Pendleton Heights’ Jay Covington celebrates an 8-7 138-pound ticket round victory over Southmont’s Maddox Cade that guaranteed him advancement in to this week’s state finals.
Mike Brown | For the Times-Post
By Brady Extin | For The Times-Post
NEW CASTLE — Pendleton Heights entered the New Castle Semi-State hoping to exit with some representation at the IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals.
With six chances, they did just that.
But not without heartbreak.
The lone Arabians grappler to advance to Saturday’s state final at Ford Center in Evansville was senior Jay Covington.
With wins needed in the opening two rounds to secure a spot in the state finals bracket, Covington (38-4) won a pair of close matches.
In the opening round at 138 pounds, he defeated North Central’s Evan Smith (29-13) by decision 7-5 to get to the spot he lost in last year.
Covington’s season a year ago ended in a ticket round loss, but this time we wouldn’t be denied a trip to state. He beat Southmont’s Maddox Cade (31-4) by decision 8-7 to punch his ticket to Evansville.
In the semifinals, he lost by fall to the No. 2 ranked wrestler in the weight class, Warren Central’s Kyrel Leavell (37-1), but bounced back with a 4-3 win by decision over Lawrence North’s Blake Jones (29-7) in the consolation finals to place third.
The heartbreak for Pendleton Heights came in the 144-pound weight class.
Senior Jack Todd (29-2), who came into the day ranked No. 9 in the class, was looking to make it back to the state finals for the second straight season.
Last year, he placed fourth after winning his opening two matches.
This time, after a first-round win by fall over Richmond’s Gavin McFarland (20-14), his state ticket was denied by Southmont’s Marlin Williams (34-3).
Williams pinned Todd in the second period to give him only his second loss of the season.
Four other Arabians competed in the semi-state tournament, and all four dropped their opening-round matchup.
At 126 pounds, junior Max Bowers (31-6) fell to a conference opponent. New Palestine’s Gunner Butt (33-5) won by fall. Butt went on to win the title in the 126-pound weight class.
In the 157-pound class, sophomore Turner Seale (17-18) was defeated by opening period fall against Hamilton Southeastern’s Zach Lang (38-4).
At 190 pounds, another New Palestine Dragon ended an Arabian’s season. Pendleton Heights senior Chris Crank (26-9) was defeated by New Palestine’s Colin Whetsel (23-7) by first-period fall.
The final competitor for the Arabians, senior Eli Libler (28–9), lost his first-round match in one of the toughest weight classes, 215 pounds.
He was defeated by East Central’s Brayden Rouse (37-3) by fall.
Pendleton Heights placed 20th in the team standings with 15 points. Warren Central won the team title with 148.5 points followed closely by Cathedral (124.5), Roncalli (96) and New Palestine (82).
Covington will wrestle in Round 1 on Friday beginning at 2 p.m (Central Time). He will take on Eastside’s Linkin Carter (45-3).
The quarterfinals and semifinals will take place on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. (CT), with the consolation matches taking place at 4:30 p.m. (CT) and the finals at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
