106lbs
Head of the Class: Hayden Lee- Garrett
State Streeters: Sawyer Miller- South Adams, Connor Knapp- East Noble, Alan Mock- North Miami
The Skinny:
The little Railroader that could, Hayden Lee, leads the field in this weight class. He has defeated Miller twice this season by identical 4-0 scores and also defeated Knapp 4-2. Knapp and Miller are definitely capable of pulling of the mild upset if Lee does not come ready to wrestle.
Early Round Key Matches:
Tyler Rigney- Muncie South vs. Seth Lloyd- Marion
Ben Cauffman- Carroll vs. Delawence Gayfield- Concord
Knapp vs. Rigney/Lloyd winner
113lbs
Head of the Class: Schuyler Phillips- Yorktown
State Streeters: Forrest Glogouski- Fairfield, Matt Frane- Dekalb, LJ Moser- South Adams
The Skinny:
Returning state qualifier Schuyler Phillips has quietly put together an impressive season. He comes in with only one loss to a super stud out of Michigan. He could be tested early on in the ticket round by Cody Flickinger of Elkhart Memorial and in the semi-finals and finals.
Early Round Key Matches:
Matt Frane- Dekalb vs. Sam Lovejoy- Bishop Luers
Cody Flickinger- Elkhart Memorial vs. Schuyler Phillips- Yorktown
120lbs
Head of the Class: Zach Krumlauf- Dekalb
State Streeters: Cody Walburn- Adams Central, Brock Bevans- Yorktown, Bobby Keuneke- Bellmont
The Skinny:
This is a wide open weight class that will could shape up a multitude of ways after the dust has settled. Zach Krumlauf of Dekalb leads the way, but he will have to get by Brock Bevans of Yorktown in the semi-finals. Bevans and Krumlauf wrestled last year at semi-state and state at 103lbs, but Krumlauf will have the size advantage this time. In the other half of the bracket there could be the third Adams County throwdown between Keuneke and Walburn where Keuneke has won both matches so far this year.
Early Round Key Matches:
Bobby Keuneke- Bellmont vs. Kegan Kern- Peru
Cody Walburn- Adams Central vs. Erique Early- Snider
126lbs
Head of the Class: Nick Crume- Jimtown
State Streeters: Chandler Carroll- Yorktown, Kalib Jackson- East Noble, Mason Meling- Snider
The Skinny:
The bracket gods separated Crume and Carroll which will make for a great finals matchup between the two former state 3rd place finishers. Both Crume and Carroll have been battle tested this year, so look for a great match in the finals.
Early Round Key Matches:
Mason Meling- Snider vs. Benjamin Fiechter- Southern Wells
Kalib Jackson- East Noble vs. Gabe Flores- Marion
132lbs
Head of the Class: Todd Batt- South Adams
State Streeters: Derek Roe- Adams Central, Kody George- Homestead, Jared Wilson- Snider
The Skinny:
This weight will be one of the most exciting weights to watch all day long with four returning state qualifiers along with Al Smith 2nd and 3rd place finishers and a Connersville 2nd place finisher in the field. We could also see round three of another Adams County throwdown in the finals between Batt and Roe, but that is only if they make it that far. There are many sleepers in the field here and no wrestler should be overlooked.
Early Round Key Matches:
Todd Batt- South Adams vs. Tylor Willms- Fremont
Jared Wilson- Snider vs. Alex Mix- Dekalb
Evan Loe- Peru vs. AJ Grim- West Noble
Loe/Grim winner vs. Derek Roe- Adams Central
Trevor Echartea- Elkhart Central vs. Kody George- Homestead
138lbs
Head of the Class: Devon Jackson- Yorktown
State Streeters: Michael Nix- Bishop Dwenger, Kyle Jolas- Huntington North, Lucas Riecke- East Noble
The Skinny:
This is another great weight class, the only difference is there is a clear cut favorite and the other three positions are up for grabs. Two-time state runner-up and Purdue signee, Devon Jackson, leads the field here with an unblemished record. He has taken an undefeated record into the finals the past two years, only to come up short. There are three other state qualifiers in the field, but none are going to have an easy road to getting back to state street.
Early Round Key Matches:
Kyle Jolas- Huntington North vs. Ronnie Bogle- Elkhart Memorial
Lucas Riecke- East Noble vs. Brayden Moreau- Garrett
145lbs
Head of the Class: Brooks Faurote- Bellmont
State Streeters: Cody Zink- Woodlan, Sebastian Eckert- Huntington North, Levi McKee- North Miami
The Skinny:
This is another weight class where the bracket gods separated arguably the top two wrestlers. Faurote has been lights out all season long and will look to continue a deep Brave tradition with a semi-state championship. He will be challenged by Cody Zink of Woodlan has had as many semi-state heartbreaks as any wrestler ever.
Early Round Key Matches:
Levi McKee- North Miami vs. Conner Brummett- Dekalb
Rhett Hiestand- Yorktown vs. Sebastian Eckert- Huntington North
152lbs
Head of the Class: Isaiah Bradley- Muncie South
State Streeters: Dewey Melcher- Bellmont, Zeke Schultz- Adams Central, Frank Martin- Homestead
The Skinny:
The top quarter bracket of this weight is absolutely stacked with two former state qualifiers facing off in the first round in Zeke Schultz of Adams Central and Carter Delaney of Bishop Dwenger. The winner gets to wrestle Zach Beebe of Angola who has quietly had a great season. Isaiah Bradley of Muncie South looks to be the head of the class here, but he will be challenged all day long including in the ticket round against Al Smith champion Ryan Ntende.
