Coach Tony Wright submitted this report and photographs.
Nate Schaefer and Kayden White qualified for the IHSA State Wrestling Championships held Thursday, February 17, through Saturday, February 19, 2022. It was great for Wrestling to be back in “the dome,” that is University of Illinois’ State Farm Center, Champaign, IL, after a year off due to COVID-19. White, left, and Schaefer enter “the tunnel” into “the dome” to warm up.
In the first round Schaefer faced Dwight’s Samuel Edwards. After an initial upper body scuffle, Schaefer was pinned in the first period. He would bounce back in the wrestlebacks and earn his 28th pin of the season, over Oran Varela of Tolono Unity. In his second round wrestleback, Schaefer again got into an upper body battle, where he was tossed and pinned. Schaefer finished the season with a 34-8 overall record. His 28 falls are good enough for “6th Most Falls in a Season” in the Mustang record books.
In the top photo Schaefer is set to wrestle; in the second, he celebrates a victory.
Kayden White got off to a hot start in his first round match against Manteno’s, Collin Zeppi. White scored an early takedown and immediately transitioned to a pinning combination, to earn a fall in under a minute. In the Quarterfinals White found himself in an all-out brawl with Hoopston’s Abel Colunga. They battled back and forth, both holding strong positions and attempting throws. In the end Colunga outlasted White, having scored two takedowns for a 4-2 victory. In the wrestlebacks White got back on track, with a dominant performance over Braiden Young of Coal City. White scored several takedowns and sets of back points, to earn a second period tech-fall. In the “blood-round” (the round that qualifies you for a medal) White matched up against Westville’s Rylee Edwards. White nearly missed an opening takedown on the edge of the mat in the early goings. When they reset, White was caught off guard and thrown to his back, resulting in a pin for Edwards. White finished his career as one of Mustang Wrestling’s top performers. He was a three-time Sectional qualifier and two-time State Tournament qualifier. His career record was 121-36 which is 10th all-time.
In the top photo White scores near-fall points; in the second, he pins his opponent.
