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Eagle wrestlers host Orioles, prepare for sectional matches
In its last match before sectionals, South Putnam's wrestling team hosted Avon in a varsity dual match Wednesday night.
Three Eagle forfeits put the hosts in a deep hole against the No. 12 Orioles, one that would not be scaled, as the visitors left with a 62-3 win.
South Putnam head coach Josh Hendrickson said the team wrestled hard and showed improvement from last year but seemed overwhelmed at times.
"I thought they came out here and for the most part fought," Hendrickson said. "I don't think that we wrestled particularly well because we were a little bit in awe of Avon.
"The kids know that they are a really tough school and ranked in the state as a team. I don't know that everyone wrestled to the best of their abilities but everyone fought hard.
"It's definitely an improvement on last year," Hendrickson added. "When we went there last year, almost everyone got stuck.
"We didn't win all our matches but we wrestled some close matches with them."
Kyle Shaffer picked up the sole win for South Putnam on the night in a highly-important match at 182 pounds.
The 13th-ranked Shaffer bagged a win over No. 6 Evan Elmore, who had beaten the Eagle sophomore three times last season.
Hendrickson said that it was important to get the win and get past last season's losses.
"Kyle Shaffer had a huge match," Hendrickson pointed out. "He wrestled the 6th-ranked kid at 182 and had lost to him three times last year.
"Beating him was one of Kyle's goals. He knew he would have to wrestle Elmore eventually and he capitalized on that today.
"Now he knows that Elmore will be ready for him next time," Hendrickson added.
Another marquee match-up came at the 285-pound weight class, where Joe Masters fell to No. 12 Brett Henson 3-1. Will Cruse lost a 4-2 decision to Timi Osho at 195 pounds while Cody Wyatt and Jacob Lorimer each fell by major decision as the other matches ended either by fall or forfeit.
Hendrickson said that Masters, among others, showed they had the ability to hang with members of a strong wrestling program like Avon.
"Joey Masters, he didn't come out with the win but he wrestled a top-12 kid and he wrestled him well," Hendrickson noted. "That's another match I'm looking forward to come next Saturday."
South Putnam will see Avon again next Saturday as the Orioles host IHSAA Sectional No. 25 Jan. 31.
Hendrickson said that most of the preparations are complete outside of polishing up technique and staying focused on the task at hand.
"At this point, the hay's in the barn," Hendrickson quipped. "We'll brush up on the fundamentals, drill hard, wrestle hard, get them out early and prepare them mentally.
"The seeding meeting is Monday, so we'll see what we're up against and prepare for the matches we need to prepare for."
At South Putnam
Avon 62, South Putnam 3
106: Double FF
113: Nick Boodt (A) FF
120: Bailey Chatterton (A) FF
126: Caleb Loman (A) fall Kieffer Vittetow (SP)
132: Jacob Clark (A) maj. dec. Jacob Lorimer (SP)
138: No. 11 Quinton Harris (A) fall Levi Whitaker (SP)
145: Quentin Rasmussen (A) fall Oliviero Vurro (SP)
152: Marcus Miranda (A) FF
160: No. 7 Brendon Helm (A) fall Dakota Bunten (SP)
170: Anthony Padroza (A) maj. dec. Cody Wyatt (SP)
182: No. 13 Kyle Shaffer (SP) dec. No. 6 Evan Elmore (A)
195: Timi Osho (A) dec. Will Cruse (SP)
220: No. 5 Gunnar Larson (A) fall Bradley Ballard (SP)
285: No. 12 Brett Henson (A) dec. Joe Masters (SP)
Next Meet: South Putnam travels to Avon for IHSAA Sectional No. 25 Jan. 31.