Wrestling: Aaron Ayala, Adam Garcia win first-round bouts

Updated: February 17, 2012 10:26PM

INDIANAPOLIS — Last season, Aaron Ayala was pinned in the first round of the wrestling individual state meet by the eventual runner-up at 125 pounds.

On Friday night, Hobart’s senior 126-pounder assured that he will place this season.

Ayala edged Evansville Reitz’s Gideon VanHook 5-4 in the first round before a crowd of 8,880 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He snapped a 3-3 tie with a reversal with 20 seconds left in the third period.

“I keep telling myself to have that do-or-die mindset,” Ayala said. “That’s what’s kept pushing me all through the season. My last chance, my last time here, I want to leave my mark.

“It feels good to be able to wrestle on the second day. I’m guaranteed three matches, I’m guaranteed to be in the top eight. I’m pretty happy.”

Merrillville junior 120-pounder Adam Garcia also won his first-round match on Friday night, after having lost his 119-pound opener last season (to VanHook, actually). He pinned Franklin Central’s Andrice Martin with 25 seconds left in overtime, rebounding emphatically after having surrendered the tying takedown late in the third period.

Hobart freshman 160-pounder Scottie Sopko fashioned a stirring victory, resulting in tears of joy — and understandably so, after a one-time seemingly improbable pin. He gave up a takedown and back points to fall behind 5-0 in the first period, then trailed 6-1 in the third before Bloomington South’s Seth Seitzinger visibly started to fatigue. Sopko had drawn to 8-5 before recording the pin with 51.1 seconds left, having felt his opponent break and picking up the pace.

“I saw, boom, it was 5-0 — he threw me,” Sopko said. “I was, like, oh, my gosh. But I saw him get tired and said, Scottie, you can do this.

“You have to do it. You just have to believe in yourself.”

Portage 126-pounder Julian Torres pulled out a 6-4 overtime victory against Evansville Memorial’s Logan Wedding, getting the winning takedown with 26 seconds left in OT.

All five area wrestlers who entered the state meet undefeated exited Friday with that perfect record intact.

Crown Point 145-pounder Jason Tsirtsis continued to barrel toward his historic fourth state championship with a pin. And Lake Central 126-pounder Kyle Ayersman continued his quest for a third straight title with a pin. Hanover Central 106-pounder Stevan Micic (technical fall), Hanover 120-pounder Paul Petrov (technical fall) and Merrillville 195-pounder Kourtney Berry (a 6-2 decision against Princeton’s Dalton Halbig) all won.

Merrillville advanced four of its seven qualifiers, as freshman 160-pounder Bobby Steveson (major decision) and 170-pounder Darryl Peppers (major decision) won.

Crown Point had three of its five participants win, including freshman 113-pounder Darden Schurg with a back-and-forth 11-8 decision again Indianapolis Roncalli’s Barry McGinley, and Tyler Kral at 220 (pin).

Hanover advanced all three of its qualifiers, as 145-pounder Charlie Mavros turned Yorktown’s Rhett Hiestand for back points in the waning seconds for a 4-2 win.

Lake Central sophomore 220-pounder Gelen Robinson won by major decision.

In all, 15 of the area’s 27 wrestlers won on Friday, clinching a spot on the medal stand. The quarterfinals begin at 8:30 a.m. (Central) on Saturday, with the championship matches scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

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