Morrison High School Wresting Coach Tony Wright submitted the report and photos.
It was a great weekend for the Mustang Wrestling Nation! Dylan Keller, left, and Joe Eads, competed in the IHSA State Tournament, Thursday, February 16, through Saturday, February 18, 2017, after both won their individual Sectional the previous weekend. Wrestling began on Thursday, with both grapplers scoring first round wins. Eads made quick work of Michael Carpenter of Toledo, pinning him in his signature move, the “neckwrench,” in :36 seconds. Keller’s match proved a little more challenging, as he fought back and forth with Mark Pivek of Lisle, before securing the match with a late takedown to win 6-3.
On Friday morning, February 17, the competitors wrestled the Quarterfinal round, knowing that a win ensures them of a State medal. Eads started the morning against Coal City’s, Tj Jezik. Jezik was prepared to defend Eads’s signature move. In workman-like fashion, Eads didn’t become frustrated, but changed to leg attacks instead. Eads wrestled a very intelligent match, using his opponent’s game plan against him to score two takedowns, a 6-3 victory, and a spot in the Semifinals for the second straight year.
Keller would follow suit in his Quarterfinal matchup against Jacob Conaty of Leroy. Keller jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first two periods. Conaty chose down in the third period and earned an escape. Keller remained on the attack and scored a third period takedown and ride-out, to win 5-1.
The Semifinals highlight the evening session on day two at the State Tournament. They always prove exciting, as competitors are vying for the coveted spot in the Finals and the Grand March. Nerves and anxiety are high; many of the tournament’s best matches take place in the Semifinals.
Eads stepped onto the mat as the tournament’s #1 seed, but 5th in the State rankings, verses Ryan Chambers, of Murphysboro, the tournament’s #4 seed, but 1st in the State’s rankings. For the better part of the first period the two grapplers felt each other out. Eads got to his front headlock position, but Chambers was able to defend multiple times. However, Eads broke open the match late in the first period, taking Chambers to his back with a neckwrench and carrying a 5-0 lead into the second period. Chambers responded in the second period, choosing down, escaping, and scoring a takedown, to close the gap to a 5-3 score. Eads chose down to start the third period. He was able to earn a point on an escape and again hit Chambers in his signature move to score a takedown. Chambers was able to reverse, but time ran out. Eads earned his spot in the Finals with an 8-5 victory.
Keller‘s Semifinal match was not as favorable. Keller matched up agains the State’s #1 ranked wrestler, Josh McKinney, of Midwest Central. McKinney, a returning finalist from a year ago, struck first with a takedown. Keller was able to escape, but gave up another takedown at the end of the first period, to take a 4-1 lead. McKinney added to his lead with a reversal in the second period, before Keller got an escape of his own. Keller was able to narrow the lead to three points to start the third, but McKinney was scored another takedown that all but secured the match. McKinney went on to win a hard fought 8-5 victory. Keller faced familiar foes in Erie/Prophetstown’s Garrett Passmore and Lena-Winslow’s Kyle Kalkbrenner. Keller owned victories over both wrestlers the previous two weeks, but Passmore and Kalkbrenner were able to score victories over Keller in both matches. Keller’s weekend ended with a 6th place finish.
Dylan Keller finished the season with a 38-7 record. In his career Keller was a four year varsity starter; two time IHSA Regional Champion; three time IHSA Sectional Qualifier; an IHSA Sectional Champion; a two-time IHSA State Qualifier; 2017 IHSA All-State (6th Place.) In doing all that, he amassed 130 career victories (good for 3rd all-time, behind Joe Eads and Mark McDonnell) and 77 career pins (second-most all-time.) He finishes his prep career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Mustang history.
Saturday night is quite the spectacle. Many young men dream of being in the Grand March; it gives most wrestlers, coaches, and spectators the chills just thinking of it. State Farm Center goes dark. Finalists and coaches march from the tunnel to the beat of the Olympic theme song. Finalists parade around the mats, before they are introduced to the crowd under a spotlight, as they shake their opponent’s hand in the middle of the mat. For a wrestler, it is a great achievement. As a coach, it is quite the privilege to walk beside a young man who has earned his way to the Finals.
Joe Eads earned his spot in the Grand March and the opportunity to win a State title. Across the mat from him was Zach Haley, of Quincy Notre Dame, sporting a 42-1 record. Eads got to his front headlock and went for his patented neckwrench, but Haley defended it well and shut down Eads’s offense. Eads chose down in the second period and got to his feet seven or eight times, but was unable to escape Haley’s grip. The first two periods ended scoreless. In the third period the match opened up. Haley chose down, and a short way into the period Eads slid to the side, locked up what we call, “The Assassin,” and pulled Haley right into his neckwrench. Eads exposed his back for five seconds and earned a 3-6mpoint nearfall, to take a 3-0 lead. Haley didn’t stop fighting and was able to reverse Eads, to cut the his lead to one. Eads was able to escape and fend off Haley’s late match attacks. As the buzzer rang Eads had earned a 4-2 victory and the right to call himself “State Champion.”
Joe Eads let his emotions show as he approached Coach Tony Wright; Assistant Coach Matt McDonnell was there to celebrate Eads’s victory. Shown left-to-right are Assistant Coach Jesse Kennedy, McDonnell, Eads, and Wright.
Joe Eads finishes his Mustang career with numerous accolades. He finishes being a four year varsity starter; three time IHSA Regional Champion; four time IHSA Sectional Qualifier; an IHSA Sectional Champion; a two time IHSA State Qualifier; two-time IHSA All-State competitor (3rd Place 2016, State Champion 2017.) He is shown with his parents, Justin and Tori.
Eads finished his season with a 43-3 record, which ties the season win record held by State Champion and Assistant Coach, Matt McDonnell. Eads accumulated 165 career victories (most all-time) and 114 career pins (fifth all-time in the State.) Eads’ accomplishments speak for themselves and put him in the conversation for Morrison’s best ever. Eads career accomplishments are rivaled by
- Mark McDonnell–four time IHSA Sectional Champion, four-time IHSA State Medalist (3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st)
- Bob White–two time IHSA Sectional Champ, four time IHSA State Qualifier, two time IHSA State Medalist (2nd, 3rd)
- Patrick Hamilton–three time IHSA State Qualifier, two time IHSA State Medalist (1st, 4th)
- Matt McDonnell–IHSA Sectional Champion, IHSA State Champion.
