By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor
Following
the completion of wrestling team semistates Feb. 8 and the individual state
finals Feb. 17-18, it�s on to the 11th annual team state
championship! Eight ranked teams will compete head-to-head this Saturday, Feb.
25, at Center Grove.
the completion of wrestling team semistates Feb. 8 and the individual state
finals Feb. 17-18, it�s on to the 11th annual team state
championship! Eight ranked teams will compete head-to-head this Saturday, Feb.
25, at Center Grove.
The quarters
As the
entire free world knows, the big match of the day will occur right off the bat
as top-ranked and undefeated Evansville
Mater Dei faces No. 2 undefeated Perry Meridian in the quarterfinals.
entire free world knows, the big match of the day will occur right off the bat
as top-ranked and undefeated Evansville
Mater Dei faces No. 2 undefeated Perry Meridian in the quarterfinals.
History
is definitely on the side of the No. 1 Wildcats, whose eight state team titles
preceded Lawrence
North�s run of two straight the past two seasons. And Mater Dei boasts six
wrestlers ranked in the Top 20 at season�s end.
But the
Falcons ââ?¬â?? runners-up in 2002 and 2004 ââ?¬â?? have some serious depth (nine ranked
wrestlers), and a glance at the probable head-to-head matchups would seem to
give Perry the advantage in eight of the 14 weight classes. Can Mater Dei
overcome that shortcoming by piling up enough points via pins, technical falls,
and major decisions? It says here that it will not.
Falcons ââ?¬â?? runners-up in 2002 and 2004 ââ?¬â?? have some serious depth (nine ranked
wrestlers), and a glance at the probable head-to-head matchups would seem to
give Perry the advantage in eight of the 14 weight classes. Can Mater Dei
overcome that shortcoming by piling up enough points via pins, technical falls,
and major decisions? It says here that it will not.
The
winner of that clash of the titans gets either No. 10 Indianapolis Cathedral (three
ranked competitors) or No. 4 Mishawaka (five ranked). The two met Dec. 10, when
the Cavemen posted a 29-24 win over Cathedral. Add in that the Irish have lost
six dual meets this year compared with Mishawaka�s
zero, and you are looking at a probable Perry-Mishawaka semifinal.
winner of that clash of the titans gets either No. 10 Indianapolis Cathedral (three
ranked competitors) or No. 4 Mishawaka (five ranked). The two met Dec. 10, when
the Cavemen posted a 29-24 win over Cathedral. Add in that the Irish have lost
six dual meets this year compared with Mishawaka�s
zero, and you are looking at a probable Perry-Mishawaka semifinal.
On the
other side of the draw, No. 3 Merrillville
takes on No. 5 Bellmont. Each team has one loss, but Bellmont wrestled a tougher schedule and owns
the advantage in ranked wrestlers, 5-3. Despite the fact that Merrillville had two individual champions
last Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse, it�s the Pirates first-ever trip to the
team finals, whereas the three-time state champion Braves are making their 10th
appearance. Bellmont gets the nod here.
other side of the draw, No. 3 Merrillville
takes on No. 5 Bellmont. Each team has one loss, but Bellmont wrestled a tougher schedule and owns
the advantage in ranked wrestlers, 5-3. Despite the fact that Merrillville had two individual champions
last Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse, it�s the Pirates first-ever trip to the
team finals, whereas the three-time state champion Braves are making their 10th
appearance. Bellmont gets the nod here.
The
fourth quarterfinal features No. 9 Columbia City against 15th-ranked
Bloomington
South. The former�s record (20-2 is much more impressive than the latter�s
(24-7), but the Eagles had only three wrestlers ranked compared with six for
South. On paper this thing looks dead even, but Bloomington South has gotten hot at the right
time, and the Panthers figure to feed off their pair of undefeated state champs
(Kurt Kinser at 152, Paul Young at 160) from a week ago. Advantage B-town.
fourth quarterfinal features No. 9 Columbia City against 15th-ranked
Bloomington
South. The former�s record (20-2 is much more impressive than the latter�s
(24-7), but the Eagles had only three wrestlers ranked compared with six for
South. On paper this thing looks dead even, but Bloomington South has gotten hot at the right
time, and the Panthers figure to feed off their pair of undefeated state champs
(Kurt Kinser at 152, Paul Young at 160) from a week ago. Advantage B-town.
