Greenfield-Central’s Dakota Herald controls Roncalli’s Patrick McKinley during their 126-pound match at Greenfield-Central High School on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.
Rob Baker/Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — The Greenfield-Central wrestling team took care of business Wednesday night, winning big on senior night, 63-15, over visiting Decatur Central.
The host Cougars tallied six pins and claimed four more matches by forfeit with a total of 11 overall going Greenfield-Central’s way.
The Cougars recognized 13 seniors for their service to the G-C wrestling program. One of the highlights, head coach Josh Holden remarked, was the unselfishness of state-ranked sophomore Clay Guenin, who gave up his spot at 160 pounds in order for senior 152-pounder Josh VanOsdol to compete.
VanOsdol came through, scoring a 12-6 decision at 160.
“It was an awesome display of selflessness and love for his teammates,” Holden said. “VanOsdol won the match and fired up the home crowd.”
The Cougars’ pins were recorded by senior Dakota Herald (126 pounds), sophomore Kannon Zuber (132), junior Zeke Holden (145), senior Chase Gardner (170), sophomore Silas Frye (182) and sophomore Brayden Flener (285).
Senior Matt Wickham (138) lost a hard-fought match by decision 5-1.
The Cougars head to Yorktown High School on Saturday looking to defend their Hoosier Heritage Conference team title during the annual conference tournament.
Dragons roll past Wildcats
The New Palestine wrestling team posted a decisive 46-25 victory Wednesday over Lawrence North.
Elijah Alonso started the match with an 11-9 decision at 132 pounds. Brandon Brees won a 14-4 major decision at 170.
Porter Keevers (182) and Jacob Tweedy (195) followed with falls. Juan Camacho won a forfeit at 285.
The Dragons then swept through the lower weights, with Cole Vandygriff winning 11-4 by decision at 106, and then Bryce Doss (113), Trase Quillen (120) and Chris Bullock (126) by fall.
The Dragons are now 10-11 on the season. They next compete Saturday in the Hoosier Heritage Conference meet at Yorktown.
Girls basketball
Dragons topple Tigers
The New Palestine girls basketball team hit several big shots down the stretch Tuesday to beat Class 2A No. 6 Triton Central, 54-44.
Playing their first home game in 28 days, the Dragons scored 26 fourth-quarter points to seal the victory.
After the visiting Tigers erased a Dragon lead with a six-point run to tie the game at 23-23 late in the third, Alaina Miller drilled a 3-pointer out of the right corner. That shot allowed the Dragons to re-take the advantage.
TC answered, but Isabella Gizzi followed by hitting a contested baseline jumper ahead of the third-quarter buzzer to give the Dragons a 28-25 lead going into the final eight minutes.
The Dragons hit 18-of-22 from the line in the fourth quarter – all in the final 5:30 – to seal the game.
Gizzi led the Dragons with 16 points, hitting 12 of 14 from the line. She hit 10 of 12 in the final quarter. Kelley added 15 points, tying her career high.
Alaina Miller tallied 13 points. Blum scored seven points, while Vivian Miller scored one.
Royals fall to Trojans
The Class 2A ninth-ranked Eastern Hancock girls basketball team dropped its second of three games on Tuesday night at 4A New Castle.
The Royals (13-3) built an 18-10 lead after the first quarter and carried a 25-18 advantage at halftime, but the host Trojans outscored Eastern Hancock 41-23 in the second half to win, 57-48.
Makenzie O’Neal led the Royals with 16 points. Brooklyn Willis had 13 points. Grace Stapleton added 10 points with Caroline Stapleton with six.
New Castle countered with 18 points by Emma Hart, 17 from Maddy Meek and 10 points by Sakagawea Watson. Emma Blackburn had eight points.
Caroline Stapleton had a team-best six rebounds. Willis hauled in five. Ellie Meyer had four, followed by three apiece by O’Neal, Grace Stapleton and Sydney Springman.
Grace Stapleton had four assists, and Springman had three steals.
The Royals lost at home to Mid-Eastern Conference foe Blue River, 62-55, on Jan. 4 before bouncing back at home against Union County, 56-26, on Jan. 8.
Eastern Hancock returns home on Saturday against Class A Waldron for a 12:30 p.m. varsity tip.
Swimming & Diving
Dragons sweep Beech Grove, Covenant
The New Palestine swimming and diving teams swept a triangular meet Tuesday against Beech Grove and Covenant Christian.
Winners for the Dragon boys were Chase Martin in the 200-yard freestyle (2:09.93), James Watson in the 200 IM (2:30.41), Dawson Lynch (24.77) in the 50 free, Quincy Shirk in the 100 free (55.43) and 100 backstroke (1:06.98), Karter McNeil in the 500 free (5:59.80), Dontae Thompson in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.00)
The 200 medley relay of Lynch, Aidan Kingery, Liam Fuller and Dontae Thompson (1:51.99) won as did the 200 free relay of Shirk, Watson, Eli Kleine and Martin (1:40.39) and the 400 free relay of Liam Fuller, Lynch, Kleine and Thompson (3:50.28).
Winners for the Dragon girls were Katelyn Trimpe in the 200 free (2:17.00) and 500 free (5:59.80), Sullie Leavell in the 100 butterfly (1:12.08) and 100 backstroke (1:15.62), Rachel Hamilton in the 200 IM (2:58.86), Chloe Siler in the 50 free (27.01), Claire Lake in the 100 free (1:08.07),
The 200 free relay of Leavell, Hamilton, Siler and Trimpe (1:55.34) won. The quartet also won the 400 free relay (4:26.13).
The Dragons boys are now 7-2, while the girls are 7-6.
