MATT TODD FINISHES 5TH IN THE STATE

Todd Places Fifth in State Wrestling Finals

The second time proved to be a charm for Mason Todd as he placed fifth in his second trip to the IHSAA Individual Wrestling Championships held Friday and Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. As a freshman Todd made an early exit with a Friday night loss to Bryan Kuhn of Evansville Reitz. This time around Mason left no doubts in the opening round as he defeated Fort Wayne Semi-State champ Logan Randle of Huntington North by a score of 4-3. The match was close throughout with the Viking senior desperately attempting to turn Todd in the third period. Mason’s win was one of only two by fourth place finishers in 56 opening night match-ups between first and fourth-place Semi-State placers.

In Saturday morning’s quarter-final round Todd came up against the state’s top ranked 112 lb wrestler in Mishawaka senior Paul Beck. Beck defeated Kuhn in Friday’s opening round. After a scoreless first period the Caveman senior scored two near-falls in the second period to open a 6-0 lead. The final score of 11-0 was a disappointment, but not an end, for the precocious Arabian sophomore. In his first wrestle-back match Mason rebounded to defeat Pike Central junior Cody Kendle by a score of 10-6 in a match he controlled by Todd from the first period. The win moved Mason into the fifth-place match. (The IHSAA does not have a full wrestle-back bracket and the championship semi-final losers go directly to the third place match.)

Awaiting Mason was Cathedral’s Brian Harvey. In the three matches between them this season Todd had a win in the Regional sandwiched between losses in the regular season and the Semi-State to the Irish sophomore. The two had also faced off in an epic match in last year’s Semi-State consolation match in which Mason had prevailed. With no score in the shortened first period Todd chose the bottom position in the bottom period. Mason scored a quick reversal for a 2-0 lead. Near the end of the period Harvey escaped for a 2-1score. In the final period Harvey chose down hoping to escape to tie or reverse for the win. Neither happened. Todd constantly pressured his rival and stayed in control for the entire period to secure the win. The placing completes a remarkable year that saw the last brother of the Todd family wrestling dynasty win an ISWA state title to earn a spot on Team Indiana where he placed fifth in the ASICS Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota to earn All-American honors. Brothers Mitch (a Semi-State champion and state qualifier) and Matt (the 2009 IHSAA runner-up at 160 lbs) have worked extensively to help Mason and other Arabian wrestlers improve their skills to compete at the top level. With a returning state place-winner, three other returning Semi-State qualifiers and only two losses created by graduation, the next season looks good for Arabian Wrestling.