2025 Evansville Semi-State Preview

106

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Traevon Ducking-Brownsburg

#6 Gavin Ash-Monrovia

#7 Case Bridge-Avon

#8 Daniel Brown Jr-Center Grove

#14 Tom Nguyen-New Albany

#16 Jaxsen Jean-Bloomington South

Weight Preview

The Mooresville regional should sweep here and send all four to the state tournament. Brownsburg’s Traevon Ducking has looked to be the best of the bunch of the last month and has not lost a match since team state earlier this year. His last loss came to Center Grove’s Daniel Brown, who will likely be his opponent in the semi-finals. Brown will have to get through a tough Alden Walker from Evansville Mater Dei in the first round before likely seeing Bloomington South’s Jaxsen Jean in the ticket. Ducking has avenged losses this year to Avon’s Case Bridge and never lost to him again, and I see a similar happening here as well. Monrovia’s Gavin Ash is the lone guy at this weight with previous state experience and should punch his ticket for a return trip this weekend. He will likely see New Albany’s Tom Nguyen in the ticket round, a rematch from last year's ticket round, where Ash won 8-2.

2024 Champ:

Royce Malone-Monrovia

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Traevon Ducking-Brownsburg

2. Case Bridge-Avon

3. Daniel Brown-Center Grove

4. Gavin Ash-Monrovia

113

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Case Bell-Brownsburg

#4 Eli Ogle-Tri-West

#12 Justus Thrasher-Center Grove

#19 Jude Heaston-Indian Creek

Weight Preview

Brownsburg’s Case Bell has been a buzzsaw all year and will not be challenged much this weekend. This is his weight to lose. Battling for second here is Center Grove’s Justus Thrasher, who should be making his first trip downtown before setting up a rematch from a week ago against Tri-West’s Eli Ogle, a match Thrasher won 5-3. Ogle will probably have the toughest ticket round match of the four guys I have making it out, as he will have Gibson Southern’s Max Stevens. The last guy I have getting out here is Indian Creek’s Jude Heaston, whose decision to drop back to 113 for his second season looks like a good one.

2024 Champ:

Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Case Bell-Brownsburg

2. Justus Thrasher-Center Grove

3. Eli Ogle-Tri-West

4. Jude Heaston-Indian Creek

120

Ranked Wrestlers

#1 Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

#2 Royce Malone-Center Grove

#5 Cameron Meier-Bloomington South

#7 Mason Goelz-Avon

#15 David Bowman-Monrovia

#16 Wyatt Ulrey-Boonville

#17 David Alstadt-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

#18 Aiden Woods-Franklin Community

Weight Preview

This is another weight with an overwhelming favorite. Brownsburg’s Revin Dickman, to my knowledge, has not lost a match to an Indiana kid in the last three seasons. That will not change this weekend as he captures his third semi-state title. Outside of him, we should get a rubber match between Avon’s Mason Goelz and Center Grove’s Royce Malone to see who gets Dickman in the finals. Malone won their first match 4-1, with Goelz avenging that loss a week ago, 4-2. Bloomington South’s Cameron Meier has elevated his wrestling quite a bit this year and is my final guy to make it out at this weight. He will likely have Evansville Mater Dei’s David Alstadt in the ticket round, who beat him in overtime earlier this year, so this will be a ticket round match to keep an eye on.

2024 Champ:

Charlie LaRocca-Center Grove

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

2. Royce Malone-Center Grove

3. Mason Goelz-Avon

4. Cameron Meier-Bloomington South

126

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Nate Rioux-Avon

#3 Ty Henderson-Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Landen Haines-Brownsburg

#6 Dominic Brown-Center Grove

#11 Isaac Ash-Monrovia

#13 Patrick Dowty-Indian Creek

Weight Preview

Two returning state runner-ups headline this weight. Avon’s Nate Rioux and Evansville Mater Dei’s Ty Henderson are the best guys at this weight and will likely see each other for a third time this season. Rioux has won both 8-5 and 5-4, respectively. Unfortunately, they are on the same side of the bracket so this will be a semi instead of a final. On the top half of the bracket, we will get a ticket round between two guys who were downtown last year when Monrovia’s Isaac Ash and Floyd Central’s Fynn Douglas hit. Ash takes this one and qualifies for the third time. Below them, Indian Creek freshman Patrick Dowty has had a great season and looks to make a trip to state in his first high school season, but he will have Center Grove’s Dominic Brown in his path, a wrestler has seen already this year. Brown took that match 16-3 and I just do not see the freshman making up that kind of gap this weekend.

