2025 Fort Wayne Semi-State Preview

106

Ranked Wrestlers

#1 Julianna Ocampo-New Haven

#10 Reed Wicker-Delta

#15 Joseph Warner-Carroll (Fort Wayne)

#20 Jackson Webb-Yorktown

Weight Preview

This weight is headlined by New Haven’s Julianna Ocampo, who comes in as the top-ranked wrestler in the weight class. Ocampo was the first girl to place at the state tournament a year ago and is now looking to be the first girl to win a state title. Delta’s Reed Wicker is probably the second-best wrestler at the weight but will have Ocampo in the semi-finals. I do not believe Wicker has the size to overwhelm her, which I think is what it will take to hand the Bulldog her first loss of the year. On the bottom half of the bracket is Fort Wayne (Carroll) freshman Joseph Warner, who has had a great first year on the mat and will be my pick to make the finals opposite of Ocampo. He will likely see a tough junior in Yorktown’s Jackson Webb in the semis. I give Warner the edge here due to his schedule strength this year. A bracket buster at this weight could be Angola’s Carter Shegog, and while I do not see him taking out Warner, he cannot be looked over.

2024 Champ:

Jensen Boyd-Delta

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Julianna Ocampo-New Haven

2. Joseph Warner-Carroll (Fort Wayne)

3. Reed Wicker-Delta

4. Jackson Webb-Yorktown

113

Ranked Wrestlers

#10 Kaid Johnson-Delta

#11 Rex Moore-Manchester

#14 Ian McVicker-Mississinewa

#15 Griffin Byrum-Jay County

#16 Charlie Fleshman-Central Noble

#17 Drew Heisler-Homestead

#20 Bakari Cooper-New Haven

Weight Preview

Three wrestlers at this weight come in with previous state experience. Delta’s Kaid Johnson is down a weight after qualifying a year ago up at 120, while Central Noble’s Charlie Fleshman and Manchester’s Rex Moore are up from 106. Fleshman will look to make his second trip downtown but will have to avenge an earlier season loss to Jay County’s Griffin Byrum. Byrum pinned Fleshman a few months ago. Below them, we will likely see a ticket round match between New Haven’s Bakari Cooper and Mississinewa’s Ian McVicker. McVicker has a better win than Cooper’s best win, beating returning state medalist Brady Harper (Penn) earlier in the year, but we do not know how healthy Harper was at the time. I am leaning toward McVicker here because of how consistent he has been this year. Moore comes in with only one loss in the year, and the wrestler who beat him is no longer in the tournament. While Moore has not wrestled the same level of competition as Kaid Johnson this year, he has looked good against the guys he has faced.

2024 Champ:

Ayden Bollinger-Delta

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Rex Moore-Manchester

2. Ian McVicker-Mississinewa

3. Kaid Johnson-Delta

4. Griffin Byrum-Jay County

120

Ranked Wrestlers

#4 Ayden Bollinger-Delta

#9 Levi Johns-Bluffton

#10 Braylon McIntire-North Miami

#19 Timmy Rocha-New Haven

Weight Preview

Delta’s Ayden Bollinger is the runaway favorite to win the weight this weekend. Bollinger has only lost to three Indiana wrestlers in the last three years and has a great bonus rate this season. He should not get touched this weekend. Outside of Bollinger, we have two interesting ticket-round matches to look forward to. The first is between Lakeland’s Qwanell Gabriel and New Haven’s Timmy Rocha. Both have a common opponent in Garrett’s Caleb Asa, who is also at his weight this weekend, and both went 1-1 against Asa this season. The other ticket-round match we may get is between Bluffton’s Levi Johns and North Miami’s Braylon McIntire. McIntire brings in the undefeated record, the only one at the weight, while Johns brings a better resume. Either way, this should be a good match. Side note: the two met two years ago in the ticket round, where Johns won 10-0, but a lot has changed since 2023.

