2026 East Chicago Semi-State Preview

106

In The Bracket (3 Ranked Wrestlers):

#4 Julian DeLuna-Hanover Central

#15 Gavin Longoria-Lowell

#20 Vince McCoy-South Bend Riley

NR Rashad Nelson-Merrillville

NR Christia Steffey-West Lafayette

NR Micah Vargas-New Prairie

NR Levi Laidig-Penn

NR Reid Hayworth-Harrison (WL)

NR James Matlon-Lake Central

NR Tristan Wood-Warsaw Community

NR Keegan Holderman-Bremen

NR Isaac Garcia-Hammond Bishop Noll

NR Aldo Origel-Rensselaer Central

NR Colten Salyer-Knox

NR Prince Baptiste-Lafayette Central Catholic

NR Brody Conrad-Portage

Weight Preview:

Hanover Central's Julian DeLuna is the lone guy at this weight with state experience, and he looks to win his first semi-state title this weekend en route to getting on the podium next weekend. DeLuna has not taken a loss to anyone remaining in the tournament and should be the on-paper favorite here. Lowell's Gavin Longoria's record is deceiving; he has been battle-tested this year and has been right there with some of the best guys in the state, and I look for him to make a trip to the finals this weekend. Outside of the two finalists, you have Merrillville's Rashad Nelson and South Bend Riley's Vince McCoy. Nelson and McCoy have both been consistent this year, coming in with 8 total losses on the year, none of which would be considered "bad" losses. 

2025 Champion: Sam Westfall-Crown Point

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Julian DeLuna-Hanover Central

2nd-Gavin Longoria-Lowell

3rd-Vince McCoy-South Bend Riley

4th-Rashad Nelson-Merrillville

113

In The Bracket (5 Ranked Wrestlers):

#12 Nicholas Freeze-New Prairie

#14 Sam Westfall-Crown Point

#15 Cruz Orueta-Lake Central

#16 Brody Blevins-Mishawaka

#20 Roman Marquez-South Bend Riley

NR Haydon Snowden-Attica

NR Ivahn Martinez-Warsaw Community

NR Julian Gonzales-Munster

NR Isabel Kaplan-West Lafayette

NR Tyler Quarles-Lowell

NR Dominic Dillon-Griffith

NR James Mobley-Merrillville

NR Carter Gary-Hanover Central

NR Graham Scherer-Tri-County

NR Tanner Horn-Rochester Community

NR Isaac Warner-West Central

Weight Preview:

This weight class is headlined by three guys. Crown Point senior Sam Westfall was a champion down a weight class last year, and I see him repeating this year. A 7th-placer from a year ago, Westfall has been tested by Crown Point's schedule, which could be the difference this weekend. There is a second returning state placer in this weight, Lake Central's Cruz Orueta, who took 6th last year at 106. Westfall and Orueta have met twice this year, with Westfall winning both matches. The third guy in this group is New Prairie's Nicholas Freeze. Freeze has beaten Westfall this season but lost to Orueta, whom he will have in the ticket round. My three and four at this weight are Mishawaka's Brody Blevins and West Lafayette's Isabel Kaplan. Blevins will likely see one of the guys that has beaten him this year in the semis. Kaplan is looking to be the fourth girl to make a trip down for the state tournament. She will have a tough path, having to go through Lowell's Tyler Quarles in the first round and likely South Bend Riley's Roman Marquez in the ticket round. Kaplan has been super consistent this season, which cannot be said for the other two, which is why she is my pick here.

2025 Champion: Noel Verduzco-Lowell

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st- Sam Westfall-Crown Point

2nd-Cruz Orueta-Lake Central

3rd-Brody Blevins-Mishawaka

4th-Isabel Kaplan-West Lafayette

120

In The Bracket (5 Ranked Wrestlers):

#7 Ethan Alvarez-Merrillville

#8 Zavier Acuna-Portage

#12 Jacob Powers -Crown Point

#19 Joseph Mendoza-Benton Central

#20 Chance Smith-Mishawaka

NR Jack Dietz-Hanover Central

NR Alex Vallejo-Warsaw Community

NR Kolby Robinson-Rensselaer Central

NR Nash Burke-Munster

NR Simon Ailor-Harrison (WL)

