Sam Morrill is hoping his second consecutive trip to the wrestling state finals goes a little better than his first one.
Last year, Morrill won his opening-round bout, but then lost his final three matches to finish eighth at 160 pounds. This year, the Columbus East senior is primed to make a run at a state championship.
“We’re looking to win a state title there at 170,” East coach Chris Cooper said. “He has the talent to do it. In big matches, he has ice water in his veins. He doesn’t get too high. He doesn’t get too low. His goal is to be a state champ.”
Morrill took a major step in that direction on Saturday when he won the 170-pound division at the Jasper Semistate. He won his first two matches by first-period pins before winning my major decision in the semifinals and decision in the final.
“It was definitely exciting,” Morrill said. “I was a little bit nervous before my matches, but as soon as I made it to state, all my nerves were gone, and I just wrestled my best. I know that I’ve been putting in the work to get as far as I have been, but I surprised myself with the score difference. I knew that if I was able to do what I was planning on that I could perform how I wanted to.”
Ranked No. 6 at 170, Morrill (35-1) will open his state finals action tonight against McCutcheon senior Spencer Phillips (14-2), who is ranked No. 23. If he wins, Morrill would face No. 4 Brodie Porter (44-1) of Eastern (Greentown) or No. 12 Shane Bates (26-6) of Zionsville in the quarterfinals on Saturday morning.
“I think it’s a good draw,” Morrill said. “Honestly, the draw doesn’t matter much to me because I’m just going to do in with the same mindset and do what I do.”
In the semifinals that follow, Morrill could see No. 2 Pete Eastin (30-0) of Penn or No. 3 Tyler Fuqua of Franklin. Top-ranked Bryer Hall (30-0) of East Central senior Bryer Hall (30-0) is on the opposite side of the bracket.
“Hall has to be the favorite just on paper,” Cooper said. “He’s the state runner-up last year (at 160). He’s a tough wrestler, but looking at common opponents and scores, Sam is right with him. They’re two different styles. He’s on the opposite side of the bracket, so hopefully, we’ll get a chance to wrestle him in the finals.”
All wrestlers who win their first-round matches today are guaranteed three matches on Saturday. The quarterfinals start at 9:30 a.m. and will be followed by semifinals. The third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches begin at 5 p.m., and the championship bouts start at 7:30 p.m.
Morrill is hoping the experience he gained at state last year will help him this weekend.
“I think it will help a lot because I already know the pressure of wrestling in front of a big crowd and being able to keep my composure, especially when things get tough,” Morrill said. “It’s just learning how to finish tough matches out and making sure that I’m wrestling my match and not the opponent’s match.”
Morrill is planning to continue wrestling at the collegiate level. He has an offer from University of Indianapolis and is leaning that way.
“He’s just a phenomenal wrestler,” Cooper said. “He’s a good practicer. He really understands within his own wrestling style what he’s trying to do. He gets himself in the positions that he needs to be in. He’s a really intelligent wrestler and really understands his own game.”
Despite being ranked No. 6, Morrill and Cooper are confident Morrill can compete with the top 170-pound wrestlers in the state.
“I feel like I can go and win state,” Morrill said. “That’s my goal. I won’t let the rankings define my matches. I’m just excited for what this week has in store for me.”
