News
Tsirtsis, Phillips Chase Third Wrestling Crowns | Pete Schroeder Named Top Wrestling Official | Boys Basketball Tournament Pairings Show This Sunday | Boys Swimming & Diving Sectionals Begin Thursday | State Statistical Leaders
TSIRTSIS, PHILLIPS CHASE THIRD WRESTLING CROWNS
Six former state champions, including two attempting to join the ranks of three-time winners, headline the 73rd Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals this weekend at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Two hundred twenty-four wrestlers in all, 16 in each of the 14 weight classes, will begin first round competition on Friday at 6 pm ET / 5 pm CT. First-round winners will return to wrestle on Saturday with quarterfinal action beginning at 9:30 am ET / 8:30 am CT and semifinal matches to follow after all weight classes have concluded. Consolation bouts begin at 5 pm ET and championship matches under the spotlight are scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.
Crown Point junior Jason Tsirtsis and Union County junior Cody Phillips will each be attempting to win a third consecutive state championship and join a list of 31 other individuals with three or more titles.
Tsirtsis (38-0), top-ranked at 140 pounds, won the 125 pound crown as a freshman in 2009 and the 130 pound title last year. He’ll be trying for a second consecutive undefeated season and faces Westfield senior Brady White (31-6) in Friday night’s opening round.
Phillips (39-1) won the last two state titles in the 103 pound class but has moved up to 112 this year. He sustained the first loss of his high school career (134 matches) in the semi-state championship match falling 7-2 to Pendleton Heights junior Mason Todd (28-0). The two sit across the bracket from each other so a potential re-match exists with a state championship at stake.
Other state champions in the field looking for a second include Lake Central junior Kyle Ayersman (48-0) at 119, Indian Creek senior Ethan Raley (30-1) at 135, Crown Point senior Eric Roach (38-0) at 145 and Princeton senior Drake Stein (42-0) at 171.
Ayersman was the 112 pound winner last season and he opens with Evansville Mater Dei freshman Josh Pierre (28-18). Raley was the 2008 titlist in the 103 class and was the runner-up at 125 a year ago. He’ll face Fountain Central junior Eli Moore (36-7) in his first match. After taking second place as a freshman at 130, Roach won it all at 145 as a junior in 2010 and will begin defense of that crown against South Adams senior TJ Burnfield (21-4) on Friday. Stein won the 171 pound bracket in 2010 and will take an undefeated record into his opening match against Carroll (Fort Wayne) senior Jeffrey Enrietto (34-6).
One hundred and thirteen schools will be represented at this weekend’s state finals with Crown Point’s eight wrestlers leading the way across the 14 weight classes. Bellmont and Yorktown follow with seven each. Yorktown had the most semi-state champions with four last Saturday in Fort Wayne.
Thirty-one wrestlers carry undefeated seasons into the weekend including four each in the 160 pound and 171 pound brackets.
The 73rd Annual IHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals
Dates & Times
Friday, Feb. 18, 6 pm ET (First Round).
Saturday, Feb. 19 (Quarterfinals at 9:30 am ET with semifinals to follow; Consolations at 5 pm ET; Finals at 7:30 pm ET).
Admission: $8 per session or $20 both days.
Site: Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | Website
Webcast: Saturday night’s state championship matches will be streamed at www.ihsaatv.org beginning at 7:30 pm ET / 6:30 pm CT.
State Champions in the Field (6)
112 – Cody Phillips, 11, Union County (39-1) (2009, 2010 state champ at 103).
119 – Kyle Ayersman, 11, Lake Central (48-0) (2010 state champ at 112).
135 – Ethan Raley, 12, Indian Creek (30-1) (2008 state champ at 103; 2010 runner-up at 125).
140 – Jason Tsirtsis, 11, Crown Point (38-0) (2009 state champ at 125; 2010 state champ at 130).
145 – Eric Roach, 12, Crown Point (38-0) (2010 state champ at 145; 2008 runner-up at 130).
