St. Joseph-Ogden finishes 7th holiday wrestling tournament

SPRINGFIELD - The Spartans defeated Hoopeston Area 60-18 to finish in 7th place in the Bronze Division at ABE's Rumble.

Banded together, the top 16 grapplers from St. Joseph-Ogden competed in nine duo meets in two days at the Bank of Springfield Center.

After enjoying a first-round bye in the four-match pool round, Brandon Goodwin, Logan Xiao, Devan Swisher, Khaden Hallowell, Emmitt Holt, and Holden Brazelton delivered victories in the ten-point loss to their first opponent, Anna-Jonesboro, 43-32.

In the third bout, SJO won four of the 14 possible matches, falling 42-19 to Auburn.

Devan Swisher pinned Jasen Verry in the third period of the 157-pound match at 4:12. Wrestling at 106 pounds, Holt, a senior, stuck George Piazza at the one minute and seven seconds mark for six points.

Jackson Walsh picked up his first W at the two-day event with an 8-2 decision in the 113-pound division over Jasmine Brown. SJO got a major decision from Landen Butts after he shut out Noah Duncan 8-0.

Brazelton (10-1) suffered his first loss of the season at the hands of Trojan Anthony Ruzic in their 132-pound match. Ruzic outmanuevered the Spartan junior, 8-3

Recovering their composure after the dominating loss at the hands of the Trojans, SJO rolled over Mercer County, 51-29.

Swisher (157), Vance McComas (165), Khaden Hallowell (190), Holt (106), Walsh (113), Maddie Wells (126), and Goodwin logged wins by fall or forfeit.

Only two matches went the distance. Sophomore Camden Getty won his over Mercer County's Miles Ward, 18-13, while Butts fell 18-2 to Eagles' Ethan Monson.

In their final pool match, the Spartans fell to Olympia, 60-24. SJO notched four wins thanks to Brazelton, Holt, McComas, and Swisher.

McComas was awarded a forfeit at 165-pounds, and Swisher, as well at 157 pounds. Holt beat Olympia's Noah Whiteside by pin at 3:09 in their 106-pound match, and Brazelton made quick work of the Oly's Landon Smith via 30-second pin.

The Spartans finished 4th pool action behind Olympia in first, Anna Jonesboro in second place, and Auburn in third. Mercer County finished under SJO in 5th place.

Advancing to the Bronze Division, St. Joseph-Ogden defeated Shelbyville 48-33. The team dropped the next two matches, first Tremont (51-29) and then against Robinson (48-34).

In the final dual for the squad in 2023, the Spartans won ten bouts by fall or forfeit. Brodie Harms, Wells, Brazelton, Xiao, and Hallowell recorded first-period wins by pin. Holt secured his final victory of '23 in the second period, sticking Cornjerkers' Charlie Flores at 2:57.

The Spartans tallied 60 points against Hoopeston Area to secure a 7th-place finish out of a pool of 16 teams in the division.

This year's contingent competing at the annual holiday grappling event included Brodie Harms, Khaden Hallowell, Chaz Bowlin, Vance McComas, James Barron, Jonathan Moore, Nathan Daly, Logan Xiao, Thomas Ware, Brandon Goodwin, Landen Butts, Holden Brazelton, Maddie Wells, Camden Getty, Jackson Walsh, Emmitt Holt, Corbin Smith, and Devan Swisher.

5 area wrestlers win a title at the Unity Invitational

St. Joseph-Ogden's 106-pound wrestler Emmitt Holt after win over Oakwood's Steven Uden earlier this month. Holt, one of two seniors on this year's squad, won the Unity Invitational title on Saturday for his weight class.

Photo: PhotoNews Media

TOLONO - Eleven area wrestlers finished in the top three in their weight class at the Unity Wrestling Invitational on Saturday. The Rockets turned in a solid performance, with seven wrestlers finishing at or near the top of the podium. Meanwhile, St. Joseph-Ogden had four wrestlers who placed third or better.

Unity's title winners were Hunter Eastin at 190-pounds, Thayden Root at 175-pounds, and Abram Davidson at 157-pounds. Hudson DeHart (215 lbs), Kaden Inman (144), and Hunter Shike (132), earned silver medals for their efforts. Ryan Rink finished the day with a bronze medal in the 165-lb weight class.

