By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS – The weekend did not end exactly how they envisioned, but a trio of Hamilton County wrestlers were rightfully rewarded for their efforts inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, Noblesville junior Aidan Kincaide became the highest state-placer in program history since 1992 by finishing second at 165 pounds during the 88th annual IHSAA wrestling state finals.
Fishers senior Julian Burgett placed third at 215, while Hamilton Southeastern freshman Nolan Culp took home a sixth-place medal at 106.
All three wrestlers advanced into the two-day tournament’s medal rounds after winning their respective elimination-round matches on Friday, Feb. 20, ensuring a top-eight placement in the state.
For Kincaide (37-1), who was ranked third in the state by Indianamat, his runner-up finale marked his second-career state medal after placing fourth at 157 in 2024 as a freshman.
The two-time state qualifier missed last season due to a fractured back, but in 2025-26, Kincaide made up for lost time.
Through his postseason run, Kincaide logged 10 consecutive pins to win sectional, regional and semi-state titles in addition to reaching the medal rounds. Kincaide opened the state finals with a fall in 1:24 before a 16-0 technical fall in 3:46 pushed him into the semifinals.
A 4-2 decision against second-ranked senior Brant Beck of Rochester moved him into the championship final where he lost to top-ranked sophomore and two-time state champion Matthew Staples (39-0) of New Prairie by technical fall 19-3 (4:08).
“He’s a trailblazer in this program. When he was in second grade, he told me he was going to be my first-ever state qualifier. He’s said he’s going to be my first-ever state champion. Well, you got to get to the final before you have an opportunity, and we haven’t had a state finalist since 1992,” Millers coach Michael Weimer said. “He wasn’t even born then. It’s been a long time.”
Noblesville’s Jason Chiado (40-1-1) was the last Miller to reach the championship finals 34 years ago. The senior 119-pounder finished second.
“I told him, you’re doing things that others now believe that they can do in our program,” Weimer said. “Be proud of that. I know the outcome wasn’t what he wanted, but you got to get there to give yourself a chance and now you’ve been there and you felt it. I’m proud of him. The whole community is proud of him.”
Burgett (43-4), who was ranked second in the state, advanced out of opening night with a 15-1 major decision and followed that up with a pin in 5:20 during the quarterfinals.
Pitted against top-ranked sophomore and eventual state champion Ceasar Salas (39-2) of Crown Point, Burgett lost by major decision 10-1 before accepting a forfeit in the consolation finals for third.
“Julian’s one of those kids that puts a lot of time in. This is definitely hard work that’s paid off, and he’s a kid that you’ll never forget,” Fishers coach Cameron Diep said.
Burgett was also a state qualifier as a junior but didn’t medal. He’s heading to Mercyhurst to continue his wrestling career.
“I started JV my freshman year, and I had a lot of coaches and teammates that pushed me. I didn’t really achieve what I wanted last year. I didn’t really achieve what I wanted this year, but I’m happy about the progress I made,” Burgett said. “In the semis, it just felt like I had nothing to lose. I went after him. I wrestled the best I could.”
Culp (29-8) won a high-scoring, 18-16 decision during the elimination round before losing by major decision 14-5 in the quarterfinals.
The first-time state qualifier bounced back with a 2-0 decision in the consolations and battled fourth-ranked junior Julian DeLuna (42-3) of Hanover Central in the fifth-place final. DeLuna beat Culp in a hard-fought, sudden-victory overtime match, 11-8.
Culp was ranked 14th in the state and knocked off the state’s 19th– and 15th-ranked wrestlers to exceed outside expectations. Culp is the first freshman wrestler in HSE history to finish in the top eight at state.
Be the first to comment on "County trio secure medals at wrestling state"