Wrestling 49: Indiana

With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars.

The Class of 2012 is arguably the best to ever come out of Indiana. There are 13 wrestlers that are in position to become four-time state qualifiers, which is unheard of in a state with no wrestlebacks and only one division. Five of the wrestlers already own at least one state title, with six others that have wrestled under the lights at Conseco Fieldhouse. This year's senior class is so deep that two wrestlers who have finished in the top four twice are left out of Indiana's Top 10.

1. Jason Tsirtsis (Crown Point)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 145
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Jason Tsirtsis (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: Indiana has been blessed over the past 10 years with some extremely talented wrestlers and Jason Tsirtsis is right in line to follow the likes of Angel Escobedo, Andrew Howe, Reece Humphrey and his older brother Alex Tsirtsis. While travelling all across the country, Tsirtsis has competed with and beat some of the best wrestlers in the nation over the past four years. He has notable wins over collegiate freshmen and sophomores wrestling in the FILA Junior age division and beaten many of the top wrestlers in the country while wrestling Cadet, Junior and FILA Junior age divisions. On top of his unquestioned wrestling skills he also gets it done in the classroom and is currently being courted by the likes of Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Word is he is leaning towards staying close to home at Northwestern, but do not count out any of the others schools.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 129-2

2011 state champion (140)

2010 state champion (130)

2009 state champion (125)

2011 FloNationals champion (135)

2011 Junior National freestyle champion (145)

2010 Super 32 Challenge runner-up (140)

2010 FloNationals champion (130)

2010 FILA Cadet National freestyle champion (63 kilos)

2010 Junior National freestyle third-place finisher (135)

2009 Super 32 Challenge runner-up (130)

2009 Cadet National freestyle runner-up (130)

2009 FILA Cadet National freestyle champion (58 kilos)

2008 Cadet National freestyle fourth-place finisher (119)

2. Kyle Ayersman (Lake Central)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Analysis: Kyle Ayersman is looking to step into elite company with his third state title this year. In winning his first two titles, he had to work overtime, first defeating Paul Beck in overtime 2-0 as a sophomore and last year defeating Brenden Campbell in a wild 10-8 overtime match. Ayersman showed true heart and grit in the finals last year getting two takedowns with less than 15 seconds left in the match to tie the score. Ayersman has recently verbally committed to wrestle for the Purdue Boilermakers next year.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 141-2

2011 state champion (119)

2010 state champion (112)

2009 state third-place finisher (103)

3. Mason Todd (Pendleton Heights)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Mason Todd (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: Mason Todd could probably get the most improved wrestler award for this group as he has steadily improved each year and still has a lot of room to get better. After a fifth-place finish as a sophomore Todd wasn't much into the state title talk with the likes of Cody Phillips, Paul Petrov and Jarred Brooks in the same weight, but he proved many of the doubters wrong last year. He dealt Phillips his first high school loss at semi-state and then navigated the same tough field to capture a state title the next week.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 117-8

2011 state champion (112)

2010 state fifth-place finisher (112)

2009 state qualifier (103)

2009 Cadet National freestyle seventh-place finisher (105)

4. Cody Phillips (Union County)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 126
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Analysis: You know the Class of 2012 is loaded when a wrestler with two state titles and only two career losses is ranked fourth. Cody Phillips was undefeated his first two years at 103, but lost twice last year and finished third in the state. Phillips, dubbed "Pocket Hercules," is small in stature, but an absolute beast on the mat. He placed at Fargo in 2007 and after his second state title finished runner-up at FloNationals in his only national events. He has been ranked as high as No. 1 by many national ranking services, but fell after last year's finish at state. He has recently taken a visit to Minnesota and will also be visiting Purdue in the near future.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 135-2

2011 state third-place finisher (112)

2010 state champion (103)

2009 state champion (103)

2010 103 FloNationals runner-up (103)
2007 Cadet National freestyle seventh-place finisher (84)

5. Brenden Campbell (New Castle)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Brenden Campbell (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: The mark Brenden Campbell leaves on the state after this year will be either: one of the best wrestlers to only win one state title or one of the best to never win a state title. Campbell was ranked No. 1 all throughout his freshman season, but had to bail out of the state series after suffering appendicitis after regionals. He went on to place at Fargo that summer and has solidified himself as one of the top wrestlers in the state after placing third and runner-up the past two years.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 151-3

State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-third, 11th-runner-up

2011 state runner-up (119)

2010 state third-place finisher (112)

2009 Cadet National freestyle eighth-place finisher (112)

6. Jared McKinley (Perry Meridian)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 132
Projected College Weight Class: 133

