Boys wrestling: Tigers go on a tear to take down Millers in season opener

By RICHIE HALL

sports@readthereporter.com

NOBLESVILLE – When it comes to early-season wrestling meets, it’s nice to win, but sometimes it’s better just to compete.

The Fishers and Noblesville boys wrestling teams got that first taste of competition when they opened their season Wednesday in a dual meet at The Mill. The Millers took an early lead before the Tigers went on a tear to win the contest 43-32.

While it may have been a first meet, both teams were already operating at a January intensity level. Each program has several wrestlers ranked in IndianaMat.com’s first set of semi-state rankings (see accompanying story), and those wrestlers were already proving why they should be on those lists.

“We got the first-match jitters out,” said Fishers coach Cameron Diep. “But I can’t complain about a victory, especially in the toughest conference in the state. I will take that and then we will learn from it.”

“All I care about is their fight, and they fought,” said Noblesville coach Michael Weimer. “You win or lose, you win or lose, but as long as you fight, that’s all I care about. And these guys fought tonight, and we’re going to grow from this.”

The Millers have a handful of freshman wrestlers on the team this year, and one of them got the first match of the meet. Justin Suddarth won the 138-pound bout with a 13-5 major decision.

Noblesville took the next two matches by fall, with Mason Presits (at 144) and Luke Chastain (at 150) both pinning their opponents. Andrei Bogdan, ranked No. 7 in the New Castle semi-state list, gave the Tigers their first win with a pin at 157 pounds.

Next up was Millers sophomore Aidan Kincaide, the No. 1-ranked New Castle wrestler at 165 pounds and an IHSAA state qualifier last year as a freshman. He took care of business with a first-period fall. Not to be outdone, Fishers junior Xavier Smith, ranked third at 175, an IHSAA state qualifier and a two-time All-American this past summer at the Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D.; won his match with a 21-6 technical fall.

The Tigers had ranked wrestlers compete in the next two matches, and both won by fall. Chris Quarles, No. 4 at 190, got a pin with eight seconds left in the first period. He was followed by Julian Burgett, ranked fifth at 215; Burgett won his match with a second-period fall.

“He’s ranked in semi-state, but if you watched his match tonight, I think he’s ready to take it to the state finals,” said Diep.

Noblesville’s Jackson Apple interrupted the Fishers run with a win-by-fall at 285 pounds, getting the pin 55 seconds into the match. The match turned over to the lighter weights, and Fishers’ Seth Lamb took the 106-pound match by a 13-3 major decision.

The Tigers sent three more ranked wrestlers on to the mat. They were all winners: Mason Quarles (No. 8 at 113) and Owen Ingalls (No. 5 at 120) were both victorious by technical fall. Chayce Yant was up next, as the No. 1 New Castle wrestler at 126; he won with a third-period fall.

The Millers’ Isaac Suddarth finished the meet at 132 pounds, scoring a 16-7 major decision victory. He is the twin brother of Justin Suddarth.

“Eight years I’ve been coaching these kids that are freshmen now, from the youth to the middle school and everything,” said Weimer. “It’s fun to be able to see the actual programs are coming together from the top down and the bottom up.”

Both teams will compete in tournaments on Saturday. Fishers travels to the John Hurrle Invitational at Scecina, while Noblesville heads north for the Hamilton Heights Super 6.

In addition to the boys’ meet, there was a short girls meet as well. No team scores were kept. Eden Short (at 120) and Evie Howard (at 140) won matches for the Millers, while the Tigers got wins from Elise Lawrence at 130 and Mallory Kean at 235.