By Fred Kroner
Three of the four Mahomet-Seymour athletes who competed in the Peoria Richwoods girls’ wrestling sectional on Saturday (Feb. 10) qualified for state.
Keeping themselves in contention were sophomore Kalista Granadino (who won four of six matches at 115 pounds and placed fourth), senior Isabelle Leyhe (who pinned her way to the finals at 120 pounds and finished second) as well as freshman Jaycee Fancher (who was 2-2 at 125 pounds and captured fourth place).
The top four in all sectional weight classes advance to the state tournament, which will be Feb. 23-24 in Bloomington.
Granadino (23-10) posted three pins – including one in 1:38 – and posted three consecutive wins in wrestlebacks where a loss would have ended her season.
Leyhe (20-3) needed less than 90 seconds to end each of her first two bouts by pin. Fancher (20-8) also had two first-period pins at the sectional.
The other M-S entry was Grace Ribbe (190 pounds). She posted a pin in her first sectional match and then was eliminated with back-to-back losses. Her final record was 10-7.
As a team, the Bulldogs totaled 55 points and placed fifth in a tournament where 61 schools had participants.
The sectional champion was Edwardsville (149 points), followed by Richwoods (106 ½ points), Chatham Glenwood (61 points), Auburn (56 points) and M-S.
