CHAMPAIGN — Hopes and dreams of a state championship are still alive for Mt. Vernon senior Dillon White and Benton sophomore Cohen Sweely. White and Sweely advanced to the semifinals after each won both of their matches on what was an otherwise tough opening day for the area contingent at the Boys Wrestling Individual State Tournament in Champaign.
White, who finished second at 138 a year ago, continued his stellar unbeaten season by dismantling Deerfield’s Alexander Shvartsman (15-0) and Morris’ Carter Skoff (16-0) by tech falls in the 2A 144 pound weight class. White is now 42-0 on the season and will face IC Catholic freshman Aiden Arnett in the semifinals Friday night.
Sweely, who finished sixth in the same weight class a year ago, saw his day start similarly, as he posted a tech fall 18-2 victory over El Paso/Gridley’s Tom Erwin in the opening round of the 1A 113 pound weight class. Sweely then built a 6-0 lead after two periods of his quarterfinal match against Oregon’s Josiah Perez but hold off a furious rally to win 6-5. Sweely (44-4) will face Woodstock Marian junior Austin Hagevold in the semifinals. Hagevold beat Murphysboro’s Paxton Pyatt by tech fall (19-3) in the quarterfinals.
White and Sweely are guaranteed medals as they can finish no lower than sixth.
In addition to Pyatt, Salem’s Keyton King (1A 150) and Trico’s Colin Hughey (1A 175) also won their preliminary round matches but lost in the quarterfinals. King fell 7-4 to Dwight’s Dylan Crouch, while Hughey was pinned by Hoopeston’s Angel Zamora. King and Hughey will wrestle Friday afternoon in the second round of wrestlebacks.
Anna-Jonesboro’s Drew Sadler (1A 126), Murphysboro’s Bryce Edwards (1A 144), Maxon Stearns (1A 165) and Julien Tanner (1A 285), Benton’s Braxton Tittle (1A 106), Kaden Blades (1A 138), and Tiffin Kouzoukas (1A 150) along with Fairfield’s Talan Keoughan (1A 175) all dropped their preliminary round matches. They will start their journey in the wrestleback brackets Friday morning still with chances to finish as high as third.
Regionally in 1A, Althoff’s Dawson Hawthorne (126), Roxana’s Brandon Green Jr. (132) and Lyndon Thies (165), Red Bud’s Danny Jackson (190), and East Alton/Wood River’s Drake Champlin (215) are all onto the semifinals after going 2-0 Thursday. Althoff’s Jason Dowell (285) won his opening match but lost in the quarterfinals.
Althoff’s Jacobi Cobbs (106) and Brenden Rayl (132), Roxana’s Logan Riggs (144), Lawrenceville’s Hudson Meek (144), and Richland County’s Carson Bissey (157) all dropped their preliminary round matches.
Regionallay in 2A, Civic Memorial’s Bradley Ruckman (132) and Knox Verbais (150), Highland’s Tyson Rakers (157), East St. Louis’ Pierre Walton (165), and Waterloo’s Jaxson Mathenia (215) all went 2-0 and will join White in the semifinals. Triad’s Will Kelly, Civic Memorial’s Avery Jaime (126), Mascoutah’s Jordan Sonon-Hale (157), and Highland’s Ashton Zobrist (175) all won their preliminary matches but lost in the quarterfinals.
Mascoutah’s Xavier Sonon-Hale (106), Desi Wade (138), and Sean Murphy (165), Jerseyville’s Maddox Williams (106) and Nicholas Hartley (157), Waterloo’s Konner Stephens (132), Jackson Deutch (190), and Drew Glowacki (285), Triad’s Braden Rowe (138) and Brody Smith (144), Civic Memorial’s Nathen Herrin (144) and James Wojcikiewicz (165) along with East St. Louis’ Corey Robinson (175) all dropped their preliminary round matches.
