Shaffer third in 195-pound class

Monday, February 20, 2017
Kyle Shaffer celebrates his quarterfinal round victory over Bellmont's Caleb Hankenson on Saturday.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Eagle standout closes career with 49-1 mark

INDIANAPOLIS — South Putnam’s Kyle Shaffer fell short of his goal to win a state wrestling championship on Saturday, advancing to the 195-pound semifinal round before being eliminated by Tristen Tonte of Warren Central.

Shaffer then fell into the consolation bracket, where he was awarded third place when Ben Stewart of Indianapolis Cathedral had to forfeit due to an injury suffered in his semifinal match.

Stewart was the No. 2-ranked wrestler and will compete collegiately at Boston College.

Shaffer entered the state finals 46-0 and ranked sixth in the state in the 195-pound class.

South Putnam's Kyle Shaffer gets ready to take down Bellmont's Caleb Hankenson during Saturday's state finals.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

He easily won his opening match on Friday night, winning by pin over David Delph of Frankton in 4:16.

On Saturday morning, Shaffer was paired against ninth-ranked Caleb Hankenson of Bellmont.

Shaffer controlled the first period, then was able to pin Hankenson 1:14 into the second period to set up a battle against No. 1-ranked Tristen Tonte of Warren Central.

Tonte, who will wrestle collegiately at Marian, battled to a 2-2 tie with Shaffer through the first period then was able to record a pin 1:20 into the second period.

Tonte lost by pin in the championship match to Andrew Davison of Chesterton, who will wrestle collegiately at Michigan.

Warren Central's Tristen Tonte (left) maneuvers for position against South Putnam's Kyle Shaffer.
Banner Graphic/Joey Bennett

Davison recorded a pin with one second remaining in the match to claim the 195-pound state title.

Hankenson went on to win two more matches to finish in fifth place in the consolation bracket, defeating Draven Rasler of West Noble by pin in 12:56 and Liam Jagoe of Westfield by a 7-2 decision.

Two nearby wrestlers competed for the 170-pound title, with Monrovia’s Eli Stock pinning North Montgomery’s Tanner Webster in 5:57.

Monrovia placed eighth in the team standings with 42 points.

Brownsburg won the overall title with 100 points, followed by Chesterton with 80, Cathedral with 67.5, Yorktown with 67, Portage with 54, Hobart with 49, Columbus East with 47, Monrovia with 42, Evansville Mater Dei with 40.5 and Perry Meridian with 40.

Of the 14 weight class matches, there were 13 different schools with a wrestler that claimed a state championship.

Yorktown was the only school with multiple winners during the 2017 State Finals with wins by Brayden Curtis and Brad Laughlin.

Gunnar Larson of Avon was named winner of the 2017 Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award by members of the IHSAA Executive Committee.

Larson is a four-time state qualifier and was runner-up at the state finals as a junior.

He is a four-time varsity letterman in wrestling at 220 pounds each season.

A three-time captain, as well as two-time First Team Academic All-State. Larson’s total of 151 wins is the most in school history.

State Championship Match Results

106: Brayden Curtis, 10, Yorktown (43-0) def. Andrew Black, 10, Shenandoah (46-3), Decision, 4-3.

113: Alec Viduya, 9, Roncalli (47-2) def. Hunter Watts, 10, Jimtown (48-3), Decision, 7-4.

120: Cayden Rooks, 10, Columbus East (46-1) def. Ty Mills, 11, Brownsburg (37-3), Decision, 5-4.

126: Alec White, 12, New Palestine (39-1) def. Blake Mulkey, 11, Brownsburg (38-2), Fall, 3:32.

132: Breyden Bailey, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (42-1) def. Christian Hunt, 11, Yorktown (42-3), Fall, 1:33.

138: Brendan Black, 12, Hobart (30-1) def. Kris Rumph, 11, Portage (36-5), Major Decision, 10-2.

145: Brayton Lee, 11, Brownsburg (46-0) def. Jason Crary, 12, Munster (38-4), Major Decision, 14-6.

152: Joe Lee, 11, Evansville Mater Dei (36-0) def. Noah Warren, 11, Perry Meridian (45-2), Major Decision, 19-5.

160: Brad Laughlin, 12, Yorktown (46-1) def. Diego Lemley, 11, Chesterton (27-3), Major Decision, 11-3.

170: Eli Stock, 12, Monrovia (41-2) def. Tanner Webster, 12, North Montgomery (49-2), Fall, 5:37.

182: Jacob Gray, 12, Delta (42-2) def. Lucas Davison, 11, Chesterton (41-1), Decision, 3-1.

195: Andrew Davison, 12, Chesterton (42-0) def. Tristen Tonte, 12, Warren Central (39-2), Fall, 5:59.

220: Mason Parris, 11, Lawrenceburg (53-0) def. Corbin Maddox, 12, Daleville (50-1), Fall, 2:46.

285: Evan Ellis, 12, Eastern (Greentown) (46-0) def. Isaiah McWilliams, 11, South Bend Washington (49-1), Decision, 5-0.

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  • #3 in the state, #1 to the Eagle Nation Wrestling fans.

    -- Posted by lduggan69 on Mon, Feb 20, 2017, at 8:02 AM
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