INDIANAPOLIS — The Mt. Vernon wrestling team had six individual competitors place second and five finish third in their respective weight classes to take runner-up honors at the Indianapolis Arsenal Tech Sectional on Saturday.
The Marauders tallied 214 points compared to third-ranked Cathedral’s 335. The defending state champion Cathedral Irish captured their 39th team sectional title overall and sixth consecutive. Cathedral has won three straight IHSAA team state titles since 2018.
At sectional, the Irish claimed 11 weight-class titles, defeating Mt. Vernon head-to-head in five championship matches.
“We wrestled well overall, I was happy with our effort,” Mt. Vernon head coach Chad Masters said. “We are focusing more on ‘our’ style, defense first and being tough, not forcing things and being patient.”
Jaysen Lewis (9-5) was second at 113 pounds for Mt. Vernon, recording a pair of pins in 2 minutes, 23 seconds and 45 seconds to reach the finals. Lewis lost to Cathedral’s Aden Reyes by fall in the title match. Reyes (15-5) is ranked 11th in the state, according to IndianaMat.
MV’s Carson Johnson (23-4), who is ranked 21st at 132, finished second, losing to Lawrence North’s 16th-ranked Anthony Hughes (17-4) by medical forfeit. Johnson won his quarterfinal match by forfeit and his semifinal match by technical fall, 15-0 in 4:15.
“Carson Johnson got a bit banged up in the finals but will be good to go next week,” Masters said. “Aiden Kiner had one of his best days at MV, and as a sophomore is really starting to make great strides. He is tough as nails.”
Kiner (18-8) took second at 138, winning by fall in the quarterfinals and semifinals in 1:16 and 5:03, respectively. He lost by decision 13-6 in the finals against Cathedral’s 12th-ranked Luke Gonzales (16-4).
MV’s Joel Ratliff (15-12) was second at 160, advancing by forfeit and by fall in the semifinals in 2:23. He lost by fall to Cathedral’s third-ranked Andrew Wilson (20-2) in the finals.
Marauders’ Russell Weaver (17-5) finished second at 195, collecting a pin in 1:33 during the quarterfinals before scoring an 11-10 decision in the semifinals. He lost by fall to Cathedral’s fourth-ranked Johnny Parker (19-3).
Parker Smitley (23-4) was MV’s other runner-up at 220, earning a forfeit win in the quarterfinals and a fall in 4:31 during the semifinals. Cathedral’s fourth-ranked David Guhl (19-1) defeated Smitley, who is ranked 25th, by fall in 4:10.
“Overall, solid day, hats off to Cathedral,” Masters said. “It is tough with them being in your sectional, but we will take runner-up and move on.”
Mt. Vernon’s third-place finishers and other regional qualifiers included: Matt Foor (11-6) at 285, Hunter Austel (10-5) at 182, Haiden Rose (19-9) at 170, Zach Haughton (25-3) at 126 and Gavin Muhlenkamp (19-9) at 120.
North Central was third in the team standings with 194 points. Lawrence North (159.5) was fourth ahead of Bishop Chatard (134), Brebeuf Jesuit (77), Arsenal Tech (36) and Lawrence Central (32).
