MEDIA INFORMATION            

February 17, 2009

Contact: Jason Wille, Sports Information Director

E–Mail: jwille@ihsaa.org

 

 

SEVEN FORMER STATE CHAMPS RETURN TO WRESTLING STATE FINALS

Seven former state champions, including one attempting to join the all-time greats in the sport, lead the way in the 71st Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals this weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

Two hundred twenty-four wrestlers in all, 16 in each of the 14 weight classes, will begin first round competition on Friday at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT. First-round winners will return to wrestle on Saturday with quarterfinal action beginning at 9:30 am ET / 8:30 am CT and semifinal matches to follow after all weight classes have concluded. Consolation bouts begin at 5 pm ET and championship matches under the spotlight are scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.

 

If he can win the 130 pound weight class Saturday night, Mishawaka senior Josh Harper will become the eighth four-time champion in the history of the state tournament and the fourth in the last six years. Harper is 33-3 this season after winning the 125 pound class last year, the 112 class in 2007 and the 103 class in 2006. To this point in his high school career, he stands 171-4 but fell short of a first place finish in an IHSAA state tournament event for the first time in his career last weekend. He placed second to Hobart’s Frankie Porras losing, 4-2, in the 130 pound final at the Merrillville Semi-State. A rematch for the state championship is a possibility as both sit on opposite sides of the bracket.

 

Six others who won titles last year are returning with all but one in a different weight class this time around.

 

Harper’s Mishawaka teammate Steven Sandefer is the lone grappler back to defend the same crown he won a year ago. Sandefer enters the 140 pound bracket with a 40-1 mark.

 

The 119 pound class is loaded with three former state champions involved. Indian Creek’s Ethan Raley (31-1), last year’s winner at 103, Indianapolis Cathedral’s Brandon Wright (45-2), last year’s 112 pound champ, and Camden Eppert (35-4) of Anderson Highland, the 2007 title holder at 103 will each be going for their second crown. Wright defeated Eppert in last season’s 112 pound final. Eppert and Raley are on the same side of the bracket opposite Wright.

 

At 125, Cashe’ Quiroga (43-0), a Lawrence North senior, has moved up a class after winning at 119 in 2008 and Sean McMurray (45-0) of Portage, the 135 pound winner last season, will go for 152 honors.

 

In all, 25 participants have made it to the state finals without absorbing a loss this year. The 160 pound class includes four of them: Mark Myers (38-0) of Crown Point, Ross Powell (40-0) of Northridge, Briar Runyan (39-0) of Martinsville, and Matt Todd (43-0) of Pendleton Heights.

 

One hundred and nineteen schools will be represented at the state finals this weekend with Mishawaka’s nine wrestlers leading the way in the 14 classes. Castle has eight entries while Crown Point and Indianapolis Cathedral follow with seven each. Crown Point had the most first-place winners with five last weekend at Merrillville. Each of those four teams will participate in the Team Wrestling State Finals on Feb. 28 at Center Grove High School in Greenwood.

 

71st IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals

Dates & Times

Friday, Feb. 20, 6 pm ET.

Saturday, Feb. 21 (Quarterfinals at 9:30 am ET with semifinals to follow; Consolations at 5 pm ET; Finals at 7:30 pm ET).

Admission: $8 per session or $20 both days.

Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | Website

Webcast: www.ihsaasports.org will provide live video of all Saturday bouts beginning at 9:30 am ET.

> Brackets

 

State Finals Notables

 

State Champions in the Field (7)

119 – Camden Eppert, 12, Anderson Highland (35-4) (2007 state champ at 103).

119 – Ethan Raley, 10, Indian Creek (31-1) (2008 state champ at 103).

119 – Brandon Wright, 11, Indianapolis Cathedral (45-2) (2008 state champ at 112).

125 – Cashe Quiroga, 12, Lawrence North (43-0) (2008 state champ at 119).

130 – Josh Harper, 12, Mishawaka (33-3) (2008 state champ at 125; 2007 state champ at 112; 2006 state champ at 103).

140 – Steve Sandefer, 12, Mishawaka (40-1) (2008 state champ at 140).

152 – Sean McMurray, 11, Portage (45-0) (2008 state champ at 135).

 

Undefeated Wrestlers in the Field (25)

103 – Kyle Ayersman (46-0), 9, Lake Central; Cody Phillips (45-0), 9, Union County.

112 – Anthony Hawkins (38-0), 11, Crown Point.

