2022 IHSAA State 170-285 Preview
February 17, 2022
170
This weight class has a heavy favorite and that is returning state champion Brody Baumann(Evansville Mater Dei). Baumann has been unchallenged on the year and that should not change this weekend. Opposite of him, Brodie Porter(Eastern (Greentown)) is big for this weight and has been here twice, but left each time without a medal. That changes this year as I see him making it into the semifinals. For him to do that he will have to get past a guy a lot of people see making the finals in Codei Khawaja(Floyd Central). The winner of this match will make the finals opposite Baumann. Ryan Cast(Hamilton Southeastern) looked great at the semi-state but will have Ben Phillips(Charlestown) Friday night. Phillips placed a year ago but I see him going home early this weekend. ANother match to keep an eye on Friday night is between Isaac Valdez(Mishawaka) and Eli Johnson(Norwell). Johnson has not seen the comp[etition that Valdez has this season, and while I am going with Johnson, Valdez can steal one here. In taking 3rd last weekend, Aiden Farmer(Evansville Reitz Memorial) has set himself up to make the semis this weekend.
Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):
#1 Brody Baumann, 31-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12
#2 Codei Khawaja, 36-2, Floyd Central, 12
#3 Brodie Porter, 41-1, Eastern (Greentown), 12
#4 Ben Phillips, 40-2, Charlestown, 12
#5 Landon Buchanan, 39-3, Jimtown, 12
#7 Ryan Cast, 32-1, Hamilton Southeastern, 12
#8 Aiden Farmer, 36-6, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 12
#9 Eli Johnson, 38-1, Norwell, 12
#11 Anthony Cashman, 38-6, Warren Central., 10
#13 JJ Braun, 35-7, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12
#14 Jesse Herrera, 36-4, Highland, 12
#17 Connor Svantner, 31-1, Valparaiso. 12
#18 Isaac Valdez, 37-6, Mishawaka, 11
Braxton Russell, 21-5, Delta, 10
Clifton Johnson, 37-6, North Central (Indianapolis). 12
Ethan Popp, 36-8, Harrison (West Lafayette), 10
Friday night:
Connor Svantner, 31-1, Valparaiso., 12 vs Braxton Russell, 21-5, Delta, 10
Clifton Johnson, 37-6, North Central (Indianapolis)., 12 vs Aiden Farmer, 36-6, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 12
Brodie Porter, 41-1, Eastern (Greentown), 12 vs Ethan Popp, 36-8, Harrison (West Lafayette), 10
Codei Khawaja, 36-2, Floyd Central, 12 vs JJ Braun, 35-7, Indianapolis Cathedral, 12
Brody Baumann, 31-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Anthony Cashman, 38-6, Warren Central., 10
Eli Johnson, 38-1, Norwell, 12 vs Isaac Valdez, 37-6, Mishawaka, 11
Ryan Cast, 32-1, Hamilton Southeastern, 12 vs Ben Phillips, 40-2, Charlestown, 12
Jesse Herrera, 36-4, Highland, 12 vs Landon Buchanan, 39-3, Jimtown, 12
Saturday Morning:
Connor Svantner, 31-1, Valparaiso., 12 vs Aiden Farmer, 36-6, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 12
Brodie Porter, 41-1, Eastern (Greentown), 12 vs Codei Khawaja, 36-2, Floyd Central, 12
Brody Baumann, 31-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Eli Johnson, 38-1, Norwell, 12
Ryan Cast, 32-1, Hamilton Southeastern, 12 vs Landon Buchanan, 39-3, Jimtown, 12
Semi-finals:
Aiden Farmer, 36-6, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 12 vs Brodie Porter, 41-1, Eastern (Greentown), 12
Brody Baumann, 31-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Landon Buchanan, 39-3, Jimtown, 12
Finals:
Brodie Porter, 41-1, Eastern (Greentown), 12 vs Brody Baumann, 31-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Brody Baumann-Evansville Mater Dei
2. Brodie Porter-Eastern (Greentown)
3. Landon Buchanan-Jimtown
4. Aiden Farmer-Evansville Reitz Memorial
5. Codei Khawaja-Floyd Central
6. Ryan Cast-Hamilton Southeastern
7. Eli Johnson-Norwell
8. Connor Svantner-Valparaiso
182
A good draw could see Gunner Henry(Brownsburg) make the finals at this weight class. Henry should have little issue Friday, and I feel like he is too much of a wrestler for Luke Hansen(Roncalli), who he sees Saturday morning. He will likely see Orlando Cruz(Crown Point) in the semis with big team implications on the line. On the other side of the bracket, you have the favorite at this weight, Drake Buchanan(Center Grove), who finished 2nd here a year ago. Buchanan stumbled at regionals, but outside of that he has looked like the best guy at this weight all year. He should see De’Alcappon Veazy(F.W. Snider) in the semifinals. Veazy is another super freshman that would likely make the finals had he been on the opposite side of the bracket.Outside of the top 4 guys, you have Jacob Simpson(Hobart), a returning state qualifier who is looking to get on the podium in his senior season, and Jake Sues(Lake Central), who got 8th here a year ago. Simpson should have no issues with David Nash(East Central) on Friday, before he drops down on Saturday morning. Sues has a Hansen that looks like a top 5 guy on Friday and will be done earlier than a year ago. Reid Schroeder(Southridge) was a state qualifier last year, and has the draw he needs to get on the podium for the first time. The last guy making through on Friday is Evan Tilton(Hamilton Heights). Tilton looked good until he ran into Hansen last weekend but Kooper Kinser(Delphi) is not Hansen.
