Eagle grapplers finish season ranked fourth

Led by 195 No. 8 Rudy Harris and a number of other strong performers, South Putnam wrestling finished the regular season ranked fourth in the Class 1A IHSWCA poll.

South Putnam's wrestling team faced some challenges in recent weeks with dual meets against much larger schools.

While the Eagles took some lumps in the process, falling to Plainfield and Avon (Class 3A No. 11 and No. 12 overall in state), it hasn't had a serious effect on the Eagles' standing in the state.

South Putnam finished the year ranked No. 4 in the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association (IHSWCA) Class 1A poll.

The Eagles served notice that they belonged among the state's elite with a third-place finish at the IHSWCA Team State Duals on Jan. 4, with wins over top-10 schools West Central and Fremont and a 10-point loss to No. 1 Churubusco.

Since then, they've also won the Monrovia Duals on Jan. 11 and the West Central Conference championship on Jan. 18, a performance that featured six individual champions.

Now South Putnam, along with fellow county schools Cloverdale, Greencastle and North Putnam, turns its attention to the state tournament.

The path to the state finals begins with a trip to the Avon Sectional at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1.