All 11 of the Wawasee regional wrestlers will look to have their hand raised in the first round to get an automatic ticket to semi-state, but the goal is to get their hand raised three times, like sectional champ Colten Sutton did at Plymouth last weekend.
Step two of the state tournament ladder is on the horizon, and The Palace is awaiting.
Penn will host the only regional Wawasee will care about this Saturday, a win-and-you-are-in situation for the 11 Warriors preparing for battle. Eight wrestlers per bracket, four tickets to the East Chicago Semi-state for those who win their first matchup of the day. And in much of the similar setup at Plymouth, Wawasee is in good shape to move a lot of kids on, so long as the focus is on one match at a time.
We’ll start again with 106, where three-time sectional champion Kaleb Salazar will lead off against Marian’s Lillian Anderson. We’ll continue down the list to 195 in the same manner.
106 first round: Kaleb Salazar (30-4) v. Lillian Anderson of Mishawaka Marian (30-20)
Optics: Anderson has wrestled a ton this season, racking up 50 matches already between the boys and girls seasons. Anderson made a run at the Penn Girls Regional before losing in the state ticket round. As it would have it, Anderson only wrestled two matches at the Mishawaka sectional, a beneficiary of two byes but losing both of her live contests in what was just a four-man 106 bracket. That doesn’t give Salazar a pass to rest, as he’s looking to repeat as a regional champion. A fourth matchup against Warsaw’s Bryce McNees or third contest against Mishawaka’s Xavier Chavez could await the finals.
Bum: “Kaleb’s first match is against Mishawaka Marian and needs to be ready as the first match of the day. He will be on a mission to win his second regional championship.”
113 first round: Cam Senter (26-8) v. Braxton Shines of South Bend Riley (20-21)
Optics: Senter is on quite a run of late, winning NLC and Plymouth sectional titles in consecutive appearances, and now has the inside track to a potential regional crown. The road is going to be tough, with 20-match winner Shines in the way of the ticket, and then either Alonzo Chantea of Plymouth or Ryann Schmidtendorff of Penn in the semis. Mishawaka’s Josh Kite or Culver Academy’s Cole Meiser, to which Senter has beaten both this month, headline the other half of the bracket.
Optics: Senter is on quite a run of late, winning NLC and Plymouth sectional titles in consecutive appearances, and now has the inside track to a potential regional crown. The road is going to be tough, with 20-match winner Shines in the way of the ticket, and then either Alonzo Chantea of Plymouth or Ryann Schmidtendorff of Penn in the semis. Mishawaka’s Josh Kite or Culver Academy’s Cole Meiser, to which Senter has beaten both this month, headline the other half of the bracket.
Bum: “Cameron will be looking to continue his momentum to punch his ticket to the semi-state against South Bend Riley and potentially win a regional championship as a freshman.”
120 first round: Luke Stuckman (8-7) v. Dylan Bennett of Penn (27-6)
Optics: The chips are definitely stacked against Stuckman against the sectional champ Bennett, who has been on a roll of late. Stuckman may need to channel some of the magic of his two older brothers, but has a pair of tournament pins to his credit. A massive upset in the ticket round would likely yield a showdown with Warsaw’s Elias Garza.
Bum: “Luke will have a tough first-round match against 13th-ranked Dylan Bennett. Luke will be working this week to find the path to catch lightning in the bottle.”
Optics: The chips are definitely stacked against Stuckman against the sectional champ Bennett, who has been on a roll of late. Stuckman may need to channel some of the magic of his two older brothers, but has a pair of tournament pins to his credit. A massive upset in the ticket round would likely yield a showdown with Warsaw’s Elias Garza.
Bum: “Luke will have a tough first-round match against 13th-ranked Dylan Bennett. Luke will be working this week to find the path to catch lightning in the bottle.”
126 first round: Colten Sutton (12-9) v. Garret Sparke of St. Joe (8-11)
Optics: Sutton won his first-ever major tournament championship last week at Plymouth, outlasting Plymouth’s Coen Kraemer in the final. With Kraemer on the other side of the bracket along with some of the other contenders on paper, Sutton needs just a win over Sparks to make his first semi-state. Sparks won just one match in what was a five-man bracket at Mishawaka, opening the door for Sutton to potentially make some end roads.
