2022 East Chicago Semi-State Preview

106

The top wrestler in the state at 106 headlines this weight. Jeffrey Bailey(River Forest) has remained undefeated through this postseason and I see that holding true after this weekend as well. Bailey was pushed a bit last weekend, but found a way to stay unbeaten. Bailey’s biggest test will come in his semi-finals match against Gavin Jendreas(Crown Point). Jendreas has wrestled some of the best guys in the state already and is ready for this match. Outside of those two, E’Shawn Tolbert(Portage) will wrestle Mason Jones(Lake Central) in the first round, which Tolbert has pinned the last 2 times out. Aiden Dallinger(McCutcheon) and Seth Aubin(Hobart) will likely meet up in the ticket round, and I have Dallinger punching his ticket here.

2021 Champ:

Ashton Jackson-LaPorte

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Jeffrey Bailey-River Forest

#7 Gavin Jendreas-Crown Point

#17 E'Shawn Tolbert-Portage

Best First Round Match(es):

E'Shawn Tolbert-Portage vs Mason Jones-Lake Central

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Kaleb Salazar-Wawasee vs Tolbert/Jones winner

Aiden Dallinger-McCutcheon vs Seth Aubin-Hobart

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jeffrey Bailey-River Forest

2. E'Shawn Tolbert-Portage

3. Gavin Jeandreas-Crown Point

4. Aiden Dallinger-McCutcheon

113

This weight does not start to really get interesting until the ticket round matches. This is also another weight that features the top wrestler in the state. Ashton Jackson(LaPorte) is looking to stay undefeated as he makes a run at a second state championship. No one in this weight is preventing him from winning another semi-state. Mikkel Cunningham(North Newton) will meet a tough Johnny Cortez(Lake Central) in the ticket round, and while Cunningham does have a crazy record, Cortez has wrestled better competition thus far and that will be the difference. Trevor Schammert(Hobart) has come up just short the last two seasons but third time's the charm for him as I see him beating whoever he has in the ticket rond, setting up another match with Cortez. The last man out at this weight is Dylan Bennett(Penn). Bennett is long for the weight and a weird match-up for most guys. I do not see him beating anyone after the ticket round but he is dangerous and has been there before.

2021 Champ:

Hayden DeMarco-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Ashton Jackson-LaPorte

#10 Johnny Cortez-Lake Central

#11 Trevor Schammert-Hobart

#15 Kaptur Nowaczyk-Crown Point

Best First Round Match(es):

NONE

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Johnny Cortez-Lake Central vs Mikkel Cunningham-North Newton

Trevor Schammert-Hobart vs Kaptur Nowaczyk-Crown Point

Dylan Bennett-Penn vs Owen Burton-Portage

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Ashton Jackson-LaPorte

2. Johnny Cortez-Lake Central

3. Trevor Schammert-Hobart

4. Dylan Bennett-Penn

120

I think Christopher Bohn(Munster) is really good, despite the ranking, but he has not wrestled much of anyone this year making it hard to rank him much higher at this deep weight class. Regardless, he should punch his ticket and make his first trip downtown. He will have a returning state qualifier in his path in Evan Cruz(Crown Point), whose style allows him to be in every match. Below them, there is a crapshoot between Gunnar Sandefur(Mishawaka), Guillermo RIvera(Lake Central), and Liam Siburcrist(North White). Looking at the records, Siburcrist is a no-brainer here, but knowing the schedules makes me reluctant to pull the trigger on picking him. Rivera and Sandefur have wrestled tougher schedules, which is why I have them meeting in the ticket round. Hayden DeMarco(Chesterton) will walk through his side of the bracket and make the finals. At the bottom of the bracket, I am picking a 4-over-1 here with Jayden Lewis(New Prairie) taking out Caleb Oliver(Rensselaer Central). Lewis beats whoever he sees in the ticket.

