East Chicago SS Preview

106

This weight is full of studs and there are some great matches here. At the top of the bracket, Wawasee freshman Logan Stuckman comes in ranked in the top 10 and is an on-paper favorite to advance. Stuckman will have a tough ticket round match, facing the winner of David Maldonado, Merrillville, and Johnny Cortez, Lake Central. I see Cortez taking that match before falling to Stuckman in the ticket round. In the next quarter bracket, you get a first-round match between two good freshmen in LaPorte’s Ashton Jackson and Hobart’s Trevor Triana. I like for Jackson to win that, setting up a rematch between McCutcheon’s Jake Stall. While the match was close the first time, 4-3, Stall had the only takedown, and its hard to win if you can score from neutral. I look for stall to win again. The bottom side of the bracket give us, in my opinion, the best ticket round match. Jeffrey Bailey, River Forest, should meet Attica’s Avery Miller in the ticket round. Bailey had a slip up early in the year but has been dominant since. Bailey takes this match up and gets to the bank. At the bottom of the bracket, Sam Goin is the heavy favorite to win the weight, and he should cruise into his semifinals match with Bailey. In the semis I expect Goin and Stuckman to win easily setting up a match in with each other in the final. Goin takes this weight and Bailey settles for 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Brennen Cernus-Culver Academies

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Sam Goin-Crown Point

#6 Logan Stuckman-Wawasee

#12 Jeffrey Bailey-River Forest

#18 Avery Miller-Attica

 

Best First Round Match(es):

David Maldonado-Merrillville vs Johnny Cortez-Lake Central

Ashton Jackson-LaPorte vs Trevor Triana-Hobart

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#6 Logan Stuckman-Wawasee vs Maldonado/Cortez winner

Jake Stall-McCutcheon vs Jackson/Triana winner

#12 Jeffrey Bailey-River Forest vs #18 Avery Miller-Attica

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Sam Goin-Crown Point

2. Logan Stuckman-Wawasee

3. Jeffrey Bailey-River Forrest

4. Jake Stall-McCutcheon

 

113

Crown Point freshman Logan Frazier is the favorite to take home the title this weekend. Frazier has been perfect since his Al Smith semi final loss. At the top of the bracket, look for Chesterton’s Doug Waters to pick up two big wins this weekend and make his way downtown. In the next quarter bracket, you get a ticket round match between Lake Central’s Nam Doan and Hobart’s Trevor Schammert. Doan is big for the weight and could give Schammert some issues. At the bottom of the bracket, Valparaiso freshman Stefan Vitello, and Penn Ryan Purvis meet in the first round. I do not expect to see a 4 over 1 here, but Vitello is good enough to pull of the upset. In the semis, we get a third match between Frazier and Purvis. Frazier has won both and I expect him to win here too. Up top, Schammert comes out on too against Waters setting up a match with Frazier in the finals. Frazier takes the crown here and Purvis finishes 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Jacob Moran-Portage

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#6 Logan Frazier-Crown Point

#7 Trevor Schammert-Hobart

#11 Ryan Purvis-Penn

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#11 Ryan Purvis-Penn vs Stefan Vitello-Valparaiso

Doug Waters-Chesterton vs Drake Montelongo-Tippecanoe Valley

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Alex Kellogg-Harrison (WL) vs Waters/Montelongo winner

#7 Trevor Schammert-Hobart vs Nam Doan-Lake Central

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Logan Frazier-Crown Point

2. Trevor Schammert-Hobart

3. Ryan Purvis-Penn

4. Doug Waters-Chesterton

 

120

This weight doesn’t have much in the first round to really get excited about, but there is some great ticket round matches. The first one being between two seniors who have been to the bank. Retuning 5th place finisher, Riley Bettich of Crown Point comes in trying to defend his title. Bettich will wrestle a tough state qualifier in Portage’s Ty Haskins in the ticket round. Bettich may be a bit too much for Haskins and rolls into the semis. In the next quarter bracket freshman Cole Solomey, Kankakee Valley, looks to make his first trip to state. Solomey has a tough Brodie Fogarty, Mishawaka, but I look for him to beat him and advance. Wheeler senior, Giovanni Diaz will breeze through to the semis. In the bottom of the bracket we have a ticket round match with two ranked wrestlers. Merrillville’s Malik Hall and Sam Hein, Harrison (WL), meet in the ticket round. Hall is a returning state placer and has no bad loses. Hall does tend to keep matches closer than they must be so that could hurt him, but I see Hall advancing for the second year. In the semifinals, Bettich and Diaz take care f business setting up their third match. Diaz has won the first 2 so it is hard not to pick him here but Bettich is as good as anyone and can definitely take this one. Solomey beats Hall to finish 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Riley Bettich-Crown Point

