Covey advances to semistate

BNL’s James Covey qualified for the IHSAA semistate with a third-place finish in the regional.

BLOOMINGTON – Bedford North Lawrence junior James Covey qualified for the IHSAA semistate during the regional tournament at Bloomington South on Saturday.

Covey, the sectional champion, finished third at 220 pounds. The top four finishers in each weight class advanced to the semistate at Evansville on Feb. 15.

Covey (32-4) opened with a pin of Bloomington South’s Aidan Aker in 2:57. He got pinned by Sullivan’s Kenton Williams in 1:32 in the semifinal, then rebounded to dominate Terre Haute North’s Jazz Brown 12-4 (major decision) in the third-place match.

BNL’s other wrestlers fell in the first round.

Derek Hutchens (15-15) suffered a pin to Edgewood’s Lane Deckard in 2:40 in the opener at 132.

Christian Brown (15-13), a late addition to the regional field when a sectional qualifier had to withdraw, lost to Terre Haute South’s Brendan McPike in 1:44 at 192.

Gunner Connaughton (19-8) fell to Terre Haute South’s Christian Verst in 1:33 at 195.