2021 Champ:

Sergio Lemley-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#9 Hayden DeMarco-Chesterton

#13 Evan Cruz-Crown Point

#19 Christopher Bohn-Munster

Best First Round Match(es):

Guillermo RIvera-Lake Central vs Liam Siburcrist-North White

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Christopher Bohn-Munster vs Evan Cruz-Crown Point

Gunnar Sandefur-Mishawaka vs Rivera/Siburcrist winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Hayden DeMarco-Chesterton

2. Christopher Bohn-Munster

3. Guillermo Rivera-Lake Central

4. Jayden Lewis-New Prairie

126

If you have not wrestled for a state title in the last two seasons, you have not beaten Logan Frazier(Crown Point). Frazier has only lost to one guy in the past 2 seasons, but Lemley is no longer in his path and I don’t see anyone beating him. Matteo Vargo(Penn) is probably the second best guy at this weight in the state, and outside of his finals match with Frazier, he should not be challenged until then. The ticket round match to watch will be between two guys that are looking to make another trip downtown. Beau Brabender(Mishawaka) and Drake Fritz(West Central) will likely meety in the ticket round, and while Fritz’s record is spotless, he has not seen the competition that Brabender has. The last guy out here is David Maldonando(Merrillville). Maldonando has some solid wins this year, with no real bad losses, paired with him being in a not so tough section of the bracket, gets him the nod.

2021 Champ:

Sam Goin-Crown Point

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Logan Frazier-Crown Point

#2 Matteo Vargo-Penn

#17 Drake Fritz-West Central

#18 Beau Brabender-Mishawaka

Best First Round Match(es):

Robert Frazier-Calumet vs Beau Brabender-Mishawaka

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Drake Fritz-West Central vs Brabender/Frazier winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Logan Frazier-Crown Point

2. Matteo Vargo-Penn

3. Beau Brabender-Mishawaka

4. David Maldonado-Merrillville

132

Junior Anthony Bahl(Crown Point) is looking to capture his first semi-state title on his way to another trip to state. He has a tough field ahead of him but he is definitely the best of the bunch. In the ticket round he will have the winner of Hayden Fritz(West Central) or Drake Montelongo(Tippecanoe Valley). Bahl beats either and ends up in the finals. Bryce Denton(Penn) is a returning state qualifier, but will have a tough Ruben Padilla(Merrillville), who has looked good this year. Denton has missed some matches here and there during the year and I up 3 weight classes from a year ago as well. All that against him is why I am taking Padilla here. Below them, is a tough group to pick from. Caleb Solomey(Kankakee Valley) has improved a lot from a year ago and looks like a kid ready to take that next step. He will most likely have Mason Stanley(Rensselaer Central) in the ticket round. That would be a rematch from earlier in the year where Solomey won by fall. Zar Walker(Mishawaka) looks to keep pace with his brother and make it to state in his sophomore season. His draw should have him downtown next week.

2021 Champ:

Aidan Torres-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Anthony Walker-Crown Point

#11 Zar Walker-Mishawaka

#14 Drake Montelongo-Tippecanoe Valley

#15 Caleb Solomey-Kankakee Valley

Best First Round Match(es):

Drake Montelongo-Tippecanoe Valley vs Hayden Fritz-West Central

Caleb Solomey-Kankakee Valley vs Gabriel Tienstra-Munster

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Anthony Bahl-Crown Point vs Montelongo/Fritz winner

Mason Stanley-Rensselaer Central) vs Solomey/Tienstra winner

Ruben Padilla-Merrillville vs Bryce Denton-Penn

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Anthony Bahl-Crown Point

2. Zar Walker-Mishawaka

3. Ruben Padilla-Merrillville

4. Caleb Solomey-Kankakee Valley

138

This weight class is a race for second as Jesse Mendez(Crown Point) looks to win his 4th semi-state title. Outside of Mendez, the second best kid in the state may also be in this weight, Cole Solomey(Kankakee Valley). Solomey has not lost to anyone this year other than Mendez. Lakin Webb(Rensselaer Central) is a returning state qualifier, but has Solomey in the ticket round. Wesley Harper(Penn) has set himself up to make his first trip downtown. The last guy in is Lucas Clements(Merrillville). Clement has picked up a win over Stefan Vitello(Valparaiso), and has been more competitive with guys that have beaten Hunter Miller(Wawasee), already this year.

