MOORESVILLE — The Plainfield Quakers wrestling team advanced four individual wrestlers to regional action Saturday.
Peyton Jones (113) and Dean Weaver (170) each placed third, Ben Macri (126) finished second, and Caleb Sheets (182) pulled out the lone sectional victory of the day for the Quakers.
Sheets beat No.1-seed Ben Smith from Mooresville by decision, 6-5. Smith entered sectionals 28-1 but the sophomore from Plainfield handed him his second loss of the year.
“It feels amazing,” Sheets said. “I’ve never been more proud. I worked hard and got the win.”
The duo had wrestled each other earlier in the year with Smith winning, but Plainfield coach Paul Nicodemus discussed with Sheets that he needed to mix it up with the Mooresville senior.
“He got kind of single dimensional and he didn’t vary anything that he did,” Nicodemus said. “The kid stopped Caleb’s offense and he didn’t go to anything different. So we worked on a variety of moves and if they take this move away, go to this. He’s talented enough that he has several takedowns and it definitely benefited him in that match.”
For Sheets to advance at such a young age speaks volumes about his talent level.
“Caleb is just a sophomore and to be a sectional champion at 182 is quite an accomplishment,” Nicodemus said.
Jones, a six seed, beat Martinsville’s Tyler Hickey twice at the sectional, the second match for the third place finish.
“He had a great tournament. He’s a really tough kid and he wrestles full time,” Nicodemus said. “For him to place third, I couldn’t be more proud.”
Hickey was leading Jones in both matches, by five and seven points respectively, before the freshman pulled off dramatic come-from-behind pins in each match.
“You can be losing by 14 points in this sport and still win if you can pin a kid,” Nicodemus said. “We emphasize that a lot and with Peyton, when he went into that third period down seven, I told him ‘you have got to go neutral and have to find a throw.’ Sure enough, he locked in a headlock and he knew what it was going to take.”
At 126, Ben Macri, coming back from a rough case of the flu, placed second. Nicodemus wasn’t sure about his health for the tournament but is glad Macri is moving on to regional.
“He’s just getting back from being sick, so for him to have that kind of effort today, because his weight class was really tough, I’m just excited for him to go on,” he said.
Weaver at 170 pounds entered sectionals dinged up, but wrestled like he had no injuries and placed third.
“He ended the day with three pins,” Nicodemus said.
With this being the first year that Plainfield wrestled in the Mooresville sectional, Nicodemus said he was satisfied with the team’s fifth-place performance.
“We knew it was going to be tough as nails,” he said. “But to walk out with a fifth place, we are pleased. Up and down the lineup, the kids gave everything they had.”
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Gulf Fishermen Reel From Seafood Troubles
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
