W Spartan Classic: #9 Reitz conquers #11 Roncalli at Connersville

CONNERSVILLE – Ninth-ranked Evansville Reitz pulled away from a first-place tie with No. 11 Roncalli after Day 1 of the 32-team Spartan Classic to capture the overall and Class AAA championships Dec. 30 at the Spartan Bowl in Connersville. 

The Panthers totaled 261.5 points for the title, with Roncalli at 236.5 and third-place No. 17 Indianapolis Cathedral scoring 227.5. North Central (Indianapolis) and South Dearborn tied for fourth with 173.5 points.

Reitz had 12 of its 14 wrestlers pin down Top 8 finishes, including victories by No. 5 Bryan Kuhn at 112 and Blake Rueger at 135. Corey Voegel was runner-up at 145, while the Panthers collected third-place finishes at four weights – 103 (No. 14 Gideon VanHook in a loaded field that featured five ranked competitors), 119 (No. 11 Trevor Moody), 189 (Jeff Fentress), and heavyweight (Zach Wimpelberg).

Roncalli also crowned a pair of individual champions in fourth-ranked Josh Kieffer at 119 and fourth-ranked Justin Kieffer at 125. Justin Kieffer also was named the Ed Collier Most Valuable Wrestler.

A trio of other schools pulled the double-winner trick, too. 

Union County’s pair of defending state champions came out on top at 103 (No. 1-ranked Cody Phillips) and 189 (Michael Duckworth, who’s currently ranked first at 171 and also won the award for most pins). Cathedral won at 160 (No. 2 Tyler Willis) and heavyweight (unranked Jake Buchanan). And South Dearborn took titles at 130 (No. 6 Tyler Clark) and 152 (No. 15 Nick Manning).

1. #9 Evansville Reitz 261.5 (Class AAA champion)

2. #11 Roncalli 236.5 (Class AA champion)

3. #17 Indianapolis Cathedral 227.5

4. North Central (Indianapolis) 173.5

4. South Dearborn 173.5

6. Carroll (Fort Wayne) 149.5

7. Pendleton Heights 139

8. Connersville 119.5

9. Union County 118 (Class A champion)

10. Lebanon 116

The individual results (complete with a class-by-class summary from a fellow calls himself “Indiana Wrestlin”), courtesy of IndianaMat.com:

1. #1 Cody Phillips, Union County

2. #8 Mike Venezia, Indianapolis Cathedral

3. #14 Gideon VanHook, Evansville Reitz

4. #7 Josh Ferrell, Greenfield-Central

5. #16 Tom Gettinger, Connersville

6. Zach Wise, Pendleton Heights

7. Conner Aldridge, Evansville North

8. Devin Hubbard, Fort Wayne Snider

IW: By far the most competitive and entertaining weight as six wrestlers are Conseco-caliber. Phillips (the defending 103 state champ) was very dominant. The match was close with Venezia in the finals through two periods, but Phillips unleashed his strength and roughneck style on Venezia, putting him on his back twice for the major decision and almost a fall. Venezia had a real nice tournament, beating a good Connersville kid, Gettinger, and taking a tight battle with Greenfield’s Farrell. Both Wise from Pendleton Heights and VanHook from Reitz were also impressive.

1. #5 Bryan Kuhn, Evansville Reitz

2. #7 Brian Harvey, Indianapolis Cathedral

3. #8 Mason Todd, Pendleton Heights 

4. Aaron Davis, Roncalli

5. Kieno Scott, North Central (Indianapolis)

6. Cody House, Connersville

7. Garth Simpson, Rochester

8. David Noe, Richmond

IW: Brian Harvey (Cathedral) vs. Bryan Kuhn (Reitz) in the finals could have gone either way. Kuhn stole a couple quick back points on a scramble, and it was the difference-maker in an 8-5 decision. Harvey beats Mason Todd, 5-3, in the quarters, and pins Davis from Roncalli with little fanfare in the semis.

1. #4 Josh Kieffer, Roncalli

2. Alex Troy, Fort Wayne Snider

3. #11 Trevor Moody, Evansville Reitz

4. #14 Josh Julien, Lebanon

5. Jacob McCord, South Dearborn

6. Chase Woodall, Connersville

7. Tyler Burrellson, Triton Central

8. Brian Philbert, Pendleton Heights

IW: Josh Kieffer was in a class of his own, beating Troy handily in the finals. Troy vs. Moody in the semis was a nail-biter.

1. #4 Justin Kieffer, Roncalli

2. #3 (at 130) Ethan Raley, Indian Creek

3. Drew Sulawske, Evansville North

4. Celin Campbell, Lebanon

5. Zach Bottomley, Connersville

6. Beckes, Evansville Reitz

7. Justin Eshelman, Pendleton Heights

8. Jared Huff, Milan

IW: Justin Kieffer destroys Raley (the 2008 state champ at 103), up 10-0 when he pins him. Kieffer was superior on his feet and has a dirty double leg.

