Seven wrestlers from Delaware County, including five from Yorktown, won their matches in the opening round of the IHSAA state tournament Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The Tigers’ Christian Hunt (106), Brad Laughlin (138), Dru Berkebile (152), Dillon Jackson (170) and Myron Howard (195) each won on Friday. Delta’s Sage Coy (132) and Jacob Gray (160) were Delaware County’s other two winners.
Hunt defeated Hamilton Southeastern’s Klayton Anderson by a 5-0 decision. Laughlin picked up a 6-0 win against Culver Community’s Triston Rodriguez. Berkebile won by fall in 2:52 against Centerville’s Isaiah Michaels. Jackson won by a 12-7 decision against Hamilton Southeastern’s Spencer Irick, and Howard won by fall in 5:10 against Castle’s Jake LaMar.
Yorktown brought a total of eight wrestlers to the state tournament, with three taking opening-round losses. Cael McCormick (145) fell by a 4-3 decision against Richmond’s Alston Bane. Teammate Hunter Hiestand (182) lost by a 10-4 decision to South Putnam’s Kyle Shaffer. Hiestand’s twin brother, Dax Hiestand (285), was defeated by fall in 3:34 by Merrillville’s Shawn Streck.
Coy defeated Northview’s Cale McCoy by fall in 1:17. Gray was also a winner by fall, defeating Danville’s Kody Caudle in 43 seconds. The Eagles’ third qualifier, Scottie Evans (195), was defeated by Jennings County’s Christian Redmond by fall in 3:15.
Jay County, New Castle and Winchester each qualified one wrestler, and all three were defeated on Friday. The Patriots’ Andy Kohler (182) was defeated by Avon’s Evan Elmore by fall in 1:02. The Trojans’ Caleb Hoots (182) lost to Penn’s Chase Osborn by injury default (3:31). Dustyn Hangen (220), Winchester’s entrant, was defeated by major decision (17-4) by Penn’s Kobe Woods.
The tournament is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with quarterfinal action.
