Make no mistakes about it, the IHSAA wrestling sectional at Crawfordsville will come down to Southmont and Zionsville. Each team is loaded with talent and had nothing but success in the regular season.
The Mounties are looking to dethrone the Eagles and win their first sectional title since 2016.
“Each guy will have to just focus on their own matches each round and deal with a win or loss when they come,” Southmont coach Jamie Welliever said. “If each guy can do the best they can do and trust all of his teammates to do the same it should be a great day.”
Southmont has four top seeded wrestlers heading into the tournament. Maddox Cade (15-1) is the No. 1 seed at 113, Riley Woodall (15-1) at 182, Wyatt Woodall (16-0) at 195, and Zayden Dunn (13-3) at heavyweight. Zionsville has four top seeded wrestlers. The top four wrestlers from each weight class will advance to the regional round at Frankfort.
The Mounties have five freshmen in the lineup, including Cade and Wyatt Woodall, but Welliever knows they are prepared for the challenge of competing in the state series.
“The freshmen were very good coming in, but I think their biggest improvement along with the rest of the team is their ability to adapt to different situations during a match,” he said. “Sometimes things don’t go exactly how you planned, and then you have to just figure it out.”
Brier Riggle (106), Noah Benge (120), Marlin Williams (126), Gerald Hutson (132), Dillan Lauy (138), Trip Ward (145), Justin Emerson (152), Evan francis (160), Isaiah McMasters (170), and Collin Martin (220) will fill out the rest of Southmont’s lineup.
North Montgomery enters the state series with eight wrestlers, including Cailin Campbell (120), James McClerkin (145), and Todd Laffoon (195). who are all seeded No. 2.
“I feel like we have consistently gotten better as the season has went on,” North Montgomery coach Bryce McCoy said. “We are doing the little things better and it has shown. Hopefully they will be ready to go Saturday and show how much they have improved since our first competition.”
Christian Hall (138), Lane Dildine (160), Jacob Rice (170), Dakota Punke (182), and Cale Anderson (220) round out the Chargers’ lineup.
“I have just been telling the kids that they have nothing to lose,” McCoy said. “That they should go out there relaxed and confident and take it one match at a time. No matter what tournament it is, I tell them that their goal should be to finish higher than they are seeded in the bracket.”
Crawfordsville has had its fair share of trouble related to COVID-19 this winter, and the wrestling team has not been spared from that. First-year coach Dave Cutchin is still pleased with the work ethic put forth by his team.
“It has been great to see young athletes take the precautions and exhibit the desire to succeed in the face of this pandemic,” he said. “The loss of mat time has definitely made an impact with the betterment of their skills. The old adage ‘practice makes perfect,’ is unfortunately true.”
The Athenians will have just four wrestlers competing on Saturday. Keegan Alsman (113), Ashton Wilson (132), Calvin Dittmar (152), and Joshua Dixon at 170.
Fountain Central will have seven wrestlers competing, including Waylon Frazee (18-2), who is the No. 1 seed at 120. Jason Matthews (132), Michael Strawhorn (138), Willie Frazee (152), Jordan Melvin (160), Steven Romero (195), and Matthew Alexander (220) will also compete for the Mustangs.
The sectional is closed to spectators, but will be live-streamed at
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qEc0zwkq7MA&feature=share
