TERRE HAUTE —
The IHSAA wrestling state tournament, which returned to its old format of not having team advancement this season, will begin today with sectionals around the state, including those involving Wabash Valley teams at Northview, Crawfordsville and Avon.
At Northview, No. 4-ranked Bloomington South is the heavy favorite to capture the 10-team title. The sectional champion will receive a plaque to commemorate the accomplishment, even if there’s no longer a team regional to look forward to next Saturday.
“Unless they get food poisoning or unless a blizzard keeps them from making the trip, Bloomington South will be awfully hard to beat,” Northview coach Dan Mikesell assessed.
Individual advancement will still be hotly contested today, however, as the top four in each weight class go to the Bloomington South Regional.
“Bloomington South could have nine or 10 guys in the sectional finals,” West Vigo coach Scott Rohrbach said. “All but one of its wrestlers should move on to the regional.”
Terre Haute South has three No. 1 seeds — junior Phoenix Adams (29-7) at 138 pounds, junior Ian Newton (29-7) at 145 and senior Cody Helms (32-4) at 152. Adams, who won the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) championship last Saturday, is ranked 13th and Helms 28th in their classes by the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association.
“They all have a real good chance of winning their weights,” South coach Gabe Cook told the Tribune-Star. “They’re peaking at the right time and they’re training real hard with each other. You can see the focus in their training.”
South senior Ryan Uppal (28-5) is a No. 2 seed behind Bloomington South’s Griffin Schermer (31-3) in the 106 class.
“Ryan’s had a good week of practice,” Cook said. “He’s going to have his work out cut for him with [freshman Cale] McCoy [the No. 3 seed from Northview], though.”
Another No. 2 seed for the Braves is sophomore Darin Pemberton (24-8) at 113. No. 3 seeds for South include junior Duane Deerwester (28-9) at 170 and sophomore David Lewis (29-8) at 120.
“It’s not going to be easy for any of our guys to get to the [sectional] finals and they know that,” Cook noted.
The Braves’ coach insists there will be no intimidation in the hearts and souls of his athletes when they face Bloomington South wrestlers one-on-one today.
“We’ve got some guys who are competing at a very high level,” Cook summarized. “We’re going to go out there and get after it.”
For Terre Haute North, some of its top-seeded wrestlers are senior Eric Elia (24-9), No. 2 at 126 behind Sullivan junior Cory Orndorff; junior Tyler Gilmore (26-6), No. 2 at 152 behind Helms; and junior Ryan Moshak (20-12), No. 3 after moving up from 170 to the 182 class.
“I think [Elia and Gilmore] are both in a position where they can win,” North coach Mark Frisz assessed.
“Eric has really been working on his takedowns. Once he gets on top, he’s very good. … Tyler knows what to work on. He keeps matches close. He’s never out of a match.”
Frisz predicted that South and Western Indiana Conference (WIC) champion Sullivan will be in the hunt for second place, team-wise. “It would take a great effort for us to get into that mix,” he added.
From the Northview perspective, Mikesell thinks his squad can compete with South, Sullivan and Edgewood for second place. He mentioned McCoy (25-6) at 106, junior Trey Boor (20-14) at 152, senior Jesse Miller (30-5) at 195, senior Zach Williams (22-10) at 220 and senior Justin Sampson (33-0) at 285 — all WIC champions — as some of his top contenders.
Sampson is the Knights’ only No. 1 seed, while Williams is a No. 2 and Miller, McCoy and junior Shane Ryan (16-15 at 113) are No. 3s. Mikesell also warned not to rule out Boor as a No. 4 seed.
“Trey won the conference as a 4 seed, so going in as the 4 seed doesn’t bother him at all,” the Knights’ coach explained.
West Vigo’s best records entering today belong to previously injured senior Jacob Creasey (14-2) at 145, sophomore Casey Noblitt (17-11) at 160, freshman Dakota Short (17-11) at 195 and freshman Doug Wilkins (14-8) at 126.
Rohrbach considers the latter three as potential stars of the future. Creasey, a 2013 WIC champion, is a No. 2 seed behind Newton today.
“Jacob has a very good chance to win,” Rohrbach emphasized. “He’s just gonna have to keep improving this week.”
Noblitt and Short are No. 4 seeds and Wilkins is a No. 5.
Besides Orndorff, some of Sullivan’s top competitors should be senior Nick Byrd (22-4) at 132, senior Colt Thompson (20-4) at 138 and junior Jonathan Sullivan (19-6) at 160.
