Wrestling: Bloomington North's Hickok saves his best for last at sectional

Cael Hickok added his name to the short list of recent Bloomington North wrestlers who have made it to regional all four years.

This is the first time he'll head over to Bloomington South next week as a sectional champ, however. It was a big year for first-time sectional winners on Saturday at the North Sectional, with seniors dominating almost all of last year's top spots.

Hickok (20-3), third as a freshman and sophomore and second last year, finally broke through in a big way, with three first-period pins, the last of 1:49 to secure the 157 title.

"I almost made it to state last year," said Hickok, who had an overtime win and then an overtime loss at semistate in 2023. "This year coming back, I knew I'd be better and I can take it further."

Having better partners in the room, including improved senior Jeremiah Casillas at 165, to push was a big help. Hickok also had enough time to recover from an injury that kept him out of the Conference Indiana meet two weeks ago.

"It was his first time wrestling since the beginning of January," North coach Roy Bruce said. "He banged up his shoulder, but it's back now full strength. He wrestled really well."

Other first-timers from the area included Bloomington South freshman Jaxsen Jean at 106, Owen Valley senior Eli Collier at 113 and Edgewood sophomore John Orman at 120 and junior Michael Neidigh at 150.

Collier was fourth last year and second as a sophomore. This time, he tore through his bracket after dropping down from 120, with three pins in less than a minute, the last of 53 seconds took care of Terre Haute North's Cale Thomas.

"Amazing," Collier said. "It's awesome. Just keep climbing. Have to get that next one."

"Eli's been wrestling 120 all year," Spicer said. "He can go down to 113 so all year we've been talking about trying to get down there. He nailed the weight management.

"Even at conference, he wrestled at 120 but actually weighed in at 113 and wasn't a scratch. So he was giving up weight. I think he can make a deep run."

Orman was a sectional runner-up last year and semistate qualifier and swept to his title with a pin, a major and a pin in the finals of 2:48 against William Rader of Terre Haute South in a rematch from last year's regional.

"I love it," Orman said. "Let's keep getting better and take that to state."

It's a world of difference entering the sectional and with another year's worth of work and experience under his belt.

"I feel a lot more confident because of the work I put in in the summer," Orman said. "What do I have to lose? so just go out there and do my very best and give 110%. That's all I can do."

Neidigh (27-4) had a pair of first-period pins to make the finals and finished off Luke Forsythe of THS in 3:41.

"Orman had a heck of a day. He was really on top of his guy in the finals," Edgewood coach Danny Coyne said. "Neidigh wrestled very smart."

More: Here's why Edgewood wrestling's Michael Neidigh is a tough out at 150 pounds

By the numbers

In all 24 area wrestlers advanced (with seven title winners), nine from Bloomington South, six from Edgewood, five from Owen Valley and four from North. Bedford North Lawrence moved four on, led by runner-up at 126, Jorj Filler.

Of the 24, 11 are freshmen or sophomores.

Terre Haute South won the team title as expected after putting 12 Braves in title matches to score 294 points to 169 for Bloomington South. Owen Valley was next at 141 and Bloomington North was fourth at 126. Edgewood was sixth (114), BNL eighth (73).

Owen Valley's Weaver still undefeated

It was not Weavers' first sectional title, but he was glad to get back on top. A 2022 sectional champ, he was tripped up in the quarterfinals and had to fight back to take third. He took the backdoor all the way to the opening round at state, finishing second at regional and fourth at semistate.

No one has touched him yet this year at 144. He'll take a sparkling 35-0 record into next week after a hard-fought 4-0 win over South's Wyatt Cooksey, a sectional champ last year at 132.

"I feel pretty good," Weaver said. "Me and my teammates have a good room and we've getting after it.

"I'm confident in my work ethic and how I train in the room, so I knew I was going to win it today."

He went the the distance against Cooksey, getting a takedown in the first and second periods and then not letting the Panther escape when he started the third on bottom.

"He's locked in," Spicer said. "He's got goals. He knows what he's got to do to do it. This was Step 1. Next week, we have to win regionals. That sets you up for the best draw at semistate."

All five Patriots who advanced ended with a win as freshman Austin Boltinghouse (24-12) got a pin in 2:12 for third at 106; Lucas McBee (14-5) pinned Bohall for third at 150 and sophomore Sylan Hale (32-6) had a 9-7 win for third at 285.

"We had a great placement round," Spicer said. "Obviously, a little upset. I thought we might be able to get seven through. Good team showing."

