2021 Evansville Semi-State Preview

106

No Logan Miller in this year's state tournament but this weight will be a fun one to watch regardless. Evansville Mater Dei’s Evan Seng has been dominant this year in his first year in the varsity line-up and is the man to beat here. Seng only has 1 loss on the year, coming from Brownsburg’s Preston Haines who is not wrestling in the postseason. There is a big first round matchup between ranked guys with Blake Zirklebach, North Posey, and Zane Schreck, Corydon Central, meeting in the opening round. I see Zirklebach making a return trip to the ticket round. On the top half, Seng and Donnie Feeler, Crawford County, should roll into a showdown in the semis. On the other side we have two ticket round matches between ranked guys. Center Grove’s Charlie LaRocca is having a good freshman year and should have Liam Krueger, Columbus East, in the ticket round. LaRocca beat Krueger 9-8 earlier this year with a late takedown and rideout to win the match. This one should be another back and forth match and a tough one to pick. I never like picking the guy that lost the last match, but I see Krueger reversing the result from earlier in the season and punching his ticket to the bank. The other quarter bracket has Indian Creek’s Jackson Heaston meeting Zirklebach. Heaston is really tough and only has good losses this year, but he doesn’t score a lot of points and I can see Zirkelbach getting one takedown and that being the difference here. In the semi-finals, Seng advances with a win over Feeler, and Krueger tops Zirkelbach on the bottom side to make a trip to the finals. Seng picks up his 3rd bracket in 3 weeks and heads to Bankers Life as a semi-state champion.

2019 Champ:

Logan Miller-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Evan Seng-Evansville Mater Dei

#6 Carlie LaRocca-Center Grove

#7 Liam Krueger-Columbus East

#12 Blake Zirkelbach-North Posey

#17 Jackson Heaston-Indian Creek

#18 Zane Schreck-Corydon Central

#19 Donnie Feeler-Crawford County

Best First Round Match(es):

Zane Schreck, Corydon Central vs Blake Zirklebach, North Posey

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Liam Krueger, Columbus East vs Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove

Jackson Heaston, Indian Creek vs Schreck/Zirkelbach winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Evan Seng-Evansville Mater Dei

2. Liam Krueger-Columbus East

3. Blake Zirklebach-North Posey

4. Donnie Feeler-Crawford County

113

This weight will see another new guy at the top of the podium with last year’s champ up to 120. Center Grove’s Reece Courtney has looked really good this year with the way the brackets shook out, he should make a trip to the finals. Reed Egli, Evansville Mater Dei, dropped his first match at the semi-state a year ago, but I don’t see him dropping a match until he has already punched his ticket. Egli will have a tough potential ticket round matchup against Jasper’s Janier Milanes. The bottom quarter bracket is super tough with Whiteland’s Joey Buttler, and Princeton’s Jared Dunn meeting in the first round. The winner of this matchup has to get past Columbus East’s Noah Lykins for a trip downtown. Lykins, in my opinion, is the best of the three guys named and should punch his ticket here. The guy who hasn't been mentioned yet is the only guy here with state experience, and that's Tell City’s Coy Hammack. Hammack hasn’t been tested much this season, and while Logan Bickel, Cascade, is tough, I don’t see him having enough to beat Hammack here. In the semis, Hammack takes Lykins on the bottom side and Courtney rolls into the finals on the top side with a win over Egli. In the finals Courtney proves to be too much for Hammack and wins his first semi-state title. Lykins takes out Egli in the third place match.

2019 Champ:

Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

Ranked Wrestlers:

#5 Coy Hammack-Tell City

#7 Reese Courtney-Center Grove

#8 Noah Lykins-Columbus East

#14 Reed Egli-Evansville Mater Dei

#16 Joey Buttler-Whiteland

Best First Round Match(es):

Joey Buttler, Whiteland vs Jared Dunn, Princeton

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Reed Egli, Evansville Mater Dei vs Janier Milanes, Jasper

Coy Hammack, Tell City vs Logan Bickel, Cascade

Noah Lykins, Columbus East vs Buttler/Dunn winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Reese Courtney-Center Grove

