Tony Wright submitted this report and photos of the Junior High State Wrestling competition.
It was a great weekend for Morrison Junior High Colts wrestlers! The sextet made the trip to the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center, in Dekalb, IL, for their shots at State glory. The IESA State Tournament on March 7-8, 2025, yielded four State medals. Left-to-right are Mason Grismore; Uryah Wright; Eli Modglin; Jaken Updike; Corbin Updike; behind, Waylon Phelps.
These young men embraced the challenges head on. The coaching staff and parents are very proud of their efforts and accomplishments. Congratulations to our four medalists, and congratulations to Coach Jesse Kennedy. Not only was this the Morrison Colts’ first IESA State title, but it was also Kennedy’s first State champion as a Coach. Assistant Coach Aidan Langley attended and was a big part of the team’s success. Thank you to the staff, for stepping up when we were short-handed at the beginning of season.
A year ago Eli Modglin lost in the Semifinals of the State Tournament. He would fight back to third place. While excited about his medal, it left a salty taste in his mouth. Eli set out to train all year long, with the goal of winning Morrison’s first IESA State Championship—and train he did! Modglin dedicated himself to off-season work, putting in extra hours at Alber Athletics in Freeport, IL. As he confidently rolled into the State Tournament on Friday morning, March 7, it took him 25 seconds to pin his first round opponent. In the Quarterfinals that evening, he faced his toughest opponent of the tournament, Isaac Rotramel of Gibson City, IL. Rotramel was a game opponent, putting up a good fight, but he was no match for Modglin’s pace and offensive attacks; Modglin earned a “major decision” 13-0. In the Semi-finals Modglin kept his offensive firepower going against Jack Voigts of Pontiac, IL. Modglin scored early and often, earning three takedowns and two sets of nearfall, on his way to a technical fall and a place in the Grand March. Morrison is familiar with finalists at the State Tournament, with Modglin being the sixth in four years. However, Morrison had not won a State title since its introduction to the IESA in 2007. Like a “hammer on an anvil,” Modglin got right back to work in the Finals, scoring a takedown in the first 25 seconds. He would get a reversal and nearfall in the second period, and added another takedown in the third period, to secure a 12-0 “major decision” and his State Title!
Post-match celebrations are customary for title winners. Full of emotion at the conclusion of his match, Modglin ran to his Coaches’ corner in celebration. He tossed Coach Ryan Kennedy and shared a giant embrace by Coach Jesse Kennedy.
Uryah Wright, in his third trip to the IESA State Tournament, like Modglin had his eyes set on a State title, after placing Second a year ago. He started pinning his first opponent in a dominant fashion. In the Quarterfinals he racked up multiple takedowns and nearfalls, to earn a technical fall over Monmouth-Roseville’s Tyler Armstrong. In the Semifinals Wright faced another undefeated wrestler in Jack Welch of Camp Point Central. Wright attacked early in the first period and won a scramble, taking a 3-0 lead into the second period. With momentum on his side, Wright chose bottom to start the period. As Wright attempted to escape, the two grapplers got into a 40-second scramble situation, with both wrestlers jockeying for position. As Wright attempted to hop over Welch’s legs to reverse him, Welch was able to adjust his hips and catch Wright on his back to score a nearfall. The momentum shifted to Welch’s favor going into the third period. Welch chose bottom and Wright attempted to turn him. With 30 seconds left, Wright proceeded to “cut” Welch loose, in an attempt to take him back down. As he released Welch, Wright immediately snapped his opponent and jumped for a go-behind on the edge of the mat, which looked to be a lead-changing takedown. However, the Referee had never signaled an escape for Welch, and therefore, no extra points for Wright–ending the match and dashing Wright’s chances at a State title. After a crushing defeat like that, it is an incredibly difficult mental battle to bounce back. To Wright’s credit, he showed his mental toughness in the Semifinal wrestlebacks. He earned a technical fall and followed it by grinding out a 1-0 victory to take third place.
Mason Grismore made good on his first trip to the State Tournament. Grismore, like his teammates, started the tournament with a first round pin. No stranger to dramatic matches, he ground out a tight Quarterfinal bout against Patrick Kopecky of Niles Northridge. In a tense, one-point match Grismore scored a reversal in the third period to secure his victory–a spot in the Semifinals and a guaranteed medal. In true Grismore fashion, his Semifinal match was a back-and-forth, tense battle. Grismore fell behind 0-7 in the first period. He would score a takedown and nearfall of his own, in the second period, to narrow the score to 5-8. In the third period Grismore chose down, scoring an escape in ten seconds. Down by two points, he would attack and get into several scrambles with scoring opportunities. His opponent was in on his leg. Grismore defended well, and with one second to go, broke his leg free and spun around his opponent, to what spectators thought was the match winning takedown. However, the Referees deemed that time was out. Grismore would lose in devastating fashion. Like Wright, he, too, had to bounce back after an emotional loss. Mason faced a familiar foe in Garrett Carter of West Carroll. After getting taken down and giving up back points, Grismore decided to return the favor, took Carter down, earned backpoints, then turned Carter again to earn a fall and place in the third place match. In true Mason fashion, in the third place match he would wrestle a bout that saw four lead changes, before he lost a 9-10 battle to take fourth place. On the medals stand, Mason Grismore is second from left.
Jaken Updike also made his first State appearance. Updike had to do all his work on the backside, after suffering a 12-6 loss in the first round to Carter Wix of Coal City, IL. He would hit his stride earning a 13-1 victory over Hudson Leman of Eureka, IL, in the first round of wrestle backs. He then scored two takedowns and some nearfalls to secure a victory over Lucas Darmer of Knoxville, IL. In the “bloodround,” to get into the medal round, Updike would face Blake Arnold of Orion, IL. Arnold had beaten Updike the week before at the Sectional Tournament. Showing renewed mental toughness, Updike scored three takedowns on his way to a 9-3 victory and a State medal. Updike lost his final two matches, finishing 3-3 at the Tournament and earning a 6th place medal.
Two other Colts qualified for their first State Tournament. Waylon Phelps went 1-2 on the weekend, losing a heartbreaking overtime match in the first round. He rebounded, winning an overtime match of his own in the wrestlebacks, before losing his second round wrestleback match, ending his season. Corbin Updike competed in the 75 lb weight class; he lost his first two matches. Corbin gained valuable experience and has two years of Junior High competition ahead of him.
Wrestling brings a roller coaster of emotions. There are waves of the highest highs after victories, and lowest of lows after crushing defeats. Such is the nature of sports and why Wrestling is so valuable. It forces you to face challenges and overcome adversity: there is nowhere to go, and no one to blame. It is you versus another singular opponent. But the opportunity and privilege to compete is a blessing.