The REPORTER
Westfield made history in dominating fashion last Saturday at the North Montgomery boys wrestling regional.
Westfield’s Carter Niccum won the title at 132 pounds. (Manford Photography)
The Shamrocks claimed the school’s first-ever regional title in that sport, scoring 173 team points for the championship trophy. Westfield scored over 50 points higher than runner-up Fishers, which totaled 119.5 points.
In addition, the ‘Rocks qualified 10 for the New Castle semi-state, which takes place this coming Saturday. Five of those qualifiers finished first in their respective weight classes, starting with 106 pounds and finishing with 285 pounds.
“I think we wrestled really well today,” said Westfield coach Tom Griffin. “We had a heck of semifinal round. Putting eight guys in the finals of regionals is a big deal for us. They had a great week of practice and they really performed well.”
Freshman Connor Maddox was the 106-pound winner. He won the final with a second-period pin over fellow freshman Lukas Scott of Southmont. Maddox is 34-1 for the season. Junior Job Mavrick triumphed at 285 pounds, getting past Tigers junior Camden Funk in a 7-2 decision.
Carmel’s Michael Major was the 165-pound winner, one of two Greyhounds champions. (Manford Photography)
In between, the ‘Rocks claimed three consecutive championships in the middleweights. Senior Carter Niccum won another Westfield-Fishers battle at 132 pounds, toughing out an 8-4 decision win against junior Will Hruskoci.
Junior Alic Washburn was next at 138, and he got a 16-0 technical fall over Hamilton Southeastern senior Matthew Billet. Senior Jake Saez claimed the 145-pound title, beating Fountain Central sophomore Dakoda Willoughby in an 11-5 decision.
The top four wrestlers in each division advance to semi-state. Westfield’s five champions will be joined at New Castle by three runners-up: freshman Brayden Head at 113, senior Porter Temples at 120 and junior Graydon Staley at 150.
The team runner-up Tigers qualified seven to semi-state, a list that includes three champions. Senior 126-pounder Chayce Yant was the first winner, beating Rossville freshman Luke Weaver by a 19-2 technical fall to improve his record to 33-2 for the year.
Junior Xavier Smith won at 175, also getting a technical fall, 21-6 over Lebanon junior Thomas Thompson. Smith is 36-3 for his season. Senior Chris Quarles was next, pinning Zionsville junior Brody Aeschliman in the first period.
Chris Quarles won at 190 pounds, one of three champions for the Tigers. (Manford Photography)
Hruskoci and Funk both advance to semi-state with their runner-up finishes, along with two fourth-place Tigers: junior Owen Ingalls at 120 and junior Julian Burgett at 215.
Zionsville placed third in the team standings with 102.5 points, followed by Southeastern in fourth place with 99.5 points. The Royals did have 10 wrestlers advance to semi-state.
Billet’s runner-up result earned him a place at New Castle. He will be joined by five third-place finishers: senior Nick Anderson at 120, junior Parker Culp at 132, senior Landon Hicks at 157, sophomore Cohen Davis at 165 and senior Evan Lawhead at 215.
Four more Royals wrestlers placed fourth: freshman Cale Beattie at 106, senior Aidan Smalley at 126, senior Chris Casler at 144 and freshman AW Vankirk at 285.
Carmel finished sixth as a team with 46.5 points. The Greyhounds qualified two for semi-state, with both winning their weight class. Sophomore 113-pounder Carlo Federici beat Head with a third-period fall, while senior Michael Major won at 165 with a 13-0 major decision over Rossville junior Jacob Cole.