By RICHIE HALL
SHERIDAN – The Sheridan wrestling team hosted Clinton Central Thursday in a dual meet between two teams that could be battling for a conference championship in a few weeks.
The Bulldogs outlasted the Blackhawks 45-36 in front of a loud crowd at Larry Hobbs Hall. Sheridan took a big early lead thanks to the strength of its middle weights, but Clinton Central’s lighter weights got pins in the later part of the meet.
“I just got through talking to them and I was very happy with the way they wrestled tonight,” said Blackhawks coach Steve Leonard. “We had kind of a letdown match against North Miami, and I thought they wrestled really well tonight. Even the kids who lost, they wrestled hard. They’re starting to learn, pick up new things, pick up more things. Hopefully by the time tournament season rolls around, we’ll be in good shape.”
The meet started right in the middle at 145 pounds, and Kevin Speck got Sheridan on the board with a pin. After absorbing a decision loss at 152 (the only match not decided by a pin or forfeit), The Blackhawks pounded out three more wins by fall, from Ryker Ream at 160, Zach Bales at 170 and Jacob Jones at 182. CC got a pin at 195, Peyton Cross’ pin at 220 gave the Blackhawks a 30-9 lead.
“They do a great job when it’s time to get ready for the match,” Leonard said of Jones and Cross. “They’re both very focused and they help other people get focused. They’re good leaders.”
Clinton Central took over after that, as Sheridan had to forfeit the next two weight classes and the Bulldogs won the next three divisions (113, 120, 126) by pin. Trai Fitzgerald kept the ‘Hawks in the meet with a fall at 132 pounds, but the Bulldogs got a pin at 138 to clinch the meet.
Still, Leonard was optimistic that when the Hoosier Heartland Conference meet rolls around next month and the Blackhawks get some wrestlers back from injuries, “we should be able to hold our own with them,” he said. Sheridan has won back-to-back HHC championships.
“Give them a run for the money, or they’re giving us a run for the money, one or the other,” said Leonard. “But I think it’ll be a good conference tournament with them healthy and us healthy.”
The Blackhawks’ next competition is on Saturday, when they wrestler at the Frankfort Super 6. Other teams at that meet will be Delphi, Shelbyville, Kokomo and Lebanon.
CLINTON CENTRAL 45, SHERIDAN 36
Meet started at 145 pounds
145: Kevin Speck def. Warman by fall, 3:00
152: Alex Cravens lost to Harvey by decision, 6-2
160: Ryker Ream def. Newton by fall, 1:59
170: Zach Bales def. Gunderson by fall, 1:45
182: Jacob Jones def. Albaugh by fall, 1:32
195: Jace Warren lost to Walters by fall, 4:35
220: Peyton Cross def. Hadaway by fall, 3:36
285: Sheridan forfeited
106: Sheridan forfeited
113: Owen Whitlow lost to Jacobs by fall, 0:28
120: Gunner Ferguson lost to Schultz by fall, 1:54
126: Pablo Mendez lost to Belcher by fall, 1:23
132: Trai Fitzgerald def. Martinez by fall, 1:21
138: Brady Hammack lost to Byers by fall, 1:51