Brazelton places third at Class 1A State Tournament
By Fred Kroner
Sophomore Holden Brazelton bounced back from a semifinal loss and won his final two wrestling matches to capture third place at 132 pounds in the IHSA Class 1A wrestling state tournament at the University of Illinois State Farm Center.
During the three-day event, which concluded on Saturday (Feb. 18), Brazelton won four of his five matches.
He opened the tournament with a 15-1 victory, followed by a 4-3 triumph in the quarterfinals. He fell in the semis, 7-0, but added wins by 6-2 and 8-3 margins to become the 15th different athlete from SJ-O to win a state wrestling medal.
He is on pace to becoming the school’s first four-time state-placer. Brazelton finished sixth as a freshman.
Though he hoped to make the finals, he had a satisfying year while compiling a 49-3 overall record.
“I wanted to finish better than last year, and it worked out great,” he said.
After the semifinal setback, Brazelton had to forget that bout.
“I had to get my mind right and come back and take care of business,” he said. “I just focused on my goals and wrestled hard.”
The 16-year-old is no novice to wrestling. He first took to the mats 13 years ago.
“I like that it’s an individual sport and I don’t have to rely on other people,” Brazelton said. “What work I put in is what I get out.”
He was at a comfortable weight class for his second high school season and generally had to cut just 2 or 3 pounds after the weekend.
There are numerous differences in his abilities from a year ago.
“I grew a little more, got stronger and the new coaches (Bill Gallo, and staff) helped me a little more,” Brazelton said.
There’s no time to rest on his laurels.
“I’ve got work to do in the off-season,” he said.
