Wawasee’s Derek Morrison (215 pounds) delivered a standout performance on the first day of the 46th Al Smith Invitational, going 3-0 to secure a spot in the placement rounds at Mishawaka High School. Morrison’s effort highlighted a challenging day for the Wawasee Warriors as several wrestlers battled through the consolation brackets in one of Indiana’s premier wrestling tournaments.
Morrison opened the day with a dominant 29-second pin over Mason Grubb of Bloomington South. He continued his momentum in the second round, pinning Westfield’s Jon Stryker in just 1:08 to advance to the quarterfinals. In one of the tournament’s most thrilling matches, Morrison faced Mishawaka’s Trey Dunning in what could be a preview of the Northern Lakes Conference championship. Tied 10-10 after two periods, Morrison surged ahead with a nearfall early in the third, followed by a takedown to secure an 18-16 decision. He will face Garrett’s Aidan Hunt in the semifinals.
The Warriors also saw strong efforts from Cameron Senter (120 pounds) and Ethan Rodriguez (150 pounds), who advanced deep into the consolation brackets before falling short of placement. Senter finished with a 3-2 record, earning wins by fall and tech fall, while Rodriguez also posted a 3-2 record, highlighted by two pins in the consolation rounds.
Other Wawasee wrestlers, including Cylus Melching (106 pounds) and Cavan Tom (144 pounds), picked up key victories but were unable to advance to the second day’s podium matches.
What’s Next
Morrison will compete in the semifinal round on the tournament’s second day, with a potential championship berth on the line. The Warriors will look to build on the experience gained at the highly competitive event as they prepare for the remainder of the season.
