After ‘constant work,’ Garner’s career ends with loss at state

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Winamac boys wrestling coach Kullen Day, left, and senior Talen Garner appeared at the IHSAA state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Friday. Garner lost in the first round at 215 pounds to Northridge's Travis Henke. Garner is the first Winamac wrestler to make state in six years.

INDIANAPOLIS — Winamac senior wrestler Talen Garner called the last three weeks of his life “the hardest.”

From winning the Plymouth sectional to finishing second at the Rochester regional to his two dramatic pins at the East Chicago semistate that clinched a berth at the IHSAA state finals, his tournament run ended with a loss by fall to Northridge's Travis Henke in 3:21 in the first round at 215 pounds at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday.

Henke was leading 9-0 at the time of the fall. Henke is undefeated (39-0) and ranked No. 3, according to IndianaMat.com.

Garner was aggressive at the outset, going after Henke’s leg. But Henke beat him to the punch, grabbing his knee and getting a takedown and a 3-0 lead.

A near-fall later in the period made it 7-0.

“He’s a tall dude,” Garner said. “He's taller than me. So I figured he’s got reach on me, but I figured I'd go in for a shot. That would probably be the best way for me to get a takedown, but obviously, I didn't get in a shot. He came after me before I could go after him.”

Garner then spoke of what it took to make it this far.

“It's just been constant work to prepare for this moment,” he said.

Garner finished his senior season 46-5. He was asked what advice he would give to a young kid from Winamac who wanted to do what he did.

“I’d tell them to put themselves out there,” Garner said. “You can't get there without doing camps and tournaments and stuff. You’ve just got to wrestle more. You can't perfect something unless you do it a thousand times. You’ve got to keep working at it and keep constantly doing it.”

Garner is the first Winamac wrestler to make state since Jake Armstrong made it at 113 pounds  in 2019.

“Talen is a good representative of what Winamac produces – quality athletes but quality people (too),” Winamac coach Kullen Day said. “And he's one of those guys that has great work ethic. He gives you 100% no matter what. Win or lose, I know that I can always count on him to do that. And he really sets the bar high for Winamac wrestling.”