This sectional formerly consisted of nine teams, but North Knox was added to the group this season.
IHSAA wrestling sectionals
Today
At Northview
Participating schools — Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Edgewood, North Knox, Northview, Owen Valley, Sullivan, Terre Haute North, Terre Haute South and West Vigo.
Start time — 9:30 a.m.
Admission — $6.
Advancement — Top four in each weight class will move on to the regional.
At Crawfordsville
Participating schools — Attica, Covington, Crawfordsville, Fountain Central, North Montgomery, North Vermillion, Rockville, Seeger, South Vermillion, Southmont and Turkey Run.
Start time — 9 a.m.
Admission — $6.
Advancement — Top four in each weight class will move on to the regional.
At Avon
Participating schools — Avon, Ben Davis, Brownsburg, Cascade, Cloverdale, Danville, Greencastle, North Putnam, South Putnam and Tri-West.
Start time — 8:30 a.m.
Admission — $6.
Advancement — Top four in each weight class will move on to the regional.
High School
Many hotly-contested weight classes at Northview wrestling sectional
- High School
-
-
West Vigo advances to sectional championship with walk-off win in ninth
High school baseball sectional games between West Vigo and Edgewood have had a tendency to be unpredictable over the years, but the Vikings and Mustangs outdid themselves in that area Thursday evening — and Thursday night.
-
BOYS TRACK REGIONAL: North gets three winners, South two at Evansville
Terre Haute North had three winners, Terre Haute South two, and the Patriots and Braves finished second and third respectively at the Evansville Regional for boys track on Thursday at Evansville Central.
Hurdlers Cam Stewart and Cole Seward and discus thrower Lee Davis were the winners for North, enabling the Patriots to finish with 60 points to 59 for the Braves. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Martinsville adavances in Class 4A THS Sectional
Martinsville slipped past Mooresville 4-2 in the only game played Thursday in the Class 4A Terre Haute South Sectional for high school baseball.
-
South Vermillion pitches team to sectional title, wins for her dad
South Vermillion snapped one streak and extended another Thursday night to win Class 3A Sectional 28 8-5 over Brown County at Edgewood High School.
-
Green's grand slam helps Shakamak to sectional win
Patrick Green pitched the first four innings for his seventh win of the year and made things easier for himself with a second-inning grand slam as Shakamak opened the Class A Shakamak Sectional with a 9-1 win over Clay City on Thursday.
-
Rockville, Attica winners in Class A sectional baseball action
Host Rockville defeated North Vermillion and Attica came from behind to overhaul defending champion Turkey Run on Thursday in the first round of the Class A Rockville Sectional for high school baseball.
-
North baseball pulls away from South in sectional opener
In high school baseball little things mean a lot, and the crack in the door doesn’t have to be open very wide.
Terre Haute North burst through that crack in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday evening at Terre Haute South, scoring seven two-out runs and going on to a surprisingly easy 12-2 victory over the host Braves. -
Blank, Mundy named McMillan Award winners
Posing side-by-side for photos following Terre Haute North High School’s Senior Awards ceremony, seniors Calvin Blank and Chanli Mundy couldn’t look more different.
-
West Vigo baseball advances with 10-0 win behind Stewart's two-hitter
West Vigo got off to a good start in Class 3A high school sectional baseball action Wednesday evening at Dick Ballinger Field.
The Vikings scored four runs in the first inning of the first sectional game and went on to defeat Brown County 10-0 in five innings with Kevin Stewart hurling a two-hitter. -
Terre Haute South tennis claims regional crown
It was a lot tougher than some thought it would be, but the Terre Haute South girls tennis team won the Greencastle regional for the second year in a row Wednesday evening at DePauw University Tennis and Track Center.
-
Big group of Wabash Valley boys head to Evansville looking for state berths
The top four finishers in each event from last week’s Terre Haute North, Evansville Central, Jasper and Princeton boys high school track and field sectionals will converge on Evansville Central today for regional competition.
-
West Vigo comes up short against 19-9 Brown County softball
West Vigo got off to a good start but Brown County finished better in Class 3A high school softball sectional semifinal action Tuesday night at Edgewood.
The Eagles bested the Vikings 7-5 and will meet South Vermillion, a 12-7 winner over Owen Valley, for the sectional championship on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.
-
Valley baseball teams have been keeping busy heading into sectionals
When high school baseball sectionals begin around the Wabash Valley today, one complaint that’s not expected to be heard from any coach is that his team has had too much time off.
