Wrestling semistate outlook

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Updated: March 11, 2012 8:52AM

Where: Merrillville High School

When: 9 a.m., Saturday

Tickets: $10

Skinny: A total of 113 area wrestlers qualified for the semistate. Undefeated Crown Point senior 145-pounder Jason Tsirtsis, as he continues his journey to become Indiana’s eighth four-time state champion, and undefeated Lake Central senior 126-pounder Kyle Ayersman, pursuing a third state title, each has won a semistate title in each of his first three seasons. Undefeated Merrillville senior 195-pounder Kourtney Berry and Crown Point sophomore 120-pounder Josh Fuqua are returning semistate champions. Undefeated Hanover Central senior 120-pounder Paul Petrov won a semistate title in 2010, with a runner-up finish last season. Undefeated Hanover 106-pounder Stevan Micic was a runner-up to Fuqua last season; and Merrillville junior 120-pounder Adam Garcia (to Ayersman), Crown Point junior 160-pounder Dusty Schurg, Lowell senior 170-pounder Jeremy Crocker and Crown Point senior 220-pounder Tyler Kral all placed second last season. Once-beaten Kral and Lake Central sophomore Gelen Robinson (he’s 1-2 against Kral), as well as Merrillville senior Michael Nickson, headline a strong group of area 220-pounders. Chesterton junior 152-pounder Chris Katsafaros is coming off a regional final win against Crown Point senior Jake Fuqua. Merrillville freshman 160-pounder Bobby Steveson suffered his only loss to Tsirtsis, and fellow freshman 160-pounder Scottie Sopko of Hobart has suffered two of his three losses to Steveson. Crown Point 113-pounder Darden Schurg is another once-beaten freshman, and Munster senior 182-pounder Dominic Fimbianti and Morton senior heavyweight Fabian Durant each has just one loss. Hanover senior 145-pounder Charlie Mavros has suffered his only two losses to Tsirtsis, in a sectional final and a regional final.

Next: Top four in each weight class advance to state meet on Feb. 17-18 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

— By Michael Osipoff