Ranked Wrestlers 10/16:
#1 Drake Buchanan, 39-1, Center Grove, 12
#2 Orlando Cruz, 36-1, Crown Point, 11
#3 De`Alcapon Veazy, 33-4, Fort Wayne Snider, 9
#4 Hunter Page, 42-2, Monroe Central, 11
#6 Reid Schroeder, 41-3, Southridge, 11
#7 Jacob Simpson, 39-4, Hobart, 12
#8 Luke Hansen, 35-2, Roncalli, 11
#10 Gunner Henry, 32-2, Brownsburg, 9
#11 Evan Tilton, 45-1, Hamilton Heights, 11
#15 Jake Sues, 33-10, Lake Central, 12
Tommy Hannon, 21-5, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 12
Jaquan East, 43-5, Kokomo, 11
Alex Rose, 25-7, Terre Haute South Vigo, 11
Kooper Kinsler, 37-5, Delphi Community, 12
Trey Tobias, 29-9, NorthWood, 12
David Nash, 42-4, East Central, 12
Friday night:
Luke Hansen, 35-2, Roncalli, 11 vs Jake Sues, 33-10, Lake Central, 12
Hunter Page, 42-2, Monroe Central, 11 vs Gunner Henry, 32-2, Brownsburg, 9
Orlando Cruz, 36-1, Crown Point, 11 vs Tommy Hannon, 21-5, Indianapolis Bishop Chatard, 12
Reid Schroeder, 41-3, Southridge, 11 vs Jaquan East, 43-5, Kokomo, 11
De`Alcapon Veazy, 33-4, Fort Wayne Snider, 9 vs Alex Rose, 25-7, Terre Haute South Vigo, 11
Kooper Kinsler, 37-5, Delphi Community, 12 vs Evan Tilton, 45-1, Hamilton Heights, 11
Drake Buchanan, 39-1, Center Grove, 12 vs Trey Tobias, 29-9, NorthWood, 12
David Nash, 42-4, East Central, 12 vs Jacob Simpson, 39-4, Hobart, 12
Saturday Morning:
Luke Hansen, 35-2, Roncalli, 11 vs Gunner Henry, 32-2, Brownsburg, 9
Orlando Cruz, 36-1, Crown Point, 11 vs Reid Schroeder, 41-3, Southridge, 11
De`Alcapon Veazy, 33-4, Fort Wayne Snider, 9 vs Evan Tilton, 45-1, Hamilton Heights, 11
Drake Buchanan, 39-1, Center Grove, 12 vs Jacob Simpson, 39-4, Hobart, 12
Semi-finals:
Gunner Henry, 32-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Orlando Cruz, 36-1, Crown Point, 11
De`Alcapon Veazy, 33-4, Fort Wayne Snider, 9 vs Drake Buchanan, 39-1, Center Grove, 12
Finals:
Gunner Henry, 32-2, Brownsburg, 9 vs Drake Buchanan, 39-1, Center Grove, 12
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Drake Buchanan-Center Grove
2. Gunner Henry-Brownsburg
3. De`Alcapon Veazy-Fort Wayne Snider
4. Orlando Cruz-Crown Point
5. Luke Hansen-Roncalli
6. Jacob Simpson-Hobart
7. Reid Schroeder-Southridge
8. Evan Tilton-Hamilton Heights
195
This is a two man race here. Gabe Sollars(Evansville Mater Dei) has proven to be the best guy at this weight as he looks to secure his second state title. Opposite of him will be a familiar opponent in John Purdy(Castle), who Sollars has beaten 3 times this year. Sollars has been able to widen the gap here in this matchup and I see him walking to another title this weekend. Connor Barket(West Lafayette) has not gotten enough love this season, and while I do not see him making it into the finals, I can see him taking out Wyatt Willman(North Posey) Saturday morning to make the semifinals. I have another 4-over-1 pick at this weight class with Samuael Saunders(Terre Haute North) taking out Armen Koltookian(Concord) on Friday. Saunders was in a weight at the semistate that featured the top 3 ranked kids in the state.There are two great matches Friday here where there are no favorites and whoever shows up will make the podium. The first being with Ronin Hammond(Perry Meridian) and Will Clark(Crown Point). Hammond beat Clark the last time they wrestled, 12-10 SV, but I do not expect this match to look like it did at folkstyle state. Hammond has looked solid this offseason and when he shows up he can go with nearly everyone at this weight. The other match to keep an eye on is between Aataeveon Jordan(Franklin Central) and Christsian Chavez(Mishawaka). Looking at common opponents, you want to take Chavez in this match, but I do not think Jordan was 100 percent when he lost early on in the year, so I see him coming out on top and making the podium again.