Jared McKinley (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: Jared McKinley is another wrestler who has steadily improved throughout his career going from being a qualifier, to fourth place to state champion this past season. He had one of the sickest headlocks in the state finals this year pinning his opponent just before the first period ended. McKinley had a great summer coming just short of placing at Fargo in Greco-Roman, but battling to a fifth-place finish in freestyle. His physical style of wrestling will translate well into college.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 155-6

2011 state champion (125)

2010 state fourth-place finisher (112)

2009 state qualifier (103)

2011 Junior National freestyle fifth-place finisher (130)

7. Devon Jackson (Yorktown)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 138
Projected College Weight Class: 141

Devon Jackson (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: As with Campbell, Devon Jackson could also be labeled as one of the best to win only one state title or one of the best to never win a state title. Jackson has finished second the past two years to nationally ranked Jason Tsirtsis and Ethan Raley. Tsirtsis needed overtime to defeat him as a sophomore and lost a tough 5-3 decision to Raley last year. Along with his in-state success Jackson has also placed twice at FloNationals including a third-place finish this past year. He avenged his only loss of the tournament in the third-place bout.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 142-7

2011 state runner-up (135)

2010 state runner-up (130)

2009 state qualifier (112)

2011 FloNationals third-place finisher (130)

2010 FloNationals eighth-place finisher (130)

8. Jarred Brooks (Warsaw)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 113
Projected College Weight Class: 125

Jarred Brooks (Photo/IndianaMat.com)

Analysis: It is extremely rare that a Junior National freestyle runner-up will be placed in the eighth spot in these rankings, but with the talent pool so deep this year there was no choice. Jarred Brooks has been successful at every level of wrestling and last year was more or less his coming out party. He finished second in the state to longtime rival Mason Todd, second at the FILA Junior World Team Trials to Nicky Roberts of Pennsylvania and then second at Fargo to Nathan Tomasello of Ohio in a tough three period battle. Being the competitor that he is Brooks is none too happy with all of those red ribbons and will be looking to take home quite a few blue ones this season.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 104-6

2011 state runner-up (112)

2010 state fifth-place finisher (103)

2011 FILA Junior World Team Trials runner-up (50 kilos)

2011 Junior National freestyle runner-up (112)

2011 FloNationals fourth-place finisher (112)

9. Connor Mullins (New Castle)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 157

Analysis: Going up in weight and keeping the same success level is never an easy task, but Connor Mullins has made it look easy. The second New Castle Trojan to be in the Top 10, he is looking to cap his career off with a state title after a runner-up finish this past season. Mullins has had an outstanding career while going up 40 since his freshman season. This past year he wrestled near his natural weight and placed the highest of his career. Look for him to stay near this weight for the 2012 season.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 162-8

2011 state runner-up (152)

2010 state third-place finisher (130)

2009 state fifth-place finisher (112)

10. Tyler Willis (Indianapolis Cathedral)
Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 170
Projected College Weight Class: 174

Analysis: Tyler Willis is another one of the wrestlers that was hard to rank due to him being at 160 his whole career. Nine of his 13 losses came as an undersized freshman wrestling many juniors and seniors. He has placed in the top three the past two years and is one that will be a heavy favorite for a state title this year. Along with his wrestling accolades he is a starter on the Fighting Irish football team that is one of the best in the state and nation.

Career Highlights:

Career Record: 129-13

2011 state third-place finisher (160)

2010 state runner-up (160)

2009 state seventh-place finisher (160)

Honorable Mention

Paul Petrov (Hanover Central)
Career Record: 131-12
State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-runner-up, 11th-fourth

Tanner Lynde (Delphi)
Career Record: 133-13
State Appearances: 9th-Q, 10th-fifth, 11th-third

Kirk Johnson (Perry Meridian)
Career Record: 136-18
State Appearances: 9th-X, 10th-fourth, 11th-fourth

Brian Harvey (Indianapolis Cathedral)
Career Record: 129-18
State Appearances: 9th-sixth, 10th-sixth, 11th-fifth

Anthony Quiroz (Chesterton)
Career Record: 101-19
State Appearances: 9th-runner-up, 10th-Q, 11th-fifth

Quincey Richey (Brown County)
Career Record: 102-9
State Appearances: 9th-eighth, 10th-Q, 11th-fifth

Blake Rueger (Evansville Reitz)
Career Record: 131-15
State Appearances: 9th-Q, 10th-eighth, 11th-fifth

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Wrestling 49: Indiana

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