W Bellmont Super Duals: #1 Mishawaka downs #3 Perry, #6 host Braves

Top-ranked Mishawaka jumped out to a 12-0 lead Jan. 10 against No. 3 Perry Meridian in the marquee matchup of the Bellmont Super Duals and held on for a 29-25 victory. The Cavemen also defeated the No. 6 host Braves, 38-21, in going a perfect 5-0 on the day.

Here’s look at the day’s big matches, complete with individual results and some excellent quotes from champion Mishawaka’s coach, Darrick Snyder (rankings courtesy of indianamat.com):

103: #6 Jared McKinley (PM) forfeit (Mish, 12-6)

112: #4 Paul Beck (M) major dec. Michael Clem, 20-7 (Mish, 16-6)

119: #14 Matt Guerra (M) dec. Jason Simmons, 7-1 (Mish, 19-6)

125: Kirk Johnson (PM) dec. Nick Schrader, 8-3 (Mish, 19-9)

130: #4 Sampson Cook (PM) pin #1 Josh Harper, 2:15 (Mish, 19-15)

135: #8 Chris Goodwin (PM) dec. Aaron Mersich, 7-4 (Mish, 19-18)

140: #1 Steven Sandefer (M) major dec. #11 Jacob Tonte, 22-13 (Mish, 23-18)

145: #7 Jacob Tasseff (PM) major dec. Alex White, 14-6 (Mish, 23-22)

152: Marty Friedman (M) dec. #8 Blake Wood, 3-1 (Mish, 26-22)

160: Richard Morin (M) dec. #9 Cory Hudgins, 5-2 (Mish, 29-22)

171: Jordan Robinson (PM) dec. Drew Childress, 5-1 (Mish, 29-25)

189: #16 Dustin Boyd (M) dec. Andrew Richards, 4-0 (Mish, 3-0)

215: #7 Christian Lentz (M) dec. #5 Chris Schaefer, 3-0 (Mish, 6-0)

Hwt: #6 Travis Thomas (M) pin Devin Schaefer, 1:40 (Mish, 12-0)

In the heavily anticipated showdown between Nos. 1 and 3, Mishawaka led Perry Meridian 19-9 before the Falcons rallied within one with three straight wins, including a shocking pin of top-ranked Josh Harper at 130 pounds by No. 4 Sampson Cook. 

“Cook is a great wrestler and might have the best cradle in the state,” Snyder said. “We have seen him wrestle several times and knew it would be coming, but he still locked it up on us.

“Once again, Josh (a three-time state champion who endured only his third loss ever) handled himself with nothing but complete class. I think these recent losses are just going to motivate Josh – he is such a great wrestler and person. He hates losing, so I know he is excited to get back to work this week.”

Mishawaka’s top-ranked Steven Sandefer responded with a, shall we say, energetic 22-13 major decision of No. 11 Jacob Tonte at 140 before Perry’s No. 7 Jacob Tasseff pulled the Falcons right back at 23-22 with a 14-6 major decision of Alex White at 145. That set the stage for a pair of unranked wrestlers to save the day for the Cavemen.

Marty Friedman got a 3-1 decision over Perry’s No. 8 Blake Wood at 152 to make it 26-22. That preceded Richard Morin’s 5-2 decision over No. 9 Cory Hudgins at 160 to clinch the match at 29-22.

“We take a lot of pride in our JV wrestling team – they haven’t lost a dual meet in five years, and they go through the same practices as our varsity and train during the off-season like the varsity,” Snyder said. “Their commitment and toughness got us the win on Saturday.

“Marty Friedman is one of the best backups in the state. He has not been able to crack our lineup, but when called upon due to an injury he pulled out a huge win over a ranked wrestler. Richard Morin and Christian Lentz (Mishawaka’s seventh-ranked 215-pounder who registered the Cavemen’s third upset win with a 3-0 decision over No. 5 Chris Schaefer) were two of our other top JV guys last season.

“We knew they were going to be tough as nails for us, but they are even better than we had hoped.”

