Sports Briefs (March 14)
Jr. Vandals have tough go-around at IKWF state championships
All three Jr. Vandals participating in Saturday's Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state tournament were unable to advance past the first round.
Luke Francis lost a 3-0 decision to Benjamin Cottone of Sycamore in the Novice 177 division, and Jarek Wehrle lost, 2-0, to Enzo Silva of Martinez Fox Valley Elite in the Novice 62 division.
In the Novice 89 division, Tanner Swain was pinned by Ja'Chun Smith of Little Huskies in 1:08.
This weekend, two Jr. Club wrestlers will be participating in the Illinois Midget Championships in Danville.
Wehrle will be joined there by Kyle Miller.
Three athletes place at lifting meet
Three Vandalia athletes placed in the top three on Saturday at a weightlifting meet at Maroa-Forsyth High School.
Senior Ryan Ambuehl picked up two seconds and a third in the 200-215-pound division, while junior Tristin Long got two second-place finishes and senior Jeff Lucken got a pair of third-place finishes in the heavyweight division.
Ambuehl finished second in the bench press and power clean, while taking third in the squat.
Long and Lucken each placed in the bench press and power clean.
Other schools participating were: Maroa-Forsyth, Sullivan, New Berlin, Georgetown-Ridge Farm, Paxton Buckley Loda, LeRoy and Cerro Gordo.
Stewart finishes 1-2 at AAU state meet
Vandalia sophomore Jake Stewart went 1-2 in the AAU freshmen/sophomore state meet in Springfield this past weekend.
He won his first match, 7-0, but was pinned in the next round by the second-place finisher.
He lost his first consolation bout, 6-2.
