Page 31 - 2008-09 Individual Wrestling State Finals Program
P. 31

Last Year’s Team State Finals



                MISHAWAKA CLAIMS SECOND WRESTLING STATE TITLE

             In a rematch of last year’s champion-
           ship match, third-ranked Mishawaka
           knocked off two-time defending state
           champion and top ranked Evansville
           Mater Dei, 28-22, to claim its second
           wrestling state championship at Center
           Grove High School in Greenwood.
             The state title is the first for Head
           coach Darrick Snyder, and the first for
           Mishawaka since 1991.  After appearing
           in the state finals for nine consecutive
           seasons, the Cavemen avenged last
           year’s 31-18 championship match
           defeat against the Wildcats.
             The Cavemen (31-1) advanced to
           the championship round by defeating
           second-ranked Perry Meridian, 29-24,
           in a closely contested first round match-
           up. Mishawaka was led in the match by
           senior Brandon Straub who was a win-
           ner by fall in 1:59.  In the second round,
           the Cavemen defeated Merrillville,   Mishawaka defeated Merrillville, 30-22, in the second round and second-
           30-22, thanks to a fall by junior Steven   ranked Perry Meridian, 29-24, in the semifinal round.  The Cavemen then
           Sandefer and a technical fall victory by   defeated Evansville Mater Dei in the championship match, 28-22, to claim
           senior Brandon Mersich.  their first team title since 1991.
             The championship match began with
           the 135-pound class, where Evansville
           Mater Dei junior Adam Weinzapfel          The 13th Annual
           defeated Mishawaka junior Joey Smith,   IHSAA Team Wrestling State Finals
           7-4, to give the Wildcats an early 3-0   February 23, 2008
           lead.  Mishawaka re-claimed the lead   Center Grove High School, Greenwood, Indiana
           when 160 lb. junior Tim Forte defeated   Quarterfinals
           Mater Dei junior Zach Easterling in a   Lawrence North 32*, Elkhart Memorial 32.  (*LN wins on criteria #2 – most match wins)
           tight 1-0 match.  The victory gave the   Evansville Mater Dei 52, Columbus North 9.
           Caveman a 9-7 lead; one they would   Mishawaka 29, Perry Meridian 24.
           never relinquish.  The Cavemen ex-  Merrillville 29, Bellmont 27.
           tended the margin with victories by 215
           lb. senior Dave Balentine, 285 lb. senior   Semifinals
           Randy Morin, and 103 lb. sophomore   Evansville Mater Dei 43, Lawrence North 19.
                                    Mishawaka 30, Merrillville 22.
           Paul Beck, pushing their lead to 22-10.
           Evansville Mater Dei threatened by   Championship Results
           trimming the lead to 22-16 that featured   Championship matches began with the 135 lb. weight class.
           back-to-back victories by 112 lb. senior   Mishawaka (M) 28, Evansville Mater Dei (MD) 22
           Cody Moll and 119 lb. senior Alex   103 – Paul Beck, 10, (M) def. Quinn Schroeder, 9, (MD), major decision, 24-13.
           Weinzapfel.  Mishawaka was overcome   112 – Cody Moll, 12, (MD) def. Matt Guerra, 10, (M), decision, 8-7.
                                    119 – Alex Weinzapfel, 12, (MD) def. Adam Guerra, 12, (M), decision, 3-0.
           with excitement when 125 lb. junior   125 – Josh Harper, 11, (M)  def. John Sims, 9, (MD), fall, 2:51.
           Josh Harper, a three-time individual   130 – Daniel Schweizer, 12, (MD) def. Trent Reinoehl, 11, (M), fall, 1:30.
           champion, slammed the door on the   135 – Adam Weinzapfel, 11, (MD) def. Joey Smith, 11, (M), decision, 7-4.
           Wildcats with a victory by fall over Mater   140 – Steven Sandefer, 11, (M) def. Drew Lappe, 12, (MD), decision, 6-1.
           Dei freshman John Sims.  Harper’s   145 – Neal Kostry, 12, (M) def. Nolan King, 11, (MD), decision, 6-4.
           win sealed the match victory and the   152 – Stephen Lovelace, 12, (MD) def. Brandon Mersich, 12, (M), major decision, 13-2.
           championship.            160 – Tim Forte, 11, (M) def. Zach Easterling, 11, (MD), decision, 1-0.
             For 12-time champion, Evansville   171 – Caleb Norville, 12, (M) def. Nathan Dewig, 12, (MD), decision, 9-6.
           Mater Dei (23-2) and first year coach   189 – Jake Schneider, 12, (MD) def. Brandon Straub, 12, (M), decision, 10-4.
           Greg Schaefer, it was their second   215 – Dave Balentine, 12, (M) def. John Kercher, 11, (MD), decision, 4-0.
           runner-up finish (1987).  285 – Randy Morin, 12, (M) def. Brad Niemeier, 12, (MD), decision, 7-3.
                                      IHSAA - Pure Spirit.  Pure Sport!          29


         70354-02_text.indd   29                                         5/11/2010   9:37:57 AM
   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36