1. #6 Tyler Clark, South Dearborn

2. #10 John Stringfield, Indianapolis Cathedral

3. #12 Joe Kieffer, Roncalli

4. Poynter, DeKalb

5. Derek Dowdy, Evansville Reitz

6. Chance Miller, Triton Central

7. Mikey Sartain, Hagerstown

8. Nick Huff, Milan

IW: Clark was pretty darn good, beating Stringfield in the finals pretty handily.

1. Blake Rueger, Evansville Reitz

2. Andrew Konrath, Mount Vernon (Posey)

3. Smith, North Central (Indianapolis)

4. Schroder, Rochester

5. Sam Oskins, Indianapolis Cathedral

6. Brooks Manning, Greenfield-Central

7. Goss, Roncalli

8. Jake McCoy, Franklin County

IW: I thought this weight was pretty average. Rueger looked good beating up on Konrath by a major, having Konrath on his back to end it.

1. #9 Bailey Kesterman, Triton Central

2. Wade Thiel, Fort Wayne North

3. Tiandre Edwards, North Central (Indianapolis)

4. Gino Gillum, Indianapolis Cathedral

5. Jeff Clark, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

6. Justin Enright, Centerville

7. Travis Gaff, DeKalb

8. Ben Kane, Roncalli

IW: Theil vs. Gillum in the semi was heart-stopping, high-scoring action! Edwards wrestles all the way back from a second-round loss to Kesterman to take third.

1. #8 Reece Lefever, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

2. Corey Voegel, Evansville Reitz

3. Mason Gesell, Union County

4. #11 Logun Taylor, Western

5. Logan Zielinski, Roncalli

6. Braydon Alley, Hamilton Heights

7. Shane Steele, Mount Vernon (Posey)

8. Zeth O’Neal, Milan

IW: Gessell vs. Voegel in the quarters could have been the final – it was an 18-16 type of match in Voegel’s favor. Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but I thought third-place Gessell could have beaten Lefever. Weight was not the strongest.

1. #15 Nick Manning, South Dearborn

2. Jon Timmerman, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

3. #11 Austin Neighberger, Indianapolis Cathedral

4. Blake Marshall, Mount Vernon (Posey)

5. Tyler Boyle, Evansville Reitz

6. Cody Day, Connersville

7. Aaron Mason, DeKalb

8. Kevin Fox, Richmond

IW: Manning manhandles Timmerman in the final by a technical fall, 17-2. Neibarger takes third handily, losing a tough match to Timmerman in the semis.

1. #2 Tyler Willis, Indianapolis Cathedral

2. Joe Ardizzone, Roncalli

3. Conner Lefever, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

4. Cody Becker, Northeastern

5. Nick Harrell, South Dearborn

6. Cole Kelly, North Central (Indianapolis)

7. Schneider, Evansville Reitz

8. Stephen Blanford, Mount Vernon (Posey)

IW: Willis dominated with a tech fall in the finals over Ardizonne. The next-best kid was Lefever.

1. #13 Trey Reese, Indian Creek

2. #10 Mike Smith, North Central (Indianapolis)

3. Jake Bartley, Roncalli

4. Kamaryn Wright, Lebanon

5. Dakota Gruell, Greenfield-Central

6. Logan Raydole, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

7. Jake Stilwell, Pendleton Heights

8. Tyler Byall, Fort Wayne North

IW: I was surprised to not see Smith win this. Reese is the real deal, though.

1. #1 (at 171) Michael Duckworth, Union County

2. Ian Early, Greenfield-Central

3. Jeff Fentress, Evansville Reitz

4. Kevin Wilger, South Dearborn

5. Bronc Fletcher, Centerville

6. Stephen Hackl, Indianapolis Cathedral

7. Damon Albertson, Roncalli

8. Chance Blackwell, Bedford North Lawrence

IW: Duckworth (the defending 171 state champ and the 2008 runner-up at 160), with little competition.

1. Kyle Smitherman, Pendleton Heights

2. #10 Ron Forman, South Dearborn

3. Gage Andis, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

4. Kevin Gaugham, North Central (Indianapolis)

5. Kyle Barrett, Connersville

6. Jake Tucker, Roncalli

7. Brandon Kemp, Evansville Reitz

8. Caleb Jones, Talawanda (OH)

IW: Another very down weight class.

1. Jake Buchanan, Indianapolis Cathedral

2. Ben Jackson, Milan

3. Zach Wimpleberg, Evansville Reitz

4. #7 Willie Henson, North Central (Indianapolis)

5. Jessey Boley, Lebanon

6. #14 Jake Stevenson, Indian Creek

7. Sean McPike, Bedford North Lawrence

8. Teddy O’Connell, Mount Vernon (Posey)

IW: Buchanan wins this one pretty easy.