By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – The Westfield wrestling team beat Noblesville 34-28 Thursday in an all-county dual meet at CSI Gymnasium.
The Shamrocks built a big lead thanks to their solid cast of light to middle weight wrestlers, and that helped Westfield to stay in front when the meet got to the middleweights, where the Millers have some strong wrestlers.
“Once we started at 190 (pounds) we knew we needed to build a pretty big lead going into the last four or five matches of the meet,” said Shamrocks coach Tom Griffin.
Westfield did just that, with some help from its upper weights. Hunter Jones, the 190-pound wrestler, won that bout in a close decision, with Alex Aramboles taking the 215-pound match. That early 7-0 lead helped the ‘Rocks absorb a forfeit at 285. Noblesville’s Austin Hastings took that match.
Westfield then ran off three consecutive pins from Keegan Carson, Abe O’Neill and Porter Temples to jump ahead in the meet. Carter Niccum, Chase Camire and Jake Saez then got decision victories which clinched the team win.
“I thought our effort was outstanding,” said Griffin. “I thought we battled, all of our kids fought. Even when they got put to their back, we battled off our back and we continued to fight, fight, fight. That’s what we keep preaching in the room is effort and attitude and we controlled those two things tonight.”
Noblesville won the last five matches of the meet. Luke Chastain and Caleb Leeman both got major decision wins, freshman Aidan Kincaide won at 157 by fall, Carter Richardson won at 165 with a tough decision, and Gage Gulley finished the match with a pin at 175.
“We wrestled them earlier in the year, it was a three-point dual,” said Millers assistant coach Andy Fleenor. “So, we knew it was going to be close and points were at a premium, so we were hoping for a few more bonus points from our guys and to limit their bonus points. That was a big part of the dual.”
Both teams will be idle for a couple weeks before returning to action on Dec. 29. Westfield will compete at the Mishawaka Invitational, while Noblesville will travel to the North Montgomery Duals.
WESTFIELD 34, NOBLESVILLE 28
Meet started at 190 pounds
190: Hunter Jones (W) def. Luke Hargess (N) by decision, 6-5
215: Alex Aramboles (W) def. Cale Metzler (N) by major decision, 13-4
285: Austin Hastings (N) won by forfeit
106: Keegan Carson (W) def. Cody Prater (N) by fall, 4:33
113: Abe O’Neill (W) def. Daniel Munoz (N) by fall, 2:54
120: Porter Temples (W) def. D.J. Collier (N) by fall, 0:56
126: Carter Niccum (W) def. Josh Kauzlick (N) by decision, 10-4
132: Chase Camire (W) def. Mason Presits (N) by decision 4-1
138: Jake Saez (W) def. Evan Nichols (N) by decision 5-2
144: Luke Chastain (N) def. Hank Temples (W) by major decision, 13-4
150: Caleb Leeman (N) def. Grayden Staley (W) by major decision, 13-5
157: Aidan Kincaide (N) def. Eli Turner (W) by fall, 3:01
165: Carter Richardson (N) def. Hunter Lancaster (W) by decision, 9-5
175: Gage Gulley (N) def. Jayden Dewey (W) by fall, 1:34