Wrestling: Portage makes it four straight sectional titles

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Updated: March 1, 2012 8:35AM

LAPORTE — Roberto Espinosa vividly remembers being the only Portage wrestler not to advance from sectionals to regionals last season.

He had vowed to avoid a similar situation this season, and delivered emphatically at Saturday’s LaPorte Sectional.

The Indians junior won the 160-pound title with a 5-3 overtime victory against Chesterton freshman Dax Jones. He got the winning reversal with two seconds left, after neither wrestler had scored in the first OT and then neither could get an escape in the next.

“This year, I wanted to make a big comeback,” said Espinosa, who placed fifth at 160 last season. “I did, but I wanted a better performance.

“I didn’t want to win like that. I’ll take it, because it’s a win. But I expected to be a little better. As a freshman for Dax, he’s a good wrestler.”

In all, Portage won six individual titles, with 11 finalists, and matched last season’s total of 13 regional qualifiers, as the top four in each weight class move on to Crown Point next Saturday. The Indians won their fourth straight team title — amassing 271 points to easily outdistance second-place New Prairie with 196 — and will face Calumet Sectional winner Merrillville in the semifinals of Wednesday’s team regional at Portage.

“I’m happy with the way we wrestled, but you always think you can do better,” Portage coach Leroy Vega said.

“I think all 14 guys can win; getting them to believe it, that’s all that matters.”

Portage won four straight titles from 113 pounds to 132.

Louis Escobedo pinned New Prairie’s Brad Freestone in 2:56 at 113, and Dylan Logsdon followed by pinning John Glenn’s Myles White in 3:01 at 120. Julian Torres pulled out a hotly contested 10-9 decision against Michigan City’s Kenny Smith at 126, breaking an 8-8 tie with a takedown with 21 seconds left in the third period, and Jason Spence scored a 13-4 major decision against Glenn’s James Frey at 132. Zach Thorn recorded the Indians’ last title by defeating Chesterton’s Alex Katsafaros 5-3 at 145.

One of Portage’s themes for the day was the ability of its wrestlers with lower seeds and/or less-than-stellar records to rack up wins.

“Like I explain to the kids, we probably have the toughest schedule in the state,” said Vega, adding the Indians have wrestled seven of the teams ranked in the state’s top 10.

“Records don’t mean anything. All that matters is toughness and who wants it more.”

LaPorte took three titles, with Mike Eldridge holding off Portage’s Jake Wright, who entered the event with a 9-19 record, 5-4 at 170 pounds; Ben Standifer pinning Portage’s Tyler Albee, who had entered at 6-20, in 1:30 at 195; and heavyweight Cody Mullican pinning New Prairie’s Tyler Dolezal in 1:18.

Chesterton won two titles, each by an impressive pin. Joe Kelly stuck Portage’s Danny Roach in 1:08 at 138 pounds; and junior Chris Katsafaros did likewise against North Judson’s Brenner Cruce in 4:35 at 152, his third sectional title in as many seasons.

Michigan City’s Andrew Schroeder edged New Prairie’s Miguel Ibarra 7-6 at 182 pounds, Glenn’s Andrew Frey topped Portage’s Eric Peek 4-2 at 106, and New Prairie’s Don Stanish beat Portage’s Travis Williams 6-3 at 220.