The nature of the state tournament, regardless of what sport is being played, is that the further you go the tougher the road gets.
This week’s stretch of the 74th IHSAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament will take area grapplers to the New Castle Fieldhouse and one of the toughest semistates in Indiana.
Here’s the rundown of the local competitors in the field, starting from the lone wolves for their respective schools all the way up to those with the most wrestlers heading to the “World’s largest and finest high school fieldhouse.”
Anderson High School’s Zach Chism (31-8) is the Indians’ lone representative in the field. He’ll be competing at 182 pounds. At 195, Will Maluvac (32-5) is the last Elwood Panther still on the mat this season. Lapel’s Kyle Nardi (38-3) is making his second-straight trip to New Castle.
A trio of seniors from Frantkon will be vying for a spot at Banker’s Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis the following weekend. They are: heavyweight Jake Beasley (36-1) , Connor Crawford (33-4) at 170 pounds and Stephen Back (34-2) at 160.
Four Shenandoah Raiders will join the fray after competing at the Tri Sectional and Richmond Regional.
Representing the Raiders will be: junior Jacob Lumpkin (38-2), sophomore Chandler Hale (31-7) at 138, junior Kyle Webster (32-7) at 145 and senior Johnny Slivka (37-4) at 152.
Alexandria has had a core group of wrestlers who have consistently been its best and those five are in the semistate field. The five Tigers taking the mat at New Castle are: Ben Branson (32-6) at 113 pounds, Lincoln Kyle (32-6) at 126, Luke Blanton (40-0) at 132, Josh Blanton (38-2) at 138 and Jon Blanton (36-3) at 145.
Pendleton Heights also has a quintet heading to the semistate.
The five Arabians who will represent Pendleton Heights will be: Mason Todd (33-0) at 120 pounds, Andrew Foley (24-15) at 126, Clint Nicholson (32-7) at 160, Jake Stillwell (31-6) at 195 and Kyle Babb (26-13) at 220.
A multitude of ranked wrestlers, including some defending state champions and some possible state champions for this season, dot the brackets in all 14 weight classes.
Those who wish to move on to Indianapolis will have to earn their way. Which is how it should be.
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Pendleton Heights has earned a reputation for going all out when hosting tournament events, be it a county, conference or state tournament game.
On Saturday at the wrestling regional, PH added a new wrinkle to the awards ceremonies by having special presenters in each of the 14 weight divisions.
School officials, local police, firefighters, military personnel, Arabians Wrestling Club members and former wrestlers were on hand to present the ribbons and medals to the place-winners on Saturday.
The best part, when asked by tourney director Brad Williamson to be part of the festivities no one refused.
Contact Quintin Harlan: 640-4835, quintin.harlan@heraldbulletin.com
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Quintin Harlan: On the road to the semistate
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