Cougars show early-season growth in meeting with Perry Merdian – Greenfield Indiana
GREENFIELD — It hasn’t been long since the start of the girls wrestling season, but Greenfield-Central has already shown plenty of early-season growth.
For first-year head coach Joe Harris, that’s the most important thing to begin the year.
Greenfield-Central head coach Joe Harris, left, and assistant coach Zach Allen watch during Keely Allen’s 235-pound match against Perry Meridian. Allen won by fall. Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
It showed on Wednesday night in the Cougars first dual meet of the season.
At home, hindered by five forfeits, Greenfield-Central fell 51-30 to Perry Meridian. In the nine matches that were wrestled, the Cougars won five and outscored the Falcons 30-21.
“The girls have really turned the corner as far as attitude and work ethic go,” Harris said. “We’re showing up and getting the work done, and I think we saw that tonight against a team that has 28 girls and is a highly-respected girls program.”
Starting the night at 110 pounds, the Cougars got a pair of first-period pins to kick things off.
Greenfield-Central’s girls team cheers on Keely Allen during her match against Perry Meridian. Allen won by fall. Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
In the 110-pound match, GC sophomore Nevaeh Branscum jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead with a pair of takedowns before pinning Perry Meridian’s Natalie Everidge with 35 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Junior Asia Bowen followed suit for the Cougars, pinning Grace Cannella less than 30 seconds into the 115-pound bout.
“Exactly what I wanted from those two,” Harris said. “Nevaeh is getting so much better. Her ability to go out in a tough situation and not break mentally is night and day from the start of the season. Asia is the epitome of what we want. She went out mean and aggressive and got her shot in. She did everything we wanted. It was picture-perfect wrestling.”
The next two GC wins came from a pair of freshmen.
Greenfield-Central’s Asia Bowen goes for the pin in her 115-pound match against Perry Meridian. Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
At 145 pounds, Bella McCullough pinned Perry Meridian’s Gracy En in 32 seconds, and at 170 pounds, Alexandria Bousman pinned Perry’s Bawi Par in 37 seconds.
“Aggressive wrestling from them. They took it to them, made them question why they’re out there and scored,” Harris said. “We’ll work on position with Alex and a little more technique, but she’s just a brute. She’s a bruiser and is going to go out there and be mean.”
The Cougars final win of the night, at 235 pounds, came from one of the team’s top wrestlers.
A late lineup switch by the Falcons put GC’s Keely Allen up against sophomore Violet Jennings.
Greenfield-Central’s Bella McCullough pins her Perry Meridian opponent in the first seconds of their match.
It took Allen less than a period to add another win by fall for the Cougars.
“We’ve been working with Keely on some new moves, and she beat their varsity wrestler in the tournament over the weekend,” Harris said. “I think they wanted to watch Keely tonight and threw out their JV girl.”
The Falcons picked up wins by forfeit at 100, 105, 120, 135 and 190 pounds.
At 125, 130 and 155 pounds, they added wins by fall.
Greenfield-Central’s Nevaeh Branscum, right, goes for a takedown during her 115-pound match against Perry Meridian. Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
In the 125-pound match, Adyson Grubbs pinned GC freshman Maddie Lacy with 10 seconds to go in the second period of a match that Lacy led 5-3.
A match later, Jacklyn Merriss pinned GC’s Brookelynn Lanning in the first period, and at 155 pounds, Lilliana Dodd won by fall over GC’s Lidiia Dickson.
The lone match to end in a decision came at 140 pounds. Perry’s Paige Harvey outlasted GC senior Katie Rigney 1-0. A Rigney takedown attempt was denied by Harvey in the closing seconds.
Greenfield-Central’s Keely Allen after she won by fall in the 235-pound match against Perry Meridian. Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
The Cougars travel to the Purdue Poly Invitational on Saturday. Matches are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
