L'burg's Mason Parris Becomes Back-To-Back State Wrestling Champ

Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 6:27 AM

By Mike Perleberg Lawrenceburg's Mason Parris works to pin Daleville's Corbin Maddox in the 220 lbs. championship match at the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals on Saturday, February 18. Photo by Lawrenceburg Wrestling. (Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Lawrenceburg High School junior Mason Parris has done something only a select few in his sport have ever done: win back-to-back state championships. Parris kept his two-year undefeated streak alive in winning the 200 lbs. division crown at the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Saturday. After winning two of his first three finals matches by falls, he met Daleville undefeated senior Corbin Maddox in the championship match. Parris needed 2 minutes, 46 seconds to pin Maddox and claim his second consecutive state title. He finishes the season a perfect 53-0. "I'd like to thank my coaches, my friends, my drill partners and the community over there from Lawrenceburg!" Parris said in a post-match interview on the IHSAA Champions Network. Dating back to last year's 52-0 championship season, Mason has won 105 straight matches. A vast majority of them have come by pinning his opponent. He'll get a chance to extend that streak when he returns to Lawrenceburg as a senior next year. Parris became a two-time state champ along with a couple others Saturday. Evansville Mater Dei's Joe Lee won the 152 lbs. class for the second straight year. Brownsburg's Brayton Lee accomplished the same feat in the 145 lbs. division.

@Parris58 with the pin in the championship! pic.twitter.com/gdgai6if0P

— LHS Wrestling (@LburgWrestling) February 19, 2017 A crowd of 12,456 witnessed Saturday night's championship matches for a weekend total of 33,844, a new three-session attendance record, according to the IHSAA. A few others southeastern Indiana wrestlers also competed at the state finals, including teammates Jonah Rolfes and Jake Ruberg. Ruberg (42-6) lost in the quarterfinals on a 3-2 decision to Monrovia's Eli Stock (41-2), who went on to win the class championship. Rolfes finished the year 44-6 in losing during the opening round to Northridge junior Conner Graber (44-4). East Central senior Andrew Negangard (44-3) advanced to the 152 lbs. quarterfinals, where he lost a 14-2 decision to an eventual champion in Mater Dei's Joe Lee (36-0). Fellow senior Trojan and heavyweight Clark Minges (33-12) was pinned in the opening round by runner-up and South Bend Washington's Isaiah McWilliams (49-1). South Dearborn senior Cainan Schaefer (48-2) lost in the opening round Friday to finish his excellent career. Franklin County heavyweight Tyler Selm (41-7) lost a close 2-1 decision in the opening round to Merrillville junior Brandon Streck (35-5). State Championship Match Results 106: Brayden Curtis, 10, Yorktown (43-0) def. Andrew Black, 10, Shenandoah (46-3), Decision, 4-3. 113: Alec Viduya, 9, Roncalli (47-2) def. Hunter Watts, 10, Jimtown (48-3), Decision, 7-4. 120: Cayden Rooks, 10, Columbus East (46-1) def. Ty Mills, 11, Brownsburg (37-3), Decision, 5-4. 126: Alec White, 12, New Palestine (39-1) def. Blake Mulkey, 11, Brownsburg (38-2), Fall, 3:32. 132: Breyden Bailey, 12, Indianapolis Cathedral (42-1) def. Christian Hunt, 11, Yorktown (42-3), Fall, 1:33. 138: Brendan Black, 12, Hobart (30-1) def. Kris Rumph, 11, Portage (36-5), Major Decision, 10-2. 145: Brayton Lee, 11, Brownsburg (46-0) def. Jason Crary, 12, Munster (38-4), Major Decision, 14-6. 152: Joe Lee, 11, Evansville Mater Dei (36-0) def. Noah Warren, 11, Perry Meridian (45-2), Major Decision, 19-5. 160: Brad Laughlin, 12, Yorktown (46-1) def. Diego Lemley, 11, Chesterton (27-3), Major Decision, 11-3. 170: Eli Stock, 12, Monrovia (41-2) def. Tanner Webster, 12, North Montgomery (49-2), Fall, 5:37. 182: Jacob Gray, 12, Delta (42-2) def. Lucas Davison, 11, Chesterton (41-1), Decision, 3-1. 195: Andrew Davison, 12, Chesterton (42-0) def. Tristen Tonte, 12, Warren Central (39-2), Fall, 5:59. 220: Mason Parris, 11, Lawrenceburg (53-0) def. Corbin Maddox, 12, Daleville (50-1), Fall, 2:46. 285: Evan Ellis, 12, Eastern (Greentown) (46-0) def. Isaiah McWilliams, 11, South Bend Washington (49-1), Decision, 5-0.