| 2/5/2010 3:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | 12 local grapplers headed to Bloomington South Regional
Ray Black Jr.
Courier Staff Writer
Twelve local wrestlers - six Madison Cubs and six Southwestern Rebels - will take to the mats at the IHSAA Bloomington South Regional on Saturday.
Madison seniors Easton Asher, Brandon Rice, and Jordan Blakemore along with junior Robby Taylor and sophomores Zach Adams and Ryan Fish will be wrestling for the right to move on to the Evansville Semistate.
Meanwhile, the Rebels will have seniors Michael Brawner, R.J. Rowlett and Jacob Collier in action along with juniors Luke Schroeder, Elijah Lauderbaugh and Dakota Tatam.
Madison's Adams and Asher and Southwestern's Schroeder and Brawner advanced to the regional as sectional champions last week at Jennings County.
Last year, the IHSAA changed the format of the regionals and semistates to allow all fourth place finishers to advance to semistate - thus eliminating a first round bye at semistate for regional champs.
The mov had a dramatic effect on the atmosphere at both stages of the state tournament since all first round winners now qualify for semistate whereas in past seasons regional contestants had to win their first round matches and then at least one out of the next two to advance.
"I like our chances of advancement for our wrestlers," Rebels head coach Keith Lauderbaugh said. "We've had a good week of practice and our wrestlers' confidence seems to be growing. Everyone seems to be healthy and they are working hard in practice to correct some of our mistakes and to be ready when they step on the mat this Saturday. We should have at least four advance to the semistate."
The mood has been equally as productive in the Cubs camp were head coach Dustin Bentz was preparing his regional sectional advancers for regional.
"We've had a good, solid week of practice and everyone has been stepping up as the coaching staff has emphasized the importance of winning the first round and placing as high as we can to improve our chances for next week at semistate," Bentz said. "I like the chances of our wrestlers to advance but three of them are going to have to step up big time in the first round."
On a side note, Madison Junior High School wrestling coach Steve Mitchell, also a longtime wrestling official, has been assigned to work as a referee at the Bloomington South wrestling regional.
Mitchell has worked sectionals and team regional before but this will be his first individual regional.
Saturday's first round opponents for Courierarea wrestlers at Bloomington South are (with weight class, name, class, school and record):
103 - Luke Schroeder(11)(S) 39-3 vs. Steven Stanford (10)(Terre Haute South) 18-19.
112 - Robby Taylor (11)(M) 33-8 vs. Sam Summitt (10)(Bloomington North) 21-12.
130 - Michael Brawner(12)(S) 37-7 vs. Bryan Hyde (10)(Terre Haute North) 3-7.
135 - Jacob Collier (12)(S) 17-17 vs. Brannigan Barlow (12)(Bloom.
South) 33-0.
140 - Zach Adams (10)(M) 34-7 vs. Nathaniel Page (11)(Terre Haute 1North) 11-9.
145 - Elijah Lauderbaugh (11)(S) 23-15 vs. Sam Horrocks (11)(Bloom.
South) 24-10.
152 - R.J. Rowlett (12)(S) 23-15 vs. Ben Farmer (11)Bloomington South) 17-10.
160 - Ryan Fish (10)(M) 16-14 vs. TBA
171 - Easton Asher (12)(M) 31-9 vs. Jeff Spicer (11)(Edgewood) 31-14.
215 - Brandon Rice (12)(M) 28-15 vs. Juan Valentin(12)(Bloomington South) 21-8.
285 - Jordan Blakemore (12)(M) 20-8 vs. Beau Judd(11)(Northview)
25-10.
285 - Dakota Tatum (11) (S) 31-12 vs. Seth Sturgeon(12)(Edgewood)
32-11.
The state tourney is in its 72nd year. Admission Saturday is $6 with wrestling action starting at 9 a.m. at Bloomington South High School, 1965 S. Walnut St. The top four wrestlers in the 14 weight classes will advance to the Evansville Semistate.
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