Page 20 - 2008-09 Team Wrestling State Finals Program

Last Week’s Individual State Finals

CROWN POINT WRESTLERS PULL OUT THREE STATE TITLES
Crown Point came away the big winner Saturday night with Franklin’s Dusty Kief. Junior Michael Duckworth (48-1),
with three of its wrestlers winning state championships dur- last year’s runner-up at 160, claimed a 2-0 decision over
ing the 71st Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals Lawrence North’s Bryce Grimes in the 171 final.
at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Four others polished off undefeated seasons.
Junior Anthony Hawkins (42-0) and senior Marcus The 145 pound championship went to Culver Academies
Shrewsbury (42-0) both remained unbeaten winning the senior Daniel Young (48-0) on a fall at the 5:32 mark of
112 and 189 pound crowns, while freshman Jason Tsirtsis Indianapolis Cathedral’s Gavin McGinley. He became his
(40-2) won the 125 pound title. Hawkins defeated Roncalli’s school’s first wrestling state champion. Martinsville senior
Josh Kieffer, 2-1, in overtime and Shrewsbury handled Briar Runyan (43-0) claimed an 8-3 decision from Pend-
Northridge’s Drew Graber, 6-3, in a battle of unbeatens. leton Heights’ Matt Todd at 160. Runyan was last year’s
Tsirtsis, the younger brother of four-time state champion runner-up at 152. Senior Billy Baker (42-0) of Bellmont won
Alex Tsirtsis (2001-04), handled Indianapolis Cathedral’s a 4-1 decision over Mishawaka’s Christian Lentz at 215 and
John Grey, 16-3. Winchester senior Adam Chalfant (39-0) won his school’s
The Crown Point trio became the third, fourth and fifth first title beating Mount Vernon’s Alexander White, 7-2.
state champions in school history and the first ones since East Noble senior Taylor March (39-1) also won his
1975. They’ll compete with their teammates along with school’s first state championship with a 4-3 victory over
seven other teams during next Saturday’s Team State Mitchell Richey of Brown County in the 135 bout. March
Finals at Center Grove High School in Greenwood. had finished as a runner-up his first two years and placed
Also, Mishawaka’s Steve Sandefer and Portage’s Sean third last season.
McMurray both won their second consecutive state titles. At 130, Hobart junior Francisco Porras (40-1) returned
Sandefer (44-1), a senior, edged Elkhart Memorial’s Ryan after last year’s runner-up finish at 125 to capture the 130
Stahl, 6-5, to repeat as 140 pound champ, while the junior title with a 4-1 win over D’Marcus Spencer of Pike.
McMurray won an 8-5 decision from Chesterton’s Anthony Mishawaka’s Josh Harper, who had battled a torn labrum
Quiroz in the 152 championship. McMurray completed a in his left shoulder all season, lost his bid for a fourth state
49-0 campaign after winning the 135 crown a year ago. championship on Saturday. Harper gave up a 3-0 decision
For the third year in a row, Anderson Highland senior in the 130 semifinals to Spencer and ended his year 35-5
Camden Eppert and Indianapolis Cathedral junior Brandon after finishing fourth.
Wright squared off with a state championship at stake. The Following the state tournament, the IHSAA Executive
rubber match between the two went to Eppert (39-4) who Committee named Taylor March of East Noble High School
took a 3-2 overtime decision in the 119 pound final. In their as the recipient of the Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude
two previous state title bouts, Eppert took a 6-3 decision in Award.
2007 at 103 and Wright triumphed 5-2 last year at 112. March capped his senior year as the 135 pound state
Two Union County individuals also won championships champion and ends as his school’s career wins leader with
as freshman Cody Phillips finished off a perfect season 163 victories. He had placed third at 125 last year and was
with an impressive pin just 2:34 into his 103 pound final runner-up at 119 in 2007 and runner-up at 112 in 2006.

The 71st Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals
February 20-21, 2009
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
103 – Cody Phillips, 9, Union County (49-0) def. Dusty Kief, 10, Franklin Community (43-6), fall, 2:34.
112 – Anthony Hawkins, 11, Crown Point (42-0) def. Josh Kieffer, 10, Roncalli (44-5), decision, 2-1 OT.
119 – Camden Eppert, 12, Anderson Highland (39-4) def. Brandon Wright, 11, Indianapolis Cathedral (48-3), decision, 3-2 OT.
125 – Jason Tsirtsis, 9, Crown Point (40-2) def. John Grey, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (44-5), decision, 16-3.
130 – Francisco Porras, 11, Hobart (40-1) def. D’Marcus Spencer, 12, Pike (40-4), decision, 4-1.
135 – Taylor March, 12, East Noble (39-1) def. Mitchell Richey, 12, Brown County (43-1), decision, 4-3.
140 – Steven Sandefer, 12, Mishawaka (44-1) def. Ryan Stahl, 11, Elkhart Memorial (42-3), decision, 6-5.
145 – Daniel Young, 12, Culver Academies (48-0) def. Gavin McGinley, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (33-5), fall, 5:32.
152 – Sean McMurray, 11, Portage (49-0) def. Anthony Quiroz, 9, Chesterton (37-12), decision, 8-5.
160 – Briar Runyan, 12, Martinsville (43-0) def. Matt Todd, 12, Pendleton Heights (46-1), decision, 8-3.
171 – Michael Duckworth, 11, Union County (48-1) def. Bryce Grimes, 12, Lawrence North (46-2), decision, 2-0.
189 – Marcus Shrewsbury, 12, Crown Point (42-0) def. Drew Graber, 12, Northridge (43-1), decision, 6-3.
215 – Billy Baker, 12, Bellmont (42-0) def. Christian Lentz, 11, Mishawaka (44-4), decision, 4-1.
285 – Adam Chalfant, 12, Winchester (39-0) def. Alexander White, 12, Mount Vernon (53-2), decision, 7-2.
18 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!