At the beginning of this high school wrestling season, I asked many coaches how is it our area has been so consistently good in the sport for the last decade, at least.
The simple answer: The area just has good kids that happen to be good wrestlers.
And the evidence of that case is being compiled once again as 40 area grapplers get ready to compete in the individual wrestling regional this Saturday. A third of that number will be in the field at Pendleton Heights High School.
A year ago, 26 local wrestlers from Alexandria, Anderson, Elwood, Frankton, Lapel and Pendleton Heights advanced to the Pendleton Heights Regional and 15 of that 26 reached the New Castle Semistate. From New Castle, three wrestled at what used to be known as Conseco Fieldhouse. Two reached the podium as state finalists and one stood at the top as a state champion.
Pendleton Heights’ Mason Todd won the last state title at 112 pounds before weight classes were changed over the summer. Alexandria’s Luke Blanton finished in the top eight at 130 pounds last season.
Both are undefeated heading into the regional. Todd – ranked No. 1 at 120 pounds by IndianMat.com – is currently 30-0 on the season. Luke Blanton – No. 3 at 132 – has a 37-0 mark as the regional approaches.
Like the ad says though … “But wait, there’s more!”
Frankton heavyweight Jake Beasley is perfect in 34 matches this season.
Then there are those with five or fewer losses this season.
Alexandria seniors Josh Blanton is 26-1 and Jon Blanton is 34-2 and Ben Branson is 31-4 for the Tigers. All three won titles at the Hamilton Heights Sectional. The Tigers’ Lincoln Kyle is 30-5 and was a sectional runner-up.
Anderson’s George Stokes is 25-5 and won the sectional crown at 152 pounds.
At Frankton, Garret Allen is 15-2 on the year at 106. Jacob Fix is 32-1 at 120 pounds. Stephen Back is 32-1 at 160 pounds. Kyle Nardi of Lapel is 36-2 at 145.
Most certainly, there’s a lot more than just those few listed above.
The bottom line is every weight class has quality competition in it already. Then factor in wrestlers from teams like Indianapolis Cathedral, Lawrence North and other strong programs and it shapes up to be a field that, if you are one of the top four finalists who move on to New Castle, you’ll know you earned it by day’s end.
The longer answer of why the Madison County area has produced so much talent in wrestling comes down to good kids with a great work ethic and a desire to at least try to be great.
On the mat it’s just you. You win or you lose. You can’t point fingers at anyone else.
In this part of Indiana, the kids want to win. And they will get another chance to prove that on Saturday.
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Contact Quintin Harlan: 640-4835, quintin.harlan@heraldbulletin.com
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Quintin Harlan: Proof is on the mat
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