clive2246

I was kind of hoping that they wouldn't be able to finish and it would end in a tie..

I just figured out that I had a brain fart.

I'm all for the Merrillville Semi State. Being from the Region but I don't think these guys are locks. I was at the Tricoff and Hawkins didn't handle Nelson He beat him worse last year at the Tricoff this year it was a 1 or 2 point match with Nelson on his legs at the end. Merrillville could produce alot of Champs but puting our selfs out there like this makes us seem arrogant

So...what's your point?

BookerT,

That's a really good picture. What kind of camera did you use? I need a better one for live action shots.

I will be pulling for Cathedral first round.  ;D

I am definitely a person of few words.

I think that every team there had bad calls made.

I am fine. Great job Bulldogs! Each and every one of you should be proud. Cameron, be proud of that win against Stevens. Everyone in that gym knows that you won.

I have butterflies and my kid isn't even on the team. GO CP!!

I don't think that I could do it without swearing....

We've had a little bit of snow here in CP. I think that east of 65 is where most of the snow is.

I'm thinking that there's a chance that Team regionals might get postponed. Portage cancelled all activites for tonight. I heard that they could get up to 18 inches of snow.

Why would you even begin to think that someone from this site was spamming them? I think that's it's ludicrous to even suggest it.

By Jeff Manes

Post-Tribune correspondent

  Font Size  Email  Bookmark  Black Text White TextCrown Point coach Scott Vlink grew up in the north suburbs of Chicago, but wrestled for Indiana State. He shared a locker room with gymnast Kurt Thomas, swimmer Mark Spitz and a towheaded basketball player they just called Larry.

Vlink's 189-pounder, Marcus Shrewsbury, has been raised in the Hoosier State, but will wrestle for Northwestern.

"Marcus is a very good student and athlete," Vlink said. "We're confident when he gets to Northwestern, he's going to have a great career. He has become much more offensive over the course of the season. I think Northwestern has got a really good kid."

Shrewsbury wants to become a lawyer. The folks at Northwestern are willing to ease the cost.

"I didn't receive a full ride," Shrewsbury said, "but I got a lot of money -- it was a good deal. I'd like to redshirt next year, make the adjustment from high school to Division I wrestling, and then use my four years of eligibility and just do the best I can. I'll probably wrestle 184 or 197 in college -- whatever the team needs."

Team is important to a wrestler who has had much individual success. As a sophomore, Shrewsbury finished seventh in the state at 189; last season, he was runner-up at 189. This year, at 28-0, he is the No. 1 ranked 189-pounder in the state.

"There is no one set captain on this team; I feel that's an advantage," Shrewsbury said. "We have a good senior class. Even the underclassmen are very mature -- guys like (Eric) Roach and (Jason) Tsirtsis. We all motivate each other; it's convenient."

Crown Point is currently ranked No. 3 in the state. The Bulldogs will take on rival Merrillville right off the bat at Wednesday's Portage Regional. The winner will take on the winner between Portage and Munster. When the day is done, eight schools will remain throughout the state in their quests for a team title.

The Bulldogs have a bone to pick with the Pirates.

"We'd love to win the team state championship," Shrewsbury said. "But first things first. We've been training all year to beat Merrillville. Every single year it seems Crown Point comes in as the most hyped and talented team, and we always get beat when it counts by Merrillville. We're doing everything in our power this year to prevent that from happening -- this is the best team I've wrestled on from top to bottom."

Said Vlink: "Merrillville has a good program. They're tough kids. We just have to strap it up and get ready to go -- bottom line. We relish the opportunity to show everyone how good we are."

