8 Rocks Move on to Semi State

There are 8 WHS Wrestlers still alive in the 73rd IHSAA Invididual State Wrestling Tournament as the tournament heads to New Castle on Saturday, February 12th.  There are 64 wrestlers left in the state at each weight class and now the goal for many is to make it into the final 16 and qualify for the IHSAA State Tournament in two weeks.  The team has several wrestlers making their first ever trip to the semi state this coming weekend.    This group of new comers include two freshmen, AJ Belden and Dillon Eldred.  Belden will be wrestling at 103 after finishing 3rd at the North Montgomery Regional.  Fellow freshmen Eldred will be at 119 after knocking off a sectional champion from Southmont in one of the dramatic upset matches of the regional.    Joining the two freshman in making their first trip to the semi state is a trio of juniors, Lukas Schaeffer, Lucas Rooney, and Taylor DeLong.  Schaeffer will compete at 189 after finishing as a runner up in regional.  DeLong (171 lbs.) qualified for the semi state after finishing 3rd in a thrilling overtime match to end his day on Saturday.  Along with teammate Eldred, Rooney also had one of the bigger upsets of the day at the regional.  Rooney was able to knock of the sectional champion from South Vermillion in the first round on Saturday and punched his ticket for New Castle.    Senior Tyler Melby, quietly having an incridible season, will be making his first trip to New Castle.  Melby is the only member of the team with 40 or more wins and will take a 40-2 record into semi state at 285.   Senior Parker Bankert will be making his second trip to New Castle, after a thrilling OT fall in the 3rd place match over his opponent from Western Boone.  Fellow senior Brady White is also a semi state veteran, punching his ticket to New Castle for the 3rd time in his high school career.  Brady was the only WHS wrestler to capture a regional championship with a 3-2 win in the finals over his opponent from Frankfort.   Unfortunately not everyone made it out to the semi state.  Senior Sparky Inman dropped a heartbreaking decision to his opponent in the quarterfinals on Saturday.  Inman is a 4 year varsity letterman and a senior captain.  The coaching staff would like to congtratulate him on a fine career.   One of the more exciting times of the year for wrestling fans!  We look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday in New Castle.