By Craig Pearson
TERRE HAUTE — If winning the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference didn’t prove David Knight was a state high school wrestling contender at 215 pounds, a dominant showing at the Northview Sectional should have done the trick.
Knight, a Terre Haute North junior, became the school’s first MIC wrestling champion.
“After I won [the MIC], I felt like I could take on anybody,” said Knight, who just might have the chance to take on the state’s best if his postseason success continues.
In last weekend’s sectional, Knight pinned Owen Valley’s Michael Hill in 58 seconds and Bloomington South’s Juan Valentin in 3:52.
In the championship, Knight earned a late takedown to beat Bloomington North’s Jake Vandeventer for a 5-2 decision.
The victory was big for Knight; not only could he celebrate his first sectional title, he achieved redemption of an early-season loss by a 3-2 score.
Now 36-1 on the season, Knight could face Vandeventer again today in the Bloomington South Regional.
“I’d wrestled this kid before. He’d beat me every time. My goal was to get points first and beat him. It was a real good match,” Knight said after the sectional.
Knight said he’s taking advantage of his quickness to attack his opponents’ legs.
“This year, I feel like I’ve been on my feet, got confidence in my shot,” said Knight, adding that coach Mark Frisz has helped his strategy develop. “Since I wrestle big guys, and they’re not used to shots, [coach Frisz] has helped me develop a shot that’s good for a big guy that won’t get me out of position, moves that they’re not used to seeing.”
While improved technique has helped, Frisz is impressed with Knight’s matured psychological approach this season.
“The final match got very physical. A lot of times, that would have taken David out of that match. He would’ve lost his focus and worried about just fighting,” Frisz said. “He stayed calm and knew if he kept working at it, he would be able to score. David got a takedown late, kind of a scramble situation where both guys were in a position to score.”
Knight is also a critical part of Terre Haute North’s football team on the offensive and defensive lines.
“David’s a big strong kid, very athletic, good quickness,” Frisz said, “and he’s able to control his opponents and move them out of position so that he can score.”
Wrestling and football have typically had a strong group of players to participate in both sports. Frisz hopes Knight’s success might persuade others to join the wrestling team.
“I think that wrestling improved his football,” Frisz said. “He’s a prime example of what good the two sports can do for kids.”
The two sports do provide a challenge for Knight.
“Coach [Chris] Barrett likes me at about 250 pounds then I’ve got to get down to 215,” Knight said.
It’s all about discipline and parents who know what to cook, Knight said.
“It’s not what you eat, it’s how you eat, try to cut down on the sugars, eat more proteins, eat more vegetables that burns more calories,” Knight said. “My parents have a book for it. I let them guide me through it.”
Frisz said that maintaining his weight is a big reason for Knight’s success.
“He’s not bouncing up and down. He’s not spending a bunch of energy cutting weight,” Frisz said.
Knight’s also become a leader for the other Patriots, and he’ll be joined this weekend by 189-pounder Doug Collett and 140-pounder Nathan Page.
“I feel like I’ve led by example, and that was my big thing,” Knight said of his quality practice habits. “Now, I’m starting to help people’s confidence, getting them hyped before a match.”
With the semistate at Evansville a week away and the state finals the next week, Knight hopes to be getting hyped for the next couple weeks.
“I’d like to be on the podium this year,” Knight said. “Be in the middle of the circle this year at state finals.”
Bloomington
SOUTH regional
• Time: 11:30 a.m. (finals approximately 5:30 p.m.)
• Admission: $6
• Advancement: Top four place winners in each weight class advance to the semistate round of individual state tournament (at Roberts Stadium in Evansville on Feb. 13).
• Sectional qualifiers from area schools (name, school, sectional placement, record):
103 — Caleb Nicosin (Northview, third place) 27-9; Steven Stanford (TH South, fourth place) 18-19.
112 — Skyler Hall (Northview, second place) 3-1.
119 — Levi Edwards (West Vigo, champion) 37-3; Austin Bell (Northview, third place) 22-14; Colt Thompson (Sullivan, fourth place) 19-13.
125 — Dakota Case (TH South, champion) 28-6.
130 — None.
135 — Jordan Jensen (TH South, second place) 23-3; Luke Pingleton (Northview, third place) 22-2.
140 — P.J. Montgomery (TH South, second place) 32-2; Nathaniel Page (TH North, fourth place) 11-9.
145 — Tsali Lough (TH South, champion) 19-12; Jedidiah Cox (Sullivan, fourth place) 22-9.
152 — Austin McClain (TH South, second place) 25-10; Ryan Roach (West Vigo, third place) 24-3; Larry Shaffer (Northview, fourth place) 28-16.
160 — Holden Fudurich (Sullivan, second place) 28-2; Casey Anderson (TH South, third place) 9-9; Brady Silver (Northview, fourth place) 23-11.
171 — Ben Bird (West Vigo, second place) 30-6.
189 — Doug Collett (TH North, second place) 27-11; Brandon Pleake (Northview, third place) 21-10; Blake Ray (West Vigo, fourth place) 27-11.
215 — David Knight (TH North, champion) 36-1; Aaron See (Northview, fourth place) 23-11.
285 — Beau Judd (Northview, champion) 25-10; Nick Brownfield (West Vigo, second place) 26-12; Joel Blakely (TH South, fourth place) 17-16.
North Montgomery regional
n Time: Noon
n Admission: $6
n Advancement: Top four place winners in each weight class advance to the semistate round of individual state tournament (at New Castle on Feb. 13).
n Sectional qualifiers from the area schools (name, school, sectional placement, record):
103 — Kyle Tolbert (North Vermillion, fourth place) 24-8.
112 — Spencer Bishop (South Vermillion, fourth place) 28-9.
119 — none
125 — Dalton Millikan (South Vermillion, champion) 36-1.
130 — Nathan Luta (Turkey Run, second place) 24-7.
135 — Austin Shell (North Vermillion, champion) 31-3.
140 — Alex Thomas (South Vermillion, second place) 28-9.
152 — none
160 — none
171 — none
189 — Aaron Riggen (North Vermillion, champion) 29-4; Jared Paxton (Rockville, fourth place) 21-13.
215 — Ax Tuttle (North Vermillion, fourth place) 27-6.
285 — Caleb Miller (North Vermillion, second place) 29-3; Trent Wallace (South Vermillion, third place) 33-5.
