Wilburn heading to first state finals

PHOTO BY LINDSAY DEBOLT

Milan senior Kaleb Wilburn is on his way to his first IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals after a top four finish in last Saturday’s semi-state.

It was a brutal field in regards to the toughness of the competition but a challenging day on the mat saw Milan senior Kaleb Wilburn persevere and punch his first-ever ticket to the IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals.

Wilburn accomplished the feat after placing fourth in the 157-pound class at the IHSAA Boys Wrestling Semi-State on Saturday at New Castle.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class racked up automatic bids to the state finals and the semi-state saw 12 wrestlers from the coverage area compete. Wilburn was tops among that group, picking up a technical fall victory in his opening match over Jackson Gipson of Pendleton Heights before a quarterfinal pinfall win over Shelbyville’s Brady Bryant just 58 seconds into the match guaranteed his spot on the state’s biggest stage.

Wilburn (43-6) fell via pinfall in the semifinals to Western Boone’s Kameron Mikesell (38-6). A third place matchup ended Wilburn’s day, falling by pinfall to Rossville’s Jacob Weaver (46-3).

Batesville’s Max Amberger and Milan’s Matthew Baylor were the only other two wrestlers from the coverage area to pick up a semi-state victory but both would fall a match shy of reaching the state finals for a second time in their career.

In the 285-pound class, Amberger (41-4) defeated Alexandria’s Haydon Standlee (23-19) via pinfall at the 2:49 mark but fell by a 6-1 decision in the quarterfinals to Greenfield-Central’s Zach Blevins (33-7). Baylor (42-3) in the 126-pound class scored a technical fall win to open the semi-state against Abraham Perez Hernandez (25-12) of Providence Cristo Rey but fell to Eli Broady (37-5) by a 4-1 decision in the quarterfinals.

Others from the coverage area competing on Saturday included Zane Richardson, Hayden Poole, Kayden McClellan, Cameron Gilb and Dillan Engel, all of Milan, and Adam Brewer, Carson Weiler, Andrew Jones and Alex Krekeler, all of Batesville.

Wilburn begins his state finals run this Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. First round action for him begins at 6 p.m. A victory would send him to the quarterfinals which will take place on Saturday morning.

Pairings for the state meet were announced on Sunday. Wilburn’s bracket will be featured in Thursday’s Versailles Republican.