Wrestling rivals share similar goal

Punxsutawney Phil may be good at predicting weather on Groundhog Day, but he has nothing on predicting what may occur at the 72nd Indiana High School Athletic Association Individual State Wrestling Championship this February. But after last year, a shadow might not be needed to predict what two rival wrestlers believe is the inevitable. Last year, in the 112-pound class, Cathedral's Brandon Wright defeated Anderson Highland's Camden Eppert, 5-2, to capture the state title. It was the second year in a row the two contended for a state title. The two are already prepared to make it happen again. "Without a doubt, he's my toughest competitor," says Wright, a junior, who finished with a record of 44-2 on his way to a championship. "I wrestled him at state my freshman year and he beat me. I got him last year. I expect us to be at it again this year and throughout the year. I always look forward to wrestling him." Eppert, a Purdue University recruit, returns the feeling and has his sights set on Wright. "We go at it. We wrestled eight times last year to a 4-4 record. I think it was a state record for the most consecutive matches in a season," the senior said. "I got him once (at state) and he got me. I am looking forward to this year in the 119-pound class." Eppert won the state title at 103 pounds in 2007. As a freshman, he placed fourth at 103 pounds. His career record at Highland is 116-9. Defending state champion Cashe Quiroga of Lawrence North, who finished with a 47-3 record at 119-pounds last year, has also committed to Purdue.