Free Press Advocate

Local wrestlers ready for State

Published by admin on Tue, 02/13/2018 - 7:41pm

    Consider it an off-year for area wrestlers.
    One year ago the three area high schools qualified 21 wrestlers for the state individual tournament in Champaign. This year only five made the cut.
    Wilmington’s Jack Narine (106), along with Coal City’s Connor Huston (113), Alex Friddle (120), Ryan Wasielewski (145) and Daniel Jezik (160) will all be gunning for state medals starting Thursday when they compete in the state finals at the State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus. Each hopes to make it to the Grand March which begins at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Jack Narine is sole Wildcat wrestler heading to state

Published by admin on Tue, 02/13/2018 - 7:38pm

    Wilmington’s varsity wrestling team may have only sent two to the Sectional Saturday, but they finished with a 50 percent conversion rate, as one wrestler will be heading to state.
    Jack Narine (106) punched his ticket for the state finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign, as he clinched a second place in the Olympia Sectional.
    He showed absolute resiliency to earn his spot, as Narine faced some tough competition, including a pair of close-scored matches.

Comets too hot to handle for the Wildcats

Published by admin on Tue, 02/13/2018 - 7:33pm

    Wilmington dominates in football; Reed-Custer in boys basketball.
    The varsity Wildcats put last Tuesday night’s 100-62 loss to Reed-Custer behind them as they enter their final week of the regular season.
    Wilmington scored double-digit points in each of the four frames, but Reed-Custer was on fire as they converted turnovers into points and drained three-pointers.
    The Comets’ were catapulted by Gavin Grace who was 6-for-9 from three-point range, and scored 25 of his team-leading 28 points in the first half.

Local wrestlers sending five to State

Published by admin on Mon, 02/12/2018 - 11:43am

Coal City and Wilmington were able to get a few wrestlers out of a tough Sectional this past weekend, as they combined for five individual entrees for the state bracket.

The Coalers will be sending four individuals to the State Farm Center in Champaign on Thursday.

Coal City had two champions in the Olympia Sectional, as Alex Friddle (120) and Daniel Jezik (160) were able to go undefeated through the weekend.

Joining them will be Connor Huston (113) who claimed fourth, and Ryan Wasielewski (145) who secured third.

Wrestling Sectional and weather

Published by admin on Thu, 02/08/2018 - 10:33am

According to correspondence between the IHSA's  Assistant Executive Director Sam Knox and Illinoismatmen.com, this is how the Sectional will play out if weather comes into play.

 

Plan A: Host schools should do everything in their power to run the Sectional as originally scheduled.

Local wrestlers prepare for grind in loaded Sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 6:36pm

    The road to Champaign won’t be easy for Wilmington, Reed-Custer and Coal City wrestlers as they head to a loaded Olympia Sectional this weekend.
    The Sectional boasts 30 state-ranked individuals, including four state-ranked teams, with three of them coming out of the Coal City Regional. Those teams include Coal City, Prairie Central, Clifton Central and Clinton.
    To put it in perspective, there are four areas for the Sectional, including Olympia, Oregon, Vandalia and Chicago Hope Academy.

Narine, Nutt advance to wrestling sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 6:30pm

The Wilmington wrestling team battled more than just competitors Saturday during the Coal City Regional.
    They fought with injuries, illness, all while dealing with one of the toughest regionals in the state.
    The Wildcats entered the Coal City Regional facing three of the top 12 ranked teams in the state, including Coal City, Clifton Central and Prairie Central.
    Through it all, Wilmington was able to qualify two wrestlers for the Sectional in Olympia on Saturday.

Wildcats down Seneca for an Interstate 8 win

Published by admin on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 6:26pm

    The Wilmington varsity boys basketball team got over their conference drought Friday night, as they picked up their first I-8 win over a tough Seneca team, 53-41.
    The Wildcats got off to a fast start, and were able to ride that momentum, as they outpaced the Irish to  win.
    Wilmington secured 14 points in the first quarter, as Joey Flannery got the offense rolling with an eight-point frame. He would eventually lead the ‘Cats with a 21-point night, adding eight more pionts in the third quarter, three in the second and two in the fourth.

Lady ‘Cats drop two heading into Regional

Published by admin on Tue, 02/06/2018 - 6:23pm

    The Wilmington varsity girls basketball team finished their regular season Thursday night, as they hosted Seneca during senior night in a conference match-up.
    The Lady Wildcats fell to the Irish, 46-25.
    Seneca’s offense was relentless from the start, as they took a 20-4 lead by the end of one, and continued to stay ahead at half-time, 31-9.
    Wilmington just took too long to get their side of the offense moving, as they really didn’t come alive until the second half, recording eight points in both, the third and fourth quarters.

Coalers win wrestling regional

Published by admin on Sun, 02/04/2018 - 2:04pm

There's no place like home and the Coal City wrestling team will attest to that after winning their own regional Saturday to advance nine to the Olympia Sectional.

The Coalers out-distanced Fairbury 205.5-181.5 to claim the dual team regional plaque to qualify for the Gibson City Dual Team Sectional.

Before their dual team run, the Coalers intend to take care of business Saturday when they field nine qualifiers in the individual sectional at Olympia.