Four Hamilton County wrestlers will compete at the IHSAA state meet next Wednesday after finishing in the top four in their respective weight classes Saturday at the New Castle semi-state.
Leading the way is Carmel senior Jack Eiteljorge, who won the semi-state championship at 160 pounds. Eiteljorge easily earned his spot with a technical fall over Scecina junior Jake Rebein in the first round, then scored a pin over Lawrence North’s James Despain in the “ticket round,” or the quarter-final. The senior reached the championship match with an 8-3 decision over Perry Meridian junior Brooks Davis, then took care of Union County junior Tucker Coffman in the final with an 11-0 major decision.
Westfield sophomore Carson Eldred finished second at 113 pounds. Eldred started with a first-period fall over North Central senior Chris Peters, then won a 7-2 decision over PM junior Ceu Kung in the ticket round.
Eldred advanced to the final with a 4-0 decision over Cathedral sophomore Caleb Oliver before being pinned in the championship match by Roncalli sophomore Brayden Lowery. Nevertheless, Eldred’s record is 42-3, making him the first county wrestler to break the 40-win mark this season.
The other two county wrestlers both finished fourth: Carmel sophomore Brendan Mattingly at 120 and Fishers senior Alexander Strueder at 138.
Mattingly came into the semi-state undefeated, and rolled into the semi-finals with a first-round pin of Pendleton Heights freshman Jared Brown, and a 4-0 decision over Roncalli sophomore Sam Slivka in the ticket round. In the semi-finals, Cathedral junior Lukasz Walendzak handed Mattingly his first loss of the year in a 4-0 decision.
Mattingly then lost the third-place match in a squeaker, as Zionsville freshman Logan Wagner beat him in overtime 6-4. Mattingly’s record is now 35-2.
Streuder reached the ticket round with a last-second pin of Roncalli junior Brian Keeney, then earned his state spot by beating South Dearborn senior Garrett Walton in an 8-0 major decision. Strueder then fell to Cathedral senior Zach Melloh 9-2 in the semi-finals, then dropped the third-place match to Beech Grove senior Bailey Moore in a 5-1 decision.
The state wrestling meet begins at 6 p.m. Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with 16 wrestlers in each weight class. Friday night winners advance to the Saturday placement rounds, where they are guaranteed a top eight finish.