Ranked Wrestlers (13/16):
#1 Gabe Sollars, 34-2, Evansville Mater Dei, 12
#2 John Purdy, 38-3, Castle, 11
#3 Wyatt Willman, 34-6, North Posey, 12
#4 Connor Barket, 51-0, West Lafayette. 12
#5 William Clark, 33-4, Crown Point, 10
#6 Gage DeMarco, 42-6, Chesterton, 12
#7 Christian Chavez, 33-5, Mishawaka, 11
#8 Aataeveon Jordan, 30-1, Franklin Central, 12
#9 Jacob Behm, 42-3, Fremont, 12
#11 Alex Deming, 41-2, Rochester Community, 10
#13 Ronin Hammond, 24-11, Perry Meridian, 11
#16 Max Broom, 31-6, Hamilton Southeastern, 12
#17 Samuel Saunders, 36-5, Terre Haute North Vigo, 12
Jackson Ingenito, 28-6, Daleville, 12
Armen Koltookian, 41-6, Concord, 11
Ryan Bovard, 38-9, East Central, 12
Friday night:
Gabe Sollars, 34-2, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Jackson Ingenito, 28-6, Daleville, 12
Ronin Hammond, 24-11, Perry Meridian, 11 vs William Clark, 33-4, Crown Point, 10
Armen Koltookian, 41-6, Concord, 11 vs Samuel Saunders, 36-5, Terre Haute North Vigo, 12
Gage DeMarco, 42-6, Chesterton, 12 vs Max Broom, 31-6, Hamilton Southeastern, 12
Connor Barket, 51-0, West Lafayette., 12 vs Ryan Bovard, 38-9, East Central, 12
Wyatt Willman, 34-6, North Posey, 12 vs Alex Deming, 41-2, Rochester Community, 10
Aataeveon Jordan, 30-1, Franklin Central, 12 vs Christian Chavez, 33-5, Mishawaka, 11
Jacob Behm, 42-3, Fremont, 12 vs John Purdy, 38-3, Castle, 11
Saturday Morning:
Gabe Sollars, 34-2, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Ronin Hammond, 24-11, Perry Meridian, 11
Samuel Saunders, 36-5, Terre Haute North Vigo, 12 vs Max Broom, 31-6, Hamilton Southeastern, 12
Connor Barket, 51-0, West Lafayette. 12 vs Wyatt Willman, 34-6, North Posey, 12
Aataeveon Jordan, 30-1, Franklin Central, 12 vs John Purdy, 38-3, Castle, 11
Semi-finals:
Gabe Sollars, 34-2, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Max Broom, 31-6, Hamilton Southeastern, 12
Wyatt Willman, 34-6, North Posey, 12 vs John Purdy, 38-3, Castle, 11
Finals:
Gabe Sollars, 34-2, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs John Purdy, 38-3, Castle, 11
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Gabe Sollars-Evansville Mater Dei
2. John Purdy-Castle
3. Wyatt Willman-North Posey
4. Max Broom-Hamilton Southeastern
5. Connor Barket-West Lafayette
6. Ronin Hammond-Perry Meridian
7. Aataeveon Jordan-Franklin Central
8. Samuel Saunders-Terre Haute South
220
This is the second weight with an overwhelmingly heavy favorite. No one is beating Christian Carroll(New Prairie), we already knew that coming in, but can anyone “push” him and take him the distance. Juan Grange(Penn) is Carroll’s longest match of the year, at about 4 min and 45 seconds. The good thing for Grange is that since they were at the same semi-state, and met in the finals, there was no way he could be on his side of the bracket this weekend. Unfortunately for Nathan Critchfield(Evansville Mater Dei), Carroll is on his side. Critchfield is likely the second best guy here but will have to settle for 3rd. The two toughest semi-states at this weight, Evansville and East Chicago, got paired together this weekend so we will see a lot of kids that should be on the podium, at home Saturday morning. Kelton Farmer(Evansville Reitz Memorial) is a returning state qualifier looking to take home his first medal but has a tough Grange Friday night, making it hard for me to see him getting on the podium this year. A guy to watch that could potentially prevent the rematch between Carroll and Grange is Blake Heyerly(Adams Central). Heyerly has not lost to anyone at this weight, and if he can get past Grange Friday night, should be in the finals. With New Castle and Fort Wayne getting matched up Friday night, there are a lot of toss up matches at this weight. The first being between Jackson Weingart(Cathedral) and Julante Hinton(F.W. Northrop). Hinton is a much better wrestler than Weingart, but Weingart is a big strong athlete, who will be incredibly well coached on Friday. Regardless I see the New Castle champ going down here. The next one is Chance Harris(F.W. Concordia) and Devin Kendrex(Mt. Vernon (Fortville)). Kendex came in with a lot of expectations from middle school and is already living up to some of them. They have a common opponent, and won by similar margins, so I am going to go with who I believe is the better wrestler of the two and that is Kendrex.
Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):
#1 Christian Carroll, 18-0, New Prairie, 11
#2 Nate Critchfield, 33-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12
#3 Blake Heyerly, 42-1, Adams Central, 12
#4 Juan Grange, 26-2, Penn, 12
#5 Kelton Farmer, 37-5, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 11
#6 Tommy Morrill, 37-2, Columbus East, 11
#7 Brady Beck, 40-2, Rochester Community, 10
#9 Chance Harris, 33-6, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 11
#10 Julante Hinton, 36-6, Fort Wayne Northrop, 10
#15 Jackson Weingart, 28-11, Indianapolis Cathedral, 10
#16 Royce Deckard III, 34-7, Center Grove, 11
Jacob Long, 25-8, Noblesville, 12
Paul Clark, 29-8, Crown Point, 10
Justin Lewis, 31-9, Roncalli, 12
Jordan Cree, 43-7, Rensselaer Central, 11
Devin Kendrex, 31-6, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 9
Friday night:
Blake Heyerly, 42-1, Adams Central, 12 vs Jacob Long, 25-8, Noblesville, 12
Kelton Farmer, 37-5, Evansville Reitz Memorial, 11 vs Juan Grange, 26-2, Penn, 12
Jackson Weingart, 28-11, Indianapolis Cathedral, 10 vs Julante Hinton, 36-6, Fort Wayne Northrop, 10
Paul Clark, 29-8, Crown Point, 10 vs Tommy Morrill, 37-2, Columbus East, 11
Nate Critchfield, 33-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Jordan Cree, 43-7, Rensselaer Central, 11
Chance Harris, 33-6, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 11 vs Devin Kendrex, 31-6, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 9
Christian Carroll, 18-0, New Prairie, 11 vs Royce Deckard III, 34-7, Center Grove, 11
Justin Lewis, 31-9, Roncalli, 12 vs Brady Beck, 40-2, Rochester Community, 10
Saturday Morning:
Blake Heyerly, 42-1, Adams Central, 12 vs Juan Grange, 26-2, Penn, 12
Julante Hinton, 36-6, Fort Wayne Northrop, 10 vs Tommy Morrill, 37-2, Columbus East, 11
Nate Critchfield, 33-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Devin Kendrex, 31-6, Mt. Vernon (Fortville), 9
Christian Carroll, 18-0, New Prairie, 11 vs Brady Beck, 40-2, Rochester Community, 10
Semi-finals:
Juan Grange, 26-2, Penn, 12 vs Tommy Morrill, 37-2, Columbus East, 11
Nate Critchfield, 33-0, Evansville Mater Dei, 12 vs Christian Carroll, 18-0, New Prairie, 11
Finals:
Juan Grange, 26-2, Penn, 12 vs Christian Carroll, 18-0, New Prairie, 11
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Christian Caroll-New Prairie
2. Juan Grange-Penn
3. Nathan Critchfield-Evanville Mater Dei
4. Tommy Morrill-Columbus East
5. Blake Heyerly-Adams Central
6. Brady Beck-Rochester
7. Devin Kendex-Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
8. Julante Hinton-Fort Wayne Northrop
285
A lot of people had Leighton Jones(Brownsburg) winning it all last year, but he fell a bit short. Neither of the guys that made the finals a year ago returned this year, leaving a clear path for Jones to wrestle under the lights. In the semis I honestly do not know who he could see. Hunter Whitenack(New Prairie) comes in with an undefeated record but will have a tough Nate Johnson(Center Grove) Friday night. N. Johnson can definitely pull off the “upset” here and no one would be surprised if he did honestly. The winner of this match will likely see Mihail Platonov(Westfield) Saturday morning. Platonic has pushed Jones already this year and this is heavyweight where nearly every match will be within the margins. I have Whitenack getting past them both and meeting Jones in the semis. On the other half of the bracket, you have Jacob Johnson(Franklin Community), who is making his third trip downtown and looking to get his first medal. I do not see anyone from his side preventing him from making the semifinals. In the semis, he should have Marshall Fishback(Rochester), but Fishback has a tough path to get to him. Friday he has Hunter Brahnam(Frankton), who had a big upset at the semi-state to get here. Assuming Fishback beats Brahnam, he will see Ashton Hartwell(Columbus East). I am taking Hartwell to win this match and see J. Johnson in the semis. Jones should meet J. Johnson in the finals in a rematch from the past 2 weeks.
