Columbus North’s Justice Thornton(l) locks up with Pendleton Heights’ Jaylen Covington during the 7th place match in the 138-pound weight class at the Wrestling State Finals.
Rob Baker | For the Times-Post
Pendleton Heights’ Jaylen Covington looks to his coaches for instructions on how to get out of a hold by Columbus North’s Justice Thornton in the 7th place match in the 138 pound weight class.
Rob Baker | For the Times-Post
EVANSVILLE — Pendleton Heights senior Jay Covington capped off his high school wrestling career in Evansville this past weekend.
He did so with a podium finish at the Indiana High School Athletic Association Boys Wrestling State finals.
On Friday, Covington won his opening round match to extend his season to Saturday and secure himself a spot on the podium.
He closed out the tournament with an eighth-place finish in the 138-pound weight class and ended the season with a record of 39-7.
In his lone match on Friday, he defeated Eastside sophomore Linkin Carter (45-4) by decision 8-4. Carter came into the tournament ranked No. 12 in the class.
On Saturday, in his quarterfinal match, he fell to the No. 3 ranked wrestler in the class, Brownsburg senior Brady Ison. Ison was a four-time state qualifier and was runner-up in the 132-pound class last year.
Ison won the match over Covington by decision 8-4, sending Covington into the wrestle-back rounds.
His wrestle-back matches weren’t any easier.
In his next match he lost to No. 6 ranked Gavyn Whitehead (37-2) from New Castle by major decision.
He dropped his final match of the day to Columbus North’s Justice Thornton by fall (5:00) to end the season with an eighth-place finish.