Wrestling: Warriors Win Regional, Qualify 10 for Sectionals

Complete Results from IHSA website

The SHS Wrestling team is Regional champion for the second consecutive season. The Golden Warriors achieved the regional repeat Saturday, scoring 190 points and crowning five individual champs at the Rock Island 2A Regional, taking the team title by 21.5 points over the host Rocks. Sterling’s five regional champions lead a contingent of 10 Golden Warriors who will be trying to qualify for state, wrestling at home at part of the Sterling 2A sectional next weekend.

Sterling’s five regional champions were senior Marquell Addison at 119, junior Dylan Devers at 130, junior Tyler Balsley at 135, junior Stevie DeWitt at 145 and junior Jeremy Galvan at 160. They will all receive first round byes at sectionals.

Four Golden Warriors advanced to championship matches but had to settle for second place finishes; Branden Cater at 112, Jordan Lopez at 125, Jordan Ristau at 140 and Johnny Lopez at 171.

Only two Warriors had to face do-or-die third place matches, as the top three finishers at each weight class qualified for sectionals. Junior Tyler Garcia earned his sectional spot with a 7-1 win over Rochelle’s Cole Smith in the third place match at 189. Sophomore Joey Brooks fell just short in third place match at 285, dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to Dixon’s David Goad.

Winning the regional as a team also earns the Golden Warriors a spot in the Geneseo 2A team sectional, where the Golden Warriors will take on Sycamore in a semi-final match February 23 at 6:00 p.m.. Sycamore cruised to the championship of the Belvidere Regional. The other semi-final will feature Washington against Crystal Lake Central. The two semi-final winners turn around and face each other that same night, with a berth in the state finals on the line.