Senior staff writer
Perry Meridian continued its domination of Marion County wrestling by capturing the county championship Dec. 16 at Warren Central for the second straight year and for the 12th time in the past 13 years.
The No. 3 Falcons, coached by Matt Schoettle won five matches and won the title over No. 2 and runner-up Warren Central 301.5-222 in the 15-team meet.
Senior Noah Warren, 170 pounds, became the third wrestler in county history to be a four-time champion by pinning Warren Central’s Aaron Taylor.
Four of Warren’s teammates also claimed titles:
• 106 pounds – freshman Alex Cottey defeated Antonio Jefferson, Warren Central, 12-0.
• 120 – junior Sammy Fair defeated Sebastian Bryant, North Central, 8-3.
• 160 – junior Brooks Davis defeated Danny Acevedo, Warren Central, 7-1.
• 220 – junior Frank Hammond defeated Carlos Mitchell, Warren Central, fall, 3:26.
With three champions, Roncalli was third with 176.5 points.
Roncalli’s champions: 113 – sophomore Brayden Lowery dominated Jevian Ross of Warren Central, 19-0; 182 – junior Elijah Mahan downed Perry Meridian senior Daniel Below 7-3; and 195 – senior Sam Hansen defeated Perry junior Austin Lane 3-0.
Beech Grove senior Ethan Smiley remained undefeated by pinning Roncalli sophomore Alec Viduya at 5:23.
Perry Meridian placed 11 wrestlers among the final six with freshman Aiden Warren losing a 3-1 match against Lawrence Central senior Dheontae Unseld in the championship match. The Falcons’ Sam Jones was runner-up in the 285-pound class.
Beech Grove was eighth, Franklin Central ninth and Southport 11th.
Southport’s Josh Moore (152) and Dayton Fries (182) finished third, and Franklin Central’s Gavin Keesee (195) and Deshawn Young (220) placed fourth.
In the Johnson County meet at Indian Creek, Greenwood claimed three individual titles with Juron Franklin (126), Jake Schrader (152) and Nick Willham (182). Center Grove’s Alex Petro (120) and Gleason Mappes (160) also won titles.