The Morton Junior High wrestling team sent a record six qualifiers to the Illinois Elementary School Association state final over the weekend.
In the 65-pound division, Junior Potter Ryan Brooks lost in the preliminary round to Jaden Urritia of Sterling Challand, 5-1.
He then lost in the preliminary round of wrestlebacks to Trae Blaser of Joy Mercer County, 2-1.
Seventy-five pounder Brandon Bland pinned Lane Niemann of Burr Ridge Gower in 3:51 in the preliminary round.
He then won against Marco Perez of Round Lake in the first round with a technical fall in 3:32.
In the quarterfinals, Bland lost to Parker Stratton of DeKalb Clinton Rosette, 6-0.
He next won in first-round wrestlebacks against Bloomington’s Tyler Wilkinson, 8-3.
Bland fell in the quarterfinal wrestle-backs to Logan Knisley of Monticello, 4-1, to finish tied for seventh.
In 85 pounds, Kyle King of MJHS lost to Auburn’s Brock Barnhill, 4-0, in the preliminary round.
King was knocked out of the tournament when Barnhill was defeated in the following round.
Brock Kelley lost to Brae Cruz of Vernon Hills Hawthorn North by fall in 3:06 in 90 pounds.
He was eliminated when Cruz lost his next match.
Reid Butler topped Vince Agins of Lake Forest Deer Path, 4-2, in the 105 prelims.
He then defeated Cedric Cavazos of Wheeling London, 9-1.
Butler lost to New Lenox Liberty’s Joe Nelson, 13-1, in the quarterfinals.
He finished in the top 12 after a 4-0 loss in DeKalb to Chris Nation of Chatham Glenwood.
Junior Potter Clay Cone lost in 135 to Hayden Hewitt of O’Fallon Carriel by tech fall in 2:07.
He was knocked out when Hewitt lost his next bout.
DeKalb, Ill. —
