The Class of 2011 in Indiana is not deep with superstars, but is deep with solid wrestlers. Four of Indiana's top wrestlers, Eric Roach, Josh and Justin Kieffer, and Jon Sims, are all looking for their fourth state medal this year. The Class of 2011 in Indiana is also very unique with three sets of twins and a set of triplets that will all be in the running for state placements. The most highly regarded of the twins, Josh and Justin Kieffer, already have six state medals between them. Chad and Doug Welch have both recently verbally committed to Purdue University have placed three times while qualifying for state five times total. The last set of twins, Reece and Conner Lefever of Fort Wayne Carroll, qualified for state last year with Conner placing eighth after upsetting the previous year’s state runner-up in the first round. The Rieker triplets from Columbus East will also try to have multiples at the state finals in 2011 after the middle twin, Baron, qualified for state last year.
1. Eric Roach (Crown Point)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149
Analysis: Roach has the best pedigree of the wrestlers in the class of 2011. He has three top-four finishes and captured the state title at 145 pounds this past season. Roach is extremely aggressive and smooth on his feet. Using a wide range of takedowns he captured the inaugural FloNationals championship this past spring. He has verbally committed to Indiana.
2. Drake Stein (Princeton)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 184
Analysis: Stein has had a tremendous amount of success while wrestling higher weights his entire career. After qualifying for semi-state as a freshman he burst onto the scene as a sophomore going undefeated until the state finals when an injury in the quarterfinals dropped him to eighth place. In the 2010 season he captured the state championship over perennial favorite Michael Duckworth, then went on to finish second at Fargo in Greco-Roman.
3. Ethan Raley (Indian Creek)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Analysis: Raley is the third and last state champion in the Class of 2011. As a freshman, Raley went undefeated en route to a title at 103 pounds. As a sophomore, he did not match the same success, but rebounded as a junior to finish runner-up to nationally-ranked Brandon Wright. He followed up his state finish with a seventh-place finish at the NHSCA Junior Nationals.
4. Josh Kieffer (Roncalli)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 125
Projected College Weight Class: 133
Analysis: The Kieffers are the first set of twins we will talk about. Josh Kieffer has had just a tad more success than his brother in finishing in the top-five three times. In 2009, he lost in overtime in the state finals. Both Kieffers have had success at the Brute Scholastic Duals the past couple seasons, defeating some top-notch competitors.
5. Justin Kieffer (Roncalli)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 135
Projected College Weight Class: 141
Analysis: Kieffer has three state medals to his credit with his highest finish of fourth place this past season. This past season he had one win over state champion Brandon Wright at regionals.
6. Doug Welch (Castle)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149
Analysis: The Welch twins, ranked sixth and eighth, are the second set of twins that are ranked in the Top 10. Doug Welch has steadily improved during his career with two state placements, including a runner-up finish this past season.
7. Jackson Bratcher (Eastbrook)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 171
Projected College Weight Class: 174
Analysis: Sandwiched in between the Welch twins is Jackson Bratcher of Eastbrook. Like Drake Stein, Bratcher has had a lot of success early in an upper weight class. As a freshman he was undefeated going into semi-state, but lost in the ticket round to state. As a sophomore he broke through and qualified for state, but this past season was his coming out party with a third-place finish in the state finals. After his state finals finish he placed fourth at FloNationals.
8. Chad Welch (Castle)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 160
Projected College Weight Class: 157
Analysis: Chad Welch has qualified for the state tournament three times, but only has one state medal to show for it. He had a banner year this past season, only losing to state champion Sammy Bennett in the ultimate tiebreaker in the semifinals. Both Welch brothers have recently verbally committed to continue their education and wrestling career at Purdue University.
9. Jon Sims (Evansville Mater Dei)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 152
Projected College Weight Class: 149
Analysis: Sims is the picture of consistency at the state finals. He has three medals to show for his trips to state, but his highest finish is fourth place in 2009. He probably would have finished higher this past season if he did not run into Eric Roach in the quarterfinals, thus limiting him to only finishing as high as fifth place.
10. Aaron Stevenson (Indian Creek)
Projected 2010-11 High School Weight Class: 189
Projected College Weight Class: 197
Analysis: Aaron Stevenson is one of the most unknown, but good wrestlers in the state of Indiana. In his only full year of wrestling he finished in third place with only one loss. This past season he was undefeated until he was sidelined late in the season with an injury that kept him out of the state tournament series.
Honorable Mention:
Luke Schroeder (Southwestern)
Daniel Meyer (Bellmont)
Josh Boots (Evansville Mater Dei)
PJ Montgomery (Terre Haute South)
Cody Kendle (Pike Central)
Steven Gonzales (Delta)
Travis Barroquillo (Prairie Heights)
Conner Lefever (Carroll)
Reece Lefever (Carroll)
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