Four county wrestlers finish in top 8 at state

(Left) Hamilton Southeastern’s Dom Burgett placed fourth at 285 pounds during last Saturday’s IHSAA state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Second from left) Carmel 138-pounder Michael Major finished fifth at 138 pounds. (Second from right) Fishers’ Griffin Ingalls (left, at 126) and (Right) Carmel’s Nathan Powell (right, at 160) both finished seventh in their respective weight classes. (Frank Brown)

THE REPORTER

Hamilton Southeastern’s Dom Burgett emerged as the highest-placing Hamilton County wrestler after last Saturday’s placement rounds at the IHSAA state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The senior advanced to the last four at 285 pounds with a 6-2 decision over Highland junior Aramis McNutt, but lost his semi-final bout to Evansville Memorial senior Kelton Farmer in a 12-2 major decision. Burgett dropped the third-place match to Crown Point junior Paul Clark in an 8-3 decision; he completed his campaign with a 37-4 record.

Carmel’s Michael Major took fifth at 138 pounds. The sophomore was dealt what would be his only loss of the year in the quarterfinals, when New Prairie freshman Jeffrey Huyvaert beat Major in a 5-2 decision. Major bounced back with two tough decisions wins, beating Jay County junior Tony Wood 6-4 in the wrestleback round, then defeating New Castle junior Gavyn Whitehead 6-4 in the fifth-place match. Major was 28-1 for the season.

Fishers senior Griffin Ingalls placed seventh at 126 pounds. He dropped his quarterfinal to Center Grove senior Hyatt Yeager in a 3-2 decision, then fell to Cathedral senior Aden Reyes in a 5-1 wrestleback decision. But Ingalls walked away a winner, cruising past Cowan freshman Jackson Bradley in a 9-0 major decision in the seventh-place match. Ingalls concluded his season 40-6.

Carmel senior Nathan Powell, wrestling at 160 pounds, also placed seventh. He fell to Cascade senior Michael Hutchison in a 4-2 quarterfinal decision, then was pinned by Center Grove senior Andre Merritt in 4:21 during the wrestlebacks. But Powell rebounded to beat Jimtown senior Conner Watts in a 5-1 decision in the seventh-place match, finishing the year 20-4.