GREENFIELD — The stage was set for a celebration Wednesday night. Instead, the Greenfield-Central wrestling team had to settle for a post-dual, closed-door evaluation after a humbling 59-12 loss to No. 7 Warren Central.
The host Cougars grabbed a quick 6-0 lead behind sixth-ranked Gavin Rose’s pin at 120 pounds in 1 minute, 44 seconds, but quickly fell flat as the Warriors rolled for five pins and two major decisions.
The loss dropped Greenfield-Central to 6-2 on the season, and it also put a damper on the night’s main event.
Prior to their dual, the Cougars and their fans honored 2012-13 state champion Josh Farrell by inducting the current varsity volunteer coach into the Cougars Wrestling Hall of Fame.
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In his career at Greenfield-Central, Farrell accumulated a 173-15 record while becoming the program’s all-time leader in takedowns, wins, technical falls, team points and winning percentage.
He finished as a four-time state place winner, earning medals for seventh, sixth and runner-up prior to winning it all at 48-0 his senior season at 152 pounds.
“Every day I walk in the room, I see that big Fat Head of him on the wall. I know that will never go away because he achieved his dream,” Rose remarked on Farrell’s impact on his career. “Him being elected into the hall of fame and the feelings it brought for him, it was amazing.”
As a junior, Rose is a two-time state qualifier and became a state placewinner after finishing seventh at 113 last year.
His win against Warren Central’s Chris Stewart pushed his season record to 8-0.
“I just wanted to start the team off strong,” Rose said. “It stinks we had some guys missing from the varsity lineup tonight. I have a feeling it effected the mental approach of the other guys on the team. If we face that team again, with a complete varsity lineup, the mental game would be completely different.”
Without senior Larry Evans at 126 and Carter Noehre, who is ranked ninth in the state at 132, the Cougars gave up 24 points with both out and two forfeits.
Brad Lowe secured the only other win for the Cougars against Warren Central with a pin in 3:23 to up his season record to 8-0. Lowe is ranked ninth in the state at 170 pounds by IndianaMat.com.
The Cougars only other active state-ranked wrestler, No. 16 Cooper Noehre, a sophomore, nearly gave the team a third in a battle against No. 5 Antwaun Graves.
Noehre (6-2) trailed 3-0 and later 5-1 before he put together a three-point swing in the third period. The 145-pounder released Graves with less than 30 seconds remaining and scored the match tying takedown with eight seconds left.
Graves won in overtime 8-6 with a double-leg takedown halfway through the 1-minute bonus round.
“What a way for that match to go. Two kids great on their feet, and they were both on their feet, it was exciting,” Greenfield-Central head coach Josh Holden said. “That’s what you want.”
The Warriors’ other ranked wrestler, No. 8 Jeivan Ross at 113, fended off sophomore Dylan Dorman for an 8-5 decision.
From there, the Cougars had few answers, losing a close match at 220 as junior Hunter Gulden (5-3) lost by decision 7-4 and the rest by four points or more in the team totals to their sectional foe.
“It’s a dual meet in December. It’s not the state tournament. If you’re going to pout about it, you’re not going to win conference or sectional. You’re not going to win a state title, I can tell you that,” Holden emphasized. “You don’t leave here happy and giddy about it, but you don’t cry about it. Act like a man and get better.
“We get better or we continue to come out here and get embarrassed on our home mat. That’s not an option.”
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Warren Central 59, Greenfield-Central 12
120: Gavin Rose (GC) def. Chris Stewart (WC) by fall 1:44
126: Aundre Beatty (WC) def. Matthew Torres (GC) by fall 3:06
132: Jarred Rowlett (WC) def. Michael Lowry (GC) by fall 1:41
138: Brice Coleman (WC) def. Ken Thompson (GC) maj. dec. 12-0
145: Antwaun Graves (WC) def. Cooper Noehre (GC) dec. 8-6 OT
152: Marcus Scott (WC) def. Mike Hoskins (GC) maj. dec. 10-2
160: Danny Acevedo (WC) def. Shane Stough (GC) by fall 1:24
170: Brad Lowe (GC) def. Aaron Taylor (WC) by fall 3:23
182: James Dycus (WC) won by forfeit
195: Nathan Bishop (WC) def. Scott Stanley (GC) by fall 2:42
220: Carlos Mitchell (WC) def. Hunter Gulden (GC) dec. 7-4
285: Nathan Pullins (WC) won by forfeit
106: David Pierson (WC) def. Isaac Swartz (GC) by fall 3:18
113: Jeivan Ross (WC) def. Dylan Dorman (GC) dec. 8-5
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