Lightweights Emmitt Holt (106-pounds) and Holden Brazelton (132) won titles for the Spartans. Quincy Jones (215) and Coy Hayes battled to a third-place finish.

Unity Invitational Results

106 -
1st Place - Emmitt Holt, SJO
2nd Place - Charlie Flores, Hoopeston
3rd Place - Zane Stanley, Benton
4th Place - Braxton Tittle, Benton
5th Place - Pierce Bultmann, Rochester
6th Place - Noah Whiteside, Olympia

113 -
1st Place - Dylan Eimier, Olympia
2nd Place - Connor Carroll, Rochester
3rd Place - Cohen Sweely, Benton
4th Place - Travis McCarter, Unity
5th Place - Jackson Walsh, SJO
6th Place - Briggs Miller, Benton

120 -
1st Place - Austin Kisner, Olympia
2nd Place - Noah Pelletier, McNamara
3rd Place - Miles Carroll, Rochester
4th Place - Camden Getty, SJO
5th Place - Wyatt Strait, Prairie Central
6th Place - Brawnsen Bloodworth, Carterville

126 -
1st Place - Garrett VerHeecke, Unity Christian
2nd Place - Chase Stedman, Tremont
3rd Place - Mateo Martinez, Olympia
4th Place - Jack Zucco, Rochester
5th Place - Talan Nelson, Hoopeston
6th Place - Kaden Blades, Benton

132 -
1st Place - Holden Brazelton, SJO
2nd Place - Hunter Shike, Unity
3rd Place - Aiden Bell, Hoopeston
4th Place - John Traub, Prairie Central
5th Place - Matthew Flowers, Tremont
6th Place - Jake Kuhn, Charleston

138 -
1st Place - Mason Mark, Tremont
2nd Place - Anthony Hernandez, Benton
3rd Place - Cooper Phillips, Olympia
4th Place - Malachi Hutchinson, Urbana
5th Place - Taylor Finley, Unity
6th Place - Austin Winters, Unity

144 -
1st Place - Mason Tieffel, Benton
2nd Place - Kaden Inman, Unity
3rd Place - Micah Spinazzola, Peotone
4th Place - Drake Pfeiffer, Rochester
5th Place - Emiliano Bedello, Urbana
6th Place - Spencer Crotser, Carterville

150 -
1st Place - Bentley Wise, Olympia
2nd Place - Conor Pasch, Peotone
3rd Place - Ethan Fordham, Rochester
4th Place - Derek Wilkey, Benton
5th Place - Ethan Ziller, Prairie Central
6th Place - Caleb Berg, Unity Christian

157 -
1st Place - Abram Davidson, Unity
2nd Place - Ayden Larkin, Hoopeston
3rd Place - Coy Hayes, SJO
4th Place - Josh Heath, Unity
5th Place - Kelton Graden, Olympia
6th Place - Santino Izzi, Peotone

165 -
1st Place - Bowden Delaney, Tremont
2nd Place - Angel Zamora, Hoopeston
3rd Place - Ryan Rink, Unity
4th Place - Tiffin Kouzoukas, Benton
5th Place - Jacob Grob, Carterville
6th Place - Edwin Villagomez, Urbana

175 -
1st Place - Thayden Root, Unity
2nd Place - Cole Bauer, Olympia
3rd Place - Laith Abunijmeh, Peotone
4th Place - Peyton Robinson, Benton
5th Place - Jack Rathbun, Prairie Central
6th Place - Ian Eatock, Tremont

190 -
1st Place - Hunter Eastin, Unity
2nd Place - Darian Holloway, Olympia
3rd Place - Blaine Williams, Tremont
4th Place - Conner Broughton, Rochester
5th Place - Marcellx Boling, Charleston
6th Place - Dominic Mendez, Urbana

215 -
1st Place - Jared Lauwerens, Rochester
2nd Place - Hudson DeHart, Unity
3rd Place - Quincy Jones, SJO
4th Place - Jacob Balsimo, Tremont
5th Place - Nathan Galant, Benton
6th Place - Elias Rodriguez, Charleston

285 -
1st Place - Zechariah Miller, Carterville
2nd Place - Drake Spears, Benton
3rd Place - Stormy Hughes, Charleston
4th Place - Tucker Deck, Hoopeston
5th Place - Brayden Riblet, Olympia
6th Place - Yeshua O`Brien, Charleston

Sports Page | Four SJO wrestlers pin opponents at home dual

ST. JOSEPH - With an impressive number of spectators on hand, St. Joseph-Ogden's Quincy Jones, Devin Swisher, Landon Butts, and Emmitt Holt pinned opponents in St. Joseph-Ogden's 40-35 win over visiting Clifton Central last Tuesday. SJO also got a decisive victory from Holden Brazelton via a 15-1 major decision over Comets' Kayden Cody in the first of two dual contests.

