first place finishes at the TRC Championships and the Peru sectional. *First round match to watch: Definitely has to be the above mentioned match of Dyson of NM (28-12) and Ridgeway of OH (23-9). *Semi-Final barn burner: IF it happens will be the heated rematch between Ciscell of Western (14-5) and Elkins of Eastern (21-7) 152: Ranked wrestler – Christian Bratcher 6th in the FW SS and 13 in the State. This weight class is one that I’ll call loaded for sure, having 4 guys that have all been to the FW SS, 2 of them multiple times! Christian Bratcher is the only undefeated (and ranked) wrestler in the field. As a junior he is a two-time FW SS qualifier and owns a major decision victory over Hetzner of Eastern. Hetzner is certainly a formidable opponent as a two time regional finalist and a three time FW SS qualifier and is the reigning Hoosier Heartland Conference Champ. In this bracket we also have returning FW SS qualifier and TRC Champ Layne Evans of Northfield. Layne was beaten by the other returning FW SS qualifier Wade France of Manchester as France stepped up and avenged his earlier season 2 losses by Evans. *First round match to watch: Layne Evans of Northfield (31-2) and Donavan Shepherd of Western (25-13). No opponent should ever overlook a young man with the last name of Shepherd from Western! That family and that team simply knows how to win! *Semi-final barn burner: Christian Bratcher of EB (35-0) and Layne Evans of Northfield (31-2). With darn near 70 wins between these two men this year, neither of them have any interest in losing this match! 160: Ranked wrestler – Noah King 8th in the FW SS 160 at the Peru sectional will be a fun one this year as well. Manchester’s super sophomore Delton Moore has had a phenomenal season and the past two weeks has been atop the podium at both the TRC Championships and the Peru Sectional in dominating fashion, winning by fall in the TRC Finals and by a quick tech fall in the sectional finals. In that top side of the bracket in the semis Moore might see a familiar foe in returning FW SS and former Sectional Champ Michael Ford of Northfield. The bottom of the bracket is highlighted by returning FW SS qualifier Noah King of Oak Hill who is having a great season earning a 28-5 record thus far. *First round match to watch: Micheal Ford of NHS (23-10) and Kevin Lenahan of WE (28-11) *Semi-final barn burner: Moore and the winner of the above first round match 170: Ranked wrestlers: Jordan Rader – 3rd in the FWSS and 15th in the State. Brody Hardcastle – 4th in the FWSS and 19th in the state. Quentin Moore – 5th in the FWSS Where to start… how bout I start with saying WOW WHAT A WEIGHT CLASS! These guys have been beating each other up all year. The mighty Jordan Rader from Peru is the only previous State Qualifier in the group, as well as highest ranked in the class and owns the best record. Coach Hobbs and Coach Fuller have to be proud of how this kid is wrestling! Brody Hardcastle of Oak Hill is a former Sectional and Regional champ and a two time FW SS qualifier and has won the CIC this year along with winning the Western Invite where Hetzner of Eastern and Carson of Western (who won the Whitko invite) competed as well. I have no doubt that future hall of famer Coach King has Brody ready for action. Evan Cardwell of Northwestern is having a very solid junior campaign. He is a returning FW SS qualifier and is a Conference champ from this year. The Manchester Monster Moore is a THREE time FW SS qualifier, a former Sectional, Regional and TRC champ is fresh off of a win by fall over Cardwell but having dealt with back to back losses to Rader at conference and sectional. *First round match to watch: Jordan Rader of Peru (32-2) and Trevon Carson of Marion (29-5). Carson is tough and NO one expected Carson to be a ‘4’ coming into regional. This will be a great match. *Semi-final barn burner: Quentin Moore of Manchester (29-5) and Brody Hardcastle of OH (29-3). You do NOT want to miss this match!!!!!!! 182: Ranked wrestlers: Noah Cressell – 4th in the FWSS and 13th in the State. Blaney Harrison – 5th in the FWSS and 15th in the State. DaShaun Barbary – 6th in the FWSS and 20th in the State This is truly another WOW weight class. These top three are battle tested and READY to go! The AWESOME Apache Noah Cressell is a returning FW SS qualifier and is straight up tough. He looks tough…he wrestles tough…and according to Coach Jake O’neil he practices tough. Next on the bill is Oak Hill’s Blaney Harrison. Blaney is a former Sectional, Regional and Conference champ and is sitting on a 30-1 record, having only felt defeat at the hands of the mighty Cressell by major decision earlier in the season at the Western Invite. The next guy to mention is the battle tested Dashaun Barbary from Kokomo. He is a two-time FW SS qualifier and is a two time regional finalist and will fight with Cressell till the end to earn his third trip back under the lights in Peru Saturday. *First round match to watch: No one match stands out. *Semi-final barn burner: Noah Cressell (35-1) and DaShaun Barbary (30-5) The only time today you will see two STATE RANKED men meet in the SEMI-FINALS! 195: Ranked wrestler – Aaron Sedwick – 6th in the FWSS Maconaquah’s mighty Brave Aaron Sedwick is a returning Regional and current Sectional Champ and TRC Champ and is sporting a near perfect 32-1 record. ON the bottom of the bracket is Kokomo’s Gavin Herrera who is a two-time FWSS qualifier and is hot off his upset win over top seeded Tony Fuller of Oak Hill in the sectional finals. If this match takes place it will be a GREAT final between these two men. *First round match to watch: Victor Lee of Marion (32-10) and Sedwick of Mac. Lee, with his shocking 4th place performance last week is the reigning Western Invite champ and owns a win by fall of sectional finalist Sammons of Wabash. This kid is only a sophomore, so I’ll be paying close attention to him! *Semi-final barn burner: Sedwick Mac (32-1) and Fuller of OH (28-5) 220: Ranked wrestler – Nick Fox – 8th in the FW SS This weight class is possibly going to produce an AMAZING finals matchup between OH Sectional Champ Nick Fox of Kokomo (31-5) who is a two time regional finalist and FWSS qualifier and Reigning Peru Sectional champ and Conference Champ Max Clark of Northwestern who is also a returning FWSS Qualifier and is currently boasting a perfect 27-0 record!! There are two first round matches that will be ones not to miss…in the top side returning FWSS qualifier Josh Gadd of Marion (28-8) and TRC Champ Cavin Beavers (28-9) will be great as well as Jackson Bush of EB (21-8) and Collin Silvers of Mac (29-10). All 4 of those young men are capable of punching their ticket to Fort Wayne in this first round. *First round match to watch: Mentioned above. *Semi-finals barn burner: For the first time I’m going to have to say both. The two champs will have their hands full with either of the winners of the first round bouts I’ve highlighted above. 285: Ranked wrestlers: Evan Ellis – 1st in the FWSS and 2nd in the State. Owen Perkins – 3rd in the FWSS and 6th in the State. This weight class has the highest two ranked wrestlers in the tournament…yes in the same class. These two GIANTS are men among boys to say the least and are VERY familiar with each other. Evan Ellis of Eastern is 35-0 and is a 3 time FWSS qualifier and a two time state Medalist placing 8th as a sophomore and 3rd last year. Owen Perkins of Oak Hill is also a 3 time FWSS qualifier and a 2 time State Qualifier and is sporting a 29-3 record…having only lost to Evan Ellis this year. This is definitely the year that the fans will NOT want to leave prior to the heavy’s wrestle because you do not want to miss this match! *First round match to watch: Peru Sectional Champ Avery Jones of Peru (27-9) and Marion’s Gabe Watkins (21-3) *Semi-finals barn burner: None. There are some really good wrestlers in this class but the Ellis and Perkins are just that dominant. Best of luck to you all!

