Staff Reports

Rolando Baltazar-Felipe recorded four victories, three of them on pins, in the 113-pound weight class for the Seymour wrestling team during the Owls’ competition scored as four duel meets at Roncalli last Saturday.

At 126 pounds, Sam Castetter went 3-1 with two pins and a triumph by technical fall.

Seymour has been wrestling short-handed due to the coronavirus and the Owls lost to Indianapolis Scecina, 42-24, Roncalli, 59-12, Noblesville, 46-27, and New Palestine, 57-23.

The Owls have been forfeiting about half of their weight classes because of the absence of wrestlers, but coach Adam Wolka said it is important to develop individual talents and have them face the toughest foes available.

“Although these teams will all wrestle in the New Castle semi-state, we believe it is important to to find different competition to prepare us for the individual portion of the season,” Wolka said.

Wolka said the Owls felt Baltazar-Felipe was on the verge of a big performance and he came through.

“We were waiting for Rolando to have a breakout weekend and were glad that it finally came,” Wolka said. “Our staff is always telling him that he can wrestle with anyone He just has to believe it himself. He made many in-match adjustments that made the difference this weekend.”

Castetter kept up his success.

“Sam has been our most consistent wrestler this season,” Wolka said. “His pace and ability to score from every position seems to overwhelm many of his opponents.”

Since Seymour has not been able to fill every weight class, the challenge is for individuals to go their hardest one-on-one rather than think about dual-meet wins.

“When we look at our meets from that perspective,” Wolka said, “we won more actual matches in three of the four dual meets. Every Seymour wrestler from JV to varsity was able to pick up a win.”

Seymour will face Bedford North Lawrence at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at home for senior night.