The State tourny has final came to an end... The season is almost over... Some seniors are going out on TOP... some Freshman started their careers out on top... Some wrestlers didnt wrestle like the expected... But this is all what happens down on the mats in Assembly Hall... I was shocked, suprised, dissappointed... Some kids really stepped it up... Some took a dive off the deep end... Some were satisfied with making the trip, so went home upset... The Champs will remember the feeling forever.. The rest will try and forget about it forever... I had the chance to be on the floor for the placing rounds and had the chance to talk to some of the Champions... A lot of them were in shock, some were thankful it was over....
103- McCaffrey was tough to beat... and is willing to take a match up with Kennedy... He is a tough kid, that could most likely go 103 again next year... Clark wrestled very tough, and I think his loss to Alber really turned his season around... Both will be a force in the next 4 years....
112- A new King of the hill.... Ryan went down, but did it very gracefully... Walk wrestled he heckuva a tourny.. and showed why he deserved that state title... I have a feeling he will be back again and get the chance to win a few more titles....
119- Benefiel is a very tough freshman that has a great shot at winning 4 state titles... This kid is very humble and is a hard worker.. you can tell by the way he handles himself on and off the mat.. This kid a true champion and deserves that title....
125- One of the toughest brackets in the state... Beebe is just out of this world... And would have done very well in AA after seeing those matches... Nelson had a great high school career...
130- Martin got the oppurtunity and stepped up and took advantage of it... Olsen wrestled tough all weekend.. And Beltran really suprised me.... I would have loved to see the Pieritz vs. Garbis match though... Calvin had a rough weekend but will rebound for next year....
135- Willy Mekeel got what he deserved... He worked very hard for this and it all paid off.. Congrats... Gosa was hurting and you could tell.. But he will be back next year....
140- What did you think? Did Taylor get the takedown??? Colletti was tough, but not as tough as I was expecting... Kindlesperger didnt do as well as I thought he would... State is a different.. you never know what your going to get...
145- Reyes came from nowhere... and sure did win it all and he made it look easy... Them Rock Falls boys really picked up after the dismissial of Hollowell...
152- Dobnick's toughest match was in the semi's... It sure was a battle... Brown came from nowhere and I am sure he gained some respect for the south when he made the finals escpecially with Wogoman and Giddings on his side....
160- Wenger is 1 for 2 in the finals... Not bad for a sophmore... He was small compared to the AA guys though.... This is where I noticed that the AA guys are bigger... From the 125 to 215 the size of the AA guys seems to be bigger... There are exceptions to this though as well know...
171- Norberg stepped it up big time... Will he repeat next year???? Garrity from Orion wasnt himself.. He wrestled like the world was on his shoulders... He put to much presure on himself... Winterhalter is a tough sophmore...
189- Hartman is tough... The Hartman vs. Mucha match will be huge at Team State.... Gleissner went out with a win.. It had to feel good... Mucha must have a great grip... I cant believe he held Gliessner down in the QTR's....
215- Vercelli was the top dog... Haefy was tough, but not all that he was talked up to be... This group of 215's overall were pretty impressive compared to past years... The top 4 were very tough, but after that the talent level declined... It will be fun to see Haefy come back next year.. Especially if he makes the same amount of improvement...
275- Wise was so impressive... I honestly think he would have won AA easy.... This guy reminds me of Tommy Rowlands from Ohio State... Wow.... Wheat is tough, but had nothing on Wise... Cooper came from nowhere... Can you say headlock city??? Peterson had a rough weekend.. But I do have to say he had a heckuva year...
State was a blast and I hope to this year goes quickly... Because I already miss Champaign... Sorry this is out so late, I havent been feeling well lately....