Mercer County sophomore Ethan Monson and Sherrard junior Walker Anderson advanced to the semifinals of the Class 1A State individual wrestling tournament Thursday. Monson was trailing the state’s number one ranked wrestler at 120, Sterling Newman’s Brady Grennan, 2-1 with 16 seconds remaining when he put him on his back and pinned him to win the match. Grennan had beaten Monson 12-2 earlier in the season. Monson takes his 29-6 record into tonight’s semifinals where he will wrestle Elmhurst IC Catholic’s Nick Renteria (28-1).
For Walker Anderson, the 220 pounder won twice in convincing fashion. Walker pinned Hunter Cannon of Hoopeston-East Lynn at 4:32 in his opening match and then in the quarterfinals won a major decision 8-0 over Magnus Wells of Hillsboro.
Rockridge’s Jude Finch and Sherrard’s Ryder Roelf both lost their opening matches and will be in the wrestle backs this morning.