BHS junior competes in state finals
Feb. 23—BATESVILLE — Batesville High School (BHS) junior Max Amberger was acknowledged for being the first wrestling state qualifier from Batesville in 31 years at this week's Batesville Community School Corporation's (BCSC) Board of Education meeting. Wrestling Coach Matt Linkel presented Amberger and his recent accomplishments.
"Our team record... all five guys that made regional also qualified for semistate," Linkel said. "And then with Max making it to state for the first time in 31 years, and losing a really good match, well-wrestled match... Max wrestled really well in that match, not even giving up a major decision to a guy who ended up pinning a kid in two minutes in the state finals. It's a great way to look at being a junior and going back to state next year."
For the first time since 1993, a Bulldog wrestler advanced to the state tournament earlier this month in Evansville. The heavyweight entered the state finals with a record of 40-4. He was unranked in the state and ranked No. 8 in the New Castle Semistate.
Additionally, Amberger was named to the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Second Team Academic All-State.
BCSC Superintendent Paul Ketcham said he likes Amberger for a lot of reasons including his kindness, humility and academic achievements as well as his wrestling successes.
"We have an awesome group of hardworking guys," Linkel said. "They know the expectations and they never ride that line of crossing the line of expectations. They come in and work hard."
Amberger's season came to an end with a 7-1 loss to eventual state champion Nate Johnson of Center Grove.
Amberger said his favorite match of the wrestling season was the state tournament.
Contact Josie Clark at josie.clark@greensburgdailynews.com or 812-651-0873.
