ANDERSON — Highland wrestler Sam Bennett has a brutally efficient style on the mat.
He took a similar approach to the recruiting process.
As a result, the senior 152-pounder signed a letter of intent Sunday to attend and compete for Northern Illinois.
The Huskies have individuals ranked in eight of 10 weight classes in the Mid-American Conference this winter, and Bennett was sold on the program by his official visit.
“I really like the team,” he said. “We got along really well. I was impressed with the facilities, and everything I would need on campus is within walking distance. They offered me a pretty good scholarship. Everything just kind of fell into place.”
Bennett also made visits to Maryland and Purdue, and he had a few other visits lined up. But the trip to DeKalb, Ill., made his decision clear.
“There was really no need for me to keep searching for a college,” he said.
Scots coach Kyle Poyer said Bennett did his due diligence before choosing Northern Illinois.
“He did a lot of work,” Poyer said. “He put a lot of time into it, and he picked the university and the wrestling program that fit him best.”
Part of that fit is evident in Bennett’s projected spot in the lineup. He expects to wrestle at 157 pounds collegiately, meaning he’ll barely need to change his training habits from high school.
“It’ll be perfect,” he said of his college weight class.
The quick decision also allows Bennett to focus completely on his final high school season without the added drama of the recruiting process.
He finished third last year at the IHSAA state finals, and his goal is to bring home a state championship this year alongside best friend and teammate Mason Berryman.
“Anytime, as a wrestler, you can take the pressure off of what the next step is going to be after your high school career,” Poyer said, “everything else is just icing on the cake.”
Bennett couldn’t agree more, saying signing with an NCAA Division I program was his ultimate goal.
“It’s really nice,” he said. “All the pressure is gone. I can just wrestle now for fun. I’ve already fulfilled my goal.”
Local Sports
Bennett finds perfect fit with Huskies
Highland wrestler to compete at 157 for N. Illinois
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Bearcats upend AHS
Often basketball is a simple game, and it was certainly true for the Anderson boys basketball team here Thursday night. “We had too many turnovers — that’s the game,” said AHS coach Joe Nadaline after the Indians lost to Muncie Central 54-46 for their eighth straight defeat.
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Bulldogs topple Raiders, win 9th in a row
The Bulldogs keep on rolling. Lapel (16-3) led from start to finish as it beat visiting Shenandoah 69-47 Thursday night to push its winning streak to nine games.
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PHHS shoots down Fishers
It can be easy to take Kellen Dunham for granted. But the Pendleton Heights senior reminded everyone why he is a Mr. Basketball candidate with a furious fourth quarter Thursday night against Fishers. Dunham scored 15 of his game-high 32 points in the final eight minutes, connected on all 10 of his free-throw attempts during the period and drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key early in the frame that sent the fifth-ranked Arabians on their way to a 53-42 victory.
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Frankton subdues Liberty
Youth was on display Thursday night in Frankton as the host Eagles squared off against the Liberty Christian Lions boys basketball team. Neither team had a senior start the game, and Frankton proved to be the more seasoned team in a 68-59 win.
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Indians fall to Bearcats 54-46
Photos from Anderson as the Indians hosted the Muncie Central Bearcats.
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Five for fighting
Like other coaches, Alexandria wrestling coach Jack Grimaldi sometimes has to worry about how to motivate his charges as they head into their matches. That shouldn’t be an issue for him with his five Tigers heading into Saturday’s individual semistate at New Castle.
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Red-hot Lapel limiting miscues
Like any basketball coach, Jimmie Howell knows how important it is for a team to be playing its best basketball as the state tournament draws near.
But what’s going on in Lapel might be redefining that theory.
With a 60-42 win on the road over Class 3A No. 6 Guerin Catholic on Saturday, the Bulldogs pushed their winning streak to eight games. Over the 32-minute course of the game against the Golden Eagles, Lapel committed a microscopic four turnovers. -
PH moves on
On the roster of every successful team is a player or two who will do the unpleasant work. The ones who actually find satisfaction in this pursuit are worth their weight in wins to any coach. Pendleton Heights sophomore Kiawna Cottrell was just that player Tuesday as the Arabians advanced to the second round of sectional play with a 55-45 victory over Greenfield-Central.
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Indians slay Spartans
The last time these two girls basketball teams met on Jan. 17, Anderson defeated Connersville 83-74 in overtime. Lady Tribe coach Chad Cook knew the Spartans would come out with a chip on their shoulder ready for revenge in Tuesday’s opening round of the Class 4A sectional.
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Eagles eke by Raiders
Back in November, the Frankton girls basketball team handled Shenandoah by 29 points. Tuesday’s sectional opener at Shenandoah wasn’t as easy, but the end result was the same as Frankton moved on with a 44-43 win over the host Shenandoah Raiders.
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