2022 IHSAA STATE 106-126 PREVIEW
February 17, 2022
106
There is only one wrestler at this weight that still sports a spotless record and that is Nathan Smith(Southport). Smith has the skill set to win it all, obviously, but he has a tough road to get there. With the alternate being drawn in from Evansville, Cameron Meier(Bloomington South), I see Smith having no issues Friday Night. The two frontrunners entering the postseason have both taken losses and shown vulnerability. Jeffrey Bailey(River Forest) took his first loss of the year against another wrestler in this field, Gavin Jeandres(Crown Point). I do not think it matters though as both Jeandres and Bailey have tough Saturday morning matches. Bailey drew into my pick to win this weight in Jake Hockaday(Brownsburg). Outside of his lone in-state blemish, to Luke Rioux(Avon), Hockaday has been dominant this season. The match will be very interesting Saturday morning with both guys being really big for the weight and being the first match off the scale. Isaiah Schaefer(Evansville Mater Dei) has a favorable draw that could see him making it under the lights. He will see Jeandres Saturday morning, and I am picking the winner of that to make the finals. The pick I am making more with my heart, and gut, than my brain is picking Jalen May(Peru) to make the semi-finals by beating Rioux Saturday morning. May looked lights out a week ago and if he can carry that over this weekend, he could surprise a lot of people this weekend. Levi Johns(Bluffton) took his first loss of the year to May at the semi-state, regardless, he should have little issue getting past E’Shawn Tolbert(Portage) on friday night. Heather Crull(Northeastern) may have been the second best kid at New Castle last week but had Smith in the semifinals resulting in her drawing into Rioux on Friday night.
Ranked Wrestlers (15/16):
#1 Jeffrey Bailey, 34-1, River Forest., 12
#2 Jake Hockaday, 39-2, Brownsburg, 9
#3 Nathan Smith, 47-0, Southport, 12
#4 Luke Rioux, 34-4, Avon, 10
#5 Isaiah Schaefer, 34-3, Evansville Mater Dei, 9
#7 Gavin Jendrens, 32-4, Crown Point, 9
#9 Jalen May, 35-3, Peru, 10
#10 Levi Johns, 39-1, Bluffton, 9
#11 Julianna Ocampo, 34-4, New Haven, 9
#12 Oliver Wilson, 31-5, North Central (Indianapolis)
#13 Heather Crull, 45-3, Northeastern, 9
#15 Ayden Bollinger, 34-4, Delta, 9
#17 E`Shawn Tolbert, 24-5, Portage, 10
#18 Cameron Meier-Bloomnington South
#20 Tamir Halevi, 19-6, Carmel, 10
Seth Aubin, 34-11, Hobart, 9
Saturday Morning:
Jake Hockaday, 39-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Tamir Halevi, 19-6, Carmel, 10
Jeffrey Bailey, 34-1, River Forest., 12 vs Ayden Bollinger, 34-4, Delta, 9
Nathan Smith, 47-0, Southport, 12 vs Cameron Meier, 24-8, Bloomington South, 9
Levi Johns, 39-1, Bluffton, 9 vs E`Shawn Tolbert, 24-5, Portage, 10
Gavin Jendrens, 32-4, Crown Point, 9 vs Julianna Ocampo, 34-4, New Haven, 9
Isaiah Schaefer, 34-3, Evansville Mater Dei, 9 vs Oliver Wilson, 31-5, North Central (Indianapolis).