Optics: Sutton won his first-ever major tournament championship last week at Plymouth, outlasting Plymouth’s Coen Kraemer in the final. With Kraemer on the other side of the bracket along with some of the other contenders on paper, Sutton needs just a win over Sparks to make his first semi-state. Sparks won just one match in what was a five-man bracket at Mishawaka, opening the door for Sutton to potentially make some end roads.
Bum: “Colten will look to continue his run through the state series by punching his ticket to the semi-state with a first round matchup again 8-11 South Bend St. Joe.”
132 first round: Titus Taylor (22-8) v. Jake Petras of Penn (7-6)
Optics: You see 7-6 and think this should be a walk-through, but Petras knocked off a tough Riley opponent to get to the finals of the sectional bracket last week. Taylor’s loss to Tippy’s Galvin Shambaugh at Plymouth might have been a minor blessing in disguise as Taylor will avoid Mishawaka’s Zar Walker until potentially the final, Walker the clear cut favorite to win the group.
Optics: You see 7-6 and think this should be a walk-through, but Petras knocked off a tough Riley opponent to get to the finals of the sectional bracket last week. Taylor’s loss to Tippy’s Galvin Shambaugh at Plymouth might have been a minor blessing in disguise as Taylor will avoid Mishawaka’s Zar Walker until potentially the final, Walker the clear cut favorite to win the group.
Bum: “Titus will be fired up this week to punch his first ticket to the semi-state with a first round matchup against Penn.”
138 first round: Logan Stuckman (27-6) v. Delton Swiscz of South Bend St. Joe (17-24)
Optics: A sectional championship for Stuckman sets up a matchup against Swiscz, who is seven matches under .500 for the season. A ticket to semi-state would afford a NLC championship rematch against Mishawaka’s Mikey Robles, an opponent Stuckman hasn’t beat this season. Penn’s Wes Harper likely will be sitting in the championship match on the other side of the bracket.
Bum: “Logan will be on a mission to avenge earlier losses to Mishawaka and to potentially win a regional against a couple of tough opponents.”
Bum: “Logan will be on a mission to avenge earlier losses to Mishawaka and to potentially win a regional against a couple of tough opponents.”
145 first round: Ethan Rodriguez (27-8) v. Chris Peacock of Mishawaka (22-14)
Optics: Rodriguez will meet Peacock for the third time this month, and is 2-0 already. A third win means East Chicago for the sophomore, who will be among the group chasing Plymouth’s Wesley Smith on the bottom half of the bracket, the defending Plymouth sectional champ who is likely the majority favorite. A semi-final rematch with Penn’s Evan Eutsey would be another marquee matchup for Rodriguez’s tough 2022-23 calendar.
Bum: “Ethan will have a day of rematches starting with Peacock from Mishawaka. We have all the confidence in Ethan to be able to make a run through this tournament.”
Bum: “Ethan will have a day of rematches starting with Peacock from Mishawaka. We have all the confidence in Ethan to be able to make a run through this tournament.”
152 first round: Hunter Miller (30-4) v. Markes Warren of South Bend Washington (20-13)
Optics: Miller is looking to continue the fabulous sectional run he made with some ground in the regional. Standing in the way of another trip to East Chicago is Warren, who went just 1-2 in the Mishawaka bracket, but the one was a tech fall over St. Joe. A win lines up a potential big time showdown in the semis against Penn’s Bryce Denton and a finals rematch against Mishawaka’s Beau Brabender, which Miller needs no motivation to beat after the NLC finals proceedings.
Bum: “Hunter is eyeing his first regional title and will have an interesting path with South Bend Washington round one, and likely matchup with Bryce Denton from Penn coming up from 138. If he’s wrestling well, we believe Hunter can be the best wrestler in this bracket.”
Bum: “Hunter is eyeing his first regional title and will have an interesting path with South Bend Washington round one, and likely matchup with Bryce Denton from Penn coming up from 138. If he’s wrestling well, we believe Hunter can be the best wrestler in this bracket.”