In their second match of the evening, the Spartans were able to win just three bouts on the way to a 57-21 loss to Oakwood.

Emmitt Holt stuck Steven Uden in the third period. In a 9-2 decision, Holden Brazelton beat Jack Ajster after three periods. Khaden Hallowell pinned Brayden Norton in the 215-pound match.

Box Score

Final Score: St. Joseph-Ogden 40 - Clifton Central 35

106- HARRIS, NICK (SJO) over Forfeit, (Clifton Central) FORFEIT;
113- HOLT, EMMITT (SJO) over Williams, Beau (Central) Fall 0:47;
120- Hemp, Blake (Central) over WALSH, JACKSON (SJO) Decision 14-7;
126- Bailey, Everett (Central) over GETTY, CAMDEN (SJO) Tech Fall 16-0;
132- BUTTS, LANDEN (SJO) over Bailey, Garrison (Central) Fall 2:04;
138- BRAZELTON, HOLDEN (SJO) over Cody, Kayden (Central) Maj Dec 15-1;
144- Cox, Evan (Central) over VAUGHN, ALEX (SJO) Fall 0:54;
150- Panozzo, Giona (Central) over ALVAREZ, DAVIN (SJO) Fall 4:59;
157- Panozzo, Gianni (Central) over MOORE, JONATHON (SJO) Fall 2:55;
165- SWISHER, DEVAN (SJO) over Vinning, Noah (Central) Fall 0:23;
175- Alvarez, Izzy (Central) over SARNECKI, CARSON (SJO) Decision 10-4;
190- Plante, Kyle (Central) over SMITH, CORBIN (SJO) Fall 3:44;
215- O`Connor, Brody (Central) over HALLOWELL, KHADEN (SJO) Fall 0:45;
285- JONES, QUINCY (SJO) over Sandoval, Francisco (Central) Fall 0:47.

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Photo Gallery | Spartans' Emmitt Holt state title run halted

Champaign - St. Joseph-Ogden's Emmitt Hold wrestles Dakota's Brandon White during their Class 1A 106-pound wrestleback at the 2024 IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals on Thursday. Holt gave his all but came up short 5-3. The senior closed his last year as Spartan wrestler with a 37-6 record. Below are more photos from the final match of his prep career.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Match Gallery

Photo Gallery | Lightweights lift SJO in home win over Clinton

ST. JOSEPH - The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling squad won seven out of the nine lightest weight classes on the way to a 56-36 win last night over Clinton. Here are photos from last night's action-packed meet against the Maroons.

Spartan's Hunter Ketchum rolls Clinton's Aric Oliver to his back in their 182-pound match on Thursday in the Main Gym at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Ketchum, competing in second season, picked up his first varsity win with pin at 2:55.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Fans cheer after St. Joseph-Ogden 182-pounder Hunter Ketchum's win over Clinton's Aric Oliver. Ketchum's victory put the first six point on SJO's side of the scoreboard.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Peyton Sarver tries to drive Kael Morlock face down into the mat during their 195-pound match. Sarver battled valiantly for nearly six minutes before suffering a loss by pin with 8 seconds left on the clock. Fall 5:52

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Peyton Sarver overpowers Clinton's Kael Morlock during second period action in their 195-pound match. Sarver is one for four seniors on this year's Spartan wrestling team.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Wrestling at 285-pounds, SJO wrestler Quincy Jones looks for a shot in on Clinton's Dawson Thayer. Thayer went on to beat the Spartan in the first period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Clinton's Dawson Thayer wrestles Spartans' Quincy Jones.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Jackson Walsh shoots in for a takedown on Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz during the 106-pound match. Walsh prevailed with pin at 4:47. Earlier in the triangle meet on Thursday, Walsh suffered defeat by El Paso-Gridley's Nolan Whitman by way of a first period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

