'Pretty special' state title for Hinsdale South's Josh King

CHAMPAIGN – Josh King has wrestled for most of his life, so he knows what he accomplished Saturday was something special.

The Hinsdale South junior defeated Plainfield South junior Eric Johnson 9-6 to win the Class 3A 220-pound title at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament at the State Farm Center.

"It's not really something you can describe," said King, who finished the season with a 49-1 record and captured his first state medal in his third trip to the state tourney. "It's something you work at all your life since I was four when I started. You win regional titles and sectional titles, but when you get to state everything is so much harder, but knowing you're the one who came out on top and won it is pretty special."

With his title, King became the fifth state champion in Hinsdale South history and the first since Sebastian Pique won at 112 pounds in 2011.

King won with first-period falls in his first two state matches, then had an 11-2 major decision in the semifinals to reach the title bout.

He nearly got pinned in the first period but had tied it at 4-4 heading to the second. He led 9-4 in the third before surrendering stalling point and an escape point late in the match. Johnson was physically similar to King, which presented a bit of a challenge.

"Most of the things I would do against regular guys wouldn't work," King said. "When I was on top in the first period I tried to tilt him and almost got [pinned], so I had to realize I couldn't just use what I usually do. I had to change up the game plan, which was kind of weird, but I got it done."

After time ran out on the match and the referee raised his arm as a state champion, King calmly went to shake hands with the Plainfield South coaches, then embraced Hinsdale South head coach Kevin Formanski on the side of the mat.

"I didn't really plan out a whole celebration or anything," King said. "I kind of was thinking about the match I had, but I was thinking that after I won, if I won, it would just come to me, but it didn't and I just went over and gave my coach a big hug. That's all I could do."