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25 wrestlers to watch as 2023-24 high school wrestling season begins

chloe peterson, indianapolis star
·6 min read

The 2023-24 high school wrestling season is upon us this week, with teams starting duals as early as Monday.

There is a lot of talent to go around in the area; three of the top five teams at the 2023 state championship — Center Grove, Brownsburg, Warren Central — were from Central Indiana.

Here are 12 wrestlers to watch as the season begins (listed in alphabetical order).

Isaac Ash, Monrovia

Cascades Logan Bickel wrestles Monrovia Isaac Ash in the 113-pound weight class finals during the sectional championships meet on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at Mooresville High School in Mooresville.
Cascades Logan Bickel wrestles Monrovia Isaac Ash in the 113-pound weight class finals during the sectional championships meet on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at Mooresville High School in Mooresville.

Weight class: 120

Year: Junior

Ash had a fourth-place finish at 113 lbs. in the state tournament last season. Ash has had 30-win seasons in each of his first two years on the mat for Monrovia, garnering a 65-13 record. Monrovia coach DJ Smith indicated Ash is moving up to 120 lbs. this season, where he will face more stiff competition.

Elijah Broady, Mt. Vernon

Weight class: 126

Year: Sophomore

The sophomore bumped up to 126 this year after a successful freshman season, where he was a state qualifier at 120 lbs. He placed third at frosh-soph state at the same weight, according to IndianaMat, paving the way for a second successful season.

Sam Bustamante, Bishop Chatard

Weight class: 138

Year: Junior

Bustamante could be primed for a breakout season. He did not qualify for the state tournament last season, but he was impressive in the frosh-soph state tournament, placing second at 138 lbs. The top three state-finishers at 138 graduated, possibly opening the door for Bustamante.

Revin Dickman, Brownsburg

Avon Nathan Rioux wrestles Brownsburg Revin Dickman in the 108 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Avon Nathan Rioux wrestles Brownsburg Revin Dickman in the 108 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 106

Year: Sophomore

Dickman came out of the gate swinging in his first varsity season. He went 41-5 and won the state championship at 106 lbs. as a freshman, continuing Brownsburg’s powerhouse legacy.

Bryce Doss, New Palestine

Weight class: 138

Year: Junior

A state qualifier at 120 lbs., Doss a posted 28-5 record last season and was a semistate champion.

Braden Getz, Roncalli

Weight class: 157

Year: Senior

In a new weight class, Getz is trying to get back to the state tournament for the first time since his sophomore season. Getz was a state qualifier at 113 in 2022, but he did not make it out of the opening round. Getz has worked his way up to 157 lbs. over the past year, also wrestling in the 130/140 range.

Eddie Goss, Center Grove

Weight class: 132

Year: Junior

Goss is a two-time state qualifier at two different weights (he placed eighth in 2022 at 113 lbs, and third in 2023 at 120 lbs), and he has jumped up a weight again. He is finding early success at 132 lbs, placing fourth at the IndianaMat preseason open.

Kyle Harden, Cathedral

Weight class: 175

Year: Sophomore

A sixth-place finisher last season at 170 lbs, Harden is aiming to make an impact with a jump up to 175 lbs.

Gunner Henry, Brownsburg

Gunner Henry of Brownsburg High School, eventual winner of this 182 pound match, watches Hunter Page of Monroe Central High School at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, during the preliminary round of the IHSAA wrestling state finals.
Gunner Henry of Brownsburg High School, eventual winner of this 182 pound match, watches Hunter Page of Monroe Central High School at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, during the preliminary round of the IHSAA wrestling state finals.

Weight class: 195

Year: Junior

Henry is one of the most formidable wrestlers to face, area coaches said. The Wyoming commit finished third at the 2023 state tournament and has a 28-7 record, according to IndianaMat.

Jake Hockaday, Brownsburg

Brownsburg Jake Hockaday yells in excitement after defeating LaPorte Ashton Jackson in the 120 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Brownsburg Jake Hockaday yells in excitement after defeating LaPorte Ashton Jackson in the 120 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 126/132

Year: Junior

Hockaday has been at the top of the class since he joined the Bulldogs program, winning two straight state championships at 120. Hockaday will vacate the 120 crown, though, as Brownsburg coach Darrick Snyder said the standout junior will be wrestling at 126 or 132 lbs. this season.

Peyton Hornsby, New Palestine

Weight class: 144

Year: Freshman

A fresh face in the Central Indiana high school wrestling scene, Hornsby made an immediate impact by going 4-2 at the IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open with two wins over Ohio state-qualifiers.

Wyatt Krejsa, Center Grove

New Castle Brevan Thrine wrestles Center Grove Wyatt Krejsa in the 132-pound weight class in the preliminary round during the evening session of IHSAA state final on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
New Castle Brevan Thrine wrestles Center Grove Wyatt Krejsa in the 132-pound weight class in the preliminary round during the evening session of IHSAA state final on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 145

Year: Senior

Krejsa has already decided he’s staying close to home after high school with his commitment to Purdue. The state runner-up at 145 last season will want to go out with a bang, as he has one thing he hasn’t accomplished: an individual state championship.

Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove

Center Grove's Charlie LaRocca wrestles Indian Creek's Jackson Heaston in the 113-pound championship bout Saturday, Feb. 19, 2023, during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Center Grove's Charlie LaRocca wrestles Indian Creek's Jackson Heaston in the 113-pound championship bout Saturday, Feb. 19, 2023, during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 113

Year: Senior

A finalist for IndyStar’s Wrestler of the Year last season, the Air Force commit steamrolled through his competition in his junior season with just one loss (according to IndianaMat), and he is the reigning state champion.

Kyrel Leavell, Warren Central

Warren Central Kyrel Leavell celebrates defeating Perry Meridian Keaton Morton during the IHSAA wrestling semi-state on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle.
Warren Central Kyrel Leavell celebrates defeating Perry Meridian Keaton Morton during the IHSAA wrestling semi-state on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle.

Weight class: 138

Year: Senior

A state champion as a sophomore at 120 lbs., Leavell placed third last season at 132. This season, The Citadel commit is hoping to make an impact up at 138.

Hruai Lian, Perry Meridian

Weight class: 113

Year: Senior

Lian was a state qualifier at 106 lbs in 2023, and the Perry Meridian senior is aiming to go to go toe-to-toe with reigning state champion LaRocca.

Devin Kendrex, Mt. Vernon

Weight class: 215

Year: Junior

Kendrex is a two-time state qualifier at 220 lbs and placed fifth at the championships as a sophomore.

Michael Major, Carmel

Weight class: 150

Year: Junior

Major is up 12 pounds from where he competed last season. He placed fifth at the state finals last season at 138, but it looks like he’s already making an impact at 150 — he placed third at that weight at the Hoosier Preseason Open.

Peter Nguyen, Guerin Catholic

Weight class: 126

Year: Senior

Nguyen is a two-time state qualifier, making it to the championships at 113 lbs in his sophomore season and 120 lbs as a junior. He went 39-5 at 120 lbs last season before making the jump up six pounds.

Luke Penola, Zionsville

Weight class: 190

Year: Senior

Penola was a third-place finisher at 182 last season and went 34-2, according to IndianaMat. He is up eight pounds from last season, as well.

Nathan Rioux, Avon

Avon Nathan Rioux wrestles Brownsburg Revin Dickman in the 108 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Avon Nathan Rioux wrestles Brownsburg Revin Dickman in the 108 weight-class finals during the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals Saturday, Feb.19, 2023 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 113

Year: Sophomore

A state qualifier last season at 106, Rioux went 39-6 and reached the championship match before falling to another freshman Revin Dickman. Rioux competed in the prestigious Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C., last month and went 4-2 against national competition.

Brenton Russell, Warren Central

Warren Central Brenton Russell wrestles Carmel Nathan Powell during the IHSAA wrestling semi-state on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle.
Warren Central Brenton Russell wrestles Carmel Nathan Powell during the IHSAA wrestling semi-state on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle.

Weight class: 175

Year: Senior

Russell has national experience, placing seventh at the Greco-Roman Nationals at 160 in 2022. He put on a 15-pound gain between the end of state last season — where he placed fourth at at 160 — and the beginning of this season, where he placed third at 175 at the Hoosier Preseason Open.

Tyler Schott, Center Grove

Center Grove High School junior Tyler Schott wrestles in a 285-pound match against Highland High School junior Aramis McNutt during a quarter-final round of the IHSAA Wrestling State Championship, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Center Grove High School junior Tyler Schott wrestles in a 285-pound match against Highland High School junior Aramis McNutt during a quarter-final round of the IHSAA Wrestling State Championship, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Weight class: 285

Year: Senior

This could very well be Schott’s year in his final season — once he gets done with football, that is. Schott was one of just four juniors to make the state finals at heavyweight last season. He has racked up a 28-10 record, and with 12 heavyweight qualifiers from 2023 graduated, Schott will have a good chance.

Hosia Smith, Cathedral

Weight class: 285

Year; Senior

Smith was another one of the four junior qualifiers at 285 last season, and he finished in fifth place. With three of four top finishers graduating, Smith is another heavyweight with a strong chance at a deep run.

Ryan Taylor, Perry Meridian

Weight class: 120

Year: Senior

Taylor went 32-4 last season, and won a semistate title at 113 lbs. While he didn't make it far in the state tournament, Taylor is up to 120 for his final season.

Chase Wagner, Zionsville

Weight class: 165

Year: Senior

Wagner is a two-time state qualifier at 160 lbs, making it to Gainbridge in both his sophomore and junior seasons.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA: Wrestlers to watch as 2023-24 season begin