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Knights take sectional

Written by Jim Buchberger [Sports Editor]
Thursday, 04 February 2010
Unbeaten (34-0) South Dearborn senior Tyler Clark eyes the scoreboard en route to his 130-pound division sectional title win, 8-0, over Milan’s Nick Huff Saturday. BROOKVILLE - A hang-tough revenge win by senior Nick Harrell in the 160-pound final highlight Saturday’s seventh IHSAA wrestling sectional championship in school history for South Dearborn High School. Coach George Gardner’s EIAC champion Knights, who trailed Milan after one round in the nine-team state tournament opener at Franklin County, pulled away steadily thereafter for a 38-point victory (224.5-186.5) over Union County and its two defending state champions - 103-pounder Cody Phillips (34-0) and 171-pound senior Michael Duckworth (39-0). “It’s just nice to see our group of seniors win the conference (Jan. 23 at East Central) and sectional,” said Gardner, the Knights’ 23rd-year head coach. “They deserve it. On a personal level, (assistant coaches) Brad Fentress (16th year) and Chris Nobbe have done an extra-good job this season.” South Dearborn, which advances to Wednesday night’s team regional at Seymour against first-round foe New Castle, crowned five individual sectional champs Saturday. Unbeaten and No. 5-ranked senior 130-pounder Tyler Clark (34-0) won a major decision (8-0) over Milan’s Nick Huff for his third-straight sectional title. SD junior Nick Manning (32-2) dominated at 152 pounds with an 18-3 final round technical fall over Connersville’s Cody Day. Senior Kevin Wilger (27-9) locked up the 189-pound crown with a 21-4 tech fall over East Central’s Cameron McMullen. Classmate Ron Forman (25-3) won the 215-pound division with a 7-1 decision over Kyle Barrett of Connersville. But it was Harrell (31-6), who lost a bloody 7-2 decision to EC junior Mark Brown (34-6) who highlighted SD’s day. The 160-pound senior fought from his back several times - including one painful slam that produced bruised ribs - to win a 4-2 title decision at the buzzer. “It was a hard-fought match and Nick never gave up,” Gardner said. “He’s a little sore this week, but he’ll be ready. He really wrestled well.” East Central senior Chris Struewing (29-10) won the Trojans’ lone title Saturday at 135 pounds, 2-1 over SD’s Justin Ballard. EC finished fifth (152) as a team while Lawrenceburg (44) placed ninth. Top four finishers from all sectional weight classes advance to the IHSAA individual regional at Richmond’s Tiernan Center next Saturday.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 March 2010 )