119 – Justin Brooks (38-0), 12, Warsaw.

125 – Cashe’ Quiroga (43-0), 12, Lawrence North.

130 – Brock Norton (34-0), 11, Carroll (Fort Wayne).

135 – Will Mascaro (43-0), 12, Carmel; Mitchell Richey (40-0), 12, Brown County; Eric Roach (38-0), 10, Crown Point.

140 – None.

145 – Daniel Young (44-0), 12, Culver Academies.

152 – Sean McMurray (45-0), 11, Portage; Kyle Mosier (42-0), 12, Yorktown; Drake Stein (45-0), 10, Princeton.

160 – Mark Myers (38-0), 12, Crown Point; Ross Powell (40-0), 12, Northridge; Briar Runyan (39-0), 12, Martinsville; Matt Todd (43-0), 12, Pendleton Heights.

171 – Braden Atwood (47-0), 11, Delphi.

189 – Drew Graber (40-0), 12, Northridge; Marcus Shrewsbury (38-0), 12, Crown Point; Aaron Stevenson (42-0), 10, Indian Creek.

215 – Billy Baker (38-0), 12, Bellmont; Gabriel Berry (43-0), 12, Warren Central.

285 –Adam Chalfant (35-0), 12, Winchester; Craig Fitzgerald (45-0), 12, Glenn.

 

Four-Time State Champions    

Estil Ritter, Bloomington: 1924, 175 lb.; 1925, 175 lb.; 1926, Hvy.; 1927, Hvy.   

Willard Duffy, Muncie Central: 1930, l00 lb.; 1931, 108 lb.; 1932, 115 lb.; 1933, 115 lb.   

Howard Fisher, South Bend Central: 1949, 95 lb.; 1950, 112 lb.; 1951, 127 lb.; 1952, 133 lb.      

Lance Ellis, Indianapolis Cathedral: 1986, 98 lb.; 1987, 112 lb.; 1988, 112 lb.; 1989, 119 lb.

Blake Maurer, Evansville Mater Dei:  2001, 130 lb.; 2002, 145 lb.; 2003, 171 lb.; 2004, 171 lb.

Alex Tsirtsis, Griffith: 2001, 119 lb.; 2002, 130 lb.; 2003,135 lb.; 2004, 145 lb.

Angel Escobedo, Griffith: 2002, 112 lb.; 2003, 125 lb.; 2004, 130 lb.; 2005, 135 lb.

 

Media Information

 

Public Entrance: The public may enter from Pennsylvania Street or Delaware Street into a common lobby on the north side of Conseco Fieldhouse. Ticket office windows are located there.

 

Media Hosts: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille, Communications Director Chris Kaufman along with assistant Kristy Catt will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state finals.

 

Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 19 at 4 pm ET. Please note that the 2008-09 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will NOT allow admission to this event as a specific credential is required – no exceptions. Legitimate working news media should apply for credentials by e-mailing or faxing your request on company letterhead (with name of individual applying) to IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille (jwille@ihsaa.org or 317-575-4244). E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be left to claim by the individual at media will-call at Conseco Fieldhouse beginning at 3 pm ET on Friday. Identification is necessary to pick up credentials.

 

Media Entrance: The media entrance is in the southeast corner of Conseco Fieldhouse adjacent to Delaware Street. The door is marked for Media and Employees and is located at the opposite end of the building from the public entrance. Please allow a few extra minutes to pass through security. Media credentials left at will-call are to be claimed at this entrance.

 

Media Work Room: As in previous years, the media workroom at Conseco Fieldhouse will be open both days and be available to working media members throughout Friday evening and all day on Saturday. The work area contains wireless internet access and complimentary phones that will accept credit card and 800 calls. Soft drinks and snacks will be available.

 

Mat Access: Conseco Fieldhouse will have the hockey boards set up around the perimeter of the wrestling mat area. During the championship round only on Saturday night will credentialed photographers be allowed inside the hockey boards to shoot action mat-side. Other than that, only participants, coaches and fieldhouse workers will have access to the mat area.

 

Programs: Copies of the official program containing brackets for each weight class and some tournament history will be available in the Media Work Room free of charge.

 

Results: Will be updated continuously throughout both days of the tournament on the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org. Copies of the updated brackets will also be available in the media work room throughout the two days.