2024 Champ:

Tanner Tishner-Western

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Ayden Bollinger-Delta

2. Levi Johns-Bluffton

3. Timmy Rocha-New Haven

4. Caleb Asa-Garrett

126

Ranked Wrestlers

None

Weight Preview

This weight class is wide open, with Jensen Boyd out due to an injury this year, and even though there might not be any ranked wrestlers at the weight, this is one of the deeper weights this weekend. Starting up top, Garrett’s Kameron Baker has wrestled the toughest schedule of anyone at the weight, and I see that as the difference and why he punches his ticket. Below him, we will likely see North Miami’s Jordan Korreckt and South Adams’s Dakota Sprunger. This match is a true toss-up and could go either way, but I will lean towards Sprunger here. Marion’s Hickson Love should be the next guy to punch his ticket here, and I see him having little trouble doing so. The first-round match between Bellmont’s Gabriel Myers and Leo’s Sean Harris will determine who makes it out, as I see either of them beating whoever they get in the ticket round. Myers has wrestled a much tougher schedule this year but has been all over the place as far as results go. If this weight were wrestled a dozen times, you would probably get a different result each time.

2024 Champ:

Bradin Daniels-Union City

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Dakota Sprunger-South Adams

2. Hickson Love-Marion

3. Kameron Baker-Garrett

4. Sean Harris-Leo

132

Ranked Wrestlers

#6 Hunter Douglas-Homestead

#14 Sam Mosier-Delta

#20 Drew Waldon-Dekalb

Weight Preview

Homestead’s Hunter Douglas was a state qualifier a year ago and has jumped levels this season. He is a slight favorite to win the weight this weekend. Delta's Sam Mosier is the only person I can see giving him a match here. Mosier has been tested this year and has been right there with some of the state’s best. That semi-final match will determine the champion of this weight. We have a returning state qualifier outside of those two in DeKalb’s Drew Waldon. Waldon has missed much of the year but has looked the part this postseason. I see him making a return trip downtown. The best ticket round match at this weight will be between Madison-Grant’s Tripp Haisley and Fort Wayne Snider’s Deacon Rhodes. Haisley had two strange losses earlier in the year but has been dominant since so he gets my nod here.

2024 Champ:

Jackson Bradley-Cowan

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Hunter Douglas-Homestead

2. Drew Waldon-DeKalb

3. Sam Mosier-Delta

4. Tripp Haisley-Madison-Grant

138

Ranked Wrestlers

#14 Carter Krouse-Fort Wayne Snider

#15 Ashton Goney-Cowan

#16 Dylan Ogg-Adams Central

#17 Henry Faurote-Bellmont

Weight Preview

This is another wide-open weight. Adams Central’s Dylan Ogg is my pick to win the weight due to how the bracket fell. Ogg has one loss on the year to Cowan’s Ashton Goney, who is at the bottom of the bracket. Goney should punch his ticket in his first high school season, where he will likely see the winner of Bellmont’s Malachi Thullner or Bellmont’s Henry Faurote. I have Faurote winning this match, setting up a rematch from last week's regional between him and Goney, where Faurote won 10-1. This will set up the fourth match between the two, with Ogg winning the first three. Western’s Liam Bumgardner is my last man out at this weight but he will have to get through a tough Carter Krouse from Fort Wayne Snider to do so.

2024 Champ:

Tony Wood-Jay County

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Dylan Ogg-Adams Central

2. Henry Faurote-Bellmont

3. Ashton Goney-Cowan

4. Liam Bumgardner-Western

144

Ranked Wrestlers

#6 Wyatt Hoppes-Yorktown

#7 Brody Hagewood-Prairie Heights

#18 Kendi Quoi-Fort Wayne Snider

Weight Preview

This weight should be clear-cut heading into the semi-finals, as I see the four regional champs punching their tickets. The two wrestlers above the field are Yorktown’s Wyatt Hoppes and Prairie Heights’s Brody Hagewood. The two met earlier in the year, and Hoppes won a 3-2 decision. I see another close match when the two meet in the finals. Fort Wayne Snider senior Kendi Quoi is having a great year and has picked up some good wins this year and is the clear number three at this weight. The last guy out here is Northfield’s Kameron Pratt.

