By Fred Kroner
Eight Oakwood/Salt Fork wrestlers competed in a Class 1A regional tournament on Sunday (June 13) at Heyworth and seven of them qualified for the sectional tournament.
The entire postseason series is sponsored by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) rather than by the IHSA.
The Oakwood/Salt Fork grapplers had a cumulative record of 19-7 for the day, winning 13 of those matches by pin.
The program had individual winners in three weight classes.
Unbeaten Gage Reed (120 pounds) won twice, including once by pin to improve to 18-0 for the season. Reef Pacot (126 pounds) was 3-0 for the day, pinning two opponents.
Joe Lashuay won all three of his bouts at 160 pounds by pin.
Finishing as the regional runner-up was 132-pound Bryson Capansky. He was 2-1 for the day with one pin.
The busiest Oakwood/Salt Fork wrestler was 138-pound Blake Barney. After suffering a first-round loss, he won four bouts in wrestlebacks to claim third place. Barney posted two pins.
Grant Brewer registered pins in three of his four matches at 145 pounds.
Also advancing to the sectional is 285-pound Jamison VanVickle. He was 2-2 for the day, including one pin. VanVickle placed fifth.
The other Oakwood/Salt Fork participant was 170-pound Alec Harrison, who lost both of his matches.
To qualify for sectionals, wrestlers had to finish among the top six in their respective weight classes.
The regional team champion was Petersburg Porta with 184 points. Oakwood/Salt Fork was the runner-up with 148 points.
A total of 22 schools were assigned to the regional.
The sectional qualifiers will return to Heyworth on Saturday (June 19). The top four placers in each of the 14 weight classes will advance to the unofficial state meet, sponsored by the IWCOA, on Thursday (June 24) in Springfield.
