Eureka Wrestling Scores Pair of Individual Titles at Dubuque
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The men and women of the Eureka wrestling program officially opened the 2023-24 season on Saturday at the Jim Fox Invite – and both teams came home with individual championships.
At 133 pounds, freshman Trevor Hedges (Canton, Ill./Canton) became the first Red Devil of the year to earn a tournament title on the men's side, and freshman Madison Farris (Chatsworth, Ill./Rifle) became only the second Eureka woman in program history to finish on top at 170.
Hedges recorded two pins and a major decision and bested a pair of teammates en route to the title.
He opened the day by pinning Dubuque's Alexand Needham in 57 seconds. He won by fall over teammate Bernie Cox (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) and recorded a 14-2 major decision over teammate Nathan Berta (Channahon, Ill./Minooka/Lincoln) in the first-place match.
"I walked in knowing I could win, so I set my mind to it and chased that goal," said Hedges, who didn't concede an offensive point the whole day. "I didn't look at any upcoming matches; I just waited till I was looking the other guy in the eye."
Farris recorded her first collegiate title with a win over a teammate, too. After defeating Dubuque's Brianna Sexias 10-6 and pinning Dubuque's Kiara Meek in 1:25, she scored a second-period fall over fellow Eureka freshman Parker Dafnis (Volo, Ill./Wauconda) in the championship.
"First place feels great, for sure, but what feels even better is knowing what I need to focus on for future matches," Farris said after competing in freestyle for the first time in her life. Now, it's time to grind in the practice room and let that reflect for next time."
The Red Devils had three runner-up finishes on the men's side. In addition to Berta, Jake Jozwiak (Lake Villa, Ill./Grayslake North/Lincoln) placed second at 125 and Gaige Owens (Marion, Ill./Marion) placed second at 141.
Blake Cagle (Havana, Ill./Havana) placed third at 141, finishing the day with a fall in 4:49 over Chicago's Marcus Borden, as did Jackson Creasy (Lake of the Ozarks, Mo./Osage) at heavyweight. Cagle also won by decision and tech fall earlier in the day. Creasy won by tech fall and fall in the consolation rounds before pinning Dubuque's Evan Foreman in 2:14 in the third-place match.
Bernie Cox (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) and Anthony Sartori (Channahon, Ill./Minooka/Lincoln) both placed fourth at 133 and 165, respectively.
Also placing for the Red Devils on the men's side were fifth-place finishers Weston Swise (Canton, Ill./Canton) and Kaidin Osland at 285 and 157, respectively, and seventh-place finisher Dishon Nolen (Chicago, Ill./Galesburg) at 285.
In addition to Farris, three other Red Devils recorded at least two wins on the women's side.
At 143, Natalie Tobuk (Nome, Alaska/Nome-Beltz) knocked off two of her teammates, scoring a 12-0 tech fall over Kiza Williams (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) and pinning Vannah Berry (Carol Stream, Ill./Glenbard North) in 2:49. She got edged out by 6-4 decision against Dubuque's Mattie Papenthien in her last matchup of the day.
Dafnis notched a 12-0 tech fall over Dubuque's Kiara Meek and a 10-0 tech fall over Dubuque's Brianna Seixias before facing Farris.
McKenzie Cook (Homer, Alaska/Homer/Lincoln) went 2-2 on the day, opening with a 10-0 tech fall over Northland's Madelyn Gallant and pinning Northland's Arionna Beatty in 2:41 in the consolation semis. She lost by fall against Dubuque's Tatum Levendahl in the third-place match.
Freshman Kyley Bair (Peoria, Ill./Richwoods) picked up her first career win with an 8-3 decision over teammate Josie Barham and Williams earned hers with a 1:37 fall over Berry.
"This was a good opener for both teams," EC coach Eric Biehl said. "A good opportunity to shake some rust off and fine-tune ourselves before the Luther Open next week.
"I saw a lot of good and areas to address before next weekend. Overall, it was great to get back on the mat and compete. Almost everyone found a way to win today and those that didn't competed super well."
