Page 6 - 2008-09 Individual Wrestling State Finals Program
P. 6

Eighth-ranked Drake Stein of Princeton is 45-0.  Fast Fact
                                                                                          Fast Fact                             • Shrewsbury is making his third consecutive state finals
                                                                                           • McMurray won the 135-pound state title last February.  appearance and was runner-up at 189 pounds last year.
                                                                                          160 POUNDS                             He placed seventh at 189 pounds in 2007.
                                                                                          This weight class showcases the most unbeatens of the   215 POUNDS
                                                                                          state tournament. Top-ranked Briar Runyan of Martinsville   Gabriel Berry (43-0) of Warren Central and Billy Baker
                                                                                          is 39-0. Second-ranked Mark Myers of Crown Point is 38-0.   (38-0) of Bellmont headline this bracket full of first-time
                                                                                          Third-ranked Matt Todd of Pendleton Heights is 43-0, and   state qualifiers. In all, only two wrestlers have prior state
                                                                                          fourth-ranked Ross Powell of Northridge is 40-0.  experience.
                                            Tournament Preview                            Fast Fact                            Fast Fact
                                                                                                                               Top-ranked Billy Baker qualified for state last year at 189
                                                                                           • This bracket highlights 11 ranked wrestlers, including
                       By RICHARD TORRES                                                    the state’s top five.              pounds.
                       VYPE High School Sports                                            171 POUNDS                           285 POUNDS
                                                                                                                               The experience at this weight class can be found at the top
                       Magazine, Central Indiana                                          The state’s top six wrestlers at 171 pounds are featured
                                                                                          in this bracket. Braden Atwood of Delphi carries the only   of the rankings. Keep an eye on top-ranked Adam Chalfant
           Among the 224 high school wrestlers partaking in the 71st   130 POUNDS         undefeated record at 47-0 while seven wrestlers total three   (35-0) of Winchester and second-ranked Craig Fitzgerald
           Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals, a total of 81   All eyes will be on Mishawaka senior Josh Harper. As a   or fewer losses this season.  (45-0) of John Glenn.
           wrestlers return as former place winners or state qualifiers.   freshman, he captured the 103-pound state title with a   Fast Fact  Fast Fact
           Twenty-five wrestlers bear perfect records while seven   record of 47-0. As a sophomore, he won the 112-pound title,   • Top-ranked Michael Duckworth of Union County was   • Chalfant is making his third trip to the state finals. As
           others carry the label of “past champion.”   finishing at 39-0. Last year, Harper made it three straight,   runner-up at 160 pounds last year.  a sophomore, he placed seventh at 285 pounds. As
           In the end, only 14 champions will be crowned.   adding the 125-pound title with a 45-0 record.   189 POUNDS          a junior he was runner-up to Perry Meridian’s Chico
                                                Fast Fact                                 Three wrestlers are undefeated and 12 are ranked in the   Adams at 285.
           103 POUNDS                            • If Harper wins a fourth consecutive state title, it will   state. Among the unblemished are top-ranked Marcus
           Of the 16 contenders, 11 are ranked. Two hold perfect   mark the fourth time a wrestler has achieved the feat in   Shrewsbury (38-0) of Crown Point and third-ranked
           records, and oddly enough both are freshman. Lake   nine years (Griffith’s Alex Tsirtsis, 2001-04 and Angel   Drew Graber (40-0) of Northridge. Indian Creek’s Aaron
           Central’s Kyle Ayersman enters at 46-0. Cody Phillips of   Escobedo, 2002-05 and Evansville Mater Dei’s Blake   Stevenson carries a 42-0 record.
           Union County is 45-0.                  Maurer, 2001-04).
           Fast Fact                            135 POUNDS
            • Merrillville’s Zac Stevens (37-5) and Evansville   If perfection is the key to success, then this bracket has
             Harrison’s Dylan Hall (40-6) are the only former state   three serious contenders for the crown. Carmel’s Will   Enter to WIN!
             qualifiers (2008).                 Mascaro (43-0), Crown Point’s Eric Roach (38-0) and Brown
           112 POUNDS                           County’s Mitchell Richey (40-0) enter as unbeatens.
           Crown Point’s undefeated junior Anthony Hawkins (38-0) is   Fast Fact
           making his third consecutive state finals appearance. A total   • Roach finished runner-up at 130 pounds last year.  Text VYPE to 71813
           of six grapplers in contention this weekend have placed at   140 POUNDS
           either 103 or 112 pounds the past two years.  Experience is busting at the seams in this weight class.
           Fast Fact                            Nine wrestlers have been here before at least once. Five             Follow the directions to WIN a prize.
            • Five of the top six grapplers in the state will vie for the   are three-time state qualifiers. And seven of the top eight
             title this weekend.                wrestlers in the state are set to lock up.                           On Friday, win an autographed Dwight
           119 POUNDS                           Fast Fact
           Three former state champions highlight the field with   • Mishawaka’s Steven Sandefer (40-1) is seeking his   Freeney football. On Saturday, win an
           Indian Creek’s Ethan Raley (103 pound, 2008), Anderson   second consecutive title after winning the 140-pound   autographed poster of Cael Sanderson.
           Highland’s Camden Eppert (103 pound, 2007) and   crown last year.
           Cathedral’s Brandon Wright (112 pound, 2008).  145 POUNDS                                                 Winners will be notified via text to claim
           Fast Fact                            In the top half alone, six ranked wrestlers, including top-
            • Eight wrestlers are former place winners and nine are   ranked Sam Bennett of Anderson Highland and second-  their prize each evening!
             former state qualifiers.           ranked Daniel Young of Culver Academies, hold seeds. In
           125 POUNDS                           the bottom half, four ranked wrestlers are aligned to clash.         *standard text messaging rates apply
           Lawrence North’s Cashe Quiroga, a Purdue University   Fast Fact
           recruit, is ranked first in his weight class and holds a perfect   • Young, a third-place finisher at 130 pounds in 2008,   Proud Partners:
           43-0 record. Crown Point’s Jason Tsirtsis, the younger   holds the bracket’s lone undefeated record at 44-0.
           brother of Griffith’s Alex Tsirtsis, is 36-2 as a freshman.  152 POUNDS
           Fast Fact                            According to the rankings, this weight class holds the state’s       Check us out: www.vype.com/centralindiana
            • Quiroga won the 119-pound state title last year and was   top four wrestlers. Top-ranked Sean McMurray of Portage
             runner-up at 112 pounds in 2007.   is 45-0. Second-ranked Kyle Mosier of Yorktown is 42-0.
                                     IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!
           4  Your Kids. Your Schools. Your Communities. Your Magazine.                     Look for us at your favorite Central Indiana

                                                                                        ihsaa_preview_wrestling2009.indd   2                             2/17/09   11:41:58 AM
         ihsaa_preview_wrestling2009.indd   1
                                                                          2/17/09   11:41:56 AM
         70354-02_text.indd   4                                          5/11/2010   9:29:39 AM
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11