Monte Smith is filing in-depth reports from the IHSA Wrestling State Finals for WRMJ. His complete recap of all the TRAC representatives from Day 2 is below.
Landon Near dominates Augustus Swanson 7-0 in the Title Match to win the 113 pound State Championship. Landon Near is Newman’s 26th Individual Wrestling State Champion and Newman now has 38 Individual Wrestling Championships, with Landon Near being the first Champion since Kyle Tunink in 2020.
Casey Etheridge falls to Pierre Walton (Althoff) by Major Decision 12-2 in 165 pound State Final match. Both Swanson and Etheridge bring home 2nd place medals for Princeton.
TRAC brought home 9 medals out of the 15 state qualifiers.
6th Place at 106 – Nate Lower (Rockridge)
1st Place at 113 – Landon Near (Newman)
2nd Place at 113 – Augustus Swanson (Princeton)
6th Place at 113 – Boston Morford (Mercer County)
5th Place at 132 – Landon Blanton (Newman)
6th Place at 132 – Dean Wainwright (Riverdale)
4th Place at 138 – Kane Dauber (Princeton)
2nd Place at 165 – Casey Etheridge (Princeton)
3rd Place at 285 – Caleb Reymer (Erie-Prophetstown)
Full recap of results below.
Championship Finals
113 Landon Near (Newman) winner by decision 7-0 over Augustus Swanson (Princeton)
Near came out firing a shot first but was unable to connect as Swanson attempted his own counter attack and looked like he was going to be able to circle around to get the takedown. Near continued to fight through the position by capturing Swanson’s leg to lift him in a waterfall position before getting the takedown. Near took a 3-0 advantage into the 2nd period as Swanson decided to go underneath. Near put constant pressure on Swanson by gaining wrist control and keeping pressure in the middle of Swanson’s back to prevent him from escaping. Swanson was hit with a stalling call as Near was able to continue to ride out Swanson the entire 2nd period. Up 3-0 in the 3rd, Near elected to go on bottom and was able to escape to put the match at 4-0 and then quickly went back on the attack to get another takedown to push the match to 7-0. Near sank in a tight wing and tried to get Swanson to his back before running out of room. With the reset, Swanson quickly tried to escape but Near hung on by Swanson’s ankles to keep him from getting out before getting hit with a stalling call. Near was happy to take the stalling as it ate up a lot of the remaining time of the 3rd period. Swanson again attempted to break free but once again Near was able to hold onto the ankles to keep Swanson from getting free. As the time ticked down, the Newman crowd started counting down the final seconds as the clock hit zero making Landon Near a state champion.
165 Casey Etheridge (Princeton) lost by Major Decision 12-2 to Pierre Walton (Althoff)
Etheridge came out firing with a couple different shot attempts and was able to get to Walton’s legs but unable to finish. Walton then fired off his own and was able to get the takedown before letting Etheridge back up to his feet. The plan was clear that Etheridge needed to be the one attacking and fired off another shot and again got to Walton’s legs but was unable to finish. Etheridge down 3-1 after the 1st period elects to go on bottom to start the 2nd. After struggling for a little bit, Etheridge was finally able to get an escape but Walton attacked immediately for another takedown. While Etheridge was trying to get out again Walton was able to lock up a cradle and collect 2 nearfall points as Etheridge kept leaving his head too close to his head. Walton got another cradle locked up and was taking Etheridge to his back but the 2nd period ended. Walton up 8-2 picks bottom to start the 3rd period. Walton was able to quickly get an escape and went back on the attack with another takedown. Walton continued to look for the cradle but was unsuccessful in getting anymore nearfall but this put Etheridge on constant defense that allowed the rest of the 3rd period to run out. Etheridge finished his Senior season with a 2nd place medal at 165 lbs.
