By Jeremy Shapiro
GREENCASTLE - Having been crushed by Perry Meridian earlier in the season, Avon wrestlers knew they were a long shot at best to defeat the Falcons in Wednesday’s team regional dual at Greencastle.
The expected happened, but Avon won four matches and perhaps gained some confidence heading into individual regionals Saturday.
Perry Meridian took the match 51-13 and later Wednesday blasted Franklin Community 37-13 to advance semistate.
“We knew coming into it we didn’t have too much of a shot as a team,” said Avon coach Israel Blevins. “You like to get the kids motivated the best you can but they know because we wrestled them earlier in the year and only won two matches.”
The state runner-up a year ago, the Falcons are ranked third in the state. They won 22 of 23 duals in the regular season.
Avon was able to win four of the 12 contested matches.
Avon’s Cole Brandt (171 lbs.), ranked fifth in the state, did not disappoint as he methodically took care of Sam Tasseff 9-1, garnering four team points.
The Falcons got on the board when Andre Richards pinned Gerald Moore. Logan Cooper kept it rolling for Perry Meridian, scoring the first five points of his 215 match against Brian Snyder on his way to a 7-4 win.
Because Avon had to forfeit two of the next three matches, and lost the other when Nick Bova pinned Jordan Mueller, the Orioles quickly found themselves down 27-4.
Avon freshman Tasker Strobel tried to stem the tide at 119, but fell to Jared McKinley early in the second period. The Falcons’ Jason Simmons also earned a pin at 125, pushing the Orioles to brink of elimination at 39-4.
Avon’s Nick Acosta, a sectional finalist Saturday, shut out his opponent at 130 by a 3-0 score. Although the Orioles earned three points, because it wasn’t a pin, Perry Meridian clinched the team victory.
Matt Rassbach gave Avon another victory at 135 pounds. His match with Kenneth Harris was tied 2-2, before the senior scored three points late.
Avon’s Blaine Hall scored an upset, knocking off Kirk Johnson 3-1 at 140 pounds. Johnson came into the meet ranked 18th in the state, but he never seemed to be in control of the match.
“He beat me earlier this season so I was looking forward to wrestling him again,” Hall said. “I kept going the whole match and I never gave up.”
All four of Avon’s Wednesday winners are back on the mat for the individual regional tournament regional at 9 a.m. today at Mooresville. Snyder, Quincy Pirtle, Montana Gipson, and Alex Smith also qualified.
