Page 7 - 2008-09 Individual Wrestling State Finals Program

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.
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