Two best friends, two state medals

DEKALB – Like any best friends, Casey Etheridge and Augustus Swanson do a lot of things together.

On Saturday, the Princeton Logan eighth-graders won medals from the IESA State Wrestling Tournament at the Convocation Center in DeKalb together.

Etheridge was crowned the 135-pound champion while Swanson took third place at 90 pounds.

“It’s a huge accomplishment for both of them. They have had the past two state tournaments taken away from them and during that time they have been working really hard for this one,” PHS coach Steve Amy, who assists the Logan program.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these two and am extremely excited for the future.”

Etheridge dominated his bracket, winning by a 1:43 fall and a 6-1 decision before shutting out Morrison’s Brady Anderson 12-0 for the title.

“Casey had a great tournament. He really dominated all aspects of every match,” Amy said.

Etheridge, who finished with a 31-0 record, said it brought a sense of relief.

“I say that, because I seen idols of mine make it to state and for the past year that’s all I could think about,” he said. “When I came into state all I wanted was first, nothing else. Getting my hand raised meant the world to me because I completed my goal in wrestling for the year.

“Next year I will work harder to hopefully see myself there in high school.”

Etheridge said what was best about going to state was getting to do it with his best friend, Swanson.

Swanson (28-1) won his opening match by 1:56 fall over Calvin Street of Forrest Prairie Central but lost to eventual state champion Brody Widlowski of Coal City by 1:17 in the semifinals, his only loss of the year.

“My goal was to be the 90-pound state champ, but when I lost in the semifinals I was very disappointed,” he said. “I was able to walk away and go refocus after talking with coach Amy and my dad and go after the next best thing. I knew I was going to have to wrestle my way to the third-place match.”

He won his wrestleback by a 9-3 decision to make his way to the third-place match, scoring a 15-2 major decision over Tremont’s Jayden Neil, utilizing a move he’d never used before in a match.

“When I got to the third place match I came out strong and in the last period hit a Easton tilt on the right side which I had never done in a live match before and won 15-2,” Swanson said. “I felt excited and proud to take home third place knowing the only person I lost to was the state champ.”

“He really did an amazing job bouncing back and refocusing to take third,” Amy said.

Swanson said he is focused to continue working hard in the offseason with Eric Juergens of Young Guns and coach Amy.

“I know my hard work will help me continue to work towards achieving my goals,” he said.

Since its in inception in 2017, the Logan program now has five state medalists, including Augie Christiansen (1st/3rd), Jesse Wright (2nd) and Payne Miller (2nd).