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Crown Point came away the big winner Saturday night with three of its wrestlers winning state championships during the 71st Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Junior Anthony Hawkins (42-0) and senior Marcus Shrewsbury (42-0) both remained unbeaten winning the 112 and 189 pound crowns, while freshman Jason Tsirtsis (40-2) won the 125 pound title. Hawkins defeated Roncalli’s Josh Kieffer, 2-1, in overtime and Shrewsbury handled Northridge’s Drew Graber, 6-3, in a battle of unbeatens. Tsirtsis, the younger brother of four-time state champion Alex Tsirtsis (2001-04), handled Indianapolis Cathedral’s John Grey, 16-3.

The Crown Point trio became the third, fourth and fifth state champions in school history and the first ones since 1975. They’ll compete with their teammates along with seven other teams during next Saturday’s Team State Finals at Center Grove High School in Greenwood.

Also, Mishawaka’s Steve Sandefer and Portage’s Sean McMurray both won their second consecutive state titles. Sandefer (44-1), a senior, edged Elkhart Memorial’s Ryan Stahl, 6-5, to repeat as 140 pound champ, while the junior McMurray won an 8-5 decision from Chesterton’s Anthony Quiroz in the 152 championship. McMurray completed a 49-0 campaign after winning the 135 crown a year ago.

For the third year in a row, Anderson Highland senior Camden Eppert and Indianapolis Cathedral junior Brandon Wright squared off with a state championship at stake. The rubber match between the two went to Eppert (39-4) who took a 3-2 overtime decision in the 119 pound final. In their two previous state title bouts, Eppert took a 6-3 decision in 2007 at 103 and Wright triumphed 5-2 last year at 112.

Two Union County individuals also won championships as freshman Cody Phillips finished off a perfect season with an impressive pin just 2:34 into his 103 pound final with Franklin’s Dusty Kief. Junior Michael Duckworth (48-1), last year’s runner-up at 160, claimed a 2-0 decision over Lawrence North’s Bryce Grimes in the 171 final.

Four others polished off undefeated seasons.

The 145 pound championship went to Culver Academies senior Daniel Young (48-0) on a fall at the 5:32 mark of Indianapolis Cathedral’s Gavin McGinley. He became his school’s first wrestling state champion. Martinsville senior Briar Runyan (43-0) claimed an 8-3 decision from Pendleton Heights’ Matt Todd at 160. Runyan was last year’s runner-up at 152. Senior Billy Baker (42-0) of Bellmont won a 4-1 decision over Mishawaka’s Christian Lentz at 215 and Winchester senior Adam Chalfant (39-0) won his school’s first title beating Mount Vernon’s Alexander White, 7-2.

East Noble senior Taylor March (39-1) also won his school’s first state championship with a 4-3 victory over Mitchell Richey of Brown County in the 135 bout. March had finished as a runner-up his first two years and placed third last season.

At 130, Hobart junior Francisco Porras (40-1) returned after last year’s runner-up finish at 125 to capture the 130 title with a 4-1 win over D’Marcus Spencer of Pike.

Mishawaka’s Josh Harper, who had battled a torn labrum in his left shoulder all season, lost his bid for a fourth state championship on Saturday. Harper gave up a 3-0 decision in the 130 semifinals to Spencer and ended his year 35-5 after finishing fourth.

The 71st Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals
Feb. 20-21, 2009
Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
State Championship Match Results
103 – Cody Phillips, 9, Union County (49-0) def. Dusty Kief, 10, Franklin Community (43-6), fall, 2:34.
112 – Anthony Hawkins, 11, Crown Point (42-0) def. Josh Kieffer, 10, Roncalli (44-5), decision, 2-1 OT.
119 – Camden Eppert, 12, Anderson Highland (39-4) def. Brandon Wright, 11, Indianapolis Cathedral (48-3), decision, 3-2 OT.
125 – Jason Tsirtsis, 9, Crown Point (40-2) def. John Grey, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (44-5), decision, 16-3.
130 – Francisco Porras, 11, Hobart (40-1) def. D’Marcus Spencer, 12, Pike (40-4), decision, 4-1.
135 – Taylor March, 12, East Noble (39-1) def. Mitchell Richey, 12, Brown County (43-1), decision, 4-3.
140 – Steven Sandefer, 12, Mishawaka (44-1) def. Ryan Stahl, 11, Elkhart Memorial (42-3), decision, 6-5.
145 – Daniel Young, 12, Culver Academies (48-0) def. Gavin McGinley, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (33-5), fall, 5:32.
152 – Sean McMurray, 11, Portage (49-0) def. Anthony Quiroz, 9, Chesterton (37-12), decision, 8-5.
160 – Briar Runyan, 12, Martinsville (43-0) def. Matt Todd, 12, Pendleton Heights (46-1), decision, 8-3.
171 – Michael Duckworth, 11, Union County (48-1) def. Bryce Grimes, 12, Lawrence North (46-2), decision, 2-0.
189 – Marcus Shrewsbury, 12, Crown Point (42-0) def. Drew Graber, 12, Northridge (43-1), decision, 6-3.
215 – Billy Baker, 12, Bellmont (42-0) def. Christian Lentz, 11, Mishawaka (44-4), decision, 4-1.
285 – Adam Chalfant, 12, Winchester (39-0) def. Alexander White, 12, Mount Vernon (53-2), decision, 7-2.

135 Pound Champ Taylor March Wins Mental Attitude Award
Following the state tournament, the IHSAA Executive Committee named Taylor March of East Noble High School as the recipient of the Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award.

March capped his senior year as the 135 pound state champion and ends as his school’s career wins leader with 163 victories. He had placed third at 125 last year and was runner-up at 119 in 2007 and runner-up at 112 in 2006.

Academically, March ranks first in his senior class of 268 students and is a member of the National Honor Society. He intends to enroll at Central Michigan University in the fall to begin studying sports medicine.

He has been involved in numerous community activities as well as assisting Special Education students within the school system, working with younger wrestlers during the summer and as a football youth camp volunteer.

March is the son of Larry and Kim March of Avilla.

The award was named in honor of the IHSAA’s fourth commissioner (1976-1983) in 1985. Recipients of the award must be nominated by their principal and coach and must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in the sport.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, corporate sponsor of the IHSAA, presented a $1,000 scholarship to East Noble High School in the name of March.