SCOUTING THE MERRILLVILLE SEMISTATE
Merrillville Semistate
When: 9 a.m. Saturday.
Advancement: Top four finishers in each weight class advance to the state finals, which run Feb. 19-20 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Local wrestlers to watch: Calumet -- Mike Clark (130), Nate Fowler (189), Justin Perez (215). Chesterton -- Zack Thornton (125), Chris Katsafaros (130), Brandon Garvey (152), Anthony Quiroz (160), Frank Raudry (Hwt.). Crown Point -- Colton Saroff (103), Anthony Hawkins (119), Dustin Schurg (125), Jason Tsirtsis (130), Dallas Schurg (135), Josh Flamme (140), Eric Roach (145), Tommy Renn (152), Dillon Cope (160), Tyler Kral (189), John Hannon (215). E.C. Central -- Victor Rodriguez (140), Alex Martinez (145), Christian Cabrera (160). Gavit -- Chris Pajdzik (135). Griffith -- Collin Slagle (103), Brian Orzechowicz (112), Shawn Siokos (119), Matt Beck (145), Mark Douglas (Hwt.). Hammond -- Roland Jordan (103). Hanover Central -- Paul Petrov (103), John Petrov (125), Brandon Bisping (171). Highland -- Danny Rodriguez (112), Jeremy Camacho (125), Eric Johnson (171). Hobart -- Patrick Manning (125), Bob Gallardo (130), Frankie Porras (140), Tony Rodriguez (160), Joe Peco (171), Call Posey (189). Kankakee Valley -- Jimmy Marich (112), Kyle Chadwick (119), Aaron Kearney (135), Dustin Schultz (152), Nick Berdine (189), Blake Marlatt (215). Knox -- Kyle Hernandez (125), Devann Biddle (135), Jimmy Krause (171). Lake Central -- Kyle Ayersman (112), Marc Escobedo (119), Bryan Smith (125), Brad Wartman (135), Seth Basler (171). Lake Station -- Jack Hammons (145), George Amaya (Hwt.). LaPorte -- Tyler Kuzdas (103), Nick Santana (140), Zach Smith (171), Dustin Pape (189), Greg Wedow (Hwt.). Lowell -- Drew Roadruck (112), Zach Mroczkowski (130), Cameryn Brady (140), Nate Celeveland (215), Jay Trappani (Hwt.). Merrillville -- Zac Stevens (103), Adam Garcia (112), Al Padilla (119), Anthony Napules (125), Frankie Valdivia (130), Xavier Ponce (135), Victor Nzeata (152), Zach Sandefur (160), Jeremy Wengel (171), Travis Norman (189), Michael Nickson (215), James Travis (Hwt.). Morton -- Neko Durant (152), John Anderson (215). Munster -- Santo Maricano (103), Connor Cecil (119), Alex Surma (145), Adrian Gutierrez (152), Justin Slosser (160), Jack Seaman (215). Portage -- Brandon Coppinger (112), Damien Torres (119), Luis Acuna (135), Mike Torres (145), Sean McMurray (160), Aaron King (189), Logan Fischer (215), Mark Devyak (Hwt.). Rensselaer -- Hunter Hickman (103). River Forest -- JW Yanez (130), Rich Pennington (189). Valparaiso -- Max Buckley (103), John Westmoreland (140), AJ Ratajec (145). West Side -- Nicholas Hill (152).
Fast facts -- There are eight returning champions, including six local titlists. L.C.'s Ayersman, C.P.'s Hawkins, Tsirtsis and Roach, Hobart's Porras and Portage's McMurray will look to defend their championships.
PREP WRESTLING
