The Warren Central Boys Wrestling team was back at it again yesterday in the 2024 IHSAA Wrestling State Finals. It is looking a little different this year however, as the event is taking place in Evansville at the Ford Center for the first time in its history.
There were ups and downs for the Warriors as they wrestled their first round matches for a chance to move on to the second round tomorrow. With a win yesterday, wrestlers secured a top eight placement in the state as well as a spot on the podium at the end of the night tonight.
The day started with senior AJ Cashman wrestling against Fort Wayne Snider’s Kevon Russell, who was 36-8 going into the day. Cashman finished first at the New Castle semi-state last weekend while Russell finished fourth at the Fort Wayne semi-state. The match started out rather slow with no scoring in the first period. In the second period, Cashman started on bottom, but quickly escaped before getting his first takedown halfway through the period. Russell then cut the lead to 3-2 after getting a reversal before Cashman escaped before the period ended. The third period, though suspenseful, only provided one scoring moment, which was Russell getting a takedown to take the match into overtime. In overtime, Cashman was on the ropes almost getting taken down, but he kept his balance and fell the other way onto Russell and won the match. Today, Cashman will face Silas Stits of Center Grove, who has a record of 36-7 on the season.
“I feel much better now. I had a lot of nerves as a senior, in fear that I could leave without a medal, but now that I got that out of my system, I feel much better,” Cashman said.
Senior AJ Cashman wins his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
The next match was less stressful for the Warrior faithful crowd. Sophomore Waylon Cressell, who won the New Castle semi-state, was matched up against Oliver Hallett of Indian Creek who finished fourth in the Evansville semi-state with a record of 36-4. Cressell quickly came out to a large lead going up 6-3 after the first period. He continued to take Hallett down and let him right back up, in order to rack up points in the match. Cressell ended up winning the match by a score of 21-9. Today he will face Kaeb Stebbins of Delta who has a record of 39-2.
“I feel good [but] still want to get better,” Cressell said. “My goal for [today] is to get better and win.”
Waylon Cressell takes down his opponent in his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
After Cressell wrestled, senior Brenton Russell, winner of the New Castle semi-state, was up against Ethan Farnell of Maconaquah who placed fourth in the Fort Wayne semi-state and has a record of 40-3. The first period of this match was action packed, with Russell getting a takedown, Farnell getting a reversal and then Russell getting back on top all within the last minute of the period. Farnell started on bottom in the second period and got a reversal to tie the match at 4-4 before the period ended. The third period, Russell started on bottom, but failed to escape, taking the match into overtime. Thirty seconds into overtime, Russell was taken down and the match ended. Russell ended his season with a record of 36-3.
“It’s an unfortunate result. He had his eyes set on being a state champ,” assistant coach Chico Adams said. “That’s the thing about it. Somebody has to lose, and this time it was us.”
Brenton Russell looks to his coaches during his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Fourth, senior Perris Green, the Warriors heavyweight wrestler, faced off against Oluwagbenga Orisadare of Avon, who had a record of 25-9 and placed second in the Evansville Semi-State. Perhaps the most anticipated match of the night, it did not disappoint. Green quickly got a takedown to start the match, but Oluwagbenga escaped before the end of the period. Green started on top for the second period but quickly was neutral again. Going into the third period, the score was 2-2, and Green was on bottom. After escaping swiftly, Green got a takedown to take a 5-2 lead. After another series of escape, takedown, escape, Green came out on top with a 7-4 victory. Today he will face James Hartleroad from DeKalb who has a record of 32-6 after upsetting Crown Point’s Paul Clark.
“I’ve never been here, so I’m just honored,” Green said. “I’ll just pray to god and just give it my all.”
Perris Green takes down his opponent in his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
After a long break between wrestlers, senior Kyrel Leavell, who won the New Castle semi-state came out strong against Taiden Chambers from West Noble and after a takedown, three different nearfalls and a stalling call, Leavell was up 10-0 after the second period. In the third, he got takedowns again but let Chambers up in order to get more points in the long run. Leavell ended up winning the match by a score of 18-2. Today, he will face Chase Stephens from Tell City, who placed third at the Evansville semi-state and has a record of 40-2.
“I’m feeling good,” Leavell said. “But not as good as making it to the top of the podium.”
Kyrel Leavell takes down his opponent in his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Lastly, junior Christian Arberry faced off against Avery Stanley from Rensselaer who was 38-6 on the year. Both of the first two periods were rather slow, but Arberry managed to get a takedown in the first to go up 2-0. In the third period, Arberry got another takedown, but this time, Stanley escaped and followed it up with a takedown of his own. Arberry escaped quickly and did not give up any more points, leading him to a 5-3 victory. Today, he will face Owen Valley’s senior Branson Weaver who finished third at the Evansville semi-state and has a record of 43-1.
“I feel great after winning tonight,” Arberry said. “It feels great being a two-time placer, something most people don’t accomplish in their career.”
Christian Arberry stays in control in his first-round match at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
Going into tomorrow, the remaining Warrior wrestlers are excited to keep wrestling and fighting to prove that they are the best. They recognize that they are lucky to have the number of teammates by their side as they do, and do not take it for granted.
Warren head coach Jacob O’Neill was somewhat satisfied with last night’s results, knowing that his team can accomplish much more.
“I feel like we had a lot of room for improvement. That’s what [today] is for, and [today] is way more important,” O’Neill said.
In the end, the goal is for these student-athletes to grow and be the best they can be. Coaches and fans are excited to see what the day brings.
“I just want these young men to do their best, leave it all on the mat and have no regrets,” O’Neill said.
Warren Central wrestlers line up before the Parade of Champions at the 2024 IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
The schedule for tomorrow is as follows:
Session 2
8 am CT - Gates open
9 am CT - Quarterfinals begin with Semifinals to follow
Fieldhouse cleared of all spectators following Semifinals
1 pm - 6 pm CT - Fan Festival outside of Ford Center
Session 3
3:30 pm CT - Gates open
4:30 pm CT - Consolation matches
7:30 pm CT - State Championship matches