2. Coy Hammack-Tell City

3. Noah Kykins-Columbus East

4. Reed Egli-Evansville Mater Dei

120

Lane Gilbert, Sullivan, is looking to take home his second straight semi-state title this weekend. Sullivan should meet Evansville Mater Dei’s Cole Ross for a rematch of last year's final where a big headlock won Gilbert the match. Since then Gilbert has picked up another win over Ross and it looks like this rivalry has turned in Gilbert's favor. At the top of the bracket, Sullivan will have a ranked guy in whoever wins between Center Grove’s Hyatt Yeager and Evansville Central Ayden Amento. I am taking Amento in this matchup. Pike’s Maleec Stansberry got a great draw here and I can see him making his way downtown here. Stansberry has been up at 126 for most of the season, and is a strong, good athlete at his new weight. On the bottom of the bracket, Brownsburg’s Braden Haines and Floyd Central’s Lou Knable should meet up in the ticket round with the winner advancing to state. Haines was here last year and punched his ticket a year ago, so he’s my pick to do it again this year. In the semis he should match up with Ross. Before dropping down to finish 3rd ahead of Stansberry. In the finals, Gilbert takes another match from Ross to claim his second semi-state title.

2019 Champ:

Alec Freeman-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

#4 Cole Ross-Evansville Mater Dei

#10 Braden Haines-Brownsburg

#13 Hyatt Yeager-Center Grove

#15 Ayden Amento-Evansville Central

#18 Lou Knable-Floyd Central

Best First Round Match(es):

Ayden Amento, Evansville Central vs Hyatt Yeager, Center Grove

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Cole Ross, Evansville Mater Dei vs Kelby Glenn, Tell CIty

Braden Haines, Brownsburg vs Lou Knable, Floyd Central

Lane Gilbert, Sullivan vs Amento/Yeager winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

2. Cole Ross-Evansville Mater Dei

3. Braden Haines-Brownsburg

4. Maleec Stansberry-Pike

126

I see the podium from this weight looking identical to the one from last week’s Mooresville regional. Last weekend Avon’s Cheaney Schoeff was able to get over the hump and beat Brownsburg’s Brady Ison to claim a regional championship. No one in this bracket will prevent these two from meeting again for the fourth time in a little over a month. Schoeff will have returning state placer Cash Turner, Edgewood, in the match to go but Turner hasn’t looked as up three weights from a year ago. In the quarter bracket above Schoeff, you have three really good wrestlers looking to punch their ticket for the first time. Franklin Community’s Jacob Bechert made a late drop down for a postseason run and it looks like it was the right move. Bechert has looked good down a weight and I like his chances to punch his ticket here. Wrestling for a chance to meet Bechert in the ticket round is Evansville Memorial’s Keegan Williams comes in with one loss on the season, but unfortunately for him he draws into the one guy that beat him this year, New Albany’s Paul King, in the opening round. King defaulted in his last match last weekend so it’ll depend on how hurt he truly is. Regardless that match wasn't close the first time so King is my first of two 4-over-1 picks at this weight class. The other would be Center Grove’s Michael Tharpe, who won the spot late into the season and has made the most of it. Like i said earlier I see this weight shaking out like it did a week ago at Mooresville, but I see Ison picking up his 3rd win over Schoeff this season.

2019 Champ:

Ray Rioux-Avon

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Brady Ison-Brownsburg

#3 Cheaney Schoeff-Avon

#14 Paul King-New Albany

#16 Jacob Bechert-Franklin Community

#20 Michael Tharpe-Center Grove

Best First Round Match(es):

Keegan Williams, Evansville Memorial vs Paul King, New Albany

Noah Burkhart, Madison vs Michael Tharpe, Center Grove

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Jacob Bechert, Franklin Community vs Williams/King winner

Cash Turner, Edgewood vs Brady Ison, Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brady Ison-Brownsburg

2. Cheaney Schoeff-Avon

3. Jacob Bechert-Franklin Community

4. Michael Tharpe-Center Grove

132

The state's top ranked, and undefeated Alec Freeman, Evansville Mater Dei, has been great all season and is the favorite to continue his run this weekend. Also in this weight is another undefeated wrestler in Monrovia’s Ben Dalton. Unfortunately Dalton and Freeman are on the same side of the bracket meaning a runner-up from another semi-state will have a tough one on Friday, assuming Dalton can get by Edgewood’s Lane Deckard in the ticket round. On the bottom side of the bracket the favorites to punch their tickets are Brownsburg’s Kysen Montgomery, who is looking for his 4th state medal, and Bloomington South’s Cade Meier. Both of these guys should meet up in the semi-finals where I see Montgomery advancing, to meet Freeman after his showdown with Dalton. Freeman claims another semi-state crown while Dalton finishes 3rd here.

