W: Perry Meridian falls just short of a state title

Mike McGraw
Hoosier Authority

It was definitely a changing of the guard. Evansville Mater Dei was not present, and Mishawaka fell in the opening round. Just about the only thing constant about the Team Wrestling State Finals was that Perry Meridian was right in the thick of the title chase. In the end, the Falcons fell short, losing to Crown Point in the championship match, 33-25.

The day got off to an exciting start. Indianapolis Cathedral downed #1 Mishawaka in first round action 31-30. Meanwhile, the Falcons slipped past #6 Bellmont 31-27. Crown Point and Castle enjoyed lopsided wins over Roncalli and Delphi respectively. Perry Meridian built a sizeable advantage in the lower weight classes and then held off a furious rally in the upper classes.

If the opening match had been testing, it was nothing compared to the battle Perry Meridian faced in the semi-finals. Castle led the Falcons going into the final contest of the match. Freshman Jarad McKinley came to the rescue scoring a tech fall victory at 103 lbs. It was just enough to allow the Falcons to eek out a 24-23 victory. The drama served to set up a final between Perry Meridian and Crown Point. The Bulldogs had eliminated Cathedral in the second round by a 28-23 count.

The title match could not have been closer. Neither team won more than three weight classes in a row. Each team won seven of the fourteen individual matches. The difference in the contest came in the heavier classes where Crown Point scored victories by pin in three different weight classes.

Here is a look at the complete match results for the Falcons.

Match 3: #5 Perry Meridian 31, #6 Bellmont 27
103 – Jared McKinley, 9, Perry Meridian pin Blake Adams, 9, Bellmont, 1:18
112 – Michael Clem, 10, Perry Meridian dec. Dewey Melcher, 9, Bellmont, 10-7
119 – Brooks Faurote, 9, Bellmont major dec. Jason Simmons, 11, Perry Meridian, 10-1
125 – Kirk Johnson, 9, Perry Meridian dec. Carlin Hormann, 11, Bellmont, 3-2
130 – Will Sheets, 12, Bellmont dec. Sampson Cook, 12, Perry Meridian, 6-3
135 – Chris Goodwin, 12, Perry Meridian pin Will Busse, 10, Bellmont, 0:31
140 – Jacob Tonte, 11, Perry Meridian major dec. Taylen Reidenbach, 12, Bellmont, 15-2
145 – Jacob Tasseff, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Ryley Hamkenson, 10, Bellmont, 7-1
152 – Blake Wood, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Tyler Baker, 12, Bellmont, 4-3
160 – Trent Busse, 12, Bellmont pin Cory Hudgins, 12, Perry Meridian, 3:37
171 – Jordan Robinson, 10, Perry Meridian dec. Grant Melcher, 12, Bellmont, 6-3
189 – Travis Thatcher, 10, Bellmont dec. Andre Richards, 9, Perry Meridian, 3-1
215 – Billy Baker, 12, Bellmont tech fall Tapiwa Rujuwa, 12, Perry Meridian, 25-10
Hwt – Daniel Meyer, 10, Bellmont pin Devin Schaefer, 10, Perry Meridian, 3:16

Match 6: #5 Perry Meridian 24, #9 Castle 23
103 – Jared McKinley, 9, Perry Meridian tech fall Luke Doud, 9, Castle, 5:20 (26-8) (PM, 24-23)
112 – Michael Brown, 10, Castle dec. Michael Clem, 10, Perry Meridian, 8-2 (Castle, 3-0)
119 – Jason Simmons, 11, Perry Meridian major dec. Jordan Mann, 10, Castle, 8-0 (PM, 4-3)
125 – Kirk Johnson, 9, Perry Meridian dec. Trevor Doud, 11, Castle, 5-0 (PM, 7-3)
130 – Sampson Cook, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Andrew Seitz, 12, Castle, 7-2 (PM, 10-3)
135 – Doug Welch, 10, Castle dec. Chris Goodwin, 12, Perry Meridian, 7-2 (PM, 10-6)
140 – Chad Welch, 10, Castle major dec. Jacob Tonte, 11, Perry Meridian, 19-10 (10-10)
145 – Preston Richard, 12, Castle dec. Jacob Tasseff, 12, Perry Meridian, 5-1 (Castle, 13-10)
152 – Blake Wood, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Andrew Pettijohn, 12, Castle, 2-1 (13-13)
160 – Cory Weikel, 11, Castle dec. Cory Hudgins, 12, Perry Meridian, 3-2 (Castle, 16-13)
171 – Ryan Mann, 12, Castle major dec. Zach Ruark, 12, Perry Meridian, 10-2 (Castle, 20-13)
189 – Alex Rosebrock, 11, Castle dec. Jordan Robinson, 10, Perry Meridian, 7-3 (Castle, 23-13)
215 – Chris Schaefer, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Clay Robinson, 12, Castle, 8-4 (Castle, 23-16)
Hwt – Devin Schaefer, 10, Perry Meridian dec. Tyler Daugherty, 11, Castle, 5-3 (Castle, 23-19)

CHAMPIONSHIP
Match 7: #3 Crown Point 33, #5 Perry Meridian 25
Match began at 119
103 – Jared McKinley, 9, Perry Meridian dec. Cameron Halsted, 9, Crown Point, 6-2 (CP, 29-25)
112 – Anthony Hawkins, 11, Crown Point major dec. Michael Clem, 10, Perry Meridian, 18-5 (CP, 33-25)
119 – Josh Manes, 12, Crown Point dec. Jason Simmons, 11, Perry Meridian, 5-3 (CP, 3-0)
125 – Jason Tsirtsis, 9, Crown Point major dec. Kirk Johnson, 9, Perry Meridian, 18-5. (CP, 7-0)
130 – Sampson Cook, 12, Perry Meridian major dec. Dallas Schurg, 11, Crown Point, 9-0 (CP, 7-4)
135 – Eric Roach, 10, Crown Point major dec. Chris Goodwin, 12, Perry Meridian, 11-3 (CP, 11-4)
140 – Jacob Tonte, 11, Perry Meridian pin Josh Flamme, 10, Crown Point, 2:45 (CP, 11-10)
145 – Jacob Tasseff, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Tom Renn, 11, Crown Point, 5-4 (PM, 13-11)
152 – Blake Wood, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Jeremy Pogorzelski, 12, Crown Point,, 10-6 (PM, 16-11)
160 – Mark Myers, 12, Crown Point pin Cory Hudgins, 12, Perry Meridian, 1:05 (CP, 17-16)
171 – Jordan Robinson, 10, Perry Meridian dec. Jeremy Kool, 12, Crown Point, 3-0 (PM, 19-17)
189 – Marcus Shrewsbury, 12, Crown Point pin Andre Richards, 9, Perry Meridian, 1:10 (CP, 23-19)
215 – Chris Schaefer, 12, Perry Meridian dec. Jim Bakalik, 12, Crown Point, 7-2 (CP, 23-22)
Hwt – Kyle Marshall, 12, Crown Point pin Devin Schaefer, 10, Perry Meridian, 0:26 (CP, 29-22)