171 – Drake Stein, 12, Princeton (42-0) (2010 state champ at 171).
Media Information
Media Hosts: IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille, Communications Director Chris Kaufman along with assistants Toni Polizzi and Craig Garvin will be on hand to assist in your coverage of the state finals.
Media Credentials: Deadline is Thursday, Feb. 17, at 4 pm ET / 3 pm CT. Please note that the 2010-11 IHSAA State Finals Media Credential will NOT allow admission to this event as a specific credential is required – no exceptions. Legitimate working news media should apply for credentials by e-mailing (with name of individual applying) IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org. E-mail requests MUST originate from a recognized business account; e-mails from personal accounts (ie: gmail.com, yahoo.com, aol.com, etc.) will not be accepted. Approved requests will be left to claim by the individual at media will-call at Conseco Fieldhouse beginning at 3 pm ET on Friday. Identification is necessary to pick up credentials.
Media Entrance: The media entrance is in the southeast corner of Conseco Fieldhouse adjacent to Delaware Street. The door is marked for Employees and Media and is located at the opposite end of the building from the public entrance. Please allow a few extra minutes to pass through security. Media credentials left at will-call are to be claimed at this entrance.
Media Work Room: As in previous years, the media workroom at Conseco Fieldhouse will be open both days and be available to working media members throughout Friday evening and all day on Saturday. The work area contains wireless internet access and complimentary phones that will accept credit card and 800 calls. Soft drinks and snacks will be available.
Mat Access: Conseco Fieldhouse will have the hockey boards set up around the perimeter of the wrestling mat area. During the championship round only on Saturday night will credentialed photographers be allowed inside the hockey boards to shoot action mat-side. Other than that, only participants, coaches and fieldhouse workers will have access to the mat area.
Programs: Copies of the official program containing brackets for each weight class and tournament history will be available in the Media Work Room.
Results: Will be updated continuously throughout both days of the tournament on the IHSAA website at www.ihsaa.org. Copies of the updated brackets will also be available in the media work room throughout the two days.
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PETE SCHROEDER NAMED TOP WRESTLING OFFICIAL
Pete Schroeder of Indianapolis is the recipient of the 2011 Interscholastic Athletic Official Association Award for excellence in the sport of Wrestling. Schroeder will be honored in a special ceremony at this weekend’s state final tournament.
Each year, the Indiana High School Athletic Association, in cooperation with the National Federation of Interscholastic Officials Association, recognizes and honors an outstanding official in each of 11 sports during the school year.
Schroeder has been a wrestling official for 37 years. During his career, he has worked every level of the state tournament, including 27 sectionals, 22 regionals, 15 semi-states and eight state finals.
Schroeder was selected for this honor by a committee representing the officials associations. In Indiana there are 26 associations made up of men and women who give up much of their personal time to assist in providing wholesome, worthwhile, and healthy activities for the student-athletes in our state. Statewide, there are more than 8,000 officials licensed by the IHSAA in 11 sports.
Schroeder is an active member of the Indiana Officials Association. In addition to his role with the Indiana Officials Association, Schroeder has also served as a rules interpreter for the IHSAA.
Schroeder earned a bachelor’s degree in political science before earning his master’s (public administration) and law degree from Indiana University. He has worked as a practicing attorney in Indianapolis for 29 years. He and his wife Joy have been married for 35 years and have three sons, Lucas, Andy, and Gerold.
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BOYS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS SHOW THIS SUNDAY
First round sectional matchups in the 101st Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament presented by Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance will be announced this Sunday (Feb. 20), beginning at 7 pm ET / 6 pm CT.
The state tournament pairings shows may be seen on television, heard on radio or viewed via webstream at www.ihsaatv.org.
Seven affiliates of the IHSAA Champions Television Network (listed below) will air the 90-minute show throughout the state originating from the Indianapolis studios of WTTV-4, the network’s flagship. Jerry Baker along with Steve Witty and Jeremiah Johnson will host the program.
