Wrestling: Crown Point sends 13 to regional

• Reprints

Valparaiso's Tyler Schwartz ties up Crown Point's Darden Schurg during the championship match at 113 lbs. during the wrestling sectionals on Saturday, January 28, 2012, in Crown Point. Crown Point's Schurg defeated Schwartz 14-0. | Scott R. Brandush~Sun-Times Media

Updated: March 1, 2012 8:35AM

CROWN POINT — Watching his team win its 10th straight sectional title was very satisfying for Crown Point coach Scott Vlink.

The Bulldogs won seven individual titles, took third in three other matches, and qualified 13 wrestlers out of Saturday’s Crown Point Sectional for next week’s CP Regional.

The Bulldogs, who compete at the Portage Regional on Wednesday, totaled 274.50 points to finish ahead of Lowell (230.5), which placed second. Valparaiso (180.5) and Hanover Central (155.5) placed third, and fourth, respectively.

“It was a good day,” Vlink said. “We’re just happy in the moment right now. Our guys wrestled well today. We’ll try to carry that over to next week.”

The Bulldogs, a close-knit bunch, make wrestling a family affair — with four pairs of brothers on the team.

“With four sets of brothers, we probably have more brothers on our team than anyone in the state,” Vlink said.

Tyler Kral, ranked No. 1 in the state at 220 pounds, beat Lowell’s Tyler Wright by major decision to win his third straight sectional crown, while his freshman brother, Morgan, defeated Kankakee Valley’s Joel Bolen by major decision.

“Winning three in a row is a big thing for me — something to be proud of,” Tyler said.

Kral (31-0) seemed to take more pride in the sectional title Morgan won at 182 pounds then winning himself.

“My brother and I butt heads every now and then, but we try to keep each other’s confidence up all the time,” Tyler said. “He helps keep me going and motivated throughout the matches. He’s shocked me. I’m very proud of him. I really am. He’s a youngster in a man’s weight class.”

Morgan Kral (28-6) said having Tyler as a brother is a big plus for him.

“I look up to him and see what I need to work on,” Morgan said. “I follow his tips in order to keep going. I’ve really learned a lot from him and my coaches.”

Crown Point’s other brother combinations were also very successful as Darden Schurg, another freshman, beat Valparaiso’s Tyler Schwartz for the title at 113, while brother, Dusty, a junior, took the 160-pound title by pinning North Newton’s Casey Sonaty in 1:47.

Jake Fuqua won the 152-pound crown for CP, beating Lowell’s Kenny Hughes, while Bulldogs’ junior Trevor Burlison beat Hanover Central’s Kyle Brewster to win at 126.

Josh Fuqua took second at 120 pounds for CP, while Tyler Burlison ended up fourth at 138 pounds.

The Bulldogs’ Jason Tsirtsis (31-0) launched his journey for a fourth straight state title by beating Lowell’s Charlie Mavros by technical fall.

“It feels like just another tournament to me,” Tsirtsis said. “I can’t get caught up in numbers and all that. I just have to go out there and perform the best I can and keep working hard in practice. I have to keep working hard. Nothing is guaranteed. I’m always thinking about getting better and improving, whether it’s getting better physically stronger, mentally tougher or just improving my skills.”

Lowell had four champions, while three other wrestlers placed second. Alex Marvos (132); Mitch Roadruck (138); Jeremy Crocker (170) and Scott Pitrowski (285) won titles.

Marvos, whose brother Charlie wrestles for Hanover Central, beat CP’s Cameron Halsted in the 132-pound class. The match was stopped when Halsted suffered a shoulder injury.

“We’re very concerned,” Vlink said. “At this time of the season, everyone is dinged up. You just have to strap it on, do whatever you can and get after it.”

Hanover Central’s Stevan Micic (106) and Paul Petrov (120) won sectional crowns, while Valparaiso’s Luke Davis won the 195-pound title.