2025 IHSAA State FInals Preview

106

Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):

#1 Julianna Ocampo-New Haven

#2 Traevon Ducking-Brownsburg

#3 Connor Maddox-Westfield

#4 Tate St. Laurent-Cathedral

#5 Caleb Morrow-Lutheran

#6 Gavin Ash-Monrovia

#7 Case Bridge-Avon

#8 Daniel Brown Jr-Center Grove

#9 Heather Crull-Northeastern

#10 Reed Wicker-Delta

#12 Cruz Orueta-Lake Central

#13 Sam Westfall-Crown Point

#15 Joseph Warner-Carroll (Fort Wayne)

Weight Preview:

Looking at the start of the season until now, you can see the progression Brownsburg’s Traevon Ducking has made. He only has two losses in the state and has avenged both. Ducking does not have a cakewalk to the finals, as he will likely see who I believe is the second-best at this weight, Westfield Connor Maddox. Maddox and Ducking met once this year, where Ducking handed Maddox his lone loss of the year, a 4-0 decision at the conference. New Haven’s Julianna Ocampo was the first girl to place at this tournament a year ago, and I see her being the first to do it twice. She took her first loss of the year this past weekend, but I look for her to bounce back and get back on the podium. The best match at this weight Friday night is at the bottom of the bracket between Cathedral’s Tate St. Laurent and Center Grove’s Daniel Brown Jr. Brown came into the year as the top-ranked guy at this weight but has recently taken some losses. Brown and St. Laurent have met once already this year, and Brown won that match 4-0. Even knowing that, I have liked how St. Laurent has looked since Al Smith and I have him avenging that loss here and making a run. Delta Reed Wicker handed Ocampo her first loss of the season, 10-7, and despite what the score says, he dominated that match. Wicker looks to be peaking at the right time, and I see him finishing the year on the podium. The last two wrestlers I want to mention are Northeastern’s Heather Crull and Avon’s Case Bridge. Crull has made the trip to state three times now and looks to come away with a medal on her last try. She will have a tough Bell, who, depending on how the matchups wind up, could end up making a final opposite of Ducking. This weight is going to fall victim to our random semi-state pairing for the state, as eight of the top ten wrestlers in the state drew into each other Friday night.

Favorite: Traevon Ducking-Brownsburg

Dark Horse: Tate St. Laurent-Cathedral

Best Friday Night Match: Tate St. Laurent (Cathedral) vs Daniel Brown Jr. (Center Grove)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Traevon Ducking-Brownsburg

2nd-Tate St. Laurent-Cathedral

3rd-Connor Maddox-Westfield

4th-Case Bridge-Avon

5th-Reed Wicker-Delta

6th-Julianna Ocampo-New Haven

7th-Sam Westfall-Crown Point

8th-Joseph Warner-Carroll (Fort Wayne)

113

Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):

#1 Peyton Schoettle-Roncalli

#2 Case Bell-Brownsburg

#3 Noel Verduzco-Lowell

#4 Eli Ogle-Tri-West

#7 Keegan Dressler-Southport

#9 Lincoln Parsons-Greenfield-Central

#10 Kaid Johnson-Delta

#11 Rex Moore-Manchester

#12 Justus Thrasher-Center Grove

#13 Colin Strayer-Crown Point

#16 Charlie Fleshman-Central Noble

#19 Jude Heaston-Indian Creek

#20 Bakari Cooper-New Haven

Weight Preview:

Three guys have dominated this weight, and one of those three will walk away a state champion this weekend. Roncalli’s defending state champion, Peyton Schoettle, has been as dominant as anyone this year as he looks to go back-to-back up a weight. This year, the field in front of him is much tougher than the one he navigated a year ago. Unfortunately for Schoettle, he must go through both guys to win another title. The first is Lowell freshman Noel Verduzco, who has only had three matches go the distance this season. Verduzco has looked untouchable most of the season and will be looking to become an undefeated state champion in his first trip downtown. The third of this group is Brownsburg Case Bell. Bell is undefeated in the state, with his only losses coming to out-of-state competition. Bell, on the opposite side, will cruise into the finals as he awaits the winner of Schoettle and Verduzco. While I am picking Schoettle to bring home the title, the thing that gives me pause is the size of Bell and Verduzco who are both a bit bigger than the Royal. Outside of the big three, Crown Point freshman Colin Strayer came in with big expectations this season, and while the hype has slowed a bit, he is in a good spot to make the semi-finals here. He should take care of business Friday night and see the winner of New Haven’s Bakari Cooper and Tri-West’s Eli Ogle, a match I have highlighted in this bracket. Cooper has taken some weird losses this season but has looked good this postseason, winning the semi-state last weekend. However, I like Ogle’s overall body of work over the past year and am picking the “upset” Friday. Another match to keep an eye on Friday is at the bottom of the bracket is the one between Center Grove’s Justus Thrasher and Manchester’s Rex Moore. Moore was here a year ago and will look to get on the podium for the first time in his career. He took a surprising loss to Delta’s Kaid Jackson last weekend, while Thrasher is looking hot at the moment, so this one should be good.

Favorite: Peyton Schoettle-Roncalli

Dark Horse: Noel Verduzco-Lowell

Best Friday Night Match: Bakari Cooper (New Haven) vs Eli Ogle (Tri-West)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Peyton Schoettle-Roncalli

2nd-Case Bell-Brownsburg

3rd-Noel Verduzco-Lowell

4th-Eli Ogle-Tri-West

5th-Keegan Dressler-Southport

6th-Kaid Jackson-Delta

7th-Colin Strayer-Crown Point

8th-Rex Moore-Manchester

120

Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):

#1 Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

#2 Royce Malone-Center Grove

#3 Gavin Lewis-Crown Point

#4 Ayden Bollinger-Delta

#5 Cameron Meier-Bloomington South

#6 Blake Getz-Roncalli

#7 Mason Goelz-Avon

#9 Levi Johns-Bluffton

#11 Lincoln Underwood-Portage

#13 John Bissmeyer-Cathedral

#19 Timmy Rocha-New Haven

Weight Preview:

Brownsburg’s Revin Dickman will continue his journey to becoming a four-time state champion this weekend. Dickman has yet to lose in the state of Indiana, and that will not change this weekend. He is simply too much for this field. Delta’s Bollinger is making his third trip downtown and should pick up a medal again. He has only taken two losses at the state tournament, with both being to Dickman, whom he will have in the quarterfinals. Crown Point’s Gavin Lewis may be the second-best guy here this weekend but will have to see Dickman in the semis, effectively ending his run to the finals. The bottom of the bracket here is much more interesting. Roncalli’s Blake Getz was a placer here a year ago, and I see him making a run here. He will have another placer Saturday morning, Avon’s Mason Goelz, who he beat earlier this season 3-2. Both have looked great this postseason, and I see the winner here making the finals. It is not a guarantee, though, as they will still have to get through Center Grove’s Royce Malone. Malone and Goelz have met multiple times this season, with Goelz winning the last two matches. The most interesting Friday night match at this weight is between Bluffton’s Levi Johns and Alexandria Monroe’s Ezra Fye. Johns pulled off a big upset last weekend to win the semi-state and got rewarded with the one other guy who has beaten him this year. Fye and Johns have met twice this season, Fye winning the first match 10-8 and Johns winning the second one 7-6.

Favorite: Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

Dark Horse: Blake Getz-Roncalli

Best Friday Night Match: Ezra Fye (Alexandria Monroe) vs Levi Johns (Bluffton)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Revin Dickman-Brownsburg

2nd-Blake Getz-Roncalli

3rd-Gavin Lewis-Crown Point

4th-Royce Malone-Center Grove

5th-Ayden Bollinger-Delta

6th-Mason Goelz-Avon

7th-Levi Johns-Bluffton

8th-Timmy Rocha-New Haven

126

Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):

#1 Gavin Jendreas-Crown Point

#2 Nate Rioux-Avon

#3 Ty Henderson-Evansville Mater Dei

#4 Matthew Maldonado-Merrillville

#6 Dominic Brown-Center Grove

#7 Chayce Yant-Fishers

#8 Bradyn Volz-Eastern Hancock

#9 Angelo Vargo-Penn

#10 Elijah Brody-Mount Vernon (Fortville)

#11 Isaac Ash-Monrovia

#20 Cameron Woods-Portage

Weight Preview:

Crown Point’s Gavin Jendreas has separated himself from the field and looks to take home his first state title in his senior campaign. Even though three guys at this weight have been to finals before, or the fact that he will have to beat both to win does not change my opinion. Opposite of Jendreas will be Avon’s Nate Rioux. Rioux has made the finals every year but has not been able to get over the hump yet. While you can not completely count him out, he has already seen Jendreas this year, and the match was not close, with Jendreas winning 7-1. The third guy in this group is Evansville Mater Dei’s Ty Henderson. Henderson wrestled both Rioux and Jendreas this year but was not able to beat either. If he wants to take home a title this weekend, he must avenge those losses. Elijah Broady, Mount Vernon (Fortville), has a path here to make the semifinals. He must first get past a returning state placer in Merrillville’s Matthew Maldonado, my pick for the best match this Friday. Broady and Maldonado wrestled this offseason with Broady winning close. If he wins there, he should have Monrovia’s Isaac Ash, who is also a returning state placer, finishing 4th the past two seasons. Ash and Broady met this season, with Broady winning that one 5-4.

Favorite: Gavin Jendreas-Crown Point

Dark Horse: Ty Henderson-Evansville Mater Dei

Best Friday Night Match: Matthew Maldonado (Merrillville) vs Elijah Brody (Mount Vernon (Fortville))

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Gavin Jendreas-Crown Point

2nd-Nate Rioux-Avon

3rd-Ty Henderson-Evansville Mater Dei

4th-Elijah Brody-Mount Vernon (Fortville)

5th-Dominic Brown-Center Grove

6th-Isaac Ash-Monrovia

7th-Bradyn Volz-Eastern Hancock

8th-Chayce Yant-Fishers

132

Ranked Wrestlers (14/16):

#1 Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

#2 Tylin Thrine-New Castle

#3 Donald Bowie-Warren Central

#4 Caleb Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Eddie Goss-Center Grove

#6 Hunter Douglas-Homestead

#8 Layne Horn-Rochester

#10 Landen Westenfeld-Griffith

#11 Warren Brown-Merrillville

#12 Landon Hawkins-Crown Point

#14 Sam Mosier-Delta

#16 Anthony Zuranski-Avon

#17 Cullen Crowley-Cathedral

#20 Drew Waldon-Dekalb

Weight Preview:

Brownsburg’s Jake Hockaday will cement himself as one of the best to ever wrestle in the state of Indiana. Hockaday is a level above everyone here this weekend and will cruise to a fourth state title. The next best guy at this weight is another state champion, New Castle’s Tylin Thrine, who won a title in 2023. Unfortunately for Thrine, he is on the same side as Hockaday for the second year in a row and will have to settle for 3rdthis weekend. The top side of this bracket should be good for seeing who will face Hockaday in the finals. At the top, we should see Rochester’s Layne Horn and Center Grove’s Eddie Goss fighting for a spot in the semi-finals. The records here are deceiving as Goss has wrestled a much tougher schedule and has taken losses along the way. Delta’s Sam Mosier only has two losses in the state this year, both by a single point. Mosier surprised some people this weekend, winning the semi-state, and is a Dark Horse to make a run to the finals. The best Friday night match will be between Evansville Mater Dei’s Caleb Schaefer and Warren Central’s Donald Bowie. Fourth-ranked Schaeffer took a loss to top-ranked Hockaday last weekend, while third-ranked Bowie lost to second-ranked Thrine, setting up this match. I feel this match is so big because the winner here has to be the favorite to see Hockaday in the finals.

Favorite: Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

Dark Horse: Sam Mosier-Delta

Best Friday Night Match: Donald Bowie (Warren Central) vs Caleb Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

2nd-Donald Bowie-Warren Central

3rd-Tylin Thrine-New Castle

4th-Layne Horn-Rochester

5th-Landon Hawkins-Crown Point

6th-Eddie Goss-Center Grove

7th-Sam Mosier-Delta

8th-Landen Westenfeld-Griffith

138

Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):

#1 Evan Stanley-Lowell

#2 Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

#3 Braylon Reynolds-Brownsburg

#4 Gunnar Butt-New Palestine

#7 Justice Thornton-Columbus North

#8 Peyton Richards-Switzerland County

#9 Jack Davis-Bishop Chatard

#10 Josh England-Laporte

#11 Sonny Sessa-Crown Point

#15 Ashton Goney-Cowan

#16 Dylan Ogg-Adams Central

#17 Henry Faurote-Bellmont

#19 Terry Easley-Warren Central

Weight Preview:

Last weekend changed how I viewed this weight, as it is clear no one will stop Lowell’s Evan Stanley. To my knowledge, Stanley has not had a match go the distance yet this year, and while I do see him having a bit more resistance this weekend, I do not see him having much of a challenge in this field. Evansville Mater Dei’s Isaiah Schaefer chose a bad time to take a loss and now will have Stanley waiting for him in the semi-finals. Schaefer has looked like the second-best guy in this weight most of the year and will cruise to his match with Stanley.  Brownsburg’s Braylon Reynolds did himself a huge favor by winning the semi-state, putting him on the opposite side of the bracket. I do not see anyone on that top side pushing Reynolds, and the Bulldog should make his first trip under the lights this weekend. Switzerland County’s Peyton Richards came through a tough Evansville semi-state a weekend ago, finishing 4th, but is in a good position to make the semi-finals here. This is one of the few times a four is the favorite over a semi-state champion. The match to watch on Friday will be between Bishop Chatard’s Jack Davis and Crown Point’s Sonny Sessa. This is Sessa’s third trip downtown, placing 6th a year ago, while Davis is making the journey for the second time, qualifying a year ago. I have Davis taking this one, but Sessa has shown in the past that he knows how to win matches like this.

Favorite: Evan Stanley-Lowell

Dark Horse: Braylon Reynolds-Brownsburg

Best Friday Night Match: Jack Davis (Bishop Chatard) vs Sonny Sessa (Crown Point)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Evan Stanley-Lowell

2nd-Braylon Reynolds-Brownsburg

3rd-Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

4th-Peyton Richards-Switzerland County

5th- Gunnar Butt-New Palestine

6th-Jack Davis-Bishop Chatard

7th-Justice Thornton-Columbus North

8th-Josh England-Laporte

144

Ranked Wrestlers (10/16):

#1 Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

#2 Bryce Doss-New Palestine

#3 Tommy Gibbs-Brownsburg

#4 Peyton Hornsby-Center Grove

#6 Wyatt Hoppes-Yorktown

#7 Brody Hagewood-Prairie Heights

#8 Sam Bustamante-Bishop Chatard

#10 Luke Reid-Valparaiso

#19 Cohen Long-Columbus North

#20 Logan Haney-Crown Point

Weight Preview:

New Prairie’s Jeffrey Huyvaert is another wrestler who has cruised through the season unchallenged, scoring bonus points in every match he has wrestled this season. In the semis, he will see the winner of Yorktown’s Wyatt Hoppes and New Palestine’s Bryce Doss. Doss won their earlier match this year, 11-2. This would set up a rematch from Friday night last year between Doss and Huyvaert, which Huyvaert won 10-0. The guy Huyvaert is expected to see in the finals is Brownsburg’s Tommy Gibbs. Gibbs got the worst draw you could get a year ago, ending his season at the semi-state, but now comes in as a guy who could walk away with a title this weekend. While it was two years ago, Huyvaert and Gibbs wrestled in the offseason, with Huyvaert winning 6-3. Gibbs will see the winner of Bishop Chatard’s Bustamante and Crown Point’s Logan Haney. Bustamante has a unique style and is dangerous for six minutes, but it is hard to pick against Haney, who has shown in the past that he can pull off big wins on Friday. Valparaiso’s Luke Reid has only lost to Huyvaert at this weight. Reid will try to set up a fifth match against Huyvaert this weekend by making the finals, but he will first have to get past Gibbs in the semis.