2024 Champ:

Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Nate Rioux-Avon

2. Dominic Brown-Center Grove

3. Ty Henderson-Evansville Mater Dei

4. Isaac Ash-Monrovia

132

Ranked Wrestlers

#1 Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

#4 Caleb Schaefer-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Eddie Goss-Center Grove

#15 Tony Kessinger-Floyd Central

#16 Anthony Zuranski-Avon

#18 Gage Rutan-Columbus East

Weight Preview

Nothing must be said here other than Brownsburg’s Jake Hockaday will win this weight. Hockaday is the best wrestler in the state regardless of weight class and will be one of the best to ever come through the state when all is said and done. He would likely see Evansville Mater Dei’s Caleb Schaefer in the semis before seeing Center Grove’s Eddie Goss in the finals, as I see both making it through easily. An intriguing ticket round match is the potential between Columbus East’s Gage Rutan and Avon’s Anthony Zuranski. Do not let the record fool you, Zuranski is fully capable of taking this match, and if you look at common opponents, you could actually favor him here.

2024 Champ:

Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

2. Eddie Goss-Center Grove

3. Caleb Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

4. Gage Rutan-Columbus East

138

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

#3 Braylon Reynolds-Brownsburg

#5 Bo Jackson-Indian Creek

#6 Quinten Schoeff-Avon

#7 Justice Thornton-Columbus North

#8 Peyton Richards-Switzerland County

#12 Caleb Kirkpatrick-Columbus East

#13 Amrin Pratt-Bloomington South

#18 Marcus Malone-Center Grove

Weight Preview

While this is probably the deepest weight in the tournament, the way the bracket fell, there aren’t any tough picks to make here. Evansville Mater Dei’s Isaiah Schaefer is the clear favorite here. He has already wrestled Brownsburg’s Braylon Reynolds, whom I see as the second-best guy at the weight, and won 10-3. Bloomington South’s Amrin Pratt has had a great year, but unfortunately, he will likely see Columbus North’s Justus Thronton in the ticket round. Thornton beat Pratt earlier this season, 12-1. My fourth guy to make it downtown is Switzerland County’s Peyton Richards. Richards only had one loss a year ago to the eventual state champ and while he does not have a super easy draw, I feel he is better than the guys in front of him and will make it out this year.

2024 Champ:

Brady Ison-Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

2. Braylon Reynolds-Brownsburg

3. Peyton Richards-Switzerland County

4. Justice Thornton-Columbus North

144

Ranked Wrestlers

#3 Tommy Gibbs-Brownsburg

#4 Peyton Hornsby-Center Grove

#11 Asa Spencer-North Posey

#13 Landen Horning-Evansville Memorial

#19 Cohen Long-Columbus North

Weight Preview

Brownsburg’s Tommy Gibbs had the unfortunate luck of losing to the state champion at the regional, which caused him to draw the state runner-up in the ticket round. This year, he is the favorite to take home his first semi-state title. In the finals, we should get a third match between him and Center Grove’s Peyton Hornsby. Gibbs won both matches by 3-2 and 9-0 scores. Evansville Memorial’s Laden Horning and Columbus North’s Cohen Long are my last two picks to make it out, but both will have tough ticket-round matches. Long will have Evansville Mater Dei’s Matthew Schroeder, who is a tough out, while Horning will likely have Franklin Community’s Kegan Jochim.

2024 Champ:

Reese Courtney-Center Grove

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Tommy Gibbs-Brownsburg

2. Peyton Hornsby-Center Grove

3. Landen Horning-Evansville Memorial

4. Cohen Long-Columbus North

150

Ranked Wrestlers

#4 Seth Syra-Avon

#5 Parker Reynolds-Brownsburg

#6 Alex Smith-Heritage Hills

#9 Wyatt Cooksey-Bloomington South

#10 Lincoln Cooper-Columbus East

#11 Sean Breedlove-Center Grove

#17 Michael Neidigh-Edgewood

Weight Preview

Avon’s Seth Syra looks to take home a title this weekend after coming up short in the ticket round the last three years. He looks like a different wrestler this year and a potential title threat. He should meet the wrestler with the only undefeated record in this weight, Heritage Hills’s Alex Smith. Syra and Smith met this offseason, where Syra won by fall. On the bottom half of the bracket, Columbus East’s Lincoln Cooper has looked like a state-caliber wrestler this year but got an unfortunate draw, having Brownsburg’s Parker Reynolds in the ticket round. While I do not think it will take a miracle to win, he is definitely fighting an uphill battle. Bloomington South’s Wyatt Cooksey has looked good this season and I look for him to punch his ticket here. He will likely see Center Grove’s Sean Breedlove in the ticket round. Cooksey and Breedlove met earlier this year, with Cooksey winning 11-7.

