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Mitchell, Perry state champsCHAMPAIGN - Hail Mark Mitchell and hail Reed Perry! Hail the Northeast Conference and hail Kendall and Grundy County!Minooka High’s Mark Mitchell and Reed Perry each conquered three opponents over the weekend en route to Illinois High School Association Class A state wrestling championships.“When one wrestler gets to the very top that's something, when it happens twice it’s quite a tremendous situation,”bubbled an elated Dave Decker, Minooka wresting coachMitchell and Perry's championships, at 145 and 155 pounds respectively, gave Minooka its first state wrestling crowns — first state championships in any sports.Along with Gehrig Dergo of Morris winning the Class AA title at 167 pounds, it provided Grundy County with three wrestlers going all the way to the highest pedestal.Kendall County had three champions also, each from Yorkville HighScott Corwin, Dave Torres and Larry Patrick each won individual titles for Yorkvilleand teammates Curt Williamsand Joe Cusik placed second which helped Yorkville to a whopping Class A state team championship, a first in its history.Yorkville scored 90 points — the highest total ever in Class A state wrestling — while Riverdale (Port Byron) was next with 60 points followed by Normal-University High and then Minooka fourth with 28M2 pointsMitchell finished his outstanding junior year with 36 wins and no losses.He capped it by downing Jeff Garrett of Rockridge 7-5 onFriday, beating Chris Hines of Gibson City 6-1 in the semifinals Saturday and then holding off Guy Allen of Delavan 10-5 for the title.As a freshman Mitchell placed second in the sectionalsand was later beaten in thestate tourney. He was fourth last year at 138 pounds.Marlin Hartman of Mazon -Verona - Kinsman grabbed third in that weight class which had been the previous highest showing by a Grundy grappler.Perry, like Mitchell, was impressive in his determined march to the top A senior, Perry vanquished Tom Burgess of Fisher 8-3, whipped Scott Rodewick of St. Jacob of Triad 10-2 and then wiped out Randy Voyles of Tolono Unity 13-3 for the title.Decker called it one of the biggest moments of his life, ‘‘just being able to see the boys come through as they did in winning style — they wrestled tremendous.”Mitchell led his final match 9-1 before ‘‘he got a little cute” according to Decker and “the other kid picked up four points with a reverse and two back points.”Perrv, holder of 34-2 seasonw Trecord, wrestled one of his finest matches, according to Decker, in the finals.“Reed is usually content with the 5-0 win, a takedown and a reverse. This time though he had the kid on his back three different times. There was never any doubt in the back of my mind he would win ”On the back home arrival Sunday, a police car caught the two wrestlers and Decker in Decker’s car at the Interstate 55 exit in Channahon.A well-organized jubilee broke out. It was great. I couldn’t believe it,” stated Mitchell.“I saw what looked like hundreds of cars, fire trucks and police cars, flashing lights — Wow, I just fell back,” exclaimed Mitchell later thatnight.Proceeding with honks and brights along Old Route 6 through Channahon and on to Minooka High, the Minooka wrestling contingent met a pep band, parents, proud townspeople and two mayors at the high school.Decker gave a short thank you speech to the crowd. At least 50 cars pulled up at the high school, according to one observer.Minooka's double victory along with Yorkville’s three first place finishes gave the Northeast Conference five state champs. Yorkville’s Mike Torres, 98 pounds, grabbed fourth.Mitchell is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Mitchell, Troy Township, Joliet. Perry is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Perry, 11 Knightwood, Joliet.Riverdale (Port Byron) had three state champs. Ron Dopier, Brian Mumma and Rob Piatt each won. Stockton’s Jerry Raab, Savanna’s Joe Fosdick, Normal’s Will Gaddy and Kaneland’s Mike Jorgensen each won titles.98 Raab (Stockton) dec. Warner (Hoopeston E. Lynn) 11 4 105—Corwin (Yorkville) dec. Johnson (Savanna) 7 0112-Torres (Yorkville) dec. Dusing (Ashton) 11, ref. dec.119—Patrick (Yorkville) dec Anderson (Bismarck Henning) 3 2 126-Dopier (Riverdale) dec Williams (Yorkville) 7 6132—Mumma (Riverdale) dec. Cusik (Yorkville) 4 2138-Piatt (Riverdale) dec. Melton (Prophetstown) 3 214 5—Mitchell (Minooka) dec. Allen (Delavan) 10-5155—Perry ( Minooka) dec. Voyles (TolonoUnity) 13-3167 —Fosdick (Savanna) dec. Hutson (Normal) 5 2185—Gaddy (Normal) dec. Reynolds(Georgetown) 15-14Hwt.—Jorgensen (Kaneland) pinned Bone(Vandalia) 1:10
Newspaper Details
Morris Daily Herald
Morris, Illinois, US
Mon, Mar 01, 1976
Page 10
Full Page
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IL, USA 10 Sep 2019
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