The Batesville high school wrestling team traveled to Connersville to participate in the annual Spartan Classic. This is a 2-day event that brings in 32 teams from around the state. This year’s overall team champion went to Carmel High School with Roncalli in 2nd place. The Bulldogs ended the tournament in 28th place with one wrestler in the placing rounds.
Michael Deal, a senior in the 132 lb class, wrestled well in the tournament finishing with 4 wins and 2 losses earning a 7th place finish. Deal started the tournament with a technical fall over his opponent from Indian Creek outscoring his opponent 15-0. Deal’s second opponent was from Carmel where he earned another victory pinning his opponent in 31 seconds. Round three had Deal facing off against Ethan Smiley of Beech Grove. Smiley ended Deal’s winning streak by winning the match 21-8 and eventually a first place finish with Most Valuable Wrestlers honors for the tournament. Deal rebounded from this loss and beat his Fishers opponent by pin in the 3rd period which earned him a spot in the placement rounds. Deal’s 5th opponent came from Roncalli where he fell by a 10-5 decision. The final match ended in another pin by Deal against Carmel ending the tournament with a respectable 7th place finish.
The Bulldogs had another good performance from freshman JT Linkel in the 126 lb class. Linkel ended the tournament with 2 wins and 2 losses. Linkel had wins over opponents from Franklin County and Fort Wayne Snyder. Jon Vincent in the 138 lb class and Axel Garcia in the 170 lb class both finished with 1 win and 2 losses. Vincent pinned his Centerville opponent in the first period and Garcia pinned his opponent in the 2nd period.
Additional wrestlers competing for Batesville were Caleb Bischoff-Niese, Ethan Meyer, Chris Schene, Nick Schneider, Abram Garcia, Drew Garbarini, and Max Foutch.
Courtesy of Bulldogs Coach Chris Deal.