Wheaton wrestler Preston Berry represents Illinois at national meets

WHEATON – For many youth wrestlers the season is long over. Preston Berry is one of the few exceptions.

Berry, an eighth-grader at Hubble Middle School, had a successful winter and earned a spot on the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation Gold team that competed at the USA Wrestling National Middle School Duals on April 8 to 10 in Danville.

Berry posted a 5-2 record at the meet as IKWF Gold also went 5-2. The team won four times in pool duals and finished second overall after falling against Ohio Stallions Black in the championship dual.

Next up is the Heartland National Middle School duals at the Mid America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, starting April 15.

Berry placed first in 11 of the 13 tournaments in which he wrestled this winter, starting with the Golden Eagles Kick Off Classic on Dec. 6, 2015. He capped the run with titles at the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation regional and sectional tournaments on Feb. 28 and March 5, respectively. At the IKWF state meet he advanced to the Senior Division 130 title match and placed second. It was his third runner-up finish in as many state tourney appearances. He was 35-0 on the season until the loss in the state championship bout.

Berry wrestles for Greg Gomez Trained Wrestling Club and will attend Wheaton Warrenville South in the fall.