Tony Wright submitted this report and photos of the Morrison Junior High School Wrestling team’s Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Sectional Tournament performance.
Eight Colts Sectional qualifiers were in action at Riverdale High School, Port Byron, IL, on Saturday, March 6, 2026, seeking their chance to compete at the Illinois State Tournament (Friday, March 13, and Saturday, March 14.) Like the High School Sectional, this year’s Jr. High Sectional was deep. This was a very talent-rich Sectional, with a lot of high-quality teams and individuals.
Uryah Wright (112 lbs), led the way seeking his fourth-straight berth at the State Tournament, in a bracket featuring four returning State medalists. Wright is chasing his fourth State medal in-as-many-years. He looks to finish his historic Middle School career on top the State podium. In his Quarterfinal match Wright took care of Channahon’s Mason Pantezes. Wright scored an early takedown and pinned Pantezes in the second period. In the Semis he met Coal City’s Brantley Brooks. Wright took an early lead, scoring a takedown in the first 30 seconds. Brooks responded with a late first period reversal. Brooks added another takedown in the second period, off an errant shot by Wright. In the third period, Wright laid on a barrage of attacks with Brooks able to use his length to defend. Wright was taken down late in the third period attempting to throw Brooks. So, onto the wrestlebacks to qualify the hard way. Picking up the pieces after disappointment Wright responded. In his bloodround match he faced Riverdale’s Tatum Smith (a State medalist a year ago), who pushed Wright the week before in the Regional final. In a pressure-filled match, Wright was all business. He scored a takedown and rideout in the first period. Wright got on top in the second period and secured a pin to qualify. In his third place match, Wright dominated–scoring two takedowns and four sets of nearfall, on his way to a 20-5 technical fall!
Wright is on the podium, at left.
Ashyr Deyo (167 lbs) will make his first trip to the IESA State Wrestling Tournament. He started the day grinding out a 3-1 nailbiter against Winnebago’s Jamison Scott. After a scoreless first period, Deyo scored two nearfall points in the second period to lead 2-1. In the third period, he scored an escape and warded off Scott’s attempts to score a match-winning takedown in the third period. In the Semifinal round Deyo faced Oliver Heist of Sherrard. Heist’s attacks proved too much for Deyo, as he scored three takedowns and nearfall to defeat Deyo 14-2. Like Wright, Deyo picked up the pieces and got right back to work in the bloodround, where he faced Gavin Simpson of Rockridge. Deyo scored a takedown and a 3-0 lead which he carried through a scoreless second period and into the third. Simpson chose down where Deyo put on a hard ride from the top position. Eventually Deyo opened Simpson up and pinned him in a half-nelson. Ashyr would slide into the placing match to face Scott of Winnebago for the second time. Wasting little time, Deyo decided takedowns were easier than grinding a 3-1 close match. He took Scott down at will, scoring four takedowns where he led 12-2, before pinning Scott to place third!
Deyo is on the podium, at left.
Corbin Updike and Jakin Modglin both wrestled well, but fell just short of qualification. Both lost in the Semifinals to the eventual Champs and faced very difficult bloodround matches.
Updike (80 lbs) faced last year’s 4th place finisher in Kade Roeder of Mercer County. Roeder scored early in the first to take a 3-0 lead, which carried to the third period where he chose down. After a quick escape by Roeder, Updike began his sprint of attacks. With 20 seconds left, Updike hit a fireman’s carry, scoring a takedown and immediately cut Roeder. He put on a flurry of attacks and got to Roeder’s leg again, but it was too late to score.
And like his teammate, Modglin (90 lbs) faced Gavin Chaflin of Sandwich. In this match, all the scoring happened in the first period. Chaflin scored a takedown on a low single. Modglin answered with a reversal, but Chaflin countered with his own reversal, before the end of the period, putting Modglin at a 5-2 deficit. Chaflin took down and remained in that position the rest of the match. Modglin made every attempt to turn his foe. He locked up several chicken wings and attempted to turn Chaflin in both directions, coming so close to getting back points in the second period. Modglin–with a choice in the third period–chose top after seeing his opponent’s dominance. Again it was much of the same. Jakin worked incredibly hard to turn his opponent, but Chaflin was able to ward off any backpoints. Both Colt wrestlers fought valiantly, but it was not to be.
Five other Colts in action gained valuable experience. Buck Hill went 2-2 and put up a great fight in his efforts. Easton Decker, Aydenn Holcombe, and Bryson Deter went 0-2. Each athlete returned with Sectional experience to build upon during next season.
Wright and Deyo will be in action at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center in DeKalb, IL, on Friday, March 13, starting at 11:30 a.m. Fans can follow their progress on trackwrestling.com and our Facebook updates on the “Morrison Mustang Wrestling” Facebook page.