Success on the mats

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

Area grapplers landed six sectional berths this year, three apiece from Princeton and St. Bede, capping off another successful season on the mats. Here’s a look at the area’s top wrestlers (in alphabetical order):

Ted Bartoli, PHS senior: Bartoli had a “great year” according to Princeton coach Steve Amy, posting a 22-10 record to cap off his tenure as a Tiger. After nearly doubling his win total as a junior, Amy said he was proud of the way Bartoli stepped up for his senior campaign. “He did a tremendous job this year stepping up and being one of the leaders on our team,” Amy said.

Reece Bird, PHS freshman: The second-team NCIC Lincoln All-Conference pick wasted no time establishing himself as one of the Tiger program’s top wrestlers, compiling a 24-17 record at 103 pounds in his freshman campaign. Along with his 20-plus win regular season, Bird secured success in the postseason with a third-place finish at regionals where he scored a 12-11 decision win over Amboy’s Trevor Ullrich to pick up the bronze and sectional berth. “Reece had a good year, especially for a freshman,” said Amy. “The future is bright for Reece.”

Reiter Bird, PHS junior: The first-team NCIC All-Conference pick managed a 31-15 record this season, and picked up a third-place finish at 130 pounds in the Newman regional, pinning Morrrison’s Cherokee Parks in the third period to punch his ticket for a third-straight trip to sectionals. Bird, who finished second in the NCIC tournament at 130 pounds, had “another great year,” Amy said, and is already gearing up for his senior campaign on the mats.“He took one day off and is back to wrestling already,” Amy said. “He’s got a great opportunity for next year to do great things.”

Cody Cumpton, PHS junior: Cumpton, a first-team NCIC Lincoln selection, claimed third at the final NCIC conference meet, wrestling at 135 pounds. While the junior had what Amy calls “one of those days” at regionals and failed to advance, he added, “Cumpton,” who tallied a 23-17 record, “is a big part of the reason that the future is bright for next year’s Tiger squad.”

Dylan Olson, PHS junior: Olson, who placed fifth at 160 pounds at the prestigious Princeton Invitational, finished his junior campaign at 25-11. After getting caught in a quick pin during his 171-pound third-place match at regionals and failing to earn a sectional berth, the NCIC Lincoln second-team pick will have some unfinished business on the mats as a senior. “Dylan’s a good athlete ... he got caught at regionals, but that happens,” said Amy. “As long as he works at it he’s got a shot of doing great things in the future.”

Colton Pate, PHS junior: Pate, a second-team NCIC Lincoln selection, enjoyed the highest finish of any Tiger at the Newman regional. He posted a tech fall and decision win in the semis before falling, via a pin, to Newman’s Carlos Salazar in the championship match, at 160 pounds, to claim silver. Pate, who entered regionals with the No. 3 seed “kind of surprised some people,” with his very strong showing at regionals, Amy said. “He wrestled very consistent all year, and did a great job,” Amy said. Pate finished his year at 15-14 and will look to improve on that mark as a senior.

Steve Puhr, St. Bede senior: Puhr, one of the Academy’s first four-year wrestlers, pinned Putnam County’s Jimmy Torres in the first period to score a third-place finish at the Eureka Regional and earn a trip to the Clinton Sectional at 152 pounds. Finishing with a 17-13 record on the season, Puhr was a “lead by example” in the wrestling room, Tiger said. “He showed some leadership throughout the season with his hard work ethic,” Tiger said.

Earl Towne, PHS sophomore: Although an infection in his hand kept the sophomore NCIC Lincoln second-team pick from participating in the regional tournament, Towne had a successful second campaign as a Tiger, posting a 22-15 record, and is “part of a solid core of top returning talent for the Tigers,” Amy said.

Dave Young, St. Bede junior: Young earned silver at the Eureka Regional, topping Putnam County’s Alanzo Khouaja with a pin in the second round before falling to champ Desmond Redden of Peoria Manual in the closing moments of the 135-pound title match. “Dave had a great season for a junior, and has tremendous potential for his senior year,” Tiger said. Young finished the season even at 14-14, and will look to progress even further as a senior next year for the Bruins.