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Riley Bettich-Crown Point

#3 Giovanni Diaz-Wheeler

#6 Malik Hall-Merrillville

#8 Ty Haskins-Portage

#11 Cole Solomey-Kankakee Valley

#12 Sam Hein-Harrison (WL)

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Ruben Padilla-Hobart vs Dylan Tom-Wawasee

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#12 Sam Hein-Harrison (WL) vs #6 Malik Hall-Merrillville

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Giovanni Diaz-Wheeler

2. Riley Bettich-Crown Point

3. Cole Solomey-Kankakee Valley

4. Malik Hall-Merrillville

 

126

For the second year in a row a Crown Point wrestler is the heavy favorite at this weight. Stephen Roberson comes in as a returning state placer and will face a tough wrestler in whoever wins between Plymouth’s Dominic Smith and Hobarts Nathan Schammert, but he shouldn’t have much trouble advancing again. In the next quarter bracket down, returning state qualifier Brendon Mark, Mishawaka, got a favorable draw and should make it back to the bank in his senior campaign. Jace Alexander, Wawasee, is a returning state placer and will cruise his way back to the bank. On paper the match between Aleksandar Pejovski, Merrillville, and Aidan Torres, Chesterton, should be a good one, but I think that Torres is just too much for anyone here not named Roberson. Torres gets through Pejovski and beats Alexander again to set up his 5th match with Roberson. Roberson beats Torres again in the finals, while Mark falls to Alexander.

 

2019 Champ:

Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#5 Stephen Roberson-Crown Point

#8 Aidan Torres-Chesterton

#10 Jace Alexander-Wawasee

#18 Brendon Mark-Mishawaka

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Dominic Smith-Plymouth vs Nathan Schammert-Hobart

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#5 Stephen Roberson-Crown Point vs Smith/Schammert winner

#8 Aidan Torres-Chesterton vs Aleksandar Pejovski-Merrillville

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Stephen Roberson-Crown Point

2. Aidan Torres-Chesterton

3. Jace Alexander-Wawasee

4. Brendon Mark-Mishawaka

 

132

Jesse Mendez is winning this weight with very little resistance. In the rest of the bracket, Penn’s Vince Sparrow should make his second trip down to the bank. The top and bottom quarter brackets are interesting though. Up top, Lake Central’s Isaiah Ponce comes in with 10 loses on the year, but against quality competition. West Central’s Braden Nuest has a much better record but has not seen the guys Ponce has, which I think will be the difference here. At the bottom of the bracket, we have a good first round match between Nova Tuttle, Harrison (WL), and Todd Hardy, South Bend Washington, with the winner facing Portage’s Brandley Conrad in the ticket round. Conrad has beaten a lot of good guys this year, and I don’t see either of these two cutting his season short. In the semis Mendez and Sparrow make the finals, and Conrad gets 3rd beating Ponce for the 3rd time this year.

 

2019 Champ:

Geremia Brooks-Wawasee

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

#17 Vince Sparrow-Penn

#20 Bradley Conrad-Portage

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Nova Tuttle-Harrison (WL) vs Todd Hardy-South Bend Washington

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Braden Nuest-West Central vs Isaiah Ponce-Lake Central

#17 Vince Sparrow-Penn vs Juan Simpson-Gavit

#20 Bradley Conrad-Portage vs Hardy/Tuttle winner

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jesse Mendez-Crown Point

2. Vince Sparrow-Penn

3. Bradley Conrad-Portage

4. Isaiah Ponce-Lake Central

 

138

This weight a lot of comparable talent. Starting with the bottom of the bracket, Eli Hickman of Rensselaer Central and Tyson Nisley of LaPorte have great draws and should have no issues making it downtown. The same can not be said anyone up top. Crown Point’s Nick Tattini has a tough Isaac Switzer, Lafayette Central Catholic, right away. If Tattini wins here, he sets up a rematch with South Bend Riley’s Droshawn Lewis. Lewis won the first match between the two. Below them in the bracket, we have a ranked ticket round match-up between Merrillville’s Anthony Rivera and Chesterton’s Ethan Kaiser. Kaiser majored Rivera earlier in the year. Lewis, Kaiser, Hickman, and Nisley are my four semifinalists at this weight. From there, Lewis beats Kaiser and Hickman beats Nisley. Hickman wins the weight, while Nisley settles for 3rd here.

