EVANSVILLE – Bedford North Lawrence’s Jorj Filler and Ethan Stancombe suffered first-round losses in the IHSAA semistate on Saturday.
Filler (30-8) dropped a 16-0 decision (a technical fall at 4:14) against Avon’s third-ranked Luke Rioux in the opener at 126 pounds. Filler capped his career as only the third wrestler in BNL history to reach 100 career wins.
Stancombe (30-9 as a junior) suffered a 5-0 loss to Franklin’s Cory Fuller at 165. The top four in each class advanced to the state finals.
“Our day did not go as we had hoped,” BNL assistant coach Mike Branam said. “But both Jorj and Ethan should be very proud of the seasons they had this year. I think the nerves got to them a little, and that hurt us. The Ford Center can be an intimidating venue in which to wrestle, and at this level, even the slightest mistake or hesitation can end your season.
“I know the losses sting now, but both young men have bright futures ahead of them.”