-
Northview powers way past Terre Haute South in sectional semifinal
Northview unleashed power rarely seen in high school girls softball Tuesday night to eliminate Terre Haute South 8-1 in the Class 4A Sectional at Martinsville High School.
The Knights hit three home runs in an eight-run third inning to reach the championship game. -
Terre Haute North dominates field at regional
Keirra Porter took first place in two individual events and helped Terre Haute North win one of its relays as the Patriots captured the Evansville Central Regional team championship in girls high school track and field Tuesday night.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: South tennis cruises into regional final
Terre Haute South didn’t lose a game en route to blanking Seeger 5-0 in girls high school tennis Tuesday to advance to today’s championship match against Crawfordsville in the Greencastle Regional.
-
Terry enjoys strong year with Wildcats, and still enjoying suiting up to play
South Vermillion’s Tim Terry is the longest tenured coach in Wabash Valley high school baseball as his Wildcats are set to begin sectional play Thursday against Owen Valley.
But on the Yankees, a 35-and-over team in the Terre Haute Men’s Senior Baseball League, Terry is “just a youngster” if you ask Larry Roesch, his 68-year-old teammate on the Volkers Group Yankees. -
West Vigo softball holds off nemesis Edgewood in softball sectional
Ice cream was enough of a reward Monday night after the West Vigo Vikings beat eight-time defending champion Edgewood 6-2 in extra innings in the opening game of the Class 3A softball sectional at Edgewood High School. But that’s not what Vikings want.
-
PREP ROUNDUP: Shakamak's Green hits two homers in win over West Vigo
Shakamak improved to 22-3 on the season behind a complete-game effort from Brett Yeryar, and Patrick Green hit two solo home runs in a high school baseball game Monday.
-
Terre Haute North offense unable to get going in loss to Mooresville
Jack Kirchner chose to give credit Monday night to Mooresville pitcher Taylor Chitwood, not to the Greg Maddux-size strike zone she seemed to enjoy.
But if there were no excuses forthcoming from Kirchner and his Terre Haute North High School softball team, it wouldn’t have been hard to find a spectator or two to come up with extenuating circumstances about the Patriots’ 4-1 loss at the Class 4A Martinsville Sectional. -
Terre Haute North looking strong going into girls track regional
Terre Haute North might need an off night for anyone to catch them in the girls track regional at Evansville Central.
The Patriots are as well-rounded as they’ve ever been, and two relay teams are state contenders with times ranking No. 2 in Indiana among times recorded all spring.
Terre Haute South, Northview and Sullivan have athletes among the contenders in multiple events as well. -
South tennis ready for potential challenge in regional
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
-
Softball sectionals up for grabs
All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.
-
Terre Haute South, Northview vie for tennis regional title
Terre Haute South and Northview take respective records of 10-5 and 11-5 into the Greencastle Regional today.
Coach Bill Blankenbaker’s Braves will play Seeger at 4:30 p.m., while coach Emily Goff’s Knights will take on Crawfordsville about 6 p.m. -
Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville
West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.
-
TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game
Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.
-
Olds pitches South to share of MIC baseball title
Friday night, winning the second game 5-0 and earning a share of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title.
Damon Olds was dominant on the mound for the Braves, striking out 14 and walking just one while pitching a three-hit shutout. -
South wins first half of doubleheader against Lawrence North
Host Terre Haute South kept its Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference high school baseball title hopes alive — and clinched no worse than second place in the process — by downing Lawrence North 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Friday night.
The second game, which started after Senior Night festivities between games, ended past the Tribune-Star deadline. -
PREP ROUNDUP: Calleja pitches West Vigo past South Vermillion
Brandon Calleja had 13 strikeouts to lead West Vigo to a 5-1 victory against South Vermillion in high school baseball Friday.
Brandon Behringer went 2 for 4 with two RBI for the Vikings, who secured second place in the Western Indiana Conference.
Kaden Lawson had double for South Vermillion (15-7), which finished 4-2 in the WIC. -
Seibert returns from injury to win three events as Braves win sectional crown
His baseball equivalent might be Rick Sutcliffe of the 1984 Chicago Cubs.
When Tyler Seibert returned to the Terre Haute South track and field lineup Thursday for sectional action at Terre Haute North, it was like the midseason trade the Cubs made for Sutcliffe that earned them a playoff spot. - More High School Headlines
-
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
