STATE FINALS: Individual wrestling nets three champs from Mishawaka, two each from Merrillville, Bloomington South

A funny thing happened on the way to the 68^th Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals Feb. 17-18 at Conseco Fieldhouse ââ?¬â?? all the returning state champions lost!

Well, almost all of them. Bloomington South�s Paul Young wasn�t
about to let that happen as he defended his 160-pound championship with
four easy wins, the first two by fall.

But mucho carnage occurred at 119, where a trio of returning state
winners was gone after the semifinals. The survivor was Merrillville
senior Javier Salas, last year�s sixth-place finisher who ousted last
year�s champion, Evansville Central�s Anthony Williams, in the semis by
a 4-3 count in overtime. Salas (40-1) then pinned Norwell senior Blake
Harner in 3:18 in the finals.

Nathan Harris of Beech Grove, the 2005 champ at 112, was upset in
the 119 quarterfinals, losing for the first time in 77 matches. And
Hobart�s Eric Galka, last year�s winner at 103, lost in Friday�s first
round.

The other returning champ to not repeat was Perry Meridian
140-pound senior Nick Walpole, who dropped a 4-2 overtime decision to
the eventual champion, Hanover Central sophomore Andrew Howe. Howe was
the runner-up a year ago at 130.

Results from the championship matches:

103 ââ?¬â?? Josh Harper (47-0), Mishawaka (9), dec. Chris Lindauer (19-2), Edgewood (11), 6-3

112 ââ?¬â?? Danny Coyne (36-1), Beech Grove (12), dec. Taylor March (41-6), East Noble (9), 3-1

119 ââ?¬â?? Javier Salas (40-1), Merrillville (12), pin Blake Harner (40-2), Norwell (12), 3:18

125 ââ?¬â?? Eric McGill (46-1), Munster (11), dec. Adam Walters (38-5), Portage (12), 3-2

130 ââ?¬â?? Alexander Warren (37-0), Mooresville (12), dec. Dustin Bruce (37-4), Bloomington North (11), 8-5

135 ââ?¬â?? Matt Irwin (45-0), Bellmont (12), dec. Brennan Cosgrove (46-2), Hobart (10), 12-5

140 ââ?¬â?? Andrew Howe (51-0), Hanover Central (10), dec. Cory Fornal (46-2), Rochester (12), 6-2

145 ââ?¬â?? Chad Biddle (41-2), Portage (12), pin Cooper Samuels (45-1), Floyd Central (10), 2:22

152 ââ?¬â?? Kurt Kinser (47-0), Bloomington South (12), dec. Kevin Clem (50-6), Perry Meridian (12), 1-0

160 ââ?¬â?? Paul Young (49-0), Bloomington South (12), dec. Bryan Deutsch (42-2), Columbia City (12), 9-4

171 ââ?¬â?? Ian Hinton (42-0), Mishawaka (11), dec. Phillip Glasser (39-5), Franklin (12), 2-0 (OT)

189 ââ?¬â?? Taylor Vieck (38-0), Vincennes Lincoln (12), dec. Travis Dale (43-1), McCutcheon (11), 3-2

215 ââ?¬â?? Pat Day (46-2), Mishawaka (12), dec. Cody Johnson (44-3), Franklin (12), 12-10

275 ââ?¬â?? Dexter Larimore (41-0), Merrillville (12), dec. Aaron Lindenschmidt (48-1), Evansville Harrison (12), 12-1

Here�s a weight-by-weight look at the results:

Members of the IHSAA Executive Committee selected Jeffrey
Papiernik of Fort Wayne Snider as the winner of the 2005-06 Ward E.
Brown Mental Attitude Award for wrestling. A four-time IHSAA individual
state qualifier, Papiernik is the first wrestler and 11th
student-athlete overall from his school to earn that distinction.

Papiernik turned in his best individual state finals performance
by placing fourth in the 135-pound weight class last weekend. After
earning team MVP honors in 2004, he was selected as the captain of the
Panthers this season. He compiled a record of 43-4 and ends his career
with an overall record of 154-19.

In addition to being a leader on the mats, he has had major
achievements in the classroom. He ranks first in his class of 455
students with a 4.69 GPA (4.0 scale). He is a member of the National
Honor Society, Indiana Math League, and National Society of High School
Scholars.

Papiernik was also selected to attend the ââ?¬Å?2006 Molecular Medicine
in Action Conference� at the IU Medical Center. In addition to these
accomplishments, he was a 2006 Wendy�s High School Heisman Nominee and
selected as an Indiana University Science, Technology, and Research
Scholar.

ââ?¬Å?Jeff refuses to take short cuts!ââ?¬Â said Snider coach Michael
Ester. ââ?¬Å?He has displayed quiet leadership by example and has excelled
academically, socially, and athletically.

ââ?¬Å?He alone creates the energy and opportunity in order to better
himself as a student, an athlete, and a citizen while taking the time
to share his blessings with those around him.�

Papiernik�s volunteer work includes peer tutoring, middle school
assistant wrestling coach, science fair judge, concessions worker for
high school athletic events, landscaping, and various church events.
The son of Andrew and Janet Papiernik of Fort Wayne plans to attend
Washington University in St. Louis and major in molecular biology.