Dan Eyrich, AP Sports; Photos courtesy Jessie Otten
Traditionally known as the toughest 1A wrestling sectional in the state, qualifiers to the state finals from the Oregon Sectional have a high probability of reaching the podium in Champaign next weekend. While that may add some additional pressure to the athletes, EP’s Wyatt Goossens knows that he could not be more prepared to face the challenge of the state finals after taking 3rd place in Oregon on Saturday.
The senior has been ranked among the top five wrestlers at 157 pounds in Class1A most of the season and as luck would have it two of the other top grapplers in the weight were not only in the Oregon Sectional but also the Riverdale Regional. Blake Smith from Riverdale and Newman’s Briar Ivey have been battling Goossens not just during the post season but also during the regular season as members of Three Rivers Athletic Conference teams.
Goossens qualified for the state finals taking third on Saturday defeating Chasen Kazmierczak of Wheaton Academy by fall in 1:32. After winning his quarterfinal bout 11-3 the four year varsity wrestler was on track to the championship match but was denied after losing to Ivey of Newman 2-1. After a scoreless first period, Goossens scored an escape point to lead 1-0 after two periods. Goossens chose top to start the third period and was warned for stalling with 1:38 left in the match. Ivey tied the match with an escape and with forty second remaining Goossens picked up a second stalling call, which resulted in a point for Ivey who held on for the win. Ivey would go on to defeat Smith of Riverdale 9-4 to win the sectional title.
Sophomore, Tristan Hovey, wrestling at 150 pounds, fought his way to the “blood round”, so named as the winner earns their way into the 3rd place match and automatically qualifies for the state finals as the top four in each weight class advance. Hovey sporting an impressive 35-16 record, lost his opening round match to overtime but responded with an impressive 11-6 win over Kolton Kruse (42-6) of Riverdale and a major decision 20-8 over Joshua Kotalik of Sandwich. In his “blood round” match he faced Ben Taylor of Kewanee with a 34-4 record and highly ranked in the state. Hovey had no answer for the Boiler senior as he lost by fall near the end of the second period. Hovey will advance to the state finals as an alternate.
Three other Panthers competed at the sectional with Aidan Jepson (144), Jordae Crow (175), and Caleb Reymer (285). Reymer, a sophomore, came in with a 32-6 mark and won his opening match 13-3. However, he lost to Princeton’s Cade Odell (31-3) and was eliminated by Angil Serrano of Mendota losing by fall.
175 pounder, Jordae Crow, won his first round bout with a tech fall, 23-7, but lost in the quarterfinals by fall. His second round consolation match was a battle as Crow built a 10-4 lead after two periods but after falling behind 11-10 he retook the lead with a reversal but an escape and a takedown by his opponent was too much to overcome as he lost 15-13. Crow finished with a 34-19 record.
Aidan Jepson (144) went 0-2 in the tournament but ended his career with a 34-18 season record.
Goossens will have his opening match on Thursday afternoon.
Complete Oregon Sectional Results
