Coming up short, four Spartan seasons end at sectionals

CLINTON - On Sunday morning, three St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers who qualified for sectionals are grappling with season-ending losses, just one victory away from competing at the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals this coming Thursday through Saturday. After two days and 18 matches among the four Spartans, their chance for individual glory will have to wait, at least for two of them.

Freshman Ben Wells rebounded from his quarterfinal loss on Friday, winning his next two matches at the Clinton sectional on Saturday. Facing Olympia's Brandon Gaither (40-9) in the 106-pound consolation semifinal, he struggled and fell 17-1 in the second period, concluding his first season with a 38-13 record. Gaither went on to finish third in the division.

Sophomore Cam Wagner also experienced a tough loss in his consolation semifinal to Peoria Notre Dame's Brady Mullen, who defeated him in just 42 seconds. Wagner, in his debut varsity wrestling season, achieved 37 wins against 15 losses.

Senior Jackson Walsh, finishing his final season with over 40 wins, lost his consolation semifinal to PORTA's Kainin Fillbright, who finished fourth in the 113-pound division. Walsh's prep career ended via pin just 57 seconds into the match.

The fourth SJO wrestler at sectionals, senior Landen Butts, faced a challenging draw and concluded the tournament with a 0-2 record. He wraps up the season with a 35-15 record.

Below is the summary of how all four wrestlers performed at the Clinton sectional tournament:

SJO Sectional Summary

144 - Landen Butts (35-15)

Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Washum, Normal University won by decision over Landen Butts - Dec 10-8

Cons. Round 1 - Landen Butts received a bye

Cons. Round 2 - Austin Kisner, Olympia won by tech fall over Landen Butts TF-1.5 5:05 (17-1)

113 - Jackson Walsh (41-10)

Champ. Round 1 - Jackson Walsh received a bye

Quarterfinal - Briley Carter, Clinton won by decision over Jackson Walsh Dec 13-8

Cons. Round 2 - Jackson Walsh won by fall over Jackson Buehler, Camp Point Central - Fall 3:53

Cons. Round 3 - Jackson Walsh won by fall over Bryan Islas, Beardstown - Fall 4:28

Cons. Semi - Kainin Fillbright, PORTA won by fall over Jackson Walsh - Fall 0:57

285 - Cam Wagner (37-15)

Champ. Round 1 - Cam Wagner won by fall over Liam Dodsworth, Williamsville - Fall 2:33

Quarterfinal - Darian Holloway, Olympia won by fall over Cam Wagner - Fall 0:53

Cons. Round 2 - Cam Wagner won by tech fall over Dawson Thayer, Clinton - TF-1.5 1:44 (15-0)

Cons. Round 3 - Cam Wagner won by fall over Joey Humphries, Dee-Mac - Fall 4:56

Cons. Semi - Brady Mullens, Peoria Notre Dame won by fall over Cam Wagner - Fall 0:42

106 - Ben Wells (38-13)

Champ. Round 1 - Ben Wells won by fall over Cayden Bostic, Clinton - Fall 2:53

Quarterfinal - Jaxsun Owens, Canton won by fall over Ben Wells - Fall 1:43

Cons. Round 2 - Ben Wells won by fall over Jayden Schmider, Farmington -Fall 0:50

Cons. Round 3 - Ben Wells won by fall over Kole Petta, El Paso-Gridley - Fall 3:37

Cons. Semi - Brandon Gaither, Olympia won by tech fall over Ben Wells - TF-1.5 2:37 (17-1)

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