 

2019 Champ:

Braxton Alexander-Wawasee

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#8 Eli Hickman-Rensselaer Central

#9 Tyson Nisley-LaPorte

#15 Droshawn Lewis-South Bend Riley

#18 Ethan Kaiser-Chesterton

#19 Nick Tattini-Crown Point

#20 Anthony Rivera-Merrillville

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#19 Nick Tattini-Crown Point vs Isaac Switzer-Lafayette Central Catholic

#8 Eli Hickman-Rensselaer Central vs Jak Krouse-Valparaiso

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#15 Droshawn Lewis-South Bend Riley vs Tattini/Switzer winner

#20 Anthony Rivera-Merrillville vs #18 Ethan Kaiser-Chesterton

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Eli Hickman-Rensselaer Central

2. Droshawn Lewis-South Bend Riley

3. Tyson Nisley-LaPorte

4. Ethan Kaiser-Chesterton

 

145

This weight will see 2 wrestlers suffer their first loss of the season. Harrison (WL)’s AJ Poindexter, Chesterton’s Brock Ellis, and Jacob Maldonado all come in with undefeated records. Maldonado has been hurt this year, so he sat until tournament time. Ellis is probably the second-best kid in the state at this weight, and with Maldonado sitting most of the year I don’t see anyone here beating him. At the bottom of the bracket we have Crown Point’s Orlando Cruz who is having a good year losing only to Ellis. Cruz will have a tough junior in Simeon Norton, South Bend Riley, in the ticket round but I look for him to beat Norton here. Poindexter should have no issues getting to his semifinal match with Cruz. Cruz and Ellis win their matches and meet for the 5th time. In the finals Ellis wins again, and Maldonado finishes 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Jordan Douglass-Attica

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Brock Ellis-Chesterton

#4 AJ Poindexter-Harrison (WL)

#8 Orlando Cruz-Crown Point

#9 Jacob Maldonado-Merrillville

 

Best First Round Match(es):

NONE

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#8 Orlando Cruz-Crown Point vs Simeon Norton-South Bend Riley

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Brock Ellis-Chesterton

2. Orlando Cruz-Crown Point

3. Jacob Maldonado-Merrillville

4. AJ Poindexter-Harrison (WL)

 

152

Returning 152 champ Ellis is down at 145, and returning 145 champ Jorden Douglass, Attica is now up at 152. Douglass was undefeated at this point in the year last but has suffered a few hiccups this season. Regardless, I see him picking up his second semi-state title this weekend. Lowell’s Shawn Hollis comes with a great draw and should not only make it to state, but he should make the finals at this weight. On his side of the bracket though, is an undefeated Garrett Stuckman, Wawasee. While he has not lost this year, Stuckman has not wrestled much, and in the 12 matches he has had this season, none were against a ranked opponent. Tyler Turley, Hobart, will likely have Chesterton’s Cade Johnson in the ticket round, a wrestler he majored earlier in the year. From the semis, Douglass makes it back to the finals with a win over Turley, while Stuckman suffers his first loss of the season to Hollis. In the finals Douglass repeats with a win over Hollis. Stuckman takes his second straight loss and finishes 4th to Turley.

 

2019 Champ:

Brock Ellis-Chesterton

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Jorden Douglass-Attica

#12 Shawn Hollis-Lowell

#14 Tyler Turley-Hobart

#17 Cade Johnson-Chesterton

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Aidan Pollitt-Valparaiso vs Jessiah Marsh-South Bend Riley

Garrett Stuckman-Wawasee vs Jerome Tra Anderson

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#4 Jordan Douglass-Attica vs Pollitt/Marsh winner

#14 Tyler Turley-Hobart vs #17 Cade Johnson-Chesterton

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jordan Douglass-Attica

2. Shawn Hollis-Lowell

3. Tyler Turley-Hobart

4. Garrett Stuckman-Wawasee

 

160

This weight is very open, but it does have a favorite. Crown Point’s Noah Hollendonner is a slight favorite to win this weight due to him making it last year and his wins on the year but, he does have some weird loses as well. The Penn freshman Aaron Steenbeke is back after missing some time this year but is back and has a good shot at making it to the bank this year. Steenbeke’s toughest match to make it out will be his first one against Columbia City’s Ryan Breedlove. Chesterton senior Nick Winland will have a 1 loss Jason Tankersley, Winamac, in the ticket round, but the competition Winland has seen this year will be the difference in this match. Jacob Linky, Warsaw, did himself a big favor by winning his regional. Linky should cruise in his first state berth. In the semifinals, Hollendonner beats Linky, while Steenbeke advances to the finals with a win over Winland. Hollendonner picks up a semi-state crown, Winland finishes 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Donnell Washington-Portage

