The goal for most of Johnson County’s wrestlers on Saturday will be to make it back to the same gymnasium a week later.
Unfortunately, the Mooresville Sectional offers no such guarantees.
Center Grove, Franklin, Greenwood and Whiteland are among the 10 schools scheduled to take part. Meanwhile, Indian Creek will compete at the 11-team Bloomington North sectional.
Franklin, which edged Center Grove by four points to claim the county title in December, is led by four junior wrestlers who’ll take the mat as No. 1 seeds — Jake Bechert (138 pounds), Tyler Fuqua (160), Jalen Ward (170) and Harris Eason (195).
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
In the state rankings, Fuqua is eighth, Harris 12th and Ward 15th in their respective divisions.
“There are four weight classes that, if we get through, then we beat someone who was seeded ahead of us,” first-year Franklin coach Jim Tonte said. “If we have a good day, I think we can get all 14 (to regional).
“Our kids are a little bit more battle-tested because of the schedule we wrestle, so hopefully that comes into play come tournament time.”
Center Grove coach Maurice Swain brings in four No. 1 seeds of his own.
Sophomore Hayden Watson, the state’s sixth-ranked 132-pounder, leads the way for the Trojans. He is joined by teammates Sam Howe, a junior, at 138 and 182-pound sophomore Drake Buchanan.
Center Grove sophomore Michael Tharpe, who has missed the entire season to this point with a broken arm, would be the wrestler to beat at 113 pounds if he is medically cleared to compete on Saturday.
“Obviously, we want to wrestle to the best of our ability on Saturday,” Swain said. “We’ll have the guys as prepared as possible and see how it goes.”
Whiteland freshmen Eli Brooks and Joey Buttler are seeded second at 106 and 113 pounds, respectively. Another Warriors’ ninth-grader, 220-pounder Jakarrey Oliver, is the No. 3 seed at Mooresville, while teammate Andre Merritt is sixth at 138.
Greenwood is seeded to advance five to the regional round with four No. 4 seeds and junior Anthony Walker, the sectional’s No. 1 seed at 152 pounds.
Indian Creek coach Pat Dowty’s squad is led into Bloomington by a pair of second-seeded wrestlers in senior Owen Sego (170 pounds) and freshman Jackson Heaston (106). Also, 120-pounder Trent Watkins is a No. 3 seed and Brandon Murray is fourth at 160. Dowty feels Aden Johnson, a No. 6 seed at 126 pounds, also has the ability to make it to regional.
“If we get those five through, I would be pretty happy,” Dowty said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Mooresville Sectional
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: Mooresville High School
Local teams competing: Center Grove, Franklin, Greenwood, Whiteland
Admission: $6
Advancement: Top four in each weight class qualify for Mooresville Regional on Feb. 8.
Bloomington North Sectional
When: Saturday, 9 a.m.
Where: Bloomington High School North
Local team competing: Indian Creek
Admission: $6
Advancement: Top four in each weight class qualify for Bloomington South Regional on Feb. 8.
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Scouting the Mooresville Sectional” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The stakes get higher for Johnson County wrestlers starting Saturday.
Regarded as one of the state’s most unforgiving sectionals, the Mooresville site includes four local teams (Center Grove, Franklin, Greenwood and Whiteland) with wrestlers vying to extend their seasons by a week.
Those who advance to semifinals will advance to next week’s regional, which will also be hosted by Mooresville.
The following is a look at some of the area wrestlers in a position to contend Saturday and in the weeks ahead:
106 pounds
Eli Brooks, Whiteland: The freshman holds a 28-3 record in his first season of varsity competition and enters the sectional as a No. 2 seed. Won his weight class at Johnson County meet.
113 pounds
Michael Tharpe, Center Grove: The sophomore, a semistate qualifier at 106 last season, broke his arm in the preseason and has yet to compete this winter. If medically cleared, he will do so Saturday and immediately be considered a favorite. Could face Franklin sophomore Dayson Lashlee (20-11) in a quarterfinal.
Joey Buttler, Whiteland: The freshman is seeded second after compiling a 25-8 mark in the regular season.
120 pounds
Jake Bechert, Franklin: The junior (20-10), a state qualifier two seasons ago at 106 who lost in the first round of regional last season at 120, is the No. 1 seed at Mooresville. Won county and conference during the regular season.
132 pounds
Hayden Watson, Center Grove: A sophomore, Watson (32-1) is ranked sixth in the state and enters the sectional seeded first after winning county and conference titles. Last season, he won sectional at 113 and was runner-up at regional. Could be on course to wrestle Franklin’s Ethan Jeffery (25-10) in a semifinal.
138 pounds
Sam Howe, Center Grove: The junior is the top seed in his weight class with a 20-9 record after claiming runner-up status at county at 152 pounds and placing fourth at 138 in the MIC meet. Franklin’s Jude Barger (21-11) and Whiteland’s Andre Merritt (16-10) are part of the bottom half of the bracket.
145 pounds
Center Grove junior Riley Rust (19-5) and Franklin senior Ethan Nash (24-6) are in the bottom part of the bracketing and could meet in a semifinal match.
152 pounds
Anthony Walker, Greenwood: The junior enters sectional with a 26-4 record and the top seed. He took first at the Mid-State Conference meet. Walker could meet Whiteland junior Jason Savin (16-9) in semifinal or Franklin’s Noah McCann (18-6) in the final.
160 pounds
Tyler Fuqua, Franklin: Ranked No. 8 in Indiana, the junior is the top seed Saturday. He placed first at county and at the Mid-State Conference meet. Could possibly meet Center Grove junior Sam Hesser (22-9) in the title match.
170 pounds
Jalen Ward, Franklin: The top seed in his division after placing second at county to Indian Creek’s Owen Sego and winning at the Mid-State Conference meet. The junior (27-5) is ranked 15th in Indiana.
182 pounds
Drake Buchanan, Center Grove: The sophomore holds a 28-2 mark, is ranked 12th in Indiana and is seeded first in the sectional after winning county and conference titles. Could wrestle Franklin’s Wyatt Strain (22-10) in a semifinal.
195 pounds
Harris Eason, Franklin: Holds a 29-2 record this season and is ranked 12th in the state. Won both county and conference titles.
220 pounds
Jakarrey Oliver, Whiteland: Freshman posted a 23-9 mark during the regular season and is seeded third at sectional. Oliver was one of three Warrior ninth-graders to win his weight class at the county meet.
285 pounds
Franklin sophomore Jacob Johnson (26-5) won this weight class at the Johnson County meet.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
