By Fred Kroner
In a combined 43-team boys’ junior varsity and girls’ meet at Normal Community, the Mahomet-Seymour wrestling squad placed fourth on Saturday (Nov. 25).
Five of the six M-S girls who participated secured a top-eight finish. In the boys’ JV segment of the tourney, 11 of 17 Bulldog grapplers ended among the top six.
Team honors were won by Galesburg (257 points), followed by Schaumburg (225 points), Normal Community (195) and M-S (192 ½ points).
Isabelle Leyhe won all four of her matches and was the champion in the girls’ 120-pound weight class. She posted three pins (one in 16 seconds) and was victorious in the championship match by technical fall, 22-6.
Kalista Granadino had a 4-1 record for the day and placed third at 115 pounds. She had two pins (one in 16 seconds).
At 140 pounds, Gabriela Dawson took fifth with a 4-1 record for the day. She had two pins. Her quickest was in 3:09.
Jaycee Fancher had a 3-2 record at 130 pounds and ended in sixth place. She produced two pins. Her fastest was in 2:55.
Grace Ribbe compiled a 2-2 record at 190 pounds and was eighth. Her lone pin was in 2:32.
The other M-S girls’ competitor was Lilyan Daniel, at 125 pounds.
In the boys’ JV portion of the tournament, M-S had four champions, one runner-up, one third-place finisher, one fourth-place finisher, three fifth-place finishers and one sixth-place finisher.
The Bulldogs’ champions were Gideon Hayter (100 pounds), Corey Bell (138 pounds A division), Grant Munds (138 pounds, B division) and Kaleb Collins (157 pounds).
Hayter had two matches and pinned both opponents. His fastest fall was in 1:55.
Bell won four matches by decision and outscored his opponents by a combined score of 30-4.
Munds was 3-0 with three decisions. He held a 26-9 edge in points scored.
Collins pinned two opponents and also secured two 3-2 wins. His fastest fall was in 1:38.
The Bulldog runner-up was Izaiah Brotherton, who was 2-1 at 144 pounds, B division.
Placing third, with a 3-1 tournament record, was Tyler Golden at 157 pounds. He recorded two pins, including one in 44 seconds.
Finishing fourth for M-S was Hughey Allen (175 pounds). He was 2-2 with one pin that he secured in 2:45.
Ending fifth were Bulldogs Garrett Waisath (120 pounds), Kody Ackman (157 pounds) and Gabe Maya (175 pounds).
Waisath had a 4-1 tourney record, Ackman was 2-1 and Maya was 3-1. Waisath had three pins, including one in 44 seconds. Ackman had two pins, including one in 1:48. Maya had two pins, including one in 46 seconds.
M-S’ sixth-place finisher was Conner Bennett (144 pounds, A division). He was 2-2 with two pins, including one in 30 seconds.
Other Bulldogs with pins in the tourney were Liam Noonan (120 pounds), Aiden Banister (126 pounds), Kaleb Spencer (165 pounds) and Austin Crull (285 pounds). Crull registered two falls.
The M-S girls’ team will return to action on Friday (Dec. 8) at the Pontiac Tournament. The Bulldogs’ JV squad will return to action on Saturday (Dec. 2) in the Lincoln Junior Varsity Tournament.
