NEW MARKET — Southmont wrestling had a tremendous blend of youth and veteran talent on its roster this year.
From the young guns in Brier Riggle, Marlin Williams, Maddox Cade and Wyatt Woodall, to the seasoned vets in Collin Martin, Noah Benge and Gerald Hutson, the Mounties had a lineup that made them difficult to beat.
When the season was over the Mounties accolades included: a county championship, a third straight Sagamore Conference championship, 11 wrestlers advancing to the regional and three to the semi-state.
One of those three wrestlers was senior Zayden Dunn. He entered the North Montgomery Regional with a record of 31-1 and ended his season at the semi-state with a record of 31-4. The appearance at the semi-state was the first of Dunn’s career.
One of those four losses came against Hosia Smith of Cathedral at the semi-state. Smith went on to place fifth at the IHSAA State Finals. Another came against Mihail Platonov of Westfield who placed third at the state finals.
Dunn worked his way up through the ranks of Southmont wrestling and became a leader both on and off the mat. He volunteered to wrestle up for Southmont this year at the heavyweight slot. Combine his success in his senior season, along with his leadership, that makes Dunn the perfect student-athlete to be named the 2022 Journal Review Wrestler of the Year.
“He noticed early on that wrestling at heavyweight would make the overall team better and that shows his selfless attitude,” Mountie coach Jamie Welliever said of Dunn. “He’s stepped up even more this year with being a senior and getting to lead practices and warm ups. It was time for him to get that role with the team and he was able to flourish in it quite well.”
Welliever noted that the big turning point for Dunn came halfway through his sophomore season when his record on the year was under .500. A simple talk at a meet at Culver Academy turned Dunn’s season around, and from then on he’s been as about as reliable as anyone on the Mountie roster.
“He had to learn how to wrestle to his strengths and how heavyweight wrestling goes,” Welliever said. “He’s learned the sport so well and talk about getting the most out of a young man, that’s what Zayden has been able to do for us.”
Dunn knew from the beginning of this year that he would be called upon to be one of the leaders for the Mounties. His own success even caught him off guard at times, but there’s no question that Dunn enjoyed the ride all the way in his final season.
“I really pride myself on improving every year and being the best wrestler that I can be,” Dunn said. “This year I didn’t expect to be 31-1 heading into the regional, it just kind of happened. I was able to win some close matches and then the losses came against really good opponents. The whole year was just a surreal experience for me.”
You don’t see many wrestlers who are closer to the 220 weight class make the decision to wrestle up to the heavyweight class. Dunn knew that while the Mounties didn’t have a true heavyweight ready to go on their roster that he would have to step up and fill that slot. Not only did he step in, he excelled in the role.
“I really also pride myself on team success,” Dunn said. “It was always about making sure the team would be better off so I stepped in. I knew that either way my performance would be fine.”
While Welliever and Dunn never assumed the outcomes of any match he wrestled in, they knew Dunn would work his tail off and it just so happened that it resulted in wins many more times than not. His last two seasons Dunn posted an overall record 47-8.
“We knew what to expect when he hit the mat,” Welliever said. “He was going to give you everything he had and it would likely be a close match or he could dominate and pin. These last two years we could really just count on him. He didn’t do anything flashy out there, but he didn’t need to because he’s consistent out there. He’s also consistent with his attitude and he bring a calming influence for the entire team.”
The sport of wrestling has become a part of who Dunn is. His dedication and love for the sport over the past four years has allowed him to discover a passion that will stick with him even after he leaves high school. Dunn hopes to become a referee and maybe even a coach one day.
More than the individual accolades, Dunn said he will remember this Mountie team and all that they were able to accomplish. Those memories stick out to him more than anything.
“Winning the conference title three years in a row is a pretty special memory that I’ll have,” Dunn said. “Looking back with all these guys knowing that we come in and battle every day, it’s certainly something that I’ll remember forever. Getting to wrestle at team state against some of the best schools in the state is just another thing that I’ll appreciate forever.”
Welliever was able to put a bow on what’s been a stellar career for Dunn.
“He should be super proud of what he accomplished in these four years,” Welliever said. “He finished better than he ever had and that should be every wrestlers goal. I’m extremely proud of where that road ended for him.”
