By KEVIN HARRIS
Amani Norris was waiting for another opportunity to show what he could do on the varsity level.
On Dec. 27-28 at the Warrior Classic in Scottsburg, the Jeffersonville senior got his chance and has taken full advantage of it ever since.
Norris has posted an 18-0 record at 125 pounds since he moved back up to varsity. He earned the spot after several of his teammates either quit the team or were out with injuries. He is 18-1 overall this year with the one loss being in a 135-pound match.
“I was pretty excited that I could compete at the weight I wanted to,” said Norris, who wrestled some varsity his sophomore season. “Prior to that, I was just sort of put (in a spot) where they needed me.”
Jeff head coach Danny Struck said Norris has outperformed the wrestlers who have left or are hurt.
“He had a good opportunity,” Jeff head coach Danny Struck said. “In practice and in our meets, he’s proven himself better than they are in competition. I’m glad he got in. We’re a better team having him here.”
Norris’ success in the junior-varsity ranks this season gave him some momentum making the move to varsity. He was undefeated as an 130-pound JV wrestler, including a first-place finish at the Trinity JV tournament on Dec. 9.
At the Warrior Classic, he was the only Red Devil to go undefeated (10-0) and one of two Jeff wrestlers to take home a tournament championship. Last Saturday, he was perfect again by posting a 5-0 record at the Providence six-way meet.
Norris said there are two reasons for his varsity hot streak.
“I just stayed in shape and went over the basics,” Norris said.
Norris is part of a family that has a huge passion for wrestling. His three older brothers — Makota, Joe and Yusef — wrestled at Providence, and his younger brother Akeem is a 130-pound junior grappler for the Pioneers this season.
Amani said his older brothers have taught him several things about the sport.
“I’ve learned a few moves, but mainly it has been techniques. I’ve also learned healthy ways to diet,” Norris said.
The chances are slim that Amani would face Akeem in high school competition. They would both have to be in the same weight class and meet in the Jeff Sectional.
But if Amani would face his younger brother, he would treat him like any other opponent.
“I’d just see him as another person to wrestle,” Norris said. “There might be a slight chance (we could meet).”
Jeff goes perfect at Providence
The Red Devils won all five of their dual meets at the Providence six-way. Jeff defeated the host Pioneers (63-10), Tell City (35-28), Southwestern (46-29), Milan (46-16) and Paoli (76-0).
Along with Norris, four other Jeff wrestlers each went 5-0. They were Curtis Smith (103), Rob Ferguson (140), Coty Hendricks (145) and Tyler Tatgenhorst (171).
Going 4-1 for the Devils were Dominique Smith (4-1), Austin Copeland (4-1) and Justin Cunningham (4-1). Jeff improved its dual-meet record to 31-3.
Results for Providence were not reported at press time.
Highlanders second in Old Capital
Three Floyd Central wrestlers claimed three championships to place second in the Old Capital Classic at Corydon last Saturday. The Highlanders scored 369 1/2 points, 17 1/2 points behind meet champion Columbus North.
Taking home titles were Jeremiah Faulkenburg (130), Brach Hollis (140) and Cooper Samuels (160). Teammates Jake Missi (135), Tyler Alvey (152) and Morton Scott (189) each earned second-place finishes.
“The competition was outstanding and we feel that we are getting better each week,” Floyd head coach Rob Willman said.
Pirates 3-2 at Forest Park
Charlestown geared up for this weekend’s Southern Indiana Wrestling Conference meet with a 3-2 effort in the Forest Park Invitational last Saturday.
The Pirates’ wins came against Tecumseh (78-6), North Knox (60-21) and the host Rangers (41-39). Charlestown lost to North Posey (45-24) and Pike Central (41-30).
Two Pirates captured tournament titles, who were David Stotridge at 103 and Eddie Duran at 119. Both grapplers were 5-0.
Glenn Payne (171) was the lone Charlestown wrestler to go 4-1. Teammate Mark Daugherty went 3-1 at 145. Ten other Pirates each posted 3-2 marks.
“In both matches we lost, they fell the wrong way,” Charlestown coach Tom Kendrick said. “Against North Posey, we had close scores, but they went the wrong way. We had two 5-0s, one 4-1 and a bunch of 3-2s, so from top to bottom we were pretty solid.”
Dual-meet action
Floyd Central and Charlestown prepared for each of their dual-meet invitationals by squaring off in the Knobs last Friday.
The Highlanders came out on top, 52-12. Winning for Floyd were Missi, Hollis, Alvey, Samuels, Scott, Tom Denny, Josh Happel, Garrett Blackman, John McAndrew and Clinton Kochert.
Stotridge and Duran each gained momentum heading into Forest Park by picking up victories. The Pirates’ Taylor Traver also earned a victory.
Jeff defeated Salem at home last Thursday, 77-6. Thirteen Jeff wrestlers earned wins, who were Norris, Copeland, Tatgenhorst, Cunningham, Ferguson, Hendricks, Curtis Smith, Dominique Smith, Jennifer Jackson, Alex Bailey, Andrew Kelly, Kyle Smith and Jon Reed.
Last Thursday, New Albany lost at Tell City, 46-29. Six Bulldogs earned wins, who were Nick Oxley (125), Kyle Hall (130), Matt Forbis (135), Martin Woodrome (140), Ivan Rodriguez (145) and J.T. Jenkins (171).
CONFERENCE MEET SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
• Floyd Central, Jeffersonville, New Albany in Hoosier Hills Conference meet at Columbus East, 8 a.m.
• Charlestown, New Washington, Providence in Southern Indiana Wrestling Conference meet at Southwestern, 8 a.m.
SATURDAY, Jan. 20
• Charlestown in Mid-Southern Conference Championships at Charlestown, 9 a.m.