2019 Champ:

Hayden Watson-Center Grove

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Alec Freeman-Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Kysen Montgomery-Brownsburg

#6 Ben Dalton-Monrovia

#11 Lane Deckard-Edgewood

#19 Cade Meier-Bloomington South

Best First Round Match(es):

Lane Deckard, Edgewood vs Jakob Lewellen, Charlestown

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Cade Meier, Bloomington South vs Braedon Spears, Plainfield

Ben Dalton, Monrovia vs Deckard/Lewellen winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Alec Freeman-Evansville Mater Dei

2. Kysen Montgomery-Brownsburg

3. Ben Dalton-Monrovia

4. Cade Meier-Bloomington South

138

Some of the draws at this weight are brutal. Southridge’s Tanner Kane and Avon’s Colton Roberts wrestle first round for a chance to wrestle defending state champion Blake Boarman, Evansville Mater Dei. Below them, Ben Davis’s Diesel Duncan meets Bloomington South’s Delaney Ruhlman, with the winner wrestling undefeated Colin Knox of Charlestown. Ruhlman and Boarman should win their quarter brackets to set up a match-up from earlier this year. Where I see Boarman reversing the result. On the bottom side of the bracket, returning state qualifier Conner Alcala, Decatur Central, meets Floyd Central’s Gavinn Alstott in the opening round. Alstott is the favorite here and should meet Brownsburg’s Gavin Garcia in the semis before advancing into the finals to meet Boarman. Boarman gets his first semi-state title in his final run.

2019 Champ:

Drake Campbell-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Delaney Ruhlman-Bloomington South

#3 Blake Boarman-Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Gavinn Alstott-Floyd Central

#6 Diesel Duncan-Ben Davis

#13 Colton Roberts-Avon

#16 Gavin Garcia-Brownsburg

#17 Conner Alcala-Decatur Central

Best First Round Match(es):

Tanner Kane, Southridge vs Colton Roberts, Avon

Diesel Duncan, Ben Davis vs Delaney Ruhlman, Bloomington South

Gavinn Alstott, Floyd Central vs Conner Alcala, Decatur Central

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Blake Boarman, Evansville Mater Dei vs Kane/Roberts winner

Colin Knox, Charlestown vs Ruhlman/Duncan winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Blake Boarman-Evansville Mater Dei

2. Gavinn Alstott-Floyd Central

3. Delaney ruhlman-Bloomington South

4. Gavin Garcia-Brownsburg

145

Jaden Reynolds, Avon, won this weight a year ago and I look for him to do it again, but he has a tough field in front of him.With 8 ranked guys in this weight there's great matches every round. In the first round, Ashton Hayhurst, Evansville Mater Dei, meets a tough Aiden Reynolds from Bloomington south. Jonathan Otte, West Vigo, and Chris Newman, Mt. Vernon(Posey), will meet in the opening round for a chance to wrestle Reynolds in the ticket. The ticket round matches at this weight worth the price of  admission. Hunter May, Floyd Central, meets Brownsburg’s Blaze Garcia, who seems to have found a new fire since moving schools. Unfortunately for the EMD fans, Hayhurst draws into Hayden Watson, Center Grove, in the ticket round and I see Watson being too much for him. In the semis, Reynolds should cruise to another win over Anfernee Oliver, Ben Davis, who is my 4-over-1 pick here at this weight. His opponent for the finals should be Watson after he gets past Garcia. Reynolds picks up another semi-state title while Garcia settles for 3rd. This is another weight where all four Mooresville guys make the trip.

2019 Champ:

Jaden Reynolds-Avon

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Jaden Reynolds-Avon

#3 Hayden Watson-Center Grove

#7 Hunter May-Floyd Central

#8 Ashton Hayhurst-Evansville Mater Dei

#11 Blaze Garcia-Brownsburg

#18 Tyce DuPont-Tell City

#19 Chris Newman-Mt. Vernon (Posey)

#20 Jonathan Otte-West Vigo

Best First Round Match(es):

Ashton Hayhurst, Evansville Mater Dei vs Aiden Reynolds, Bloomington South

Jonathan Otte, West Vigo vs Chris Newman, Mt. Vernon(Posey)

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Hunter May, Floyd Central vs Blaze Garcia, Brownsburg

