Cougars claim Spartan Classic titles
CONNERSVILLE — The Greenfield-Central wrestling team claimed a pair of individual weight-class titles and amassed 184 points overall to place fourth at the Connersville Spartan Classic Invitational on Saturday.
The multi-day event showcased 32 teams with Crown Point winning the invitational championship by scoring 269 points. Roncalli was second with 245 points. Carmel placed fourth with 236.
Eastern Hancock was 17th overall with 95 points.
The Greenfield-Central Cougars’ championship duo of Carter Noehre and Brad Lowe both went a perfect 5-0 to win the 132- and 170-pound titles, respectively.
Noehre, who is ranked eighth in the state by IndianaMat, improved his season record to 12-0 after being sidelined in recent weeks due to an injury. Lowe is 22-2 on the year with a team-best 14 pins and four major decisions this season. He is ranked eighth in the state.
Dylan Dorman (17-8) and Hunter Gulden (20-6) were both third as individuals at 113 and heavyweight, respectively. Dorman finished 5-1 at the classic, while Gulden was 6-1.
Larry Evans went 4-2 to place fourth at 126 pounds. He is 18-6 on the season.
The Cougars return to the mat on Saturday when they compete in the North Central Invitational.
Kendrex leads Marauders
The Mt. Vernon Marauders had four wrestlers place in the top six of their respective weight classes Saturday, led by 160-pound champion Drake Kendrex during the North Montgomery Holiday Duals.
Kendrex (26-3) placed first behind two decisions and a 45-second fall in the quarterfinals. Kendrex defeated North Montgomery’s Cade Groves by decision 7-1 in the semifinals before beating Warren Central’s Danny Acevedo by decision 5-3 in the title match.
Aiden Alford was sixth at 138 pounds with a 2-3 performance to put his season record at 21-10.
Max Hayes (21-5) placed third with a 4-1 effort at 152 pounds, defeating Pendleton Heights’ Jarod Miller in the consolation finals by decision 13-8.
P.J. Sterrett (25-6) went 4-1 to finish third at 182. Sterrett beat North Central’s DeVontay Moore in the consolation finals.
The Marauders were 14th in the final team standings. Warren Central won the event, followed by host North Montgomery in second and Hamilton Southeastern in third.
Burton leads Dragons at Mater Dei
The New Palestine wrestling team had six competitors place in the top six and carried one runner-up in senior Landan Burton at 220 pounds to place seventh overall at the Evansville Mater Dei Holiday Classic on Friday.
New Palestine tallied 109 points during the two-day event. Evansville Mater Dei won the classic with 302 points, followed by Union County (Ky.) in second and Louisville St. Xavier in third.
Burton (25-1), who is ranked 15th in the state, defeated Evansville Memorial’s Alex Lichlyter by decision 6-4 to win his 25th straight match. He lost to Evansville Mater Dei’s Michael Boots by decision 4-2 in the championship match. Boots is ranked seventh in the state.
Jared Diep finished third at 120 to move to 17-7 on the year. Christian White was fourth at 106 to increase his season record to 23-4.
Brayden Clevenger placed fifth at 195 and improved his season record to 24-4. Chase Nelson and Matthew Carter both finished sixth at 113 and 125, respectively. Nelson is now 19-8 on the year, while Carter improved to 3-3.
The Dragons travel to Franklin Central on Thursday. They return home Jan. 6 for the New Palestine Invitational.
