Free Press Advocate

Dooley to wrestle in IWCOA state tourney

Published by admin on Tue, 03/08/2022 - 5:02pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington wrestler Landon Dooley has qualified for the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association fresh/soph state wrestling finals after placing third in the Coal City Sectional over the weekend.
Dooley (113) started at the bottom of the bracket with a pin over Joliet Central’s Isaiah Kan.
He then ran into the eventual champion from Lockport Liam Zimmerman, who worked a pin on Dooley in 3:30 to move on.

Four state champion Wildcats sign to play football at St. Francis

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:52pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington state champions Jake Friddle, Karsen Hansen, Ryan Banas and Nick Sanford are in for another four years together as they have signed letters of intent to play football at the University of St. Francis in Joliet.
All four players agree it was a mutual decision to sign. When they heard the other three were signing at the same place, they wanted in.
They all had specific things they liked about the school.
For Hansen, it was the football program.

Warriors, Panthers, ‘Cats to start MS volleyball regionals

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:51pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Middle school volleyball teams are gearing up for regionals which get underway Saturday.
Wilmington and Reed-Custer Middle Schools will compete in the 3A Morris Saratoga Regional while Coal City will compete in the 4A level.
The Wildcats and Comets both start Saturday. The Wildcats will be head-to-head with the fifth seed, Forrest Prairie Central at 9 a.m.
Braidwood (#7) will have a tough match to start against the second-seed, Morris GS at 10 a.m.

Dooley captures F/S regional title, prepares for Coal City Sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:50pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington wrestler Landon Dooley captured the Joliet West fresh/soph regional title on Sunday.
Dooley was the lone Wildcat competing and made the most of it at 113 pounds.
Dooley came in as an underdog but proved he could wrestle well with a first round pin of Clifton Central’s Blaike Archer (3:50).
Dooley followed that by outlasting Bolingbrook’s top seed Jared Craig with a pin in the third round at the 5:05 mark.

Yanke falls in wrestlebacks, still has memories to look back on from state

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:49pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
It wasn’t a packed house Friday during the first day of the IHSA girls wrestling tournament but there was still plenty of electricity in the air from cheering as the IHSA hosted its first-ever female wrestling final.
It was just as exciting as boys state held the Saturday before at the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL Still, Girls State had a vibe all its own at the Gossinger Auto Center in Bloomington, IL

WMS wrestlers crown one regional champion, send two to sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:43pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington Middle School wrestling team had one regional champion Saturday at Reed-Custer.
Will Wilson, a seventh grader, beat Coal City’s Dane Eaton (8th) at 185 pounds to capture the title.
Wilson will be the top dog awaiting the winner of Forrest Prairie Central’s Kaden Davis and Heyworth’s Calvin Andrews.
Wildcat Memphis Iwen was another sectional qualifer. Iwen, an eighth grader, placed third at 215 pounds.

‘Cats end season in loss to Comets

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:29pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington boys basketball team had their season come to an end in a 78-62 loss to Reed-Custer on Saturday during the Wilmington Regional.
The ‘Cats fell behind early but fought back to close within five points at the end of the first quarter.
The ‘Cats were unable to slow down Comet guard Lucas Foote, who helped double that lead at the half, 32-22.

Yanke excited to wrestle at first IHSA girls state

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:28pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington’s Dezirae Yanke advances to the first-ever Illinois High School Association girls state wrestling finals which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Grossinger Motors Center in Bloomington, IL.
One thing is certain, Yanke will be tested in a full, 16-girl bracket.

Shirey bows out in Coal City Sectional, plans to wrestle in college

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wildcat matman Blake Shirey was unable to advance to state despite putting up a good fight during the Coal City Sectional.
Shirey (285), an Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association honorable mention, started out his day on Friday with a big pin that got him to the quarterfinal round.
He began with an electrifying pin of Chicago Phoenix sophomore Brendyn Shields.
Then, he ran into a buzzsaw, eventual champion and the second ranked wrestler in the class, IC Catholic’s Isaiah Gonzalez.

Lady ‘Cats fall to Peotone in regional semifinal game

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:17pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls basketball team had their season come to an end in a 47-18 loss to Peotone on Monday during the Reed-Custer Regional Semifinal game.
The ‘Cats played great defense and stayed right with the Blue Devils as they only trailed by four at the end of one, 10-6.