By JACOB MOORE, for The Democrat
Wrestling season continues for three semistate-bound Brown County grapplers.
Seniors David Tucker (145 lbs.) and Evan Bradshaw (195 lbs.), and freshman Sam Allen (285 lbs.) all placed third or better at the Jeffersonville Regional on Feb. 8, and will compete at the Evansville Semistate on Feb. 15.
Senior David Tucker (32-2 on the year) won all three of his matches to become regional champion, while senior Evan Bradshaw (22-8) and freshman Sam Allen (29-5) both won two of three matches to finish third.
The postseason began Feb. 1 with the sectional championships at Jennings County. Four Eagles finished in fourth place or better there to advance to regionals. These were Tucker, Bradshaw, Allen and junior Aiden Vaught (152 lbs., with a 17-15 season record).
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]First round
Tucker had won the sectional title at Jennings County. Because the regional is seeded, this meant his first opponent would be the fourth-place finisher from the Jeffersonville Sectional, Salem’s Blake McGlaughlin. Tucker pinned McGlaughlin (19-11) in 1:19 to advance.
By seeding, Vaught faced the toughest initial match of all the Eagles, taking on sectional champion Corey Braunecker (32-7) from Tell City.
Vaught and Eagles Coach Josh Sparks had a game plan. They believed Vaught’s best chance was to be aggressive from the opening whistle and attempt to throw and pin Braunecker early.
The plan initially seemed to work. Vaught quickly took Braunecker to the mat in a bear hug. But as the wrestlers reached the mat, Braunecker popped free from Vaught’s grasp, and emerged in control. Braunecker then turned Vaught and pinned him, ending Vaught’s day.
Meanwhile, at 195 lbs., Bradshaw’s first opponent was Lucas Nale (16-7) from Eastern High School (Pekin). Bradshaw pinned Nale 44 seconds into the second period to advance.
Allen came into the day in similar position as Bradshaw: both finished second at sectionals and would begin the day against an opponent from Eastern. Allen’s opponent, Brett Burns (13-7), put up a good fight, though Allen managed to turn and pin Burns with 32 seconds left in the third period.
Second round
In an interesting coincidence, every remaining Eagle would face a Jeffersonville Red Devil in the second round.
Tucker’s opponent was Connor Gilles (35-9), and it would prove to be Tucker’s toughest match of the day. Gilles led 6-5 late in the third period and was in control. This meant Tucker could tie with a one-point escape, or if Tucker could gain control, score a reversal for two points.
With less than a minute to go in the match, Giles was attempting to “ride out” the period, meaning to maintain control over Tucker and not surrender a tying point. He nearly succeeded, but with just 20 seconds left, Tucker wrestled his way behind Giles, scoring a reversal and taking a 7-6 lead. With the tables now turned, Tucker managed to ride out the period and claim a 7-6 win.
Bradshaw’s second opponent of the day was Cody Matherly (38-6). Matherly caught Bradshaw out of position and pinned him late in the first period. Matherly would go on to win the regional title.
Allen’s Jeffersonville opponent was Matthew Munoz (27-3). Like Matherly, Munoz was bound to win the regional title, and pinned Allen midway through the second period.
Third round
In Tucker’s case, the third round was also the championship round. His opponent was Tell City’s Shane Braunecker (34-4, and twin brother to Corey). Trailing Tucker 2-0, Braunecker chose to begin the second period in the down position, hoping to score points with an escape or reversal. It was not to be. Midway through the period, Tucker secured a chicken wing, ran it, and pinned Braunecker to claim the regional championship.
For Bradshaw and Allen, the third-round match would determine whether they finished in third place or fourth. Bradshaw faced a familiar opponent: Brady McLain (33-8) of Southwestern High School (Hanover). Bradshaw and McLain had wrestled twice before this season with McLain prevailing both times.
The third time was a charm for Bradshaw, who not only beat McLain, but pinned him in the second period. Afterward, Bradshaw called the outcome redeeming. “I knew I had the ability to go out and win,” Bradshaw said. “A big difference was just experience and being patient. I wrestled much smarter in this match.”
Meanwhile, Sam Allen became the third Eagle on the day — joining Tucker and Vaught — to take on a Tell City Marksman. Allen would ultimately pin his opponent, Chance Bolin (15-8), but only after falling behind early on points. According to Sparks, the match symbolized Allen’s perseverance. “He could have been content and finished fourth, but he pushed through.”
No matter what happens in the next two weeks, Tucker will have had a tremendous high school career. Earlier this season, he won his 100th high school match, and this will be his fourth trip to semistate. He’ll also continue his wrestling career at the University of Indianapolis.
But for now, he still has goals to achieve in high school.
“(Being regional champion) feels good. I feel like this year I was able to put it all together and will finally punch my ticket to state.”
Tucker, Bradshaw and Allen will wrestle in the semistate in Evansville on Saturday, Feb. 15, with each hoping to advance to the state finals in Indianapolis on Saturday, Feb. 22.