NR Nic Slusser-Bremen

NR Jackson Robbins-Rochester Community

NR Parker Barnard-Lafayette Jefferson

NR Jeffery Fleming-Griffith

NR Nathan Scott-New Prairie

NR Jake Higgins-North Newton

Weight Preview:

A freshman is the face of this weight class this weekend. Merrillville's Ethan Alvarez has looked the part the entire year, and no one ranked outside of the top two in the state has been able to beat him. Alvarez should roll to his first semi-state title this weekend. Opposite of him, he will likely see a similar opponent in Portage's Zavier Acuna. Acuna and Alvarez have met twice this season, with Alvarez winning both matches, but Acuna was able to keep it closer the second time. There is only one wrestler in this bracket with double-digit losses, and, in my opinion, he is the third-best guy at the weight this weekend. Crown Point wrestles an incredibley touch scheudle, which has led to his record looking the way it does, but he is definitely a state-level wrestler. The last guy I have getting out is New Prairie's Nathan Scott. Scott will have a tough Jackson Robbins in the ticket, and if you have never seen Robbins wrestle, he does have this weird, fluid-like style that I can see giving some people issues.

2025 Champion: Gavin Lewis-Crown Point

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-#7 Ethan Alvarez-Merrillville

2nd-Zavier Acuna-Portage

3rd-Jacob Powers -Crown Point

4th-Nathan Scott-New Prairie

126

In The Bracket (4 Ranked Wrestlers):

#2 Noel Verduzco-Lowell

#5 Max Quiroz-Chesterton

#6 Colin Strayer-Crown Point

#19 Diego Betancourt-Munster

NR Camron Sell-Harrison (WL)

NR Gabriel Veit-Warsaw Community

NR Joel Barrera-Hammond Central

NR Grant Holloway-Rochester Community

NR Bricen Kirk-Banks-McCutcheon

NR Marion McClain-Merrillville

NR Colin Moats-Bremen

NR Cameron Nuest-West Central

NR Luke Nied-Lake Central

NR Benjamin Armstrong-Illiana Christian

NR Alex Van Doren-North White

NR Aidan Diaz-Penn

Weight Preview:

If you asked who would win this weight here a few weeks ago, the answer would have been unanimous for Lowell's Noel Verduzco. Last year's 3rd placer at 113, Verduzco, is on the short list of guys who can compete for a title next week, while arguably looking like the best kid at the weight. This was before Chesterton's Max Quiroz dropped down to 126 late into the year. Since then, Quiroz has taken out two top ten kids and looks to be the favorite this weekend, while also throwing his name into the hat of title contenders. The third big name at this weight is Crown Point's Colin Strayer. Strayer is another returning placer, who got 4th for Verduzco last year, but he was able to win the last match between the two. My picks at this weight are almost solely off the last match-ups between these three, but I would not be surprised if the order of those three were completely different. Lake Central's Luke Neid is my last guy to make it out here.

2025 Champion: Gavin Jendreas-Crown Point

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Maximus Quiroz-Chesterton

2nd-Colin Strayer-Crown Point

3rd-Noel Verduzco-Lowell

4th-Luke Nied-Lake Central

132

In The Bracket (6 Ranked Wrestlers):

#5 Gavin Lewis-Crown Point

#6 Layne Horn-Rochester Community

#13 Warren Brown-Merrillville

#18 Solomon Siburcrist-North White

NR Grant Marohl-Twin Lakes

NR Isaiah Buikema-Hanover Central

NR Braxton Shines-South Bend Riley

NR Ayden Campbell-Portage

NR Raylon Moats-Bremen

NR Hunter Mallory-Lowell

NR Gavin Reed-Mishawaka

NR Luis Gomez-Munster

NR Gunner Payne-Attica

NR Colton Newgent-New Prairie

NR Rafael Sanchez-McCutcheon

NR Aidan Witry-Lake Central 

Weight Preview:

Rochester's Layne Horn was the winner of this weight a year ago and will look to cap off his senior season with another semi-state title and a fourth trip downtown. In his was is Crown Point's Colin Strayer, who took 3rd at state last year at 120. Strayer is tough and could be right there in title conversations, but my only issue is that he does like to keep matches closer than they have to be sometimes, and you can only play with fire so many times. Unfortuantely they will see each other in the semis, and one will have to settle for third. On the top side, opposite of those two, you have Merrillville's Warren Brown, who is a returning state qualifier at this weight. I see him having little trouble getting back downtown in his senior season. The last guy out here is the lone undefeated wrestler in this weight, North White's Sol Siburcrist. He does not have an easy path to get there, though, likely having to get through Portage's Ayden Campbell and Lowell's Malloy to punch his ticket. Both have double-digit losses, but their schedules cannot even be compared.

2025 Champion: Layne Horn-Rochester

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Layne Horn-Rochester Community

2nd-Warren Brown-Merrillville

3rd-Gavin Lewis-Crown Point

4th-Solomon Siburcrist-North White

138

In The Bracket (3 Ranked Wrestlers):

#1 Evan Stanley-Lowell

#8 Angelo Vargo-Penn

#10 Sonny Sessa-Crown Point

NR Alfredo Origel-Rensselaer Central

NR Caden Morrissey-Illiana Christian

NR Cole MeiserCulver Academies

NR Valentin Covarrubias-Griffith

NR Brett Bowman-Benton Central

NR Jacian Quezada-Merrillville

NR Will Mason-Mishawaka

NR Simon Martinez-Highland

NR Cameran Cruz-Valparaiso

NR Romeo Del Real-Lafayette Central Catholic

NR Jacoby Moore-Hobart

NR Manuel White-South Bend Riley

NR Israel Williams-West Central

Weight Preview:

Lowell's Evan Stanley won this weight here last year, and Evan Stanley will win the weight again this year. There is no one in this field who is within 8 points of Stanley, and he should roll again this year. Wrestling for second are two other wrestlers with state experience. Penn's Angelo Vargo was a state qualifier a season ago and looks to make his second trip in three years. I do not see him having much trouble getting there before he sees a familiar opponent in Crown Point's Sonny Sessa. This will be their third time wrestling each other in high school, with each having a win. Vargo does have the most recent win, though. Rensselaer Central's Alfredo Origel has favorable match-ups in his section of the bracket and should make it out in his final season.

2025 Champion: Evan Stanley-Lowell

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Evan Stanley-Lowell

2nd-Angelo Vargo-Penn

3rd-Sonny Sessa-Crown Point

4th-Alfredo Origel-Rensselaer Central

144

In The Bracket (3 Ranked Wrestlers):

#3 Luke Reid-Valparaiso

#6 Teigan Newell-Crown Point

#7 Aiden Fernandez-New Prairie

NR Hudson Odle-Penn

NR Logan Hernandez-Griffith

NR Brayden Morris-Harrison (WL)

NR Cooper Wilkins-Portage

NR Trevor Crump-South Bend Riley

NR Chase Pekny-Frontier

NR Keegan Des Forges-Rensselaer Central

NR Carter Hall-Hanover Central

NR Michael Turner-River Forest

NR Corey Gardner-Mishawaka

NR Wyatt Tudor-Delphi Community

NR Deleo Castro-Warsaw Community

NR Jared Quezada-Merrillville

Weight Preview:

I have always felt Teigan Newell, Crown Point, was better than he was given credit for. Due to the volume of losses, he does not get looked at in the proper light, in my opinion. Outside of his freshman year, he has not been at the correct weight for him; he has just been talented enough for it not to matter. Having wrestled 106 as a freshman, and taking 8th at state, before moving all the way up to 150 last season, and still making it to state. Four months ago, he weighed in at 128 for an offseason tournament, and now he's wrestling 144, looking like a title contender. Newell has been on a heater, so he is my pick this weekend, but it will not be an easy feat. His finals opponent will likely be either Valparaiso's Luke Reid or New Prairie's Aiden Fernandez. Reid finished 4th last year at this weight class and will be looking to take home his first semi-state title after coming in second the last two seasons. In his semis, he will have to get through Fernandez again, whom he beat in the sectional 5-4. Frenandez was a state qualifier in California last season. The last guy out here is Mishawaka's Corey Gardner. This whole section of the bracket is kind of a crapshoot, but I know what kind of competition Mishawka has faced this year, so Gardner gets the nod.

