2020 Marion County Preview

106
Perry Meridian sophomore, Toby Billerman, has navigated his high school career thus far without tasting defeat, and it would be hard for me to say that that happens this weekend. Billerman is a tough match-up in a lot of places, but he really thrives from neutral. Billerman would most likey meet is "nemesis" Nathan Smith, Southport, in the finals. Smith is tough every match because of what he can do on top. Billerman has picked up a close victory over Smith not too long ago. Also in this weight is Warren senior Zac Dray. Dray had a tough first round match up at the regional last year, ending his season earlier than he wanted. Also in this weight class is Roncalli's Braden Getz who brings in an undefeated record, and Lutheran's Clayton Hughes.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#7 Toby Billerman-Perry Meridian
#8 Nathan Smith-Southport
#13 Zac Dray-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Toby Billerman

113
In my opinion two guys are in the race at this weight. Perry Meridian sophomore is undefeated and has a binch of solid wins under his already this season, On the other side of the brack though, is Warren Central freshman Kyrel Leavell. Leavell, like Morton, has a good amount of solid wins already. These two win matches, but don't always do it in the "prettiest" way. Similar to the expected final at 106, you have one wrestler who is a really tough match-up on his feet, Leavell, and one who is a hammer on top, Morton. 

Ranked Wrestlers:
#8 Keaton Morton-Perry Meridian
#9 Kyrell Leavell-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Keaton Morton

120
Three trips, three titles. Perry Meridian senior Alex Cottey looks to become the 5th wreslter to win 4 marion county championships. Cottey, like the previous three years, is a huge favorite again to walk away with a title. On the other side of the bracket is Warren Central senior Carlton Perry. Perry has made the county finals the last two years and wreslted Cottey in 2018. 

Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Alex Cottey-Roncalli
#9 Carlton Perry-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Alex Cottey

126
Its been four years since a Lowery has taken a loss at the Marion County Tournament, and I see Roncalli sophomore Bryce Lowery keeping that streak alive. The bottom side of this bracket is tough with three guys good enough to make the finals. Franklin Central's Ashton Brandon is probably the best of the bunch. Brandon is tough and pretty big for the weight, but has some up-and-down results at times. Another guy to watch is Warren Central's Dason Tichenor. Tichenor is a good athlete and wrestled Lowery tough the last time these two wreslted. The third guy at the bottom is Lawrence North's Jeremiah Henderson. Henderson has been around and has shown he can beat guys, but, like Brandon, he has up-and-down results as well. 

Ranked Wrestlers:
#5 Bryce Lowery - Roncali

#13 Dason Tichenor-Warren Central

 
HOOSIERMAT PICK - Bryce Lowery

132
Top ranked David Pierson, Warren Central, is the favorite to come away with another county title. Similar to his teammate, Pierson has been in the finals the previous two years, but has walked away with a title both times. On the opposite side is returning stat qualifier, Anthony Hughes from Lawrence North. Hughes hasn't seemed like the same guy since moving up in weight, but he is still a tough out everytime he steps on the mat.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 David Pierson-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - David Pierson

138
This weight is absolutely loaded. Three returning state qualifeirs, and two placers, come in at this weight. Perry Meridian's Matthew Koontz comes in as a the favorite to win this weight class. Koont is a returning state runner-up and is looking for his first county championship, On his side of the Bracket is an undefeated Kody Glithero from Roncalli. While Koontz is a heavy favorite in this match, Glithero has shown he can pull off big upsets against Perry guys. On the bottom side of the bracket, you have Decatr Central's Conner Alcala and Southport's Luke Goodwin. Goodwin is a returning state placer who has a unique stlye that gives guys fits. 

Ranked Wrestlers:
#3 (at 132) Matthew Koontz-Perry Meridian
#8 Luke Goodwin-Southport

#9 Conner Alcala-Decatur Central
#13 Kody Glithero-Roncalli

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Matthew Koontz

145
This is another weight where there are two guys above the field. Warren Central's Jevian Ross has had a solid career and is looking to add a county title to his resume. Ross is dangerous on his feet and is capable of ending a match in a flash. While Ross has a high ceiling he has a low floor as well and has moments where he wrestles well below his abilities. On the bottom side of the bracket is Perry Meridian senior Brady McKivitz. McKivitz has been hot thus far in the season and looks to keep it roling into the county tournament. McKivitz, like Ross, is really dangerous on his feet. Other wreslters to watch in this bracket is Roncalli's Zach Wilson who has yeat to drop a match this year. 