 

 

PLAINFIELD MAN NAMED TOP WRESTLING OFFICIAL

Jon Hammond of Plainfield is the 2009 recipient of the Interscholastic Athletic Official Association Award for excellence in the sport of wrestling and will be honored in a special ceremony at this weekend’s state final tournament. 

 

Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.

 

During his career, Hammond has 20 sectionals, 15 regionals, 10 semi-states, and five state finals to his credit.

 

Hammond was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations.  In Indiana there are 26 associations made up of men and women who give up much of their personal time to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student athletes in our state.  Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.

 

An 18-year member of the Indiana Officials Association, Hammond is currently serving as a rules interpreter, a clinician, and has had important roles as Supervisor of Officials for the IHSAA State Tournament Series and as an Indiana representative to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).  He also developed the presentation “Roles of the Assistant Official” for the NFHS in 2007.

 

He is a graduate of Indiana State University, and has worked since 1978 as a city carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.  He is an active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, serving as a national delegate since 2004.

 

He has two children, Jennifer and Carey.

 

 

BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS SHOW THURSDAY

First round games for the upcoming boys basketball state tournament will be drawn and announced this Thursday, Feb. 19, at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT on the IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament Pairings Show. The show will originate from Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

 

The pairings show will be streamed in live video and audio over the internet at www.ihsaasports.org and may also be heard on the IHSAA / Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network (see list of affiliates below).

 

Upon conclusion of the 90-minute broadcast, the complete draw will be posted on the IHSAA website at ihsaa.org.

 

The boys tournament begins with sectionals the week of Monday, March 2. Regionals are Saturday, March 14, semi-states are Saturday, March 21, and the state finals on Saturday, March 28, at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

 

IHSAA Boys Basketball Tournament Draw

Date: Thursday, Feb. 19.

Time: 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT.

Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

Webcast: www.ihsaasports.org (audio and video)

Radio: IHSAA/Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network (affiliates listed below)

Market

Station

Frequency

Anderson

WHBU

1240 AM

Batesville

WRBI

103.9 FM

Bedford

WBIW

1340 AM

Berne

WZBD

92.7 FM

Elkhart

WCMR

1270 AM & 105.7 FM

Ferdinand

WQKZ

98.5 FM

Huntington

WBDC

100.9 FM

Jasper

WITZ

990 AM

Jasper

WITZ

104.7 FM

Jeffersonville

WQKC

1450 AM

Lafayette

ESPN

1450 AM

Logansport

WSAL

1230 AM

Logansport

WLHM

102.3 FM

Loogootee

WRZR

94.5 FM

Louisville

WKRD

790 AM

Madison

WORX

96.7FM

Madison

WXGO

1270 AM

Michigan City

WEFM

95.9 FM

Muncie

WXFN

1340 AM

New Castle

WMDH

1550 AM

Orleans

WPHZ

102.5 FM

Portland

WPGW

1440 AM

Richmond

WHON

930 AM

Richmond

WKBV

1490 AM

Santa Claus

WAXL

103.3 FM

Shelbyville

WSVX

96.5 FM

Shelbyville

WSVX

1520 AM

Sullivan

WNDI

95.3 FM

Warsaw

ESPN

1480 AM

Washington

WAMW

107.9 FM

Winchester

WZZY

98.3 FM

 

 

SIXTY-FOUR TEAMS SET FOR GIRLS BASKETBALL REGIONALS

All four defending state championship teams and seven of last year’s eight state finalists escaped this year’s sectional tournaments and moved into the regional round of the 34th Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Tournament.

 

Regional games will be played this Saturday, Feb. 21, at 16 sites in the four classes with two semifinal games early in the day followed by a championship game that evening. The survivors will move on to the semi-state round for a single game on Saturday, Feb. 28, with the winners earning a spot in the March 7 state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

 

Defending state champs Carmel (4A), Plymouth (3A), Heritage Christian (2A) and Fort Wayne Canterbury (A) each won their respective sectional on Saturday and among 34 repeat winners from last year.

 

Monroe Central (A) (1984) ended the longest sectional drought of the teams alive this weekend while just two schools – Crawfordsville (3A) and Fairfield (2A) – won sectional titles for the first time in school history.

 

Please note that the location of each semi-state game will be announced this Sunday afternoon at IHSAA.org.

 

Girls Basketball Regionals

Date: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009.

Admission: $6 per session; $9 both sessions.

> Pairings

 

Notables

 

Looking for First Regional Title (16 of 64)

4A: Evansville Harrison, Lawrence North, Michigan City, Pendleton Heights.

