Vandals routed by Lena-Winslow in team state quarterfinals

BLOOMINGTON – Junior Zach Jackson had the team’s lone pin, and the Vandalia wrestlers’ only other victory on Saturday came from senior Dayin Godberson during a 58-9 loss to Lena-Winslow at the team state tournament.

A loss in the first-round match was not out of the question, considering Lena-Winslow had five individual state placers, but no one expected a 49-point defeat, which was the worst showing of any team in any class at the tournament.

Included were six Vandalia wrestlers getting pinned in less than two minutes.

"I felt like (Lena-Winslow) wrestled with fire and intensity, and that we really didn't," coach Jason Clay said on Tuesday. "I thought we looked content to be there, and unwilling to battle through some adversity.

"At the end of the day," he said, "I should have done a better job preparing the team for the match."

The match started at the 138-pound weight class, and three of Vandalia’s individual state qualifiers lost in the first four matches, giving eventual state runner-up Lena-Winslow (23-2) a 16-0 lead. L-W lost to LeRoy, 40-24, in the state championship match.

Freshman Dalton Blankenship, a state qualifier at 132 pounds, did a good job of limiting the damage against state qualifier Austin McPeek in the first two periods, giving up five points – two of which came with three seconds left in the second period.

Sophomore C.J. Runkel lost, 10-4, and sophomore Seth Purcell lost, 4-0, in overtime. Purcell secured a takedown in the overtime period, but he did not complete the move inbounds.

Senior Daniel Edwards then found himself quickly out of position and was pinned in just 28 seconds.

But Jackson was pretty quick to get the Vandals (19-8) on the scoreboard, securing a takedown of Lena-Winslow’s Dakota Cain just 19 seconds into the bout.

He scored two more points on a near-fall 35 seconds later, and then 1:36 into the match, he scored a pinfall. That was his second in two matches, with the first coming last Tuesday during the sectional match against Herrin.

"I think the end of the year is encouraging for Zach, because he battled some tough kids in the regional and team stuff," Clay said. "If Zach can continue to grow in his confidence and mental toughness, I think he will be a load to handle next year."

Vandalia’s first five wrestlers were all wrestling up one weight class in an attempt to put the best Vandal possible against the best grapplers from Lena-Winslow after the Panthers won the coin flip to determine which team's wrestler checks in first.

Godberson followed up Jackson’s pin with a 9-5 win against Dylan Gahm. Godberson never trailed in the bout and used a takedown with 35 seconds remaining to ensure he would get the win and move the team within seven points of the lead.

Senior Levi Ulmer then lost, 7-4, in a rematch against Logan Staver, who defeated Ulmer in the semifinals of the individual state tournament. The next five Vandalia wrestlers were all pinned and the team forfeited the 106-pound weight to give Lena-Winslow a 55-9 lead.

Junior Tyler Dagen lost 7-0 at 126 pounds to give Lena-Winslow its final margin.

The match marked the final event in the careers of Edwards, Godberson, Ulmer and Anthony Fladeland.

Combined, those wrestlers gave 14 years to the wrestling program, and they will be missed next season.

"Every year, you have to say goodbye to seniors, and if you are doing things right, they are usually the most successful kids on the team," Clay said. "However, I'm really excited about the future of some of our guys, and what they can develop into."

Saturday, Feb. 25
at State Tournament
Lena-Winslow 58
Vandalia 9
•138: Blankenship lost, 14-5
•145: Runkel lost, 10-4
•152: Purcell lost, 4-0 (OT)
•160: Edwards lost by fall at 0:28
•170: Jackson won by fall at 1:36
•182: Godberson won, 9-5
•195: Ulmer lost, 7-4
•220: Sean Newcomb lost by fall at 1:51
•285: Fladeland lost by fall at 0:25
•106: LW won by forfeit
•113: Ryne Lipsey lost by fall at 1:41
•120: Adam Palmer lost by fall at 1:11
•126: Emily Miles lost by fall at 0:31
•132: Dagen lost, 7-0
Record: 19-8