Fifth for the final

INDIANAPOLIS — Drake Buchanan nearly put Mason Winner to his back.

Winner, owner of three state medals and competing for the final time as a Patriot, quickly grabbed Buchanan's arm and continued the roll, putting the Center Grove senior to the mat for the takedown.

A short time later J.D. Minch, the match's official, blew his whistle and slapped the mat.

Like he has to so many past opponents, Winner capped his career with one more pin.

Winner, a Jay County High School senior, pinned Buchanan with 10 seconds remaining in the second period to secure a fifth-place finish at 182 pounds in the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals on Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“He didn't have the most fortunate draw and he wrestled through it [and] did the best he could,” said JCHS coach Eric Myers. “Felt like he gave it his all all day today like he always does and ended up with fifth. That's a great place.

“To go 3-1 at the state finals, not bad at all.”

Once Minch raised Winner's had as the victor for the 170th and last time of his career, Winner pointed at his friends, family and teammates in the stands. He shook Buchanan's hand one more time, then walked over to his father Jon for a hug.

“It was kind of surreal,” Mason said. “It's over now. High school career is over now.”

And what a career it's been.

Winner exits the program as the career leader in victories and just 14 losses. His senior season ended 43-2, with those only two blemishes coming to wrestlers who battled for a state championship later Saturday night. Winner's fifth-place medal was his fourth, making him the only JCHS wrestler to achieve the feat.

Myers summed up the previous four years in one word: Bittersweet.

“It mean bittersweet that we won't have Mason Winner in our lineup.” he said.

It's been known Winner wanted to end his career with a state championship, but for the fourth year in a row a loss in the quarterfinal Saturday morning thwarted that chance yet again.

The Patriot senior salvaged the quarterfinal loss by grabbing a 3-1 decision in the consolation semifinal against Indianapolis Lutheran junior Hayden Filipovich (34-6). He gave up an escape 23 seconds into the second period to trail 1-0, but put Filipovich on the mat with a single leg takedown with 52 seconds remaining in the period.

He needed just seven seconds to get free from the bottom position in the third period and didn't allow the Saint to even up the score. Winner tried to extend the lead by taking a couple shots in the final minute but none of them converted.

Then after falling behind early in the second period against Buchanan, Winner capped his day by matching his best medal in his trademark fashion.

“For him to step on the mat after losing in that quarterfinal again is extremely hard,” Myers said. “I know it got harder every time for him. To regroup mentally, for him, says a lot about his character and his mental toughness to go out there and wrestle a solid match against a good kid there.

“I just thought it was fitting his last match in high school was a pin,” Myers said.

The quarterfinal match Saturday morning was a one-versus-two bout as Winner met top-ranked Mishawaka senior Joseph Walker who was battling an ankle injury he suffered the previous week at semi-state.

Normally the aggressor, Winner wasn't quite able to get much offense going despite Walker's ailment. Winner escaped 34 seconds into the third period to even the score at 1-1, but two takedowns in the final 54 seconds gave Walker a 5-2 decision.

“After looking back it's one of those things, too conservative,” Winner said. “But it's done and over with. Can't go back in time.”

Winner can, however, look back in time at what he's accomplished on the mat and the mark he left on the Patriot wrestling program.

“It's a way for me to put my name in the history book,” said Winner, who wants to wrestle in college but is undecided on where just yet. “I set that bar high and now someone else has to work hard to achieve and do better and I hope someone does better than what I have done.

“I'm always for making the program better and making people better. It would mean a lot if someone could beat what I've done.”