In a tight race for the Elwood wrestling sectional championship, Noblesville coach Michael Weimer knew what would be the difference when it came to winning the title.
“Guys, what’s going to win this tournament is going to be bonus points,” Weimer told his team. The Millers needed to get extra points from not just winning, but also getting pins, major decisions – every point adds up.
“And our wrestlers, our team, ended up with 48.5 bonus points when it came to pins, tech falls and majors,” said Weimer.
Those bonus points vaulted Noblesville to its first wrestling sectional championship since 2014. The Millers scored 214.5 points, just ahead of runner-up Hamilton Heights (193.5 points) and third-place Pendleton Heights (184.5 points). Not only that, Noblesville had two sectional championships and qualified 10 wrestlers for next Saturday’s regional at Pendleton Heights.
The Millers’ first sectional champion of the day was senior Joseph Kitko, who claimed the 170-pound crown with a first-period pin over Tipton junior Drew Servies. Junior Seth Stone followed at 182 pounds, and he also won a sectional title with a first-period fall, beating Lapel junior Grant Morris.
Noblesville had three more wrestlers finish as runners-up: Tim Alexander (152), Cesar Sierra (160) and Austin Hastings (195). An additional three Millers wrestlers placed third: Paxton Cook (106), Gage Gulley (132) and Ben Decker (285). Finally, Noblesville had two fourth-place finishers from Carter Richardson (138) and Bryce Murray (145).
Weimer was thrilled not only at the result, but also the team unity as well.
“They were into each other’s matches. We’re wrestling for our teammates, our parents, our little anklebiters that idolize them,” said Weimer.
“Every kid on our team placed,” said Weimer. “It was all 14 kids. All of them contributed to this team victory.”
The coach also credited his staff for helping the team as well. That includes Andy Fleenor, a former Millers wrestler who is back with his alma mater after coaching at Guerin Catholic for a few years.
“I couldn’t have gotten through the season without him,” said Weimer. The coach said that the coaching calls that Fleenor made were “the deciding factor of our team.”
Hamilton Heights was a strong second, with one champion and 10 wrestlers qualifying for the regional. Sophomore Evan Tilton won the Huskies’ sectional title at 160 pounds, beating Sierra by a second-round fall.
Three more Heights wrestlers finished as runners-up: Ryan Armstrong (106), Cooper Mansfield (145) and Mason Moran (285). The other six Huskies qualifiers all finished in third place: Isaac Khun (113), Isaiah Rodriguez (120), Carson Fettig (126), Devonte Henson (138), Charles Brown (170) and Josh Brown (220).
Guerin Catholic had two wrestlers advance to the regional. Alex Sims placed third at 195 pounds and Brayden Hall placed fourth at 170 pounds.
TEAM SCORES: Noblesville 214.5, Hamilton Heights 193.5, Pendleton Heights 184.5, Frankton 148, Anderson 132, Alexandria 110, Lapel 109.5, Tipton 56, Guerin Catholic 45.5, Elwood 32.
Hamilton County place winners:
106 pounds: 2. Ryan Armstrong (HH), 3. Paxton Cook (N), 5. Alex Miller (GC).
113 pounds: 3. Isaac Khun (HH), 5. Nathaniel Gregory (N).
120 pounds: 3. Isaiah Rodriguez (HH), 6. Brenden Humphrey (N).
126 pounds: 3. Carson Fettig (HH), 6. Cooper Frahm (N).
132 pounds: 3. Gage Gulley (N), 5. Quin Sutton (GC), 6. Andrew Morrison (HH).
138 pounds: 3. Devonte Henson (HH), 4. Carter Richardson (N).
145 pounds: 2. Cooper Mansfield (HH), 4. Bryce Murray (N).
152 pounds: 2. Tim Alexander (N), 6. Jimmy Lacey (HH).
160 pounds: 1. Evan Tilton (HH), 2. Cesar Sierra (N).
170 pounds: 1. Joseph Kitko (N), 3. Charles Brown (HH), 4. Brayden Hall (GC).
182 pounds: 1. Seth Stone (N), 5. Andy Lienemann (HH).
195 pounds: 2. Austin Hastings (N), 3. Alex Sims (GC).
220 pounds: 3. Josh Brown (HH), 5. Jacob Etchison (N).
285 pounds: 2. Mason Moran (HH), 3. Ben Decker (N).
Up at Frankfort, Carmel continued its sectional championship streak.
The Greyhounds edged out Westfield to win its sixth consecutive sectional title. Carmel finished with 265.5 points, while the Shamrocks totaled 250.5 points. Greyhounds coach Ed Pendoski said his team had a 60-point lead at one point, but Westfield closed the gap in the placement round – “Westfield really nailed it,” said Pendoski.
Carmel was able to hold on to its trophy by claiming five individual championships and getting six more runners-up. The Greyhounds’ first champ of the day was junior Brac Hooper, a 16-2 major decision winner over Shamrocks sophomore Ike O’Neill.
Carmel later had a run of three champions in a row. Sophomore Nathan Powell won at 150 by a 10-2 major decision over Hamilton Southeastern senior Travon Ternoir. Robert Major, a 160-pound senior, beat Fishers junior James Carroll with a second-period pin; Major is unbeaten for the season at 30-0.
Another Greyhounds senior, Jake Shafer, won at 170 pounds with a 7-3 decision over Royals junior Ryan Cast. Senior Billy Kepler got Carmel’s fifth win of the day, beating Westfield senior Dakota Arvin in a 3-1 overtime decision.
“We think we did okay,” said Pendoski. The coach said his team’s goal is to get better every week.
