By RICHIE HALL
NOBLESVILLE – The 2021-22 wrestling season began in Hamilton County on Wednesday, as Noblesville hosted Fishers in an all-county and Hoosier Crossroads Conference dual meet at The Mill.
And the Millers were ready. Noblesville started its season with a bang, winning 10 of 14 matches over the Tigers for a 51-17 victory. The Millers have several solid wrestlers in their upperweight divisions, and the middle and light weights are pretty good, too.
Noblesville coach Michael Weimer, beginning his fifth year with the Millers, said his team was ready “because last year this dual came down to the final match and a triple overtime rideout, and then we lost on criteria.” Needless to say, that had been on the team’s mind ever since.
The meet began at 152 pounds, and Carter Richardson started it off with a first-period pin. Caleb Saylor then won at 160 by technical fall, and Noblesville had an 11-0 lead just like that.
James Carroll got Fishers on the board with a decision victory at 170, but the Millers reeled off four more wins, starting with a pin by 182-pounder Cesar Sierra. Austin Hastings (at 195) and Jacob Long (at 220) followed with victories, then Jacob Etchison was victorious by fall at 285 pounds.
Noblesville then got two huge wins in the lightweights, both by newcomers to the team. Freshman Josh Koszlick won his first-ever varsity match at 113 pounds by getting a second-period pin. Then Tori Kitko, at 120 pounds, won a tough 3-2 decision.
“I said, ‘You go be a junkyard dog,'” said Weimer. “‘Go out there and just grind this thing out and battle.’ And she did. And I was so proud of her. Just her fight.”
The Millers’ final two victories were both by fall, from 132-pounder Keaton Sepiol and 138-pounder CJ Livingston. It was a solid all-around effort from a Noblesville team that Weimer said “believes in themselves.”
“It was a fun dual to coach and it was fun to watch these kids be excited to be in it,” said Weimer. The coach was pumped up, too.
“I’m excited to see what this team can do this year,” said Weimer.
Meanwhile, Fishers is in what coach Frank Ingalls said is a rebuilding year. The Tigers only have two seniors, with the squad consisting mostly of freshmen and sophomores.
After Carroll’s 170-pound victory, Fishers also got wins from Chance Yant at 106, Griffin Ingalls by fall at 126 and Zachary Strueder at 145.
Frank Ingalls said the meet “was a learning experience for us,” and noted that in addition to the young wrestlers, the Tigers had some starters not wrestling. The coach also said an opening meet like this will make the team “grow up fast.”
“They went out there tonight and figured out what they got to start working on,” said Ingalls. “They got to start working a little harder.”
Noblesville is back in action Saturday when it travels to Hamilton Heights for the annual Huskies Super 6. Fishers will wrestle its first home meet Monday when it takes on another HCC team, Franklin Central.
NOBLESVILLE 51, FISHERS 17
Meet started at 152 pounds
152: Carter Richardson (N) def. Zach Pence (F) by fall, 0:51
160: Caleb Saylor (N) def. Aiden Collins (F) by technical fall, 18-1
170: James Carroll (F) def. Caleb Dean (N) by decision, 9-3
182: Cesar Sierra (N) def. Arnold Tucker (F) by fall, 2:21
195: Austin Hastings (N) def. Colin Carson (F) by major decision, 12-3
220: Jacob Long (N) def. Jacob Carroll (F) by decision 3-0
285: Jacob Etchison (N) def. Mylan Erby (F) by fall, 3:44
106: Chance Yant (F) def. AJ Kramer (N) by technical fall, 19-2
113: Josh Koszlick (N) def. Aiden Lamb (F) by fall, 2:36
120: Tori Kitko (N) def. Jacob Langemeier (F) by decision 3-2
126: Griffin Ingalls (F) def. Paxton Cook (N) by fall, 3:14
132: Keaton Sepiol (N) def. Teyon Leonard (F) by fall, 3:50
138: CJ Livingston (N) def. Sam Malcomb (F) by fall, 3:48
145: Zachary Streuder (F) def. Gage Gulley (N) by decision, 4-3