By FRED KRONER
fred@mahometnews.com
Individually, four Mahomet-Seymour wrestlers gained a measure of redemption on Tuesday, but collectively the Bulldogs team was not able to secure a berth at state for the second consecutive year.
In a Class 2A team-dual sectional match, Cahokia overpowered M-S 56-18 at Mattoon, ending the Bulldogs’ season with a 21-3 dual-meet record.
The four M-S athletes who were victorious for the night were able to salvage a win in their final matches of the season. For three of the wrestlers — who are seniors — it was a win in their final prep action.
Senior Lucas Morgan — who missed the individual state series with a shoulder injury — returned to action at 160 pounds and registered a pin in 3 minutes, 33 seconds.
Teammate David Griffet, who was beaten on Saturday in the state championship match, followed up with a pin in 3:07 in his 285-pound bout at Mattoon.
A third senior, 145-pound David Spencer, won by decision, 9-3.
The other M-S winner against Cahokia was 170-pound junior Wyatt Heimann, who prevailed 7-1.
Cahokia, ranked 15th in the final Illinois Best Weekly state poll, won 10 of 14 matches (one by forfeit) and secured pins in seven of its triumphs to earn an Elite Eight berth.
M-S was eighth in the final state rankings.
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M-S’ state-placing wrestlers suffered losses in Saturday’s medal matches at the UI’s State Farm Center.
At 285 pounds in Class 2A, Griffet had his winning streak ended by Washington junior Jace Punke, 9-6 in the finals.
The runner-up medal was Griffet’s first at state. For the season, Griffet ends 46-7.
In the 220 pound weight class, senior Ben Stahl dropped two decisions and wound up in sixth place.
He also earned All-State accolades.
In the semifinal wrestleback round, Stahl lost to Crystal Lake Central’s Seamus O’Donnell 8-3.
In the fifth-place bout — which was a rematch from a Thursday opening-round contest — Thornridge’s Darael Dugar gained revenge wit a 5-2 triumph.
For the season, Stahl finishes with a 42-14 overall record.
Boys’ swimming
Mahomet-Seymour’s boys’ swimming team placed fourth on Saturday in the 22-school Urbana Sectional.
The Bulldogs had no athletes qualify for state, but posted season-best times in all 11 swimming events.
The top M-S placer was diver Dalton DeMay. He was the runner-up with an 11-dive score of 309.50 points.
Mahomet-Seymour placed fourth with each of its three relay entries. Evan Herriott was a member of all three of the school’s top relays.
The 200-yard medley foursome of Dante Waters, Colin Schable, William Larson and Herriott was timed in 1 minute, 53.67 seconds.
The 200 freestyle unit of Larson, Ryan Whitehouse, Tucker Antonacci and Herriott finished in 1:39.52.
The 400 relay quintet of Antonacci, Herriott, Gavin Groff and Waters placed in 3:41.51.
Groff and Waters each had the Bulldogs’ top placement in two individual events.
Waters was the leader in the 100 freestyle (fifth in 53.42) and the 100 backstroke (seventh in 1:02.01). Groff set the pace in the 200 freestyle (eighth in 2:01.55) and the 500 freestyle (11th in 5:5.63).
Other leaders for the school in the season-ending meet were Larson (10th in the 200 individual medley in 2:19.56); Schable (10th in the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.96), Ryan Whitehouse (13th in the 50 freestyle in 25.67) and Garret Williams (13th in the 100 butterfly in 1:08.55).
Centennial was the meet champion with 263 points. Champaign Central (203 points) was the runner-up. Urbana (139) placed third followed by M-S (129) and Danville (99).