Favorite: Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

Dark Horse: Sam Bustamante-Bishop Chatard

Best Friday Night Match: Sam Bustamante (Bishop Chatard) vs Logan Haney (Crown Point)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

2nd-Tommy Gibbs-Brownsburg

3rd-Bryce Doss-New Palestine

4th-Luke Reid-Valparaiso

5th-Peyton Hornsby-Center Grove

6th-Sam Bustamante-Bishop Chatard

7th-Brody Hagewood-Prairie Heights

8th-Wyatt Hoppes-Yorktown

150

Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):

#1 Easton Doster-New Haven

#2 Silas Foster-Purdue Polytechnic

#3 Michael Ortega-Portage

#4 Seth Syra-Avon

#5 Parker Reynolds-Brownsburg

#6 Alex Smith-Heritage Hills

#7 Marlone Kirksy-Merrillville

#8 Linkin Carter-Eastside

#9 Wyatt Cooksey-Bloomington South

#14 Hank Phenicie-Zionsville

#15 Tyler Lavin-Cathedral

#16 Teigan Newell-Crown Point

#19 Zach Kenney-Griffith

Weight Preview:

The top eight ranked wrestlers at this weight are the eight guys that step on the podium on Saturday. While this does make Friday somewhat boring at this weight, with heavy favorites in nearly every match, it makes this weight class one of the best this weekend. Without a clear favorite here, this weight can be won by about six guys this weekend. My pick to take home this weight is Purdue Polytechnic’s Silas Foster. Foster has been on fire in the postseason, ending every match early. He has a tough road to get to that title. The first wrestler he will see Saturday morning is Portage’s Michael Ortega. If you look at common opponents, Ortega should be the favorite here, but I like how Foster has looked, which makes me lean that way. Regardless, the winner here will have the winner of Avon’s Seth Syra and returning state champion Easton Doster. As I mentioned earlier, Doster was a state champion a year ago and would be the favorite to win again had he not lost at the semi-state. Syra has looked like a new wrestler this year, with his lone loss coming to Ortega. On The bottom, Eastside’s Linkin Carter surprised the state by avenging his loss to Doster in the semi-state finals. This puts him in the conversation for a state championship this weekend. He will wrestle Heritage Hill’s Alex Smith, who also has a single loss, on Saturday morning.  This is another coin-flip match that could go either way. The winner here will wrestle either Merrillville’s Marlone Kirksy or Brownsburg’s Braylon Reynolds. Reynolds’s record is deceiving, as his only losses in the state this year are to Syra. He is my pick to make the finals this weekend.

Favorite: Silas Foster-Purdue Polytechnic

Dark Horse: Seth Syra-Avon

Best Friday Night Match: Silas Foster (Purdue Polytechnic) vs Wyatt Cooksey (Bloomington South)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Silas Foster-Purdue Polytechnic

2nd-Parker Reynolds-Brownsburg

3rd-Easton Doster-New Haven

4th-Linkin Carter-Eastside

5th-Michael Ortega-Portage

6th-Alex Smith-Heritage Hills

7th-Seth Syra-Avon

8th-Marlone Kirksy-Merrillville

157

Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):

#1 Brant Beck-Rochester

#2 Matthew Staples-New Prairie

#3 Silas Stits-Center Grove

#4 Christian Arberry-Warren Central

#5 Jackson Bradley-Cowan

#6 Griffin Van Tichelt-Crown Point

#7 Jacob Weaver-Rossville

#8 Mason Day-Brownsburg

#9 Deacon Dresslar-Gibson Southern

#10 Asher Ratliff-Columbus North

#11 Brock Hagewood-Prairie Heights

#12 Maverick Duback-Adams Central

#19 Kaleb Wilburn-Milan

Weight Preview:

New Prairie’s Matthew Staples has lived up to the hype this season, as he brings in a spotless record and several big wins on the year. If Staples leaves this tournament unscathed, I do not know if he will lose another match while in high school, at least not any in-state. He should see a familiar opponent in the semis, Center Grove’s Silas Stits. Stits took 7th at this weight a year ago and started the season ranked number one. He lost to Staples 8-6 in the Al Smith finals this year, so this match could still go either way this second time around. On the bottom side of the bracket, we have Rochester’s Brant Beck, who comes into the tournament ranked first but took a loss to Staples at the semi-state. Beck will be trying to avenge that loss by making a final and winning a state title in his senior season. Outside of a potential finals match, his Saturday morning match may be his toughest one. Beck has Warren Central’s Christian Arberry. This match is a clash of styles as Beck wrestles a high-tempo match with many attacks, while Arberry likes to rely on his defense in matches like this. I have given Arberry some flack in the past for the style he wrestles; it may be the best style to beat not only Beck but Staples as well. Arberry, like Beck, lost to Staples this season, 3-2 in the ultimate tiebreakers. Cowan’s Jackson Bradley brings in the only other spotless record on the day and is my dark horse to make a run this weekend. It is hard to judge where he is compared to a lot of the top guys in this field because he has not seen any of them this year. The biggest Friday night match at this weight is the one between Crown Point’s Griffin Van Tichelt and Brownsburg’s Mason Day. Both wrestlers have made two previous trips to the state tournament and left empty-handed both times. Day and Van Tichelt did not see each other this year but wrestled three times last season, with Day winning all three by scores of 7-3, 5-3, and 5-2 in tiebreakers.

