Big accomplishment

Eric Hemmelgarn has been on the big stage before. Kyle Garringer has spent a career preparing to be there.
The pair of Patriots will be the first duo in more than a decade to represent Jay County High School at the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals, which begin at 6 p.m. Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
“When you get one kid down there and you get a medal, that’s what we work for as athletes,” said JCHS coach James Myers. “But to have two, a lot of programs around the state would love to have two medalists and I think we have a great chance to get two this weekend. …
“I really think this weekend those two will put on a good showing for Jay County wrestling.”
The last time Jay County had two wrestlers at the state finals in the same year was 1999 with James Brewster and Joe VanSkyock. The school has not had a pair of state medalists since 1997, when Shawn Jordan finished sixth at 152 pounds and Myers was seventh at 125.
“It’s a good feeling,” said Garringer of the opportunity. “Obviously the big guy went last year. It’s nice to join him this year.”
Hemmelgarn went to the state finals last season as a heavy underdog, but pulled off a first-round upset of Perry Meridian’s Donte Winfield. He went on to win two more matches and finish third in the state.
This season he is ranked fifth in the state in the heavyweight division, and 13th in the nation by InterMat Wrestling. He has won sectional, regional and semi-state championships, and takes a 44-1 record to Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
“I think it turned around at regional, probably in the finals,” said Hemmelgarn, who had not been happy with the way he was wrestling prior to his regional title win over Darrius Connell of Muncie Central. “I just decided to flip the switch. It was time.”
Hemmelgarn’s opening-round match at the state finals will be against Chesterton’s Ryley Harlow (36-10).
A win in the first round Friday night guarantees a top-eight finish and a state medal. The tournament continues at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Garringer, who is a four-time semi-state qualifier, broke through to reach the state finals with a 6-3 victory over Mississinewa’s Andrew Smelser in Saturday’s ticket round. He took a 45-0 record into the semi-state championship match before suffering his first loss of the season, 7-2 to Northfield’s Joseph Ross (36-1).
Garringer (45-1) will wrestle his first match at the state finals against Ryan Patterson of Lowell (33-7) in the 195-pound bracket.
The key for both Patriots, Myers said, will be to do what has made them successful all season long.
“That’s the biggest thing, to go out and wrestle your match,” he said. “It’s more about how you approach it. I think for both of them, that’s what they’re going to have to do.”
If Garringer advances through the first round, he would likely meet up with Mitch Sliga (45-0) in Saturday’s quarterfinals. Sliga is No. 1 in the state, ranked fourth in the nation and has committed to wrestle next season at Northwestern.
Garringer and the Fishers senior have known each other for seven years, since they wrestled together at Central Indiana Academy of Wrestling.
“I know Mitch really well. We’re pretty good friends,” said Garringer. “He’s an awfully good wrestler. It’s hard to catch him out of position.”
Hemmelgarn would meet either Dakota Ramey (38-3) of North Montgomery or Austin Little (39-3) of North Posey in the quarterfinals. A rematch with Winfield (37-2) could await in the semifinals, and Wesley Bernard (45-1) is the favorite to come out of the other half of the state bracket.
The target for Hemmelgarn has been consistent since his rise to a third-place finish last season. He wants to take two more steps up the state podium.
“My goal is to be a state champion,” he said. “I won’t settle for anything less.”


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