2025 Champion: Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Teigan Newell-Crown Point

2nd-Luke Reid-Valparaiso

3rd-Aiden Fernandez-New Prairie

4th-Corey Gardner-Mishawaka

150

In The Bracket (3 Ranked Wrestlers):

#1 Clinton Shepherd-Crown Point

#7 Joseph Paun-Hanover Central

#19 RJ McCoy-Lafayette Jefferson

NR Ryan Hall-Penn

NR Kaleb Wallace-Benton Central

NR Kristian Tapia-Portage

NR Maxum Kotinek-South Bend Riley

NR Caden Mahaffey-Chesterton

NR Landen Garrison-Highland

NR Marquell Shelton-Merrillville

NR Logan Schwarzkopf-Lowell

NR Asher Jones-Winamac Community

NR Cayden Webb-Rensselaer Central

NR Joseph Gonzales-Griffith

NR Max Leon-Harrison (WL)

NR Lawrence Wood-LaVille

Weight Preview:

Crown Point's Clinton Shepherd is the best wrestler in the state of Indiana, regardless of weight. No one in this weight can give Shepherd a match this weekend or next. Hanover Central's Joseph Paun is the next best kid at this weight, and I feel like that is by a decent margin as well. Paun should have little trouble setting up a fourth match-up with Shepherd this weekend. The last two spots could be filled by four different guys this weekend. Lafayette Jefferson's RJ McCoy and Highland's Garrison should meet on the top side of the bracket, while Merrillville's Marquell Shelton and Rensselaer Central's Cayden Webb will meet on the bottom. McCoy and Shelton are my picks in those two matches, and I have them finishing 3rd and 4th, respectively.

2025 Champion: Marlone Kirksy-Merrillville

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Clinton Shepherd-Crown Point

2nd-Joseph Paun-Hanover Central

3rd-RJ McCoy-Lafayette Jefferson

4th-Marquell Shelton-Merrillville

157

In The Bracket (4 Ranked Wrestlers):

#6 Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

#13 Zach Kenney-Griffith

#17 Anthony Bustamante-Merrillville

#18 Griffin Ablin-Crown Point

NR Alejandr Alvarez Jr.-Portage

NR Jerimiah McKinney-North Judson-San Pierre

NR Nolan Brown-Faith Christian

NR Grant Uhlemann-LaPorte

NR Austin Thomas-Seeger

NR Colby Smith-Mishawaka

NR Justin Hettinger-Harrison (WL)

NR Rian Shell-Winamac Community

NR Derek Bobb-Munster

NR Aiden Whitten-Penn

NR Tyson Cotner-Rensselaer Central

NR Charles Shaffer-Lowell

Weight Preview:

New Prairie's Jeffrey Huyvaert has made the semi-state finals the last three years, and he will make his fourth this weekend. Huyvaert has already dominated the other three wrestlers I have making it out this weekend. His likely semi-finals opponent will be Merriville's Anthony Bustamante. Bustamante was a state qualifier at this weight a season ago. On the bottom side of this bracket, the two guys I have wrestling in the semi-finals are Griffith's Zach Kenney and Crown Point's Griffin Ablin. Kenney was a state qualifier at 150 last season, while Ablin is another Crown Point kid whose record does not tell the full story. 

2025 Champion: Matthew Staples-New Prairie

Hoosiermat Top 4: 

1st-Jeffrey Huyvaert-New Prairie

2nd-Griffin Ablin-Crown Point

3rd-Anthony Bustamante-Merrillville

4th-Zach Kenney-Griffith

165

In The Bracket (5 Ranked Wrestlers):

#1 Matthew Staples-New Prairie

#2 Brant Beck-Rochester Community

#9 Hayden Mancilla-Hobart

#13 Greyson Strickland-Chesterton

#14 Benjamin Clark-Crown Point

NR Enrique Silva-Warsaw Community

NR Ryder Woodke-Rensselaer Central

NR Kaleb Moore-Munster

NR Carter Heriges-Harrison (WL)