2021 Champ:

Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

#2 Cole Solomey-Kankakee Valley

#9 Wesley Harper-Penn

#19 Lakin Webb-Rensselaer Central

Best First Round Match(es):

Stefan Vitello-Valparaiso vs Hunter Miller-Wawasee

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Wesley Harper-Penn vs Jordan Lear-West Lafayette

Lakin Webb-Rensselaer Central vs Cole Solomey-Kankakee Valley

Lucas Clement-Merrillville vs Vitello/Miller winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

2. Cole Solomey-Kankakee Valley

3. Wesley Harper-Penn

4. Lucas Clement-Merrillville

145

Aidan Torres(Chesterton) is the favorite here, and is a returning two time state placer. With his kryptonite graduating last year, Torres should win this weight class. On his side he should see the winner of Adrian Pellot(Merrillville) and Andrew Kline(Lafayette Central Catholic). Pellot’s record is not great, but Merrillville wrestles a tough schedule and he is prepared for moments like this. On the other side of the bracket, you have Zymarion Hollyfield(Penn), who has a win over a state placer already this year, and Denny Wendling(Frontier). This is another situation where strength of schedule will play a part in my pick. At the bottom, Nick Tattini(Crown Point) has looked great at his actual weight class after having to wrestle up at 170 last year. He has a tough Larz Hughes(Rensselaer Central) in the opening match, but I look for Tattini to make his second trip downtown.

2021 Champ:

Ethan Kaiser-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Aidan Torres-Chesterton

#6 Nick Tattini-Crown Point

#18 Zymarion Hollyfield-Penn

Best First Round Match(es):

Andrew Kline-Lafayette Central Catholic vs Gunnar Krause-Knox

Larz Hughes-Rensselaer Central vs Nick Tattini-Crown Point

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Manolo Hood-Portage vs Tattini/Hughes winner

Zymarion Hollyfield-Penn vs Denny Wendling-Frontier

Adrian Pellot-Merrillville vs Kline/Krause winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Aidan Torres-Chesterton

2. Nick Tattini-Crown Point

3. Zymarion Hollyfield-Penn

4. Adrian Pellot-Merrillville

152

Sam Goin(Crown Point) made another big weight jump this year and looks amazing. He has been dominant this year and I see him finishing the year with a zero in the loss column. Kenneth Bisping(Lowell) fell out of the rankings but is still very good. He will have Keegan Mabie(Mishawaka) who looks like a completely different guy from the last time I saw him wrestle. Below them, Freshman Aidan Costello(Hobart) has had some up and down results this year, but he has wrestled some of the top kids in the state this year. He will likely see Noah Salary(LaPorte) in the match to go. The last guy out here is Tristen Hood(Harrison (WL)). Hood had a bad loss early on, but has looked good since then and is my pick to make it out after dropping his ticket round match,4-3, a year ago.

2021 Champ:

Brock Ellis-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Sam Goin-Crown Point

Best First Round Match(es):

Ben Tollard-Portage vs Andrew Ross-Warsaw

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Kenneth Bisping-Lowell vs Keagen Mabie-Mishawaka

Aidan Costello-Hobart vs Noah Salary-LaPorte

Tristen Hood-Harrison (WL) vs Ross/Tollard winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Sam Goin-Crown Point

2. Kenneth Bisping-Lowell

3. Aidan Costello-Hobart

4. Tristen Hood-Harrison (WL)

160

This preview has a trend already, and that is that a lot of these weights are “Crown Point, next topic.” No one is beating Cody Goodwin(Crown Point) this weekend. In the semi-finals, Goodwin should see AJ Steenbele(Penn), who is looking to make his 3rd straight trip to state. On the top side, Bradley Pittman(Plymouth) is looking to make another trip to state after qualifying a year ago. He has a tough Carlos Perez-Xochipa(Harrison (WL)) in the match to go. Above them is another similar situation, where we have Cameron Powell(Mishawaka), a returning state qualifier, and a tough Caleb Carter(Merrillville) likely meeting in the ticket round. Powell won this match at the Al Smith earlier this year via a 2-0 decision.

