Richmond-Burton’s Brock Wood, Emmett Nelson win sectional titles

In June, Richmond-Burton’s Brock Wood won the Class 1A 220-pound state championship sponsored by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association after the IHSA canceled its series because of COVID-19.

With the IHSA state series returning this season, Wood was happy to claim some more traditional postseason hardware Saturday.

Wood captured the Class 1A Princeton Sectional title, beating Sherrard’s Walker Anderson, 7-3, in the title match.

“It feels great to have a little normalcy back in my high school career,” Wood said. “Last year I still had success, but not with the IHSA. It feels really good to have an IHSA sectional title under my belt.”

Wood, who is undefeated and ranked No. 1 by the IWCOA, said he changed his approach for the title bout, using a more defensive style.

“I know he was a little bit lighter than me,” Wood said. “I knew he was quick and explosive. I knew he was going to be impatient. I knew he was going to have to take some shots and I know my defense is good enough to stop anyone’s shots in this tournament. So it really came down to what was best for my game.”

Wood was joined as a sectional champion by teammate Emmett Nelson (113) and was one of 11 state qualifiers from the area.

Also heading to Champaign are Richmond-Burton’s Clay Madula (106), Marian Central’s Kaden Harman (113), Charlie Fitzgerald (120) and Vance Williams (132), Johnsburg’s Logan Kirk (152) and Harvard’s Brian Hernandez (106), Bailey Livdahl (160), Ivan Rosas (145) and Nathan Rosas (195).

Nelson beat Harman in a title match for the second week in a row, and by the same 3-1 score.

This time, Nelson needed an overtime takedown after each wrestler managed one escape in regulation.

“I saw him last weekend at regionals. I knew what to expect and I got it done,” Nelson said. “I’m very well trained and know my pace can go longer than his can. I knew if I kept moving fast, I’d be able to take him down.”

Harman said he expected a close match.

“I wrestled well for the most part over the weekend,” Harman said. “In the last match, I have to fully commit to those takedowns. In the end, he got me. That’s all there was to it.”

Harvard’s Ivan Rosas placed second at 145 and he’s looking forward to the state tournament after getting disqualified at the sectional as a sophomore in 2020 and being disqualified from the IWCOA state semifinals in June.

In last year’s state semis, Rosas was beating Dakota’s Tyler Simmer heading into the third period, and Rosas said he was disqualified when Simmer told the officials Rosas was biting him.

Rosas, who said there were no bite marks and called his disqualification “one of the most frustrating things ever” beat Simmer by 5-3 decision in Saturday’s semifinals.

“I was able to wrestle him in the semifinals and it felt pretty good to be able to come back and claim what was mine,” said Rosas, who lost 7-0 to Lena-Winslow’s Garrett Luke in the final.

Harvard’s Hernandez won by fall over R-B’s Madula at 106.

“Sophomore year I made it to the blood rounds and ended up choking,” Hernandez said. “It just feels amazing to be able to pull it off this year.”

Marian’s Fitzgerald won the 120 third-place match by technical fall.

“I felt like this was my year to win it,” Fitzgerald said. “I fell short today at sectional, but I’m going to see my opponent again next week at state and that’s when it matters.

“I made mistakes and got lazy at the end of the third period (against Newman’s Brady Grennan in the semifinal). I took a lazy shot and I ended up getting tossed and gave up the two points. Next week, I have to clean it up.”

Marian’s Williams took third at 132 by major decision.

“It’s great. All my hard work is finally paying off,” Williams said. “I’ve been grinding this whole season. All I can ask for is to get this opportunity.”

Harvard’s Livdahl pinned Stillman Valley’s Aiden Livingston in the 160 third-place match, while teammate Nathan Rosas won by pin in the 195 third-place match.

“I lost to him earlier in the tournament,” Livdahl said. “I thought he was going to beat me. Coach gave me a look for a certain move. I hit it and it worked.”

Johnsburg’s Kirk took fourth at 152.

“I stayed calm and didn’t get too caught up in the moment,” Kirk said. “I just kept my composure in bad situations.”