Wawasee’s Jace Alexander controls his opponent during the East Chicago Wrestling Semi-State. Alexander, teammate Garrett Stuckman and Warsaw’s Jacob Linky closed in the first round of the state finals over the weekend. (File photo by James Costello)

INDIANAPOLIS — A trio of area wrestlers closed out sterling seasons at the IHSAA State Wrestling Finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse over the weekend.

Wawasee’s Jace Alexander and Garrett Stuckman both lost their openers on Friday night, as did Warsaw’s Jacob Linky.

Alexander, who earned his third straight state finals appearance in as many years with a third-place finish at the East Chicago Semi-State the week prior, lost a 7-5 decision to Warren Central’s David Pierson III in their 126-pound opener. Pierson went on to finish in fourth place. Alexander closed out his junior season with a record of 38-3.

Stuckman, who finally broke through in his fourth appearance at East Chicago with a championship for his first-ever state berth, was out-pointed 15-10 in a high-scoring 152-pound opener with Lawrence Central’s Tyler Jones, his first and only loss of the year. Jones closed in seventh place. Stuckman finished his final year with the Warriors with a record of 16-1.

Linky fell via 11-5 decision to Columbia City’s Jackson Pettigrew in the first round Friday. Pettigrew placed seventh in the 160-pound bracket. Linky closed his junior season at 34-5 following a third-place performance in East Chicago, which earned him his first sate finals berth.

Indianapolis Cathedral earned its third straight team championship with a score of 102 points, ahead of runner-up Crown Point’s 93.5 and Evansville Mater Dei’s 85.