dstruck Posted February 2, 2011 Share Posted February 2, 2011 WRESTLING WEDNESDAY: Jeff to face tough task in Mater Dei at tonight?s regional By KEVIN HARRIS Kevin.Harris@newsandtribune.com The Jeffersonville News and Tribune Wed Feb 02, 2011, 12:28 AM EST > SOUTHERN INDIANA ? The Jeffersonville wrestling team will vie for its first team regional championship in program history tonight at Southridge High School. But it will not be easy for the Red Devils. Jeffersonville will face perennial power Evansville Mater Dei in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. EDT. If the Red Devils beat the Wildcats, they will face either defending regional champion Castle or Jasper in the championship immediately following the semifinals. Jeff and Mater Dei have squared off a couple of times earlier this season. On Dec. 11, the Red Devils lost to the Wildcats in a dual meet at the Mater Dei Five-way Invitational, 46-10. During the tournament, three Red Devils posted 5-0 records in Alonzo Shepherd (112), Renaldo Weekly (145) and Jimmy Pratt (215). Teammates Kevim Castro (125) and Ryan DeWitt (285) each went 4-1. A week later, the Wildcats won the Jeff Classic by 56 points over second-place Jennings County. The Red Devils placed fourth in their annual tournament. Jeff and Mater Dei faced each other in last year?s team regional semifinals. The Wildcats downed the Red Devils, 45-14. Mater Dei has the most regional championships in state history with 30, but it has not claimed a regional crown since 2008. The Wildcats have won the second-most state titles in IHSAA history with 12. Their last state title came in 2007. AREA GRAPPLERS TRY TO STAY ALIVE AT INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL When high school wrestlers enter the IHSAA individual state tournament, their top two priorities are simple: survive and advance. Saturday at Jeffersonville?s Johnson Arena, several area grapplers will try to keep their seasons going as they compete in the Jeff Individual Regional. The Red Devils have the most regional qualifiers among area teams with 13. Last weekend at the Jeff Sectional, the Devils had a school-record nine sectional champions. They were Shepherd (112), Weekly (145), Pratt (215), Castro (125), DeWitt (285), Tre Harbin (140), Brent Browner (152), Brandon Marlin (160) and Elijah Curtley (189). Shepherd, Weekly and Pratt each won regional titles last season. Shepherd won the 103 title, Weekly earned the 135 crown and Pratt won the 215 championship. Charlestown will have 10 wrestlers competing in Saturday?s regional. Senior Ethan Bowen captured the Pirates? only sectional title last weekend. He defeated Floyd Central?s Shane Sneed by a 2-1 decision in the 171 final. Charlestown had four runner-up finishers at sectional in Sasha Weddington (140), Cory Suddeth (152), Jacob Hall (160) and Logan McCutchen (215). After winning the first sectional championship in Christian Academy of Indiana wrestling history, senior Cory Neel will attempt to win the program?s first regional crown. Neel will compete at 130 pounds. Four other Warriors will join Neel at regional, who are Daniel Doty (103), Christian Roberts (119), Ethan Banet (135) and Levi Speth (152). Three New Washington wrestlers will compete at regional. Leading the Mustangs will be senior Lane Massingham (140), who finished third at sectional. Massingham reached semistate last season by placing third in the 135 class at regional. The other two New Washington grapplers competing at regional are sophomore Brady Meenach (125) and freshman Jacob Franklin (160). Brennan Gregory is Providence?s lone regional qualifier. He placed second at 130 in the sectional, losing by a 7-2 decision to Neel in the final Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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