Free Press Advocate

Shirey bows out in Coal City Sectional, plans to wrestle in college

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wildcat matman Blake Shirey was unable to advance to state despite putting up a good fight during the Coal City Sectional.
Shirey (285), an Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association honorable mention, started out his day on Friday with a big pin that got him to the quarterfinal round.
He began with an electrifying pin of Chicago Phoenix sophomore Brendyn Shields.
Then, he ran into a buzzsaw, eventual champion and the second ranked wrestler in the class, IC Catholic’s Isaiah Gonzalez.

Lady ‘Cats fall to Peotone in regional semifinal game

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:17pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls basketball team had their season come to an end in a 47-18 loss to Peotone on Monday during the Reed-Custer Regional Semifinal game.
The ‘Cats played great defense and stayed right with the Blue Devils as they only trailed by four at the end of one, 10-6.

Yanke captures second place at girls sectional, advances to state

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:16pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls wrestling team competed well during the Andrew High School Sectional, sending one to the first-ever Illinois High School Association girls wrestling state which will be held at the Grossinger Motors Center in Bloomington, IL Feb. 25.
Dezirae Yanke (155) placed second in the sectional and punched her first ticket to state.

They’re the first WMS boys basketball team to qualify for state

Published by admin on Thu, 02/10/2022 - 4:04pm

The Wilmington Middle School 8th grade boys will make school history Saturday as the first boys basketball team to advance to state. Since 1968, the ‘Cats have qualified for state in other sports like wrestling, track, baseball and volleyball, but never in boys basketball. In 1990-1991 there was a girls 7th grade cager team that made it but lost in the preliminary round.

Wildcats can’t catch up with Irish, fall to Reed-Custer’s late surge

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:42pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington boys basketball team fell 79-54 to a tough Seneca team on Saturday.
Seneca put up an early run but Wilmington cut the Irish half-time lead to 40-28. That would be as close as they would get in the second half.
Seneca continued to put up points and Wilmington just was unable to catch up as the Irish outscored them 39-26 the rest of the way.
Reid Juster led the ‘Cats with 18 points while Ryder Meents followed with 13 points and Cade McCubbin added 10 points.
Wilmington 48
Reed-Custer 64

Shirey secures spot at Coal City Sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:40pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Seneca Regional wrestling tournament proved tough as Wilmington advances just one wrestler to IHSA Sectional which will be held at Coal City High School on Friday and Saturday.
As a team, the ‘Cats were eighth scoring 17 points. Yorkville Christian captured the regional title with 200 team points. Coal City followed with 175 points while Reed-Custer (122.5), Seneca (102) and Peotone (88) rounded out the top five teams.
Wildcat Blake Shirey (285) placed third at the heavyweight class.
Shirey pins his

Richards commits to the Hawks

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:39pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
WHS co-captain Allan Richards has signed a letter of intent to play football at Quincy University in Quincy, IL.
While other schools had an interest in the Wildcat linebacker and place kicker, he chose Quincy because of the small town vibe he felt like Wilmington High School. They also have a great teaching program, his field of study.

‘Cats place fifth at state cheer

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:36pm

The Wilmington competitive cheerleading squad placed fifth during the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading Small Division State finals on Saturday.
The ‘Cats scored 86.13 points. The Small Division state champion was Johnsburg, who scored a 94.87.
Poplar Grove (92.43), Carterville (91.17) and Breese Central (86.73) rounded out the top four.

Masks optional for sports fans

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:34pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Fans planning on attending sporting events at Reed-Custer, Coal City or Wilmington may still want to bring a face mask, but wearing it won’t be mandatory.
The change was made Monday after two years of requiring masked fans to help contain the spread of Covid.
Athletic directors from all three schools agree that masks are strongly encouraged and recommended.

Saturday start for girls regionals

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:34pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
In years past girls basketball regionals typically started on a Monday. But that has changed as the IHSA has moved tournament play up to Saturday, Feb. 12 this year.
Reed-Custer and Wilmington will play in the 2A Braidwood Regional while Coal City is among the six-team Seneca Regional.
Wilmington (#10 seed) will get to host Manteno (11) on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The ‘Cats (14-12) have already beaten the Panthers twice this season, 42-37 and 55-30, so Wilmington is hoping to make it a three-game sweep to start the playoffs.