2021 Champ:

Orlando Cruz-Crown Point

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 Cody Goodwin-Crown Point

#9 AJ Steenbeke-Penn

#18 Cameron Powell-Mishawaka

Best First Round Match(es):

Caleb Carter-Merrillville v Durya Minor-Lafayette Jefferson

Cody Goodwin-Crown Point vs Gavin Malone-Wawasee

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Cameron Powell-Mishawaka vs Carter/Minor winner

Carlos Perez-Xochipa-Harrison (WL) vs Bradey Pittman-Plymouth

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1.  Cody Goodwin-Crown Point

2. AJ Steenbeke-Penn

3. Cameron Powell-Mishawaka

4. Carlos Perez-Xochipa-Harrison (WL)

170

After two weight classes where there is a heavy favorite, this weight is the opposite. If you wrestled it 10 times you could have a different top 4 every time. It starts up top with Anthony WHite(Crown Point) and Connor Cervantes(Griffith) wrestling in the first round. The winner of that then sees Ethan Popp(Harrison (WL)). Luke Stento(Chesterton)  and Deon Hurn(River Forest) meet in the first round and a month ago I would have said Stento takes this one but Hurn has had a solid postseason, making me rethink my pick. The winner of this match, however, has Isaac Valdez(Mishawaka) in the ticket round. Connor Svantner(Valparaiso) should have little trouble qualifying with his draw, and the same can be said for Jesse Hererea(Highland) and his draw.

2021 Champ:

Pate Eastin-Penn

Ranked Wrestlers:

#14 Jesse Hererea-Highland

#16 Anthony White-Crown Point

#17 Connor Svantner-Valparaiso

#18 Isaac Valdez-Mishawaka

Best First Round Match(es):

Connor Cervantes-Griffith vs Anthony White-Crown Point

Luke Stento-Chesterton vs Deon Hurn-River Forest

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Ethan Popp-Harrsion (WL) vs Cervantes/White winner

Isaac Valdez-Mishawaka vs Stento/Hurn winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Connor Svantner-Valparaiso

2. Isaac Valdez-Mishawaka

3. Anthony White-Crown Point

4. Jesse Hererea-Highland

182

This weight has some absolutely brutal draws. We will see a bunch of guys with less than 5 losses going home at this weight. Orlando Cruz(Crown Point) is , big surprise, the runaway favorite to win this weight class. He will have Demetrus Dean(Hammond) in the ticket round, who took his first loss of the season a week ago giving him this brutal draw. Below them shows just how terrible these random draws can be. Kooper Kinser(Delphi) is the only guy in his section of the bracket with less than 10 losses. I see him cruising into the semi-finals. Jacob Simpson(Hobart) came into this tournament undefeated a year ago, and while he has dropped some matches this year he looks as good as ever. He has a tough Tim Shortt(Wawasee) in the first round and then Dylan Kwiatowski(Valparaiso), so his path is no cakewalk. At the bottom of the bracket, there's a similar situation,with Jacob Sues(Lake Central) meeting Brandon Hammer(Tippecanoe Valley). Sues is a returning placewinner and gets the nod here.

2021 Champ:

Gavin Layman-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Orlando Cruz-Crown Point

#7 Jacob Simpson-Hobart

#14 Demetrus Dean-Hammond

#15 Jacob Sues-Lake Central

#20 Brandon Hammer-Tippecanoe Valley

Best First Round Match(es):

Jacob Simpson-Hobart vs Tim Shortt-Wawasee

Jake Sues-Lake Central vs Ray Townsend-Attica

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Orlando Cruz-Crown Point vs Demetrus Dean-Hammond

Brandon Hammer-Tippecanoe Valley vs Sues/Townend winner

Dylan Kwiatowski-Valparaiso vs Simpson/Shortt winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Orlando Cruz-Crown Point

