Wrestlers across Indiana are getting geared up for the IHSAA state finals, which take place this weekend at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Hamilton County has a solid group heading to downtown Indianapolis, as 14 local wrestlers qualified for the state finals this season. Carmel, Hamilton Southeastern and Westfield each three state qualifiers, while Noblesville has two advancing to state. Fishers, Guerin Catholic and Hamilton Heights all qualified one wrestler to state.
Carmel’s roster includes sophomore Michael Major, who is unbeaten for the season at 25-0. Major will take on Prairie Heights sophomore Brock Hagewood in the first round Friday afternoon. Another local wrestler to watch is Hamilton Heights senior Evan Tilton, who holds a 48-1 record. Tilton wrestlers Griffith senior Connor Cervantes, who is 41-1, in the first round.
Gates open for the state finals Friday at 12:30 p.m., then all state-qualifying wrestlers will be honored in the Parade of Champions at 1:30 p.m. The meet begins at 2:30 p.m. with competition in the 106- to 145-pound weight classes, then the 152- to 285-pound weight classes wrestle starting at 5:30 p.m.
All first-round winners advance to Saturday’s placement rounds, where they are guaranteed a finish in the top eight.
Here is a list of Hamilton County’s state-qualifying wrestlers and their first-round opponents.
113 pounds
Porter Temples, Westfield (sophomore, 30-14) vs. Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove (junior, 38-2)
Jackson Elliott, Carmel (senior, 31-7) vs. Preston Haines, Brownsburg (junior, 28-9)
120 pounds
Peter Nguyen, Guerin Catholic (junior, 39-4) vs. Jake Hockaday, Brownsburg (sophomore, 29-4)
126 pounds
Griffin Ingalls, Fishers (senior, 38-4) vs. Guillermo Rivera, Lake Central (junior, 34-7)
138 pounds
Michael Major, Carmel (sophomore, 25-0) vs. Brock Hagewood, Prairie Heights (sophomore, 33-5)
145 pounds
Ike O’Neill, Westfield (senior, 38-4) vs. Luke Robards, Evansville Central (senior, 38-3)
152 pounds
Jason Rooney, Westfield (senior, 25-11) vs. Beau Brabender, Mishawaka (junior, 40-4)
Zach Lang, Hamilton Southeastern (junior, 34-7) vs. Hunter Miller, Wawasee (senior, 35-6)
Carter Richardson, Noblesville (junior, 32-14) vs. Adrian Pellot, Merrillville (sophomore, 36-5)
160 pounds
Nathan Powell, Carmel (senior, 18-2) vs. Michael Hutchison, Cascade (senior, 41-5)
170 pounds
Zack Wagner, Hamilton Southeastern (senior, 36-6) vs. Cody Goodwin, Crown Point (senior, 21-4)
182 pounds
Evan Tilton, Hamilton Heights (senior, 48-1) vs. Connor Cervantes, Griffith (senior, 41-1)
220 pounds
Austin Hastings, Noblesville (junior, 37-4) vs. Brady Beck, Rochester (junior, 41-1)
285 pounds
Dom Burgett, Hamilton Southeastern (senior, 35-2) vs. Tyler Wright, Eastern (senior, 37-4)