Indiana wrestling state finals notebook: Brayden Littell bounces back, future IU grapplers show out

INDIANAPOLIS – Brayden Littell almost called it quits before his career even truly began.

Slowed by circumstance and injury the past two years, frustration and adversity admittedly took its toll on the Center Grove junior wrestler.

Littell was caught in the "what if" game after his sophomore year, and the question he kept asking himself as he worked back from reconstructive knee surgery more than a year ago tested him.

“Physically, I knew I would be able to (return), but after freshman year and not being able to wrestle and then sophomore year not being able to wrestle, I was very sick of it,” Littell recalled. “I had thoughts of walking away and trying something new because obviously, it was not for me.”

State finals:Cathedral repeats, while locals enjoy final big night on the mat

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Initially enrolled at Perry Meridian as a freshman, Littell never quite found an opportunity with the Falcons, which prompted him to transfer back to Center Grove in 2016-17, but the move didn’t bring immediate results.

Instead, a torn MCL and ACL in his right knee that he suffered at 11 years old during bantam football finally proved too much to overcome. Littell ignored the pain at first, continuing to wrestle through the discomfort for a few years, determined to progress in the sport he latched onto since the age of 8.

But the discomfort was relentless, even more so than his drive, costing him the entirety of his sophomore campaign following surgery in 2017.

Needing nine months to earn medical clearance, Littell slowly found clarity and confidence as he watched the 2018 state tournament series from afar before he gained traction in his recovery during the offseason prior to his junior year.

Littell finished sixth at 120 during the Cadet Freestyle Nationals in Fargo, N.D. this past summer and placed eighth at the 2018 Super 32 Challenge in Greensboro, N.C. in the fall, one of the nation’s premier preseason high school wrestling tournaments.

All of it built toward what was to come, the answer the state’s top-ranked wrestler sought, which came to fruition as he dominated to a 44-0 record as the 2019 IHSAA individual weight class champion at 120 lbs., Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

“He’s wrestled all over the country. He’s wrestled some of the toughest guys in the country and he’s beaten some of the toughest guys in the country," Center Grove coach Maurice Swain said. "So we knew coming into this season, if we just go out there and stay focused and we wrestle like we know we can wrestle, that he could be the state champ.”

As he stood atop the winner’s podium, Littell became the first unbeaten title holder for Center Grove since Sean Mappes went 46-0 to win the 170 championship in 2012.

Making up for lost time, Littell won his opening round match at his first state finals Friday night with ease, scoring a 25-7 tech fall in 3 minutes, 35 seconds. He defeated third-ranked Brayden Lowery of Roncalli by decision 3-0 in the semifinals after knocking off eighth-ranked William Finnearty of Culver Academies in Saturday morning’s quarterfinals.

“I was expecting to win. Not to sound cocky, but if you’re not going out there expecting to win, you’re not going to,” Littell said. “It’s very gratifying to know I put in the time, the work and the extra practices to get where I am now.”

Littell completed his journey with a 9-3 decision in the state championship over No. 2 Blake Boarman (40-2) of Evansville Mater Dei. The two locked up for the second time in as many weeks with Littell winning both meetings after prevailing by decision 6-2 at the Evansville semistate.

A quick takedown settled Littell’s nerves and focused his energy under the state spotlight. An 8-1 lead entering the third period foreshadowed the conclusion for the nation’s 18th ranked wrestler, according to Intermat.

“I was very comfortable after the first takedown because at semistate I got the first takedown and it looked like I mentally broke him. He had the same look on his face when I got the first takedown here, so it was relieving,” Littell said. “It was a weight off my shoulders. I could relax a little bit.”

Hoosiers Pride

While Avon and 132-pound state champion Asa Garcia couldn’t halt team state champion Cathedral’s bid at a repeat, a case was made for the future of Big Ten wrestling.

No more so than by top-ranked Garcia (46-1), who became Avon’s first three-time state champion in program history. Finishing his illustrious career with a record of 162-12, Garcia, an Indiana recruit, is the 29th wrestler in history to win three state titles.

Garcia, ranked 16th in the nation, captured his first state title in 2016, placed third at 113 in 2017 and won the 126-pound state championship last year. His third state title ended like the first with a pin in 1:23 over second-ranked Alec Viduya (41-2) of Roncalli.

Doyel:Avon's Asa Garcia getting mind right to wreak havoc at wrestling finals

“I can’t even describe the feeling. It feels amazing,” Garcia said. “All the hard work I’ve had throughout the years, it’s just coming to mind. All the rough times. All the downs. All the highs. Everything. It’s all finally paid off to get me to the point where I’m at now.”

