State wrestling: Mekeels become first father-son ref combo at state tournament

CHAMPAIGN – Don Mekeel of Sterling and Ryan Mekeel of Chicago became the first father-son duo to work the individual state tournament as mat officials, accomplishing the feat this past weekend at State Farm Center.

They had worked the dual team state tournament the past 2 years. Don has now worked 14 state tournaments, six of which have been individual finals. Ryan, a teacher at Canty Elementary School in Chicago the past 7 years, has worked three state finals.

“He referees day-in and day-out in Chicago, some of the toughest wrestling in the nation,” Don Mekeel said, “and he’s been been mentored by a lot of other good officials in the Chicago area, so there’s no doubt he’s up to this task. It’s really a proud weekend for both of us.”

Roy Snyder of Rochelle worked his 14th state tournament, half of which have been individual finals. Rock Falls athletic director Rich Montgomery served as one of the bench official timers.

Chapman to be honored: Former Dixon resident Mike Chapman will be among the 2015 inductees in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association hall of fame.

A banquet will be held Sunday, April 19 at the Holiday Inn in Countryside.

Chapman, who now resides in Newton, Iowa, is part of a 2015 class that includes Pete Alber of Dakota; Ken Bringe of Oak Lawn; Dan Cysewski of Crystal Lake; Mike Evans of Chicago Heights; Darrell Gholar of Chicago; Frank Giannamore of Mundelein; Mark Hattendorf of Johnsburg; Shane Morgan of Oswego; Greg Prichard of Morton; Al Sears of Belleville; Don Stevens of Prescott, Ariz.; Jack Wiesneth of Libertyville; and Joe Williams of Lockport.

Profile information on the HOF inductees was not available.

New clubhouse leader: Entering the 2015 state tournament, Newman had a Class 1A record 35 individual state champions, including a streak of at least one the past 10 years.

That streak ended this year, as the Comets did not advance anyone to state.

Dakota, meanwhile, was at 32 champions entering this year’s tournament. The Indians crowned six champs (113-pounder Alec Henze, 126-pounder Prentice Walls, 138-pounder Nate Olsen, 145-pounder J.J. Wolfe, 152-pounder Greg Krulas, and 170-pounder Carver James) Saturday night, bringing their total to 38.

Act II: Team wrestling will take center stage next week. At the 1A Polo Sectional, it will be Rock Falls taking on Mercer County, and Dakota meeting Harvard.

The winners of those matches, as well as two survivors from the Prairie Central, Vandalia and Plano sectionals, advance to the dual team state tournament on Saturday at U.S.Cellular Coliseum in Normal.

Dakota is the two-time defending 1A team champion.