Miller medals; Kohler's season ends

INDIANAPOLIS — No Starfire wrestler is more accomplished than Sawyer Miller.
The South Adams High School senior defeated Dameion Rutledge of Southport in the opening round of the IHSAA wrestling state finals Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The victory guarantees him a spot on the podium. The top eight finishers in each weight class earn a medal.
Jay County’s Andy Kohler didn’t fare as well, as he was pinned in the first period.
The tournament resumes with the quarterfinals at 9:30 a.m. today. The semifinal round will follow, with the consolations beginning at 3 p.m. The championship matches are slated for 7:30 p.m.
Miller, who is ranked second in the state, has already become the school’s career leader in wins (156 and counting), and now he will be the first three-time state medalist in program history. He finished fourth as a freshman and third as a sophomore.
“It feels good,” Miller said of knowing he’ll get hardware in his final season. “I’m ready to go.”
After making easy work of the first three semi-state opponents Feb. 14 in Fort Wayne, the 120-pound Miller (42-0) needed a little bit of time to get his offense going against Rutledge.
He led 2-0 after the first period and began the second on top. He fought to get an advantage against the Southport senior before managing to lock in a cradle nearly 40 seconds in.

The cradle, which had helped him tech fall his way to the semi-state title match, worked again as he was able to score a two-point near fall for a 4-0 lead. Rutledge scored his first escape with 45 seconds remaining in the period, but Miller swept Rutledge’s left ankle for another two-point takedown and a 6-1 lead.
Starting the final period from their feet, Miller swept Rutledge’s ankle again to lead 8-1, and then promptly let him go to make it 8-2. Then with 38 seconds remaining, Miller notched his third and final ankle sweep and rode Rutledge out for the remainder of the match.
“The good news is we didn’t have to show a lot of stuff out there just yet,” said SAHS coach Barry Humble.
Miller, who is typically very critical of himself, wasn’t quite pleased with his ankle sweep despite its effectiveness.
“It was kind of ugly. I’m a little tired,” he said. “I think it’s because … you’ve been cutting weight all week and you have a tough match right off the bat. It drained my energy real quick.
“Hopefully things are a little better (today).”
Next up for Miller is sophomore Kyle Hatch of Warsaw, who pinned Issac Gomez of Plainfield in 5 minutes, 11 seconds, Friday. Miller has the advantage against the ninth-ranked Hatch (43-2), though, as he defeated him 4-3 at the Garrett Invitational on Jan. 17.
“We have to keep a lot of pressure and a lot of activity,” Humble said of the Miller’s quarterfinal match. “Keep the feet moving, going after him and don’t give him a chance. When we get on top, just shut it down (and) not give him chances to score.”
Kohler had his dream season come to a close in the first period Friday.
The 182-pound junior took a few shots at the left leg of Avon senior Evan Elmore but wasn’t able to connect. Then the 11th-ranked Elmore (29-4) picked Kohler’s left knee to take him to the mat, locked in a cradle and got the pin 1:02 into the opening period.
Even though his first few attempts at getting the upper hand against Elmore failed, Kohler said he would keep attacking his legs.
“Just keep shooting,” he said. “It’s not like you’re not going to get (the legs). “You’ll get one of them.”
Kohler added that the loss was the worst he’s ever felt when leaving the mat, and that he’ll use this experience as motivation next season.
“It’s going to give me the drive to do everything to not let that happen ever again,” he said.
But despite the loss, JCHS coach Eric Myers noted the strides Kohler has taken this season, one year removed from finishing 21-17 and ending his season at the regional tournament.
“It’s two steps forward going from a regional qualifier to state qualifier,” Myers said, “Now, just work in the offseason and take that next step. His only losses are to state qualifiers.
“It’s been a pretty awesome ride for Andy Kohler.”