By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

The 13th Annual IHSAA Team Wrestling State Finals are set for Feb. 23 at Center Grove High School, and it’s another standout field that figures to come down to one of the three-headed monster that is third-ranked Mishawaka, No. 2 Perry Meridian, and two-time defending team state champ top-ranked Evansville Mater Dei.

Orrrrrrrrr does it? Either Mishawaka (the Cavemen have qualified for nine straight states but have never won it in this format, having finished second in 2000 and 2007 to go with their 1991 “old school” title) or two-time bridesmaid Perry Meridian (this is the Falcons’ third consecutive finals and sixth in seven years but their best finish in this format, like Mishawaka, was second in 2002 and 2004) will be eliminated after their monumental face-off in Saturday’s quarterfinals.

Mater Dei, meanwhile, drew the easiest route to the finals. The 12-time champion Tigers (they are 10-2 in team state finals and also won crowns in the old format in 1986 and 1995) open with No. 19 Columbus North and then would face either No. 9 Elkhart Memorial or No. 10 Lawrence North in the semifinals – a WAY better draw than the other side of the eight-team bracket.

(And while I’m at it, sorry for messing up the draw order about a month ago when I had Perry Meridian facing Bellmont in the opening round instead of Mishawaka. D’oh!)

Following is a rundown of what to expect during each of the three rounds of competition …

Quarterfinals
Match 1: No. 10 Lawrence North (24-3) over No. 9 Elkhart Memorial (16-0)
The Memorial Chargers, who lost to Indianapolis Cathedral by 10 points at this point a year ago, bring three state qualifiers led by 189-pound state champ Steve Stahl. But the four-time state champion Wildcats, who won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, counter with four state qualifiers.

That includes 103 third-place finisher Brandon Nelsen and 119 champion Cashe’ Quiroga, and that’s enough of a trump for me.

Match 2: No. 1 Evansville Mater Dei (21-1) over No. 19 Columbus North (24-3)
The upstart Bull Dogs surely know what they were asking for then they topped No. 13 Avon for the regional crown, right? Columbus North brings in two state qualifiers (with a best of fifth place) … compared with seven for the Wildcats (with five top-eight finishes including a second, third, and third).

Mater Dei rolled Avon, 65-3, last year in this spot and could very well put up such a number here again.

This is the lock of Saturday’s seven matches.

Match 3: No. 3 Mishawaka (28-1) over No. 2 Perry Meridian (28-1)
Holy gigantic opener, Batman! This tilt will be a rematch of Perry Meridian’s 30-24 victory Jan. 5 at the Bellmont Super Duals. Each team won seven weight classes back then, but the Falcons (six state qualifiers with one champ) benefited from three early pins in building a 21-3 lead.

It should be pointed out that Mishawaka (seven state qualifiers including two champs, a third, a fourth, and a fifth) did not wrestle either Joey Smith (27-8) at 135 or Neal Kostry (28-9) at 145 that day, so all the subsequent chatter about things being different this time around should serve to fire up Perry’s Jacob Tassef (44-9 and an eighth-place state finisher at 135) and 145-pound state qualifier Blake Wood (36-9).

Regardless, I think Indianapolis Cathedral exposed a weakness-as-favorite in big matches for the Falcons with that 28-24 upset win at Perry just four days following their Round 1 with Mishawaka. (Mishawaka, it should be noted, thumped Cathedral 47-10 in December). Just got me a feelin’ that it’s Mishawaka’s time …

Match 4: No. 6 Bellmont (24-3) over No. 20 Merrillville (20-4)
This one could be sneaky. Thee-time state champion Bellmont (all in the old format, although the Braves have qualified for every “new” team state finals except for 1997) brings four state qualifiers, including a third and a fourth. The Braves’ only losses are to Mishawaka, Perry Meridian, and New Palestine.

But Merrillville, which makes its third consecutive trip to Greenwood, boasts five state qualifiers. And aside from the Pirates’ 41-27 loss Jan. 2 at Chesterton, their record stands strong with close losses to Crown Point, Mater Dei, and Chicago Mt. Carmel (IL).

Still, Bellmont has all those Bakers. And this will be the last go-round for senior Ryan baker, who snagged that third-place finish last weekend. Here’s saying the ol’ boy rallies his troops for one more round.

Semifinals
Match 5: No. 1 Evansville Mater Dei over No. 10 Lawrence North
A combined 16 state titles will go on display here, but the experience of late tilts toward Mater Dei. Here’s predicting a double-digit victory and a lot more rest, relatively speaking, than the Wildcats’ finals opponents. Which will be …

Match 6: No. 3 Mishawaka over No. 6 Bellmont
The Cavemen rolled past the Braves 43-15 in the semis last year after Bellmont’s mentally exhausting first-round upset of Perry Meridian on the sixth tiebreaking criteria. Bellmont could well be worn down again by Merrillville and, although Mishawaka may be spent as well after facing the Falcons, I just gots me that feelin’ that Mishawaka has a date with destiny.
 
Championship
Match 7: No. 3 Mishawaka over No. 1 Mater Dei
In a rematch of last year’s final, the Cavemen capture their first-ever state championship as a reward for all that good karma that Mishawaka coach Darrick Snyder has been giving out to HoosierAuthority.com all year with his assistance in promoting the sport.

Keep in mind, however, that I picked Cathedral to beat Mishawaka here a year ago after I had the Irish upsetting Mater Dei … and look how that turned out LOL. Despite legendary coach Mike Goebel having retired and Greg Schaefer now in charge, there is a lot of tradition on Mater Dei’s side and nothing the ’Cats accomplish would be surprising.
 
Still, Mishawaka will get it done.

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