Five Spartans qualify for Sectional Tournament
By Fred Kroner
Five St. Joseph-Ogden wrestlers earned spots in the Olympia Class 1A IHSA Sectional on Saturday (Feb. 3) on the basis of their performances at the Tolono Unity Regional Tournament.
The Spartans’ qualifiers were senior Emmitt Holt (2-0 at 106 pounds), junior Jackson Walsh (1-1 at 113 pounds), senior Holden Brazelton (2-0 at 132 pounds), junior Landen Butts (2-1 at 138 pounds) and sophomore Coy Hayes (2-0 at 150 pounds).
Holt, Brazelton and Hayes were all regional titlists.
Walsh and Butts were second-place finishers.
Holt (35-1 with a 33-match winning streak) didn’t allow a point at the regionals. His wins were by a combined score of 18-0.
Brazelton (42-1) has registered 27 consecutive wins (25 of those by either pin or technical fall). His pins at the regional took place in 1:19 and 1:18.
Hayes (26-6) has a nine-match winning streak. In that span, he has seven pins and received two forfeits. His regional pins were in 3:57 and 2:15.
In the Jan. 27 state rankings for Class 1A, Brazelton was ranked first in the state and Holt was ranked third.
Walsh (24-16) was 1-1 at the regional. Butts (27-17) earned pins in 1:21 and 5:34.
Two SJ-O grapplers wound up in fourth place at the Unity Regional and will serve as sectional alternants. If any of the top three finishers are unable to compete at the sectional, they will be added to the field.
Finishing fourth were sophomore Devan Swisher (1-2 at 165 pounds) and freshman Khaden Hallowell (3-2 at 190 pounds).
All three of Hallowell’s victories were courtesy of pins in 38 seconds, 21 seconds and in 1:12.
Five Spartan wrestlers, who did not advance to the sectional, registered pins at the regional: junior Eli Birt (in 3:59 at 126 pounds), freshman Thomas Ware (in 3:24 at 144 pounds), senior Corbin Smith (in 1:51 at 175 pounds), junior Quincy Jones (in 41 seconds at 215 pounds) and junior Brodie Harms (in 4:51 at 285 pounds).
Overall, the Spartans’ 14 regional participants combined for an 18-20 tournament record with 14 pins.
In the team chase at Tolono, SJ-O tied Clinton for second place with 141 points. Team honors were captured by the host Rockets with 223 ½ points.
SJ-O finished the year 22-13 in dual meets.