Ranked Wrestlers:
#10 Jevian Ross-Warren Central
#11 Brady McKivitz-Perry Meridian

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Brady McKivitz

152
Returning state runner up JaJuan Anderson, Warren Central, is the favorite at this weight. Anderson is a guy that is tough everywhere and is really stingy from neutral, not giving up a bunch of points. The guy I expect to make the finals opposite of Anderson is actually the 3-seed, Jakob Sheet from Perry Meridian. Sheets has been in and out of the rankings this year, but I see him rolling here into the finals.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#3 JaJuan Anderson-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - JaJuan Anderson

160
This weight has no real favorites, and while Warren Central's Tyler Jones is coming off a year where he placed downtown he has been beaten by a guy in this bracket. Ben Davis senior Kailan Keith ran into a tough wreslter first round of regionals and had his season ended early. Keith has put on some size and has been wresltling well. Keith also picked up a win over Jones this offseason. A guy that can't be overlooked at this weight is Mark Everman, Decatur Central. Everman is unbeaten this year and has had some tight matches with some of the best guys in the state.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#11 Kailan Keith-Ben Davis

#12 Tyler Jones-Warren Central
#16 Mark Everman-Decatur Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Kailan Keith

170
While his record is decieving, Perry Meridian's JaJuan Dale is the favorite at this weight. Dale has wrestled several ranked wrestlers alrealdy this year and has been right there with the top guys. The top seed at this weight is Franklin Central's Gino Mosconi. Mosconi has the talent to go with a lot of guys, but sometimes lets his emotions get the better of him in matches. Other wrestlers in this weight to watch are Warren Central's Jaylin Summers.

Ranked Wrestlers:

#9 JaJuan Dale-Perry Meridian

HOOSIERMAT PICK - JaJuan Dale

182
Perry Meridian senior Aiden Warren is the favorite to walk away with his third county title this weekend. Warren has looked like the top ranked wrestler in the state early on this season, will look to continue to dominate this weekend. On the bottom side of the bracket we should have a rematch of of the John Hurrle finals between Southport's Gage Nelson and Warren Central's Keon Sullivan. Sullivan beat Nelson 8-7 in that match.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#1 Aiden Warren-Perry Meridian

#11 Keon Sullivan-Warren Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Aiden Warren

195
This is another weight where there is a standout favorite. Lutheran's Hayden Filipovich is a returing state placer who is looking to capture his first county title up at 195 after finishing second the past two years t 182. The wreslter most likely to prevent that is Perry Meridian sophomore Ronin Hammond. Hammond is a pinner and is good at putting guys away. While I think Filipovich is too much for Hammond at this point, the Falcon is dangerous on his feet and good at putting macthes away.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#4 Hayden Filipovich-Lutheran

 
HOOSIERMAT PICK - Hayden Filipovich

220
Perry Meridian’s Jeff McClure has one loss on th year, but it is to the guy at the top of this bracket. Franklin Central's Aataeveon Jordan has been waiting his turn and is making the most of his first year of varsity action. Jordon beat McClure early this year, 13-3 at the Capital City Classic, and looks to win this third match-up between the two to claim his first county title.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#8 Aataeveon Jordan-Franklin Central

#11 Jeff McClure-Perry Meridian

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Aataeveon Jordan

285
While there are tough guys in this weight I do not see anyone beating Franklin Central's Antone Alexander. Alexander looks to capture back-to-back county titles. One the bottom side you have two guys that come in with one loss each. North Central's Makhi Watts is a solid athlete and has been steadily improving. The other wrestler is Pike's Amara Kaba who comes in as the second seed.

Ranked Wrestlers:
#6 Antone Alexander-Franklin Central

HOOSIERMAT PICK - Antone Alexander

Team Race

This will be a two team race between Warren Central and Perry Meridian. This will come down to which team can get their "bad" kids to place. For Perry 126, and 160 are pivitol for the Falcons to have a chance. As for the Warriors, they need production from their 126 and 285. There are slo big semi-finals matches that will impact the race at 106, 170, and 182.

Team Projections Based off Seeds

4A #2 Perry Meridian 211

4A #3 Warren Central 189

4A #11 Franklin Central 129

Lutheran 109

Roncalli 98

Southport 87

North Central 76

Decatur Central 67

Pike 51

Lawrence North 46

Ben Davis 20