South has nine lives at regional

The Panthers had three freshmen and three sophomores make it through, proof they're making the best of a tough situation.

Jean (27-7), a freshman, had three pins but the last one was a lifesaver. He trailed 5-0 after the first period, surviving a near-fall. Then he turned the tables on junior Cain Godsey of Terre Haute North (31-4), getting a near-fall, then sticking the pin in 3:22.

"Toward the beginning (of the season), I just wanted to make it out of sectionals," Jean said. "But as it went on, it became clearer and clearer that I was going to make it further and further. And going into conference, I wanted to make it to semistate."

Besides Cooksey, also moving on were freshman Amrin Pratt, a runner-up at 132 to a tough senior in Josiah Dedeaux of THS (29-2), who controlled a 14-4 major; sophomore Wayne Harden (9-3), with a pin in the third place match at 138; freshman Mason Grubb (18-17), who pulled out a 7-3 win for third at 190 and at 126, Brian Conley (11-22), who was fourth.

An elder Panther also had his way.

Junior Evan Roudebush (34-2) was the only 2023 champ to stand on top of the podium again this year, winning handily over a good field at 165. Ranked third in the state, he hammered his way to the title with pins of 30 seconds and 1:39 before overpowering Terre Haute South's Coy Bender in a 9-1 major.

He's on a mission after getting knocked out in the second round at semistate last year. Making the final four at the Al Smith Classic with three of the state's best was a big step.

"It gave me the confidence I can take down any of them," Roudebush said.

South also saw Tristian Hicks (17-17) take third at 175 and Carson Bohall (21-14) was fourth at 150.

Edgewood sends six

Joining Neidigh and Orman for the Mustangs will be Cayleb Sides (17-12), third at 126 after a 7-0 win over South's Conley to reverse a 4-0 loss from earlier in the season; Cayleb Stephens (20-10), third at 157 with a 6-4 win; and Peyton Arthur (132) and Joel Silvernail (144), who were fourth.

"Stephens really, really pushed hard to come back and get that third," Coyne said. "And 1-2-3-4 at 144 were all tough.

"They all wrestled really well today. Almost had eight in there. Real close. But I'm definitely happy with six. They put the work in and hopefully, we'll wrestle well next Saturday."

North doubles up

It was a big day for the Cougars, who moved up six places from last year and doubled their point total. It was their best finish since scoring 153 points for third in 2017.

In addition to the four qualifiers, eight other wrestlers made it to the fifth place match.

"We're still building," North coach Roy Bruce said. "And it's going to take a year to get back where this program needs to be."

Senior Kanye Roberts-Gray (18-9) is ending his career on a high note, moving on with a 4-0 win for third. Freshman Trae Hopkins (21-11) is starting his with a third place finish at 132 with a 5-4 win; and Casillas (23-8) had to settle for fourth at 165, losing twice to BNL's Ethan Stancombe, 8-7 and 2-0.

"Kanye wrestled his first ever finals at conference," Bruce said. "That was great for him to prepare him for the nerves. Trae has only been wrestling for a little over a year now, just really wrestling well. He's one of the hardest workers in the room.

"There were six wrestlers with over 20 wins at 165. The seeds were messed up and he shouldn't have had to meet him so early. So losing to the same guy twice by one or two points is tough. But I like the draw for next week."

BLOOMINGTON NORTH SECTIONAL

Team scores: 1. Terre Haute South 294; 2. Bloomington South 169; 3. Owen Valley 141; 4. Bloomington North 126; 5. Terre Haute North 116; 6. Edgewood 114; 7. Northview 102; 8. Bedford North Lawrence 73; 9. Sullivan 39; 10. Brown County 22; 11. West Vigo 12.

Top four in each weight class advance to regional

106: 1. Jaxen Jean, BS (27-7) p. Cain Godsey, THN (31-4), 3:22; 3. Austin Boltinghouse, OV (24-12) p. Keegan Sparacino, THS (20-15), 2:12. [DNP: Kyle Burton, BN (2-14), 1-2; Katelyn Holmes, Edg (2-10), 0-1.]

113: 1. Eli Collier, OV (28-8) p. Cale Thomas, THS (20-13), :54; 3. Wyatt Philpott, BNL (22-10) p. Gavin Lemmons, THN (14-17), :47. [5. William Maitha, BS (9-11) d. Oscar Rigdon, BN (4-19), :38.]

