By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
The Lafayette boys crowned nine individual champions, and dominated Benton and Central head-to-head in the St. Joseph city wrestling championships at Benton High School Thursday.
The Central girls team, meanwhile, benefited from numerous open matches in several weight classes and the Indians crowned six individual champions on their way to winning the girls' team title.
The Indians beat Lafayette 42-12 and Benton 48-18, while the Cardinal girls' team edged Lafayette 18-12.
On the boys' side, Lafayette's Martrehz Thuston (106), Dawson Hangartner (113), Joe Frazier (120), A.J. Allen (126), Jay Greiner (152), Xavier Cary (160), Hayden McCrary (182), Logan Judd (195) and Brandon Torres-Moya (220) all claimed individual titles, as the Irish boys won the first city title in wrestling in 20 years.
"My boys have wrestled their best all season long," Lafayette head coach Joshua Walters said. "We've worked hard all season long. They came out in the last dual of the season (South Harrison, Savannah, Chillicothe) and showed how good they were and how hard they've worked and I'm proud of them all."
The Irish improve to 16-4 on the year in head-to-head competitions, defeating Benton 60-24 and Central 60-9 Thursday.
"It's incredible," said Lafayette junior Jay Greiner, who improved to 51-0 on the season and got his 153rd career win. "The hype we could feel from our corner the entire time. It's a big deal to us. It may not be grand state level, but to us, it's very important."
Greiner, fresh off an MEC title last Saturday, is well on his way to making the state tournament for a third consecutive season after getting silver medals in both of his freshman and sophomore years.
"I hope to win it," Greiner said on his postseason goals this year. "That's the goal. Second, second and I hope to go for first this year. I'm going to work hard for it, especially in these coming weeks."
On the girls' side, Lafayette's Belleza Mendoza was the only female wrestler Thursday to get two pins, defeating Benton's Jayden Vice and Central's Julia VanGundy. Mendoza just came off of a title in the 110 weight class at the MEC tournament Saturday, which was also hosted by Benton.
"She's on top of her game," Walters said of Mendoza. "She's peaking at the right moment right now and she's just been unstoppable."
It was also senior night for Benton Thursday as the Cardinals' lone senior, Blake Gilbert (132), was honored halfway through the meet. A sectional qualifier last season and a runner-up in the MEC meet this season, Gilbert showed out on his senior night, getting a couple of pins over Lafayette's Tristan Flynn and Central's Brian Eickelmann.
"Getting the win at all-city and having senior night on the same night, it feels really good to have both at the same time," Gilbert said.
Benton's Ethan Nash (138), Bishop Rush (145) and Kevin Machado (285) also got wins Thursday. Rush is a back-to-back city champion and a state qualifier last season.
In the girls' division, Benton's Tatum Levendahl (135) is on a quest for her second straight state tournament berth. She's now a city champion, getting a pin over Central's Ashley Slade Thursday.
Central's Dylan Evans (138) and Payton Olson (285) each earned one pin Thursday, while Ian Wieneke (170) earned a 10-6 decision over Lafayette's Ben Kneib.
The Cardinals stay at Springer Gymnasium to host the Benton tournament on Saturday for the boys. The Benton Scramble for the girls' teams take place on Friday at Springer Gym as well.
The Lafayette boys will be part of the Benton tournament, as will the Central boys' and girls' teams.
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