Guest IS IT TRUE: by: Rick Davis, Vanderburgh County Treasurer

Is it True that the two high schools from the West Side of Evansville, Reitz and
Mater Dei, sent 14 wrestlers to the IHSAA Individual State Tournament on Friday and Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis?

Is It True that the best finish among all local wrestlers was an impressive 3rd
place performance from Dane Maurer, a 195-pound senior who was wrestling in his first year at Mater Dei? That Maurer ended his impressive inaugural season with a 45-1 record?

Is It True that history was made on several levels on Friday and Saturday night,
with the IHSAA State Individual Tournament hosting its first female wrestler, Kayla Miracle of Culver Academies? That although Miracle did not win her first-round match and therefore did not place, she still set a fine example for other young females who may want to one day wrestle under the lights at Bankers
Life Fieldhouse? That Miracle is only a sophomore and has two more years to try to reach that goal herself? That Miracle lost to Hayden Lee of Garrett 4-0 and ended her season with a 42-6 record in the 106 pound weight class? That Lee went on to finish third in the state tournament, proving that Miracle competed well against a high caliber opponent?

Is It True that another young wrestler from the state, Crown Point senior Jason Tsirtsis, joined the ranks of only 7 other individuals in the history of the Indiana state high school wrestling tournament when he won his fourth state title — and in dominating fashion no less?

Is It True that Tsirtsis won his four titles in four separate weight classes? That he won a state title at 125 pounds as a freshman; 130 pounds as a sophomore; 140 pounds as a junior; and 145
pounds as a senior? That Tsirtsis finished his senior season 42-0 and ended a remarkable four-year career record of 170-2? That Tsirtsis joined his brother, Alex, as one of the now 8 wrestlers who finished their high school careers with four state titles? That Mater Dei’s Blake Maurer, older brother of the
aforementioned Dane Maurer, also ended his career with four state titles, from 2001-2004?

Is It True that Reitz’ Trevor Moody, at 132 pounds, was the highest finisher for the Panthers, ending his terrific Reitz High School career with a 45-4 record and a sixth place finish in his senior season?

Is it true that Reitz also had impressive seasons from the following state qualifiers: Damon Kuhn, 106 pounds, junior, 43-4; Joshua Davis, 113 pounds, sophomore, 37-11; Blake Johns, 120
pounds, junior, 37-10; and Gideon VanHook, 126 pounds, senior, 28-5.

Is It True that Mater Dei brought an impressive nine wrestlers to the state tournament? That in addition to Maurer, the Wildcats had the following state tournament placers: Jake Lannert, 4th, 138 pounds, senior, 42-4; Sam Goebel, 7th, 120-pounds, senior, 16-10; Dalton Brandenstein, 6th, 182 pounds, 45-2, senior; and Nathan Wright, 8th, 285 pounds, 40-5, senior.

Is it true that the following Mater Dei Wildcats also qualified for state: Alex Johnson, 113 pounds, freshman, 32-11; Josh Pierre, 126 pounds, sophomore, 29-10; Branson Schroeder, 132 pounds,
junior, 32-10; and Alex Bassemier, 145 pounds, senior, 35-8;

Is It True that Central’s Brendon Kelley finished with a terrific win on Saturday, finishing 5th place in the 138-pound weight class and ending his season at 44-6.

Is It True that Castle’s Jacob Brown, 44-4, sophomore, finished 8th at the state tournament at 106 pounds? And fellow Knight Luke Welch finished 5th at the 120-pound weight class with a 47-1 record as a junior?

Is It True that Evansville Memorial’s Logan Wedding qualified for state at 126 pounds and finished his junior season 42-5?

Is It True that in the final Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association poll released on Jan. 12 that Perry Meridian was ranked Number 1? That Mater Dei was ranked third and Reitz was ranked 10th.

Is It True that Mater Dei will go for its 13th team state championship on Saturday at Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana? That third-ranked Mater Dei (22-0) will take on 14th-ranked Bellmont (21-5) in the quarterfinals at 9 a.m. Evansville time? The other matchups in the team state tournament quarterfinals are: fourth-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral (24-3) vs. eighth-ranked Penn (22-3); unranked Kokomo (35-5) vs. second-ranked Crown Point (21-0); and top-ranked Perry Meridian (24-0) vs. 15th ranked Warren Central (21-8).

Is it true that if Mater Dei wins, the Wildcats will advance to the semifinals at 11 a.m. Evansville time and hope to make a return trip to the state finals at
1:30 p.m. Evansville time.

Is It True that we congratulate all of the state wrestling finalists for accomplishing incredible seasons and that we wish Mater Dei great success this weekend in the team state championships?