Even the Johnson County wrestling tournament couldn’t elude the long reach of the pandemic.
Greenwood coaches and wrestlers are in the final stages of a two-week quarantine after someone from the program tested positive for COVID-19, turning what was supposed to a five-team event to four and forcing a move to a different location.
The tourney was to be hosted by the Woodmen, but instead begins Saturday morning inside Center Grove’s West Gym.
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“Missing county hits us hard,” said Greenwood coach Jay Yates, whose squad returns to practice next Tuesday and should have the required number of practices in time to take part in the Mooresville Holiday Classic on Dec. 29. “It’s really a good measuring stick to see where we’ll be seeded for the sectional.
“The hardest part is that our kids have been working hard and were excited about hosting the county tournament. I guess if there is a good thing, it’s that they will be able to rest their bodies for the second half of the season.”
The team championship is expected to again come down to Center Grove and Franklin.
Ranked No. 7 in the state, the Trojans have five of the county’s 10 individuals who are ranked statewide in their weight class — juniors Hayden Watson (second at 145 pounds) and Drake Buchanan (second at 182), senior Riley Rust (third at 152), freshman Reese Courtney (15th at 113) and sophomore Hyatt Yeager (16th at 120).
The Grizzly Cubs enter competition ranked 12th as a team. They are led by seniors Jalen Ward (fourth at 170), Harris Eason (fifth at 195) and Tyler Fuqua (10th at 160) and junior Jacob Johnson (fourth at 285).
Whiteland, which features the state’s 14th-ranked 120-pounder in soph Eli Brooks, was sidelined by the pandemic from Nov. 20 to Dec. 4.
“Moving tournaments isn’t too big of a deal, really,” said Warriors coach Anthony Meister, who puts three defending county champions on the mat in sophomores Brooks, Joey Buttler and Jakarrey Oliver. “Right now, we’re just trying to focus on doing the best we can at the next tournament.
“We’re looking forward to it, because in 2020, you don’t know when the next time will be you’ll get to compete.”
The pandemic has forced change in other parts of the county, too.
Franklin coach Jim Tonte has had four wrestlers miss a match at some point due to that individual being contact traced to someone with COVID-19.
“This is the craziest thing. This stuff happens so quick that it’s hard to coach, I’ll tell you that,” Tonte said. “They told us at the beginning of the year to just expect it to happen to you. It’s not if, it’s when. But that’s just the way it is at this point.”
Indian Creek will compete with a smaller lineup at county — not because of pandemic-related issues, but rather because coach Pat Dowty wants to get some of his younger wrestlers more experience in a less daunting environment.
“I don’t think I’ve put a full team on the mat, and it won’t be at county, either. We’re a very young team, so I’m sending only five kids,” Dowty said. “We’re sending the young wrestlers to a JV tournament in Seymour to get some experience and some confidence.”
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Johnson County tournament
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: Center Grove HS (West Gymnasium)
Pairings: Center Grove vs. Whiteland and Indian Creek vs. Franklin, round one; Center Grove vs. Indian Creek and Whiteland vs. Franklin, round two; Center Grove vs. Franklin and Indian Creek vs. Whiteland, round three
Attendance: Limited to two tickets per athlete
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