Switz. Co's Richards Places 4th at Wrestling State Finals

Five other area wrestlers competed at the State Finals.

Payton Richards. Photo by Switzerland County Athletics.

INDIANAPOLIS - Six area high school wrestlers competed at the IHSAA Boys Wrestling State Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis over the weekend. 

Switzerland County junior Payton Richards had the best showing of the six, placing 4th at 138 pounds. 

Richards, ranked #9 at 138 pounds, defeated #18 Dylan Ogg (47-2, Adams Central) in the first round by a 4-1 decision. Richards would go on to defeat #10 Jack Davis of Indianapolis Bishop Chatard in the second round (8-5). 

In the semi-finals, Richards ran into #3 Braylon Reynolds of Brownsburg, where he was defeated by total fall (18-3). 

Richards would go on to wrestle in the third place match against #1 Evan Stanley of Lowell. Stanley picked up the win by major decision (11-0). Richards is the first Switzerland County wrestler to place at state. 

Franklin County, East Central, and Milan were also represented at the State Finals. See results for their wrestlers below:

• 113 - Cole Freese (Franklin County) was defeated by fall (0:43) in the first round by #3 Noel Verduzco (Crown Point). Freese ends the season with a record of 28-5
• 132 - Colin Troyer (Franklin County) was defeated by decision (7-0) in the first round by #7 Eddie Goss (Center Grove). Troyer ends the season with a record of 27-7. 
• 157 - Kaleb Wilburn (Milan) was defeated by fall (1:21) in the first round by #5 Jackson Bradley (Cowan). Wilburn finished the season with a record of 41-5. 
• 165 - Jaxsin Prater (East Central) was defeated by fall (1:07) in the first round by #2 Evan Roudebush (Bloomington South). Prater ends the season with a record of 33-8.
• 175 - Brody Wingate (East Central) was defeated in the first round by fall (1:01) by #5 Kaeb Stebbins (Delta). Wingate ends the season with a record of 32-7.