Listeners also may tune into any of the affiliates of the IHSAA/Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network (also listed below). Bob Lovell will be the voice announcing the pairings for that program.
At approximately 8:30 pm ET / 7:30 pm CT, complete brackets will be available on the IHSAA website.
IHSAA Champions Television Network Affiliates
Clarksville, “Indiana’s 9” WNDA-9.
Evansville, “News 25” WEHT-25.
Fort Wayne, “Indiana’s NewsCenter” WISE-33.
Indianapolis, “Indiana’s 4” WTTV-4.
Kokomo, WTTK-29.
Merrillville, “Lakeshore Public Television”, WYIN-17.
South Bend, WHME-46.
IHSAA/Methodist Sports Medicine Championship Radio Network
| Anderson, IN | WHBU | 1240 | AM |
| Austin, IN | WXKU | 92.7 | FM |
| Batesville, IN | WRBI | 103.9 | FM |
| Berne, IN | WZBD | 92.7 | FM |
| Boonville, IN | WBNL | 1540 | AM |
| Brazil, IN | WSDM | 92.7 | FM |
| Brazil, IN | WSDX | 1130 | AM |
| Centerville, IN | WHON | 930 | AM |
| Crawfordsville, IN | WCDQ | 106.3 | FM |
| Crawfordsville, IN | WIMC | 103.9 | FM |
| Earl Park, IN | WIBN | 98.1 | FM |
| Elkhart, IN | WCMR | 1270 | AM |
| Elkhart, IN | WCMR | 105.3 | FM |
| Ferdinand, IN | WQKZ | 98.5 | FM |
| Greencastle, IN | WREB | 94.3 | FM |
| Hammond, IN | WJOB | 1230 | AM |
| Huntingburg, IN | WBDC | 100.9 | FM |
| Indianapolis, IN | WFNI | 1070 | AM |
| Jasper, IN | WITZ | 104.7 | FM |
| Kendallville, IN | WAWK | 1140 | AM |
| Loogootee, IN | WRZR | 94.5 | FM |
| Louisville, KY | WKJK | 1080 | AM |
| Madison, IN | WORX | 96.7 | FM |
| Madison, IN | WXGO | 1270 | AM |
| Michigan City | WEFM | 95.9 | FM |
| Mt. Vernon, IN | WRCY | 1590 | AM |
| Mt. Vernon, IN | WYFX | 106.7 | FM |
| Muncie, IN | WXFN | 1340 | AM |
| New Albany, IN | WNDA | 1570 | AM |
| New Castle, IN | WLTI | 1550 | AM |
| Plymouth, IN | WTCA | 1050 | AM |
| Portland, IN | WPGW | 1440 | AM |
| Portland, IN | WPGW | 100.9 | FM |
| Rensselaer, IN | WLQI | 97.7 | FM |
| Richmond, IN | WKBV | 1490 | AM |
| Rochester, IN | WROI | 92.1 | FM |
| Rockville, IN | WAXI | 104.9 | FM |
| Santa Claus, IN | WAXL | 103.3 | FM |
| Seymour, IN | WZZB | 1390 | AM |
| Shelbyville, IN | WSVX | 1520 | AM |
| Shelbyville, IN | WSVX | 96.5 | FM |
| Sullivan, IN | WNDI | 95.3 | FM |
| Vincennes, IN | WAOV | 1450 | AM |
| Vincennes, IN | WFML | 96.7 | FM |
| Wabash, IN | WKUZ | 95.9 | FM |
| Warsaw, IN | WRSW | 1480 | AM |
| Warsaw, IN | WRSW | 107.3 | FM |
| Washington, IN | WAMW | 107.9 | FM |
| Washington, IN | WAMW | 1580 | AM |
| Winchester, IN | WZZY | 98.3 | FM |
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BOYS SWIMMING & DIVING SECTIONALS BEGIN THURSDAY
The 74th Annual IHSAA Boys Swimming & Diving Tournament Series gets underway Thursday, Feb. 17, with sectional preliminary heats at 20 sites around the state. Diving prelims and semifinals start Saturday morning, Feb. 19, at each site with consolations and finals in each event scheduled for later in the day. All first place swimming event winners in each sectional will advance to the state meet along with any participant who equals or betters the state time standard in that event’s consolation or championship heat. The next fastest times in each event also will qualify in order to bring the field to 32 entrants.