170 first round: Gavin Malone (29-5) v. Ron Addo of South Bend St. Joe (3-4)
Optics: Another wrestler with a small sample size is Addo, who struggled with injuries for a good portion of the season. A win for Malone moves him onto a potential showdown against Penn’s Zymarion Hollyfield, with both Isaac Valdez of Mishawaka and Elijah Cox of Triton on the bottom half, both of them have wins against Malone this month. This bracket at Mishawaka set off fireworks as Hollyfield and Valdez got after it, causing fans to rush the floor amongst a smorgasbord of silly business. Look for these matches to be tense. Malone could gain some advantages if the St. Joe County wrestlers are looking ahead.
Optics: Another wrestler with a small sample size is Addo, who struggled with injuries for a good portion of the season. A win for Malone moves him onto a potential showdown against Penn’s Zymarion Hollyfield, with both Isaac Valdez of Mishawaka and Elijah Cox of Triton on the bottom half, both of them have wins against Malone this month. This bracket at Mishawaka set off fireworks as Hollyfield and Valdez got after it, causing fans to rush the floor amongst a smorgasbord of silly business. Look for these matches to be tense. Malone could gain some advantages if the St. Joe County wrestlers are looking ahead.
Bum: “Another path that includes interesting matchups and potential rematches, this bracket has the potential to have numerous outcomes depending on the day. Gavin will be fired up to have a great week of training to be prepared for the battles that are coming on Saturday.”
182 first round: Cameron Zimmerman (21-8) v. Caiden Williams of Mishawaka (10-9)
Optics: Zimmy looks to atone for a finals loss at the sectional with a favorable matchup against Williams in the ticket round. The two didn’t meet during the regular season or NLC tournament, so the floor should be even in scouting. Zimmy’s run to a title will be tough, with sectional champ Vincent Freeman of Penn likely waiting in the semis and any of the four on the other half, including Warsaw’s Jaxson Walters, possibly waiting in the finals.
Bum: “Zimmy will be focused to not overlook his first round match against Mishawaka before a potential matchup against Penn in the semis. This is another weight class where depending on the day numerous outcomes could happen. Zimmy will be focused this week on an opportunity to win a regional title as well.”
Optics: Zimmy looks to atone for a finals loss at the sectional with a favorable matchup against Williams in the ticket round. The two didn’t meet during the regular season or NLC tournament, so the floor should be even in scouting. Zimmy’s run to a title will be tough, with sectional champ Vincent Freeman of Penn likely waiting in the semis and any of the four on the other half, including Warsaw’s Jaxson Walters, possibly waiting in the finals.
Bum: “Zimmy will be focused to not overlook his first round match against Mishawaka before a potential matchup against Penn in the semis. This is another weight class where depending on the day numerous outcomes could happen. Zimmy will be focused this week on an opportunity to win a regional title as well.”
195 first round: Donnie Blair (24-11) v. Justin Smith of South Bend Riley (18-12)
Optics: Blair nearly grabbed a sectional title last weekend, losing on a takedown in the final 10 seconds to LaVille’s Paul DeWitt, but has a legit shot at a trip to semi-state against Smith. The two have not met, and Smith is just 6-4 since a first-round loss at the Al Smith, where Blair advanced to the finals to meet Mishawaka’s Christian Chavez, to which everyone will be chasing the undefeated and top-ranked brawler at Penn.
Bum: “Donnie will have a key first round match against South Bend Riley to punch his ticket to the semi-state before a potential semi-final match with Mishawaka. Being able to score points will be crucial in Donnie’s first round match.”
Optics: Blair nearly grabbed a sectional title last weekend, losing on a takedown in the final 10 seconds to LaVille’s Paul DeWitt, but has a legit shot at a trip to semi-state against Smith. The two have not met, and Smith is just 6-4 since a first-round loss at the Al Smith, where Blair advanced to the finals to meet Mishawaka’s Christian Chavez, to which everyone will be chasing the undefeated and top-ranked brawler at Penn.
Bum: “Donnie will have a key first round match against South Bend Riley to punch his ticket to the semi-state before a potential semi-final match with Mishawaka. Being able to score points will be crucial in Donnie’s first round match.”
Final thought: “Overall our matchups are very solid for us and we believe we have the potential to see a large number of our guys punch their tickets to the semi-state Saturday morning. We also believe we have the potential to see a lot of great performances and represent Warrior Nation well once again.”