Free Press Advocate

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.

Advancing to state

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 5:42pm

It won’t be a breeze getting through Coal City Regional

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 5:40pm

    Saturday’s wrestling regional at Coal City will feature some of the best wrestlers in the state.
    In total, the tournament will include 17 state ranked individuals from 10 different teams, each vying to place among the top three finalists in order to advance to an even tougher Sectional in Olympia.
    Schools who will be there include Coal City, Reed-Custer, Wilmington,  Clifton Central, Dwight, Prairie Central, Grant Park, Herscher, Bishop McNamara and Peotone.

Lady Comets, Wildcats prepare for Regional

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 5:37pm

    The girls basketball playoffs begin next week and it looks like Wilmington and Reed-Custer will be in a tough regional.
    Both teams will compete in the Braidwood Regional, with the Lady Wildcats kicking things off on Monday, Feb. 5 against Beecher.
    Wilmington enters as the 11th seed, and squares off against Beecher (6th seed) at 7 p.m. in the Reed-Custer gym on Monday.
    The winner will face second-seed Paxton-Buckley-Loda in the semifinal on Tuesday.

Wildcats settle for 12th in I-8 tourney

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 5:32pm

    If you take away the two middle quarters, Wilmington’s varsity boys basketball team hung close with a tough Peotone team during their final game of the I-8 Conference Tournament.
    In fact, just one quarter in, the Wildcats held a three-point lead over the Blue Devils thanks to a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Jon Gholson to make it 15-12.
    In the second quarter there was a momentum swing as Wilmington struggled to make their baskets, getting outscored 10-6, as Peotone reclaimed the lead heading into half-time, 22-21.

Lady ‘Cats fall to Reed-Custer, edged by Manteno

Published by admin on Tue, 01/30/2018 - 5:31pm

    Wilmington’s varsity girls basketball team returned to regular conference action Monday night, hosting Reed-Custer.
    The Lady Wildcats battled tough with the visiting Comets, but wound up losing 53-39.
    Wilmington played well on the night, as they were within striking distance through the first three quarters, until the Lady Comets started to really pull away in the final frame.
    Kiley Sowa did her best to keep the WHS offense close, finishing with 14 points, while Chloe Sanford followed with seven of her own.