Different season, but area wrestlers ready to grapple

Wrestling in April and May. You bet.

The three BCR teams from Princeton, Hall-Putnam County and St. Bede are taking to the mats for the IHSA’s 2021 summer season and couldn’t be happier after having the regular winter season canceled by COVID-19.

“It’s been a long time coming, but it will definitely be different for sure,” PHS coach Steve Amy said. “There are going to be some challenges with a few of our guys also competing in track, but there are some cool and different things that these guys will get to experience as well. (Tuesday) night we are set to wrestle Geneseo outside on their football field, so that will be a great experience.”

While it is disappointing that the IHSA wlll not conduct a postseason, Amy said, “We still get to wrestle and that’s what is important.”

The IWCOA is going to host a state series in June after the IHSA season, and although it won’t quite be the same, Amy said, " We still get a shot at winning a state championship.”

Princeton

Coach: Steve Amy

Top returners: Steven Benavidez-Jr. (106), Augie Christiansen-So. (138), Carson Etheridge-So. (152), Drew Harp-Jr. (195), Matthew Harris-Jr. (132), Jimmy Kurth-Sr. (182), Jesse Wright-So. (220).

Key newcomers: Preston Arkles-Fr. (145), Kaden Baker-Jr. (152-160), Carlos Benavidez-Fr. (126), Cael Davis-Sr. (160), Justin DePauw-Fr. (126), Payne Miller-Fr. (hwt), Thomas Mikrut-So. (126).

Worth noting: Amy said that nearly everyone’s back he was counting on to wrestle. “Many of these guys have been doing this a long time so they have been looking forward to this season. Once we get into the swing of things, we will have a pretty tough lineup. Many of them have been involved in the program since they were little so I am very excited to see this group develop in our varsity lineup,” Amy said. ... Harris was the 2019-20 BCR Wrestler of the Year, posting a 34-13 record and was a state qualifier in 2018-19. ... Christiansen won the 1A regional championship at Princeton, finishing at 31-9. .... Freshmen Benavidez and Miller (3rd place) were both IESA state qualifiers. ... The Tigers also picked up senior Cael Davis, a basketballer, who is also running track. ... The Tigers opened the season Thursday outdoors with mats on the Geneseo football turf. The Maple Leafs won 57-15. ... PHS also has five girls out for their second season, including returners Carli Wright (Sr.) and Gracie Reynolds (Jr.), who were IOCWA girls state qualifiers. They are joined by freshmen Brennen Roden and Heather Heider and junior Abby Rabe. They have matches scheduled with Kewanee and Ottawa and Amy said they are still trying to find a few more.

St. Bede

Coach: Sam Allen

Top returners: Henry Orteza, Jr., 132; Dominic Bima, Sr., 132; Brady Hurst, Sr., 138; Naoh Setser, Sr., 145; Ben Koyak, Jr., 152; Benjamin Burke, So., 195; James Sanchez, Sr., 160; Ethan Fleming, Sr., 195; Ryan Migliorini, So., 220.

Key newcomers: Hunter Savage, 106; Matthew Pozzi, 285; Brayden Cain, 138; Michael Shaw, 220; Evan Englehaupt, 138.

Worth noting: The Bruins have a strong core returning, led by Fleming and Setser, who were both NewsTribune All-Area picks last season. Fleming won 30 matches and placed third at the regional, while Setser had 21 wins and was runner-up at the regional. Sanchez (24-11) and Bima (18-16) also had winning records last season for St. Bede, which went 14-15 in duals. “We have a tough schedule lined up,” Allen said. “I am looking forward to putting these guys up against potential opponents they would have at sectionals in a normal season. I want our wrestlers to wrestle the best competition so they know what they’re up against. We are almost always in one of the toughest sectionals in the state. If we want a shot at a St. Bede wrestler following in (former state champion) John Barnes’ footsteps, we have to prepare for those hard-nosed opponents we usually see at our sectional.”

Putnam County-Hall

Coach: Gavin Kurtz

Top returner: Connor Brooker, Jr.

Key newcomers: J.J. Davis, Jr.; Denzel Sobin, Jr.; Caleb Savitch, Jr.; Dylan Strait, Sr.

Worth noting: Kurtz has a small roster in his first season as coach with just five wrestlers this spring. … Brooker returns after recording 30 wins and earning the first state berth in program history last season at 145 pounds. He’ll bounce between 152 and 160 this season. … Davis will move between 220 and 285, Sobin will wrestle at 170 or 182, Strait will be at 132 or 138 and Savitch, who will split time with track, will wrestle at 160 or 170. “We will not win many, if any, duals,” Kurtz said. “We know that coming into the season. But we will be very competitive in the matches we do wrestle. You can expect to see a very physical look to this year’s group and I expect to have the entire team at sectionals and two athletes on the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (state tournament) podium.”