With the crowd cheering behind him, 106-pound wrestler Jackson Walsh from SJO celebrates his win over Clinton's Jeremiah Ortiz. Walsh, a sophomore

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden's Emmitt Holt dumps Clinton's Gabe Walker to the mat during their 120-pound bout. Holt, the only junior this year's squad, ran up the match score up to a 20-3 tech fall and tallied his second win of the day. Earlier in SJO's first match of the evening, Holt defeated El Paso-Gridley's Caleb Graham with a second period pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Spartans' Holden Brazelton somersaults out of a takedown attempt by Clinton's Cayden Poole in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO's Holden Brazelton tries force Clinton's Cayden Poole out of a neck bridge in their 132-pound match. Brazelton, who finished 6th at last year's state finals as a 120-pound freshman, destroyed Poole by major decision, 11-2.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Student fans and members of the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team cheer for Holden Brazelton at the end of the second period during his match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Holden Brazelton scores a takedown in his 132-pound match against Clinton's Cayden Poole.

Media/Clark Brooks

Representing SJO in the 138-pound weight class against Clinton, Landen Butts was all business in his match against Maroons' Sable Taylor. Butts crafted a 16-0 techinical fall to win the bout. Earlier in the evening, the sophomore lost to El Paso-Gridley's Tyler Roth by pin. Tech Fall 16-0

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

After earning back points, Spartans' Coy Hayes looks for an attack on Clinton's Russel Stamp. Hayes won the 152-pound match in the second period by pin.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

SJO wrestler Maddie Wells tries score points on Clinton's Ariana Humes during their 120-pound match. Wells, a freshman, earned six points for the Spartans after pinning Humes at 2:48.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Maddie Wells is declared winner after pinning Clinton sophomore Ariana Humes.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden wrestler nearly pins a Clinton grappler during the 120-pound exhibition match.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Four wins and three forfeits fall short for SJO wrestling squad

ROBINSON -- Four St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers picked wins in the squad's match against Lawerenceville at the Robinson High School Duals on Saturday.

SJO won bouts at the first weight classes starting with Gary Page, who pinned Lawrenceville's Drew Seitsinger in their 106-pound match. Then, Emmitt Holt dominated the Indian's Daniel Kiser on his way to a 15-0 technical fall at 113.

Sophomore Landen Butts held his own against Lawrenceville's Trevor Loy. Going the distance, Butts padded his stats with a 10-7 decision over Loy in their 138-pound match.

Later, Davin Alverez delivered a quick-six at 145 pounds to the Spartan cause besting Robert Delaure with a 21-second pin.

Holden Brazelton (132), Owen Birt (220), and Kyle Miccoli (285) won their weight classes by way of forfeits.

Box Score

106 Page, Gary (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Seitsinger, Drew (Lawrenceville):: Fall 3:53

113 Holt, Emmitt (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Kiser, Daniel (Lawrenceville):: Tech Fall 15-0

120 Foster, Issac (Lawrenceville) over Walsh, Jackson (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 1:45 11-6

126 Seitsinger, Cale (Lawrenceville) over Goodwin, Brandon (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Decision 9-4

132 Brazelton, Holden (St. Joseph-Ogden) over (Lawrenceville):: Forfeit

138 Butts, Landen (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Loy, Trevor (Lawrenceville):: Decision 10-7

145 Alverez, Davin (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Delaure, Robert (Lawrenceville):: Fall 0:21

152 Oaks, Casen (Lawrenceville) over Hayes, Coy (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 3:13

160 Seed, Brian (Lawrenceville) over Swisher, Devan (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 0:45

170 Lucas, Tyson (Lawrenceville) over Sarnecki, Carlson (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 1:44

182 Williams, Maliyke (Lawrenceville) over Mata, Gabe (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 0:38

195 Blackwell, Nathen (Lawrenceville) over Sarver, Peyton (St. Joseph-Ogden):: Fall 5:17

220 Birt, Owen (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Forfeit (Lawrenceville):: Forfeit

285 Miccoli, Kyle (St. Joseph-Ogden) over Forfeit (Lawrenceville):: Forfeit

Unity & SJO wrestlers head to state - Here's what you need to know

CHAMPAIGN - Starting late Thursday morning, 23 area wrestlers qualified to compete in the IHSA Individual Wrestling State Finals at the State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus. Here is everything you need to know about state wrestling this weekend.

