The Indiana Wrestling State Championships is one of the most grueling days in IHSAA sports. But on a day that began at 9 a.m. and ended just before 10:30 p.m. three Crown Point wrestlers and two Union County wrestlers took home 5 out of the 14 state titles in their respective weight classes.
In the 103- pound weight class, Union County’s Cody Phillips started off the finals round under the lights by putting Dusty Kief of Franklin Community on his back early in the first period. He capped off an undefeated freshman season with a state championship, winning by fall just 2:37 into the match.
“I came out a little nervous,” Phillips said of being the first wrestler out on the mat for the championship round, “but I’ve been coming here watching this since I was little so I kind of knew what to expect.”
Junior Michael Duckworth brought home Union County’s second state championship of the day in the 171-pound weight class. Duckworth, who has only 12 losses in three seasons, beat MIC (Metro Indiana Conference) champion Bryce Grimes of Lawrence North 2-0 in one of the slower matches of the evening.
Crown Point’s three championships came in the 112- pound, 125-pound, and 189-pound classes. Anthony Hawkins capped off an undefeated season by escaping Roncalli’s Josh Kieffer in the second overtime en route to a 2-1 victory at 112-pounds while Jason Tsirtsis dominated Cathedral’s John Grey 16-3 in the 125-pound title. Tsirtsis upset Lawrence North’s Cashe’ Quiroga in an overtime battle in the semi final. Quiroga won the 119-pound state championship last season, and was runner-up at 112 in 2007. Marcus Shrewsburry (42-0) put the finishing touches on Crown Point’s day by winning the 189-pound title over previously unbeaten Drew Graber of Northridge.
Indianapolis Cathedral’s day went in a different direction as three wrestlers lost state championship bouts.
Purdue bound- Camden Eppert of Anderson Highland beat No. 1 ranked Brandon Wright of the Irish in the 119-pound final followed by Tsirtsis’s victory over Grey. Culver Academie’s Daniel Young added insult to injury for Cathedral in the 145-pound final when he pinned four-time Indianapolis City Champ Gavin McGinley late in the third period. He won by fall in a match where he trailed by 4-points to Wright heading into the final stanza.
“It hasn’t hit me yet because I’ve envisioned this moment so many times,” Young who will be headed to West Point in the fall said. “When I was down I knew that I just couldn’t panic and I didn’t.”
Hobart’s Frankie Porras won the 130-pound title over Pike’s D’Marcus Spencer 4-1. Porras pulled off the upset of the tournament in the semifinal where he stuned three-time state champion Josh Harper (Mishawaka) in the final seconds 5-4.
Steven Sandefer successfully defended his 140-pound state championship and was the lone champion from No. 1 ranked Mishawaka while Sean McMurray won the 152-pound championship in the battle of “the region” over Chesterton’s Anthony Quiroz. McMurray is also a repeat champion.
Brian Runyan of Martinsville knocked off fellow unbeaten Matt Todd of Pendleton Heights for the 160-pound title. It was Runyan’s first state title in three trips to Conseco Fieldhouse.
Billy Baker (Bellmont) and Adam Chalfant (Winchester) won the two heavy weight classes at 215 and 285-pounds. Chafant, who was runner up last season, and placed 7th in 2007 had Mount Vernon’s Alex White on his back in the first five seconds as he led wire to wire. Baker, who will play football for Marion College, says this individual championship will hopefully just be a pre-cursor for what is to come in the team finals next weekend.
“This is obviously something I’ve worked for, but with team state coming up, I have to want it even more,” he said.
Senior Taylor March of East Noble (the 135-pound champion) was awarded the Mental Attitude Award to complete an exciting night under the lights at Conseco.
14 wrestlers captured state titles in front of 10,033 fans Saturday night. Wrestlers from school's from the city of Indianapolis's went a combined 0-7 in the championship round. An interesting fact in a state where athletics have been dominated of late by Indy schools.
RECAP
103-pounds- Cody Phillips (49-0), Union County
112-pounds- Anthony Hawkins (42-0), Crown Point
119-pounds- Camden Eppert, Anderson Highland
125-pounds- Jason Tsirtsis, Crown Point
130-pounds- Franckie Porras, Hobart
135-pounds- Taylor March, East Noble
140-pounds- Steven Sandefer, Mishawaka
145-pounds- Daniel Young (48-0), Culver Academies
152-pounds- Sean McMurray (49-0), Portage
160-pounds- Briar Runyan (43-0), Martinsville
171-pounds- Michael Duckworth, Union County
189-pounds- Marcus Shrewsburry (42-0), Crown Point
215-pounds- Billy Baker (42-0), Bellmont
285-pounds- Adam Chalfant (39-0), Winchester