LINDEN — Saturday’s regional title was all about redemption for North Montgomery 182 pounder Dawson McCloud.
Following a 6-5 loss to Southmont’s Riley Woodall in the sectional final a week ago, the senior fought his way back to the Southmont junior in the IHSAA North Montgomery Regional final on Saturday, before capturing the title with a 6-4 win.
“Today was just about redemption and about proving myself,” McCloud said. “This is my first regional win. That’s always been a goal of mine. Especially with the motivation from last week in practice. It’s always been there, it’s just never been put down like it was today.”
First a come-from-behind win over Carmel’s Garrett Sharp. Trailing, heading into the third period, McCloud caught the Greyhound senior and earned the pin-fall win to set up a rematch with Woodall.
McCloud once again fell behind in the finals match, but stormed back to beat Woodall.
“He started off a little slow, but he got into a groove,” North Montgomery coach Bryce McCoy said. “It’s a good example for the younger kids that you never stop wrestling no matter what and anything can happen as long as you wrestle the full six minutes. I’m proud of him.”
North Montgomery’s Drew Webster also won a regional title at 220 with three first period pins, including a fall over Westfield’s Dakota Arvin in the finals.
“I think he is really focused,” McCoy said. “He’s been super aggressive this week and last week. I think he’s focused and hungry for a higher placement at Bankers Life.”
The regional title was the second for the senior, who will look to advance from the New Castle semi-state to the state finals for a second straight season.
“It’s the same mentality,” Webster, who now has six pins in six postseason matches said. “Leave no mercy on the mat, and finish on top of the podium every weekend. I’ve just got to make sure I don’t get a high head and come in cocky. I’ve still go to do what I’ve been doing every match.”
North Montgomery’s Baydin Hall (120) saw his season come to an end with a first round loss to Carmel’s Luke Farling.
Advancing with Woodall for the Mounties, includes freshman Kion Cornelius (106), Dillan Lauy (126), and senior Ty Welliever (170). Cornelius and Welliever both finished fourth, while Lauy placed third.
“It started with kind of a freshman (Cornelius) Cinderella story,” Southmont coach Jamie Welliever said. “He comes out there and gets an upset with a pin, and I think that helped some other guys there.”
For Woodall and Lauy, it will be a return to the semi-state for the pair of juniors, who hope to advance to their first state finals.
“We’ve already talked about that, and hopefully we will feel a little more comfortable with the setting, and take it up a notch,” Welliever added.
Southmont’s Clayton Downey (113), Noah Benge (120), Gerald Hutson (132), Takeshi Greiner (145), Evan Francis (152), Ethan Himes (220), and Zayden Dunn (285) all saw their seasons come to an end with first round losses.
Crawfordsville’s Eric Demoret (106), Ethan Conkright (120), Alex Brown (126), Isaac Rogers (132), Clayton Owens (145), Edwin Gil Herrera, Ethan Patton (182), Moises Mora (195), and Kalob Brown (285) all saw their seasons come to an end with first round losses.
“I knew we’d have to wrestle well and pull off an upset to get anyone through,” Crawfordsville coach Chris Ervin said. “Half of the guys competed and wrestled hard. A few that looked like deer in headlights and were intimidated by bigger schools. Overall we got beat by better wrestlers and I can’t be mad about that.”
Fountain Central’s Eli Oiler (113), Jason Matthews (126), Austin Pickett (138), Willie Frazee (152), and Matthew Alexander (195) all saw their seasons come to an end with first round losses.