NR Jordy Martinez-Tri-County

NR Mason Litke-Griffith

NR Gage Peltz-Triton

NR Tucker Herndon-Seeger

NR Charles Barnes-Michigan City

NR Alex Skrzeszewski-Penn

NR Noah Bugajski-Portage

Weight Preview:

Last year, I felt that if anyone was going to be able to beat New Prairie's Matthew Staples, it would have had to have been last season. Staples, already a state champion as a freshman, has jumped levels this season, becoming one of the best high school wrestlers in the country. In the finals, we should have a rematch from last year's semi-state between him and Rochester's Brant Beck. Beck is essentially undefeated as well, his only loss coming by injury default, but Staples did win their first match 9-4, though it was a competitive match. Hobart's Hayden Mancilla is the clear three here and should have no issues making it into the semis. Seeger's Tucker Herndon is my fourth guy out here.

2025 Champion: Adrian Pellot-Merrillville

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Matthew Staples-New Prairie

2nd-Brant Beck-Rochester Community

3rd-Hayden Mancilla-Hobart

4th-Tucker Herndon-Seeger

175

In The Bracket (4 Ranked Wrestlers):

#3 Griffin Van Tichelt-Crown Point

#5 Israel Sinnott-Hanover Central

#6 Vincent Freeman-Penn

NR Carter Ogborn-Rensselaer Central

NR Aiden Fleming-Griffith

NR Patrick Mochen-Chesterton

NR Kale Shotts-Rochester Community

NR Aiden Granger-Hobart

NR Isaiah Frost-Delphi Community

NR Adin Norton-South Bend Riley

NR Tymothy James-Lowell

NR Johnatha Brock-River Forest

NR Jonathan Walgamuth-Lafayette Jefferson

NR Kadyn O'Neal-Mishawaka

NR Noah O'Brien-Harrison (WL)

NR Daniel Warmick (Portage

Weight Preview:

Three top 6-ranked wrestlers headline this weight class. Penn's Vinny Freeman has made three trips downtown already, finishing 6th in 2023 at 182 and 3rd last year at 175. In the semis, he will see another guy who has made three trips to Gainbridge as well. Crown Point's Griffin Van Tichelt has to be mentioned as a favorite not only this weekend, but as a title threat next weekend as well. Van Tichelt's only in state losess this season have come by one and two points to the top-ranked wrestler in the state. The last of the three is on the top side of the bracket by himself. Hanover Central's Israel Sinnott is another guy coming back with state experience, and with him being opposite of the other two, Sinnott should have few issues making the finals here this weekend. Rensselaer Central's Carter Ogborn and Rochester's Kale Shotts will see each other on the top of the bracket for a trip to state next weekened.

2025 Champion: Vinny Freeman-Penn

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Griffin Van Tichelt-Crown Point

2nd-Israel Sinnott-Hanover Central

3rd-Vincent Freeman-Penn

4th-Kale Shotts-Rochester Community

190

In The Bracket (8 Ranked Wrestlers):

#10 Aleks Tatum-Hobart

#11 Alessio Retzloff-Penn

#12 Cayden Yuran-Lowell

#13 Benjamin Fedorchak-Valparaiso

#14 Christop Tietz-Herrer-Portage

#15 Wesaal Wardak-Munster

#17 Lucas Anderson-Chesterton

#18 Calvin Stewart-Crown Point

NR Aiden Handy-Seeger

NR Derek Wortley-Rochester Community

NR Bryce Montgomery-Merrillville

NR Quintin McLeod-Logansport

NR Colton Reynolds-Triton

NR Tramel Quadhamer-Harrison (WL)

NR Noah Forray-South Bend Riley

NR Paul Walgamuth-Lafayette Jefferson

Weight Preview:

Half the wrestlers in this weight class are ranked in the top 20. Two guys in this weight come in with state experience. Hobart's Aleks Tatum was a state qualifier at this weight two years ago, but he was not able to wrestle in the postseason last year. The other wrestler is Penn's Alessio Retzloff, who qualified for state at this weight last season. In my opinion, these are the two best kids in the weight, but they are both at the bottom of the bracket and will see each other in the semi-finals. Lowell's Cayden Yuran did not make it out of the sectional last season, and this year he looks to be a lock to wrestle next weekend. My last wrestler making it out here finished 4th in the regional a week ago, but he proabably eneded up with the best draw outside of the champion from his regional. Valparaiso's Ben Fedorchak has good enough wins, while also having no truly headscratching losses, which makes me give him the nod here.

