2022 Evansville Semi-State Preview

106

This weight has two top 4 kids in this weight. Jake Hockaday(Brownsburg) and Luke Rioux(Avon) have wrestled multiple times already this year, with Hockaday winning all but one. Before we talk about them meeting again in the finals they’ll each have tough matches in the semi-finals. Hockaday will likely see Donnie Feeler(Crawford County) in the semis. Feeler looked big for this weight 2 years ago, so he will be a handful for the freshman. On the other side of the bracket you will likely have a ticket round match between Isaiah Schaefer(Evansville Mater Dei) and Charlie LaRocca(Center Grove). Schaefer has been solid all year and does not lose matches he should and I do not think he should lose here. In the semi-finals he will likely have the only Indiana kid to beat him this year in Rioux. It was a crazy 14-13 win for Rioux the first time and he has looked better since then so he gets the nod from me.

2021 Champ:

Evan Seng-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

#4 Luke Rioux-Avon

#5 Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

#6 Donnie Feeler-Crawford County

#8 Charlie LaRocca-Center Grove

#16 Walter Hagedorn-Tell City

#18 Brennan Leonard-Martinsville

#19 Cameron Meier-Bloomington South

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg

2. Luke Rioux-Avon

3. Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei

4. Donnie Feeler-Crawford County

113

This weight should be pretty chalk on the top half of the bracket. Liam Krueger(Columbus East) and Evan Seng(Evansville Mater Dei) should both have tough freshmen in the match to go, but they aren’t ready for those guys yet. On the bottom side of the bracket, there’s some interesting matches between guys with great records. Bryson Rowley(Corydon Central) picked a bad time to drop his first match of the season, and has drawn Preston Haines(Brownsburg) in the match to go. Under them there’s a first round between Jackson Heaston(Indian Creek) and Logan Bickel(Cascade). Both guys have great resumes, but Heaston has been a state level since last year, in my opinion, and he takes the next step here. Until some in Indiana beats Haines, he’s my pick here.

2021 Champ:

Reed Egli-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#3 Preston Haines-Brownsburg

#4 Evan Seng-Evansville Mater Dei

#7 Liam Kruger-Columbus East

#8 Jackson Heaston-Indian Creek

#9 Bryson Rowley-Corydon Central

# 14 Eddie Goss-Center Grove

#18 Logan Bickel-Cascade

#19 Isaac Ash-Monrovia

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Preston Haines-Brownsburg

2. Evan Seng-Evansville Mater Dei

3. Liam Kruger-Columbus East

4. Jackson Heaston-Indian Creek

120

Logan Miller hasn’t lost to an Indiana kid since his quarterfinals match in 2020. That will not change this weekend. He will have several guys that are capable of proving me wrong here though, starting with his opponent he will likely see in the ticket round, Zane Schenk(Corydon Central). In the semis, Miller should see Blake Zirklebach(North Posey). Opposite of them, you have some really good matches in the ticket round between guys who have already made it downtown. Lane Gilbert(Sullivan) has not lost a match at semi-state the past 2 seasons. He has a tough Reece Courtney(Center Grove) in the ticket round. Courtney nearly beat Miller a week ago and is capable of stealing one here. At the bottom of the bracket, we are getting 3 amazing matches. First one is between Noah Lykins(Columbus East) and Vince Kessinger(Floyd Central). Lykins is better, in my opinion,but Kessinger has a mean cradle and has a chance in every match he is in. The winner of that will have either Seth Syra(Avon) or Reed Egli(Evansville Mater Dei). Syra is really good but does not open up a whole lot and keeps matches really close. I think it depends on the match-ups here when deciding who will make it out, but I am going to lean towards Syra, even though he took an early loss to Egli this season.

2021 Champ:

Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Logan Miller-Brownsburg

#2 Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

#7 Reese Courtney-Center Grove

#8 Seth Syra-Avon

#10 Noah Lykins-Columbus East 

#12 Reed Egli-Evansville Mater Dei

#17 Blake Zirklebach-North Posey

#18 Zane Schenk-Corydon Central

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Logan Miller-Brownsburg

2. Lane Gilbert-Sullivan

3. Seth Syra-Avon

4. Blake Zirklebach-North Posey

126

I am happy to see KT Nelson(Castle) back on the mat. Nelson looks to have picked up right where left off. He is my pick to win this weight this weekend. Nelson will have to make sure he has his lungs right against Joey Buttler(Whiteland). Buttler nearly ran down Ruble last year in the state quarterfinals. Above them we have Braden Haines(Brownsburg) as the lone guy on that side with a state medal. He will have the winner of Branson Weaver(Owen Valley) and Justice Thornton(Columbus East). Haines wins here either way. His likely semi-finals opponents will be a familiar opppinet in Michael Tharpe(Center Grove). Haines takes this one and meets Nelson in the finals.

