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Fax: 317-575-4244 Website:
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____________________________________________________________________
MEDIA
ADVISORY
FOUR-MIDABLE!
TSIRTSIS AND MAURER WIN CROWNS
Four-time
state champions don’t come around too often, but to have two in the same year
in this sport? Well that’s exactly what fans of
Griffith’s
Alex Tsirtsis and Evansville Mater Dei’s Blake Maurer, from extreme opposite ends of the
state, Tsirtsis from northwest Indiana and Maurer
from southwest Indiana, began their high school careers on top as freshmen and
that’s exactly where they both ended as seniors.
Tsirtsis
defeated Wesley English of Merrillville for the fifth time this season, 10-5,
in the 145 finale, while Maurer (183-2 career and 45-0 this season) took a 9-5
decision from Franklin’s Jesse Hasseman at 171 pounds
in the pair’s third meeting of the season.
They become
the fifth and sixth individuals to win four times joining Estil
Ritter of Bloomington (1924-27), Willard Duffy of Muncie Central (1930-33), Howard
Fisher of South Bend Central (1949-52) and; Lance Ellis of Indianapolis
Cathedral (1986-89).
Additionally,
Tsirtsis became just the second
Teammate
Jose Escobedo got it started capping his senior campaign with his first state
championship, a 3-2 decision over previously unbeaten Brad Spine of Floyd
Central (39-1) in the 119 pound final.
Jose’s
first cousin, Angel, continued to write his place into
The final
Panther, Andrae Hernandez, also a first cousin of the
Escobedos, followed suit by winning his second consecutive state title pinning
Eric Oria of
Lawrence
North junior Reece Humphrey also won the second championship of his career, a
7-2 decision over Matt Irwin of Bellmont, in the final at 125. Humphrey, last
year’s 112 pound king, will take a 52-0 record into his team’s appearance in
the state finals competition at
Joining
Maurer on the podium’s top spot was his teammate Matt Coughlin (45-0). After
knocking on the door the last two years as a runner-up at 130 and 119, the
junior finally broke through by winning the 152 pound class with an 8-2 triumph
over Kyle Samuels of Floyd Central. The pair hope to
keep the Mater Dei streak of nine consecutive state team championships alive
next weekend as well.
While
Humphrey, Coughlin and Maurer will take their undefeated records into next
week, five others capped unbeaten campaigns as champs in their respective
weight classes: Christopher Miller of Elkhart Memorial (44-0) at 112; Adam
O’Neil of South Bend Clay (45-0) at 160; Heath VanDeventer
of Bloomington North (48-0) at 189; Christopher Kasten
of Winamac (48-0) at 215 and; Chad Ruggeri of Mt. Vernon (37-0) at 275 pounds.
Also, Jon
Lloyd of Warren Central started the evening with a 4-2 win over previously
undefeated
State Championship Match
Results
103 – Jon Lloyd (45-2), Warren Central (11) def. Eric McGill
(46-1),
112 – Christopher Miller (44-0),
119 – Jose Escobedo (53-1), Griffith (12) def. Brad Spine (39-1), Floyd Central (12), Decision, 3-2.
125 – Reece Humphrey (52-0), Lawrence North (11) def. Matt Irwin
(42-5), Bellmont (10),
Decision, 7-2.
130 – Angel Escobedo (52-1), Griffith (11) def. Erik Johnson (43-4),
135 – Andrae Hernandez (53-1), Griffith (12) def. Eric Oria (49-7),
140 – Darren Elkins (46-1),
145 – Alex Tsirtsis (55-0), Griffith (12) def. Wesley English (41-7),
152 – Matt Coughlin (45-0),
160 – Adam O’Neil (45-0),
171 – Blake Maurer (45-0),
189 – Heath VanDeventer (48-0),
215 – Christopher Kasten
(48-0), Winamac (11) def. Arik Wolf (42-1), East
Central (12), Decision, 7-2.
275 –
Blake Maurer Wins Ward E.
Brown Mental Attitude Award
Blake
Maurer of Evansville Mater Dei High School was named winner of the Ward E.
Brown Mental Attitude Award for Individual Wrestling in 2004. Ward E. Brown was the fourth IHSAA
commissioner, serving from 1976 until 1983.
He also was an assistant commissioner from 1969 until 1976 and, while
principal of
At the
conclusion of the Individual Wrestling State Finals, the IHSAA Executive
Committee presents the award to the outstanding senior in the state finals
competition, who is nominated by his principal and coach. He must excel in mental attitude,
scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in the sport of wrestling.
With his
victory over Jesse Hasseman of Franklin Community
High School, Blake joins Estil Ritter of Bloomington
High School (1924-27), Willard Duffy of Muncie Central (1930-33), Howard Fisher
of South Bend Central (1949-52), Lance Ellis of Indianapolis Cathedral (1986-89)
and Alex Tsirtsis of Griffith High School (2001-04)
as the state’s only four-time IHSAA state champions.
He owns a
four-year school record of 183-2, including a mark of 45-0 during the 2003-04 season. He was 45-0
as a freshman; 47-1 as a sophomore; and 46-1 as a junior.
Blake has
also helped his school to nine consecutive state titles in IHSAA Team Wrestling
and will look continue that string during the team state finals next Saturday.
Athletically,
Blake was a four-year member of the Wildcats football team. He was team captain and a finalist for Mr.
Football as a senior.
Academically,
Blake has compiled a 3.4 GPA. He will
graduate with an academic honors diploma and will attend
This school
year, Blake was selected to participate in the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and
Cessation program, in partnership with the IHSAA. As a member of the panel, he was able to extend
his influence beyond the Mater Dei feeder schools and help create an exhibit
which traveled to middle schools throughout the state.
Blake is
the son of Amy and Kelly Maurer of
Farm Bureau
Insurance, the IHSAA corporate sponsor, presented a $1,000.00 scholarship to
Evansville Mater Dei High School in the name of Blake Maurer.
New IHSAA Book, Play
On, Recaps 100 Years Of High School Sports in
The
exciting new book, Play On, celebrating 100 years of
high school sports in
Team Posters And Individual Action Photographs Available
Visit 20-20 Photographic, the IHSAA’s photographer and the
For
t-shirts and other merchandise commemorating this year’s tournament or for any
of our events, visit our friends at Morris, Inc.
State Finals Programs
Available
Couldn’t be
there for the state championships? To commemorate the event, you can still
purchase a copy of the official state finals program while supplies last!
Programs are $3.00 if you purchase in person at the IHSAA Office (