“We really like the position we’re in to keep improving as the tournament goes on,” said Pendoski.
Carmel’s six runners-up were Gavin Thompson (106), Isaac Ward (113), Eitan Halevi (120), Luke Farling (126), AJ Gunn (138) and Zach White (195). The five Greyhounds champions and six finalists will all return to Frankfort for the regional next week, along with two more Carmel wrestlers: Nayl Sbay (fourth at 145) and Harel Halevi (fourth at 182).
“Our kids wrestled really well today,” said Pendoski. “We just hope we can keep going forward.”
Westfield finished second as a team, but had one peerless achievement at the sectional: The Shamrocks qualified all 14 of their wrestlers on to the regional. That list begins with four sectional champions.
Senior Dylan Driver was the first champion for the ‘Rocks, beating Ward in a 2-1 decision for the 113-pound title. Junior Braxton Vest was next on the first-place mat, and he defeated Eitan Halevi by a 6-2 decision for the 120-pound crown. Vest is 27-1 for the season.
Another Westfield junior, Alec McLaren, won at 138 pounds with a 4-2 decision over Gunn. The ‘Rocks finished the competition with their fourth champion of the day, as junior Mihail Platonov beat Clinton Prairie senior Sean Patrick by decision, 5-4, at 285 pounds.
Ike O’Neill (at 132) and Dakota Arvin (220), were the two runners-up for the Shamrocks. Westfield’s third-place finishers were Ian Watson (145), Jason Rooney (152), Austin McClure (170), Seth Martin (182) and Gabe Arvin (195). Placing fourth for the ‘Rocks were Owen Matthews (106), Thadeus O’Neill (126) and Jackson Anderson (160).
Hamilton Southeastern placed third as a team with 206 points. The Royals had two champions and qualified 10 wrestlers on to the regional round.
Southeastern began the meet with a winner. Junior Mat Benson won the 106-pound title, getting a third-period fall over Carmel’s Thompson. Max Broom was HSE’s champion at 195 pounds. The junior also won by fall, a second-period pin over White.
Jake Lemieux (145), Ternoir (152) and Cast (170) were the Royals’ three runner-up wrestlers. Placing third for Southeastern were Zach Lang (138), Zach Wagner (160) and Devin Dudley (220). Two more Royals wrestlers got fourth place: Riley Fredericksen (132) and Dom Burgett (285).
Fishers finished in fourth place with 157 points, getting one champion and also sending four wrestlers to the regional level. The Tigers’ champion was senior Tyler Lindamood, who won a 6-2 decision over HSE’s Lemieux.
Carroll finished as the 160-pound runner-up for Fishers. Third-place Tigers wrestlers were Quenton Riley (106), Tye Linser (113), Griffin Ingalls (120), Dylan Parodi (126) and Zach Strueder (132). Fishers wrestlers taking fourth were Josh Thompson (138), Curtis Kearschner (170) and Wyatt Holley (220).
Sheridan placed sixth as a team with 76 points and two regional qualifiers. Jacob Jones was the 182-pound runner-up and Peyton Cross placed fourth at 195 pounds.
TEAM SCORES: Carmel 265.5, Westfield 250.5, Hamilton Southeastern 206, Fishers 157, Lebanon 92, Sheridan 76, Frankfort 51, Clinton Central 44, Clinton Prairie 36, Rossville 26.
Hamilton County place winners:
106 pounds: 1. Mat Benson (HSE), 2. Gavin Thompson (C), 3. Quenton Riley (F), 4. Owen Matthews (W).
113 pounds: 1. Dylan Driver (W), 2. Isaac Ward (C), 3. Tye Linser (F), 5. PJ St. James (HSE).
120 pounds: 1. Braxton Vest (W), 2. Eitan Halevi (C), 3. Griffin Ingalls (F), 5. Blake Alvarado (HSE).
126 pounds: 2. Luke Farling (C), 3. Dylan Parodi (F), 4. Thadeus O’Neill (W), 5. Austin Bond (S).
132 pounds: 1. Brac Hooper (C), 2. Ike O’Neill (W), 3. Zach Strueder (F), 4. Riley Fredericksen (HSE), 5. Gigi Metayer (S).
138 pounds: 1. Alec McLaren (W), 2. AJ Gunn (C), 3. Zach Lang (HSE), 4. Josh Thompson (F), 6. Noah Ehrie (S).
145 pounds: 1. Tyler Lindamood (F), 2. Jake Lemieux (HSE), 3. Ian Watson (W), 4. Nayl Sbay (C), 6. Kevin Speck (S).
152 pounds: 1. Nathan Powell (C), 2. Travon Ternoir (HSE), 3. Jason Rooney (W).
160 pounds: 1. Robert Major (C), 2. James Carroll (F), 3. Zach Wagner (HSE), 4. Jackson Anderson (W).
170 pounds: 1. Jake Shafer (C), 2. Ryan Cast (HSE), 3. Austin McClure (W), 4. Curtis Kearschner (F).
182 pounds: 2. Jacob Jones (S), 3. Seth Martin (W), 4. Harel Halevi (C), 5. Charlie Irish (HSE).
195 pounds: 1. Max Broom (HSE), 2. Zach White (C), 3. Gabe Arvin (W), 4. Peyton Cross (S).
220 pounds: 1. Billy Kepler (C), 2. Dakota Arvin (W), 3. Devin Dudley (HSE), 4. Wyatt Holley (F), 5. Cameron Hovey (S).
285 pounds: 1. Mihail Platonov (W), 4. Dom Burgett (HSE), 5. Mekhi Simmons (C).