By Fred Kroner

The Spartans salvaged a split in their last two dual meets of the season on Tuesday (June 8) at Tolono.

SJ-O upended St. Thomas More 24-15 and dropped a 69-12 decision to the host Rockets.

Three Spartan grapplers registered pins for the night, including two in less than a minute.

The team’s quickest fall came in 22 seconds by 132-pound freshman Garrett Denhart against STM.

Sophomore Bryson Helfrich needed 45 seconds to secure a pin against his 182-pound Unity opponent. Junior teammate Dakota Pinaire secured a fall at 126 pounds in 3 minutes, 22 seconds against Unity.

SJ-O (8-11) returns to action on Sunday (June 13) in a Class 1A regional at Heyworth High School. The state series is organized and sponsored by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, not the IHSA.