Wawasee’s Derek Morrison finished second at the Goshen Wrestling Regional, one of three Warriors to advance to the semi-state. (Photos by Mike Deak)

The numbers are dwindling, but there are still numbers as the IHSAA wrestling state tournament hit the regional round this weekend.

The Goshen Regional had Wawasee bring eight, wrestle seven, and have three survive into the next step of the championship ladder.

Surviving and advancing to the semi-state are two first-timers along with a third-timer, Cameron Senter making his third-straight semi-state while Cavan Tom and Derek Morrison crack their first Fort Wayne brackets. Senter started his day off hot, tech-falling Korbin Haifley of Fremont with a dominant 16-0 run through. A major loss in the semis had Senter meeting a familiar foe in Kealan Fuller of East Noble, where a second-period reversal pushed Senter to third place and a three-seed at 120 for next week.

Derek Morrison makes his first semi-state after reaching the championship round of the 215 bracket. Everyone’s pick to win it, Travis Henke of Northridge, was awaiting Morrison in the final, and Henke will be the one-seed and a favorite next week after pinning Morrison at 3:59 to remain undefeated this season. Morrison opened with a major decision over East Noble’s Tayden Getts to advance, and then stunned DeKalb’s Brady Long with a stick and pin at 38 seconds.

Cavan Tom opened his quest at 144 with an academic tech fall of East Noble’s Conner Tarr, but would lose in a combined 18-3 buildup in his final two matches to finish fourth.

Cylus Melching (106), Garrett Tittle (113) Isaac Ruff (126) and Moses Howard (165) all lost in the first round in their first appearances in the regional round. Ethan Rodriguez was part of the 150 bracket, but didn’t make weight prior to the regional and was disqualified.

Here is the breakdown for the Goshen Regional regarding Wawasee’s active wrestlers. Full brackets can be found on Track Wrestling.

106 – Cylus Melching (13-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Leon Bontrager (West Noble) 29-10 won by decision over Cylus Melching (Wawasee) 13-9 (Dec 9-4)
113 – Garrett Tittle (21-16) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Charlie Fleshman (Central Noble) 39-2 won by tech fall over Garrett Tittle (Wawasee) 21-16 (TF-1.5 3:43 (17-1))
120 – Cameron Senter (34-6) placed 3rd and scored 10.5 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Cameron Senter (Wawasee) 34-6 won by tech fall over Korbyn Haifley (Fremont) 27-15 (TF-1.5 3:31 (16-0))
  • Semifinal – Qwenell Gabriel (Lakeland) 41-3 won by major decision over Cameron Senter (Wawasee) 34-6 (MD 9-0)
  • 3rd Place Match – Cameron Senter (Wawasee) 34-6 won by decision over Kealen Fuller (East Noble) 21-7 (Dec 2-0)
126 – Isaac Ruff (18-20) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Kamaron Straw (Angola) 35-6 won by tech fall over Isaac Ruff (Wawasee) 18-20 (TF-1.5 2:31 (17-2))
144 – Cavan Tom (30-9) placed 4th and scored 7.5 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Cavan Tom (Wawasee) 30-9 won by tech fall over Conner Tarr (East Noble) 10-11 (TF-1.5 3:34 (15-0))
  • Semifinal – Jersey Slabaugh (Northridge) 22-16 won by major decision over Cavan Tom (Wawasee) 30-9 (MD 9-1)
  • 3rd Place Match – Jager Bute (Northwood) 23-11 won by decision over Cavan Tom (Wawasee) 30-9 (Dec 9-2)
165 – Moses Howard (18-12) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Rylee Biddle (East Noble) 34-6 won by fall over Moses Howard (Wawasee) 18-12 (Fall 1:16)
215 – Derek Morrison (32-5) placed 2nd and scored 17.0 team points.

  • Quarterfinal – Derek Morrison (Wawasee) 32-5 won by major decision over Tayden Getts (East Noble) 3-2 (MD 16-4)
  • Semifinal – Derek Morrison (Wawasee) 32-5 won by fall over Brady Long (Dekalb) 34-4 (Fall 0:38)
  • 1st Place Match – Travis Henke (Northridge) 34-0 won by fall over Derek Morrison (Wawasee) 32-5 (Fall 4:00)