Jalen May, 35-3, Peru, 10 vs Seth Aubin, 34-11, Hobart, 9
Heather Crull, 45-3, Northeastern, 9 vs Luke Rioux, 34-4, Avon, 10
Saturday Morning:
Jake Hockaday, 39-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Jeffrey Bailey, 34-1, River Forest., 12
Nathan Smith, 47-0, Southport, 12 vs Levi Johns, 39-1, Bluffton, 9
Gavin Jendrens, 32-4, Crown Point, 9 vs Isaiah Schaefer, 34-3, Evansville Mater Dei, 9
Jalen May, 35-3, Peru, 10 vs Luke Rioux, 34-4, Avon, 10
Semi-finals:
Jake Hockaday, 39-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Nathan Smith, 47-0, Southport, 12
Isaiah Schaefer, 34-3, Evansville Mater Dei, 9 vs Jalen May, 35-3, Peru, 10
Finals:
Jake Hockaday, 39-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Isaiah Schaefer, 34-3, Evansville Mater Dei, 9
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Jake Hockaday-Brownsburg
2. Isaiah Schaefer-Evansville Mater Dei
3. Nathan Smith-Southport
4. Jalen May-Peru
5. Jeffrey Bailey-River Forest
6. Luke Rioux-Avon
7. Gavin Jeandreas-Crown Point
8. Levi Johns-Bluffton
113
This one of many weights where we could see the “finals” in the semis. The top two kids in the state, Ashton Jackson(LaPorte) and Evan Dickey(Cathedral), should meet in the semi-finals in a rematch of last year’s state finals. Jackson has a bit tougher path to get there, but I would not bet against him. He will likely see Evan Seng(Evansville Mater Dei) Saturday morning. Seng has a tough one Friday night against Easton Doster(New Haven), who has only lost to one person this year. That person is Tanner Tishner(Western), who should make the semifinals on the bottom side. He will have Eddie Goss(Center Grove) on Friday, and the style that Goss wrestles will have him in every match. While I do not think Goss is as good as Tishner, he can slow a match down and steal one here. Preston Haines(Brownsburg) missed out on the postseason a year ago but is making the most of his first run. No one on his side can beat him, and I look for him to see the Jackson/Dickey winner in the finals. There are two matches that are coin flips, in my opinion, on Friday night. The first being the match between Johnny Cortez(Lake Central) and Gavin Thompson(Carmel). Thompson is a tank at this weight and while I do not know how hard it is for him to make the weight, I can see that being an issue against Cortez on Friday. The other match that can go either way is at the bottom of the bracket between Braden Getz(Roncalli) and Trevor Schammert(Hobart). Schammert has been good enough for a while now and has finally made it downtown. While Getz has looked solid this postseason, I am giving the nod to Schammert here.
Ranked Wrestlers (14/16):
#1 Ashton Jackson, 46-0, LaPorte, 11
#2 Evan Dickey, 37-1, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12
#3 Preston Haines, 35-2, Brownsburg, 10
#4 Evan Seng, 33-4, Evansville Mater Dei, 10
#5 Tanner Tishner, 37-0, Western., 10
#6 Easton Doster, 40-2, New Haven, 9
#8 Jackson Heaston, 40-2, Indian Creek, 11
#10 Johnny Cortez, 34-9, Lake Central, 12
#11 Trevor Schammert, 40-4, Hobart, 12
#13 Gavin Thompson, 20-4, Carmel, 11
#14 Eddie Goss, 31-12, Center Grove, 9
#16 Braden Getz, 19-1, Roncalli, 10
#17 Wyatt Davis, 27-4, Rochester Community, 9
Dylan Bennett, 26-9, Penn, 10
Bowen Keith, 24-8, Cowan, 10
Peter Nguyen, 24-7, Guerin Catholic, 10
Friday night:
Ashton Jackson, 46-0, LaPorte, 11 vs Peter Nguyen, 24-7, Guerin Catholic, 10
Easton Doster, 40-2, New Haven, 9 vs Evan Seng, 33-4, Evansville Mater Dei, 10
Evan Dickey, 37-1, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12 vs Dylan Bennett, 26-9, Penn, 10
Jackson Heaston, 40-2, Indian Creek, 11 vs Wyatt Davis, 27-4, Rochester Community, 9
Tanner Tishner, 37-0, Western., 10 vs Eddie Goss, 31-12, Center Grove, 9
Johnny Cortez, 34-9, Lake Central, 12 vs Gavin Thompson, 20-4, Carmel, 11
Preston Haines, 35-2, Brownsburg, 10 vs Bowen Keith, 24-8, Cowan, 10
Braden Getz, 19-1, Roncalli, 10 vs Trevor Schammert, 40-4, Hobart, 12
Saturday Morning:
Ashton Jackson, 46-0, LaPorte, 11 vs Evan Seng, 33-4, Evansville Mater Dei, 10