2021 Champ:

Brady Ison-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 KT Nelson-Castle

#6 Joey Buttle-Whiteland

#9 Braden Haines-Brownsburg

#13 Justice Thornton-Columbus East

#15 Michael Tharpe-Center Grove

#16 Branson Weaver-Owen Valley

#19 Landon Horning-Evansville Memorial

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. KT Nelson-Castle

2. Braden Haines-Brownsburg

3. Joey Buttler-Whiteland

4. MIchael Tharpe-Center Grove

132

Here we will see Brady Ison(Brownsburg) versus Cheaney Schoeff(Avon) part 9, I think. Outside of the Mooresville regional, Schoeff has not been able to beat Ison. Each of them has a tough one in the ticket round, with Ison drawing Odin Fortune(Evansville Reitz) and Schoeff having Ayden Amento(Evansville Central). Neither should have trouble here but those guys are state calibur kids, so we will see if they can pull off the upset here. Outside of those two, there are some great matches here to watch. At the top you have Wyatt Krejsa(Center Grove) squaring off with a 1 loss Kellen Carter(Scottsburg). The winner of that will have unbeaten Coy Hammack(Tell City) in the match to go. Hammock(Tell City) is my pick to make it to state out of this bunch. Eli Brooks(Whiteland) has missed a lot of the season but is making a run here. His draw is very favorable to him and, in my opinion, he is the best of the bunch here. If Brooks is healthy, I see him taking out Ethan Roudebush(Bloomington South) in the round to go.

2021 Champ:

Kysen Montgomery-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Brady Ison-Brownsburg

#3 CHeaney Schoeff-Avon

#6 Coy Hammack-Tell CIty

#10 Wyatt Kresja-Center Grove

#13 Ayden Amento-Evanville Central

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brady Ison-Brownsburg

2. CHeaney Schoeff-Avon

3. Coy Hammack-Tell CIty

4. Elijah Brooks-Whiteland

138

This weight features the second Castle wrestler that I am glad is back on the mat wrestling, finishing out his senior year. While I will not get into it, Ashton Hayhurst(Castle) has had some roadblocks this year, and I am happy to see him overcome them and finish out the season. To get back downtown he will have a tough one against whoever wins between Lou Knable(Floyd Central) and Maleec Stansberry(Pike). Regardless he should land himself in the semi-finals. His opponent will most likely be Reece Fisher(Columbus East). FIsher has looked solid this year and has a good record on Columbus East’s schedule. This is all based on match-ups, Silas Stits(Center Grove) beat Evan Roudebush(Bloomington South) 8-2 early in the year, and Fisher beat Stits 3-1 SV at the Al Smith. On the opposite side of the bracket, Gavin Garcia(Brownsburg) is my pick to win this weight here this weekend. He will have a tough Keegan WIlliams(Evansville Memorial) in the ticket round, and assuming Cash Turner(Edgewood) can get past Jakob Lewellen(Charlestown), I see Garcia giving Turner his first loss of the year.

2021 Champ:

Blake Boarman-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Ashton Hayhurst-Castle

#5 Gavin Garcia-Brownsburg

#7 Cash Turner-Edgewood

#14 Lou Knable-Floyd Central

#18 Keegan Williams-Evansville Memorial

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Gavin Garcia-Brownsburg

2. Ashton Hayhurst-Castle

3. Cash Turner-Edgewood

4. Reece Fisher-Columbus East

145

Hayden Watson(Center Grove) is head and shoulders above the field. He may have some “close” matches here but he will never be in any real danger of losing. Outside of Watson, you have some pretty lopsided quarter brackets. Blaze Garcia(Brownsburg) should make his second trip downtown, but he has a tough Nick Akers(North Posey) in the opening round. If Garcia can get by him he should have Nicolas Castelluccio(Bloomington South) in the match to go. Both seniors are looking to make a return trip to the state tournament. Above him, there is a group of seniors looking to make their first trip downtown. Lody Cheatham(Borden) and Anfernee Oliver(Ben Davis) look to cap off their high school careers with a trip to state. At the bottom of the bracket, we could see a 4-over-1 with Braedon Spears(Plainfield) taking out Lee Spencer(Castle) in the first round. From there he should see Nate Lommack(Terre Haute South) in the ticket round. I am going to take Braedon Spears here.

