Claiming the championship: Chesterton’s Andy St. Germain wrestles Hanover Central’s Andrew Metz for the 125-pound title at the LaPorte Regional Saturday. St. Germain won 4-3. (Tribune photo by Jimmy Kissee)

By JIMMY KISSEE

LAPORTE - Wrestling with a heavy heart after losing his great grandfather to Parkinsons disease just a day before competition, Chesterton sophomore Andy St. Germain battled the emotion and the competition Saturday at the LaPorte Regional and overcame both to claim the 125-pound championship.

St. Germain, who was a regional runner-up a year ago, dedicated his trio of victories Saturday, including a well-earned 4-3 win over Hanover Central’s Andrew Metz in the final, to his great grandfather, Bob Uremovich, 84, of Merrillville, who passed away this past Friday.

“This feels good to win, but it’s been pretty rough,” said a drained Germain, who currently is ranked seventh in the state at 125.

“I tried to concentrate on wrestling, but all I could think about was him. I wish he could have been here, but even though he wasn’t he helped me pull through. I dedicate this day to him.”

St. Germain (30-1) reached the finals after beating Pat Cusack of Kankakee Valley in the first round, followed by edging Matt Hemrey of Portage in the semifinals.

In both matches, St. Germain wasn’t his usual self, but the emerging sophomore found a way to win.

“I am disappointed how I wrestled, but I was happy to get the win,” said St. Germain, who’ll receive a first-round bye at the Merrillville Semistate on Saturday.

“I was more tired than I’ve ever been in the semifinal match, but I was able to dig deep and pull through. Dealing with the loss of my great grandpa really puts wrestling into perspective for me. It motivated me and I know now that I can pull through anything.”

Against Hemrey, St. Germain scored the go-ahead two points with just over six seconds left in the third period to claim the 6-4 victory.

“I felt comfortable in the first and second period, but I had nothing left in third,” St. Germain said.

“I was drained. Somehow, I was able to circle and score right at the end.”

Chesterton senior Ethan Newham will join St. Germain at the Merrillville Semistate after Newham placed third in the 215-pound weight class.

Newham (28-10), whose lone loss came against eventual 215-pound champ Matthew Bogard of John Glenn in the semifinal, made the most of his first regional experience, defeating Valparaiso’s Sam Compton 12-7 in the winner moves on - loser goes home consolation bracket.

Chesterton’s Matt Dutcher, who surprised the state’s No. 2 ranked 125-pounder George Petrov (36-2) in the opening round, didn’t fare as well in the consolation round, as the 112-pounder’s season came to a close with an 8-3 loss to Crown Pont’s Paul Ramos.

Dutcher finished the season 25-11.

Chesterton wrestlers suffering first round losses were Alex Sanchez (119), Ethan Harbrecht (130), Ben Virden (140), Peter Horban (145), John Hanson (189) and John VanDenburg (275).

Despite the early exits, Chesterton coach Chris Joll was pleased with each wrestler’s effort for making it this far.

Wrestling Results

LaPorte Regional

At LaPorte

(Top 3 wrestlers advance to Merrillville Semistate on Feb. 12)

Championship Round

103 - Music (LaPorte) d. Allen (Knox) 6-3; 112 - Anderson (Michigan City) d. Ennis (John Glenn) 3-2; 119 - Walters (Portage) d. Gill (Crown Point) 14-6; 125 - Andy St. Germain (CHESTERTON) d. Metz (Hanover Central) 4-3; 130 - A. Howe (Hanover Central) d. Williams (Portage) 10-7; 135 - Lecuta (Portage) d. Haluck (Glenn) 7-4; 140 - Zemlik (Portage) d. Conway (Crown Point) 9-4; 145 - Biddle (Portage) d. Morris (John Glenn) 15-10; 152 - E. Howe (Hanover Central) d. Schuitema (North Newton) 14-5; 160 - Hesseltine (Portage) d. Naegle (LaPorte) 13-7; 171 - Kemp (Portage) d. Biggs (Valparaiso) 8-2; 189 - Willis (Kankakee Valley) d. Winel (Lowell) 4-2; 215 - Bogard (John Glenn) d. Guettner (North Newton) 8-2; 275 - Espinoza (Portage) p. Kasperan (Valparaiso) 2:16.

Consolation Round

103 - Churchard (Valparaiso) d. Albano (Michigan City) 9-3; 112 - Ramos (Crown Point) d. Matt Dutcher (CHESTERTON) 8-3; 119 - Bonick (Valparaiso) d. Ward (Hanover Central) 5-4; 125 - Hemry (Portage) d. Farrell (Valparaiso) 9-6; 130 - Mellis (Crown Point) Franz (Lowell) 14-3; 135 - Ebach (LaPorte) d. Moore (Knox) 8-4; 140 - Sands (Andrean) p. Norman (Valparaiso) 2:44; 145 - Znika (Lowell) d. Smith (Crown Point) 4-3; 152 - Oudhuis (New Prairie) d. Sanchez (Portage) 7-3; 160 - Kraus (New Prairie) inj. def. Sobkowicz (Hanover Central); 171 - Macias (New Prairie) Rovak (Hanover Central) 2:54; 189 - Buchta (LaPorte) p. Humphrey (John Glenn) 3:53; 215 - Ethan Newham (CHESTERTON) d. Compton (Valparaiso) 12-7; 275 - Conway (Crown Point) p. Klidaras (Lowell) 3:40.

Posted 2/7/2005