3A: Blackford, Crawfordsville.

2A: Carroll (Flora), Covenant Christian, Fairfield, Hagerstown, Wabash, Winchester.

A: Monroe Central, Turkey Run, Vincennes Rivet, Waldron.

 

Looking to Break Regional Championship Drought (Five or More Years)

27: Jac-Cen-Del (1982).

22: Bloomington South, North Posey (1987).

21: Batesville (1988).

20: Gary Roosevelt (1989).

17: Benton Central (1992).

16: Elkhart Memorial, Winamac (1993).

15: Owen Valley (1994).

14: Lafayette Jefferson, Roncalli (1995).

13: Leo (1996).

11: Jeffersonville, Tri-County (1998).

10: Fort Wayne Elmhust, Hanover Central, Kouts (1999).

9: Griffith, North Decatur (2000).

8: White River Valley (2001).

7: Ben Davis, Fort Wayne Northrop, Gibson Southern (2002).

6: North Harrison, Perry Meridian (2003).

5: Mooresville (2004).

 

Defending Regional Champions Still Alive (13 of 16)

4A: Carmel, Fort Wayne South Side, South Bend Washington.

3A: Plymouth, Vincennes Lincoln.

2A: Austin, Garrett, Heritage Christian, Oak Hill.

A: Fort Wayne Canterbury, Northeast Dubois, Southern Wells, University.

 

Active Regional Championship Streaks (Three or more years)

3: Heritage Christian, South Bend Washington.

 

Most Consecutive Regional Championships

6 by Pike Central (1990-95); NorthWood (1994-99).

 

Top 10 All-Time Regional Championship Leaders

12: Kokomo.

11: Valparaiso.

10: Ben Davis, NorthWood, Scottsburg.

9: Anderson, Bedford North Lawrence, Rushville.

8: Columbia City, Columbus East, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Fort Wayne Northrop, Huntington North, Mooresville.

 

Best Records in the Field (Two losses or less)

4A: Ben Davis (26-0), Mooresville (21-1), Pendleton Heights (21-2), South Bend Washington (23-0).

3A: Batesville (21-1), Benton Central (22-1), Crawfordsville (21-2), Fort Wayne Elmhurst (21-2), Gibson Southern (22-1), Owen Valley (21-2), Vincennes Lincoln (19-2).

2A: Garrett (23-1), Heritage Christian (22-1), Oak Hill (24-1).

A: Oregon-Davis (21-2), Turkey Run (20-2), Vincennes Rivet (20-1).

 

2008 State Champions Still Alive (4 of 4)

4A: Carmel

3A: Plymouth

2A: Heritage Christian.

A: Fort Wayne Canterbury.

 

2008 State Finals Teams Still Alive (7 of 8)

4A: Carmel, South Bend Washington.

3A: Plymouth.

2A: Heritage Christian, Oak Hill

A: Fort Wayne Canterbury, University.

 

First-Time Sectional Champions

4A: None.

3A: Crawfordsville.

2A: Fairfield.

A: None.

 

Sectional Championship Drought Breakers (Five or more years)

25: Monroe Central (1984).

15: Evansville Harrison, North Posey (1994).

14: Hagerstown, Lafayette Jefferson (1995).

13: Pendleton Heights (1996).

12: Blackford (1997).

9: Griffith, North Decatur (2000).

7: Bloomington South, Wabash (2002).

6: Batesville, Fort Wayne Northrop, North Harrison (2003).

5: Mooresville, Perry Meridian, Roncalli (2004).

 

Repeat Sectional Champions (34 of 64)

4A: Ben Davis, Carmel, Elkhart Memorial, Fort Wayne South Side, Gary West Side, Michigan City, South Bend Washington.

3A: Fort Wayne Elmhurst, Gibson Southern, Leo, Owen Valley, Plymouth, Rushville, Vincennes Lincoln.

2A: Carroll (Flora), Covenant Christian, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Garrett, Hanover Central, Heritage Christian, Oak Hill, Winchester.

A: Fort Wayne Canterbury, Kouts, Lafayette Central Catholic, Northeast Dubois, Oregon-Davis, South Central (Elizabeth), Southern Wells, Turkey Run, University, Vincennes Rivet, White River Valley, Wood Memorial.

