Four-for-four

INDIANAPOLIS — He’s been doing it his whole career.

Winning.

But if there was ever a time Mason Winner needed a win, it was Friday night.

Less than a week after suffering his first loss of the season, and with his career on the line, the Jay County High School senior went into the opening round of the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse the most nervous he had been all year.

“It’s a season-ending match if you don’t win,” he said. “Just kind of nerve-wracking to think about it; it could be my last match.

“Just go out, wrestle smart, don’t get caught up in any dumb stuff. Stay confident and healthy.”

Six competitive minutes on the mat later, Winner got yet another notch in the victory column. And he added to the long list of accomplishments in a red, white and blue singlet.

Winner, ranked second at 182 pounds, outlasted Cathedral junior and sixth-ranked Johnny Parker for a 1-0 decision Friday, guaranteeing a state medal and solidifying his spot as the greatest wrestler in Patriot history.

“I think it was pretty big for him,” said JCHS coach Eric Myers. “Tough match, probably the highest-ranked wrestler that he’s wrestled (in the opening round). I do think it was really big for his confidence, and just emotionally for him to get through that I think this will give him the opportunity to loosen up a bit.”

Jay County freshman Ethan Reiley had his year come to an end after suffering a 14-2 major-decision loss in the opening round Friday.

Winner, who was seventh as a 145-pound freshman, eighth as a 160-pound sophomore and fifth in his current weight class as a junior, will attempt to work his way up the podium with quarterfinal and semifinal matches beginning at 9:30 a.m. today. Consolations are set for 5 p.m. while the championship matches start at 7:30 p.m.

Twice in the opening period Friday night, Winner tried to pick the ankle of Parker (35-7). On one occasion, Winner lifted Parker’s leg high off the mat but wasn’t able to take him down for two points.

The second period also went scoreless, as Winner held firm control in the top position.

Parker chose to give up a point to Winner and start the third period from the neutral position rather than on top in an effort to use the full two-minute period for a takedown. But Parker was timid, hardly going for any offense and Winner maintained his lead until the final buzzer.

“He wrestled a little conservative tonight,” Myers said. “I think he felt comfortable in all the positions he was in and he just wanted to make sure he had that 1-0 lead and felt comfortable with him on his feet.”

Winner said in those final two minutes he was only going to be the aggressor if he needed to, but since the opportunity never presented itself he didn’t take any chances.

“Plan is always to score more points,” he said. “But in the back of my head I’m also thinking, ‘I got one point, I need to wrestle smart. If something is there, it’s there. If it’s not, just stay in good position and not so much stall, but keep wrestling and don’t give anything up.’”

Winner’s goal all season has been to stand on top of the podium at Bankers Life Fieldhouse with a blue-ribboned medal around his neck, and the path he has to take Saturday morning is no cupcake. Next up for Winner in the quarterfinal round is top-ranked Mishawaka senior Joseph Walker (30-2), who pinned No. 3 MarCartney Parkinson of Mater Dei in overtime of their opening-round match.

Potential semifinal opponents are No. 8 Khris Walton (40-4) of Merrillville and Hayden Filipovich (34-4) of Indianapolis Lutheran.

Walker, who was sixth in the state at 170 pounds last year, is battling an ankle injury he suffered at semi-state last weekend.

“He's real explosive on his feet, even with an injury there,” Myers said, noting Walker has a solid double-leg takedown move. “We're going to have to slow that down.

“He scrambles pretty well on bottom, but I'm curious to see how Mason does with him with how solid Mason is on top.

“We're going to give it everything he's got. He's excited.”

Winner is not the least bit intimidated by the number in front of Walker's name, either.

“Same thing; go score points where you can,” he said. “Stay in good position, don't give up anything. Don't get caught in any stupid stuff.”

With the nerves in check, Winner had a moment to reflect on the meaning of earning his fourth medal.

“(It means) quite a bit,” he said. “Hopefully this one is the blue one.”

Reiley, a 113-pound freshman, wasn't able to get much offense going in his bout with fellow freshman and sixth-ranked Logan Frazier (36-2) of Crown Point. Reiley trailed 2-0 at the end of the first period and surrendered three takedowns in the second.

Both points Reiley scored were on escapes in which Frazier let him go so they could get back to the neutral position.

Although the Patriot youngster wasn't able to get the medal he desired, he ends his season 37-6 and boasts the designation as one of two JCHS wrestlers to reach the state finals as a freshman, joining Winner on that list.

“What a freshman year for him,” Myers said. “He came a long way in a year, and for him to end up at the state finals is great for him.”