Mid-Illini gold standard: Washington, Canton wrestlers lead IHSA title haul

CHAMPAIGN — What a career for Kannon Webster.

The Washington senior wrapped up one of the Peoria area's most prolific prep runs with his third Class 2A Illinois High School Association wrestling state championship on Saturday night at State Farm Center. Webster, who was one of 13 Peoria-area wrestlers competing for a state title, won his title bout via major decision at 145 pounds.

He finishes the season with a 50-0 record and a 162-2 mark in his four years.

"It's great going out my senior year," the University of Illinois commit said, "and getting it done to cap off my individual season. That's what makes this really just a lot more special."

In all, six wrestlers from the Journal Star area won state championships, including three from the Mid-Illini Conference: Webster, teammate Justin Hoffer, Canton's Joseph Norton, Illini Bluffs' Paul Ishikawa, El Paso-Gridley's Dax Gentes and Gauge Shipp of Galesburg.

Another six area wrestlers brought home silver medals, including four from the Mid-Illini in Blake Hinrichsen and Peyton Cox of Washington, Nick Mueller of Dunlap and Shamon Handegan of Pekin. Also finishing second were Illini Bluffs' Hunter Robbins and Farmington's Keygan Jennings.

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Washington has a great weekend

Webster's victory over Bethalto Civic Memorial junior Bryce Griffin was the first of eight matches during his title run that didn't come by a fall.

"I've known Bryce, he's a tough competitor," Webster said. "He gave me probably the best match I've had in the finals yet. He's really tough to score on and he's still got another year so I know he's going to tear it up next year.

"I feel I'm just kind of getting my attacks more than I was my freshman year. I was just pretty young and didn't know a lot about wrestling my freshman year, so just kind of learning more about the sport and the technique."

Webster joins Jacob Warner (2015-17) and Dylan Reel (2009-10, 2012) as the lone Washington wrestlers with three state championships. But Webster wasn't the only Panthers wrestling sporting gold at the end of the night.

Senior Justin Hoffer (43-1) ended his high school days with a 5-2 decision over LaSalle-Peru's Connor Lorden in the 220-pound weight class.

Hoffer was the second of four Washington senior wrestlers in championship matches. Hinrichsen (41-7), a 170-pounder, couldn't overcome BCM's Abe Wojcikiewicz, losing in a 17-5 major decision. Cox (44-3) lost his 132-pound match with a 4-2 decision to Santino Robinson of Mascoutah.

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Among the other Washington wrestlers taking home medals was Washington freshman Wyatt Medlin, who won his third-place match with a 20-5 tech fall over Grayslake Central junior Tyler Weidman. The 126-pounder finished his first varsity season with a 25-5 record.

Teammates Zane Hulet (160, fourth place) and Josh Hoffer (195, sixth place) were also medalists.

Canton's state champion

Canton's Norton joined his Mid-Illini Conference brethren on the podium with a Class 1A 170-pound championship. The senior (51-1) grabbed a 10-6 decision over Yorkville Christian's Jackson Gillen.

Norton becomes just the third Little Giants wrestler to win a state championship, joining Phil Johns (1987) and Zach Wiedeman (2010).

"I knew in my head I was going to win," Norton said. "I just had an execute it. After I executed it, you could see what happened.

"I wouldn't say mapped out (in my head), but I knew what to be ready for and how to counter it,and I did that out there and I came away with the win."

Gold for Illini Bluffs

Another 1A winner was Illini Bluffs senior Paul Ishikawa (51-0), who beat Reef Pacot of Fithian Oakwood in a 3-1 decision. Ishikawa ends a 37-year drought with the program's last state champ being Mark Kawolsky in 1986.

"I knew it was going be a close one," Ishikawa said, "but if you have that you're going to win in your head then it will come true.

"I remember coming here in eighth grade and my dad saying, 'One day you're going to be a state champ in here', and that day was today. It took me four years but hey, it happened."

Ishikawa's teammate and Robbins (43-2) lost his 106-pound match in a 3:40 fall to Dean Wainwright of Port Byron Riverdale. Also taking second was Farmington's Jennings (35-2), losing a 12-1 major decision to Tyson Waughtel of Carlyle in the Class 1A 113-pound match.

Close calls for Mid-Illini

Two other Mid-Illini wrestlers were runner-up finishers — Dunlap junior Mueller and Pekin senior Handegan ended their seasons with silver medals.

Mueller (43-8) is the first Dunlap state medalist in the program's short history. The 2A 160-pounder was pinned by Joliet Catholic senior Mason Alessio in 1:18.

"It means a lot honestly," said Mueller, who twisted his right ankle in the match but didn't want to use that as an excuse. "I worked all of my life to just come here and place. Obviously, the goal was to win a state championship. It didn't work out this year.

"We'll come back next year stronger and get it done."

Handegan (41-1) was looking to become the first Dragons state champion since Dan Ritchie's 1988 Class AA 167-pound crown but fell short. In his Class 3A 182-pound match, Marmion's Jack Lesher claimed a 6-1 decision.

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Although not winning, Handegan portrayed a positive outlook, especially after not making the medal stand last season.

"It's a great feeling," he said, "because I get to come out here and I got to compete in front of all of these people, and I just went from last year not even placing to being in a championship.

"It's just something good to soak up for my senior year."

El Paso-Gridley senior Dax Gentes and Galesburg junior Gauge Shipp completed the half-dozen Peoria-area state champion wrestlers.

Gentes (52-1) won 160 pounds in an 11-3 major decision against Port Byron Riverdale senior Collin Altensey. Shipp (50-0) rolled to a tech fall victory, 15-0 over Joliet Catholic's Jake Hamiti in the 2A 138-pound division.

Other Peoria-area third-and fifth-place finishers

Peoria Notre Dame's Ian Akers ended his 1A 106-pound season with a loss in the third-place match. The sophomore took home a 43-6 record following a 6-2 defeat to Anna-Jonesboro sophomore Drew Sadler.

Two other 1A fourth-place finishers include Canton senior Trevor Hedges (126 pounds, 48-4 record) and Macomb senior Max Ryner (195 pounds, 52-5).

In the 1A 145-pound third-place match, Princeton senior Augie Christiansen won an 8-4 decision over Herrin junior Blue Bishop. Christiansen caps his prep career with a 50-6 record.

Fifth-place finishers in 1A include Canton freshman Maddux Steele (106 pounds, 43-10), Tremont senior Payton Murphy (120 pounds, 40-4) and Macomb senior Ethan Ladd (220 pounds, 50-8). Morton freshman Harrison Dea took fifth at 106 pounds in 2A, improving to 37-11 with a 10-4 decision over Ottawa junior Ivan Munoz.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA wrestling: Washington, Canton wrestlers lead Peoria at state