By RYAN WALKER
Only one wrestler in Wells County is still left standing in the individual state tournament. That one is from Bluffton High School, 113-pounder Levi Johns, who last week in the semi-state at Fort Wayne’s Coliseum punched his ticket to the state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
In the second round of the semi-state, Johns (42-4) clinched his spot in the state final by a major decision 10-0 over North Miami’s Braylon McIntire. After a semi-final victory to go 3-0, he faced an undefeated Jalen May from Kokomo in the championship but came up short, losing 12-4.
The sophomore is no stranger to the state finals, making it last year as a freshman and placing eighth in the 106-pound weight class.
“It’s exciting,” Johns said after practice Wednesday afternoon. “I got to three or four matches during the year where I figured I need to win this. I need to go to state this year. I’ve had a few tough losses, but I ended up peaking at the right time, and going back is an accomplishment.”
Practice this week has been hard work in the wrestling room over the last two days and film study. On Wednesday, Johns said he’s starting to slow down to keep his body fresh and ready for Friday while going through the tapes of other wrestlers with head coach Ben Sprunger.
Not only is there the high-level competition at the finals, but there’s also a great deal of pressure. The event is held in a big arena where the Indiana Pacers play, packing the stands with fans and family members supporting all participants in each weight class.
Sprunger, who competed at the state-level three of the four years in his time at Bluffton, helps spar against Johns. When they face one another, Sprunger studies the potential competitors and emulates their style, and takes it to the mat. His experience and willingness to help in any way have helped Johns be ready for the tactics and strategies of the individuals he could face.
“We just talk about what it looks like to be ready to wrestle at the state tournament,” Sprunger said. “We work through all that. I get to roll (spar) with him on a day-to-day basis, so that helps out a little bit too. I don’t know if what I did helps him, but we work through some of the things he’ll be able to see, and we break down film, trying to get to Friday night.”
Since this is Johns second year on the big stage, he said he’s much more prepared than last year when he wrestled someone with more experience. This year, he’ll be up against junior Aiden Dallinger from McCutcheon high school, who has a record of 35-4 and earned his first trip to the big dance.
Admittedly, Johns said he was nervous last year, especially when his match was one of the first to go after the Parade of Champions, where all the state qualifiers walk around and represent participants and the school they attend. His match took longer than the rest of the field on that day. The other matches that finished before Johns got to sit and watch the final minutes of his match, and all eyes were on him.
That first-time experience has helped build his confidence heading into this year.
“Yeah, it helps because that kid (Dallinger), that’s his first year here with him wrestling. Last year, I wrestled a sophomore who had already been there. Everyone was already finished because everyone was like quick matches except for mine, and mine went all three periods, and everyone had to watch my match, and it was kind of cool.”
From last season to this season, Sprunger has seen growth from his wrestler. He said that he worked hard in the spring and summer, competing in individual competitions at the state and national levels, getting better and stronger.
Personally, Johns said he has worked on his feet in the offseason as the competitors at the highest level would be able to take him down because of it.
The improvement can be seen on the wrestling mat but also on paper. Last year when Johns lost to May, he was pinned in one minute and 16 seconds. Last Saturday, he still lost but went all three periods. He also repeated as regional champion this year.
Fans can follow along for the state finals on FloWrestling.com. The Parade of Champions is set to start at 1:30 p.m., and the 106-pound weight class will start around 2 p.m.
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