Seven Oakwood/Salt Fork wrestlers advance to State Tournament

By Fred Kroner

Seven Oakwood/Salt Fork wrestlers advanced to the Class 1A IHSA state tournament by faring well at the Vandalia Sectional on Saturday (Feb. 10).

Two Comets placed second, four were third and one placed fourth.

The runners-up were Brayden Edwards (113 pounds) and Dalton Brown (175 pounds).

Placing third for Oakwood/Salt Fork were Pedro Rangel (132 pounds), Grant Brewer (150 pounds), Bryson Capansky (157 pounds) and Jamison Chambliss (190 pounds).

The team’s other qualifier is fourth-place finisher Steven Uden (106 pounds).

In addition to those who advanced, three teammates were one win away from continuing their seasons: Tyler Huchel (120 pounds), Jack Ajster (138 pounds) and Carter Chambliss (144 pounds).

Edwards (33-13) won by pin and then in overtime, 4-2, in the semifinals before falling in the finals.

Brown (41-5) opened the sectional with a technical fall win and added a 7-4 decision before dropping a 4-3 verdict in the championship bout.

Rangel (44-5) compiled a 5-1 tourney record. He posted four straight wrestleback wins, the first three in bouts where a loss would have ended his season.

Brewer (39-3) captured pins in 5:04 and 5:49 in addition to a 13-5 sectional victory.

Capansky (40-6) had a pin in 1:41, a 16-1 technical fall triumph and a 9-8 decision in the third-place match.

Jamison Chambliss (24-5) posted decisions by scores of 5-2 and 5-4 before pinning his third-place opponent in 3:40.

Huchel (28-8) had a 3-2 sectional slate, including two 15-0 technical fall wins. He also had a pin in 5:02.

Ajster (37-13) was also 3-2 at the sectional, starting with a pin in 1:24 and later adding shutout wins, 14-0 and 10-0.

Carter Chambliss (33-17) had a 10-0 and 3-2 overtime win before he took narrow losses, 3-1 and 1-0.

The Class 1A state tournament will start on Thursday (Feb. 15) at the UI State Farm Center.