Who to watch?

The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling program is sending three representatives.

Senior Emmitt Holt (37-2) qualified for one of 16 spots in the 106-pound bracket. The 2x qualifier will face Seneca's Raiden Terry, a freshman with a 40-8 record, in their tournament opener. Holt was a qualifier in the 2022 state tournament at 113 pounds.

Battling for a state title in the 132-pound weight class, SJO's Holden Brazelton makes his third-consecutive appearance at State Farm Center. Last year, then a sophomore, he finished third in the 132-pound weight class. Now a junior with 45 wins and one loss under his belt, he will square off against Vandalia freshman Cole Yarbrough (19-4) in his first-round match on Thursday.

The Spartans' youngest entry, Coy Hayes, makes his state tournament debut with a 29-8 record in the 150-pound division. He will wrestle Coal City's Brant Widlowski, a senior who is 43-3 this season.

Six wrestlers from Unity advanced out of the sectional meet. Qualifying for his third state wrestling berth, Kaden Inman (47-7), a junior, will wrestle at 144.

Sophomore Hunter Shike at 126, and juniors Ryan Rink (165) and Hunter Eastin (190) will embark on their second attempt to bring home a state title. Shike heads to state with an impressive 38-7 record, Rink is 39-10, and Eastin is 43-6.

Rockets' Thayden Root (44-9) enters the 175-pound division with 44 wins against nine losses. The senior will face Seneca's Asher Hamby (48-6) in his first-round bout.

Unity freshman Taylor Finley (38-16) made the cut for the 132-pound weight class.

When is it?

There will be one session on Thursday and then two sessions each day, Friday and Saturday.

Doors open to the public at 11 a.m. for the first session Thursday, with the action starting at noon. The state final action starts with the Class 1A preliminary rounds, followed by 2A, and then 3A bouts. At approximately 6:45 p.m., the Class 1A and 2A quarterfinal matches start rolling nonstop.

Session two is open to the public at 7:30 a.m. on Friday and will include the Class 3A quarterfinals and the first/second round of wrestlebacks for each class.

Session three starts at 6 p.m. Friday. Session four starts Saturday morning, with doors opening at 8 a.m.

The final session opens at 4:30 p.m. Saturday for the championship matches. The Grand March starts at 5:30 p.m. and the title matches begin about a half hour later, starting with the 132-pounders.

Where is it?

The tournament is at the State Farm Center, where it has been held every year since 1973, except in 2021, when the IHSA state series was put on hold due to the pandemic.

How much is it?

Tickets are $10 or $12 per session, depending on the section. All-session passes are a savings of $50 or $60, depending on seat location. Tickets are available online at statefarmcenter.com or the ticket office.

All-day parking is available for $15.

Is there anything else to know?

State Farm Center has strict rules covering items not allowed into the venue. Fans and spectators are not allowed to bring bags larger than 4.5 inches by 7 inches, containers, laser pointers, banners, flags, signs, blankets, noisemakers, weapons, laptops, video recorders, monopods, tripods or any items deemed dangerous or inappropriate. If it can be used to create a distraction, as a weapon or to conceal one, leave it in the car.

Spectators can bring clutches no larger than 4.5 inches by 7 inches, a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag, a clear drawstring bag, binoculars without a case, cameras with lenses no longer than 4 inches, jackets, items related to medical conditions and diaper bags.

Who else is competing from the area?

Photo: PhotoNews Media

Oakwood's Jamison Chambliss scores a takedown on St. Joseph-Ogden's Corbin Smith during their dual match in December. Chambliss, who qualified for this year's individual state tournament, defeated Smith by pin in a minute and twenty-six seconds. The senior along with six teammates landed berths into this year's state finals at the State Farm Center.

Centennial High School advanced three grapplers, all seniors. Andon Beldo (30-7) will battle for a Class 2A title at 126. Trevor Schoonover will compete in the 138-pound division. He is 41-8 going into tomorrow afternoon's preliminary round. Wrestling at 285, undefeated Jack Barnhart is a contender for the 2A heavyweight title.