Favorite: Matthew Staples-New Prairie

Dark Horse: Jackson Bradley-Cowan

Best Friday Night Match: Mason Day (Brownsburg) vs Griffin Van Tichelt (Crown Point)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Matthew Staples-New Prairie

2nd-Brant Beck-Rochester

3rd-Silas Stits-Center Grove

4th-Jackson Bradley-Cowan

5th-Christian Arberry-Warren Central

6th-Jacob Weaver-Rossville

7th-Mason Day-Brownsburg

8th-Kameron Mikesell-Western Boone

165

Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):

#1 Adrian Pellot-Merrillville

#2 Evan Roudebush-Bloomington South

#4 Michael Major-Carmel

#5 Michael Cain-Hamilton Heights

#7 Gavin Davis-Bellmont

#9 Chance McCollough-Elkhart

#10 Teegan Clouse-West Noble

#12 Leonardo Santiago-Penn

#17 Griffan Larson-Avon

#18 Jesus Lopez-Terre Haute South

Weight Preview:

We may have had a preview of the finals at this weight earlier this season. Merrillville’s Adrian Pellot and Bloomington South’s Evan Roudebush have looked like the clear one and two at this weight class. They wrestled earlier in the year, with Pellot winning 9-6 in sudden victory. However, Roudebush was in control most of the match before a late stall call forced the overtime. I look for him to flip the result here and beat Pellot the second time around. Before he has a chance to do that, he must first get through Carmel’s Michael Major, who, in my opinion, is the clear three here. Major is my dark horse at this weight class, and while I do not necessarily think he gets over the hump here, his style can cause problems for guys, and he does keep matches winnable. The fourth semi-finalist at this weight, in my opinion, will be Michael Cain but he does have Bellmont’s Gavin Davis in his path. These two wrestle a similar style and are both hard-nosed, gritty kids. Terre Haute South’s Jesus Lopez and Rossville’s Jacob Cole are set to meet Friday in my pick for the best opening-round match of the weight. The two were at a tournament together this year, but Cole was up at 175, where he was Lopez’s teammate. I am going to take Cole here but with very little confidence.

Favorite: Adrian Pellot-Merrillville

Dark Horse: Michael Major-Carmel

Best Friday Night Match: Jesus Lopez (Terre Haute South) vs Jacob Cole (Rossville)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Evan Roudebush-Bloomington South

2nd-Adrian Pellot-Merrillville

3rd-Michael Major-Carmel

4th-Michael Cain-Hamilton Heights

5th-Gavin Davis-Bellmont

6th-Teegan Clouse-West Noble

7th-Jacob Cole-Rossville

8th-Chance McCollough-Elkhart

175

Ranked Wrestlers (12/16):

#1 Waylon Cressell-Warren Central

#2 Xavier Smith-Fishers

#3 Coy Bender-Terre Haute South

#4 Landon Terry-Tell City

#5 Julian Weems-Center Grove

#6 Vinny Freeman-Penn

#7 Kaeb Stebbins-Delta

#13 Tyson Barrow-North Posey

#14 Hayden Whitenack-New Prairie

#16 Brennon Whickcar-Elkhart

#17 Wyatt Davis-Rochester

#19 MJ Morton-Roncalli

Weight Preview:

Warren Central’s Waylon Cressell looked mortal last weekend, but there is no way he will take a loss this weekend. With two decisive wins over the clear number two at this weight, it is hard to picture anyone pushing him a whole lot this weekend. Fisher’s Xavier Smith had some bright spots in his match with Cressell this past weekend, but I think that hand fight and pace are too much to withstand for six minutes. This assumes he makes the finals, as he has a tough path to get there. Saturday morning, he will have Penn’s Vinny Freeman, who is making his third trip to the state tournament, placing 6thin 2023. Freeman dropped down from 190 this season and may give Smit some issues with his size. If Smith beats him, he should see Center Grove’s Julian Weems in the semis. This match could be a great six-minute match, or someone could get thrown and pinned in the first minute. While Smith’s resume would say he's the better thrower of the two, Weems is surprisingly good there, so this match could get crazy fast. Terre Haute South’s Coy Bender and Delta’s Kaeb Stebbins will battle it out for a spot to make the semis. Both wrestlers played last year at 165 and had similar tournaments but did not see each other. I think the things that give most people trouble when wrestling Bender won’t affect Stebbins due to his size and length, so Stebbings is my pick here.

Favorite: Waylon Cressell-Warren Central

Dark Horse: Julian Weems-Center Grove

Best Friday Night Match:

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Waylon Cressell-Warren Central

2nd-Xavier Smith-Fishers

3rd-Julian Weems-Center Grove

4th-Kaeb Stebbins-Delta

5th-Vinny Freeman-Penn

6th-Coy Bender-Terre Haute South

7th-Landon Terry-Tell City

8th-MJ Morton-Roncalli

190

Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):

#1 Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

#2 Ethan Farnell-Maconaquah

#3 Michael White-Lawrence North

#4 Ceasar Salas-Crown Point

#5 Kyle Harden-Cathedral

#6 Devin Kendrex-New Prairie

#7 Xavior Palacios-Bellmont

#8 Colin McMahon-Columbus East

#9 Sam Howard-Boonville

#10 Noah Terry-Tell City

#11 Seer Godwise-Perry Meridian

Weight Preview:

Brownsburg’s Gunnar Henry is such a heavy favorite here that it kills some of the excitement for this weight class. Henry is making his fourth trip downtown and is looking to take home his first state title to end his career. He has lost to the state champion here in the previous three seasons, and while I was surprised last year when he lost in the finals, I would be shocked if someone in this field beat him this weekend. Maconaquah’s Ethan Farnell comes in with the only undefeated record at the weight and does know how to pull off big upsets downtown. It is hard for me to pick him to win this weekend because he has not been tested much this season. Crown Point freshman Ceasar Salas may be the second-best guy at this weight. He wrestled a tough schedule, and he has seen a lot of guys in this bracket already this season. It would not surprise me at all if he made the finals here. There are two matches that I want to highlight for Friday night. The first is between Boonville’s Sam Howard and Lawrence North’s Michael White. White should be the clear favorite here, but Howard has shown in his career that he can go with anyone, as evidenced by two close matches with Henry this year. I have White making the finals at this weight, but Howard could very well win this and set up a third match with Henry this weekend. The last match I want to discuss is the Friday match between Perry Meridian’s Seer Godwise and Tell City’s Noah Terry. Terry went on a run last year, finishing 3rd, and looks to end his career with a medal. He will have to unique challenge in Godwise on Friday night, who is a tough wrestler to really gameplan for due to his style. Godwise puts himself in some bad spots from time to time, and with the strength of Terry, that could end the match, but Terry has had some issues with running out of gas in matches, and Godwise is a pace pusher, so it could get interesting.

Favorite: Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

Dark Horse: Michael White-Lawrence North

Best Friday Night Match(es): Noah Terry (Tell City) vs Seer Godwise (Perry Meridian) and Michael White (Lawrence North) vs Sam Howard (Boonville)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Gunnar Henry-Brownsburg

2nd-Michael White-Lawrence North

3rd-Kyle Harden-Cathedral

4th-Ethan Farnell-Maconaquah

5th-Ceasar Salas-Crown Point

6th-Devin Kendrex-New Prairie

7th-Xavior Palacios-Bellmont

8th-Seer Godwise-Perry Meridian

215

Ranked Wrestlers (14/16):

#1 Noah Weaver-Rossville

#2 Caden Brewer-Brownsburg

#3 Travis Henke-Northridge

#5 Jayden Bartoszek-Hanover Central

#6 Ethan Schraner-Tell City

#8 Jett Goldsberry-Heritage Hills

#9 Austin Ringeisen-Maconaquah

#10 Hartley Hoover-North Miami

#11 Derek Morrison-Wawasee

#16 Kellen Fellure-Franklin Community

#18 Austin Reading-Crown Point

#19 Malachi Evans-Penn

#20 Julian Burgett-Fishers

Weight Preview:

