A few of the area wrestling teams were in action last weekend heading into this week’s Christmas holiday, as both Tippecanoe and Troy Christian participated in the Tippecanoe Invitational, while Tecumseh hosted a meet bringing in Urbana and Ben Logan.
At the Tippecanoe Invitational on Saturday, 11 teams were able to brave the conditions to compete in the event. Mason was victorious with 266 team points, while Troy Christian was second overall with 249.5 and Valley View third with 181.5. Tippecanoe placed fifth overall with 135 points.
At 106 pounds, Ethan Turner of Troy Christian earned the championship gold with a first-place finish by earning a major decision over Andrew Carter of Mason 16-3 in the finals.
Also earning a first-place finish was Troy Christian’s Jacob Edwards at 113 pounds, as he won his championship match with a ten second pin against Brian Roberts of Boone County. Tippecanoe’s Blake Ballard was fourth overall after falling in the third-place match to Lance Roberts of Chaminade Julienne in 1:11.
Weighing in at 120 was Troy Christian’s Drew Whaley, as he finished second overall falling in the championship match to Christopher Jedding of Mason in 3:30.
Another title for the Eagles was won at 126 as Michael Sergent, as the Troy Christian grappler won a hard fought 8-7 victory in the finals over Sam Glassco of Mason.
Tipp’s Conner Jackson earned fourth overall at 132, as he lost in the third-place finals to Jack Henry of Oakwood 11-1, while finishing sixth was Troy Christian’s Lear Current.
At 145, Caleb Blake won the title, as the Tippecanoe wrestler defeated Micah Marshall of CJ 9-4.
Finishing second at 152 was Caleb Hoskins of Troy Christian, losing in 1:57 to Hunter Johns of CJ in the finals.
Tipp’s Lucas Moore finished fourth at 160, while Lucas Moore lost at 170 in 3:34.
Weighing in at 182 was Tipp’s Mason Pence who finished second with a forfeit loss in the finals, with Troy Christian’s Damon Beatty finishing fifth with a 1:55 win over Perry Gardiner of Valley View.
Nick Baker from Troy Christian finished third at 195 with a 29-second pin in the finals, while Tipp’s Grant Carlson from Tipp was fifth at 220.
At 285, Troy Christian’s Seth Douglas earned the championship with a 3:32 pin over Trent Wilson of Valley View.
*Tecumseh’s wrestling team also hosted a meet with Urbana and Ben Logan last week, and the Arrows were successful in both matches.
The Arrows defeated Urbana 49-24 in their opening match, then came back with a 50-24 victory over Ben Logan.
Winning by both matches for the Arrows were Kainen Hackney with two pins, Gavin Sineff with a forfeit and pin, Tommy Rowe had a pin and technical fall and Greg Asher recorded a pin and a forfeit win.
“We had five freshman and six sophomores in the lineup (tonight),” said Tecumseh coach Scott Herbert. “We are a very young team. We have 34 wrestlers with no seniors and two juniors. The rest are ninth and tenth graders. The middle school program under Darrell Hall and Anthony Watson has sent a lot of good, young kids to the high school.”
“The kids showed a lot of heart last night wrestling their first dual without our returning senior Captain Caleb Young who passed away in an auto accident last spring.”
Tecumseh also recently placed eighth out of 22 teams at the Sidney Invitational. Brandon Henn placed third, Lucas Rodgers and Greg Asher placed fourth. Rowe and Hunter Donnen placed fifth.