The story of Southmont wrestling is stuffed full of history.
A book as good as any for a small school program. Multiple state placers, a semi-state championship, too many conference and sectional titles to count — all led by a hall of fame coach.
It hasn’t come without it’s average seasons, but there’s always that next class of wrestlers waiting their turn to make their mark on Mountie wrestling.
And that’s where this freshmen class comes in. Southmont wrestling models itself on hard work and this current crop is no exception.
The one exception this season though was varsity rookie Gavin Mason. Not that he wasn’t a hard worker, because he works the hardest. Not that he wasn’t talented, because his talent was well known before he stepped onto the high school mat for the first time.
It didn’t take long for Mason’s success to show up. Suffering just one loss at 132 pounds before losing in the semi-state final and making a trip to the state finals.
A middle school state champion as an eighth-grader, Mason caught the attention of coach Jamie Welliever at an early age.
“I was not surprised at all by Gavin’s success as a freshman,” Welliever said. “I have seen Gavin’s talent, and more importantly his time and effort that he puts into wrestling.”
There’s no shortage of confidence for Mason, who as a freshman secured county, conference, sectional, and regional titles.
“I believe that if you’re struggling with confidence, you are doubting yourself, and you don’t trust your training,” Mason said. “I know how hard I work every day and I trust myself enough to rely on my training.”
Mason and his freshman classmates’ work ethic was contagious — turning an already competitive program into one of state’s best in 2026.
“As you can imagine, as focus and intensity picks up in a program from even a few athletes it can really be contagious to the rest of the team,” Welliever said. “Our wrestlers focus on learning new technique is at an all-time high along with the overall competitiveness during practice. I have never seen such competitiveness at practice - and it shows up from the highest level athletes to even the beginners.”
Led by Mason — the Mounties went from unranked to No. 1 in the IHSWCA 1A poll and took third at the state duals. Southmont won the Montgomery County title and inaugural Monon Athletic Conference championship.
“The overall team success was the biggest surprise to me,” Mason said. “But everyone on the team is like-minded and has a winning attitude. Every person has an important role in the room, both coaches and teammates, and when everyone fills their role, the morale is unmatched. This helped me grow not only as a wrestler, but as a person as well.”
Heading into next season, Mason and the Mounties will be loaded up and eager for a state run.
“I want to win team state this year, and I trust and believe in my teammates and coaches that we can get it done. I want to be a state champion,” Mason added.
The goal and drive to succeed is synonymous throughout the Mountie wrestling room. And while the team goal of a state championship is obvious — the reality is every February the state series turns into a fresh season for every wrestler.
With three seasons to go, return trips to Gainbridge Fieldhouse are a no-brainer for Mason — but coach Welliever doesn’t see a ceiling on the potential for his latest stud grappler.
There’s one page still blank in the history of Southmont wrestling.
“Southmont has never had a wrestling state champ, so that is definitely on the list,” Welliever said.
The drive. The talent. And as Welliever says, the internal motivation. All the makings of a state champion and all the ingredients Mason possesses.
This is going to be a book worth finishing.