Hayden Watson, Center Grove vs Ashton Hayhurst, Evansville Mater Dei

Jaden Reynolds, Avon vs Otte/Newman winner

Anfernee Oliver, Ben Davis vs Tyce DuPoint, Tell City

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jaden Reynolds-Avon

2. Hayden Watson-Center Grove

3. Blaze Garcia-Brownsburg

4. Anfernee Oliver-Ben Davis

152

This weight has 5 guys with state experience and two with undefeated records. JJ Conway, Floyd Central, hasn’t been tested much this year so we don’t really know where he’s at yet but that should be more clear after this weekend. To win this weight he would have to knock off returning 4th placer Riley Rust, Center Grove, in the ticket round, and an undefeated Ben Phillips, Charlestown, in the finals. I am predicting he does both of these things and continues his undefeated season downtown. Phillps will have a tough Logan Carrington, Greencastle, first round, which will set up a matchup with Evansville Mater Dei’s Sott Fitts. Phillips should get past both, setting up a match with Avon’s Tyler Conley, who is looking to make his 3rd trip to the Bank. Conley has been tested this year so I would not be surprised to see him in the finals at this weight, but I am not picking it to happen. Instead I think Conley settles for 3rd with a win over Tyler Williams, Columbus East, in the placement match.

2019 Champ:

Logan Boe-Plainfield

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 JJ Conway-Floyd Central

#5 Riley Rust-Center Grove

#7 Ben Phillips-Charlestown

#8 Tyler Conley-Avon

#13 Scott Fitts-Evansville Mater Dei

#14 Connor Holt-Plainfield

#15 Tyler Williams-Columbus East

#20 Logan Carrington-Greencastle

Best First Round Match(es):

Connor Holt, Plainfield vs Tyler Williams, Columbus East

Ben Phillips, Charlestown vs Logan Carrington, Greencastle

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Ben Phillips, Charlestown vs Scott Fitts, Evansville Mater Dei

Tyler Conley Avon vs Jeb Pretchel, Jasper

JJ Conway, Floyd Central vs Riley Rust, Center Grove

Aiden Farmer, Evansville Memorial vs Holt/Williams winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. JJ Conway-Floyd Central

2. Ben Phillips-Charlestown

3. Tyler Conley-Avon

4. Tyler Williams-Columbus East

160

Last year Evansville Mater Dei had a guy tear through this weight class and I see identical results this year. EMD’s Brody Baumann has been on a mission since dropping his Friday night match a year ago, and has been dominant the whole year. No one is touching him this year. Other guys in this weight to watch for are Boonville’s Jordan Fulks, who placed 4th a year ago. There is also Columbus East’s Kade Law who has looked good this year after missing out on the state tournament a year ago. I do see another 4-over-1 at this weight with Decatur Central senior, Mark Everman, taking out Floyd Central’s Bray Emerine. His run ends there as Gibson Southern’s Owen Bryant meets should be waiting for him in the ticket. Brownsburg’s Nick Cicciarelli has been solid this season and could put an end to Law’s season in the ticket round. Landon Boe, Plainfield, jumped up in weight this year and has looked just as good, whereas Fulks hasn’t impressed me much this year for whatever reason. I like Boe in this match. Baumann dominates the field for another week, while Boe beats Law for 3rd.

2019 Champ:

Eli Dicken-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Brody Baumann-Evansville Mater Dei

#4 Kade Law-Columbus East

#5 Jordan Fulks-Boonville

#8 Landon Boe-Plainfield

#11 Nick Cicciareli-Brownsburg

#13 Mark Everman-Decatur Central

#14 Kailan Keith-Ben Davis

#15 Owen Bryant-Gibson Southern

Best First Round Match(es):

Bray Emerine, Floyd Central vs Mark Everman, Decatur Central

Landon Boe, Plainfield vs Corey Braunecker, Tell City

Nick Cicciareli, Brownsburg vs Nate Lommock, Terre Haute South

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Owen Bryant, GIbson Southern vs Everman/Emerine winner

Jordan Fulks, Boonville vs Landon Boe, Plainfield

Brody Baumann, Evansville Mater Dei vs Kailan Keith, Ben Davis

Kade Law, Columbus East vs Ciciarelli/Lommock winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brody Baumann, Evansville Mater Dei

2. Owen Bryant, GIbson Southern

3. Landon Boe, Plainfield

4. Kade Law, Columbus East

170

This weight is led by undefeated John Purdy, Castle, who looks to make his first trip downtown. In his path is Franklin Community’sTyler Fuqua, who is looking to make another trip to the bank after qualifying as a freshman. Also in this weight is returning state placer Sam Morrill, Columbus East, who can beat anyone in the state. This weight should be pretty chalk going into the semi-finals, but Van Skinner, Madison, does have a lot in his arsenal and can end a match with one move. Floyd Central’s Codel Khawaja has been on my radar since his run last year and he rolled right into this season coming in with one loss on the year. Unfortunately he will meet the lone guy who beat him in the semis, Conway and Morrill should have a showdown in finals with Khawaja wrestling Fuqua for 3rd place.