The top four divers at each sectional will advance to one of four diving regionals slated for Tuesday, Feb. 22, with the top eight advancing to the state meet.
Heat sheets for the state finals and results from each sectional site will be posted to the IHSAA website on Sunday, Feb. 20, as they become available. Diving regional results will be posted on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
Sectionals
Dates
Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011 (Swimming Preliminaries).
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011 (Diving, Consolations & Finals in Swimming events).
Admission: $5 per session; $8 both sessions.
Advancement
Swimming Events
1. First place sectional winners in each event qualify for the state meet plus
2. Any contestant who equals or betters the state time standard in their respective event in the consolation finals or championship finals of the sectional qualifies for the state plus
3. The next fastest number of contestants in the state that would bring the total number of state meet entrants to thirty-two (32) in each event. In the event that a tie exists for the 32nd position, the state qualifier shall be determined by the fastest preliminary time of both swimmers. If preliminary times are identical, both swimmers shall advance.
Diving
First through fourth place participants will qualify for the diving regional.
Notables
Defending Sectional Champions
Bedford North Lawrence, Bloomington South, Carmel, Castle, Center Grove, Chesterton, Crawfordsville, Floyd Central, Hamilton Southeastern, Homestead, Lawrence North, Muncie Central, Munster, North Central (Indianapolis), Northridge, Penn, Richmond, Terre Haute South, Warsaw, West Lafayette.
Active Sectional Championship Streaks (Three or more years)
25: Center Grove, Munster.
18: Hamilton Southeastern.
16: Homestead.
12: Chesterton.
8: Northridge.
6: North Central (Indianapolis).
5: Richmond.
4: Castle.
3: Bedford North Lawrence, Carmel, Floyd Central, Muncie Central, Warsaw.
Most All-Time Consecutive Sectional Championships
25: Center Grove, Munster (1986-2010).
Top 10 All-Time Sectional Championships
40: Munster.
34: Columbus North.
27: South Bend Riley.
25: Center Grove, Kokomo.
23: Carmel, Valparaiso.
20: Anderson.
17: Castle, Hamilton Southeastern, Lake Central, North Central (Indianapolis), West Lafayette.
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STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
The following lists of statistical leaders are compiled by VarVee.com, the IHSAA’s official statistics gathering partner. The IHSAA encourages each of its member schools to participate by registering at www.varvee.com and updating statistics by each Monday through the end of the season.
Girls Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Boys Swimming & Diving: State Leaders
Wrestling: State Leaders
Girls Basketball: State Leaders
Boys Basketball: State Leaders
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NEWS & NOTES FROM AROUND THE STATE
Have an interesting note? A conference or school record, coaching milestone or something else of interest? Please e-mail IHSAA Sports Information Director Jason Wille at jwille@ihsaa.org.
Muncie Southside’s Rick Baumgartner won the 400th boys basketball game in his 32 year coaching career when his Rebels picked up a 63-48 victory over Connersville on Feb. 4.
Munster’s boys basketball coach Mike Hackett won his 200th game on Feb. 5 when the AP No. 1 Mustangs went on the road and defeated IBCA No. 1 Merrillville. All 200 victories have come over his 11 year career at Munster.
Lebanon junior point guard Trey Hendix surpassed the 1,000 point milestone in the Tigers’ Jan. 28 game vs. Southmont. He currently has 1,073 points and ranks 10th on Lebanon’s career scoring list.
West Lafayette’s George Zhang surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his prep career during the Red Devils game at Lafayette Jeff on Feb 5.