Anthony McHugh pins an opponent during the sectional. Culver photo/Jan Garrison
McHugh (Lewis Center, Ohio) advanced to the state at 138 pounds, coming in second at the Merrillville Semi-state on Feb. 9.
He will wrestle Reese Seiger (38-3) of New Haven in the first match on Friday night. The tournament will be conducted in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. This is the 75th year for the state wrestling championships.
McHugh (43-4) lost in the semi-state championship match to Tommy Forte of Mishawaka in a 3-2 decision. McHugh finished second to the unbeaten and top-ranked Forte (42-0) at the Rochester Regional the week before. This will be McHugh’s fourth state tournament appearance – three in Indiana and one as a freshman in Ohio. He has committed to wrestle at the Air Force Academy next year.
He is the lone wrestler from Culver to advance. Kayla Miracle ’14 (37-4, Bloomington, Ind.), who was the first girl to advance to the state meet as a sophomore, finished fifth overall at 126 pounds, making her an alternate for the state finals. Edmond Hogan ’14 (41-7, Itasca, Ill.) finished sixth at 160 pounds. The top four wrestlers in each weight moved on to the state meet.