The 35-point outburst at 140 between Sandefer, the defending 140-pound state champ, and Tonte, the son of Perry Meridian coach Jim Tonte, was the talk of the town. A furious first period ended with the score knotted at 8, and the headlock-specialist Tonte was still very much in the match in the second stanza at 10-10. 

But Sandefer had moved out to a 15-10 advantage by the end of the period, and he pulled way late to score the major.

“Steven said Tonte is the most awkward opponents he has ever wrestled,” Snyder said. “Both of them are super explosive, and it made for one of the best matches I have seen all year.

“I’m sure they will meet again.”

 

103: Blake Adams (B) forfeit (Mish, 14-12)

112: #4 Paul Beck (M) major dec. Dewey Melcher, 11-3 (Mish, 18-12)

119: #14 Matt Guerra (M) major dec. Brooks Faurote, 9-0 (Mish, 22-12)

125: Carlin Hormann (B) pin Nick Schrader, 1:21 (Mish, 22-18)

130: #1 Josh Harper (M) dec. #6 Will Sheets, 8-2 (Mish, 25-18)

135: Aaron Mersich (M) major dec. Will Busse, 10-0 (Mish, 29-18)

140: #1 Steven Sandefer (M) pin Cody Walters, 2:20 (Mish, 35-18)

145: Alex White (M) dec. Ryley Hankenson, 10-4 (Mish (38-18)

152: #14 Tyler Baker (B) dec. Marty Friedman, 5-2 (Mish, 38-21)

160: Richard Morin (M) major dec. John Mahlan, 11-1 (Mish, 4-0)

171: Grant Melcher (B) dec. #15 Joey Smith, 14-10 (Mish, 4-3)

189: #16 Dustin Boyd (M) major dec. Travis Thatcher, 19-8 (Mish, 8-3)

215: #1 Billy Baker (B) dec. #7 Christian Lentz, 10-6 (Mish, 8-6)

Hwt: #6 Travis Thomas (M) pin Taylor Schenk, 4:25 (Mish, 14-6)

No. 6 Bellmont was able to hang close early, trailing 8-6 after four matches and 14-12 after six. But Mishawaka garnered victories in six of the final eight classes en route to the decisive win.

“Bellmont is an excellent team,” said Snyder, who was forced into forfeits all day at 103 after fifth-ranked Taylor Wisler failed to make weight. “We were able to win some swing matches, and the guys who lost battled.

“Taylor Wisler is a stud, but is learning to manage his weight. If he gets it under control, he will be a force at 103.”

 

Now 16-0 in dual meets, Mishawaka’s focus remains on peaking in February, according to Snyder.

“We go to the best tournaments we can find to get ready for the end of the year,” Snyder said. “Tournaments like Calumet (the Traicoff Invitational), Bellmont, and our Al Smith Classic get our guys ready for the end of the year. 

“We talk to the guys about having a target on their back, and even got shirts with targets on them to emphasize the point. Anytime you are the returning state champions in any sport, you are going to get everyone’s best.

“It has been a fun and really tough year so far. It really makes us respect and admire teams like (12-time state champ) Evansville Mater Dei who are so often on top.”

Here’s a look at your final team results, listed chronologically by victory (courtesy indianamat.com and southbendtribune.com):

#1 Mishawaka 29, #3 Perry Meridian 25

#1 Mishawaka 38, #6 Bellmont 21

#1 Mishawaka 42, Bloomington South 21

#1 Mishawaka 43, Evansville Memorial 19

#1 Mishawaka 50, Whitko 13

#3 Perry Meridian 54, Bluffton 15

#3 Perry Meridian 37, Bellmont 24

#3 Perry Meridian def. Whitko

#6 Bellmont 43, Bluffton 12 

#6 Bellmont 36, Bloomington South 30

#6 Bellmont 33, Evansville Memorial 27

no scores available

Evansville Memorial 47, Bluffton 16

Whitko 47, Bluffton 18