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14 grapplers making trek to Mooresville
AVON -- It has begun.
On Saturday, the quest for a state championship started for the wrestlers of Putnam County and for some, that battle continues next weekend at the Mooresville Regional.
Even though there were no sectional champions, 14 grapplers continue their quest for a state championship as six from Greencastle, four from Cloverdale, two from South Putnam and two From North Putnam will make the trip to Moressville for the Regional this Saturday.
Cloverdale and Greencastle both had three grapplers finish in second-place when they could have won and one thing was agreed on, there is room for improvement.
"We sent four guys, three seconds and a fourth place finish, so overall on the day I would say we did have some guys step up for us," CHS Coach Steve Livingston said. "My goal for us today I thought we had seven qualifiers and I would have liked to get five qualifiers and we only got four so we didn't reach our team goal.
"And maybe because it was because we didn't have practice, and I think that affected our conditioning some," Livingston said. "In the close matches in the county and conference meets we were winning those matches, but today we just didn't have that edge and we lost some of the close matches when we went up against some of same guys from the conference and county meets."
GHS Coach Matt McComish feels the same way.
"We are sending six people to regional and I know that my guys that got second place are disappointed," McComish said. "We really have to step it up for next week and we have to make these improvements in another week of practice.
"We are sending six wrestlers and I think they all have a shot to get out we just need to keep improving and we have another week to do that," McComish said. "We have nine weight classes and we are sending six to regional and to be honest I thought we had a chance to send all nine, but we went with the cards we were dealt and I know I have some disappointed wrestlers."
North Putnam Coach Kenny Kerns wasn't as upbeat as his fellow coaches.
"It was ragged for us today since we had no practice since Monday. The kids wrestled hard, but without that practice it was pitiful," Kerns said. "The kids came out with a good attitude and I had a couple young kids step up and do good, but it was just a lack of practice that hurt us today.
"I think we were the only school that had one practice all week, and this sectional gets tougher each year, but I'm sending two kids to regional so hopefully we get some practice in before next weekend," Kerns said.
South Putnam's Coach Todd Crosby had mix feelings about Saturday's outcome.
"I'm kind of disappointed, we had three guys that didn't show up and that kind of hurts because you give up those points right away. But the rest kind went the way I thought it would go," Crosby said. "We had two freshman that finished sixth and that is really good for them coming into a sectional like this with all the teams from Hendricks County that are really tough.
"And we had great effort out of our senior Antonio Herendez," Crosby said. "He finished fourth and was seeded fifth so he moved up a spot and Chris Hurst got third and did a good job so I'm looking forward to next week."
Cloverdale's regional qualifiers were Eldin Hesselgrave in the 103-pound class, Shawn Shipp in the 112-pound class, Donnie Helterbrand in 130-pound class, and Lee Secrest in the 160-pound class.
"We have a young crew going to regional this year and I think that is going to be an advantage for them," Livingston said. "All the guys that are going lost their finals match and that's not necessarily because they got out-wrestled. This is a lot for a young wrestler to take in and they were excited that they were going to regional and lost focus in their finals match.
"Our goal as a team is to get a state qualifier and our motto is to survive weekend to weekend and I'm happy the high school wrestling season is extended for at least another week," Livingston said.
The six from Greencastle who advanced were Tyler Rickenbaugh in the 140-pound class, Jesse Vermillion in the 152-pound class, Jesse Ford in the 171-pound class, Kyle Buchanan in 189-pound class, Jacob Wright in the 215-pound class and Andy Harrison in the 285-pound class.
From North Putnam it was Tyler Ruble in the 103-pound class and Dustin Vires in he 215-pound class that advanced to the Mooresville Regional.
And from South Putnam it was Hurst in the 285-pound class and Hernadez in the 145-pound class.
At Avon
IHSAA Wrestling Sectional
Team Scores -- 1. Avon 271; 2. Brownsburg 203; 3. Cascade 161; 4. Plainfield 149; 5. Greencastle 130.5; 6. Danville 129; 7. Tri-West 126; 8. Cloverdale 102.5; 9. North Putnam 50.0; 10. South Putnam 46
Individual Champions
103 -- Judy (DA) Fall Hesselgrave (CL)
112 -- Hall (AV) Fall Mocherman (TW)
119 -- Guernsey (CA) def. Fuller (BR) 4-2
125 - Oaks (BR) def. Acosta (AV) 12-1
130 -- Arnes (CA) def. Helterbrand (CL) 6-3
135 -- Rasssbach (AV) def. Hechinger (BR) 13-4
140 -- Smith (CA) def. Rickenbaugh (GR) 14-5
145 -- Richards (PL) def. Richards (AV) 8-7
152 -- Kolb (TW) def. Alfs (AV) 3-2
160 -- Jones (AV) def. Secrest (CL) 7-0
171 -- Brandt (AV) def. Ford (GR) 6-0
189 -- Leach (AV) Fall Hill (CA)
215 -- Howland (BR) def. Wright (GR) 7-2
285 -- Richey (BR) def. Mason (DA) 11-4