Eight area wrestlers medal at state

Eight local wrestlers brought home some serious hardware from the IHSA State Individual Tournament which concluded Saturday, led by a strong showing from Coal City and a title-match run from Wilmington.

 State Runners-Up
• Logan VanDuyne (Wilmington, 190) – fell in a 13-12 thriller in the finals
• Aidan Kenney (Coal City, 157) - lost by 4-0 decision to Dillon Hinton (Vandalia) 
• Brock Finch (Coal City, 175) - fought hard in the title bout before falling 12-2 to Arkail Griffin (Chicago (C. Hope Academy). Griffin had beaten Finch for the setional championship a week ago.
• Cade Poyner (Coal City, 215) - lost a heartbreaking 11-10 decision after nearly pinning Dane Olmstead (Freeburg)

3rd Place Finishers
• Owen Petersen (Coal City, 126)
• Brody Widlowski (Coal City, 150)

Other Medalists
• Mason Garner (Coal City, 165) – 4th
• Luke Munsterman (Coal City, 138) – 6th

Coal City made a statement as the only Class 1A team to qualify all 14 weight classes, with seven medalists.

Wilmington’s Logan VanDuyne capped his career with a runner-up finish, highlighted by a semifinal pin to reach the title bout.

Reed-Custer’s Colton Drinkwine and Dominic Alaimo both picked up wins on the state stage, battling deep into the consolation rounds against elite competition. Jayden Sanchez also represented the Comets.

Next up for the Coalers will be the State Dual Team tournament to be held Friday in Bloomington.