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#9 Noah Hollendonner-Crown Point

#13 Nick Winland-Chesterton

#16 Aaron Steenbeke-Penn

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#16 Aaron Steenbeke-Penn vs Ryan Breedlove-Columbia City

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Hayden Homoky-Hobart vs Steenbeke/Breedlove winner

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Noah Hollendonner-Crown Point

2. Aaron Steenbeke-Penn

3. Nick Winland-Chesterton

4. Jacob Linky-Warsaw

 

170

This weight belongs to Graham Calhoun, Plymouth. Even with such a heavy favorite at the weight, this is one of the more interesting weights in the tournament. A big first round match-up in this weight happens at the top of the bracket between Lowell’s Abel Verbeek and McCutcheon’s Spencer Phillips. Verbeek was a state qualifier last year but has a tough match right away. It may all be a moot point, as the winner runs into 5th ranked Braden Welch, Culver Academies. I don’t see either beating Welch. Below them, we have a tough Cody Timmerman form Mishawaka against LaPorte’s Matt Neff. Neff has had a good season has risen in the ranking through the year. I look for him to win this match-up. Aiden Sneed, Kankakee Valley, is good enough to make it downtown but has Calhoun waiting for him in the ticket round. In the bottom of the bracket, Hobart’s Jacob Simpson and Chesterton’s Gavin Layman will meet in the ticket round. Layman won the first match 3-0. In the semis, Calhoun and Welch roll into the finals. Calhoun wins the weight, Neff picks up another win over Layman.

 

2019 Champ:

Graham Calhoun-Plymouth

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Graham Calhoun-Plymouth

#5 Braden Welch-Culver Academies

#11 Matt Neff-LaPorte

#12 Gavin Layman-Chesterton

#13 Spencer Phillips-McCutcheon

#17 Aiden Sneed-Kankakee Valley

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#13 Spencer Phillips-McCutcheon vs Abel Verbeek-Lowell

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#5 Braden Welch-Culver Academies vs Phillips/Verbeek winner

#11 Matt Neff-LaPorte vs Cody Timmerman-Mishawaka

#1 Graham Calhoun-Plymouth vs #17 Aiden Sneed-Kankakee Valley

#12 Gavin Layman-Chesterton vs Jacob Simpson-Hobart

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Graham Calhoun-Plymouth

2. Braden Welch-Culver Academies

3. Matt Neff-LaPorte

4. Gavin Layman-Chesterton

 

182

This is another weight with an overwhelming favorite. Mishawaka’s Joseph Walker will run away with this weight class. As far as the rest of this weight, I look for the four regional champs to win their quarter brackets. West Lafayette’s Connor Barket comes in with one loss on the season, but probably has the toughest path of the regional champs to make it downtown. While Hobarts Cameron Smith and Chesterton’s Shae Jackson do not have great records, they have been tested this year wrestling better competition. Barket will have the winner of these two. I still see the sophomore making it downtown. In the semis, Walker stays unbeaten and Walton beats Kwiatkowski for the second time this year. Walker rolls in the finals and Barket drops another match to finish 4th.

 

2019 Champ:

Evan Bates-Chesterton

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Joseph Walker-Mishawaka

#8 Khris Walton-Merrillville

#9 Colin Kwiatkowski-Valparaiso

#20 Connor Barket-West Lafayette

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Shae Jackson-Chesterton vs Cameron Smith-Hobart

#8 Khris Walton-Merrillville vs Hunter Rohweder-Lowell

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#20 Connor Barket-West Lafayette vs Jackson/Smith winner

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1.Joseph Walker-Mishawaka

2. Khris Walton-Merrillville

3. Colin Kwiatkowski-Valparaiso

4. Connor Barket-West Lafayette

 