2025 Champion: Ceasar Salas-Crown Point

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st- Aleks Tatum-Hobart

2nd-Cayden Yuran-Lowell

3rd-Alessio Retzloff-Penn

4th-Benjamin Fedorchak-Valparaiso

215

In The Bracket (2 Ranked Wrestlers):

#1 Ceasar Salas-Crown Point

#18 Martin Gazo-West Lafayette

NR Brenden Rice-Bremen

NR Anthony Askren-Attica

NR Preston Perez-Hobart

NR Tearson Wolford-Winamac Community

NR Lucas Marshall-LaPorte

NR David Warren-Merrillville

NR Andrew Kooi-Munster

NR Logan Hoaks-Benton Central

NR Mason Hisey-Rochester Community

NR Keegan Gibbons-Chesterton

NR Robert McKinney-Lafayette Jefferson

NR Cole Owens Korba-Hammond Central

NR Dezmon Howard-Michigan City

NR Landon Reynolds-Penn

Weight Preview:

Crown Point's Caesar Salas is going to win his second semi-state title this weekend, and I would be shocked if he had a match that went the distance. Outside of Salas, I do not know if any of the other quarter brackets have a favorite you can just look at and pick. There is a combination of 6 guys who could make it out. On the topside, the three guys I see battling for a spot are Merrillville's David Warren and West Lafayette Martin Gozo. I am leaning toward Warren here due to the vast difference in their strength of schedules. The winner here should see Winamac's Tearson Wolford. Wolford's only two losses are to a top-five wrestler in the state, and he has been dominant in his 38 wins, which is why he is my pick there. At the bottom, Munster's Andrew Kooi got a great draw and should make his way into the semi-finals. Below him, we should see Penn's Landon Reynolds and Lafayette Jefferson's Robert McKinney. This is another situation where I am going with the guy who has wrestled the better competition this year, which is Reynolds.

2025 Champion: Jayden Bartoszek-Hanover Central

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Ceasar Salas-Crown Point

2nd-Andrew Kooi-Munster

3rd-Tearson Wolford-Winamac Community

4th-Landon Reynolds-Penn

285

In The Bracket (5 Ranked Wrestlers):

#1 Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

#2 Tony Brooks-Crown Point

#5 James Hartleroad-New Prairie

#12 Declan Gard-Rochester Community

#20 Josh Diaz-Hobart

NR Ethan McIlrath-Delphi Community

NR Logan Frederickson-Bremen

NR Jake Luedtke-Lake Central

NR Joseph Gutierrez-Harrison (WL)

NR Lucas Nelson-Michigan City

NR Austen Vander Woude-Merrillville

NR Damon Stearns-South Bend Riley

NR Jonathan Searfoss-Penn

NR Aiden Duniphan-Tri-County

NR Deshawn Jackson-Andrean

NR Benjamin Robinson-Rensselaer Central

Weight Preview:

This will sound similar to the last weight, but Lowell's Kameron Hazelett will win his second. The sophomore is already one of the best heavyweight wrestlers in the country, and I do not see him losing another match in state. Crown Point's Tony Brooks may be the second-best heavyweight in the state this year, and I have him following Hazelett all the way through the tournament series. Brooks will have to get past Rochester's Declan Gard, a returning 4th placer finisher, to punch his ticket to state. New Prairie's James Hartleroad missed last year's postseason but has returned looking for a second state medal after placing 4th in 2024. My last guy out at this weight is Michigan City's Lucas Nelson, which gives the Crown Point regional the sweep at this weight.

2025 Champion: Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

Hoosiermat Top 4:

1st-Kameron Hazelett-Lowell

2nd-Tony Brooks-Crown Point

3rd-James Hartleroad-New Prairie

4th-Lucas Nelson-Michigan City