Early Round Key Matches:
Carter Delaney- Bishop Dwenger vs. Zeke Schultz- Adams Central
Delaney/Schultz winner vs. Zach Beebe- Angola
Isaiah Bradley- Muncie South vs. Ryan Ntende- Goshen
160lbs
Head of the Class: Jesse Goodnight- Kokomo
State Streeters: Isaac Stuery- Leo, Casey Adams- Jimtown, Brian Dick- Maconaquah
The Skinny:
This weight class will have four great ticket round match-ups with no wrestler a lock to punch their ticket to state. Goodnight is the favorite here, but will be challenged by Riley Lefever of Carroll. Steury will be pushed by Aaron Mason of Dekalb, Dick will have a tough foe in Chantz Luginbill of Adams Central and finally Adams will be challenged by Kyle Walters of Union City.
Early Round Key Matches:
Jesse Goodnight- Kokomo vs. Riley Lefever- Carroll
Isaac Steury- Leo vs. Aaron Mason- Dekalb
Brian Dick- Maconaquah vs. Chantz Luginbill- Adams Central
Casey Adams- Jimtown vs. Kyle Walters- Union City
170lbs
Head of the Class: Tanner Adams- Jimtown
State Streeters: Anthony Linnear- North Side, Garrett Weber- Leo, Blake Rodenbeck- East Noble
The Skinny:
If you wrestle this weight class 10 times, you are bound to get 10 different results. Tanner Adams looks to be the head of the class here, but do not count out Linnear or Weber to pull out a minor upset. Linnear is big, strong and athletic and finished 3rd at Connersville, while Adams won an equally tough weight at the Al Smith. The darkhorse is Weber who is the only wrestler in this weight with state experience.
Early Round Key Matches:
Blake Rodenbeck- East Noble vs. Jake Reed- Muncie South
Tanner Adams- Jimtown vs. Kody Jones- Concordia
182lbs
Head of the Class: Brad Busse- Bellmont
State Streeters: Cody Conrad- Heritage, Ben Pfister- Adams Central, Jake Wiechmann- Western
The Skinny:
This weight class could easily be dominated by the ACAC conference with a potential of three state qualifier from this tough small school conference. Busse has had three barn burners with Pfister, but he may get to avoid seeing him for the third straight week if Conrad defeats Pfister again. All four ticket round matches will be good ones with some great wrestlers in each quarter bracket.
Early Round Key Matches:
Carson Volheim- Elkhart Central vs. Ben Pfister- Adams Central
Cody Conrad- Heritage vs. Corey Crabtree- Muncie South
Jake Wiechmann- Western vs. Trevon Carr- Leo
Brad Busse- Bellmont vs. Ben Evans- Bishop Dwenger
195lbs
Head of the Class: Spencer Raypole- Carroll
State Streeters: Ben Baker- Bellmont, Austin Gibson- Garrett, Bo Butler- Kokomo
The Skinny:
This weight will also be a fun one with four wrestlers leading the way that are extremely close to each other. Raypole and Baker have split matches this year, while Gibson has five of his six losses to both Raypole and Baker by a combined total of eight points. You cannot count out Bo Butler of Kokomo who comes into the coliseum undefeated.
Early Round Key Matches:
Bo Butler- Kokomo vs. Kyle Garringer- Jay County
Austin Gibson- Garrett vs. Tieshawn Johnson- Elkhart Memorial
220lbs
Head of the Class: Seth Biberstine- Southern Wells
State Streeters: Chase Spears- Elkhart Memorial, Cameron Colby- Kokomo, Nolan Wilson- Leo
The Skinny:
Two undefeated wrestlers highlight this weight class in returning state placer Colby and Biberstine. Biberstine did not wrestle last year due to injury, but has absolutely dominated everyone in his path this year. The bottom half of the bracket lacks any undefeated wrestlers, but will consist of some great matches.
Early Round Key Matches:
Cameron Colby- Kokomo vs. Travis Carunchia- Garrett
Isaac Birch- Bellmont vs. Chase Spears- Elkhart Memorial
285lbs
Head of the Class: Dominique Stauffer- Elkhart Central
State Streeters: Ta-Quan Walker- North Side, Eric Hemmelgarn- Jay County, Jimmy Ulerick- Maconaquah
The Skinny:
Do not leave until this weight is finishes as from top to bottom this could be the most competitive weight in Fort Wayne. This weight class features nine wrestlers with less than five losses on the year, with most of them to each other. Two returning state qualifiers also highlight this weight class, but neither have an easy path to return to state. Dominique Stauffer looks to be the favorite with a hungry pack of wolves nipping at his heals.
Early Round Key Matches:
Ta’Quan Walker- North Side vs. Brandon Daniels- Goshen
Andrew Amos- Angola vs. Jimmy Ulerick- Maconaquah
Amos/Ulerick winner vs. Kyle Short- Norwell
Andrew Mason- Huntington North vs. Eric Hemmelgarn- Jay County
Dominique Stauffer- Elkhart Central vs. Matt Beard- Eastside