Page 20 - 2009-10 Team Wrestling State Finals Program

Last Week’s Individual State Finals

PORTAGE’S McMURRAY WINS THIRD STRAIGHT
WRESTLING CROWN

Sean McMurray etched his name into state wrestling tral. He became the second individual in state finals history
history Saturday night as the Portage senior won his third to win state titles at two different schools.
consecutive championship during the 72nd annual festivi- Tsirtsis remained undefeated for his sophomore year
ties at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (42-0) handing Yorktown sophomore Devon Jackson his
McMurray (42-0) became the 24th individual to finish first defeat (53-1) in a 4-0 overtime victory at 130 pounds.
as a three-time state champion following a 9-0 victory over Tsirtsis won last year’s 125 pound title.
Indianapolis Cathedral’s Tyler Willis in the 160 pound final. After winning the 130 pound state championship a year
McMurray was the 135 pound winner as a sophomore and ago, Porras completed his senior season 42-1 taking a 5-1
won the 152 title last season when he finished 49-0. decision from Leo senior Justin Beck (36-3) at 140 pounds.
In addition to McMurray, four others – Union County’s It was the third consecutive final match appearance for
Cody Phillips, Warren Central’s Brandon Wright, Crown Porras. He finished as the 125 runner-up in 2008.
Point’s Jason Tsirtsis and Hobart’s Francisco Porras – each Five others also finished undefeated seasons – Carroll
won their second state championship. (Fort Wayne) senior Brock Norton (39-0) at 135; Crown
Phillips won his second consecutive at 103 pounds best- Point junior Eric Roach (41-0) at 145; Anderson Highland
ing Hanover Central sophomore Paul Petrov, 8-3. Phillips, senior Sam Bennett (42-0) at 152; Lowell senior Nathan
just a sophomore, remained unbeaten for his career posting Cleveland (42-0) at 215 and; Yorktown senior Ross Janney
a 45-0 mark this year following a 49-0 freshman campaign. (52-0) at 285.
It was Petrov’s first setback this year in 49 matches. Princeton’s Drake Stein (44-2) pulled a surprise in
In a battle of former state champs, Warren Central upending defending champ Michael Duckworth (49-1), 4-1
senior Brandon Wright (33-2) emerged the winner taking a in the 171 pound championship match.
9-1 decision from Indian Creek’s Ethan Raley (37-2) in the Crown Point and Warren Central each had two state
125 pound final. It was the second state championship for champions on the evening. Tsirtsis and Roach for the Bull-
Wright who also won the 112 pound crown as a sophomore dogs and Wright and senior Michael Johnson-Jones (44-1)
while a student at Indianapolis Cathedral. He also finished at 189 for the Warriors.
as the state runner-up during his freshman and junior years The weekend’s three session event drew 25,811 fans.
at Cathedral. He’s in his first year enrolled at Warren Cen-

The 72nd Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals
February 19-20, 2010
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Ind.
103 – Cody Phillips, 10, Union County (45-0) def. Paul Petrov, 10, Hanover Central (48-1), dec. 8-3.
112 – Kyle Ayersman, 10, Lake Central (40-1) def. Paul Beck, 12, Mishawaka (47-2), dec. 2-0 OT.
119 – Brandon Nelsen, 12, Lawrence North (44-1) def. Daniel Bradley, 12, Knox (40-1), dec. 6-2.
125 – Brandon Wright, 12, Warren Central (33-2) def. Ethan Raley, 11, Indian Creek (37-2), dec. 9-1.
130 – Jason Tsirtsis, 10, Crown Point (42-0) def. Devon Jackson, 10, Yorktown (53-1), dec. 4-0 OT.
135 – Brock Norton, 12, Carroll (Fort Wayne) (39-0) def. Mason Berryman, 12, Anderson Highland (36-1), decision 3-1.
140 – Francisco Porras, 12, Hobart (42-1) def. Justin Beck, 12, Leo (36-3), dec. 5-1.
145 – Eric Roach, 11, Crown Point (41-0) def. Doug Welch, 11, Castle (48-1), dec. 5-3.
152 – Sam Bennett, 12, Anderson Highland (42-0) def. Zachary Corpe, 12, Elkhart Memorial (36-3), dec. 6-2.
160 – Sean McMurray, 12, Portage (42-0) def. Tyler Willis, 10, Indianapolis Cathedral (43-2), dec. 9-0.
171 – Drake Stein, 11, Princeton (44-2) def. Michael Duckworth, 12, Union County (49-1), dec. 4-1.
189 – Michael Johnson-Jones, 12, Warren Central (44-1) def. Braden Atwood, 12, Delphi (48-1), dec. 4-2 OT.
215 – Nathan Cleveland, 12, Lowell (42-0) def. Christian Lentz, 12, Mishawaka (46-3), dec. 2-1 OT.
285 – Ross Janney, 12, Yorktown (52-0) def. James Travis, 12, Merrillville (44-1), dec. 3-2.

20 IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport!

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