Page 30 - 2008-09 Individual Wrestling State Finals Program

Last Year’s Individual State Finals

HOWE, HARPER WIN THIRD STRAIGHT WRESTLING CROWNS

Casey Kenney. It was Kenney’s first loss
in 48 matches this season. Cosgrove had
finished second each of the last two years
but took a 13-5 decision from Anderson
Highland’s Sammy Bennett. Ulrey got a
takedown in the last 20 seconds to seal a
10-7 victory over Martinsville’s Briar Runyan.
Woods pinned defending 215 pound champ
George Malone in the semis and then
defeated East Noble’s Derrick Shire in the
final, 9-2.
The 112 pound final was a rematch
from last season’s 103 championship won
by Anderson Highland’s Camden Eppert.
Indianapolis Cathedral’s Brandon Wright
turned the tables this year, however, taking
IHSAA 2008 Individual State Champions a 5-2 decision from Eppert to finish off his
sophomore season 44-2.
Senior Andrew Howe of Hanover Central and Misha- Hobart’s three participants in the championship
waka junior Josh Harper both won their third consecutive matches led all teams. Anderson Highland, Crown Point
state championship and six others finished as undefeated and Mishawaka had two representatives each.
winners during the 70th annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling Last year’s two-day attendance drew 27,233 spectators.
State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
At 160 pounds, Howe jumped out to an early lead on The 70th Annual
Union County sophomore Michael Duckworth (41-4) and
never looked back in a 22-9 victory completing a third IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals
straight undefeated season (46-0) and finishing his prep February 15-16, 2008
career a sparkling 192-1. It was his fourth straight appear- Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
ance in a state championship match. He won the 152 crown 103 – Ethan Raley, 9, Indian Creek (33-0) defeated
last year at 48-0; finished 51-0 at 140 as a sophomore and Casey Kenney, 11, Jay County (47-1), dec. 7-3.
47-1 at 130 as a freshman. His only loss came in the 2005
state championship match. 112 – Brandon Wright, 10, Indianapolis Cathedral (44-2) de-
Harper (45-0) held off Hobart sophomore Francisco feated Camden Eppert, 11, Anderson Highland (40-3), dec. 5-2.
Porras (41-4), 3-2, to win the 125 pound crown. Harper, 119 – Christopher Quiroga, 11, Lawrence North (47-3) defeated
who also will wrestle at next weekend’s team state finals Alex Weinzapfel, 12, Evansville Mater Dei (22-2), dec. 12-6.
with his Mishawaka teammates, won the 112 championship 125 – Josh Harper, 11, Mishawaka (45-0) defeated
last year but suffered the only defeat of his career a week Francisco Porras, 10, Hobart (41-4), dec. 3-2.
later in the team competition to finish 41-1. He was 49-0 as
a freshman at 103 in 2006. 130 – Tom Churchard, 12, Valparaiso (47-2) defeated
Both became the first three-time state champ in their Eric Roach, 9, Crown Point (41-4), dec. 9-8.
school’s history. 135 – Sean McMurray, 10, Portage (33-4) defeated
Portage sophomore Sean McMurray (33-4) avoided a Eric Galka, 12, Hobart (43-3), dec, 4-3.
reversal in the closing seconds of the 135 pound match and 140 – Steven Sandefer, 11, Mishawaka (43-2) defeated
held on for a 4-3 upset of Hobart senior Eric Galka (43-3). Chris Mascaro, 12, Carmel (42-3), dec. 8-2.
McMurray’s win spoiled Galka’s bid for a third championship
in four years. 145 – Brennan Cosgrove, 12, Hobart (43-0) defeated
Floyd Central senior Cooper Samuels and Perry Merid- Sammy Bennett, 10, Anderson Highland (39-5), dec. 13-5.
ian senior Chico Adams both finished their prep careers 152 – Kyle Ulrey, 12, New Palestine (46-0) defeated
with a second straight state title. Samuels finished 47-0 Briar Runyan, 11, Martinsville (38-2), dec. 10-7.
with a 7-0 victory over Northridge’s Drew Graber in the 171 160 – Andrew Howe, 12, Hanover Central (46-0) defeated
final. Adams (53-0) got a takedown just before the second Michael Duckworth, 10, Union County (41-4), dec. 22-9.
period buzzer and the defending 285 pound champ held on
for another with his 3-2 victory over Winchester freshman 171 – Cooper Samuels, 12, Floyd Central (47-0) defeated
Adam Chalfant. Drew Graber, 11, Northridge (39-4), dec. 7-0.
Also finishing unbeaten were: Indian Creek fresh- 189 – Stephen Stahl, 12, Elkhart Memorial (29-4) defeated
man Ethan Raley (33-0) at 103; Hobart senior Brennan Marcus Shrewsbury, 11, Crown Point (41-3), dec. 2-1.
Cosgrove (43-0) at 145 pounds; New Palestine senior Kyle
Ulrey (46-0) at 152 and; Leo senior Justin Woods (33-0) at 215 – Justin Woods, 12, Leo (33-0) defeated
Derrick Shire, 12, East Noble (26-6), dec. 9-2.
215.
Raley became the first Indian Creek wrestler to win a 285 – Chico Adams, 12, Perry Meridian (53-0) defeated
state championship with a 7-3 victory over Jay County’s Adam Chalfant, 9, Winchester (43-2), dec. 3-2.
28 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!

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