Cubs' Adams, Rebels' Schroeder win sectional titles, 13 advance to regional

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Sectional Champs: Madison 125-pounder Zach Adams (above) works to turn Southwestern?s Kegan Smith in the sectional preliminaries while Southwestern 103-pounder Luke Schroeder (below) works to do the same against Madison?s Stephen Gibson in the quarterfinals. Adams and Schroeder both won sectional championships Saturday at Jennings County. In addition, Gibson is one of eight Cubs and five Rebels advancing to Saturday?s individual regional at Bloomington South High School. (Photos courtesy Ray Black Jr.)

 

 

Courier Sports Staff

 

2/2/2009

 

Madison's Zach Adams and Southwestern's Luke Schroeder each brought home championships from the IHSAA Wrestling Sectional at Jennings County Saturday.

 

Overall, the Cubs had eight wrestlers qualify for this weekend's regional at Bloomington South while Southwestern had five. As a team, Madison finished third and Southwestern was sixth.

 

Adams, a freshman, had the most dramatic match of the day, winning Madison's lone sectional title in double overtime on a locked hands call over Cade McGaha of Columbus North. Schroeder, wrestling at 103 pounds knocked off top-seed Steve Rieker of Columbus East in the finals.

 

"Zach has been wrestling well since he's made 125, we have told him all year that he was the sectional champion at 125 if he makes the weight and he did," Madison coach Dustin Bentz said. "It's still important for Zach to get his weight under control in order to be effective deeper into the state tournament."

 

Along with Adams, Madison had three other wrestlers reach the finals. Robby Taylor (112 pounds), Andy Marthin (135), and Tray Whalen (145) each placed second in their respective weight classes.

 

"Our other three finalists have been our consistent guys all year and in the finals they ran into state ranked competitors and former state placers," Bentz said. "They wrestled their hearts out, but it just wasn't enough. We will review tape this week and hopefully work out the kinks that will help us to be successful next weekend."

 

Those four Cubs will be joined by four more Cubs next weekend at Bloomington South. Stephen Gibson took third at 103, Easton Asher took fourth at 160, Scottland Sons was fourth at 189, and Jordan Blakemore was fourth at 285.

 

There was one Cubs who placed fifth and two sixth on the day: Ryan Fish (152) was fifth and Cody Lewis (130), and Brandon Rice (215) were sixth. Two other Cubs, Evan Bowling and Gage Chatham failed to place.

 

In addition to Schroeder's win, Jared Smith went 3-1 at 215 pounds and finished second for Southwestern to advance to regional.

 

"I think Jared not getting to practice hurt him a little in the finals but he is one that knows what it takes to bounce back," Southwestern coach Keith Lauderbaugh said.

 

Jake Smith (130), Michael Brawner (135) and Eli Lauderbaugh (145) each finished third to earn regional berths for Southwestern.

 

"With everyone having to deal with little or no practice time, made it a difficult week to prepare for the state tournament," coach Lauderbaugh said. "We were a little concerned with having so much time off, but everyone had to deal with the same situation. We are a fairly young team and I was very pleased with the outcome and I believe it gives us something to build on."

 

Nick Carroll finished fifth at 171 pounds and Skyler Parker (119) and Chris Schafer (285) each placed sixth. R.J. Rowlett, Michael Humphrey and Kegan Smith failed to place.

 

"Kegan had an outstanding year for this being his first year of wrestling and just missed placing for us," Lauderbaugh said.

 

The regional will be Saturday at Bloomington South. Bentz, thinks his young team is peaking just right.

 

"As a team they really turned it on after the start of the New Year, and they peaked today. Our concern as a coaching staff was that there was going to be a letdown at some point, but the wrestlers kept rising to the occasion," Bentz said. "I find it even more satisfying that in the midst of conference controversy, we made a statement that we can compete by placing ahead of three Hoosier Hills Conference teams."