Ron Baker III and brother Talin will represent Champaign Central in the 144 and 113-pound divisions, respectively. Talin is 30-6, while Ron has a modest 13-2 record.

Look for St. Thomas More seniors August Christhilf at 175 and Brody Cuppernell at 190 in the Class 1A bracket. Cuppernell is 32-3 and Christhilf is 38-5.

The Oakwood wrestling program is once again enjoying success in the Class 1A division this season. The program sends seven wrestlers to this year's state finals. Competitors to watch are freshmen Steven Uden (31-16) at 106 pounds and Jamison Chambliss (24-5) at 190. Brayden Edwards (33-13) will wrestle at 113 and Pedro Rangel (44-5) at 132 pounds. The Comets also had three seniors advance to state, including Grant Brewer (39-3) at 150-pounds, Bryson Capansky (40-6) at 157, and Dalton Brown (41-5) at 175.

This week's SJO sports calendar

SJO's Emmitt Holt is stone-cold after his second period pin over Oakwood's Steven Uden in their 106-pound match on December 5. Holt and the Spartans have a jammed-pack week of wrestling, starting with a home meet with South Vermilion High School from Indiana Tuesday at 6pm, followed by tri-meet at Centennial on Wednesday. Friday and Saturday, the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team will head to Tolono for the Illini Prairie Conference Meet.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden Athletics this week

Tanner Jacob goes up for a shot around Pinckneyville's Ty Laur and Riley Bauersachs in the second half of their Christie Clinic Shootout game on Saturday. Jacob led SJO's scoring effort with 20 points, three assists, and one steal. His output was not enough to help St. Joseph-Ogden past the Panthers, who won the contest 75-57. The Spartans take to the floor again tomorrow night at Teutopolis and are at home Friday to host the Pontiac Indians for an Illini Prairie Conference game.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling falls to BHRA in 48-30 decision

ST. JOSEPH - The Gallos are back! After a 16-year absence, the family that built the St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling program into a respected small-school program were back mat-side in the coaching chairs for the Spartans' home dual meet against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin.

Under Bill Gallo, Sr., aka Papa G., the program blossomed from a 16-22 record during his first two seasons to 47 wins and six losses in his final two from 2004-2006.

Now an assistant coach under his son Bill, former SJO head wrestling coach Bill Gallo, Sr., watches attentively during Tuesday's home match against Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin. Starting back in November, with the addition of Billy, Bill's son and grandson to Bill, Sr., the Spartans are coached by three generations of Gallo wrestlers. (Photo: PhotoNews Media)

Now, with Bill Gallo leading the program, assisted by his son Billy, brother Joe, Papa G, and Shawn Freeman, the program is destined to return to a top-tier Class 2A wrestling program.

On Tuesday, despite a young, inexperienced roster with 26 wrestlers, 14 of who have never set foot on a mat until this season, the SJO fell by way of a respectable 48-30 decision to the visiting Blue Devils.

Spartans' Gary Page stuck Devils' Gracie Pattison in 42 seconds in their 106-pound bout. Coy Hays also earned the team six points by pinning BHRA's Donavan Guduskas in their 152-pound match. SJO's Emmit Holt and Peyton Sarver rounded out the evening's team scoring with another 12 points with forfeits.

The St. Joseph-Ogden wrestling team will be back at on the home mat on January 19 for a tri-meet with Clinton and El Paso-Gridley.

Box Score:

Varsity matches
106 - Gary Page (SJO) def Gracie Pattison (BHRA) by FALL :42
113 - Emmitt Holt (SJO) - FORFEIT
120 - Landen Teller (BHRA) def Camden Getty (SJO) by FALL 5:20
126 - Grahm Abbed (BHRA) def Brandon Goodwin (SJO) by FALL 2:32
132 - Holden Brazelton (SJO) win by FORFEIT
138 - Ayden Golden (BHRA) def Landen Butts (SJO) by FALL 3:32
145 - Tayler Carpenter (BHRA) def Vance McCombs (SJO) by FALL 1:03
152 - Coy Hayes (SJO) def Donavan Guduskas (BHRA) by FALL 3:05
160 - Marcus Schreiner (BHRA) def Devan Swisher (SJO) DECISION 7-4
170 - Christian Walton (BHRA) def Carson Sarnecki (SJO) by FALL 5:32
182 - Landynn Balla (BHRA)def Gabe Mata (SJO) by FALL :20
195 - Peyton Sarver (SJO) - FORFEIT
220 - Nathaniel Gnaden (BHRA) def Owen Birt (SJO) DECISION 10-6
285 - Hunter Wilson (BHRA) def Kyle Miccoli (SJO) by FALL :46

