With the postseason looming, these are the best SIAC wrestlers in every weight class
EVANSVILLE — There's a reason wrestling coaches in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference refer to the league as one of the toughest in the state.
The SIAC produced a state champion last season, as well as three runners-up and a returning qualifier. And the talent seems to be endless with many more hopefuls aiming to continue their seasons for another month until the IHSAA state finals take place in town at Ford Center.
Action is heating up on the mats as the stakes increase each week. This Saturday's SIAC tournament at Castle High School is the last tune-up before the postseason commences next weekend with the sectional round of the state tournament.
"Everybody we see in our conference is a challenge for us," North coach Billy Hewig said. "There's just no easy way out. This conference is hard and it's tough and it's built off of a lot of tough kids."
"This tournament is kind of like a practice run-through," Mater Dei coach Greg Schaefer added. "It's not the postseason, but it's got a nice postseason vibe. (We've got to) make sure that we're kind of dotting I's and crossing T's this time of year."
Let's take a look at who's poised for success in the SIAC tournament and beyond. Here are the favorites in each weight class.
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106 pounds
Top wrestler: Nolan Mullins, Jasper. The freshman has been impressive for the Wildcats as he reached 30 wins on the season.
Contender: David Alstadt, Mater Dei. The defending conference runner-up in this class, the sophomore faced an opponent that will be mentioned later on in this list.
113
Top wrestler: Caleb Schaefer, Mater Dei. Schaefer is having an outstanding freshman season. He's ranked No. 11 in his class and was a runner-up at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic.
Contender: Caleb Reed, Reitz. The senior is the defending conference champion of this class after notching a pin and should be favored once again to return to the title match.
120
Top wrestler: Ty Henderson, Mater Dei. The undefeated, No. 3-ranked wrestler in this class has competed in a championship match in each of the last two seasons. The junior has also defeated two top-five opponents this season.
Contender: Will Jackson, North. Another junior, Jackson hopes to make it to a title match after placing fourth the previous season at 113.
126
Top wrestler: Isaiah Schaefer, Mater Dei. The junior and two-time state placer is the heavy favorite to notch his third-straight conference title. The top-ranked wrestler in this class has four wins against top-five opponents this season.
Contender: Peyton Pfettscher, Reitz. Pfettscher seeks redemption after finishing sixth for the conference title at 120. The junior currently has 37 wins on the season.
132
Top wrestler: Grant Voelker, Mater Dei. The junior finished sixth at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic and is primed to make his first conference title match appearance.
Contender: Colton Pfettscher, Reitz. The junior has reached 30 wins this season and aims to advance to the conference championship. He placed third at 120 during his freshman season.
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138
Top wrestler: Landen Horning, Memorial. The junior would like to come out on top this time after finishing as a conference runner-up in each of the last two seasons. He defeated the next wrestler on this list to place third at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic by a 6-4 decision.
Contender: Cam Baumann, Mater Dei. The sophomore and semistate qualifier looks to go to the SIAC title match for the first time after finishing third last season at 113.
144
Top wrestler: Alexander Mercer, Harrison. The junior was a regional qualifier for the Warriors last season and seeks his first-ever championship match appearance.
Contender: Nick Hermann, Mater Dei. The senior seeks his second conference championship match appearance after finishing as a runner-up at 106 during his freshman season.
150
Top wrestler: Tyler Vanover, Mater Dei. The No. 8-ranked wrestler in this class won a title last season at 138. Vanover, a senior, finished no lower than third place in the conference in his first two seasons.
Contender: Cale Bonenberger, North. The sophomore remains undefeated after he finished third in the conference at 138 last season. He has defeated a fellow top-20 wrestler at 157 earlier this year.
157
Top wrestler: Peyton Bell, North. The senior has wrestled in a third-place match in the conference in each of the last three seasons. He finished third last year at 160 and as a freshman at 138.
Contender: Braxton Bishop, Harrison. The junior has only lost three matches so far this season and also seeks his first appearance in the title match.
165
Top wrestler: Spencer Turner, Mater Dei. The senior is the defending conference champion at 170 and has wrestled for third in the previous two seasons. Had a fourth-place finish against an eventual state qualifier as a freshman.
Contender: Alex Sitzman, Reitz. The senior has improved wrestling at the conference meet over the last couple of years. Finished fifth as a sophomore before placing fourth last season at 160.
175
Top wrestler: Austin Bell, North. The junior is a favorite to advance to the conference title match after finishing third last season at 170.
Contender: Mason Gegogeine, Jasper. The junior has been another key veteran wrestler for the Wildcats and finished fifth in the conference at 182 during his freshman year.
190
Top wrestler: Caden Thacker, Mater Dei. The sophomore made an impressive debut in last year's conference match with a third-place finish at 195. He and the next wrestler listed met at the Mater Dei Holiday Classic; Thacker placed fifth in a 3-1 decision.
Contender: Kevin Acton, Vincennes Lincoln. The senior is one of the Alices' top grapplers and was also dominant in his first conference meet, placing third at 160.
215
Top wrestler: Tyson Ruhe, Jasper. The junior is the defending conference runner-up at 220 and enters the weekend with a 26-3 record on the season. He is currently ranked No. 13 in his class statewide.
Contender: Coleton Adamson, Castle. The junior is 24-5 this season after he finished third in the conference last year at 182.
285
Top wrestler: Mi'Kel Green, Bosse. The junior is still undefeated as looks to continue making his mark as the city's best heavyweight wrestler.
Contender: Evan Nordhoff, Jasper. Last year, Nordhoff finished third in the conference behind an eventual state runner-up and another state qualifier. Now a junior, he looks to advance to the title match this time around.
Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Twashington490.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA wrestling: These are the SIAC's best entering 2024 posteason
