SOUTHSIDER VOICE PHOTOS BY NATHAN PACE
Beech Grove’s girls basketball team defeated Triton Central 51-46 Jan. 25 to win the Indiana Crossroads Conference title.
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The Hornets (17-4), led by the “Dynamic Duo” of Cameron Cardenas and Katie Giller, opened sectional play Tuesday against Herron (8-14) at Manual, but the outcome was unknown at press time. The winner will face dangerous Tri-West (15-7) on Friday. 
Beech Grove is favored to win the sectional.

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Perry Meridian and Center Grove won sectional wrestling titles Saturday as Southside teams qualified 67 individuals for regional competition.

The Falcons captured seven championship matches at Southport and Center Grove took four finals at Mooresville. Perry Meridian edged runner-up Roncalli 296.5-284.5 for the title. Center Grove was 26 points better than second-place Mooresville, 180-154. 

At Southport, Perry Meridian’s Alex Cottey (106), Sam Fair (120), Jack Servies (145), Aiden Warren (152), Brooks Davis (160) and Noah Warren (170) each won by falls.

Roncalli captured five individual championships and qualified 14 wrestlers for regional action.

“Wrestling is a unique sport teamwise because we advanced all 14 guys to the regional, but we got the silver medal in the team race,” said Rebels coach Wade McClurg. “The bottom line is that we wrestled well, and we are extremely proud of our individual attitudes and efforts. There were a lot of positives, and we will continue to build on those and move forward.”

Five Rebels won individual titles, including repeat sectional champions in different classes, Brayden Lowery (113 pounds), Alec Viduya (126) and Tyce Freije (132). Lowery is unbeaten in 38 matches.Viduya defeated Beech Grove’s Ethan Smiley 7-4.

At Mooresville, Center Grove’s Gleason Mappes defeated Will Nix of Martinsville to remain unbeaten at 38-0. Teammate Peyton Pruett (35-1) edged Cascade’s Austin Hudson 1-0 in the 145-pound class.

Saturday’s regionals feature the top three wrestlers from each weight class in sectional action. The top four wrestlers in each weight class from regionals advance to the semifinals.

Sectional summaries with the number of regional qualifiers:
At Southport
Beech Grove (seven) – Champion: Bailey Moore, 138. Second: Ethan Smiley, 126. Third: Harley Taylor, 132. Fourth: Ely Shockley, 160.
Manual (two) – Fourth, Jericho Graham, 152; Will Hickman, 220.
Perry Meridian (13) – Champions: Alex Coffey, 106; Sam Fair, 120; Jake Servies, 145; Aiden Warren, 152; Brooks Davis, 160; Noah Warren, 170; Daniel Below, 182. Second: Ceu King, 113; Luis Zepeda, 132; Blaze Lowery, 138; Franklin Raymond, 220. Third: Austin Lane, 195; Andrew Rastelli, 220. 
Roncalli (14) – Champions: Sam Hansen, 195; Brayden Lowery, 113; Alex Viduya, 126; Tyce Freije, 132; John Harris, 220. Second: Sam Slivka, 120; Hunter Miller, 145; Elijah Mahan, 170; Spencer Feats, 220. Third: Luke Aldrich, 106; Brian Keeney, 138; David Page, 152; Trent Smith, 160; Lorenzo Salazar, 182.
Southport (10) – Second: Bryce Pardue, 106; Josh Moore, 152;  Jeremiah Ford, 160; Dayton Fries, 182; Gage Higgs, 195. Third: Luke Goodwin, 120; Sam Logan, 145; Jaeden Battista, 170. Fourth: Khua Thang, 126; Bawi Lian, 132.

At Mooresville 
Center Grove (seven) – Champions: Alex Petro, 113; Peyton Pruett, 145; Gleason Mappes, 160; Shane Stits, 195; Second: Jonah Hays, 170; Julius Byrd, 182. Third: Evan Shoemaker,132. 
Greenwood (seven) – Champions: Jake Schrader, 152; Nick Willham, 170. Second: Keeghan Overton, 113; Anthony Walker, 132; Third: Juron Franklin, 126. Fourth: Chris Ping, 138; Jake Stover, 195.

At Shelbyville
Franklin Central (seven) – Second, Nick Morton, 120; Gavin Keesee, 182; DeShawn Young, 195; Antione Alexander, 285. Third: Chase Peavler, 132. Fourth: Josh Kincaid, 113; Tyler Rodriguez, 152.
Lutheran (three) – Third: Emeka Jilliani, 285. Fourth: Hayden Filipovich, 170; Logan Beard, 182.
(Note: Roncalli sports information director Rob Brown contributed to this article.)