Exhibition matches
138- Landon Frick (SJO) defeated Mike Rodgers (BHRA) FALL 1:02
138- Mike Rodgers (BHRA) def Lexi Wirth (SJO) FALL 2:53
220- Quincy Jones (SJO) defeated Cooper Carpenter (BHRA) FALL :36
220- Hunter Ketchum (SJO) defeated Cooper Carpenter (BHRA) FALL 1:19

Area wrestlers earn All-Conference recognition

St. Thomas More's Brody Cuppernell tries to avoid a takedown attempt by Unity's Hunter Eastin during the IHSA 190-pound championship match at State Farm Center on Saturday. Eastin prevailed to win the Class 1A title with 5-2 decision over Cuppernell. Both wrestlers made the cut for this year's Illini Prairie all-conference first team. See more championship match photos here ...

Photo: PhotoNews Media

URBANA - Eleven wrestlers from Unity and eight from St. Joseph-Ogden were selected by coaches and named to the Illini Prairie 2023-2024 all-conference teams.

Later today, the Rockets wrestle against the Shells of Roxana for a spot in tomorrow's semifinal round at Grossinger Motors Arena. The season also continues for Unity's Phoenix Molina, who is competing in the girls' IHSA wrestling championship, also at the arena.

2023-2024
Illini Prairie Conference
All-Conference Wrestling

* Unanimous choice

First Team:

Zeke Young, Monticello (Freshmen, 106)
Hunter Romano, Monticello (Junior, 175/190)
Aidan Scholwin, Pontiac (Senior, 106)*
Ayden Mackey, Prairie Central (Senior, 144)
Emmitt Holt, SJO (Senior, 113)*
Holden Brazelton, SJO (Junior, 132)*
Coy Hayes, SJO (Sophomore, 150)
August Christhilf, STM (Senior, 175)*
Robbie Vavrik, STM (Senior, 285)*
Brody Cuppernell, STM (Senior, 190/215)*
Hunter Shike, Unity (Sophomore, 126)*
Taylor Finley, Unity (Freshmen, 132)
Kaden Inman, Unity (Junior, 144)
Abram Davidson, Unity (Sophomore, 157)
Ryan Rink, Unity (Junior, 165)*
Thayden Root, Unity (Senior, 175)
Hunter Eastin, Unity (Junior, 190)*

Second Team:

Owen Moser, IVC (Sophomore, 165)
AJ Toliver, IVC (Freshmen, 150)
Gavin Ridings, Monticello (Senior, 157)
Wyatt Vaughan, Monticello (Senior, 175/190)
Brandon Peters, Monticello (Senior, 285)
John Traub, Prairie Central (Junior, 132)
Darius Williams, Rantoul (Junior, 150)
Jackson Walsh, SJO (Sophomore, 113)
Landen Butts, SJO (Junior, 138)
Devan Swisher, SJO (Sophomore, 165)
Maddie Wells, SJO (Sophomore, 126)
James Schmidt, STM (Junior, 215)
Philip Christhilf, STM (Junior, 157)
Keegan Germano, Unity (Freshmen, 138)
Josh Heath, Unity (Sophomore, 150)

Honorable Mention:

Marrissa Miller, Monticello (Senior, 113)
Luke Andruczyk, Monticello (Freshmen, 120)
Will Osborne, Monticello (Freshmen, 126)
Russ Brown, Monticello (Junior, 165)
Hunter Melvin, Pontiac (Senior, 215)
Drayden Ramsey, Pontiac (Sophomore, 126)
Noah Davis, Pontiac (Freshmen, 120)
Drew Owen, Rantoul (Junior, 215/285)
Quincy Jones, SJO (Junior, 215)
Travis McCarter, Unity (Sophomore, 113)
Hudson DeHart, Unity (Freshmen, 215)