Quarterfinal Wrestlebacks
106 Nate Lower (Rockridge) winner by decision 19-14 over Riley Paredes (Dixon)
If you want to get your heart rate up, and wonder why coaches always say, “Never stop wrestling!” Lower came out with a couple of good leg attack shots but was unable to score a takedown as Paredes was able to scramble out of positions well. Paredes was then able to catch Lower on one of the scrambles to get a takedown to take the 3-0 lead heading into the 2nd period. Lower chose bottom to start and got on the board with an escape 30 seconds into the 2nd period. Lower continued to attack on his feet and finally broke through Paredes’ defense to score a takedown midway through the period. Paredes continued moving on bottom to move Lower out of position to get a reversal and a 4 point nearfall. He continued to pressure by turning Lower again to collect 2 more nearfall points at the end of the 2nd period. Paredes wanted to go on bottom, but his coaches elected for him to go neutral since he held an 11-4 lead. Lower went back to work on his feet and got a takedown 20 seconds into the period and knew that he would have to trade takedowns for escapes. Lower kept firing off shots and scored another takedown a short time later again letting Paredes back to his feet for an escape point to now make the match Paredes 13-10. You could feel the moment shifting in Lower’s direction and Paredes was just trying to survive at this point. Although he wasn’t taking perfect shots, Lower fired it in there again and shifted into his front headlock position to score another takedown to tie the match up at 13-13 with just under a minute. Lower again gave up the escape to now be down 14-13 with 40 seconds left in the 3rd period. Lower was going for the win and wasn’t going to run the risk of allowing Paredes get out late in the period to lose the match. This time Paredes fired off a long shot and Lower perfectly sprawled into his front headlock position again to collect the takedown with just under 30 seconds left. Lower now up 16-14, only had to ride out Paredes to advance but put in wing to collect 3 nearfall points to put the match away as time was expiring. Lower found a way to come out on top with the heart and mentality to never give up. Lower with the win will now guarantee himself a medal.
138 Kane Dauber (Princeton) winner by fall in 5:33 over AJ Daly (Unity)
Daly came after Dauber charging in like a bull to get Dauber hit with a stalling call 15 seconds into the match. Daly would then earn a penalty point for an illegal move to go up 1-0 but Dauber finished a takedown right before the end of the 1st period to go up 3-1. Dauber selected bottom and was able to get an escape 30 seconds into the 2nd period but hitting another takedown with 45 seconds left in the 2nd period. Daly again would collect another penalty point for an illegal move from Dauber, but Dauber responded with a 4 point nearfall to take control of the match 11-2 heading into the 3rd. Daly then tried to pull off some late match heroics by scoring two takedowns in the first 40 seconds of the 3rd period to leave Dauber up 13-8. Dauber stayed in better position and hit his own takedown and got the fall in 5:33. Dauber will move on and medal.
165 Eli Burns (Mercer County) lost by decision 6-5 to Justin Zimmerman (PORTA)
Lots of handfighting to start the match as both wrestlers were looking to gain an advantage and create the angle to fire off a shot. Burns tried to get to his Russian tie, but Zimmerman countered and collected a takedown and followed that up with a tough ride out for the rest of the 1st period. Zimmerman up 3-0 then picked bottom to start the 2nd period. Burns was able to keep Zimmerman down to start but let Zimmerman up to his feet after not feeling like he was going to be able to get a turn. Zimmerman kept the pressure on Burns and continued to win the handfight which caused Burns to get hit with a stalling call for not staying on the mat. Zimmerman held a 4-0 advantage going into the 3rd period and Burns elected to go underneath with the hopes of getting an escape and takedown to tie up the match. Burns was able to fight his way into a reversal to make the match 4-2. Burns let Zimmerman up to make it 5-2 and Zimmerman kept up the pressure to again push Burns out of bounce to get him hit with another stalling call and collect a penalty point to go up 6-2. Burns, now down by 4 had to fire off a shot and was able to get a takedown with 10 seconds left in the period. He had the legs of Zimmerman split and attempted to get to his turk in order to collect some back points but with under 10 seconds was unable to get any nearfall points. With the heartbreaking 6-5 loss, Burns’ season ends just short of a medal and this will be his final match in a Mercer County singlet.
285 Caleb Reymer (Erie) vs Dylan Bopes (Dixon)
Bopes was able to get the early advantage against Reymer by winning the handfighting and got into a double underhook. Bopes continues to lock up his hands for a bear hug but Reymer did a nice job of keeping his hips back while also continuing to circle to keep himself in the center of the mat. After fighting hard to get out of the double underhooks, Bopes had to take an injury timeout for his elbow but was able to continue. Reymer decided not to wait and fired off a beautiful duck under to score a takedown and take a 3-0 lead after the 1st period. Reymer chose bottom to start the 2nd period and was able to use his size advantage to get a reversal and use brute force to push Bopes to his back and get the fall in 3:54. Reymer with the win will guarantee himself a medal.
Semifinal Wrestlebacks
106 Nate Lower (Rockridge) lost by decision 10-3 to Cam Whitehead (Winnebago)
Whitehead wasted no time in getting a takedown early in the 1st period and put the pressure on Lower to prevent him from getting out from bottom. Whitehead was then able to lock up a cradle to get 4 nearfall points, which left Lower in a 7-0 hole after the 1st period. Lower decided to go back on their feet in the 2nd, but Whitehead’s movements and speed was able to get another takedown to push the lead to 10-0. Lower continued to fight underneath and got a reversal with 30 seconds left in the 2nd period but was unable to get a turn for more points leaving Lower down 10-2 entering the 3rd period. Whitehead elected to go back on top and was able to get wrist control to keep Lower down until just under 30 seconds left in the 3rd period. Lower down by 7 attempted another shot and got in deep on Whitehead’s legs but wasn’t able to complete the takedown. With the loss, Lower will now wrestle for a 5th place medal.
