By RICHIE HALL
CARMEL – The Carmel and Westfield boys wrestling teams met Wednesday at the Eric Clark Activity Center for what could be a sectional preview.
Both teams compete in the Frankfort sectional, which takes place on Jan. 27, two weeks from Saturday. And both coaches already had the sectional on their minds after their dual, which the Greyhounds won 37-28 in their Senior Night meet.
“This is a good tool to get us ready for the sectional,” said Carmel coach Ed Pendoski.
The ‘Hounds won the first five matches, starting at 190 pounds. Adel Navarette (at 190) and Carlo Federici (at 106) won decisions, Will Massey (215) and Tamir Halevi (113) pinned their opponents, and Killian Miller won at 285 by injury default.
Carmel thus led 24-0. The Shamrocks cut that lead to 24-22 by winning five matches in a row, starting with a decision from Porter Temples at 120. Hank Temples’ decision at 144 got the ‘Rocks within two. In between, Carter Niccum (126) and Chase Camire (138) were winners by fall, with Alic Washman getting a major decision win at 132 pounds.
Hank Temples was the winner at 144 pounds for the Shamrocks. (Julie Brown)
Westfield coach Tom Griffin called the meet “great preparation for the sectional.”
“As we look to the sectional, some of the matchups we will definitely have rematches against, which would be nice to see,” said Griffin.
Jackson Schmidt kept the Greyhounds in front by taking the 150-pound match with a major decision, then Jairo Ojeda-Cortez won at 157 by getting a pin with just seconds left in the second period. That put Carmel up 34-22, and a hard-fought decision from Drew VanBibber at 165 clinched the meet for the Greyhounds. Westfield’s Hunter Jones wrapped up the match with a pin at 175.
“It’s a good, tough dual meet,” said Pendoski. “To win eight matches is good, and then go back to the practice room tomorrow.”
Carmel has one more dual meet before the sectional, traveling to Hamilton Southeastern next Wednesday. Westfield heads to Franklin Central on Saturday for the Hoosier Crossroads Conference meet, then hosts Harrison next Wednesday.
CARMEL 37, WESTFIELD 28
Meet started at 190 pounds
190: Adel Navarette (C) def. Riley Davison (W) by decision, 6-3
215: Will Massey (C) def. Alex Aramboles (W) by fall, 2:19
285: Killian Miller (C) def. Aiden Padgett (W) by injury default
106: Carlo Federici (C) def. Keegan Carson (W) by decision, 5-2
113: Tamir Halevi (C) def. Abe O’Neill (W) by fall, 0:37
120: Porter Temples (W) def. Jake Gardner (C) by decision, 4-1
126: Carter Niccum (W) def. Tyler Elliott (C) by fall, 2:38
132: Alic Washman (W) def. Ethan Hurwitz (C) by major decision, 19-7
138: Chase Camire (W) def. Eli Penquite (C) by fall, 3:57
144: Hank Temples (W) def. Drew Gonzalez (C) by decision, 9-4
150: Jackson Schmidt (C) def. Graydon Staley (W) by major decision, 15-5
157: Jairo Ojeda-Cortez (C) def. Eli Turner (W) by fall, 3:56
165: Drew VanBibber (C) def. Hunter Lancaster (W) by decision, 7-6
175: Hunter Jones (W) def. Alex Ryan (C) by fall, 2:47