Wrestlers hit the mat Saturday at Richmond needing only a win in the first-round match to earn a trip to the semistate at New Castle. Seven local wrestlers accomplished that feat and will be just two wins a way from a spot in the state finals.
Batesville had a pair of champions on the day. This is the first time in 26 years for Batesville to produce two regional champions in the same season.
Carson Weiler won the regional crown at 120. Weiler pinned Eastern Hancock’s Zeke Fish in 3:36 to start the day. In the semifinal, Weiler posted a tech fall of Hagerstown’s Carter Gross 15-0. In the final, Weiler pinned Rushville’s Briggs Tackett in 3:16.
Adam Brewer was the champion at 144. Brewer started his regional with a 1:01 pin of Centerville’s Javen White. In the semifinal, Brewer pinned Lawrenceburg’s Brody Steigerwald in 4:50. Brewer won the title with a 1:18 pin of Greensburg’s Carson Beagle.
Rushville advanced three wrestlers to the semistate.
Sam Pavey won the regional title at 215. Pavey opened the regional with a 1:09 pin of Tri’s Ean Lopez. In the semifinal, Pavey pinned East Central’s Austyn Kolter in 1:26. Pavey won the title 7-2 against New Castle’s Trent Supinger.
Briggs Tackett was the runner-up at 120. Tackett pinned New Castle’s Andrew Suggs in the first round and had a tech fall of Richmond’s Tyler Wiley 15-0 in the semifinal.
Noah VanFossen pinned Richmond’s Skyler McGowen in the first round to advance. VanFossen took third with a pin of East Central’s Aiden Grimsley.
“We are looking forward to next weekend. I believe these three wrestlers have more to prove. One, or all, of them could be Rushville’s next state qualifier,” Coach Jim Tush said.
Greensburg’s Carson Beagle earned a ticket to the semistate with a runner-up finish at 144. Beagle started with a 16-2 major decision against Jackson Welin of Northeastern. In the semifinal, Beagle posted a 17-5 major decision against Eastern Hancock’s Gabe Sotelo.
Greensburg’s Jai Jackson advanced to the semistate with a first-round pin (1:23) of New Castle’s Logan Mendoza to start his day. Jackson won the third-place match 4-2 against Connersville’s Cash Boulware.
Semistate draw
Here is a look at the first-round draw for the seven local wresters at the upcoming semistate at New Castle.
106
Noah VanFossen (14-10), Rushville vs. Nolan Culp (25-4), Hamilton Southeastern
120
Ty Barnhart (28-8), Mt. Vernon-Fortville vs. Briggs Tackett (25-10), Rushville
Carson Weiler (43-3), Batesville vs. Wesley Harbert (19-11), New Palestine
144
Adam Brewer (44-1), Batesville vs. Isaac Suddarth (19-9), Noblesville
Matthew Saaty (27-3), Indiana School for the Deaf vs. Carson Beagle (28-8), Greensburg
215
Sam Pavey (31-3), Rushville vs. Tucker Conley (28-7), Parke Heritage
285
Jai Jackson (18-9), Greensburg vs. Tyrese Covington (21-8), Pendleton Heights