Editor’s note: Morrison High School Varsity Wrestling Coach Tony Wright, far right, submitted this report. Photos are from Gus Linke, Jr. and Coach Wright. At left is contender Augustus Linke; at center is former MHS State Wrestling Champion Matt McDonnell.
The IHSA State Wrestling Tournament is the single biggest event in Champaign, IL, annually. Every hotel in the area is sold out for three nights. Restaurants are packed. Traffic is slow. There is great anticipation wondering who will be crowned State Champion.
Each year, 224 Class 1A wrestlers are privileged to pursue their dreams and compete for a State title.
Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21, 2015, Morrison, IL, saw two young men from Morrison High School enter the State Tournament: Augustus Linke and Austin Keller.
For Linke it was his first trip. He became only the fourth Freshman is team history to qualify for the State Tournament. He joins elite company in doing so; Bob White, Mark McDonnell and Phillip O’Shea have previously accomplished the task. Linke entered the tournament “under the radar,” but you wouldn’t know by looking at him, with his confident demeanor and work ethic.
In the first round Linke matched up with Coal City’s, Joey Rivera, the eventual Champion. The under-dog against the top-seeded Rivera, Linke got off some good attacks, but Rivera proved too big. He ended up defeating Linke via a technical fall. Rivera would pin his quarterfinal opponent and eventually pin his way to a State title. Rivera’s win in the quarterfinals pulled Linke into the wrestlebacks on Friday, where he met up with Avery Dean of Knoxville, IL, who pinned Linke earlier in the season.
Dean scored the opening points of the match with a takedown. Linke was able to escape and scored a pivotal takedown late in the period, with a throw on the edge of the mat. In the second period Dean scored a reversal, and the period ended tied 4-4 after a Linke escape. Linke chose down in the third and was able to ride out a 5-4 victory. The victory set Linke up for a showdown against Roxana, IL’s James Henseler Saturday morning for a spot in the medal rounds. A win Saturday morning assures a wrestler of a spot in the top six and a place on the podium.
This was another uphill battle. It was the fourth meeting between the two wrestlers this season, with Henseler winning the previous three. The first period went to Henseler after a takedown and two near fall points. The second period was scoreless, with Linke choosing neutral. Henseler chose top in the third, leading by four points. The match got interesting near the end. Linke reversed his opponent and nearly tilted him for back points. Linke’s season ended with 34-17 record.
Coach Wright had this to say about his Freshman competitor, “Mighty Mouse” is a tough kid. He competes well, works hard, and never backs down from a challenge. Eight or so of his losses this season came from bumping up to 113 lbs. He’s a small 106 lb wrestler. The kid is a stud and is going to be a State Champion. I am proud of his efforts this season.”
Wright noted that Linke ranked high in the team stats this season: 3rd in wins; 3rd in team points; 4th in takedowns; 4th in pins; 1st in 3-point near falls; 1st in reversals.
Morrison High School’s other competitor this weekend was Senior, Austin Keller. For Keller it was a second trip to the State Tournament, also having qualified last season. For him the trip had one purpose: bring home a medal. One thing wrestlers don’t have control over is their draw in the brackets. Keller’s bid for a medal would be a long road–starting with Wilmington’s Nick Hawkins. Hawkins was the third place finisher in 2014 and also knocked Keller out of the State Tournament a year ago.
Hawkins jumped out to an early lead with a trio of takedowns and backpoints. Keller fought hard for position, scoring some escapes and later a reversal, but Hawkins’s leg attacks were too much. Hawkins finished as the Tournament’s runner-up.
On Friday Keller met Nick Kaufmann of Prairie Central. Unfortunately Keller’s bid for a medal would end, as Kaufmann’s defense was too much for Keller’s attacks. Keller finished his career with 36-11 record.
Coach Wright said this of his Senior, “Austin has come a long way. He went from J.V. wrestler his Freshman and first half of his Sophomore year, to a State alternate as a Sophomore and a State qualifier as a Junior. He will go down in the history books as one of Morrison’s most lethal pinners.”
Keller holds the single season pin record with a mark of 29, set in 2014. Keller’s stats for the season ranked him 2nd in wins; 2nd in team points; 2nd in pins; 2nd in takedowns and 5th in reversals.