I completely agree! Most of us have no idea the time you guys put into this for us and again, I appreciate it very much as well.

Rochester High School is the best around our neck of the woods. Their moms and coach's wives go over and above! Our coaches even joked that we weren't going to eat supper Friday night in preparation for the hospitality room at the Rochester Super Duals!

Where can we find the results? It doesn't appear to be on Track.

Wednesday evening (1/25) Northfield is hosting a JV invite. We've been doing this for years...no ribbons or placings, just trying to get everyone 2-3 more matches a piece.

Since I coach in the conference I won't give my picks top to bottom but I did have some fun putting together a "preview" if you will of this Saturday's action! 106 - Trey Sturgill from Peru is having a very good freshman season for the tigers and will be tough to stop this weekend in North Miami. The 2nd seed is from North Miami and the 3rd seed from Rochester are both freshman with almost identical records (18-8 and 18-9) and that match in the semis should be a good one to see who will get to see Sturgill. 113 - Peru's Anderson is at the top of the bracket at this point and looks to be the favorite. Anderson was the 2016 TRC Champ at 113 so he knows what it's like to be on top of the podium. The 2nd seed from Rochester was 3rd at 106 last year and I'm sure would like to improve that position this year but will have to get past the very strong youngster from Wabash Braden Brooks who will stop at nothing to battle his way to the top. 120 - Some may not agree with me but I think 120 is very wide open at this year's TRC meet. First seeded Logan Busz from Whitko will have a tough time getting through freshman Barnett (who has the most wins on the season of anyone in the bracket) in the semi's. TV's 2nd seeded Bandow and Wabash's 3rd seeded Goodwin will go at in the lower part of the bracket with both having the ability to win that match! I'll be cliché here and say it will boil down to "who wants it more". 126 - Red hot youngster Levi Cunningham from Peru tops off this tough bracket at 126. Before he can be crowned champ he will likely have to face the battle tested Kasey Deardorff of NM who has won the Three Rivers Conference twice already in as many tries and is VERY determined to go for a third on his way to being a 4 time TRC Champ. Kasey's semis match will be a fun one to watch as Mathias of Manchester is a very tough kid who will work his butt off to dethrone the veteran Warrior and punch his ticket to the finals. 132 - Wyatt Fletcher was a TRC finalist in 2016 and is having a great season this year. Bullock from Mac will likely be his finals opponent and that county rivalry will be one to watch for sure! 138 - Top seeded Peru's Kitner is the only senior in this bracket and is definitely battle tested. You won't want to miss the 2nd seed from Rochester and Northfield's 3rd seeded Miller's match in the semi's. These two wrestled a great match last weekend and neither will be interested in losing this one! This finals match should be a good one as well. 145 - Manchester's top seeded Meggison is a very hard working kid and will go, go, go until he's at the top of that TRC podium. Dyson from NM has been around the block and knows how to win. After a tough 2nd round match with Kennedy (who is a prior TRC finalist and could shake things up)could see his way into what could be a very good finals match with Meggison. 152 - Northfield's senior Layne Evans is 25-1 and is hell bent on winning a TRC title in his final season for the Norse. Layne will probably face a familiar foe in Manchester's France (a 2016 SS Qualifier) in the finals who will battle Evans until the whistle. That will be a great match for sure. 160 - Manchester's super sophomore Delton Moore is a BEAST. I can't say his wins this class easily as the 3rd seeded Ford is a defending sectional champ and SS qualifier and is out for revenge after getting pinned by Moore in their last outing. To get his chance though Ford will beat 2nd seeded Gilbreath from Rochester who put a whipping on Ford last weekend and that rematch is one to look forward to. Fun weight class to watch for sure. 170 - If I got my way (and I won't ha ha) this finals match, which will likely be Jordan Rader of Peru and Quinten Moore of Manchester would be the LAST match of the day... the MAIN EVENT so to speak! I don't want to dismiss everyone else in this bracket as there are some good kids at this weight, but these two are really at another level here...they are both ranked highly in the semi state and both have full intentions on wrestling at the BANK in Indy in a month. These guys both won a TRC title a year ago and neither are interested in giving up their crown. In there last outing Rader came out victorious and I know Mr. Moore very well and he has thought about that rematch at likely every practice and match since then. This finals match is definitely the ONE TO WATCH! 