Mahomet-Seymour Junior High Wrestling: 7 Champions and 20 Sectional Qualifiers
By FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour’s Junior High wrestling team produced seven regional champions and a total of 20 sectional qualifiers on Saturday (Feb. 24) in a regional tournament that the Bulldogs hosted.
Placing first at regionals were Niko Truax (2-0 with two pins at 105 pounds), Doninic Gaudio (3-0 with one pin at 126 pounds), Noah Snyder (2-0 with two pins at 135 pounds), Chris Dill (3-0 with three pins at 145 pounds), Nino Caballero (2-0 with two pins at 155 pounds), Marco Casillas (2-0 with two pins at 167 pounds) and Jayvon Tompkins (1-0 with one pin at 275 pounds).
Individual highlights included Dill posting three pins, all in 49 seconds or less. He spent a total ofone minute and 16 seconds on the mat for his three regional bouts. He had the team’s two fastest pins, occurring in 13 and 14 seconds.
Caballero and Casillas also registered two pins in less than a minute, accounting for both of their wins. Tompkins’ weight class had just two entries and the M-S grappler recorded his fall in 22 seconds.
Casillas and Tompkins are both undefeated for the season.
Ashby posted three pins at the regional, including two in less than 30 seconds. Other squad members with two pins at the regional were Truax, Foster and Snyder.
In the team chase, Mattoon captured the regional title with 431 points. M-S was second with 375 points.
The top three individuals in all 19 weight classes qualify for the IESA sectional, which will be held in Jacksonville on Saturday (March 2).
The Bulldogs had four athletes advance as the regional runners-up and nine others for winning their third-place bouts.
Placing second for M-S were Myles Hartzler (1-1 at 75 pounds), Grant Morphew (1-1 at 80 pounds), Noah Meints (1-1 at 90 pounds) and Noah Fonner (1-1 at 155 pounds).
The team’s third-place finishers were Graham Smolich (1-1 at 65 pounds), Tristan Milinkovic (1-1 at 70 pounds), Xavier Foster (2-1 at 112 pounds), Chevy Clark (2-1 at 119 pounds), Dylan Heckman (2-1 at 126 pounds), Camden Ashby (3-1 at 145 pounds), Johnathan Pitts (2-1 at 167 pounds), Connor McCall (2-1 at 185 pounds) and Jaycee Weitekamp (2-1 at 215 pounds).
Six Bulldogs just missed continuing their seasons as they wound up in fourth place.
The team’s near misses were Brayden Watts (85 pounds), Owen Milinkovic (90 pounds), Kylah Rice (95 pounds), Kaden Johnson (119 pounds), Garen Johnson-Farkhoy (135 pounds) and Ashton Lamb (215 pounds).
Schools were allowed to submit two entries at the regionals. M-S had 32 squad members compete at the regionals.
The Bulldogs’ composite record was 42-29 with 30 of the wins by pin.
