Fifty-five area wrestlers advancing to regional action
Southsider Voice correspondent
Perry Meridian captured its 16th consecutive sectional wrestling championship Saturday at Tech High School, while Center Grove won a seemingly impossible Mooresville Sectional crown without winning a championship match.
The Falcons, coached by veteran Jim Tonte, dominated the 14-team meet at Tech, winning by 138.5 points over runner-up Pike, 328.5-192. Southport was third with 148 points, Manual ninth with 40 points.
Perry Meridian is sending all 14 wrestlers, including 10 sectional champions, to the regional Saturday on its home mat.
Perry’s Brandon James (138 pounds) remained unbeaten after 34 matches this season by pinning Pike’s Brian Nunez in 3 minutes, 38 seconds in his a title match.
Perry won three all-Southside matches: Sunny Nier (113 pounds) pinned Southport’s Tyler Rhoades in 4:29; Cornelious Elliot II (120) dominated Dameion Rutledge 13-3; and Tristen Tonte (195) defeated Southport’s Steven Moore by a technical fall.
Center Grove came up with three runner-ups, three third-place, four fourth-place, two fifth-place and two sixth-place finishes to win Mooresville. The Trojans have won 12 sectional championships.
Team points are awarded for first through sixth places, but only the top four wrestlers advance to regionals.
Center Grove interrupted runner-up Franklin’s string of five straight sectional titles by winning 175-172. Greenwood was 10th.
At Warren Central, Franklin Central was third with Roncalli fourth and Beech Grove sixth.
Roncalli’s Conner James (182) won all three of his sectional matches at Warren Central by falls to improve his record to 38-0. The sectional title is the third straight for James, who won the 152- pound class last year and the 160-pound championship in 2013.
Deron Young (35-2 and 160 pounds) of Franklin Central claimed a sectional title by defeating WC’s Dezmen Goddard.
Top finishers from Perry Meridian, Southport, Manual, Beech Grove, Franklin Central and Roncalli advance to the Perry Meridian Regional, with wrestlers from Center Grove and Greenwood returning to Mooresville. Competition begins Saturday at 9 a.m. First through fourth-place wrestlers advance to semistates.
The following Southside wrestlers will compete in regionals.
Perry Meridian (14 wrestlers) – sectional champions: Sunny Nier, 106; Jack Servies, 113, Cornelious Elliot II, 120; Ngun Uk, 126; Jordan Napier, 132; Brandon James, 138; Noah Warren, 145; Brett Johnson, 152; Tristen Tonte, 195; Blake Schjoll, 220; Chris Ridle, 285; second: Garrett Milner, 160; Jordan Marion, 170; third place: Jaylin Marion, 182.
Franklin Central (11) – champion: Deron Young, 160; second: Josh Torres, 195; Evan Ewers, 285; third: Josh Vaughn, 106; Zach Warden, 120; Jordan Vaughn, 132; Dawson Conley, 152; fourth: Dalton Hair, 126; Chris Vaughn, 138; Bailey Emery, 145; Josh Owensby, 220.
Center Grove (10) – second: Zak Siddiqui, 106; Logan Coyle, 145; Jonah Hays, 160; third, Zach Blevins, 113; Connor Noble, 138; Skyler Stits, 182, Cory Heinrichs, 220; fourth: Ethan Duke, 120; Gleason Mappes, 152; Rhett Mappes, 170.
Roncalli (six) – champion: Conner James, 182; second: Nick Ellis, 132; third, Patrick Waugh, 138; Jake Mappes, 160; Tyler Smith, 195. fourth: Josh Hiatt, 113.
Southport (five) – champion: Robert Clark, 182; second: Tyler Rhoades, 106; third: Brett Wright, 145; fourth: Ricky Beikes; 113; Shane Ping, 138.
Beech Grove (five) – second: Ethan Smiley, 113; Evan Smiley, 145; fourth: Bailey Moore, 120; Walter Ballinger, 152; Austin Smith, 170.
Greenwood (three) – second: Tyler Futrell, 120; third, Keegan Overton, 113; Gavin Fuqua, 285.
Manual (one) – third: Johnny Graham, 195.