(Updated 3:43 p.m.)
Coby Haney and Logan Blackburn were the only Mattoon wrestlers to post victories in a 58-7 loss to Lemont at the IHSA Class 2A State Dual Meet Wrestling Tournament on Saturday in Bloomington.
Haney dominated Lemont’s Cooper Mikolajczak at 113 pounds to record a major decision, 14-6, and Blackburn battled Jake Zator to win 7-5 in overtime at 132 pounds in the team quarterfinal matches. Haney finished his junior season at 31-3, while Blackburn, a freshman, went 22-11. (You can read the entire team’s final individual season match records below.)
“It was exciting and I think the team definitely tried their best,” Blackburn said, “and this is pushing me to come back stronger for next year. Very excited.”
The Green Wave lost nine other matches and forfeited in three divisions they had not filled all season: 182, 220, 285.
Mattoon coach Brett Porter said the goal was to win four matches against Lemont, which competed in its eighth state quarterfinals since 2009-10. The Green Wave came close in three other matches.
“Lemont has a great wrestling team,” Mattoon coach Brett Porter said. “It was obvious they spend a lot of time perfecting their craft and balance with strength training.”
Kiefer Duncan, Brady Foster and Hayden Stanley lost close decisions in their matches. Duncan lost 3-2 at 138 pounds, Foster lost 5-3 at 106 pounds and Stanley lost 5-3 at 160 pounds.
“Our seniors Hayden Stanley and Gavin Jones left everything on the mat today,” Porter said. “Although they both came up short, I am very proud of their high school careers at Mattoon.”
Mattoon reached the state finals for the first time in school history after defeating Troy Triad 42-30 on Tuesday night in the first round of the state team tournament. The Green Wave qualified for the tournament by handily winning the regional title several weeks ago.
“The experience was fun with the team,” Duncan said. “It was a great season. I’m gonna miss Hayden and Gavin, but now we know in order to win state we have to beat guys like that. So overall, I’m blessed for the season and the opportunity to wrestle.”
Lemont later defeated Aurora Christian 46-19 to advance into the team championship against Washington, which defeated Riverside 69-13 and Antioch 35-28. Lemont lost to defending champion Washington 40-31 in the quarterfinals last season. Those two schools faced off Saturday evening for this year’s Class 2A championship.
“This experience did not end leaving us feeling like we failed,” Porter said. “Our program at all levels are excited about the future of Mattoon Wrestling as a whole. I am sure many are eager to begin training for next season very quickly.”
That thought was certainly echoed by freshman Kyus Root, who finished the season 26-11.
“It was a fun experience,” Root said. “I really enjoyed it, and it opened a whole new level of competition and is helping me to push myself harder for next year. I’m humbled to be a part of the team.”
Saturday’s Quarterfinal results
Lemont 58, Mattoon 7
MATTOON DUAL MEET RESULTS
| DATE | OPPONENT | W/L | Own | Opp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/30 | Belleville (East) | L | 30 | 39 |
| 11/30 | Edwardsville (H.S.) | L | 13 | 49 |
| 11/30 | O’Fallon (H.S.) | W | 51 | 27 |
| 12/10 | Olney (Richland County) | W | 58 | 21 |
| 12/11 | Danville (H.S.) | W | 54 | 21 |
| 12/11 | Urbana (H.S.) | W | 48 | 6 |
| 12/12 | Argenta (A.-Oreana) [Coop] | W | 66 | 11 |
| 12/12 | Champaign (Centennial) | W | 58 | 15 |
| 12/14 | Mascoutah | W | 45 | 36 |
| 12/14 | Pekin | W | 37 | 31 |
| 12/14 | Collinsville | W | 44 | 22 |
| 12/14 | Bloomington (H.S.) | W | 41 | 36 |
| 1/16 | Charleston | W | 49 | 24 |
| 1/16 | Mahomet (M.-Seymour) | W | 37 | 32 |
| 1/21 | Taylorville | W | 54 | 15 |
| 1/21 | Effingham (H.S.) | W | 58 | 18 |
| 1/25 | Chatham (Glenwood) | W | 39 | 36 |
| 1/28 | Mt. Zion | W | 38 | 27 |
| 1/28 | Lincoln | W | 46 | 24 |
| 2/25 | Troy Triad (Sectional) | W | 42 | 30 |
| 2/29 | Lemont (State quarterfinal) | L | 7 | 58 |
| FINAL SEASON RECORD: 18-3 |
FINAL INDIVIDUAL RECORDS
| NAME | W-L |
|---|---|
| Brady Foster (106) | 34-5 |
| Coby Haney (113) | 31-3 |
| Mick Porter (120) | 15-7 |
| Rick Wright (120) | 22-12 |
| Logan Blackburn (126) | 22-11 |
| Kiefer Duncan (132) | 23-8 |
| Stewart Druin (138) | 4-6 |
| Jeremiah Jones (138) | 23-10 |
| Gavin Jones (152) | 21-10 |
| Hayden Stanley (152) | 16-7 |
| Kyus Root (170) | 26-11 |
| Leo Meyer (195) | 19-18 |
Coles County Sports 