2024 Champ:

Easton Doster-New Haven

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Wyatt Hoppes-Yorktown

2. Brody Hagewood-Prairie Heights

3. Kendi Quoi-Fort Wayne Snider

4. Kameron Pratt-Northfield

150

Ranked Wrestlers

#1 Easton Doster-New Haven

#8 Linkin Carter-Eastside

#13 Elijah Gahl-Northfield

Weight Preview

New Haven’s Easton Doster is a returning state champion who has navigated another season unscathed. There is no one here that will change that, but Eastside’s Linkin Carter could make it interesting this weekend. Carter will have a tough ticket round match against the other undefeated guy in this weight, Northfield’s Elijah Gahl. This is unfortunate for whoever drops this match, as I see these two as the clear second and third-best wrestlers at this weight. Adams Central’s Brason Schortgen should have no issue punching his ticket this weekend, as well as Angola’s Dallas Davidson. Davidson will likely have a tougher ticket-round match if he runs into Bellmont’s Sam Wolpert.

2024 Champ:

Aidan Elkins-New Haven

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Easton Doster-New Haven

2. Linkin Carter-Eastside

3. Brason Schortgen-Adams Central

4. Dallas Davidson-Angola

157

Ranked Wrestlers

#5 Jackson Bradley-Cowan

#11 Brock Hagewood-Prairie Heights

#12 Maverick Duback-Adams Central

#16 Evan Duncan-Winchester

#17 Blake Denman-Angola

#18 Cody Cox-Norwell

Weight Preview

Cowan’s returning state placer Jackson Bradley is the favorite and my pick to win this weight. Bradley is not only up four weights from last year, having wrestled 132, but he is up two weights from the start of the season, where he started at 144. Regardless, he is still the best guy at this weight. Prairie Height’s Brock Hagewood, who has been downtown the past two years, is the wrestler likely to be opposite him in the finals. Adams Central’s Maverick Dubach has a favorable draw, and I also have him punching his ticket. The last guy out at this weight is Garrett’s Brian Barrett. Barrett has a tough opening match against Winchester’s Evan Duncan, but looking at how they did against common opponents. I lean toward Barrett in this match-up.

2024 Champ:

Mitchell Betz-Western

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jackson Bradley-Cowan

2. Brock Hagewood-Prairie Heights

3. Maverick Dubach-Adams Central

4. Brian Barrett-Garrett

165

Ranked Wrestlers

#7 Gavin Davis-Bellmont

#8 Rylee Biddle-East Noble

#9 Chance McCollough-Elkhart

#10 Teegan Clouse-West Noble

#11 Jerimiah Ullom-Monroe Central

Weight Preview

This is another weight with a heavy favorite. Bellmont senior and returning state qualifier Gavin Davis has already dominated most of the field, and I see him doing the same this weekend. He should see West Noble’s Teegan Clouse, another returning state qualifier. Opposite of them, we have a first-round match that will likely decide who makes it out between East Noble’s Rylee Biddle and Monroe Central’s Jerimiah Ullom. While I see Biddle as maybe the better wrestler of the two, I think that Ullom’s size will be the difference, as he is down from wrestling 190 a year ago. Elkhart’s Chance McCollough is my final man out here, but Eastside’s Ethan Fike could make things interesting. I do not know the situation that caused him to forfeit out of regions a week ago, but if everything is fine and he is healthy he may be the best of the bottom bunch.

2024 Champ:

Duke Myers-Bellmont

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Gavin Davis-Bellmont

2. Jerimiah Ullom-Monroe Central

3. Teegan Clouse-West Noble

4. Chance McCollough-Elkhart

175

Ranked Wrestlers

#7 Kaeb Stebbins-Delta

#16 Brennon Whickcar-Elkhart

Weight Preview

Delta’s Kaeb Stebbins is a returning state placer and should capture his first semi-state title this weekend. This is not the deepest weight, and I do not see Stebbins being pushed much here. Homestead’s Jake Thrash should have little trouble punching his ticket downtown, as well as DeKalb’s Dominic Dunn, who has come on strong this postseason. The biggest toss-up match at this weight before the semis is between North Miami’s Jordan Simon and Elkhart’s Brennon Whickcar. Simon has not seen the same strength of competition as Whickcar and has not been as consistent, having some weird losses this year. This is why I have to give the nod to Whickcar in this match.

