His medal best

INDIANAPOLIS — Almost exactly a year ago, Andy Kohler experienced the worst day of his wrestling career.
Friday, he experienced the best.
The fifth-ranked Kohler, a Jay County High School senior, defeated Bloomington North’s Hunter Dalton by a 9-1 major decision Friday in the 182-pound opening round of the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
He’ll become a state medalist.
“It’s great,” said Kohler, who meets No. 16 Spencer Irick of Hamilton Southeastern when the tournament resumes at 9:30 a.m. today. Irick upset No. 2 and previously unbeaten Andrew Davidson in overtime Friday.
“It’s everybody’s dream to be a state placer,” said Kohler, who is now guaranteed a state medal. “It is mine too.
“You know what? Just having that dream come true is amazing.”
Kohler (45-2) was in control from the get-go, using a single-leg takedown just nine seconds into the match. After controlling the Bloomington North senior for a few moments, Kohler gave up an escape so they could get back to their feet.
Dalton was attempting to tie up Kohler and muscle him to the mat, but the JCHS senior wasn’t going to allow it to happen.
As Dalton brought Kohler’s head closer to his own body, Kohler promptly took Dalton to the mat for a 4-1 lead.
“I prepared all week for it,” Kohler said. “Practicing in those situations to know what was coming and executing.”
Kohler needed just six seconds to score an escape in the second period for a 5-1 lead, and less than 20 seconds later another single-leg takedown made it 7-1. Dalton spent the rest of the period on the mat, unable to get out of Kohler’s grasp.
“That kid’s hands were huge,” Dalton said in the hallway after the match.
“He had great wrist control,” said JCHS coach Eric Myers. “That is what all of our coaches say; he has unbelievable grip strength, which is great.”
Kohler chose to start the third period standing, and jockeyed with Dalton for nearly a minute. But with 64 seconds remaining in the match, Dalton grabbed the back of Kohler’s neck to bring him in closer.
It was déjà vu for Dalton.
Kohler bent down, slid by to grab Dalton’s left leg and took him to the mat again for two more points.
“He just kept coming at that guy,” Myers said. “He looked great.”
Match complete.
Kohler, who became the 19th state medalist in program history, was never on the defensive against Dalton. He was the aggressor, earning four takedowns.
While on top of Dalton, Kohler said he had to be aware of Dalton trying to switch.
“Switch is kind of my weakness and I couldn’t let that happen,” he said. “I had to hold that wrist, hold something so he couldn’t spin real fast and get that switch.
“I knew he had that because I had seen him on video. I couldn’t let him do it.”
Today’s quarterfinal match turned out to be different than expected, as Irick (30-6) surprised Davidson with a takedown in overtime for the win. Myers and Kohler had been preparing to face Davidson, and they will have less than 12 hours to get ready for Irick.
“Now we have a whole new mindset,” said Myers.
But they will take the same approach they have all season — one match at a time.
“One thing that is great to see, he’s still hungry,” Myers said. “He got off the mat, (earned) his medal, but he’s like, let’s go. Let’s get the next one. Let’s get everything out of this senior season that we can.”
Top-ranked Blake Rypel (42-0) of Cathedral and No. 8 Joey Blakeley (49-4) of Prairie Heights meet in the other quarterfinal match on Kohler’s side of the bracket. Rypel, who is ranked fifth in the nation, was the 195-pound state champion last season.
The other two quarterfinals have sixth-ranked CJ Damler (39-4) of Brown County meeting Southmont’s ninth-ranked Zachary Worm (41-3). Third-ranked Cameron Jones (39-6) of Lawrence North squares off against No. 4 David Eli (39-3) of Elkhart memorial.
Eli placed seventh in the same weight class a year ago, and Jones was seventh at 170 pounds.
Despite such a stacked field today, Myers and Kohler are not the least bit concerned.
“We’re going to see how high up on that podium he can make it,” Myers said.