2. Jacob Simpson-Hobart

3. Jake Sues-Lake Central

4. Kooper Kinser-Dephi

195

Will Clark(Crown Point) has jumped levels this off season and it has shown by his wins this year over state placers. In his semis, he should have Christian Chavez(Mishawaka), assuming he beats Daeveon Cheeks(Lafayette Jefferson). Chavez has looked good as well this year and should have no issue qualifying. At the bottom of the bracket is my pick to win this weight, Connor Barket(West Lafayette). Barket comes in with the only spotless record at this weight. He will have another state qualifier, Bazle Owens(Tippecanoe Valley). In his semis, he should see another returning place winner, in Gage DeMarco(Chesterton). DeMarco has a win over Clark this year, but as a whole, Clark has gotten the better of him.

2021 Champ:

Eli Pack-Culver Academies

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Connor Barket-West Lafayette

#5 Will Clark-Crown Point

#6 Gage DeMarco-Chesterton

#7 Christian Chavez-Mishawaka

Best First Round Match(es):

NONE

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Connor Barket-West Lafayette vs Bazle Owens-Tippecanoe Valley

Gage DeMarco-Chesterton Justin Sawyer-Hobart

Christian Chavez-Mishawaka vs Daeveon Cheeks-Lafayette Jefferson

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Connor Barket-West Lafayette

2. Will Clark-Crown Point

3. Gage DeMarco-Chesterton

4. Christian Chavez-Mishawaka

220

Christian Carroll(New Prairie) will spend another 3ish minutes on the mat this weekend as he wins his first semi-state title. It is a bit harsh towards the rest of the field, but until someone shows me otherwise you have to assume he destroys the field again. Carroll should see a familiar opponent in the finals in Juan Grange(Penn). Grange might be the second best kid in the state, but there is a big gap between 1 and 2. Paul Clark(Crown Point) is looking to join his brother as a state qualifier. He will have two tough ones to get that done, having Cole Chicoine(McCutcheon) in the first round and Corey Hill(Portage) in the match to go.

2021 Champ:

Evan Bates-Chesterton

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Christian Carroll-New Prairie

#4 Juan Grange-Penn

#13 Michael DeGrado-Lake Central

#19 Jonathan Neese-LaVille

Best First Round Match(es):

Paul CLark-Crown Point vs Cole Chicoine-McCutcheon

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Jordan Cree-Rensselaer Central vs Jonathan Neese-LaVille

Juan Grange-Penn vs Michael DeGrado-Lake Central

Corey Hill-Portage vs Clark/Chicoine winner

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Christain Carroll-New Prairie

2. Juan Grange-Penn

3. Paul Clark-Crown Point

4. Jordan Cree-Rensselaer Central

285

Theodore Sparks(Merrillville) is a good athlete who should make it downtownin his senior year. He has a tough Cody Winkler(Knox) in the opening round. Hunter Whitenack(New Prairie) comes in with a a spotless record, and is the on paper favorite to win thia weight class this weekend. Sparks and him should meet in the semi-finals. On the bottom side of the bracket, Anthony Popi(Plymouth) has set himself up to take a trip downtown in his sophomore season. He will likely have Nathan Paceley(River Forest) in the match to go. Paceley has been right there with some of the best kids in the state at this weight, so we will see if he can get over the hump here. The last guyy out will be Trey White(Portage). White moved up to heavyweight this season and is on the cusp of making it downtown. He will have Luke Armann(West Lafayette), who is replacing last year state runner-up.

2021 Champ:

Mariere Omonode-West Lafayette

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Hunter Whitenack-New Prairie 

Best First Round Match(es):

Theodore Sparks-Merrillville vs Cody Winkler-Knox

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Zach Chrisman-Harrison (WL) vs Winkler/Sparks winner

Anthony Popi-Plymouth vs Nathan Paceley-River Forest

Luke Armann-West Lafayette vs Trey White-Portage

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Hunter Whitenack-New Prairie

2. Anthony Popi-Plymouth

3. Theodore Spark-Merrillville

4. Trey White-Portage