FORTVILLE — Chase and Chris Wilkerson are pretty much always together.
They have the same group of friends. They do the same things. They’ve wrestled together for about as long as either can remember.
“I’d say about 13 years, around there,” Chase Wilkerson said. “Ever since we were younger, we used to beat the crap out of each other before we even started wrestling.”
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They’ve never really been apart, except for one notable exception.
Last year at the wrestling state finals, Chase Wilkerson, now a senior, had to watch from the sidelines as his younger brother, Chris, now a junior, competed for a chance at the podium.
It was a memorable experience for both, for different reasons.
“It was probably the coolest experience of my life,” Chris said. “It really put wrestling in perspective for me, how much I actually love it, just what I’m working towards every day”
“It was awesome to see Mt. Vernon represented, and he did really well in his first round match,” Chase added. “I was like, well, next year hopefully it’ll be both of us, maybe some more from our team, too.”
Both brothers had big goals coming into this year, for themselves and for their team. The Marauders set a program record for wins, won their first Hoosier Heritage Conference title, and set program records for best finish in sectional (2nd), most wrestlers competing in regional (13) and most competing in semistate (8).
The Wilkersons were hoping to bring more teammates with them to state, but getting there together was something that they’ve been aiming at for a few years.
“My sophomore year, when he was a freshman, we both did really well,” Chase Wilkerson said. “I could tell that both of us were on the path to state. Last year when he made it, I was like, next year there’s no question. We’re both going. There’s no doubt.”
They were confident all year. They expected to be here.
Each brother won a regional championship. Both placed third in last week’s New Castle Semistate after narrowly losing in the semifinals and winning the consolation match.
Most importantly, both punched their tickets to Friday’s first round of state.
“It’s really an awesome thing,” Mt. Vernon coach Chad Masters said. “They’re really good kids, but go beyond that. I have a sister, and just thinking about siblings; to be able to do something, share something like that. Obviously wrestling is their passion, and they get to go to state.”
Like they have been most of their lives, the Wilkersons will be together for much of Friday’s proceedings.
“When we take them down to go to weigh-ins, they’re going to walk in together,” Masters said. “They’re going to be able to warm up together, just like they have since they were little kids. It’s going to be a really neat thing.”
“Last year, I was pretty (much) by myself,” Chris Wilkerson said. “I didn’t know what I was doing, and it was new to all of us. This year, we know what we’re doing, and it’ll be a lot better to have a wrestling partner, to know someone else going through what I’m going through, to get mentally ready with someone else.”
Having been there before, Chris said he is planning to just treat it like any other match. He’s going in focused to get the win however he has to, and to wrestle his style. He doesn’t want to let his opponent dictate how the match goes.
The brothers have big goals yet to come. As great as it is, just being at state isn’t good enough.
Not this year.
“I’m ready to place. I know it’s awesome to qualify, but for me that’s not good enough this year,” Chase said. “It’s senior year, so might as well make the most of it. I want to get some upsets, so hopefully placing top five is my goal.”
“It definitely feels different this year,” Chris said. “Last year, going there was good enough for me. I was just there to wrestle, and whatever happened, happened. This year, I’m definitely goal-driven to get to Saturday. Friday’s not enough for me.”
The Marauders will be there to show support, hoping to see their teammates win state championships, Masters said. They’ve got hotel rooms booked and plan on being there Friday and Saturday to watch the brothers pursue their goals.
It’s already a special weekend, and it isn’t even here yet.
“It’s awesome to represent our family and our coaches, everyone that has brought us here,” Chase said. “My dad actually was our coach up until about fifth grade. He’s super excited — he said it’s one of the best moments of his life, to see both of his sons at state.”
“It’s probably one of the best things that’s ever happened in my life. It hasn’t even happened yet, but I know it’s going to be a great experience,” Chris said. “It means a lot to me to represent my family and the team, especially. We haven’t really been known, and now this year, they know who we are. Especially Saturday night, they’ll see us on TV.”
Chase will be competing at 126 pounds. Chris is competing in the 138-pound weight class. They will compete at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with two other county wrestlers, Cooper Noehre of Greenfield-Central (152 pounds) and Christian White from New Palestine (113 pounds).
All four will be looking to earn a spot on the podium. One win on Friday night will get them there.
“Even if they lost Friday, I just want them to wrestle, and when you walk off, have no regrets,” Masters said. “If they go out there and wrestle their heart out and give it everything they’ve got, then win, lose, or draw I think you hold your head up high. Not trying to be overconfident, but I think if they do that, I think both of them will be wrestling on Saturday. I think if they go out there, they’re not nervous, they’re relaxed, they give it everything they’ve got, I think all four county kids are going to be wrestling on Saturday.”
