Perry Meridian Wins First Team Wrestling State Title

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The Perry Meridian wrestling team supplied the perfect ending to a perfect season at Center Grove High School on Saturday.

Behind five decisive falls, the Falcons defeated Lawrence North 44-21 in the championship finals to claim their first state title and finish a flawless 28-0 at the 16^th Annual IHSAA Team Wrestling State Finals.

Perry Meridan opened the tournament with a 35-27 victory against Roncalli in the state quarterfinals and survived a late charge by Penn to win 27-22 in the semifinals.

Making their 10^th state finals appearance in 12 years, Perry Meridian advanced to the championship round for a fifth time in program history and beat Lawrence North for the second time this year.

It was the third meeting between the two programs in the state championship finals.

Lawrence North first faced Perry Meridian in 1991-92, winning its first of back-to-back state championships with a 90-48 victory. In 2003-04, the two teams locked up and Lawrence North once again prevailed 47-12.

Two years ago, Perry Meridian finished runner-up to Crown Point.

The state championship marked Perry Meridian’s first state championship in any boys’ team sport in school history.

Lawrence North advanced to the title round with a 52-18 victory against Delphi in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats beat Evansville Mater Dei 36-35 by criteria (via falls) after the match concluded in a 35-35 tie. Lawrence North had four falls compared to Mater Dei’s three.

The Wildcats won on criteria against Hamilton Southeastern in the regional championship earlier in the team wrestling state tournament.

Perry Meridian mathematically clinched the title with three matches left after Derek Harz pinned Lawrence North’s Damon Brooks in 52 seconds at 160 pounds to give the Falcons an insurmountable 20-point lead.

Lawrence North’s Matt Rattay pulled his team within striking distance at 19-15 after scoring a 22-9 major decision at 140 pounds, but a pin by Daulton Capps at 145 and an 8-0 major decision by Kirk Johnson at 152 pounds put the Falcons up 29-15.

RESULTS

Quarterfinals

Perry Meridian 35, Roncalli 27

Penn 35, Bellmont 20

Evansville Mater Dei 30, Crown Point 25

Lawrence North 52, Delphi 18

Semifinals

Perry Meridian 27, Penn 22

Lawrence North 36, Evansville Mater Dei 35 (35-35 tie – LN wins on criteria)

Championship

Perry Meridian 44, Lawrence North 21