Staff Reports
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield-Central wrestling team officially withdrew from the IHSAA state tournament series due to COVID-19 protocols.
The announcement was made public Wednesday evening via social media, stating the following:
“Due to COVID-19 Protocols, our wrestlers who advanced to the IHSAA regional this week have been forced to withdraw from the remainder of the tournament. We appreciate everyone’s effort in keeping the season going and hate seeing our wrestlers’ season come to an end. We would like to thank our seniors for their time and dedication to the program.”
Nine Cougars wrestlers were scheduled to compete in the Perry Meridian Regional tournament on Saturday.
Greenfield-Central, who entered the postseason shorthanded due to COVID-19 contact tracing quarantines, placed fourth at the Warren Central Sectional last weekend.
The Cougars had six third-place finishers at sectional in junior Cohen Hager (20-8) at 120, sophomore Isaiah Holden (17-11) at 126, senior Matt Torres (10-11) at 145, junior Chase Gardner (15-8) at 160, senior Jacob Blevens (22-11) at 220 and freshman Brayden Flener (15-18) at 285.
The Cougars had three fourth-place finishers to round out their nine regional qualifiers, including senior Scott Stanley (20-12) at 182, junior Matt Wickham (16-8) at 132 and freshman Kannon Zuber (10-3) at 113.
“As a coach and as a father of a wrestler, my heart breaks not just for my wrestlers, but for any kid, who for some reason out of his/her control, has had something he/she has worked as hard for taken away,” Greenfield-Central head coach Josh Holden remarked. “I could not be more proud of these young men and women. From the wrestlers to the managers and trainers, from the parents and administration to the teachers and our strength coach, this program is full of the best kind of people.”
Greenfield-Central posted a 17-8 team record this season and won the program’s first Hoosier Heritage Conference championship since 2012 at New Castle last month. Holden was named HHC Coach of the Year at the event.
Boys Swimming
Dragons swimmers sweep tri-meet
The New Palestine boys swimming team swept past the competition in a triangular meet Tuesday at home.
The Dragons beat the Shelbyville Golden Bears, 55-46, and the Lawrence Central Bears, 63-39.
Eli Kleine and Aidan Kingery led a 1-2 finish in the 200-yard IM. Austin Lines and Darrell Drake did the same in diving.
Other winners were Kyle Ellis in the 200 freestyle and Quincy Shirk in the 100 backstroke. Shirk, Kingery, Ben Miesse and Kleine teamed up to win the 200 medley relay.
Second-place finishers were Miesse in the 50 freestyle and Kingery in the 100 backstroke. Kleine, Liam Fuller, Ellis and Miesse finished second in the 200 free relay. Ellis, Miesse, Fuller and Shirk were the runners-up in the 400 free relay.
Placing third were Shirk in the 50 freestyle, Fuller in the 100 butterfly, Ellis in the 100 freestyle and Kleine in the 100 breaststroke.
The Dragons finish their regular season with a 7-4 record. Up next, the New Palestine Dragons host the boys sectional on Feb. 18 and 20.