2021 Champ:

Jaden Reynolds-Avon

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Hayden Watson-Center Grove

#7 Blaze Garcia-Brownsburg

#13 Braeden Spears-Plainfield

#14 Anfernee Oliver-Ben Davis

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Hayden Watson-Center Grove

2. Blaze Garcia-Brownsburg

3. Anfernee Oliver-Ben Davis

4. Braeden Spears-Plainfield

152

This weight should be won by Delaney Ruhlman(Bloomington South), but the field is covered in landmines. He should have Luke Robards(Evansville Central) in the match to go, which he cannot overlook. In the semi-finals, he will most likely see Andre Merritt(Center Grove). While Ruhlman is better, in my opinion, Merritt can REALLY throw. If you get sucked into playing his game and going upper body, you are probably going for a ride. On the top side, Nick Cicciarelli(Brownsburg) should finally make a trip downtown. I see him having little trouble getting into the semis. In the semis, he will see Hunter May(Evansville Mater Dei). Word on the street was May was sick during team state, and I saw him in a boot the week prior. If he is feeling good and healthy, he could be the best kid here.

2021 Champ:

JJ Conway-Floyd Central

Ranked Wrestlers:

#5 Delaney Ruhlman-Bloomington South

#8 Luke Robards-Evansville Central

#10 Nick CIcciarelli-Brownsburg

#11 Hunter May-Evansville Mater Dei

#14 Andre Merritt-Center Grove

#18 Brenden Chew-Heritage Hills

#19 Tyce DuPont-Tell City

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Delaney Ruhlman-Bloomington South

2. Hunter May-Evansville Mater Dei

3. Nick CIcciarelli-Brownsburg

4. Andre Merritt-Center Grove

160

I do not know how many upsets or surprising results we will have at this weight, but the match-ups here are going to be great. Chris Newman(Mt. Vernon (Posey))n is a monster at this weight. Newman is great on top and is a tough match-up due to his size. He will have the winner of Aiden Reynolds(Bloomington South) and Micahel Hutchinson(Cascade). Both guys are solid but this weight class is brutal if you are not a top 5ish guy. Below them, we should have a good first round match-up between Jeb Prechtel(Jasper) and Griffin Ison(Brownsburg). The winner of this, unfortunately, will have Kade Law(Columbus East) waiting for them. On the bottom side of the bracket, we have two top kids wrestling right away. Julian Weems(Center Grove) is super talented, and has tremendous upside going forward. That being said, he has JJ Conway(Floyd Central), and he is not on the level to go with him at this point in time. Landon Boe(Avon) comes in with a spotless record, but will have a tough Luke Kemper(Evansville Central) in the match to go.

2021 Champ:

Brody Baumann-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

1. JJ Conway-Floyd Central

2. Kade Law-Columbus East

3. Landon Boe-Avon

4. Chris Newman-Mt. Vernon (Posey)

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

#1 JJ Conway-Floyd Central

#2 Kade Law-Columbus East

#4 Landon Boe-Avon

#5 Chris Newman-Mt. Vernon (Posey)

#6 Luke Kemper-Evansville Central

#7 Julian Weems-Center Grove

#12 Jeb Pretchel-Jasper

#20 Joey Pierre-Evanville Mater Dei

170

The two best kids in the state are on the same side of the bracket here at  this weight, with returning state champion Brody Baumann(Evansville Mater Dei) and returning qualifier Codei Khawaja(Floyd Central) meeting in the semis. Baumann dominated the first match and I see that being duplicated here. At the top of the bracket, you have Ben Phillips(Charlestown), who comes in with a spotless record. Phillips should make the finals on his side of the bracket. His semi-finals opponent will be either Caden Brewer(Brownsburg) or AIden Farmer(Evansville Memorial). Brewer is good and could end up better than his brother when it is all said and done, but I am going with the senior here.

2021 Champ:

Sam Morrill-Columbus East

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Brody Baumann-Evansville Mater Dei

#2 Codei Khawaja-Floyd Central

#3 Ben Phillips-Charlestown

#8 Aiden Farmer-Evansville Memorial

#12 Noah Clouser-Center Grove

#15 Lucas LeClerc-Plainfield

#17 Connor Svantner-Valparaiso

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brody Baumann-Evansville Mater Dei

2. Ben Phillips-Charlestown

3. Codei Khawaja-Floyd Central

4. Aiden Farmer-Evansville Memorial

182

Gunner Henry(Brownsburg) shocked a lot of people last weekend with his win over Drake Buchanan(Center Grove). I know it is not smart to pick against a result that just happened, but I am still going to take Buchanan to win his first semi-state title this weekend. Henry will have returning state qualifier Bray Emerine(Floyd Central) in the ticket round and Buchanan will have a tough Jaden Durnil(Columbus East). Durnil is probably the 3rd best guy at this weight, but his draw is not kind. Up top, there’s another returning state qualifier, Reid Schroeder(Southridge), and Liam Farmer(Cascade). Schroeder has looked much improved from last year where he was a state qualifier, and I look for him to make it back. The section of the bracket that I am the most interested in has two “toss-up” matches leading into the ticket round. Clay Martin(Evansville Mater Dei) and Luke Bullock(Mooresville). They will see the winner of Jerry McBee(Owen Valley) and Jared Slocum(Columbus North). All these guys are close in skill, so I am going to pick the kids I have seen wrestle, and say that Bullock meets McBee in the ticket, with McBee punching his ticket.