195

This is the 3rd weight in a row with a heavy favorite. The field is closer to Mishawaka’s Jacob LaPlace than the other two, but he is still favorited over anyone in this weight. Attica’s Jack Hargan comes in undefeated, but has the unfortunate luck of having Eli Pack, Culver Academies, waiting for him in the ticket round. I look for Pack to win here and, in the semis, to set up a rematch against LaPlace. Penn’s Ben Kahl is a hammer on top and strong making him a tough match for anyone. Kahl has Mark Mummey, Hobart, in the first round. If he wins here, he wrestles Chesterton sophomore Gage DeMarco. I see DeMarco continuing the streak of young Chesterton big guys getting to state. Jevonte Williams, Merrillville, and Brock Hueber, Warsaw, looks to be a good opening round match. Luke Bakeis, Harrison (WL), will wrestle the winner of these two, and I see him coming away victorious here. In the semifinals LaPlace beats Bakeis and Pack gets a win over DeMarco, setting up a rematch from last week. Until he beats him you have to go with LaPlace in the rematch as well. DeMarco beats Bakeis to finish 3rd.

 

2019 Champ:

Rockne Hurley-Penn

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#2 Jacob LaPlace-Mishawaka

#7 Jack Hargan-Attica

#8 Eli Pack-Culver Academies

#18 Ben Kahl-Penn

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#18 Ben Kahl-Penn vs Mark Mummey-Hobart

Jevonte Williams-Merrillville vs Brock Hueber-Warsaw

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

Gage DeMarco-Chesterton vs Mummey/Kahl winner

#7 Jack Hargan-Attica vs #8 Eli Pack-Culver Academies

Luke Bakeis-Harrison (WL) vs Hueber/Williams winner

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Jacob LaPlace-Mishawaka

2. Eli Pack-Culver Academies

3. Gage DeMarco-Chesterton

4. Luke Bakeis-Harrison (WL)

 

220

Two juniors with state experience headline this weight. Chesterton’s Evan Bates and Merrillville’s Jason Streck have wrestled twice this year already, with Bates coming out on top both times. Also, in this bracket is returning state placer Will Crider, Harrison (WL), who placed at heavyweight last year but is now down at 220. Another heavyweight who is down to 220 is Mishawka’s Jonathan Thomas. Thomas has wrested heavyweight most of the year and dropped down to 220 for the postseason. He should have Hobart’s Bobby Babcock in the ticket round. I look for Thomas to beat Babcock and make a trip to the bank. In the semis Streck beats Crider and Bates beats Thomas. Bates continues his dominant season with another semi-state title. Thomas beats Crider for 3rd place.

 

2019 Champ:

AJ Fowler-Calumet

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#1 Evan Bates-Chesterton

#6 Jason Streck-Merrillville

#9 Jonathan Thomas-Mishawaka

#12 Will Crider-Harrison (WL)

 

Best First Round Match(es):

Ethan Alderson-Lake Station Edison vs Jacob Raub-Lafayette Jefferson

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#1 Evan Bates-Chesterton vs Raub/Alderson

#9 Jonathan Thomas-Mishawaka vs Bobby Babcock-Hobart

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Evan Bates-Chesterton

2. Jason Streck-Merrillville

3. Jonathan Thomas-Mishawaka

4. Will Crider-Harrison (WL)

 

285

Yehezquel DeVault, Penn, comes in as a returning state placer-winner and is the favorite to win this weight this weekend. DeVault’s finals opponent should be Portage’s Damari Dancy, who was a surprise state qualifier a year ago but a favorite to take home a medal next weekend. The best ticket round in this weight will be between New Prairie’s Hunter Whitenack and Highland’s Sam Perez. I see Perez coming out on top in this match-up making it to the bank in his final season. Hobart’s Chad McLean is my pick for a 4 over a 1 in this weight. I look for him to be the fourth man out in this weight. In the semifinals Dancy and DeVault win setting up a rematch. Perez beat McLean for the 4th time to finish 3rd. DeVault beats Dancy again to claim his semi-state title.

 

2019 Champ:

Alex Cartwright-LaVille

 

Ranked Wrestlers:

#4 Damari Dancy-Portage

#7 Yehezquel DeVault-Penn

#15 Sam Perez-Highland

#16 Chad McLean-Hobart

 

Best First Round Match(es):

#15 Sam Perez-Highland vs Kayden Sowders-Lafayette Jefferson

#16 Chad McLean-Hobart vs Mariere Omonode-West Lafayette

 

Best (Possible) Ticket Round Match(es):

#7 Yehezquel DeVault-Penn vs Seth Chrisman-Harrison (WL)

Hunter Whitenack-New Prairie vs Perez/Sowders winner

 

HOOSIERMAT TOP 4:

1. Yehezquel DeVault-Penn

2. Damari Dancy-Portage

3. Sam Perez-Highland

4. Chad McLean-Hobart