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What: IHSAA Wrestling State Finals
When: Friday, 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. quarterfinals, 5 p.m. consolations, 7:30 p.m. finals
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Who: Chase and Chris Wilkerson (Mt. Vernon), Cooper Noehre (Greenfield-Central), Christian White (New Palestine)
Cost: $8 per session or $20 for both days
INSIDE: See a class-by-class breakdown of all four county-represented weight classes on Page BX.
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Four area wrestlers will compete in Friday’s state wrestling tournament, with Chase and Chris Wilkerson representing Mt. Vernon, Cooper Noehre representing Greenfield-Central and Christian White representing New Palestine.
Below is a look at each of their first-round matches, with more information on each weight class in which Hancock County wrestlers will compete.
113 pounds
No. 15 Christian White (New Palestine, 33-5) vs. Harper Dedman (Oak Hill, 38-5)
Two sophomores will battle it out Friday night, with White and Dedman meeting for the first time this year. The winner between the two will wrestle either No. 1 Jacob Moran (Portage, 33-1), the defending state champion at 106 pounds, or No. 5 Cole Evans (Evansville Mater Dei, 24-2) in the quarterfinals, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. Two other ranked wrestlers are on this half of the bracket, with No. 3 David Pierson (Warren Central, 31-3) and No. 6 Ben Dalton (Monrovia, 35-2) among the favorites to advance to the semis. The top half of the bracket features four ranked matchups, with No. 2 Zeke Seltzer (Cathedral, 39-1) being the biggest name on that side. White has seen both Pierson and Seltzer this year, losing twice to both.
126 pounds
No. 9 Chase Wilkerson (Mt. Vernon, 32-4) vs. No. 16 JJ Conway (Floyd Central, 23-3)
Wilkerson, a senior, will face Conway, a freshman, with a podium position on the line. The winner will face a freshman, either Hayden Shepard (Western, 33-8) or the state’s undefeated, No. 1-ranked wrestler in this class, freshman Jesse Mendes (Crown Point, 38-0). Awaiting in the semifinals could be No. 3 Hunter Watts (Jimtown, 39-1), but three other ranked wrestlers also compete in the top half of the 126-pound bracket, including No. 7 Logan Wagner (Zionsville, 33-5), who defeated Wilkerson in overtime at semistate. The bottom half of the bracket, vying for a spot in the state finals, includes four of the top six wrestlers in the weight class, led by No. 2 Brayden Curtis (Yorktown, 34-10), who was the state champion at 113 pounds a year ago, No. 4 Raymound Rioux (Avon, 39-3), No. 5 Brock Peele (Portage, 28-4) and No. 6 Lukasz Walendzak (Cathedral, 36-7). Wilkerson topped Walendzak in this year’s sectional championship match.
138 pounds
No. 17 Chris Wilkerson (Mt. Vernon, 38-6) vs. AJ Poindexter (Harrison, 39-7)
Wilkerson, a junior, has been here before, losing on Friday in last year’s state tournament. He faces another junior, Poindexter, for a quarterfinal spot. The winner will see either No. 3 Conner Gimson (Jimtown, 42-1) or No. 8 Drew Kreitzer (Brownsburg, 24-6) in the quarterfinals. The heavy favorite to advance opposite one of those four for a semifinal bout is No. 1 Cayden Rooks (Columbus East, 39-1). The bottom half of the 138-pound bracket is loaded, with No. 2 Tyce Freije (Roncalli, 36-2) leading a slew of ranked wrestlers looking for a spot in the finals. Wilkerson has faced off with several of the state finalists this season, the most recent being a 7-5 loss to Freije in the semistate semifinals.
152 pounds
No. 3 Cooper Noehre (Greenfield-Central, 38-3) vs. No. 15 Ellisston Ross (Bloomington South, 36-7)
Noehre, the sole semistate champion from Hancock County, faces Ross, a senior, for a chance to compete Saturday. If the Cougars’ junior wins, he would face either No. 16 Isiah Levitz (Prairie Heights, 37-4) or Isaiah Mohmed (Wheeler, 34-8) in the quarterfinals. The road could get tougher from there, as No. 1 Eli Dickens (Evansville Mater Dei, 38-2) is the most likely semifinal opponent. The bottom half of the bracket is highlighted by No. 2 Elliott Rodgers (Cathedral, 37-4), who Noehre defeated for the semistate championship. The pair split matches this year, with Rodgers topping Noehre in mid December. Noehre also has wins against two other wrestlers he could meet on Saturday, Eric Hiestand (Yorktown, 38-3) and Sam Fair (Perry Meridian, 25-6).
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