Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
In Tuesday's 31-team Mishawaka Wrestling Invitational, Warsaw and Wawasee had three wrestlers advance to the semifinal round with 3-0 records.
Warsaw also advanced two wrestlers to the consolation round, while Wawasee advanced one.
At the end of the first day, Warsaw stood in seventh place with 78.5 points, and Wawasee was 14th with 58.5 points.
This is a major tournament with hundreds of wrestlers on eight mats in two gyms with wrestling in progress all day long. It is very similar to the state tournament at Market Square Arena coming up in February.
Wawasee coach Kevin Taylor explained this huge event is "a good measuring stick for our guys."Ê Wawasee assistant coach Darrell Carr said, "This will let them know where they are at."Ê
Many of the competitors at the Mishawaka tournament have been to the state finals, and many will be there again this year.Ê
Warsaw coach Tony Boley agreed that "this is the level of competition we will meet as we head down to Indianapolis."
Going undefeated for Warsaw was Matt Zellers (152 pounds), who won his first match with a pin and his next two with decisions.Ê
Meanwhile, from Wawasee, J.J. Davis (152) also went undefeated with two pins and a decision.Ê
Zellers and Davis face off in their first match today.
One Warrior-Tiger confrontation occurred Tuesday at 171 pounds. Kris Hueber of Warsaw came out on top of Wawasee's Jacen Hendricks in a close 6-5 decision. Both wrestlers were later eliminated from the competition.
Wawasee's Kevin A. Carr (160) remains undefeated for the season, pinning all three of his Tuesday opponents to advance to the semifinal round. One of Carr's pins was in 33 seconds.Ê Also advancing to the semifinal round was Warsaw's Steve McKinley (215), who won two of his matches by decision and one by pin in 33 seconds.
In the 275 class, Wawasee's and Warsaw's wrestlers went through the day with no losses.Ê Wawasee's Jamie Salazar advanced with a pin (1:44) and two decisions, and Warsaw's Joey Navarro advanced with two pins (3:38 and 39 seconds), along with a hard-fought decision over Cody Logan of Mishawaka (8-1).
Moving to the consolation round for Warsaw was Adam Harter (112).Ê
Harter won his first two matches with pins but then lost a decision to Ryan Story of Hobart.Ê Then Harter returned in a "wrestle-back" to defeat Jon Fruchte of Bellmont (7-0).Ê The Tigers' Tim Roe (130) will also wrestle in the consolation round. After winning his first two matches, Roe fell to Schuyler Barkes of Goshen but then moved to the "wrestle-back" bracket and pinned Shawn Andrews of Elkhart Memorial (2:20).
For the Warriors, Craig Jensen (189) grabbed two wins to start the day.Ê
His first win came in a 21-19 overtime point-fest, followed by another victory by decision.Ê In his third match, Jensen was pinned by Hammock of Bishop Luers in 23 seconds to move to the "wrestle-backs."Ê Jensen moved into the consolation round with 6-0 decision over Matt Ganger of Goshen.
In the team standings, the top 15 after one day include powerhouse Bellmont in first with 116.5, then Penn 109, Hobart 108, LaPorte 105.5, Jimtown 87, Goshen 82.5, Warsaw 78.5, Mishawaka 78, Chesterton 77.5, Lowell 70, Bishop Luers 60, South Bend Clay 63, Lake Central 60.5, South Bend Washington 58.5 and Wawasee 58.
Warsaw Individual Results
and concluding Tuesday match
103 - Anthony Boley 1-2 dec. by Barclay of LaPorte (0-9)
112 - Adam Harter 3-1 dec. Fruchte of Bellmont (7-0)
119 - Scott Snyder 1-2 dec. by Rouch of E. Noble (5-6)
125 - Adam Bott 1-2 pinned by Haynes of Michigan City (1:31)
130 - Tim Roe 3-1 pinned Andrews of E. Memorial. (2:20)
135 - Joe Wildman 2-2 pinned by Sandefur of Mishawaka (2:31)
140 - Joe Swanson 2-2 pinned by Hoppers of Mishawaka (1:40)
145 - Richard Wolfe 3-2 dec. by Kuhn of Prairie Heights (0-8)
152 - Matt Zellers 3-0 dec. Dodd of Mishawaka (11-4)
160 - Isaac Perry 3-2 pinned by Ivankovig of LaPorte (3:40)
171 - Kris Hueber 2-2 dec. by Godfrey of E. Memorial (3-7)
189 - Steve Fribley 2-2 dec. by Hormann of Bellmont (8-9)
215 - Steve McKinley 3-0 dec Hurtt of Jimtown (7-1)
275 - Joey Navarro 3-0 dec Logan of Mishawaka (8-1)
Wawasee Individual Results
and concluding Tuesday match
103 - Matt Coy 1-2 dec by Herron of Mishawaka (7-8)
112 - Josh DeGood 2-2 dec. by Fruchte of Bellmont (2-6)
119 - Mike Hanlin 0-2 dec. by Bleiler of Lake Central (6-9)
125 - Kevin M. Carr 1-2 dec. by Cramer of Mishawaka (3-6)
130 - Ken McIntosh 1-2 dec. by Naegele of LaPorte (0-6)
135 - Josh Roa 2-2 pinned by Bartley of LaPorte (4:45)
140 - Rob Chalfant 1-2 pinned by Lewallen of Goshen (2:56)
145 - Chris Adkins 1-2 pinned by Pendley of Elkhart Central (2:35)
152 - J.J. Davis 3-0 dec. Vilder of Prairie Heights (16-7)
160 - Kevin A. Carr 3-0 pinned Ivankovig of LaPorte (3:54)
171 - Jacen Hendricks 0-2 dec. by Bencze of Hobart (1-2)
189 - Craig Jensen 3-1 dec. Ganger of Goshen (6-0)
215 - Justin Anderson 1-2 dec. by Ricca of Michigan City (1-3)
275 - Jamie Salazar 3-0 dec. Pinter of Penn (7-1)