 

 

BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING SECTIONALS THURSDAY

The 72nd Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving Tournament Series gets underway Thursday, Feb. 19, with sectional preliminary heats at 20 sites around the state. Diving prelims and semifinals start Saturday morning, Feb. 21, at each site with consolations and finals in each event scheduled for later in the day. All first place swimming event winners in each sectional will advance to the state meet along with any participant who equals or betters the state time standard in that event’s consolation or championship heat. The next fastest times in each event also will qualify in order to bring the field to 32 entrants.

 

The top four divers at each sectional will advance to one of four diving regionals slated for Tuesday, Feb. 24, with the top eight advancing to the state meet.

 

Heat sheets for the state finals and results from each sectional site will be posted to the boys swimming page on the IHSAA website on Sunday, Feb. 22, as they become available. Diving regional results will be posted on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

 

Sectionals

Dates

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 (Swimming Preliminaries).

Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 (Diving, Consolations & Finals in Swimming events).

Admission: $5 per session; $8 both sessions.

Advancement

Swimming Events

1. First place sectional winners in each event qualify for the state meet plus

2. Any contestant who equals or betters the state time standard in their respective event in the consolation finals or championship finals of the sectional qualifies for the state plus

3. The next fastest number of contestants in the state that would bring the total number of state meet entrants to thirty-two (32) in each event. In the event that a tie exists for the 32nd position, the state qualifier shall be determined by the fastest preliminary time of both swimmers. If preliminary times are identical, both swimmers shall advance.

Diving

First through fourth place participants will qualify for the diving regional.

 

> Assignment of Schools

 

Notables

 

Defending Sectional Champions

Bedford North Lawrence, Carmel, Castle, Center Grove, Chesterton, East Central, Floyd Central, Franklin Central, Greencastle, Hamilton Southeastern, Homestead, McCutcheon, Muncie Central, Munster, North Central (Indianapolis), Northridge, Penn, Richmond, Warsaw, Zionsville.

 

Active Sectional Championship Streaks (Three or more years)

23: Center Grove, Munster.

16: Hamilton Southeastern.

14: Homestead.

10: Chesterton.

6: Northridge.

5: East Central.

4: Franklin Central, North Central (Indianapolis).

3: Richmond.

 

Most All-Time Consecutive Sectional Championships

23: Center Grove, Munster (1986-2008).

 

Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships

38: Munster.

34: Columbus North.

26: South Bend Riley.

25: Kokomo.

23: Center Grove, Valparaiso.

21: Carmel.

20: Anderson.

18: Lake Central.

16: Castle, Hamilton Southeastern, North Central (Indianapolis), West Lafayette.

 

 

NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE

 

Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org for consideration.

 

Steve Alford, Lisa Dankovich and Mike Kovaleski, all graduates of the class of 1983, were inducted in to the New Castle Athletic Hall of Fame.  Alford was the 1983 Indiana Mr. Basketball, won a National Championship at Indiana University and a Olympic gold medal in 1984.  Kovaleski was a stand out football and basketball player at New Castle.  He attended Notre Dame where he was a four year starter.  Dankovich was a four-year letter winner in volleyball and basketball and helped each of those teams win a total of six sectionals, one regional title and and a berth in the volleyball state finals.  She later attended Miami University where she played four years of volleyball setting several national records.

 

Hamilton Southeastern senior Courtney Osborn became the school’s all time leading scorer on Thursday, Feb. 5 against Avon passing 1999 graduate Erika Roudebush (1,276).  Osborn, a Miami (Ohio) recruit had 1,290 points heading into sectional play.

 

The Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame will induct several individuals during its annual banquet on Sunday, Feb. 22 in Greenwood. Among them is Henry Wilk, 1969 Mishawaka state champion and former Penn coach who will receive the Billy Thom Memorial Plaque. Also set to be honored are:

Four high school coaches also will be inducted:

Contributors to the sport will be recognized, most for putting in time as officials or as officers in the Indiana State Wrestling Association.

The Levitz brothers from Prairie Heights will be honored as this year’s Hall of Fame wrestling family. Dan Levitz, who graduated in 1989, had a 58-21 high school career record. John Levitz (’94) accumulated a 133-12 mark, while youngest brother Mike Levitz (’96) went 143-18. Altogether, the trio had a family record of 334-56.

 

A new award will be presented this year. John Zwitt of Center Grove, where the team state wrestling finals annual takes place, will be recognized for his work as an athletic administrator.

 

 

IHSAA 08-09/24