Three Hamilton County wrestlers won first-round matches at Friday night’s IHSAA state finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Westfield junior Braxton Vest won at 120 pounds, beating Seeger senior Nathaniel Hennessey in a first-period pin. Carmel senior Robert Major, at 160 pounds, continued his unbeaten season with a second-period fall over La Porte senior Jamaal Salary. At 285 pounds, Westfield junior Mihail Platonov advanced with a 3-1 decision win over Hammond Gavit sophomore Edgar Decker.
All three wrestlers return to action this morning for the quarter-final round, which begins at 9:30 a.m. Semi-final and placement matches follow, with the consolation matches to start at 5 p.m. and the championship matches at 7:30 p.m.
Four other wrestlers dropped their first-round matches, ending their seasons. In the 113-pound division, Carmel sophomore Isaac Ward fell to Whiteland sophomore Joey Buttler in a 6-5 decision, while Westfield senior Dylan Driver lost to Tell City sophomore Coy Hammack in a third-period pin. Carmel junior Brac Hooper fell to Crown Point senior Stephen Roberson Jr. by a 5-0 decision, and Hamilton Southeastern junior Max Broom lost to West Lafayette junior Connor Barket in an 8-4 decision.