2024 Champ:

Chase Leech-Garrett

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Kaeb Stebbins-Delta

2. Dominic Dunn-DeKalb

3. Brennon Whickcar-Elkhart

4. Jake Thrash-Homestead

190

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Ethan Farnell-Maconaquah

#7 Xavior Palacios-Bellmont

#16 RJ Trevino-Oak Hill

#17 Breckan Maran-Fairfield

#19 AJ Myers-Jay County

Weight Preview

Maconaquah’s Ethan Farnell surprised a lot of people last year when he finished 4th at the state tournament. This year, he has looked like a guy who can make a run at a title. He has been unchallenged most of the year but has not seen the best competition this year. Bellmont’s Xavior Palacios has jumped levels each year, going from a sectional qualifier in 2023 to a ticket rounder a year ago. Now he looks like a sure placer. I expect him to be opposite Farnell in the finals. Jay County’s AJ Myers got a great draw this weekend and I look for him to make the most of it and punch his ticket in his senior campaign. The last guy I have making it through is Oak Hill’s RJ Trevino. Trevino only has two loses on the year, both being to Farnell.

2024 Champ:

Elias Cressell-Wabash

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Ethan Farnell-Maconaquah

2. Xavior Palacios-Bellmont

3. RJ Trevino-Oak Hill

4. AJ Myers-Jay County

215

Ranked Wrestlers

#3 Travis Henke-Northridge

#9 Austin Ringeisen-Maconaquah

#10 Hartley Hoover-North Miami

#11 Derek Morrison-Wawasee

#15 Boston Caudell-Madison Grant

Weight Preview

Northridge’s Travis Henke won this weight a year ago and he will win it again this year. Henke is on the short of list of guys that can make a trip under the lights next weekend. North Miami’s Hartley Hoover and Wawasee’s Derek Morrison are in a good spot to punch their tickets this weekend. Hoover does have a tough Brady King, NorthWood, in his path but he has looked like a different guy since jumping up from 175. The best part of this bracket, to me, is at the bottom where we have four guys with a combined record o119-14. Maconaquah’s Austin Ringeisen comes in with two losses, both close matches to Hoover. Garrett’s Aiden Hunt has the best wins of this group, but he drops matches to guys he should never lose to. DeKalb’s Brady Long was four coming out of the regional, but he does have a win over Hunt. Luke Powers from Wes-Del comes in the second best record of this group, but he does have a loss against Ringeisen.

2024 Champ:

Travis Henke-Northridge

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Travis Henke-Northridge

2. Hartley Hoover-North Miami

3. Derek Morrison-Wawasee

4. Austin Ringeisen-Maconaquah

285

Ranked Wrestlers

#2 Isaiah Coolman-Leo

#4 Caleb Evans-Homestead

#6 Trevi Hillman-Conley-Peru

#16 Grady Baker-Bellmont

Weight Preview

Caleb Evans of Homestead has separated himself from the field here and is my pick to take home the title this weekend. It will not be an easy task as he will likely see the winner of Leo’s Isaiah Coolman and Peru’s Trevi Hillman-Conley. Hillman-Conley has seen a much tougher schedule this year, but Coolman has been here before and I look for that to be the difference. Outside of those two we have some interesting matches leading into the semis. Bellmont’s Grady Baker will likely see NorthWood’s Bryson Davis in a rematch from Al Smith, where Davis won in tiebreakers. Another toss up we have at this weight for a chance to get downtown will be between New Haven’s Charles McGrant and Northridge’s Brody Streeter. Streeter comes in with one loss, to Davis which he has since avenged, but Davis is also his best win. I am taking McGrant in this match due to him having wrestled the tougher schedule this season, but like I previously y state this is a tossup.

2024 Champ:

Juan Cruz-Bluffton

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Caleb Evans-Homestead

2. Isaiah Coolman-Leo

3. Grady Baker-Bellmont

4. Charles McGrant-New Haven