Junior High Wrestling Coach Tony Wright submitted the report and photos: “The Three Amigos Medal at State.”
It was another great showing at the IESA State Wrestling Tournament for the Morrison Junior High School Colts. They qualified three wrestlers and brought home three State medals. Uryah Wright, Cael Wright, and Eli Modglin competed Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9, 2024, at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center, DeKalb, IL. The “Three Amigos,” as they’ve been dubbed, brought home 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd Place medals, respectively. [Left-to-right are Uryah, Eli, and Cael.]
On Friday, things started off hot for the Colts wrestlers. Uryah and Cael started off the first round with falls. Modglin followed, cruising to a 6-0 victory. Uryah wasted little time scoring early and eventually pinning Clinton, IA’s, Nick Johnston in the second period. Cael, matched up against Leroy, IL’s, returning 5th place medalist, Jake Baughman. He surrendered the first takedown and the match was tight for two periods. However, Cael got in the top position in the third period and pinned Baughman. Modglin came out a little slow in his matchup against Donovan Lipscomb of Channahon, IL. In his first trip to the State tournament, Modglin looked a little nervous. He soon found his groove, scoring a takedown and a couple reversals, to win 6-0.
Friday night held the Quarterfinal matchups, with securing a State medal on the line. A win in the Quarters put competitors in the Semifinals and secured them a top-six medal. Uryah gave up the first takedown to Channohon’s, Ethan Heap. However, he scored a reversal in the first period to tie the match, before starting the second period with a reversal. Then, Uryah got his razzle dazzle on, hitting a “spladle” from the top position and securing a pin, to start Morrison’s Quarterfinal bouts with some excitement. Cael followed, facing another returning State medalist in Chase Davis of Johnsburg, IL. This match was tenuous, as the wrestlers took a 0-0 score into the third period. Cael scored an escape early in the period before icing the match with a takedown, in the last 20 seconds to win 3-0.
Modglin found himself in a war that same round against Island Lake’s, Madden Gunn. After the first period these two were tied 4-4. Modglin was hit with a penalty from the top position and chose to let Gunn go. Down 4-6, Modglin scored a takedown at the very end of the second period. In the third period Eli would give Gunn an escape. Down 6-7, Eli pushed the pace. With 30 seconds left in the match, he took Gunn down to his back to win the match 10-7.
With medals secured, Saturday morning brought the excitement of having a chance to earn a berth in the State finals. Uryah faced off against Coal City, IL’s, Ryder Gil, a returning State runner-up. Uryah was on his game; he came out hot in his match to score a takedown in the first 30 seconds. He would score a reversal in the second period and another takedown in the third period, earning a 6-0 victory–in which, he was never threatened–and earning a spot in the State finals.
Cael followed, looking to return to the State finals he competed in the year before. It wasn’t meant to be, though. He gave up a takedown in the first period and an escape in the second. Cael threatened his opponent from the top position several times, but simply could not score backpoints, and he eventually lost 0-5. Modglin would follow, facing Illini Bluffs, IL’s, Barrett Speck. Speck, the two-time reigning Champion, now three-time Champion, was simply too much for Modglin and sent Eli to the wrestlebacks.
With Uryah in the finals, Cael and Eli faced maybe the hardest match in wrestling. After suffering a loss in the Semifinals, it’s incredibly difficult to bounce back in the Semifinal wrestlebacks. In this situation competitors are coming off a tough loss as Semi losers, to face an opponent coming off of a wrestleback victory. Momentum is often not in their favor as the Semi loser. However, Cael and Eli showed their resolve and toughness. Cael faced Carson Benesh of Oregon, IL, who won Cael’s Sectional bracket the week before. Benesh was up 2-1 going into the third period. Cael scored an early escape to tie the match. The two competitors got in several scrambles, exchanges, and close calls. With 20 seconds left, they went out of bounds tied. Cael stormed back to the middle with determination. On the restart, he attacked. With literally one second left on the clock, Cael scored a takedown to earn the victory. Wrestling at the same time, Modglin was being coached by his big brother, Caleb. Eli had a far less dramatic matchup against Coal City’s, Phoenix Senodenos. Eli scored a reversal, takedown, and nearfall before pinning Senodenos. [Eli is at right.]
Saturday evening brought the medal matches. Cael faced Chase Davis of Johnsburg for the second time in the tournament. After a scoreless first period, Cael hit a roll-through tilt to score 2 nearfall points in the second period. He got an escape in the third and won his third place match 3-0. [Cael is second from right at the podium.]
Eli Modglin wrestling at the same time, decided to make this match a little more dramatic. Eli faced Crest Hill Richland, IL’s, Noe Hernandez. Eli held a 1-0 lead going into the third period; Hernandez scored a reversal to take the lead and was riding Eli hard. Modglin, showing his grit, hit a switch with less than 20 seconds left in the match, and rode his opponent out, for a third place victory.
For the second year in a row a Wright brother was in the finals and the last match of the night at the State tournament. Uryah got his opportunity to be in the Grand March, which is a coveted experience for Illinois wrestlers at the Jr. High and High School levels. Finalists are lined up in the tunnels and walk out to the Olympic theme song, before being announced individually and shaking hands in the middle of the mat. All Illinois wrestlers and coaches dream of being part of this moment.
With the excitement of the Grand March faded, it was time for Uryah to face off against Farmington’s, Isaac Showaltler. Looking for Morrison’s first IESA State title, Showalter, a two-time defending State Champion, proved too much for Uryah, on Saturday night. Showalter scored the first takedown and carried a 6-0 lead into the third period. Wright would score a reversal and tried multiple times to hit Showalter in a big move to come back, but it wasn’t enough. He lost 2-9. [Uryah is third from left on the podium.]
As a team Morrison finished 14th out of 78 teams. The only teams scoring more points had anywhere from six-to-12 wrestlers at the State tournament. This was a great effort by our young athletes; they showed grit, resolve, and sportsmanship throughout the tournament. They cemented themselves as some of the best wrestlers in the State of Illinois. Cael and Uryah Wright earned their second State medals in as many years. The Morrison Colts have had several two-time State medalists. With his 2nd and 3rd place medals, Cael has now cemented himself as Morrison Jr. High’s Most-Decorated Wrestler in history. [Cael Wright and Eli Modglin celebrated their medals.]
