From post-trib.com
GARY ââ?¬â?? Merrillville won its third straight wrestling sectional championship Saturday, at Calumet. The Pirates won the tournament with 308 points, which was 85 points more than second-place Hobart.
Merrillville had seven wrestlers finish in first place, the most in the tournament. Hobart had the second-most winners with four. Together the Pirates and Brickies had 17 wrestlers make it into the finals.
Pirates senior Wilson Williams (26-3) won the 103-pound weight class with a 53-second pin of Hobart senior Chris Johnson (22-8). Merrillville�s Carlo Martinez (28-6) took the 112 class with a pin of Griffith�s Nick Gonzalez (28-11). Hobart freshman Frankie Porras (32-5) won the 119 championship with a 7-3 decision over Merrillville junior Andrew Kepchar (27-7).
ââ?¬Å?He was very
tough,ââ?¬Â Porras said. ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve known of him for a while. Heââ?¬â?¢s a junior and
I knew he was strong and knew it was going to be a tough match.ââ?¬Â
ââ?¬Å?It feels nice
to win. It was a tough match and I knew it was going to be, so I just
hoped to just stay in there and hopefully come out on top.ââ?¬Â
Griffith senior Steve Siokos (22-4) won the 125 weight class with a 9-2 decision over Hobart
sophomore Johnny Dillon (31-3). Siokos took second place at sectionals
last year. He credited his coaching staff with helping him become a
more offensive wrestler.
ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢ve done a lot
of training, day and night, this past week and have really focused on
wrestling offensively,ââ?¬Â he said. ââ?¬Å?I was really wrestling defensively
and reacting to the other wrestler. I had to focus on getting my
takedowns. I wasnââ?¬â?¢t getting as many takedowns in matches before.ââ?¬Â
Hobart
junior Eric Galka (36-0) remained undefeated in his pursuit of the 130
class title. He won the sectional with a 9-6 decision over Merrillville senior Kyle Yarnell (20-6). Merrillville senior Alex Ponce (27-6) took the 135 title with a 4-1 decision over Calumet senior Mike Welch (35-6). Taking the 140 class was Hobart junior Brennan Cosgrove (35-2), with a first-period pin of Lake Station freshman Jack Hammons (18-10).
Merrillville senior Jamal Lawrence (33-0) preserved his undefeated record with his victory in the 145 class in a 8-2 decision over Hobart junior Jake Plesac (27-9). It was Lawrence�s third straight sectional victory. Last year he won the 145 class and in 2005 won the 130 class.
ââ?¬Å?It feels like winning any other match,ââ?¬Â said Lawrence about his sectional title. ââ?¬Å?He was a tough kid and he worked hard and had a good match.
ââ?¬Å?Iââ?¬â?¢m felling pretty good about how Iââ?¬â?¢m wrestling and Iââ?¬â?¢m pretty confident that Iââ?¬â?¢ll take first place in regionals.ââ?¬Â
Merrillville senior Kyle Morris (29-6) won the 152 class with an 8-4 decision over Calumet senior Joey Frey (34-9). In the 160 class, Calumet�s Brandon DelPrado (31-5) took a 7-4 decision over Merrillville senior Brad Kaczynski (30-7). The 171 class was won by Merrillville senior Joe Wing (34-1) with a 7-2 decision over Calumet senior Dustin Denisiuk (38-2).
Hobart senior Cody Greener (33-5) won the 189 class with a 4-1 decision over Calumet junior Jeremy Arcinega (14-11). Merrillville junior Jake Salas (35-2) won the 215 class with a 10-3 decision over Griffith senior Robbie Buehler (33-2). Lake Station senior heavyweight Erik Owen (28-3) won the 275 class with a second-period pin of Wirt senior Brandall Kennedy (10-4).
ââ?¬Å?It feels good,ââ?¬Â
said Owen, about winning the sectional title after winning second place
last season. ââ?¬Å?Itââ?¬â?¢s good to win, but Iââ?¬â?¢ve got to make sure I focus and
get ready for next week.ââ?¬Â
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