Article is broken up into four team recaps. Team recaps are done alphabetically.

PLYMOUTH – Wrestlers around the state started their postseason journeys today and nine area wrestlers brought home titles at the Plymouth Sectional. At least one grappler from Tippecanoe Valley, Triton, Warsaw and Wawasee was crowned at Saturday’s 10-team tournament. In total, 21 wrestlers from those four teams will compete at next weekend’s Rochester Regional.

Vikings Have Rough Showing, Advance Three

It has not been the year on the mat that the Tippecanoe Valley wrestling team has become accustomed to in recent years, and that became even more clear Saturday afternoon at Plymouth High School. Despite not getting the ultimate results they wanted, the Vikings still fielded two champions and advanced a third wrestler to next weeks regional.

“I was hoping we would get around five guys through today,” said Valley head coach Scott Smith. “Gary Long and Josh Back will go on as alternates, they didn’t quite make it far enough to qualify. Cody Runyon had a good chance, but he aggravated a shoulder injury in a match today and we had to pull him out of the tournament.

“It just hasn’t been the best year for us. It’s been a rough road. But we’re proud of the guys that are moving on and we hope they can take advantage of their opportunity at regional next weekend.”

Devin Childers is one of the three Vikings moving on to the regional. Childers was the top seed in the 132-pound bracket and he finished the day right where he started it, on top. Childers used a 5-1 decision in the championship match to defeat Bremen’s Joey Bailey. Childers is now 37-1.

Garrett Bell had a flare for the dramatic before claiming Valley’s second championship of the day. Bell scored a point for an escape with under 20 seconds left in the third period of his title match against Jeremy Splix of Plymouth. The escape forced overtime. Bell used a takedown in the extra period to win the 182-pound championship. Bell improves to 35-2 this season.

Wyatt Nelson also qualified for the regional by finishing fourth at 138. Nelson is now 32-8 on the year.

Triton Advances Seven To Regional

It was a solid day at the sectional for Triton’s wrestling team. The Trojans had a spectacular showing as they finished fourth as a team (168.5 points) and advanced seven wrestlers to the regional, four as sectional champions.

Malachi Greene started the championship round out right for Triton has he claimed the title at 106 pounds to move his record to 29-7 this season. Greene was a winner by fall over Bremen’s Jacob Thornton.

“This is exciting,” remarked an overwhelmed Greene. “I didn’t think I’d make it this far. This has just been great. I’ve stayed focused this season and to see it pay off at sectional is a really great feeling.”

Triton had to wait for its next shot at a title after Greene’s victory, but the wait was worth it in the end. Grant Stichter claimed the title at 152 which was followed immediately by Gage Waddle’s title at 160. After seeing his teammates succeed in succession, Nate Spangle joined in on the fun to pick up Triton’s third straight win with a pin of Bremen’s Mitch Moore at 170.

Justin Hefner worked his tail off in a semi-final contest with Warsaw’s Anthony Penn to earn a spot in the heavyweight title. Hefner used an escape in the fifth overtime to defeat Penn and advance to the title match. Hefner fell in the championship to Rochester’s Jordan Schafer.

Jeremy Jones (220 pounds) and John Salinas (182 pounds) also advanced for the Trojans to next Saturday’s regional.

Tigers Take Two Titles, Advance Seven

Once again the Warsaw wrestling team had a great day on the mat. The Tigers advanced seven wrestlers to the regional while claiming two sectional titles in the process.

Kyle Hatch stood victorious on top of the podium for Warsaw after dominating the 120-pound bracket. Hatch moved to 36-1 on the season after winning by fall over Diego Newcomb of Rochester in the title match.

“We only brought 10 kids today, so getting seven through is obviously good,” said Warsaw head coach Justin Smith. “We had a goal of getting at least six through and I wanted to see four or five guys in the finals, we had four. That’s a good day. We wanted to come out of here with some number one seeds and we did that. I think we’re wrestling well right now.”

Andrew Brock picked up Warsaw’s other championship of the day as he claimed sectional immortality in the 220-pound bracket by defeating Simon Griffth of Culver Academies in the title match with a pin in the third period.

Spencer Gareiss has been wrestling at a very high level the past few weeks and that did not change for the Warsaw junior at Saturday’s sectional. Gareiss wrestled his way into the finals before falling to Triton’s Gage Waddle.

Rory Nolin also wrestled his way into the finals before suffering his first loss of the day. Nolin lost in the 195-pound title match to Rochester’s Wes Beck.

Kameron Hile (126 pounds), Jeremy Lee (132 pounds) and Anthony Penn (285 pounds) also advanced for the Tigers.

Ponsler Lone Champion As Warriors Advance Four

Turn the clock back one year and what a different story it you would have with the Wawasee Warrior wrestling team. The Warriors entered last year’s sectional at Plymouth High School with several potential champions and a handful of wrestlers capable of making it to the regional. But the Warriors laid a goose egg and advanced nobody.

A year’s worth of work made a difference as the Warriors advanced four to next weekend’s regional at Rochester and even crowned a champion.

“We can say a lot about today’s performance,” stated Wawasee head coach Paul Meyer. “Ricardo Romo had been wrestling under my expectations up until these past few weeks and he had a great showing today to qualify for the regional as a freshman. That’s huge for him.

“Then you look at what Tristin Ponsler did today. He beats Cody Allmon for the third time this season, that’s hard to do. Allmon is a great wrestler. That’s a quality win for Tristin, Allmon is probably the second-best kid in that bracket.

“Tristin has worked hard, all of our guys have. Zach Ford is seeing his hard work pay off as he gets to move on to the regional. Stephen (Possell) is working through some injuries, but it will all be good. We had some tough draws today, due to our records, but that’s something you have to deal with. We have to work on having better records before sectionals roll around next season.”

Ponsler displayed his passion for the sport all day on his way to his first sectional title. He lost in the finals his freshman year and failed to advance last season after sufferinga shoulder injury. But once the clock ran out in his title match against Rochester’s John Hunting, Ponsler let it all out. He pointed emphatically at his parents in the stands then ran and jumped into Wawasee assistant coach Josh Vallejo’s arms. It was a great moment for the young man.

While Ponsler celebrated the idea of returning to the regional, Ford, a senior, was excited to be going for the first time.

“I’m just excited to go on,” said Ford. “I’m excited to get another chance to work hard and have another opportunity to wrestle next week. It will be a tough field but I’m excited for the chance to be a part of it.”

Ford finished third at 160. Possell was fourth at 170. Romo was fourth at 106.