Portage Regional

Schedule: Merrillville vs. Crown Point, Portage vs. Munster, 6 p.m., Wednesday; championship to follow

Possible lineups: Merrillville -- 103 Zac Stevens, 112 Al Padilla, 119 Willy Costakis, 125 Anthony Napules, 130 Frankie Valdivia, 135 Eddie DeLuna, 140 Darrius Richmond, 145 Keon Jones, 152 Victor Nzeata, 160 Robbie Jordan, 171 Kourtney Berry, 189 Jeremy Wengel, 215 Michael Nickson, 285 James Travis; Crown Point -- 103 Cameron Halsted, 112 Anthony Hawkins, 119 Josh Manes, 125 Jason Tsirtsis, 130 Dallas Schurg, 135 Eric Roach, 140 Josh Flamme, 145 Tom Renn, 152 Jeremy Pogorzelski, 160 Mark Myers, 171 Jeremy Kooi, 189 Marcus Shrewsbury, 215 Jim Bakalik, 285 Kyle Marshall; Portage -- 103 Jesse Duque, 112 Brandon Coppinger, 119 Damien Torres, 125 Luis Acuna, 130 Robert Blackwell, 135 Chris Santos, 140 Chris Saylor, 145 Tony Nuzzo, 152 Sean McMurray, 160 Justin Rhein, 171 Aaron King, 189 Kyle Keith, 215 Nathaniel Coleman, 285 Logan Fischer; Munster -- 103 Aurelio Medina, 112 Connor Cecil, 119 Luke Smith, 125 Jordan Cooper, 130 Clint Boelt, 135 Justin Slosser, 140 Alex Surma, 145 Michael Adams, 152 Aaron Estrada, 160 Danny Johnson, 171 Adrian Gutierrez, 189 Jack Seaman, 215 Andy Lucas, 285 Tyler Kerrick

Outlook: Is this the year Crown Point does it? The Bulldogs have been the favorites from the area to make the state meet each of the last two seasons, only to fall short both times. Last season, Crown Point lost to Merrillville 30-21 in a semistate -- this season, the semistate round has been eliminated, with the regional winner advancing to the state meet -- after the Bulldogs topped the Pirates 33-30 during the regular season. In 2007, Chesterton stunned Crown Point in a regional, before Merrillville won the semistate; the Bulldogs had beaten both the Trojans and Pirates during the regular season. Crown Point, which hasn't made the state meet since the implementation of the duals format in 1995-96, has been the area's best team this season, including defeating Merrillville 34-27 on Dec. 17. The Bulldogs should break through -- this could be their best team yet -- but given their history and that of the Pirates, who have represented the region at the state meet three straight times, you can't discount Merrillville, either. Portage won't have an easy semifinal match against Munster by any means, but the Indians should have the edge. During the regular season, the Indians competed well against both the Bulldogs, losing 35-20, and the Pirates, losing 30-25, and could have an outside chance if they reached the final. The Mustangs are coming off their second straight sectional title.

Next: Winner vs. Seymour Regional winner in quarterfinals of state meet, 9 a.m., Feb. 28, Center Grove H.S., Greenwood

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/highschools/1410281,wrsreg.article

Never said he wasn't a good coach. I think he's a great coach. Obviously I'm a CP fan too. Problem is for whatever reason our boys have trouble with Merrillville even if they should always beat them. A DAC title is nice. But I think if they had to choose, every CP fan out there would rather lose to Merrillville in the regular season and them beat them to get to state.

Merrillville's coach is good, but so is CP's, so I think that's even. CP has beaten Merrillville plenty while Maldonado has been there.

  But not when it counts.....

I remember being in line behind an elderly gentleman a few years ago. He had a very small lunch bag size cooler that was storing his insulin. They gave him a hard time about it and and after much negotiation, finally let him bring it in. I'm thinking that the state fire marshall is going to show up this year. :

We could just crown all of the Merrillville SS Champs IHSAA State Champs as well and we could get done a week earlier..

Merrillville

 

What time does the team regional start and is it at portage?

  Starts at 6 pm CT and yes it's at Portage.

Yeah, OTHERwise219....what's up with that??  ;D

Dunefan did a great job!

Merrillville

Very nice job. They will look good printed on my pink paper.

 

I think he was being sarcastic.

  ;D

What weather? Are you talking about the couple of inches of snow we had a few days ago?

Have you tried emailing any of them and actually asked for copies of the brackets?