Ranked Wrestlers (11/16):
#1 Leighton Jones, 41-2, Brownsburg, 11
#2 Hunter Whitenack, 27-0, New Prairie, 12
#4 Jacob Johnson, 38-3, Franklin Community, 12
#6 Ashton Hartwell, 34-3, Columbus East, 12
#7 Nate Johnson, 29-6, Center Grove, 10
#8 Makhi Watts, 35-5, North Central (Indianapolis). 12
#9 Marshall Fishback, 41-1, Rochester Community, 12
#10 Mihail Platonov, 36-7, Westfield., 12
#12 Brayden Jellison, 33-8, Elkhart, 11
#14 Hosia Smith, 29-7, Indianapolis Cathedral, 10
#19 Ian Clifford, 25-2, Columbia City, 12
Liam Begley, 21-14, Crown Point, 12
Josh Clark, 24-10, New Haven, 11
Hunter Brahnam, 28-7, Frankton, 11
Trey White, 31-7, Portage, 12
Theodore Sparks, 33-5, Merrillville, 12
Friday night:
Leighton Jones, 41-2, Brownsburg, 11 vs Liam Begley, 21-14, Crown Point, 12
Josh Clark, 24-10, New Haven, 11 vs Hosia Smith, 29-7, Indianapolis Cathedral, 10
Hunter Whitenack, 27-0, New Prairie, 12 vs Nate Johnson, 29-6, Center Grove, 10
Mihail Platonov, 36-7, Westfield., 12 vs Ian Clifford, 25-2, Columbia City, 12
Marshall Fishback, 41-1, Rochester Community, 12 vs Hunter Brahnam, 28-7, Frankton, 11
Ashton Hartwell, 34-3, Columbus East, 12 vs Trey White, 31-7, Portage, 12
Makhi Watts, 35-5, North Central (Indianapolis). 12 vs Brayden Jellison, 33-8, Elkhart, 11
Theodore Sparks, 33-5, Merrillville, 12 vs Jacob Johnson, 38-3, Franklin Community, 12
Saturday Morning:
Leighton Jones, 41-2, Brownsburg, 11 vs Hosia Smith, 29-7, Indianapolis Cathedral, 10
Hunter Whitenack, 27-0, New Prairie, 12 vs Mihail Platonov, 36-7, Westfield. 12
Marshall Fishback, 41-1, Rochester Community, 12 vs Ashton Hartwell, 34-3, Columbus East, 12
Makhi Watts, 35-5, North Central (Indianapolis). 12 vs Jacob Johnson, 38-3, Franklin Community, 12
Semi-finals:
Leighton Jones, 41-2, Brownsburg, 11 vs Hunter Whitenack, 27-0, New Prairie, 12
Ashton Hartwell, 34-3, Columbus East, 12 vs Jacob Johnson, 38-3, Franklin Community, 12
Finals:
Leighton Jones, 41-2, Brownsburg, 11 vs Jacob Johnson, 38-3, Franklin Community, 12
Hoosiermat Top 8:
1. Leighton Jones-Brownsburg
2. Jacob Johnson-Franklin Community
3. Hunter Whitenack-New Prairie
4. Ashton Hartwell-Columbus East
5. Mihail Platanov-Westfield
6. Makhi Watts-North Central
7. Marshall Fishback-Rochester
8. Hosia Smith-Cathedral