As one of five IU recruits to reach the finals on Saturday night, Garcia was one of four future Hoosiers to win it all.

Portage’s top-ranked Jacob Moran seized his second straight state title by winning at 113 with a 37-1 record. Two-time state champion Cayden Rooks (43-1) of Columbus East finished 43-1 to win the 138 title.

Portage’s top-ranked Donnell Washington, Jr. (37-2) came close to giving the IU commits a clean sweep, but he lost to Cathedral’s Jordan Slivka (36-3) in the 160 finals, which finalized the team championship race.

Columbus East’s Nick South (44-0) made it four titles for the Hoosiers’ prospects with a 11-0 major decision in the 170 finals.

“I’m so excited for these guys out here competing to win state championships and they’re all heading to IU, too,” Garcia said. “We’re trying to shift that culture. Indiana’s the place to be. New head coach (Angel Escobedo), new facilities, everyone is buying in. We’re all going to grind together now. All these state champs out here.”

Nebraska commit, Silas Allred (35-0) of Shenandoah won the 195 title with an 11-2 major decision, the first wrestling state champion in program history. Allred, a junior, is ranked eighth in the nation by Intermat, and cruised to the title behind an opening-round tech fall and two pins in 2:49 and 0:33. 

Irish Repeat Result of Confidence

Avon pushed Cathedral to the brink late Saturday night and had a chance to potentially tie for the state wrestling team title, but experience came through in the clutch as the Irish won 78-72.

With four wrestlers in the finals, the Irish needed to make a stand after second-ranked Zeke Seltzer and third-ranked Alex Mosconi lost hard-fought matches at 113 and 145, respectively.

Second-ranked Elliott Rodgers (41-4) and two-time state champion, second-ranked Jordan Slivka (36-3) responded, which didn’t surprise coach Sean McGinley.

“They were excited to pull it out for Cathedral and their teammates,” McGinley said. “I think Jordan doing it last year, it gave incentive and told everyone, it’s doable. One of us was going to do this. One of us was going to bring it home.”

Slivka, an Ohio University recruit, delivered the knockout behind a seven-point flurry in the final 56 seconds of his match against top-ranked Donnell Washington, Jr., who he lost to by decision 8-3 during the regular season.

Slivka’s 12-7 decision followed up Rodgers’ 9-7 sudden victory win over No. 3 Cooper Noehre (41-4) of Greenfield-Central, which was the third overtime meeting this year between both.

“The way we won last year with so many dramatic come-from-behind wins, I didn’t think we could top that,” McGinley said. “But what we did tonight with Elliott Rodgers down by four points, pulling it out for the win, and Jordan down 6-2 and somehow pulls out a win against a guy he lost to earlier, it’s just a great feeling. It’s hard to top.”

Cathedral’s state title was their third in six years and the second-highest point total of the three. The Irish won over Brownsburg 108-100.5 last year. They got past Franklin 73-60 in 2014.

“All I can say is we did it. Anyone can doubts us. Anyone can say we can’t do it or that it’s impossible, but it’s possible and we got it done,” Rodgers said.

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Avon’s Carson Brewer stole the show during the state finals’ introductions on Saturday night. Bouncing around on the mat with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in hand, Brewer wasn’t trying to showboat.

He was sticking to his routine.

“I tried it last week at semistate, and it worked, so I just tried it again here and it worked again,” Brewer said.

The Ohio recruit finished his state-title run a perfect 42-0 to win the 182 title. Ranked 14th in the country by Intermat, Brewer became the first unbeaten state champion in Avon history since Lynn Panko went 46-0 at 215 in 2005.

“That’s just his thing. I don’t know. He did it at semistate, too, dripped jelly all across the mat,” teammate Asa Garcia said. “He’s a crazy dude. He’s mean. He’s going to come out and be in your face, and that’s what we love about him.”

Watts Recognized

Hunter Watts of Jimtown was honored by the IHSAA Executive Committee as the Ward E. Brown Mental Attitude Award winner following the state finals.

Watts, a senior, became a four-time state place-winner during his high school wrestling career, finishing third at 126 on Saturday. The Central Michigan recruit won an individual state title at 120 last year, was third at 113 as a sophomore and sixth at 106 in 2016.

The Northern Indiana Conference most valuable player for 2018-19 ranks 12th in his graduating class with a 4.04 GPA and is the son of Jason and Rachel Watts of Elkhart. He intends to pursue a degree in engineering and business at Central Michigan.