Eight Center Grove wrestlers spent Friday jumping the fine line separating qualifiers from championship contenders.
Their workload becomes even more pronounced today.
With the state finals taking place at the Ford Center in Evansville for the first time, the third-ranked Trojans, state runners-up a year ago, again find themselves in a position to contend with the likes of Brownsburg and defending team champ Crown Point.
Top-ranked 150-pounder Wyatt Krejsa did what he needed to do by pinning Western Boone senior Mason Adams to take a 37-2 into this morning’s match against Munster’s Christopher Bohn (45-1).
At 157, Trojans junior Silas Stits moved on by virtue of a 6-5 victory over Crown Point sophomore Griffin Van Tichelt. Center Grove senior Noah Clouser prevailed in his opening match at 175 pounds, scoring a 3-1 decision over Lafayette Harrison senior Ethan Popp.
Kaden McConnell, last season’s state runner-up at 195, also won a close one, getting past Wawasee senior Donovan Blair, 3-2, to up his season record to 29-4. Nate Johnson’s 7-1 win against Batesville junior Max Amberger sets up a morning quarterfinal match against second-ranked Brady Beck of Rochester.
Indian Creek sophomore Oliver Hallett had his season come to an end at 165 pounds, losing 21-9 to second-ranked Waylon Cressell of Warren Central.
The lighter weight classes took the mat Friday night.
Center Grove sophomore Joseph Hamilton finished his season with a 20-15 mark at 106 pounds after being pinned by Roncalli sophomore Peyton Schoettle. Trojans senior Charlie LaRocca, last year’s 113-pound kingpin, is now 34-5 after his pin of Adrian Origel of North Newton in a 120-pound first-rounder.
Junior Eddie Goss became the next CG wrestler to move on after defeating Bishop Chatard sophomore Jack Davis, 7-3. Indiana’s No. 1-ranked 138-pounder, Crown Point freshman Clinton Shepherd, defeated Trojan sophomore William Vander Luitgaren, 16-6, the latter finishing the season with a 34-11 record.
Top-ranked 144-pounder Reese Courtney of Center Grove (36-2) advanced with a 21-7 decision over Emilio Escano of Oak Hill.
Roncalli sent four wrestlers to state and advanced three, with Schoettle (106) improving to 40-1 with his win over Hamilton and sophomore Blake Getz (39-3) recording a pin at 113. Also for the Royals, senior Brayden Getz (39-3) won 7-1 at 150 pounds, and junior James Dozier (29-11) lost his match at 165.