2024 Champ:

Wyatt Krejsa-Center Grove

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Seth Syra-Avon

2. Parker Reynolds-Brownsburg

3. Alex Smith-Heritage Hills

4. Wyatt Cooksey-Bloomington South

157

Ranked Wrestlers

#3 Silas Stits-Center Grove

#8 Mason Day-Brownsburg

#9 Deacon Dresslar-Gibson Southern

#10 Asher Ratliff-Columbus North

#13 Cale Bonenberger-Evansville North

#15 Emmanuel Akpadija-Pike

#20 Carter Hutchison-Cascade

Weight Preview

Center Grove’s Silas Stits was close to winning this weight a year ago, but I do not see him having issues taking it home this weekend. He already has a dominant win over the second-best guy in the weight, Brownsburg’s Mason Day, and he should roll to his first semi-state title. Gibson Southern’s Deacon Dresslar has looked good this season, coming into the weekend with only one loss, which he avenged a week ago. I see him having little issue making his first trip downtown. At the top of the bracket is where we will have the best ticket round match. Evansville North’s Cale Bonenberger and Columbus North’s should meet to qualify. Bonenberger is responsible for giving Dresslar his lone loss of the year before losing to him 3-2 last weekend. Ratliff also wrestled Dresslar this year, losing 4-1. I am leaning toward Bonenberger here, but Ratliff is the defending semi-state champion at this weight and cannot be counted out here.

2024 Champ:

Asher Ratliff-Columbus North

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Silas Stits-Center Grove

2. Mason Day-Brownsburg

3. Deacon Dresslar-Gibson Southern

4. Cale Bonenberger-Evansville North

165

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Evan Roudebush-Bloomington South

#6 William Vander Luitgaren-Center Grove

#14 Cooper Collins-Vincennes Lincoln

#16 Elijah Guyer-Indian Creek

#17 Griffan Larson-Avon

#18 Jesus Lopez-Terre Haute South

#19 Cori Tonte-Franklin Community

#20 Evan Hamblin-Martinsville

Weight Preview

Evan Roudebush won this weight last year and I see him winning it again this weekend. He is just super consistent, and you know what you are going to get each time out. He will likely have a finals matchup with the only other guy at this weight with previous state experience, Center Grove’s William Vander Luitgaren. Luitgaren was somewhat of a surprise qualifier a year ago but has jumped levels this season. The other two sections of the bracket are loaded and could see a variety of guys making it out. The first I want to highlight is the second quarter bracket with Terre Haute South’s Jesus Lopez, Martinsville Evan Hamblin, Evansville Memorial’s Connor Hoar and Indian Creek’s Elijah Guyer. Lopez and Hamblin met earlier this year, with Lopez winning by fall, but the match was close until that point. The winner will have likely have Guyer who is another consistent guy who has looked good all year. He has also wrestled a tougher schedule that either of the guys he could see. The other section of the bracket I want to highlight is at the bottom with Franklin Community’s Cori Tonte, Vincennes Lincoln’s Cooper Collins, and Avon’s Griffan Larson. All three were at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic this year, where Collins won with a 4-2 decision in the finals over Larson. Collins and Tonte never hit and Collins has dropped matches this year.

2024 Champ:

Evan Roudebush-Bloomington South

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Evan Roudebush-Bloomington South