120: 1. John Orman, Edg (24-5) p. William Rader, THS (22-11), 2:48; 3. Kanye Roberts-Gray, BN (18-9) d. Sophia Buechner, THN (8-4), 4-0. [5. Tray Reuter, OV (21-9) p. Hadyn Heck, WV (16-22), :35. DNP: Nolan Langley, BS (4-10), 0-1.]

126: 1. Nathan Bryan, THS (28-2) p. Jorj Filler, BNL (28-6), :41; 3. Cayleb Sides, Edg (17-12) d. Brian Conley, BS (11-22), 7-0. [5. Cas Crevello, BN (18-12) d. Koleten Starkey, Nv (14-14), 6-5. DNP: Isaiah White, OV (12-19), 0-1.]

132: 1. Josiah Dedeaux, THS (29-2) md. Amrin Pratt, BS (18-13), 14-4; 3. Trae Hopkins, BN (21-11) d. Peyton Arthur, Edg (15-15), 5-4. [6. Noah Pendleton, OV (11-14).]

138: 1. Noah Fields, THS (26-6) d. Ayden Muncie, THN (26-10), 9-5; 3. Wayne Harden, BS (9-3) p. Preston Heiliger, Nv (22-7), 1:15. [5. Riley Martin, OV (20-12) p. Jeremy Jackson, BN (7-9), 4:21. DNP: Justice Shelton, Edg (0-10), 0-1.]

144: 1. Branson Weaver, OV (35-0) d. Wyatt Cooksey, BS (29-7), 4-0; 3. Kasey Stewart, THS (23-12) p. Joel SIlvernail, Edg (14-8), 4:53. [5. Darren Burns, BN (14-16) p. Triston Hancock, THN, 1:55.]

150: 1. Michael Neidigh, Edg (27-4) p. Luke Forsythe, THS (21-8), 3:41; 3. Lucas McBee, OV (14-5) p. Carson Bohall, BS (21-14), 2:04. [5. Miguel Tedrow, BN (16-16) p. Charlie Webb, BC (15-12), :38.]

157: 1. Cael Hickok, BN (20-3) p. Jesus Lopez, THS (25-6), 1:49; 3. Cayleb Stephens, Edg (20-10) d. Jackson Trimble, Sul (8-8), 6-4. [5. Jensen Ackison, OV (19-17) p. Gavin Bignell, THN, 4:57. DNP: Quincy Edwards, BS (7-12), 0-1.]

165: 1. Evan Roudebush, BS (33-2) md. Coy Bender, THS (29-5), 9-1; 3. Ethan Stancombe, BNL (28-7) d. Jeremiah Casillas, BN (23-8), 2-0. [DNP: Cameron Richardson, Edg (11-17), 1-2.; Quaid Hinshaw, OV (26-10), 1-2.]

175: 1. Cooper McCloy, THS (30-3) d. James Hastings, THN (31-5), 7-5; 3. Tristian Hicks, BS (17-17) d. Jayden Whitesell, Nv (19-8), 4-3. [5. Collin Willen, OV (13-17) d. Tre Beckum, BN (11-12), 4-3. DNP: Benson Long, Edg (1-6), 0-1.]

190: 1. Collin Casad, THS (33-1) p. Jace Deakins, Nv (21-6), 1:19; 3. Mason Grubb, BS (18-17) d. Jevon Hagans, THN (26-11), 7-3. [5. Tate Tanklsey, BNL (13-8) d. Mattheus Wynalda, BN (14-16), 6-0. DNP: Christian Fields, Edg (8-13), 1-2. Zander Pendley, OV (9-18), 0-1.]

215: 1. Devyn Orman, Nv (20-4) md. Brandon Freeman, THS (26-11), 9-0; 3. Jackson Reed, BC (16-5) d. Caden Bays, Sul (21-11), 7-5. [5. Trendon Fender, Edg (15-12) d. Duncan Hand, BS (3-8), 4-2. DNP: Axsel Garza, BN (3-14), 1-2.]

285: 1. Sean Murphy, THS (30-2) d. Brandon Brewer, Nv (22-6), 8-4; 3. Dylan Hale, OV (32-6) d. Junior Arellano, BNL (16-4), 9-7. [6. Chase May, BN (10-14). DNP: Johnathan Merriman, BS (2-23), 1-2. Kamin Strunk, Edg (4-13), 1-2.]

Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on X @JimGordillo.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: First-time champs celebrate at Bloomington North wrestling sectional