2019 Champ:

Robert Deters-Castle

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 John Purdy-Castle

#4 Tyler Fuqua-Franklin Community

#5 Sam Morrill-Columbus East

#12 Codel Khawaja-Floyd Central

#15 Van Skinner-Madison

Best First Round Match(es):

Blake Weidner, Evansville Mater Dei vs Beau Hess, Martinsville

Tyler Fuqua, Franklin Community vs Brady Hook, Mt. Vernon(Posey)

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Tyler Fuqua, Franklin Community vs Van Skinner, Madison

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. John Purdy-Castle

2. Sam Morrill-Columbus East

3. Tyler Fuqua-Franklin Community

4. Codel Khawaja-Floyd Central

182

2 top 3 will guys meet in this weight class. Center Grove’s Drake Buchanan looks to have filled out since last season and is the top ranked guy at the weight this year. He should roll into the finals setting up a match with another guy who is in the short list of title competitors. That guy would be Evansville Mater Dei’s Gabe Sollars. Sollars, like Buchanan, has been dominant this year and brings in a spotless record. Franklin Community’s Jalen Ward is probably the third best guy at this weight but he has the unfortunate draw of having Sollars in the ticket round. Crazier things have happened in those ticket round matches, but I don’t see Sollars struggling here. Charlestown’s Deke Brown and Southridge’s Reid Schroeder should meet in the ticket round. I am going with the senior in this match up, so look for Brown to be wrestling next weekend.Tri-West’s Dominic Pugliese got a great draw without having to win a regional last weekend. He will have to wrestle well to beat Jaden Durnil, Columbus East, in the opening round, before seeing the winner of Dalton Schmidt, Mt. Vernon(Posey), and Owen Valley’s Jerry McBee. This weight is a perfect case for wrestleback as the third and forth best guys, Ward and Castle’s Evan Reff, will be at home next fFriday instead of wrestling where they should be.

2019 Champ:

Macartney Parkinson-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Drake Buchanan-Center Grove

#3 Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei

#7 Jalen Ward-Franklin Community

#9 Dominic Pugliese-Tri-West

#14 Evan Reff-Castle

#18 Luke Bullock-Mooresville

#20 Jaden Durnil-Columbus East

Best First Round Match(es):

Dominic Pugliese, Tri-West vs Jaden Durnil, Columbus East

Dalton Schmidt, Mt. Vernon(Posey) vs Jerry McBee, Owen Valley

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Jalen Ward, Franklin Community vs Gabe Sollars, Evansville Mater Dei

Drake Buchanan, Center Grove vs Evan Reff, Castle

Deke Brown, Charlestown vs Reid Schroeder, Southridge

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Drake Buchanan-Center Grove

2. Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei

3. Dominic Pugliese-Tri-West

4. Deke Brown-Charlestown

195

I have been high on Greencastle’s Brach Carrington coming into this year and he has been what I thought he was. He was upset in last year's regional, giving him a death draw. This year he is undefeated and is on the short list of guys looking for a state title. Wyatt Willman, North Posey, isn't quite his brother yet but he is close. The junior remains undefeated and should punch his ticket to state this weekend. Willman will meet up with Carrington in the semis here, which honestly could be the finals because I believe these two are the best at the weight. Franklin Community senior Harris Eason is strong and does not give up a lot of points, making him a tough match for most guys. Look for Eason to make another trip downtown after qualifying a year ago. The last man out is Ke’Shawn Dickens. Unlike his brother a year ago, it won’t be a surprise when he punches his ticket.

