CHAMPAIGN — Three area wrestlers are one win away from a state championship after strong semifinal performances Friday at the IHSA State Wrestling Finals in Champaign.
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Civic Memorial’s Knox Verbais punched his ticket to the finals with an impressive pin over Brendan Nardin of Woodstock Marian at the 1:06 mark. It will be Verbais’s first appearance in a state championship match after placing third last year in Champaign.
“Last year, coming up short, I didn't want it again, so I've been practicing hard, and I don't want to lose tomorrow,” Verbais said.
Verbais will face Aiden Arnett in Saturday’s championship bout. Arnett advanced with a major decision victory over Austin Perez.
Belleville Althoff’s Pierre Walton is back in the title match and will look to defend the state championship he won last season. Walton, who transferred from East St. Louis, earned a 17-2 technical fall over Tyler Jones in his semifinal match. He will take on Casey Etheridge in the finals.
Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo will also wrestle for a second straight state title after securing a 10-0 major decision over Gavin Ericson. Rulo advances to face Joseph Favia in the championship match.
Roxana’s Brandon Green and Lyndon Thies fell short in their semifinal bouts but remain alive in the consolation bracket and will wrestle for a chance at a third-place medal.
In Class 2A, Civic Memorial’s James Wojcikiewicz dropped his semifinal match and will look to rebound in the wrestlebacks Saturday.
Edwardsville’s Michael McNamara and Roman Janek also came up short in the semifinals but remain in contention for third place as they aim to finish their seasons strong.
