Wrestling

Hites, Vaught earn titles for runner-up Athenians

Crawfordsville’s Jaziel Gil-Herrera and North Montgomery’s Jayden Thompson meet in the consolation rounds at Saturdays sectional.Herrer won by fall.
Crawfordsville’s Jaziel Gil-Herrera and North Montgomery’s Jayden Thompson meet in the consolation rounds at Saturdays sectional.Herrer won by fall.
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Paced by sectional champions Braeden Hites and Landon Vaught, host Crawfordsville was the runner-up at the IHSAA Sectional on Saturday.

Zionsville won the team title for a sixth-straight season with 265.5 points, followed by the Athenians’ 175.5 points. Western Boone was third at 136.5 and Southmont was fourth with 124.5.

Crawfordsville advanced nine wrestlers to the regional round, while led by champion Lukas Scott, the Mounties qualified five.

“I felt like overall the day went pretty well,” Crawfordsville coach Aaron Keller said. “I’m happy we got enough out, and hopefully we can get some more out next week.”

Vaught kept his record perfect on the season with a title at 144 — defeating Fountain Central’s Dakoda Willoughby by major decision. Hites secured four pins on the day including over Fountain Central’s Caylum Wills in the finals.

“Especially both being seniors,” Keller said. “Ending on a good note with a sectional championship. They are two of my leaders and have been leaders all year.”

Taiga Koyanagi (106), Armando Munoz (126), Blayze Robbins (132) and Aiden Hutchison (150) were all second. Keegan Cokel (285) and Carlos Gutierrez (113) placed third and Jaziel Gil-Herrera was fourth at 165 to round out Crawfordsville’s regional qualifiers.

Scott pushed his record to 33-1 by winning the title at 106.

“Lukas moves really well and does some really good things,” Southmont coach Jamie Welliever said.

Cooper Scott advanced with a third-place finish at 120, while Kooper Charles was fourth at 190. Both wrestlers beat opponents they had lost to during the regular season.

Tyler Davis was fourth at 215, and Camden Laney the runner-up at 138.

“I just want everybody to go out and compete, and I think they did,” Welliever said. “We had some really huge wins and we beat some guys that we had lost to.”

While Zionsville ran away with the team title with seven individual champions, a total of nine teams put wrestlers in the finals.

“I think everybody had some stud individuals, but then I’d say overall from top to bottom the balance from every team is as good as it’s been in a long time,” Welliever added.

North Montgomery’s Kadyn Cohee was the runner-up at 120, while Nolan Yarger placed fourth at 138.

“I am glad that Nolan and Kadyn were able to make it through,” North coach Lincoln Kyle said. “Kadyn had a great day with the second-place finish. Although he lost in his finals match, it was some of his best wrestling he’s done all season.”

Dallas Simmons won the title at 126 for Fountain Central by defeating Crawfordsville’s Munoz in the finals. Aside from Willoughby and Wills runner-up finishes, Alan Melchor was third at 132, and Brandon Pigg fourth at 150.


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