Spartans place second at Illini Prairie Conference Tournament

By Fred Kroner

St. Joseph-Ogden’s wrestling team placed second on Wednesday (Jan. 17) at Tolono Unity in the eight-school Illini Prairie Conference Tournament.

The Spartans defeated Prairie Central, 71-9, and Monticello, 46-30, before falling to top-seeded Tolono Unity, 57-18, in the championship dual meet.

Finishing 3-0 for SJ-O individually were Emmitt Holt (106 pounds) and Holden Brazelton (132 and 138 pounds).

Holt (27-1) produced pins in 1:15 and 4:00 while Brazleton (33-1) had a 17-1 technical fall win and pins in 40 seconds and 1:03. Holt has a 25-match winning streak.

Spartans who were 2-1 for the day were Jackson Walsh (113 pounds with one pin), Camden Getty (120 pounds with two pins), Coy Hayes (150 pounds with one pin), Quincy Jones (215 and 285 pounds with one pin) and Brodie Harms (215 and 285 pounds with one pin).

SJ-O grapplers who were 1-2 were Maddie Wells (126 pounds with one pin), Landen Butts (132 and 138 pounds), Thomas Ware (144 pounds), Devan Swisher (165 pounds), Corbin Smith (175 pounds) and Khaden Hallowell (190 pounds).

On Tuesday (Jan. 16), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley handed SJ-O a 41-33 loss.

The Spartans’ pinners were Nick Harris (106 pounds), Walsh (113 pounds), Holt (120 pounds), Butts (138 pounds) and Nathan Daly (157 pounds). Brazelton scored a 6-4 overtime win at 132 pounds.

Daly (1:11) and Walsh (1:13) had the team’s fastest falls.

In the Jan. 6 state rankings, compiled by the Illinois Best Weekly, Brazelton was ranked No. 1 in his weight class and Holt was rated No. 2 at 106 pounds.

SJ-O (17-11) returns to action on Thursday (Jan. 18) at Clinton in a meet that also includes El Paso/Gridley.