Merrillville takes eight weight classes, wins Duneland meet
By Tom Wyatt Post-Tribune correspondent January 14, 2012 11:14PM
Merrillville's Al Padilla gets a bloody nose while wrestling Valparaiso's Evan Cahill in the 132 lb. championship on Saturday, January 14, 2012, in Valparaiso. Merrillville's Padilla won 9-3. | Scott R. Brandush~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: February 16, 2012 8:35AM
VALPARAISO — The word of the day for Merrillville on Saturday was “impressive.”
The Pirates had eight champions and one runner-up at the Duneland Conference meet at Valparaiso High School, upending Crown Point 252.5-240 to capture their first DAC meet crown since 2007. It snapped the Bulldogs’ run of four straight DAC meet titles.
“I don’t know, I guess (it was an upset to) everybody outside of our coaching staff and team,” Merrillville coach David Maldonado said. “I knew we could do well. Eight champs and nine in the finals; you can’t beat that.”
Portage was third with 159 points, followed by Lake Central in fourth with 144.5.
Crown Point was without coach Scott Vlink, who was forced to sit out per IHSAA rules after being ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct from a meet earlier in the week against Michigan City.
The Bulldogs had four champions, including senior 145-pounder Jason Tsirtsis.
“It’s been that day where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong,” Tsirtsis said. “It’s up to our guys to change that. It’s really frustrating.”
Tsirtsis improved to 27-0 with a pin of Chesterton’s Alex Katsafaros in 1:12. It’s Tsirtsis’ fourth DAC meet title. He’ll try to make it four straight state titles later this season.
“It’s a pretty good stepping stone for the season and for my career in high school,” Tsirtsis said. “It’s not my goal, though. I want to improve for later in February. The fourth one (in Indianapolis) is what I really want.”
Merrillville champions included Michael Garza at 106, Adam Garcia at 120, Al Padilla at 132, Zac Sandefur at 152, Bobby Steveson at 160, Darryl Peppers at 170, Eric DeLuna at 182 and Kourtney Berry at 195.
“My goal was to be very physical,” said Garcia, who held on for a 5-4 win over Crown Point’s Josh Fuqua. “I was trying to stay active and be physical and take shots.”
Crown Point champs included Darey Schurg at 113, Tsirtsis at 145, Tyler Kral at 220 and Josh Swope at 285.
For Lake Central Mike Escobedo won at 138, while teammate Kyle Ayersman won at 126 to win his fourth DAC meet title.
“I definitely wanted to win four,” said Ayersman, a two-time defending state champion. “Our conference is one of the toughest in the state.”
Comments Click here to view or make a comment