Area Wrestlers Qualify for Class 2A State Finals in Champaign

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GRANITE CITY — Several area wrestlers punched their tickets to the Class 2A State Wrestling Finals next weekend in Champaign after strong performances at the sectional tournament held Saturday in Granite City.

Civic Memorial will send seven qualifiers to the state, Jerseyville will send two, and Granite City will send one, as the top four finishers in each weight class advanced.

Civic Memorial led the way with three sectional champions, one second-place finisher, and three third-place finishers.

At 138 pounds, Avery Jaime captured the title with a 5-2 decision over Desi Wade of Mascoutah.

Knox Verbais dominated the 150-pound bracket, winning by technical fall over Joseph Newell of Waterloo in 1:49 (19–3).

James Wojcikiewicz rounded out the champions for CM with an 18–4 major decision over Talon Decker of Mahomet-Seymour at 165 pounds.

In the 106-pound championship match, Cody Weidner dropped a close 4–3 decision to Cooper Clarke of Chatham Glenwood to finish second.

CM also produced three third-place finishers. Greg Harkey earned a technical fall over Brody Watson of Morton at 144 pounds, Kevahn Flanagan defeated Zacharia Fry of Springfield Southeast 14–10 at 215, and Hudson Davis won by decision over Caleb Zirklebach of Lincoln 7–2 in the heavyweight class.

Jerseyville’s two qualifiers both placed third. Maddox Williams posted a 14–3 major decision over Braxton McCall of Mascoutah, while Nicholas Hartley won by technical fall over Trae Griffiths of Champaign Central in 2:20 (19–4).

Granite City will be represented by Eli Miller, who placed fourth to earn the final qualifying spot after falling to Evan Francis of Marion by pinfall.

All qualifiers will compete at the IHSA Class 2A State Finals next weekend in Champaign.