113 Boston Morford (Mercer County) lost by fall in 4:56 to Drevan Bramlett (Murphysboro)
Morford worked to handfight into position to score and attempted his signature super duck but was unable to scoot around to get the takedown. Bramlett then fired off his own shot and got the takedown midway through the 1st period. Morford wasted no time on bottom to get an escape back to feet and went right back on the attack but this time successfully hit his super duck for a takedown into a turk position to get 3 nearfall points as well to finish the 1st period up 7-3. Bramlett went underneath to start the 2nd but Morford made it difficult for Bramlett and made him work hard to earn his escape. Once back on their feet, Bramlett used his handfighting to get into position to score a takedown but Morford again got a quick escape before the end of the 2nd period. Morford up 8-7 elected to go on bottom again and this time was able to get a reversal 20 seconds into the 3rd period. Morford had thrown in a half nelson and was looking for nearfall but Bramlett was able to shift his position and locked up a headlock and threw Morford to his back before collecting the fall at 4:56. Morford will move to the 5th place match against a familiar foe in Gaither (Olympia) who Morford lost to 4-2 in their last meeting.
132 Dean Wainwright (Riverdale) Medical Forfeits to Wyatt Franckowiak (Richmond Burton)
Wainwright looked to be limping towards the end of his semifinal match yesterday and it seemed that his ankle was bothering him. With this result I would guess that Wainwright’s tournament will be over and he will finish with a 6th place medal.
132 Landon Blanton (Newman) lost by Maj Dec 11-3 to Dawson Hawthorne (Althoff)
Neither wrestler was able to finish a takedown in the 1st period although there was plenty of action the score remained 0-0. Blanton chose bottom to start the 2nd, he was able to get a quick escape to get back to his feet and led 1-0. The attacks continued from both wrestlers but Hawthorne was able to finish a takedown with 5 seconds left in the 2nd period to take a 3-1 advantage. Hawthorne also elected to take bottom and quickly got the escape to go up 4-1. The pair would continue to fire off shots but Hawthorne again was the one to successfully get the takedown and take a 7-1 advantage. Blanton would attempt a late rally by getting a reversal with 10 seconds left, but Hawthorne responded with an escape and the finishing takedown as time expired. Blanton now falls to the 5th place match against conference fo Wainwright (Riverdale) but we will have to wait to see if Wainwright is going to wrestle.
138 Kane Dauber (Princeton) winner by decision 9-2 over Luke Munsterman (Coal City)
Dauber took early control with a takedown 20 seconds into the match and wouldn’t relinquish that advantage. Munsterman was able to get an escape in the 1st period, but Dauber led 3-1 after the 1st period. Dauber went underneath to start the 2nd and work himself out with a reversal. Munsterman was again able to escape to go back to their feet but Dauber would strike again with a takedown midway through the 2nd period and this time ride tough to finish the 2nd period with an 8-2 lead. Munsterman chose top in the 3rd period but got hit with a stalling call for not returning Dauber to the mat and Dauber then got an escape to go up 9-2. Dauber then stayed in good position and kept himself out of trouble by preventing Munsterman’s attacks and won by decision 9-2, and Dauber moves on to the 3rd place match against Ehler (Oakwood), who beat Dauber in the Quarterfinals on Thursday 11-6.
285 Caleb Reymer (Erie) vs Breckin Campbell (Richmond Burton)
The two mountains of a man faced off against each other with both looking to handfight themselves into a position to get a takedown. Reymer holds the size advantage but Campbell moves faster on his feet to counter Reymer. Campbell constantly worked to get to his Russian tie, while Reymer worked to get into his front headlock. Neither wrestler was able to score and the 1st period ended 0-0. Reymer chose bottom to start the 2nd and quickly was able to escape to go up 1-0, but the 2nd period was filled with lots of stoppages for blood that was gushing out of Campbell’s nose. Campbell’s coaches made a complaint to the refs as they felt Reymer was headbutting. After multiple lengthy stoppages and cleanups, Reymer held a 1-0 advantage going into the 3rd period and Campbell elected to go underneath to try and tie up the score. Campbell was able to get to his feet quickly before Reymer returned him to the mat. Campbell again worked back up to his feet and Reymer decided to let him go and work for a takedown to win the match. Campbell fired off a nice shot to get to Reymer’s leg but as he was taking Reymer to the mat, Reymer got a body lock and flipped Campbell over top of him and worked into a seatbelt-whizer position. This allowed Reymer to then use his size and strength advantage to run Campbell over straight to his back to get the fall in 5:49. Reymer will move onto the 3rd place match with his win and this was also Reymer’s 100th win of his career.