182 - The big Apache Noah Cressell from Wabash is a MONSTER...no other way to describe him. Strong as they come at this weight and has the speed and the determination to match it. The semis match between the super strong Knight Adams and Whitko's Walters will be a great match to watch for sure, but the winner will have to have the match of his career to beat Noah. 195 - At 26-1, Sedwick of Mac is the favorite by far. Samons and Charles, the 2nd and 3rd seeds respectively, have wrestled a couple times and will have a good battle to determines who sees the Battling Brave in the finals. 220 - The top two seeds in this bracket are very familiar foes. Bevers of SW the top seed and Ramirez of Manchester the 2 seed have wrestled each other at HWT last year and now at 220 this year. Ramirez will have his hands full with the 3rd seeded Silvers of Mac who is also a sophomore and boasts an almost identical record as the big Squire. With the top three records in this class being 23-8, 21-7 and 23-8 it's hard to argue that this weight class is another one of those wide open "who wants it" brackets! I can't want to see the answer to that! 285 - The big Zebra Dan Clark looks to be poised to repeat his TRC Championship performance from a year ago. He and Jones of Peru and again familiar foes and wrestled a very very close match last weekend where Clark barely came out on top! Don't count out Bowman from Mac who will be looking to earn his way to the finals when he sees Jones in the semis. That will be a great match as well. This was fun to write, which is why I do it. Remember my previews are purely for entertainment purposes only! Enjoy!

Seeding meeting is tomorrow night, once we get brackets then I'll share some thoughts!

No sir, tonight's dual is Purdue versus IU.

The TRC is down this year but we have 4 ranked. 170 #3 Jordan Radar (Peru) 170 #5 Quentin Moore (Manchester) 182 #4 Noah Cressell (Wabash) 182 #7 Aaron Sedwick (Maconoquah)

What's that mean?

I 2nd that. Hummel was a monster. I would bet if there was a 215/220 class then that he would be a 2 timer, maybe 3!

Dicks bodacious BBQ was fantastic as always! I even saw a very intelligent looking fella with a grey vest on sitting with some guys with Indianamat clothes on while in there! Ha ha!

Completely agree. Couldn't have been done any better.

Me too!!!! I'm up here in West Lafayette running scoreboard for our Boiler Wrestlers so I can't come down till morning! Thanks again!!

Ditto. Maybe not a popular opinion, but this weekend's tournament is WAAAY more important to me. I could do with out the other one!!

We're on a several year tradition of hustling down to Dick's Bodacious BBQ. Good stuff.

Both schools have been recruiting some of our better talent for sure, but I can't disagree, they seem to miss the boat on the BEST talent. I think Coach Ersland is on the right track and from speaking to him it seems as if he is more focused on local talent. Case in point, his 2016 recruiting class includes nationally ranked local boys Kobe Woods and the Purple Hulk, who will both be Boiler Wrestlers next year. As far as IU, not sure if it will be Coach Goldman's last year or not, but either way last year they signed one of our better wrestlers in Mr. Tommy Cash and next season Blake Rypel will be a Hoosier wrestler. Again, both schools have lots of examples of recruiting some Indiana's great state champs, who have went on to wrestle well at that level with some qualifying for the NCAA's and even some AA's (Welch's, Atwood, Quiroga, Fletcher Miller and Chalfant to just throw out recent names) but again, to your point I have to agree...what's it take to get the likes of T-shirts, Sliga, Micic, Red and the Lee's?