Cameron Zimmerman is one of a host of Warriors making a repeat appearance at the East Chicago Semi-state, along with several first-timers.

Another step up the ladder, another step in the tougher mindset. Semi-state weekend is here, and the East Chicago Semi-state once again puts its claim in as the toughest in the state with numerous big rankings and elite programs taking part in the festivities this Saturday.

Wawasee sends 10 to the mats in hopes of keeping the season going for another weekend at the IHSAA State Finals in Indianapolis.

Here’s a breakdown of the paths for Wawasee’s 10 wrestlers, detailing each of their pods for state advancement.

106 – Kaleb Salazar (33-4) v. Virgilio Arizmendi (28-5), Attica; round two – Aidan Diaz, Wheeler or Joy Cantu, Merrillville

Optics: Salazar has an interesting route if he wants to break through to his first state finals appearance. There are only two seniors in the 106 bracket, and one of them is Arizmendi. The two haven’t met in high school competition, offering a fresh approach for Salazar, who has basically wrestled much of the same competitors for the past month. Cantu was a girls state finalist, taking fourth overall at 106. Diaz is another in a line of solid wrestlers from Wheeler, having lost just five times this season. Getting past the first hurdle of advancement could line Salazar up for an even bigger day in East Chicago.

Bum: “Kaleb has a very solid quarter bracket he will have to navigate to punch his first ticket to the state tournament. All three potential opponents are semi-state ranked and quality opponents. With that said, Kaleb’s focus is solely on putting four quality matches together and winning the tournament.”

113 – Cameron Senter (29-8) v. Andrew Williams (28-16), Calumet; round two – Mario Orueta, Lake Central or Liam Siburcrist, North White

Optics: Senter is about as hot as they come on the Wawasee squad, having won NLC, sectional and regional titles in succession. He hasn’t lost since Jan. 11, and looks to continue that against Williams, who has 16 losses on the season and was wrestling JV as recently as January. A showdown in the ticket round against Siburcrist of North White could be one of the top matchups of the entire bracket.

Bum: “Cam has an opportunity made possible by winning his regional with a solid draw to potentially punch a state ticket. With a first round match against Calumet the focus, a ticket-round match with No. 4 semi-state ranked opponent from North White potentially looms.”

126 – Colten Sutton (13-11) v. Logan Frazier (29-2), Crown Point; round two – Daniel McGill, Hobart or Kaleb Caliz, Benton Central

Optics: Sutton has completely turned around his season, making his first semi-state as a high school competitor after advancing from Penn. Advancing further is going to require some gumption as the defending state champion in Frazier is up first. The two saw each other at the Al Smith, Frazier getting the best of that matchup. Should Sutton pull the upset, a lineup against Benton Central could be likely to make the state round.

Bum: “Colton has done a phenomenal job growing and maturing throughout the season and achieved a goal of being a semi-state qualifier. His first round match will be a rematch from earlier in the year against the returning state champion from Crown Point. There will be no pressure on Colton which will allow him to compete free.”

132 – Titus Taylor (23-10) v. David Maldanado (37-1), Merrillville; round two – Ethan Seubring, Faith Christian or Hayden DeMarco, Chesterton

Optics: Taylor shocked the regional with a first round upset of Penn’s Jake Petras to earn a trip to the semi-state. Taylor would drop his next two, but like Sutton, will have his hands full in round one against a 2022 state finalist in David Maldanado. Round two would see either a 33-win Seubring or 34-win DeMarco.

Bum: “Similar to 126, Titus set a goal early in the year of being a Semi-state qualifier and he achieved that. He will have No.5 state-ranked Maldonado from Merrillville his first round. There is no pressure and Titus can do what he does best and see where the chips fall.”

138 – Logan Stuckman (29-7) v. Drake Fritz (19-1), West Central; round two – Jeff Huyvaert, New Prairie or Quentin Steward, Hammond Central

Optics: Stuckman makes his fourth appearance in the semi-state, but is still seeking his first state finals appearance. Opposite is Fritz, who is looking to get back to the state finals after making a run his freshman season. With just one loss, Fritz knows what he’s doing, but has been limited to just 20 duals this season, where Stuckman has almost double the amount of action. Potentially an undefeated Huyvaert (45-0) stands in front of a ticket to Indy.

