By FRED KRONER
Three Mahomet-Seymour wrestlers won championships in their weight classes on Saturday (Feb. 3) in the Mattoon IHSA Class 2A Regional tournament.
The Bulldogs’ titlists were senior Lukas Alstetter (1-0 at 106 pounds), senior Gage Decker (2-0 at 157 pounds) and junior Brock VanDeveer (2-0 at 190 pounds).
Alstetter (24-14) registered a pin in 35 seconds. Decker (33-8) landed a pin in 24 seconds and the fastest of two falls by VanDeveer (33-13) took place in 2:58.
Overall, 12 Bulldogs qualified for the two-day sectional tournament, which M-S will host starting on Friday (Feb. 9).
The team’s regional runners-up were freshman Gideon Hayter (1-1 at 113 pounds), sophomore Colton McClure (1-1 at 120 pounds), freshman Corey Bell (1-1 at 132 pounds) and junior A.J. Demos (1-1 at 165 pounds).
Hayter (15-9) recorded a pin in 2:38 and Demos (17-13) created a pin in 4:34.
Third-place finishers also earned berths in the sectional. The Bulldogs who won their third-place bouts were sophomore Justus Vrona (2-1 at 126 pounds), freshman Talon Decker (3-1 at 138 pounds), senior DeAngelo Hughey (3-1 at 150 pounds) and senior Cale Hillard (2-1 at 175 pounds).
Vrona (34-13) recorded two pins, including one in 24 seconds. Talon Decker (30-15) pinned three opponents, with his quickest taking place in 2:29. Hughey (32-11) recorded three pins and they came within 13 seconds of one another. His fastest required 3:24. The fastest of the two falls by Hillard (19-12) was 2:38.
Athletes who placed fourth are alternants at their weight classes and can be added to the sectional field if any of the top three finishers at a given weight is unable to compete.
One Bulldog was fourth: junior Kaleb Collins (2-2 at 144 pounds). He had a pin in 1:44.
Also scoring points for M-S with a pin was junior Austin Crull (1-2 at 285 pounds). His pin was in 4:53.
In the team chase, M-S edged Mattoon, 211-208 ½. Taking third place was Centennial (133 points).
The regional championship was the 10th in a row in wrestling for M-S and the 41st in school history.
All 14 Bulldogs who competed at Mattoon scored a minimum of four team points, which means each one was instrumental in securing the regional crown.
Entering the medal matches, the Bulldogs trailed the Green Wave in the team standings, but subsequently scored enough wins and bonus points (pins, technical falls or major decisions) to earn the 2 ½-point victory.
It was a pin by Daniels in 4:47 in the third-place bout that accounted for the clinching points for coach Rob Ledin’s squad.
For the day, the Bulldogs’ 14 regional competitors compiled an overall record of 24-13 with 20 pins.
M-S (16-4) will return to action in the team-dual postseason series on Tuesday (Feb. 20). The Bulldogs were ranked eighth in the Class 2A state poll on Jan 27.
Individually four M-S grapplers received honorable mention status in their respective weight classes in the Jan. 27 state poll: McCure, Vrona, Gage Decker and VanDeveer.