This is another weight that has a huge favorite. Rossville’s Noah Weaver came out of nowhere to win a state title a season ago, and since then, he has turned into one of the best wrestlers in the country at this weight. No one has been able to stay on the mat with him this year, and he ended every match early, outside of Ironman. Brownsburg’s Caden Brewer may be the second-best guy here, but he will have Weaver in his semi and will likely settle for 3rd in his senior season. Northridge’s Travis Henke comes in with the only undefeated record in the weight and has a draw that should have him wrestling under the lights. To get there he will have to get through a tough Jett Goldsberry, Heritage Hills, Saturday morning. If Henke beats him, he will likely see Hanover Central’s Jayden Bartoszek. Bartoszek is looking to make the most of his third trip to the state tournament, as he has walked away each time empty-handed.  My big Friday night match is between North Miami’s Hartley Hoover and Crown Point’s Austin Reading. This is another matchup where the records might fool you, as the two wrestlers have wrestled vastly different schedules. Reading has seen, and beaten, several ranked guys this year, which has not been the same for Hoover, and I see that being the big difference in this match.

Favorite: Noah Weaver-Rossville

Dark Horse: Travis Henke-Northridge

Best Friday Night Match: Hartley Hoover (North Miami) vs Austin Reading (Crown Point)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Noah Weaver-Rossville

2nd-Travis Henke-Northridge

3rd-Caden Brewer-Brownsburg

4th-Jayden Bartoszek-Hanover Central

5th-Jett Goldsberry-Heritage Hills

6th-Derek Morrison-Wawasee

7th-Andy Warren-Perry Merdian

8th-Austin Reading-Crown Point

285

Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):

#1 Lucas Szymborski-Crown Point

#2 Isaiah Coolman-Leo

#3 Max Forrester-Brownsburg

#4 Caleb Evans-Homestead

#5 Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

#12 Job Mavrick-Westfield

#13 Declan Gard-Rochester

#14 Keenan Mowery-Shields-South Putnam

#18 Zach Blevens-Greenfield-Central

#19 Luke Juris-Hobart

#20 William Glesing-New Palestine

Weight Preview:

Lowell’s Kameron Hazelett could become a freshman state champion at heavyweight this weekend. He has only taken one loss on the year, which he has avenged three times now. A freshman has not made the finals at this weight since the 1939-40 season, and a freshman has never won this weight, so we could have history this weekend. His finals opponent will likely be Crown Point Lucas Szymborski. Szymborski was a two-time state champion before moving back to Crown Point. Szymborski does have a win over Hazelett this year but has not been able to replicate that result. Someone who could spoil Szymborski’s finals matchup is Homestead’s Caleb Evans. Evans’s move up to heavyweight this year has been a game-changer, as he has looked like a title threat this season. Brownsburg’s Max Forrester is another wrestler who could also spoil that finals matchup. Even by heavyweight standards, Forrester is big and strong, and he may overwhelm the freshman. With this being heavyweight, several matches on Friday could come down to the wire, but I want to highlight the one between Rochester’s Declan Gard and South Putnam’s Keenan Mowery-Shields. Gard and Mowery-Shields have wrestled once this year, with Gard winning 4-1 in sudden victory. The winner here is my pick to make the semis.

Favorite: Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

Dark Horse: Max Forrester-Brownsburg

Best Friday Night Match: Declan Gard (Rochester) vs Keenan Mowery-Shields (South Putnam)

Hoosiermat Top 8:

1st-Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

2nd-Lucas Szymborski-Crown Point

3rd-Max Forrester-Brownsburg

4th-Declan Gard-Rochester

5th-Caleb Evans-Homestead

6th-Isaiah Coolman-Leo

7th-Charles McGrant-New Haven

8th-Jacari Markey-Warren Central

TEAM RACE (Based on placements):

1-Brownsburg-190 Projected points

2-Crown Point-72

3-Center Grove-67

4-Lowell-57

5-Warren Central-51

6-New Prairie-50

7-Roncalli-43

8-Rochester-40

9-Avon-39

10-Delta-37