2. William Vander Luitgaren-Center Grove

3. Jesus Lopez-Terre Haute South

4. Cooper Collins-Vincennes Lincoln

175

Ranked Wrestlers

#3 Coy Bender-Terre Haute South

#4 Landon Terry-Tell City

#5 Julian Weems-Center Grove

#9 James Hastings-Terre Haute North

#10 Matthew Pegram-Evansville North

#12 Oliver Hallet-Indian Creek

#13 Tyson Barrow-North Posey

Weight Preview

This weight has three guys in the top five and five of the top ten at this weight class. Terre Haute South’s Coy Bender is a returning state medalist and has looked great this year outside of one weird loss from earlier this year. The way the bracket fell here is favorable for him matchup wise and could lead to him winning his first semi-state title. This weight is a three-man race, with the other two guys also being guys with state hardware. I was not sure we would see Center Grove’s Julian Weems back on the mat after his sophomore year, but I am glad he is back, and he has not missed a beat. The other guy who has a medal at this weight is Tell City’s Landon Terry, who was a placer last year all the way up at 215. Terry will likely see Indian Creek’s Oliver Hallett in the ticket round, who was state qualifier a year ago. Terry is just too big and talented for Hallett, and I see him taking this match. This sets up a rematch between Weems and Terry, which Terry won by fall but Weems was up 7-0 before the pin. A first-round match to watch is between Terre Haute North’s James Hastings and North Posey’s Tyson Barrow. If Hastings is healthy, I would take him here I just do not know what his situation is as he forfeited out of regionals a week ago.

2024 Champ:

Bray Emerine-Floyd Central

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Julian Weems-Center Grove

2. Coy Bender-Terre Haute North

3. Landon Terry-Tell City

4. Tyson Barrow-North Posey

190

Ranked Wrestlers

#1 Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

#8 Colin McMahon-Columbus East

#9 Sam Howard-Boonville

#10 Noah Terry-Tell City

#12 Noah Sumner-Martinsville

#15 Caden Thacker-Evansville Evansville Mater Dei

#20 Jevon Hagans-Terre Haute North

Weight Preview

This is another one of those weights where we know who will end up winning it. Brownsburg’s Gunnar Henry is one of the best wrestlers in the country at this weight and will look capture a title at this weight again. No one will challenge him this weekend. On the top side of the bracket, you have Boonville’s Sam Howard who has been right there the last two seasons. He will likely see returning state qualifier Noah Sumner from Martinsville in the ticket round. This is a rematch of last year’s ticket round where Sumner won 11-3. Whoever wins here will see Columbus East sophomore Colin McMahon. McMahon really emerged this year and has wrestled a lot of the ranked guys at this weight. He should have no trouble punching his ticket even though he will likely have Terre Haute North’s Jevon Hagans in the ticket round. Hagans just is not consistent enough for me to give him a chance here. A guy we cannot forget to mention is retuning state placer Tell City’s Noah Terry. He is looking to make his third trip downtown.

2024 Champ:

Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

2. Noah Sumner-Martinsville

3. Noah Terry-Tell City

4. Colin McMahon-Columbus East

215

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Caden Brewer-Brownsburg

#6 Ethan Schraner-Tell City

#8 Jett Goldsberry-Heritage Hills

#16 Kellen Fellure-Franklin Community

Weight Preview

This is a weight where the four regional champs should all make it through here. Brownsburg’s Caden Brewer was a champ here a year ago, and I do not see anyone preventing him from repeating. That does not mean that he will not be pushed though, as he will have Tell City’s Ethan Schraner, who is up from 175 a year ago. In the finals I have him taking on Heritage Hills’s Jett Goldsberry, who was a state qualifier two years ago down at 170. The last guy out here is Franklin Community’s Kellen Fellure. Fellure will have a rematch with Avon’s Grant Stewart that could go either way as it was a 4-1 match the first time around.

2024 Champ:

Caden Brewer-Brownsburg

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Caden Brewer-Brownsburg

2. Jett Goldsberry-Heritage Hills

3. Ethan Schraner-Tell City

4. Kellen Fellure-Franklin Community

285

Ranked Wrestlers

#3 Max Forrester-Brownsburg

#11 Ben Land-Jeffersonville

#14 Keenan Mowery-Shields-South Putnam

Weight Preview

Injuries killed what could have been a fun weight this weekend. Brownsburg’s Maximus Forrester has shown the consistency he lacked in previous year, making him a title threat this season. He should not have a tough match until he gets into the finals. The next two best wrestlers at the weight will see each other in the ticket round. South Putnam’s Keenan Mowery-Shields and Jeffersonville’s Ben Land will see each other in the ticket round. Both wrestlers are looking to punch their ticket after falling short a year ago. Regardless of who wins here, that wrestler will make the finals. Northview’s Brandon Brewer and Gibson Southern’s Brody Klem are the last two guys who will make it through. Brewer should not have any issues getting through, and while Klem might skate through as well, he is a section of the bracket where everyone will end up having double-digit losses on the year.

2024 Champ:

Nate Johnson-Center Grove

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Max Forrester-Brownsburg

2. Ben Land-Jeffersonville

3. Brandon Brewer-Northview

4. Brody Klem-Gibson Southern