2001-02 IHSAA Wrestling State Tournament Series

Team State Finals
Evansville Mater Dei’s stranglehold on the wrestling state title continued as the Wildcats downed Perry Meridian, 49-12, in the
championship match of the Seventh Annual IHSAA Team Wrestling State Finals on February 23, 2002 at Center Grove High School in
Greenwood.
Mater Dei’s remarkable run of wrestling state titles reached eight (nine overall including 1986) as the Wildcats won 11 of the 14
matches in the championship round. Mater Dei won its first crown of the current streak in 1995 when the title was decided on points at
the individual state finals. Mike Goebel, who led the team to a 21-0 finish this season, has been the Mater Dei coach all along.
It is the third longest state championship streak in IHSAA sports history and the second longest active run. Carmel’s girls swimming
and diving team won its 16 th consecutive crown on Feb. 9. Gary Roosevelt won nine straight boys track and field titles from 1981-89.
Two-time state champion Blake Maurer, who won the 145 pound state title last week, won all three of his matches on the day including
an 8-2 decision over Jason Dibbern of Perry Meridian in the finals. Maurer finished his sophomore year at 47-1.
Six of the final round matches resulted in pins, five by Wildcat wrestlers -- Brian Bittner (103); Craig Macke (112); Matt Coughlin (119);
Sam Wildeman (160) and; Dustin Beal (171). Perry Meridian’s Zach Pierson also registered a fall at 275 pounds.
Mater Dei advanced to the state title match by defeating New Castle, 66-3, in the quarterfinals and Bellmont, 44-15, in the semifinals.
Perry Meridian senior Nathan Moore, the two-time state champion at 189, won all three of his matches, including the first two of the day
after moving up to the 215 pound level. He scored the Falcons’ first victory of the championship round (103 was contested last) at his
normal class of 189, a 5-0 decision over Scott Lewis of Mater Dei.
Perry Meridian, coached by Jim Tonte, was making its second appearance in the state finals in three years as a team and its first
journey to the championship round. The Falcons defeated Portage, 40-15, in the quarterfinals and Mishawaka, 35-21, in the semifinals
for their berth in the final match. It was the first loss of the year for Perry Meridian, which finished 28-1.
2001-02 Team Wrestling State Champion
Evansville Mater Dei High School