Boys wrestling semi-state: Seven county wrestlers qualify for state

Westfield’s Maddox, Carmel’s Major win semi-state championships

The REPORTER

Seven Hamilton County wrestlers are headed to the IHSAA boys wrestling state finals after their performances last Saturday at the New Castle semi-state.

Two local wrestlers finished the day as semi-state champions. First was Westfield freshman Connor Maddox, who won the 106-pound weight class.

Fishers’ Chayce Yant finished as the 126-pound runner-up. (Manford Photography)

Maddox won his first two matches by technical fall, beat Indianapolis Lutheran sophomore Caleb Morrow in the semifinals with a 7-2 decision, then pinned Cathedral freshman Tate St. Laurent in the second period of the championship match. Maddox is 38-1 for the year.

Carmel senior Michael Major also triumphed at the semi-state, winning the 165-pound title. He rolled into the championship match with a technical fall in the first round, then won his quarterfinal and semifinal matches by pin. In the final, Major got a 5-0 decision win over Hamilton Heights senior Michael Cain to improve to 37-3 for the season.

Cain, now 45-2 for the season, also reached the championship match easily. He won by technical fall in the first round and got a quarterfinal pin, then beat Rossville junior Jacob Cole by an 18-8 major decision in the semis.

Fishers had three wrestlers qualify for state, after each finished in the top four in their weight classes. The Tigers finished fifth in the team standings, scoring 61.5 points.

Senior Chayce Yant was the 126-pound runner-up. He won his first two matches by technical fall, got past Mount Vernon junior Eli Broady by a 10-7 decision, then lost to Eastern Hancock senior Bradyn Volz by an 8-0 major decision in the final. Yant is 36-3 for the year.

Fishers’ Xavier Smith finished as the 175-pound runner-up. (Manford Photography)

Junior Xavier Smith also placed second, at 175 pounds. Smith won his first match by technical fall, then won by fall in the quarterfinals and semifinals. In the championship match, Smith lost to Warren Central’s Waylon Cressell by a 15-10 decision. Smith is 39-4 for the season.

Junior Julian Burgett took third place at 215 pounds. Burgett got a second-period fall in his first match, then edged out New Palestine junior Colin Whetsel 1-0 to reach the semis and punch his ticket to state. Burgett lost to Rossville senior Noah Weaver in the semis by technical fall, but beat Zionsville senior Kian Maclauchlan by a 4-2 decision in the third-place match.

Westfield junior Job Mavrick placed fourth at 285 pounds. Mavrick won his first two matches by pin, but was pinned by New Palestine sophomore William Glesing in the semifinals. Mavrick was pinned by Greenfield-Central senior Zach Blevens in the third-place match, but is still on to state. The Shamrocks tied for seventh as a team with 56 points.

The state finals begin Friday afternoon with first-round matches. Bouts for weight classes 106-144 take place at 3 p.m., followed by the matches for weight classes 150-285 starting at 6 p.m. First-round winners wrestler again Saturday for a guaranteed top-eight finish at state.