By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
CLAYTON – Avon won its sixth consecutive Hendricks County wrestling title Dec. 19, but it was not an easy task as the Orioles (175.5 points) toppled second-place Brownsburg (156.5) and surprisingly strong Danville (147.5).
The remaining order of finish was Plainfield (128.5) in fourth, host Cascade (121.5) fifth, and Tri-West Hendricks (84) sixth.
Avon, the state runner-up to Lawrence North in 2005, put six grapplers in the final round and claimed four individual champions: 13th-ranked Matt Rassbach, an 8-3 decision winner over No. 14 Chris Oakes of Brownsburg) in the day’s marquee championship match at 135, as well as a tech fall at 140 by Blaine Hall, a 75-second pin at 171 by fourth-ranked Cole Brandt, and a second-period pin by Quincy Pirtle at 215.
Danville matched the six finalists but claimed one less winner as the Warriors prevailed in three consecutive lower-weight classes: 112 Brayden Montgomery, 119 No. 8 Neal Molloy, and 125 No. 11 Jordan Judy. Brownsburg had four finalists and took titles at the lightest weight class (103 Austin Arnold) as well as the heaviest (see below).
The highlights of the championship round came at 160 pounds and in the heavyweight division.
At 160, Tri-West Hendricks’ No. 10 Ryan Kolb needed just 28 seconds to pin Cody Blackburn of Cascade. Brownsburg heavyweight Duell Ginter then ended a scoreless match late in the first period with a lightning-quick pin of Jake Williams of Avon.
Team scores
1. Avon 175.5
2. Brownsburg 156.5
3. Danville 147.5
4. Plainfield 128.5
5. Cascade 121.5
6. Tri-West Hendricks 84
Results from the championship round:
103: Austin Arnold (Brownsburg) pin Skyler Pintor (Cascade), 2:45
112: Brayden Montgomery (Danville) dec. Andy Mocherman (Tri-West), 8-6
119: #8 Neal Molloy (Danville) dec. Ethan Guernsey (Cascade), 7-0
125: #11 Jordan Judy (Danville) dec. Andrew Wong (Brownsburg), 4-0
130: Grant Collicott (Plainfield) dec. Nick Acosta (Avon), 5-1 (OT)
135: #13 Matt Rassbach (Avon) dec. #14 Chris Oakes (Brownsburg), 8-3
140: Blaine Hall (Avon) tech fall Tyler Williams (Plainfield), 20-3
145: #7 Quayle Bealmear (Tri-West) dec. Dave Haak (Danville), 7-2
152: Dustin Parrish (Plainfield) pin Sam Brewer (Danville), 2:43
160: #10 Ryan Kolb (Tri-West) pin Cody Blackburn (Cascade), 0:26
171: #4 Cole Brandt (Avon) pin Justin Helmick (Cascade), 1:15
189: Cyle Hill (Cascade) dec. Merrick Heitkamp (Danville), 4-3
215: Quincy Pirtle (Avon) pin Sean Loughlin (Plainfield), 3:15
Hwt: Duell Ginter (Brownsburg) pin Jake Williams (Avon), 1:47
