Noblesville’s Kincaide places 4th at state, Fishers’ Yant places 5th
By RICHARD TORRES
For The Reporter
EVANSVILLE – Aidan Kincaide made an ambitious promise to Noblesville wrestling coach Michael Weimer five years ago.
Last Saturday during the 86th Annual IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Kincaide lived up to those words, placing fourth at 157 pounds to become coach Weimer’s first-ever state medalist.
Kincaide advanced to Saturday’s medal rounds after upsetting Bellmont junior Gavin Davis (28-2) by decision 6-3 on opening night. Davis was ranked eighth in the state by Indianamat.
Ranked 12th in the state, Kincaide was making his first state finals appearance as a freshman, but the youngest state finalist in his weight class made himself comfortable from the start and nearly reached the championship spotlight.
Kincaide posted consecutive wins in as many days, including a 6-3 decision in the quarterfinals against ninth-ranked Asher Ratliff of Columbus North, before losing in the semifinals by major decision 9-1 against second-ranked Adrian Pellot of Merrillville.
Kincaide fell short during his consolation third-place match, placing fourth following a narrow 3-2 loss against Warren Central’s fifth-ranked Anthony Cashman, who also bested him during the New Castle Semi-state finals last weekend in sudden victory, 4-2.
“The coolest thing about this and when he won (last Friday) is that I reflected back to when he was in fourth grade. I took over when he was in third grade, and I’ve been coaching him since,” Weimer said.
“I was at his house when he was in fourth grade because I’m very close with his dad and family, and he goes, ‘Coach, I’m going to be your first state-placer and you’re first state champ.’ I looked at him and said, ‘Alright.’ When he got off that mat (Friday), and I hugged him and I said, ‘You were right. You’re my first.’”
Fishers’ 10th-ranked junior Chayce Yant’s first-career state finals appearance concluded with a sixth-place finish at 120. Yant won his first match on Friday night by technical fall, 18-3, over Norwell’s Hunter Douglas.
During Saturday morning’s quarterfinal round, Yant’s run ended against Monrovia’s seventh-ranked Isaac Ash, who won by major decision, 13-2. Yant defeated Franklin Central’s Richard Rogers by major decision, 11-1, in the consolation round.
Yant lost by decision 5-0 to Zionsville’s Tommy Frazier in the fifth-place match to finish with a season record of 41-5.
Much like Yant, Kincaide’s first trip to state could be the beginning of an annual tradition, especially given Kincaide’s family lineage.
Kincaide’s father, Brian, was a standout high school wrestler at Hobart in northwest Indiana and finished his career with 96 victories. He was a two-time state qualifier and placed third at the state finals during his four-year career.
Aidan is aiming to replicate the feat – and potentially go beyond.
“It was a great experience. Being out there is nerve-racking. It’s pressuring, but pressure makes diamonds, and I want to shine bright like one,” Kincaide said. “I can definitely do better than I performed, but overall, it was a great experience, and I can’t wait to be back at state next year.”
Kincaide’s father finished 20-8 as a freshman semi-state qualifier. He didn’t reach state until his sophomore year and he placed at state as a junior before an injury slowed him down as a senior.
“He came down here twice, and he got hurt his senior year. He placed third his junior year. I was so close to that, too,” Kincaide said.
He’s actually ahead of schedule.
“I told him, there are two weekends. Semi-state is No. 1. We work towards that, and if we do our job there, then we give ourselves an opportunity for weekend No. 2,” Weimer said. “In weekend two, we’re going to chase the highest placement we can.
“His goal is he wants to beat his dad in placement. We didn’t get it this year, but we have three more years.”
Noblesville 285-pound senior Austin Hastings (40-3) concluded his career on Friday night, falling by pin during the first period, but the two-time state qualifier left a lasting impression, particularly on Kincaide.
“Austin was a leader of this program, and when I took over, he was at everything. He was on my first-ever elementary dual team. He’s the first-ever two-time state qualifier, and he’s given everything to this sport,” Weimer said. “My heart broke for him, but what I told him is that he has great things ahead. He’s going to play football at Rose-Hulman. He’s going to be an engineer. He’s going to do phenomenal things in this world, and I’m proud of him for setting the bar for guys like Aidan Kincaide.”