2021 Champ:

Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Drake Buchanan-Center Grove

#5 Bray Emerine-Floyd Central

#6 Reid Schroeder-Southridge

#10 Gunner Henry-Brownsburg

#12 Evan Reff-Castle

#16 Jerry McBee-Owen Valley

#19 Luke Bullock-Mooresville

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Drake Buchanan-Center Grove

2. Gunner Henry-Brownsburg

3. Reid Schroeder-Southridge

4. Jerry McBee-Owen Valley

195

Gabe Sollars(Evansville Mater Dei), John Purdy(Castle), and Wyatt Willman(North Posey) are the top three guys at this weight and they will finish in the top 3 this weekend as well. Southside of those three we have to look at the bottom of the bracket to get our 4th qualifier. While Evan Clayton(Jeffersonville) may not be the 4th best guy he should make it out here at this weight. He will see the winner of Jakobe Leavell(Pike) and Samuel Saunders(Terre Haute North). Leavell is tough and I could see him knocking off both Saunders and Clayton and qualifying.

2021 Champ:

Brach Carrington-Greencastle

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei

#2 John Purdy-Castle

#3 Wyatt Willman-North Posey

#14 Evan Clayton-Jeffersonville

#17 Samuel Saunders-Terre Haute North

#19 Bryce Crump-Center Grove

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei

2. John Purdy-Castle

3. Wyatt Willman-North Posey

4. Evan Clayton-Jeffersonville

220

Nathan Critchfield(Evansville Mater Dei) has looked amazing since returning to the mat after missing last season with health issues. He should roll into the finals where he will likely meet Tommy Morrill(Columbus East). Morrill has taken a jump this year putting himself in the conversation as some who should place high this year. In the semi-finals, they should have Kelton Farmer(Evansville Memorial) and Royce Deckard Deckard(Center Grove), respectively. Deckard is very up and down, and while I do not see him beating Critchfield, I believe he can beat Farmer but only if he can get his head right as he has had issues rebounding after a loss. Farmer will have his hands full in his first match with Jakarrey Oliver(Whiteland). He will then have to get by Garron Jenkins(Floyd Central) to make a return trip downtown.

2021 Champ:

Tristan Ruhlman-Bloomington South

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Nathan Critchfield-Evansville Mater Dei

#5 Kelton Farmer-Evansville Memorial

#6 Tommy Morrill-Columbus East

#12 Garron Jenkins-Floyd Central

#16 Royce Deckard III-Center Grove

#17 Nolan Skaggs-Franklin Community

#18 Ashton Schuetter-Jasper

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Nathan Critchfield-Evansville Mater Dei

2. Tommy Morrill-Columbus East

3. Kelton Farmer-Evansville Memorial

4. Royce Deckard III-Center Grove

285

Beau Noland(North Knox) comes in with a spotless record, but has Jacob Johnson(Franklin Community) waiting for him in the ticket round. Johnson just finds a way to get downtown,and he will do it again this year. Above him, there is a matchup with two guys who not only should make it but could place if they get through. Nate Johnson(Center Grove) took over the reins and has looked great this year, climbing into 8 in the rankings. He has James Ralph(Evansville Mater Dei) in the ticket round, who has a win over J. Johnson already this year. That aside, I am picking N. Johnson to make it through here. At the bottom side of the bracket, we have Leighton Jones(Brownsburg), who is the favorite to win this weight, and Ashton Hartwell(Columbus East). Hartwell should cruise into the semis, but Jones has a tough Logan McGraw(Owen Valley) in the ticket round. Jones is just too good to entertain him losing here.

2021 Champ:

Leighton Jones-Brownsburg

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Leighton Jones-Brownsburg

#5 Jacob Johnson-Franklin Community

#6 Ashton Hartwell-Columbus East

#7 Nate Johnson-Center Grove

#15 James Ralph-Evansville Mater Dei

#20 Logan McGraw-Owen Valley

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Leighton Jones-Brownsburg

2. Jacob Johnson-Franklin Community

3. Nate Johnson-Center Grove

4. Ashton Hartwell-Columbus East