Page 7 - 2010-11 Individual Wrestling State Finals Program

135 Pounds after finishing runner-up at 160 pounds last February.
Experience is busting at the seams in this bracket. In all, 13 • Willis, a three-time state qualifier, was a member of
of the contenders are ranked and four have placed fourth or Cathedral’s Class 4A IHSAA state championship football
higher the past two years. Third-ranked Ethan Raley (30-1) of team this past November.
Indian Creek is the lone former state champion. In 2007-08, • Third-ranked John Sims (18-5) of Evansville Mater Dei is
he won the 103-pound state title and was runner-up at 125 a four-time state qualifier. He placed 6th as a freshman
last February. Top-ranked Devon Jackson (48-0) of Yorktown at 125 pounds; 4th as a sophomore at 140; and was 5th
was state runner-up at 130 a year ago. at 145 pounds in 2009-10.
• Raley is a four-time state qualifier. Second-ranked Justin
Kieffer (40-0) is also making his fourth trip to Conseco 171 Pounds
Fieldhouse. Kieffer, a three-time state-place winner, has Top-ranked Drake Stein (42-0) of Princeton is gunning
committed to the University of Indianapolis. for his second consecutive state title and first undefeated
championship in his career. The three-time state qualifier will
140 Pounds face some stern competition with 13 ranked wrestlers set to
Top-ranked Jason Tsirtsis (38-0) of Crown Point is halfway to lock up and three other wrestlers carrying undefeated records
his goal – matching older brother Alex Tsirtsis’ four individual into state: third-ranked Tanner Lynde (45-0) of Delphi, sixth-
state titles (Griffith 2001-04). After winning his second ranked Nicholas Manning (30-0) of South Dearborn, and
consecutive state title last February, a third would give Crown second-ranked Jackson Bratcher (41-0) of Eastbrook.
Point its first three-time champion and Tsirtsis his second • Jeffrey Enrietto (34-6) of Carroll (Fort Wayne) has
undefeated state championship. The competition will be committed to Indiana Tech. Bratcher, a three-time state
fierce, however, with seven of the state’s top eight wrestlers qualifier and third-place finisher at 171 pounds last year,
occupying the bracket. has committed to Northern Illinois.
• Besides Tsirtsis, third-ranked Blake Rueger (43-2) of
Evansville Reitz and second-ranked Phelan Montgomery 189 Pounds
(38-0) of Terre Haute South are making their third This bracket is packed with two-time state qualifiers. In all,
consecutive state appearances. six wrestlers are making their second trek to Conseco Field-
house and among the experienced half-dozen, three return
145 Pounds as former state-place winners. Top-ranked Mitch Sliga (33-0)
No introductions will be necessary for six of this bracket’s top of Fishers placed third at 189 pounds last year and was a
wrestlers. Weighed down by 12 ranked contenders, the top triple-crown All-American at Fargo this past summer. Second-
six are multiple state qualifiers and three are former place ranked Aaron Stevenson (38-0) of Indian Creek placed third
winners. Among the trio, top-ranked Eric Roach (38-0) of at 189 pounds two years ago.
Crown Point remains the wrestler to beat. A state runner-up • Sliga was a starting fullback for the Class 5A IHSAA
at 130 pounds as a freshman, Roach placed 4th at 135 in state football champions. The title was Fishers’ first in
2008-09 and won it all at 145 pounds last year. football and any team sport.
• Second-ranked Andrew Hiestand (47-2) of Yorktown is a
three-time state qualifier and placed 6th at 125 pounds 215 Pounds
in 2008-09. Fifth-ranked Quincy Richey (31-2) of Brown The lone undefeated wrestler in the bracket, top-ranked Trey
County is a three-time state qualifier and was 8th at 130 Reese (28-0) of Indian Creek is aiming to become the fifth
pounds two years ago. consecutive unbeaten 215-pound state champion. A two-time
state qualifier, Reese placed 5th at 160 pounds in 2009-10.
152 Pounds Nine wrestlers in the bracket are ranked, but only four have
If perfection is the key to success, sixth-ranked Reece Lefe- prior state experience.
ver (40-0) of Carroll (Fort Wayne) has the edge. If prior state • Third-ranked Travis Thatcher (36-2) of Bellmont is a
experience is the measure of a champion, look no further three-time state qualifier. He placed 7th at 189 pounds
than top-ranked Doug Welch (46-1) of Castle, third-ranked last year. Logan Cooper (46-3) of Perry Meridian and
Conner Mullins (49-2) of New Castle, fourth-ranked Montrail fifth-ranked Joe Gallegos (41-4) of South Bend Clay are
Johnson (45-1) of Tri-Central, and fifth-ranked Kirk Johnson two-time state qualifiers.
(47-1) of Perry Meridian. But they’re not alone. Seven wres-
tlers have past tournament appearances to draw from and 10 285 Pounds
of the 16 are ranked in the top 18. Only three state qualifiers from last year’s bracket return to
• Welch, a three-time state qualifier, has placed every vie for the crown. Eleven of this year’s contenders are ranked
year at state (2nd at 145 pounds in 2009-10; 5th at 135 and 13 are first-time state qualifiers. Top-ranked Daniel
pounds in 2008-09). Meyer (43-0) of Bellmont carries an undefeated record into
• Kirk Johnson, a two-time state qualifier, placed fourth at the mix and looks to become the sixth consecutive unbeaten
140 pounds in 2009-10. heavyweight state champion. He won’t be alone, however,
as fourth-ranked Willie Henson (39-0) of North Central (India-
160 Pounds napolis) and third-ranked Kaden Suter (20-0) of Martinsville
Top-ranked Chad Welch (47-0) of Castle brings a perfect re- will be eying the same goal.
cord to the state finals, but four others are former state-place • Eight of the state’s top 10 wrestlers occupy seeds in this
winners. The top six wrestlers in the state hold seeds and 11 year’s bracket.
of the 16 contenders are ranked. Fifth-ranked Anthony Quiroz
(30-0) of Chesterton was runner-up at 152 pounds in 2008- Individual rankings information provided by IndianaMat.com.
09, and Cathedral’s second-ranked Tyler Willis (42-1) returns
IHSAA - Pure Spirit. Pure Sport! 7