Evan Dickey, 37-1, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12 vs Jackson Heaston, 40-2, Indian Creek, 11
Tanner Tishner, 37-0, Western., 10 vs Johnny Cortez, 34-9, Lake Central, 12
Preston Haines, 35-2, Brownsburg, 10 vs Trevor Schammert, 40-4, Hobart, 12
Semi-finals:
Ashton Jackson, 46-0, LaPorte, 11 vs Evan Dickey, 37-1, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12
Tanner Tishner, 37-0, Western. 10 vs Preston Haines, 35-2, Brownsburg, 10
Finals:
Ashton Jackson, 46-0, LaPorte, 11 vs Preston Haines, 35-2, Brownsburg, 10
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Ashton Jackson-LaPorte
2. Preston Haines-Brownsburg
3. Evan Dickey-Cathedral
4. Tanner Tishner-Western
5. Easton Doster-New Haven
6. Johnny Cortez-Lake Central
7. Trevor Schammert-Hobart
8. Jackson Heaston-Indian Creek
120
With the on paper favorite not in the field this weight class is wide open this weekend. Toby Billerman(Perry Meridian) is set up to make the finals at this weight class after finally getting over the hump and beating Kyrel Leavell(Warren Central) at the semi-state. Billerman will have a tough Noah Lykins(Columbus East) on Saturday morning, and I know he pinned him in the first match, but I see it being a bit more competitive here. If he beats him he will likely see Hayden DeMarco(Chesterton) in the semis. Using common opponents, I am giving Billerman the nod in this match as well. The other side of the bracket is just brutal if you are Lane Gilbert(Sullivan). Gilbert will have to get through Leavell first thing Saturday morning. I have Leavell beating Gilbert here, due to the discrepancy in mat wrestling between the two. Whoever wins this has Isaac Ruble(Bellmont), in the semis. Ruble has spent the last two seasons wrestling under the lights and I think he makes it three this weekend. Jared Dunn(Princeton) was a bracket buster a week ago and looks to do the same here. What makes things a bit more interesting is that the reason his opponent, Hayden Brady(Garrett), has yet to get a medal is due to a headlock his freshman year. Brady is my pick here but Dunn might be able to keep the magic rolling in this match. Some other Friday night matches to look for are Braxton Vest(Westfield) and Christopher Bohn(Munster). Bohn’s only loss of the year was to DeMarco, in a somewhat competitive match. I see Bohn making the podium in his first trip downtown.
Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):
#2 Lane Gilbert, 28-1, Sullivan, 11
#3 Kyrel Leavell, 31-1, Warren Central., 10
#4 Toby Billerman, 32-4, Perry Meridian, 11
#5 Isaac Ruble, 43-1, Bellmont, 12
#6 Aden Reyes, 31-9, Indianapolis Cathedral, 11
#9 Hayden DeMarco, 42-1, Chesterton, 10
#10 Noah Lykins, 36-5, Columbus East, 12
#11 Braxton Vest, 38-6, Westfield., 12
#16 Hayden Brady, 29-4, Garrett, 11
#19 Christopher Bohn, 42-1, Munster, 10
#20 Neil Mosier, 36-3, Delta, 10
Jared Dunn, 35-5, Princeton Community, 12
Guillermo Rivera, 28-10, Lake Central, 10
Dominic McFeeley, 39-8, Cascade, 11
Elliott Cornewell, 38-5, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 12
Jayden Lewis, 36-10, New Prairie, 9
Friday night:
Hayden DeMarco, 42-1, Chesterton, 10 vs Aden Reyes, 31-9, Indianapolis Cathedral, 11
Hayden Brady, 29-4, Garrett, 11 vs Jared Dunn, 35-5, Princeton Community, 12
Toby Billerman, 32-4, Perry Meridian, 11 vs Guillermo Rivera, 28-10, Lake Central, 10
Noah Lykins, 36-5, Columbus East, 12 vs Neil Mosier, 36-3, Delta, 10
Lane Gilbert, 28-1, Sullivan, 11 vs Elliott Cornewell, 38-5, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, 12
Jayden Lewis, 36-10, New Prairie, 9 vs Kyrel Leavell, 31-1, Warren Central., 10
Isaac Ruble, 43-1, Bellmont, 12 vs Dominic McFeeley, 39-8, Cascade, 11
Braxton Vest, 38-6, Westfield., 12 vs Christopher Bohn, 42-1, Munster, 10
Saturday Morning:
Hayden DeMarco, 42-1, Chesterton, 10 vs Hayden Brady, 29-4, Garrett, 11
Toby Billerman, 32-4, Perry Meridian, 11 vs Noah Lykins, 36-5, Columbus East, 12
Lane Gilbert, 28-1, Sullivan, 11 vs Kyrel Leavell, 31-1, Warren Central., 10
Isaac Ruble, 43-1, Bellmont, 12 vs Christopher Bohn, 42-1, Munster, 10
Semi-finals:
Hayden DeMarco, 42-1, Chesterton, 10 vs Toby Billerman, 32-4, Perry Meridian, 11
Kyrel Leavell, 31-1, Warren Central., 10 vs Isaac Ruble, 43-1, Bellmont, 12
Finals:
Toby Billerman, 32-4, Perry Meridian, 11 vs Isaac Ruble, 43-1, Bellmont, 12
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Toby Billerman-Perry Merdian
2. Isaac Ruble-Bellmont
3. Kyrel Leavell-Warren Central
4. Hayden DeMarco-Chesterton
5. Lane Gilbert-Sullivan
6. Noah Lykins-Columbus East
7. Christopher Bohn-Munster
8. Hayden Brady-Garrett
126
I will not disrespect Aidan Sprague(East Noble) by saying this is a two man race, but without him getting a chance to wrestle some of the better guys in the state, I have him a rung behind the two front runners. Logan Frazier(Crown Point) and Matteo Vargo(Penn) have looked like the two best guys at this weight and I expect a third match between the two this weekend. Joey Buttler(Whiteland) did himself a huge favor by winning the semi-state last weekend, giving himself a great draw to make the semis. He will have the Vargo/Sprague winner, and I do not see him beating either of those guys, he will still finish in the top 4. On the bottom side of the bracket is Logan Frazier(Crown Point). Like I said a week ago, Frazier has only lost to guys who have won, or wrestled for, a state title. That criteria only applies to one guy here, and he has already beaten him twice this year. Frazier should roll into the semi-finals. There he will wrestle the winner of KT Nelson(Castle), who is back after two years off, and Blake Wolf(East Central). Wolf looked solid at the semi-state but I do not see him getting past Nelson. Nelson dropped his first match of the season last weekend, but I saw that match as a bad matchup for Nelson due to Buttler’s style. Some Friday night matches to check out are between David Maldonado(Merrillville) and Isaac Ward(Carmel). Ward has been here before and came up just short a year ago. Maldonando has wrestled some of the top kids and took some losses early in the season, but has looked good this postseason.
Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):
#1 Logan Frazier, 30-1, Crown Point, 11
#2 Matteo Vargo, 27-2, Penn, 12
#3 Aidan Sprague, 39-0, East Noble, 12
#4 KT Nelson, 40-1, Castle, 12
#5 Blake Wolf, 46-0, East Central, 11
#6 Joey Buttler, 36-1, Whiteland Community., 11
#8 Keaton Morton, 31-7, Perry Meridian, 11
#9 Braden Haines, 35-7, Brownsburg, 12
#10 Tony Wood, 37-3, Jay County, 10
#11 Isaac Ward, 25-3, Carmel, 11
#14 Griffin Ingalls, 34-7, Fishers, 11
#15 Michael Tharpe, 29-12, Center Grove, 12
#18 Beau Brabender, 31-8, Mishawaka, 11
Gavin Cook, 30-7, Adams Central, 11
David Maldonado, 33-7, Merrillville, 11
Keegan Schlabach, 39-9, Lakeland, 11
Friday night:
Aidan Sprague, 39-0, East Noble, 12 vs Michael Tharpe, 29-12, Center Grove, 12
Griffin Ingalls, 34-7, Fishers, 11 vs Matteo Vargo, 27-2, Penn, 12
Joey Buttler, 36-1, Whiteland Community., 11 vs Gavin Cook, 30-7, Adams Central, 11
David Maldonado, 33-7, Merrillville, 11 vs Isaac Ward, 25-3, Carmel, 11
Blake Wolf, 46-0, East Central, 11 vs Beau Brabender, 31-8, Mishawaka, 11
KT Nelson, 40-1, Castle, 12 vs Tony Wood, 37-3, Jay County, 10
Logan Frazier, 30-1, Crown Point, 11 vs Keaton Morton, 31-7, Perry Meridian, 11
Keegan Schlabach, 39-9, Lakeland, 11 vs Braden Haines, 35-7, Brownsburg, 12
Saturday Morning:
Aidan Sprague, 39-0, East Noble, 12 vs Matteo Vargo, 27-2, Penn, 12
Joey Buttler, 36-1, Whiteland Community. 11 vs David Maldonado, 33-7, Merrillville, 11
Blake Wolf, 46-0, East Central, 11 vs KT Nelson, 40-1, Castle, 12
Logan Frazier, 30-1, Crown Point, 11 vs Braden Haines, 35-7, Brownsburg, 12
Semi-finals:
Matteo Vargo, 27-2, Penn, 12 vs Joey Buttler, 36-1, Whiteland Community., 11
KT Nelson, 40-1, Castle, 12 vs Logan Frazier, 30-1, Crown Point, 11
Finals:
Matteo Vargo, 27-2, Penn, 12 vs Logan Frazier, 30-1, Crown Point, 11
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Logan Frazier-Crown Point
2. Matteo Vargo-Penn
3. Joey Buttler-Whiteland
4. KT Nelson-Castle
5. Aidan Sprague-East Noble
6. Blake Wolf-East Central
7. Braden Haines-Brownsburg
8. David Maldonando-Merrillville