The semis
If Perry
Meridian can get past the juggernaut that is
Mater Dei, then there�s no reason to think the Falcons will falter against Mishawaka � although four
of the Cavemen�s ranked wrestlers are either No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3. Provided
thereââ?¬â?¢s no significant letdown, Perry prevails ââ?¬â?? but it may reeeeeeeeaaaaaal
close.
Meridian can get past the juggernaut that is
Mater Dei, then there�s no reason to think the Falcons will falter against Mishawaka � although four
of the Cavemen�s ranked wrestlers are either No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3. Provided
thereââ?¬â?¢s no significant letdown, Perry prevails ââ?¬â?? but it may reeeeeeeeaaaaaal
close.
Bellmont or Bloomington,
Bloomington or Bellmont � another likely toss-up for the Panthers. Yet
they come into this thang ranked 15th, so what�s to lose? This
match, probably due to a weakness at the four heaviest classes. The four
Panthers at 171, 189, 215, and heavyweight all have losing records, whereas
Bellmont�s biggins go 17-8, 29-7, 28-8, and 30-9. That monstrous advantage may
translate into several pins, which will more than likely make the difference
here.
Bloomington or Bellmont � another likely toss-up for the Panthers. Yet
they come into this thang ranked 15th, so what�s to lose? This
match, probably due to a weakness at the four heaviest classes. The four
Panthers at 171, 189, 215, and heavyweight all have losing records, whereas
Bellmont�s biggins go 17-8, 29-7, 28-8, and 30-9. That monstrous advantage may
translate into several pins, which will more than likely make the difference
here.
The finals
If Perry
Meridian can survive No. 1 and outlast No. 4, then bring on No. 5, right? Right.
Despite their being exhausted emotionally and physically, there�s no way coach
Jim Tonte allows his troops to not put the wraps on a perfect season. The
score, again, may be superclose, but who really cares with a first-ever state
championship in your claws?
Meridian can survive No. 1 and outlast No. 4, then bring on No. 5, right? Right.
Despite their being exhausted emotionally and physically, there�s no way coach
Jim Tonte allows his troops to not put the wraps on a perfect season. The
score, again, may be superclose, but who really cares with a first-ever state
championship in your claws?
Perry
Meridian gets it done.
Meridian gets it done.
Your team
state finals pairings:
state finals pairings:
STATE FINALS
Date: Saturday, Feb. 25
Time: Quarterfinals begin at 10 a.m.
EST, with semifinal round and championship round to follow.
EST, with semifinal round and championship round to follow.
Admission: $8
Advancement: This is a single-elimination
tournament in which the winning team shall advance to the next round.
tournament in which the winning team shall advance to the next round.
Site: Center Grove
High School, 2717 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood
High School, 2717 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood
Quarterfinals
Match 1:
No. 3 Merrillville
(21-1) vs. No. 5 Bellmont (23-1)
No. 3 Merrillville
(21-1) vs. No. 5 Bellmont (23-1)
Match 2:
No. 15 Bloomington South (24-7) vs. No. 9 Columbia City (20-2)
No. 15 Bloomington South (24-7) vs. No. 9 Columbia City (20-2)
Match 3:
No. 2 Perry Meridian (29-0) vs. No. 1 Evansville Mater Dei
(21-0)
No. 2 Perry Meridian (29-0) vs. No. 1 Evansville Mater Dei
(21-0)
Match 4:
No. 10 Indianapolis Cathedral (21-6) vs. No. 4 Mishawaka (28-0)
No. 10 Indianapolis Cathedral (21-6) vs. No. 4 Mishawaka (28-0)
Semifinals
Match 5:
Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2
Match 6:
Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
Winner of Match 3 vs. Winner of Match 4
Championship
Match 7: Winner of Match 5 vs. Winner of Match 6
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