By E. Shawn Aylsworth
Managing Editor

With top-ranked Mishawaka ruling the roost up north at the Traicoff Invitational and No. 2 Evansville Mater Dei continuing its Southern Indiana dominance Dec. 13 at the Castle Duals, it was up to third-ranked Perry Meridian to maintain the status quo in Central Indiana.

The host Falcons did not fail to deliver, rolling past ranked foes No. 13 Avon and No. 12 New Palestine at the Perry Meridian Duals. Perry Meridian captured 10 of 14 weight classes in overcoming the Orioles 40-12, and the Falcons won an even dozen duals in neutralizing New Pal, 45-9.

Perry Meridian’s No. 6 Jacob Tassef was involved in a pair of high-profile battles against other ranked opponents at 145 pounds, and in each instance he came out one point ahead. The senior downed Avon’s eighth-ranked senior Corbin Richards, 5-4, and also defeated New Pal’s No. 19 senior David Waldroup, 3-2.

New Palestine then faced off against Avon, winning 10 classes en route to a surprisingly easy 46-13 victory. Leading only 12-11 after the first five matches, the Dragons reeled off five straight wins and came out on top in eight of the last nine to clinch the win.

The highlight came, once again, at 145 when Waldroup upset Richards with a pin.

Class-by-class results of the day’s big three matchups, courtesy of indianamat.com

#3 Perry Meridian 40, #13 Avon 12
189: #8 (at 171) Leach (A) dec. Richards (PM) 4-2
215: #13 C. Schaefer (PM) dec. Pirtle (A) 9-3
Hwt: D. Schaefer (PM) pin Paugh (A)
103: #24 McKinley (PM) win by forfeit
112: Clem (PM) major dec. Fitzgerald (A) 11-0
119: Simmons (PM) dec. #11 (at 103) Hall (A) 6-5
125: Harris (PM) dec. Cundiff (A) 9-2
130: Johnson (PM) dec. Acosta (A) 3-1
135: Rassbach (A) dec. #16 Goodwin (PM) 13-8
140:#6 Tonte (PM) pin Maxwell (A)
145: #6 Tassef (PM) dec. #8 Richards (A) 5-4
152: #10 Wood (PM) dec. Alfs (A) 7-5 OT
160: #7 Jones (A) dec. #24 Hudgins (PM) 2-0
171: Brandt (A) dec. Robinson (PM) 6-3

#3 Perry Meridian 45, #12 New Palestine 9
215: #13 C. Schaefer (PM) dec. Halber (NP) 6-0
Hwt: Czaja (NP) pin D. Schaefer
103: #24 McKinley (PM) pin Wright (NP)
112: Clem (PM) pin Ingle (NP)
119: Simmons (PM) dec. Tran (NP) 5-2
125: Robinson (NP) dec. Harris (PM) 6-4
130: Johnson (PM) pin Brendle (NP)
135: #16 Goodwin (PM) dec. #25 Pearson (NP) n/a
140: #6 Tonte (PM) dec. #15 Corman (NP) 7-4
145: #6 Tassef (PM) dec. #19 Waldroup (NP) 3-2
152: #10 Wood (PM) dec. #23 Jennings (NP) 7-2
160: #24 Hudgins (PM) dec. Horan (NP) 4-1
171: Robinson (PM) dec. #23 Phelps (NP) 10-4
189: Richards (PM) dec. Poynter (NP) 7-6

#12 New Palestine 46, #13 Avon 13
Hwt: Czaja (NP) pin Paugh (A)
103: Wright (NP) win by forfeit
112: Fitzgerald (A) dec. Ingle (NP) 6-4
119: #11 (at 103) Hall (A) dec. Tran (NP) 6-0
125: Acosta (A) tech fall Brendle (NP) 15-0
130: Robinson (NP) major dec. Cundiff (A) 16-7
135: #25 Pearson (NP) dec. Rassbach (A) 8-4
140: #15 Corman (NP) dec. Maxwell (A) 4-2
145: #19 Waldroup (NP) pin #8 Richards (A)
152: #23 Jennings (NP) dec. Alfs (A) 4-1
160: #7 Jones (A) dec. Horan (NP) 4-0
171: #23 Phelps (NP) dec. Brandt (A) 5-4 (OT)
189: Poynter (NP) pin #8 (at 171) Leach (A)
215: Halbert (NP) pin Pirtle (A)