Based on the pre-sectional brackets, several wrestlers from Shelbyville and Triton Central have opportunities to advance to the regional round of the state tournament.
Shelbyville High School’s William L. Garrett Gymnasium is the host site for the 2022 wrestling sectional involving the Golden Bears and Tigers. Also competing will be Eastern Hancock, Franklin Central, Greenfield-Central, Lutheran, Scecina, New Palestine and Warren Central.
A top-four finish in each weight class secures a berth in the Perry Meridian Regional on Feb. 5. The higher the sectional finish equals a stronger seed at the regional level.
Shelbyville’s Cael Lux and Triton Central’s Ayden Nufio, Dayne Bailey, Jaden Ferris, Tristan Gibbons and Hadyn Ball have favorable matchups in their respective weight classes to get those top-four finishes.
At 132 pounds, Lux (16-13) will face Greenfield-Central’s JJ Harlow (12-8) in a quarterfinal match. The winner will face either Lutheran’s Jimmy Davis (3-2) or Scecina’s Jacob Kehrer (9-5) in the semifinals.
Warren Central’s Adrian Cohen (9-1) is the top seed and in the opposite side of the bracket as Lux.
Triton Central’s Marcos Davis (9-6) is slated to meet New Palestine’s Elijah Alonso (9-11) in the opening round with the winner facing Franklin Central’s Timmy Day (11-12) in the quarterfinals.
Nufio, 15-5 this season, has the second most wins in the bracket at 106 pounds. New Palestine’s Cole Vandygriff (14-4) is the top seed and will face Shelbyville’s Ian Barajas (2-6) in the quarterfinal round.
Nufio is matched against Eastern Hancock’s Logan Gilman (4-9) with a berth in the semifinals at stake.
At 113, Bailey (11-5) will face Eastern Hancock’s Zane Badgley (4-7) in the quarterfinal round. Bailey’s 11 wins is third most in the weight class behind New Palestine’s Bryce Doss (23-5) and Greenfield-Central’s Lincoln Parson (17-10).
Shelbyville’s Isaiah Havens (7-8) takes on Warren Central’s Terry Easley (17-13) in a quarterfinal match.
Ferris, at 15-7, is the No. 2 seed at 138 pounds. Franklin Central’s Cayden Shelton (25-8) is the top seed on the other side of the bracket.
Ferris opens against New Palestine’s Diego Reyes (1-14) in the quarterfinal round.
Shelbyville’s Tarik Runnebohm (9-8) will square off with Warren Central’s Sterling Smith (17-11).
Gibbons is wrestling at 160 pounds where there are a pair of top 20-ranked competitors.
Warren Central’s Brenton Russell (32-4), ranked No. 14 at 152 pounds, moves up to 160 and is the top seed. Greenfield-Central’s Clay Guenin (27-4), is ranked No. 15 at 160 pounds.
Gibbons (10-6) opens against New Palestine’s Jaedyn Jeffries (8-20) in the quarterfinal round. A win would likely set up a semifinal match with Russell.
Shelbyville’s Brayden Schultz (7-18) takes on Lutheran’s Joe Davis (13-5) in another quarterfinal match.
There are only eight wrestlers in the 182-pound bracket but three are state ranked.
New Palestine’s Porter Keevers (15-1) is ranked No. 22 and is the top seed at the sectional. Warren Central’s Mike Durham (33-3) is ranked No. 17. Franklin Central’s Jeremiah Smith (11-6) is ranked No. 24.
Ball (15-4) gets Scecina’s Alex Morales (9-9) in the quarterfinal round. A win would likely set up a showdown with Keevers in the semifinal round.
Also competing at the sectional for Shelbyville will be Ethan Watkins (9-9 at 126 pounds), Braxton Mills (28 at 145), Keagan Turner (2-14 at 152), Carson Linville (12-10 at 170), Ryan Bradley (8-12 at 195), Jacob Harker (10-19 at 220) and Elias Jones (14-11 at 285).
Also in the Triton Central lineup are Lucas Kleeman (6-6 at 152), Isaak Booth (12-10 at 170), Andrew Bailey (9-9 at 195), Austin Myers (7-7 at 220) and Aden Sosbe (2-12 at 285).
Weight class brackets are subject to change based on the pre-match weigh-ins.
