By RICHIE HALL
WESTFIELD – If you’re new to wrestling, keep in mind that the term “lightweight” is used in the literal sense. It simply describes a wrestler who does not weigh very much.
This must be said because Westfield’s lightweights are pretty good. They may not weigh much, but they can score many points and rack up many pins. The Shamrocks showed how good their lightweights were during their 54-16 dual meet win over Lebanon Wednesday at The Rock.
The meet began with the 106-pound class, the lightest of them all. Freshman Bryson Collier scored a first-period pin to take that division.
“Our lightweights are real strong,” said Shamrocks coach Phil Smith. The coach called Collier’s victory “a really nice win,” and it opened the floodgates for Westfield: Collier was the first of six consecutive wrestlers to win with a fall in the first period.
Dylan Driver was next at 113, followed by third-ranked Carson Eldred at 120. Eldred, a junior, finished fourth in the IHSAA state meet last season at 113 pounds.
Brady Drlik took the 126-pound match in 41 seconds, then Milo Merkel won at 132 pounds. Mitchell Proctor was victorious at 138 pounds. Those six Westfield wrestlers spent a total of 6 minutes and 22 seconds on the mat to get their falls.
The Tigers won the next two matches, but Gabe Arvin started a new streak for Westfield by winning the 160-pound bout in (another) first-period pin. Kyle Saez was next up, and the ninth-ranked senior won the 170-pound match in a technical fall.
Senior Ryan Mahoney is ranked 15th at 182 pounds, and he easily won his Wednesday bout in a 12-1 major decision. Dakota Arvin got the Shamrocks’ last win of the evening, a 4-0 decision at 220 pounds.
While there are some good experienced wrestlers on Westfield’s team, Smith said that overall, the squad trends young.
“It’s a very young team,” said Smith. “About 75 percent of our lineup is freshmen and sophomores. We got a long way to go, but really impressed with how this team’s performing so far.”
The Shamrocks’ next meet is Saturday at the Traicoff Invitational in Calumet.
Westfield 54, Lebanon 16
Meet started at 106 pounds
106: Bryson Collier def. Northcott by fall, 1:22
113: Dylan Driver def. Oliver by fall, 0:51
120: Carson Eldred def. Ping by fall, 1:03
126: Brady Drlik def. Baldwin by fall, 0:41
132: Milo Merkel def. Michael by fall, 1:39
138: Mitchell Proctor def. Wolfbrandt by fall, 0:46
145: Mason Harpe lost to Bocock by dec., 13-6
152: Seth Martin lost to Williamson by major dec., 17-7
160: Gabe Arvin def. Fox by fall, 0:53
170: Kyle Saez def. Stillwell by tech fall, 21-6
182: Ryan Mahoney def. Trent by major dec., 12-1
195: Sam Medlen lost to Wood by dec., 4-1
220: Dakota Arvin def. Germonprez by dec., 4-0
285: Kyle Widmer lost to Morgan by fall, 0:13
Westfield senior Kyle Saez won the 170-pound match by a technical fall at the Shamrocks’ Wednesday dual meet with Lebanon at The Rock. Saez is ranked ninth in the state in his weight class. (Richie Hall)