CHAMPAIGHN – Abe Wokcikiewicz placed third last year here at the state finals but this year he set a goal to win a championship and he did. Wokcikiewicz is the 170-pound state champion. He is bringing back a state championship to Bethalto. The last one to bring home a IHSA 1st place was David Pearce.
Abe Wokcikiewicz started his jouney in Champaign by getting a 17-2 techfall over Alec Miller at the 3:20 mark. In his second match he set the class 2A 170-pound record with the fastest tech fall. He beat Amare Overton in 1:58 16-0. to advance to the semifinals.
” That was his plan this year to show how dominant he was, and it showed this weekend. I’m pound of him and all the kids” CM coach Jeremy Christeson said.
In the semifinals he made quick work and pinned Cayden Parks in 1:02. Saturday night in the championship match he faced Blake Hinrichsen of Washington who came into this match with a 41-6 record. Wokcikiewicz record was 46-2. Wokcikiewicz jumped out to a fast pace and was able to take the lead and hold it through the whole match. He finished the match with a 17-5 major decision.
” It means a lot to win this championship, after last year there has been a lot of pain to come with it, I defiantly pressured myself this year to finish on top.” Wokcikiewicz said.
Abe will be the fifth state champion at Civic Memorial. The four before him was David Pearce, Kip Kristoff, Mark Kristoff and Jason Christeson. Wokcikiewicz will wrestle at Standford University next year.