Bum: “Logan will begin his fourth run at the semi-state with a first round matchup against a former state qualifier from West Central. Logan has all of the tools and abilities necessary to be successful and achieve the goals he has set for himself. It all starts with the age-old mindset of one-match at a time.”

145 – Ethan Rodriguez (29-9) v. Devin Wible (18-6), Hobart; round two – Eli Blossom, Faith Christian or Jayden Lewis, New Prairie

Optics: Rodriguez didn’t draw some of the big, big guns in the loaded 45 bracket, but has to get through two contenders in which to advance to his first state finals. Wible comes in just 18-6 but is recognized as a top-ten wrestler, and either of Blossom or Lewis will be waiting in the ticket round. Oh, by the way, the top-ranked and undefeated Aiden Torres would likely be the third opponent for Rodriguez and either Anthony Bahl of Crown Point or Wesley Smith of Plymouth waiting in the final. Rodriguez will sleep very well Saturday night if he wins the group.

Bum: “Ethan is making his second trip to the semi-state and is paired in the first round with the Hobart senior who is ranked ninth in the semi-state. If Ethan is able to win his first round, he will likely see a returning state qualifier from New Prairie in the ticket round. Ethan’s experience and unique style could be a factor in winning two tough matches.”

152 – Hunter Miller (32-5) v. Quentin Falls (28-8), Calumet; round two – Chase Kasprzak, Lake Central or Boden Rice, Attica

Optics: Miller has all the ability in the world to win the entire bracket. Using the talking points of rankings, all of the notable names in the state rankings are on the north side of the ticket rounds or at home. With everyone getting a favor in the 52 state series from Crown Point not making weight at the regional. Get past Falls and likely Kasprzak, and Miller will cap his senior season with a state finals trip, and potentially rematches with Mishawaka’s Brabender in the semis and Denton from Penn in the finals.

Bum: “Hunter Miller is making his fourth trip to the semi-state, and for the fourth time draws into the Crown Point Regional champion quarter bracket. If he is able to win his first round against Calumet, it will not be against a Crown Point wrestler for the first time. Hunter would likely see the No. 9-ranked wrestler in our semi-state from Lake Central in the ticket-round with a state trip on the line. His consistent style is well suited for this kind of tournament style wrestling.”

170 – Gavin Malone (31-6) v. Manolo Hood (26-10), Portage; round two – Carlos Perez-Xochipa, Lafayette Harrison or John Lively, Chesterton

Optics: The world is yours, Malone. After shocking the regional with an upset of Penn in the semis, Malone proved he could overcome high-pressure situations with a win in a spotlight moment. To be fair, however, Malone hasn’t won a major tournament bracket since the 2022 sectional, but doesn’t have to win but two to make a state finals after three outs in prior semi-states. Lined up are Hood and potentially Perez-Xochipa in a bracket that has seven of the top 25 in the state all active, Malone among the state-ranked at 18. It could be a very productive day or a quick one.

Bum: “Gavin will also begin his fourth run through the semi-state, but against the eighth-ranked wrestler from Portage. If Gavin is able to win that match he will likely have a ticket-round matchup against the sixth-ranked wrestler in our semi-state from West Lafayette Harrison. Gavin’s improvement over the past two weeks has been significant and set him up well for the style of wrestling that is the semi-state.”

Optics: Zimmerman has been on the edge of greatness all season. Typically working from behind early in the season, Zimmerman changed course and was more the aggressor in his successes as the calendar changed to 2023. However still without a tournament title to his senior year credit, Zimmerman will need to start off fast against an up-and-down Zeigler in round one before working for the ticket in round two likely against highly-regarded Popp. It would be the first state finals for Zimmerman in three tries.

Bum: “Zimmy’s making his third trip to East Chicago and has been very focused this week making sure his mind and body are healed and ready to go. He’ll start with a New Prairie junior, before potentially looking at a ticket-round match up against No. 4-ranked West Lafayette Harrison.”

195 – Donnie Blair (26-12) v. Jake Sparks (23-12), Hobart; round two – Anthony White, Crown Point or Trae Lanham, Seeger