2019 Champ:

Phoenix Rodgers-Heritage Hills

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Brach Carrington-Greencastle

#9 Harris Eason-Franklin Community

#11 Ke’Shawn Dickens-Avon

#14 Wyatt Willman-North Posey

#17 Blake RItzert-Mt. Vernon(Posey)

Best First Round Match(es):

Harris Eason, Franklin Community vs Blake Ritzert, Mt. Vernon(Posey)

Wyatt Willman, North Posey vs Bryce Crump, Center Grove

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Nick Casad, Terre Haute South vs Harris Eason, Franklin Community

Brach Carrington, Greencastle vs Ashton Schuetter, Jasper

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brach Carrington-Greencastle

2. Harris Eason-Franklin Community

3. Wyatt Willman-North Posey

4. Ke’Shawn Dickens-Avon

220

Bloomington South’s Tristan Ruhlman is up three weight classes from a year  ago but has looked great all season. He won’t have any trouble winning this weight class even with another undefeated wrestler waiting for him in the finals in Evansville Reitz’s Logan Huggins. Huggins has pinned everyone he has wrestled this postseason. Another wrestler looking to make his second trip to Bankers Life is Terre Haute South’s Josh Howell, who qualified his sophomore year. Howell will have to work for it though as he has a tough Jaden Whalen, Monrovia, in the first round and then Tommy Morrill,, Columbus East, in the match to go. Two sophomores are going to be looking to qualify early in their careers as Whiteland’s Jakkarey Oliver and Evansville Memorial’s Kelton Farmer will likely meet in the ticket round. I give the nod to Farmer here due to his resume this season.

2019 Champ:

Nathan Willman-North Posey

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Tristan Ruhlman-Bloomington South

#5 Josh Howell-Terre Haute South

#12 Logan Huggins-Evansville F.J. Reitz

#20 Nick Boots-Evansville Mater Dei

Best First Round Match(es):

Jaden Whalen, Monrovia vs Josh Howell, Terre Haute South

James Covey, Bedford North Lawrence vs Nolan Skaggs, Franklin Community

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Logan Huggins, Evansville F.J. Reitz vs Covey/Skaggs winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Tristan Ruhlman-Bloomington South

2. Logan Huggins-Evansville F.J. Reitz

3. Josh Howell-Terre Haute South

4. Kelton Farmer-Evansville Memorial

285

Nearly half of the wrestlers in this field are ranked in the state, with 7 guys fighting for four spots. Brownsburg sophomore Leighton Jones has grown a lot since last season and is looking like a favorite to continue his undefeated season. Franklin Community’s Jacob Johnson got 4th t regionals for the second year in a row and I look history to repeat itself with him qualifying for state again. Johnson will have a tough James Ralph, Evansville Mater Dei, in the opening round. Johnson beat Ralph 3-1 earlier this season. Owen Valley’s Logan McGraw brings in a spotless record but will have a tough Amara Kaba, Pike, waiting for him in the ticket round. Kaba's level of competition this year will be the difference in this match. The last guy, and maybe the best guy, is Matthew Munoz, Jeffersonville. Munoz brings in a spotless record and looks to make it back to state after qualifying his sophomore year. I personally don't think that Munoz has the physical tools to go with Jones, but he could surprise me.

2019 Champ:

Dorian Keys-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 Jacob Johnson-Franklin Community

#4 Leighton Jones-Brownsburg

#6 Matthew Munoz-Jeffersonville

#10 Ashton Hartwell-Columbus East

#13 Owen Green-Center Grove

#17 James Ralph-Evansville Mater Dei

#18 Amara Kaba-Pike

Best First Round Match(es):

Owen Green, Center Grove vs Cordell Heuring, Boonville

James Ralph, Evansville Mater Dei vs Jacob Johnson, Franklin Community

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Quade Popp, Jasper vs Ralph/Johnson winner

Leighton Jones, Brownsburg vs Ashton Hartwell, Columbus East

Amara Kaba, Pike vs Logan McGraw, Owen Valley

Matthew Munoz, Jeffersonville vs Green/Heuring winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Leighton Jones-Brownsburg

2. Matthew Munoz-Jeffersonville

3. Amara Kaba-Pike

4. Jacob Johnson-Franklin Community

Qualifiers by team:

Evansville Mater Dei(7)

Brownsburg(6)

Columbus East(5)

Center Grove(4)

Franklin Community(4)

Avon(4)

Bloomington South(3)

Floyd Central(3)

Charlestown(2)

Pike(2)

North Posey(2)

Crawford County(1)

Tell City(1)

Sullivan(1)

Monrovia(1)

Ben Davis(1)

Gibson Southern(1)

Plainfield(1)

Castle(1)

Tri-West(1)

Greencastle(1)

Terre Haute South(1)

Evansville Memorial(1)

Evansville F.J. Reitz(1)

Jeffersonville(1)