Place Matches 3rd/4th & 5th/6th
106 Nate Lower lost by decision 4-1 to Coyt Rademaker (PORTA) 5th place match
Rademaker came out firing off a shot to start the match and get the takedown 15 seconds into the match. Lower fought to get out but was unsuccessful and was down 3-0 after the 1st period. Lower went on his feet in the 2nd period and opened up by firing off a few shots of his own but was unable to connect leaving him still down 3-0 going into the 3rd period. Rademaker chose bottom, Lower tried to break Rademaker down but decided to let him up and work on his feet. Lower again got deep on the legs of Rademaker but was not able to clear his feet in order to secure the takedown. Rademaker would scramble his way through the position and get back to his feet. Lower had another deep shot and was forced into the waterfall position and while coming up Rademaker put in an illegal figure-four which gave Lower a point. Lower continued his attack in an attempt to tie up the match but each time Rademaker was able to catch Lower’s feet and scramble his way out of trouble the rest of the 3rd period. Lower finishes his Sophomore season with a 6th place medalist at 106 lbs.
113 Boston Morford lost by Maj Dec 14-4 to Brandon Gaither (Olympia) 5th place match
Morford was able to get into this front headlock position but Gaither made sure to keep Morford’s arms in too deep to work his way out of trouble and score a takedown. Morford worked for hand control to get himself out but Gaither was able to counter each attack until he made the mistake of illegally locking hands to give Morford a point. Gaither held a 3-1 advantage after one period and picked bottom to start the 2nd period. Gaither was able to quickly work to his feet to get his escape point and went back to work on breaking down the defense of Morford to score another takedown midway through the 2nd period to increase his lead. He kept the pressure on which caused Morford to get hit for stalling. Morford was able to get his hips back under him to build his base and escaped before the end of the 2nd period, but was down 7-2 entering the 3rd period. After discussion with his coaches, Morford elected to go back on bottom. Gaither took advantage and was able to quickly turn Morford to his back to get 3 nearfall points and was able to get Morford down for most of the period. Morford did get a reversal with 15 seconds left in the 3rd period and rotated out front to try and hit a cow catcher. Gaither was able to drive through this to take back control with a reversal and 2 nearfall points as time expired. Boston finishes his Freshman season with a 6th place medal at 113 lbs.
132 Landon Blanton winner by Medical Forfeit over Dean Wainwright (Riverdale) 5th place match
Unfortunately, Wainwright was unable to wrestle in either of his matches today and will finish his Senior season with a 6th place medal. Blanton finishes his Senior season with a 5th place medal.
138 Kane Dauber (Princeton) lost by decision 7-1 to Devin Ehler (Oakwood) 3rd place match
Ehler got right to work in the 1st period scoring a takedown on Dauber in 20 seconds. Dauber had to take injury time as his knee got twisted up trying to prevent Ehler from getting the takedown. Dauber was able to continue the match and got an escape midway through the 1st period but neither wrestler was able to create any more offense. Ehler leading 3-1 chose to go on bottom in the 2nd, and was able to get out quickly and then went back to work on his feet to get another takedown midway through the 2nd period to increase his lead to 7-1. Ehler would ride Dauber out the rest of the 2nd period and Dauber wanted to go neutral for the 3rd period. Both wrestlers continued to attempt to secure a takedown but neither wrestler was successful and the match would end with Ehler getting the 7-1 victory over Dauber. Dauber finishes his Sophomore season with a 4th place medal at 138 lbs.
285 Caleb Reymer (Erie) winner by Maj Dec 11-0 over Darian Holloway (Olympia) 3rd place match
Reymer battled for the inside position against Holloway to start the match. Holloway attempted a lateral drop throw but Reymer sank his hips and landed on top of Holloway to get the take down and 3 nearfall points before going out of bounds. Reymer up 6-0 after the 1st period picked to go on bottom to start the 2nd period. Reymer attempted to get to his sitout position but Holloway followed him but once he felt the pressure come off he was able to jump up to his feet to get the escape and increase his lead to 7-0. Reymer used his size advantage to continue to push Holloway around and was able to set up his next takedown with a snap to his front and when Holloway came back up Reymer blasted in for a double leg takedown to finish the 2nd period up 10-0. Holloway decided to take his chances by going back on top to see if he could turn Reymer in the 3rd period. He was able to break Reymer down flat and gain some wrist control but was unsuccessful in turning Reymer. Reymer was able to finally get his hips out and get back up to feet to get the escape point and then just kept an arms length away from Holloway to finish with a 11-0 major decision victory and take home the 3rd place medal at 285 lbs in his Junior season.