Halsted, C.P. hope to relive 2009 magic as IHSAA stages final team state finals in wrestling

CROWN POINT | On every main thoroughfare into Crown Point there is a red sign in the shape of Indiana boasting the local school's 2009 state title in wrestling.

In the Crown Point High School wrestling room there is a single white sign, another Indiana silhouette, with the same reminder.

Cameron Halsted is filled with nostalgia every time he sees one of those tangible reminders.

"Every time I come down one of those roads, some memory pops into my head when I see those signs," Halsted said. "It was a great day with great memories.

The Bulldogs senior is one of two starters left from that 2009 squad, and he'll have one last shot at a championship this weekend.

The other remnant from that squad is Jason Tsirtsis, who just won his fourth consecutive individual state title to join an elite group.

Halsted (19-8) didn't make the individual state finals, and he's not wrestling in college, so this, the 17th and final edition of the IHSAA team state finals in the sport, is Halsted's final shot at another ring.

Halsted was the clutch performer during the 2009 team state finals, scoring a third-period takedown and 2-1 win at 103 pounds in the very last match of the semifinal dual with his team up just 25-23.

"Right now that brings up good emotions and memories, but when it was going on I was actually the calmest guy in the gym," Halsted said. "I had to be. The match kept stopping because (Cathedral's Brian Harvey) was getting nose bleeds over and over. I just had to dig deep."

Harvey was the state champ at 160 this year.

Coach Scott Vlink uses Halsted's freshman heroics as a cautionary tale for anyone who might think their match might not matter. The starting weight classes aren't determined until after weigh-ins, so everyone is prone to being in the pressure-cooker Halsted once endured.

Halsted was seventh in the state at 103 as a freshman, but shoulder surgery caused him to miss his sophomore season, and he was eliminated at the semistate last year and this year, at 130 and 132, respectively. Even though he injured his right shoulder again this postseason, he has found a silver lining in the individual letdown.

"I think no matter who you are, you're bummed to not be one of the guys on the podium at state," Halsted said. "Now I just look at this as an opportunity to get back up and be really effective going into the state tournament."

Vlink said Halsted has stayed almost right on his weight class, 132, despite being eliminated 10 days ago.

"I know that Cameron's disappointed and feels that he didn't fulfill some of his goals as an individual," Vlink said. "This is an opportunity for him to do something good for the team and propel the team to a state championship.

"Every team has individuals that are getting a little tired of the long, grinding season. This weekend and this week of practice, it's about character, and it's about being prepared to wrestle as hard as you can for six more minutes for three more duals."

This is Crown Point's fourth consecutive state finals appearance.

Halsted is still upset with the way he wrestled last year in a 5-1 individual loss during a 30-25 team loss.

Halsted, who will attend Indiana University in the fall, major in business and work with a group called Campus Crusaders promoting Christian ministry and acts of service, doesn't wear his 2009 state championship ring. He hit a growth spurt after the fitting, and now he seeks one that fits.

The Bulldogs are rolling into the tournament, where they face Kokomo in the quarterfinals and would not have to face favored Perry Meridian until the championship.

"To beat a team like them, it's going to come down to heart, who wants it more and who's willing to give it all they have," Halsted said.

"This is my last tournament of my life; therefore, I'm just going to give it my all no matter what happens."