VJHS wins state title in first year in IESA

Photo courtesy of Vandalia Junior High School Facebook page

In its first year of competition in the Illinois Elementary School Association, the Vandalia Junior High School wrestling team finished its season with a state championship.
The Vandals, who had 13 wrestlers competing at the Class A State Finals, defeated the second-place finisher, Coal City (who had 14 state entries), by 14.5 points, 164-149.
The Vandals advanced to the state finals in their first year after regional and sectional wins.
Other season highlights included:
• Madison County Conference Champs
• John Davis Tournament Champs
• Dual team record of 23-0
65 A
Zander Pratt (1-2) scored 3 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Jaxon Brunoehler (Sandwich) 3-2 won by major decision over Zander Pratt (Vandalia) 1-2 (MD 10-0)
• Cons. Round 1 – Zander Pratt (Vandalia) 1-2 won by fall over Leo Bouikidis (Green Oaks Oak Grove) 0-2 (Fall 3:25)
• Cons. Round 2 – Ashtyn Copley (Colfax Ridgeview) 2-2 won by decision over Zander Pratt (Vandalia) 1-2 (Dec 6-0)
85 A
Aiden Evans (3-1) placed 2nd and scored 20 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Aiden Evans (Vandalia) 3-1 won by decision over Mike Scott (Manhattan) 0-2 (Dec 6-0)
• Quarterfinal – Aiden Evans (Vandalia) 3-1 won by fall over Kazmyn Barber (Dixon Reagan) 2-2 (Fall 1:00)
• Semifinal – Aiden Evans (Vandalia) 3-1 won by decision over Jake Hardesty (Canton Ingersoll) 3-2 (Dec 7-2)
• 1st Place Match – Pierce Bultmann (Rochester) 4-0 won by decision over Aiden Evans (Vandalia) 3-1 (Dec 7-0)
90A
Riley Hinton (4-2) placed 4th and scored 16 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Jack Ragan (Dixon Reagan) 3-1 won by fall over Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 (Fall 3:14)
• Cons. Round 1 – Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 won by fall over Giovanni Hernandez (Marseilles Es) 0-2 (Fall 0:24)
• Cons. Round 2 – Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 won by fall over Boone Alderks (Oregon JHS) 1-2 (Fall 3:13)
• Cons. Round 3 – Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 won by major decision over Charlie Tustin (Manhattan) 2-2 (MD 10-1)
• Cons. Semi – Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 won by decision over Jake Baughman (LeRoy) 3-2 (Dec 7-5)
• 3rd Place Match – Ezekiel Young (Monticello) 4-1 won by decision over Riley Hinton (Vandalia) 4-2 (Dec 5-0)
95A
Max Philpot (3-1) placed 2nd and scored 24 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Max Philpot (Vandalia) 3-1 won by fall over Gabe Marella (Poplar Grove North Boone) 0-2 (Fall 0:41)
• Quarterfinal – Max Philpot (Vandalia) 3-1 won by fall over Tyson Price (Coal City) 2-2 (Fall 0:51)
• Semifinal – Max Philpot (Vandalia) 3-1 won by fall over Eric Bush (Johnsburg JHS) 3-2 (Fall 1:28)
• 1st Place Match – Owen Petersen (Coal City) 4-0 won by decision over Max Philpot (Vandalia) 3-1 (Dec 3-0)
100A
Elijah Mabry (3-2) placed 4th and scored 18 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Elijah Mabry (Vandalia) 3-2 won by fall over Casey Janicki (Channahon) 1-2 (Fall 0:43)
• Quarterfinal – Elijah Mabry (Vandalia) 3-2 won by fall over Gavyn Stevens (Knoxville Jhs) 1-2 (Fall 1:54)
• Semifinal – Ej Chaon (LeRoy) 3-1 won by decision over Elijah Mabry (Vandalia) 3-2 (Dec 9-4)
• Cons. Semi – Elijah Mabry (Vandalia) 3-2 won by fall over Chase Vogel (Johnsburg JHS) 3-3 (Fall 0:59)
• 3rd Place Match – Landen Lage (Gibson City Gcms) 4-1 won by decision over Elijah Mabry (Vandalia) 3-2 (Dec 8-5)
112A
Zayne Zinkgraf (5-1) placed 3rd and scored 19 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 won by major decision over Brayden Liu (Green Oaks Oak Grove) 0-2 (MD 15-4)
• Quarterfinal – Thomas Sowards (Taylor Ridge Rockridge) 4-0 won by fall over Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 (Fall 1:50)
• Cons. Round 2 – Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 won by fall over Jonah Young (Peotone) 1-2 (Fall 3:03)
• Cons. Round 3 – Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 won by decision over Jackson Hjorth (Johnsburg JHS) 2-2 (Dec 5-2)
• Cons. Semi – Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 won by fall over Levi Benton (Oregon JHS) 2-3 (Fall 3:54)
• 3rd Place Match – Zayne Zinkgraf (Vandalia) 5-1 won by decision over Braiden Krahl (Sherrard JHS) 4-2 (Dec 4-2)
119A
Nic Jackson (0-2)
• Champ. Round 1 – Aiden Marrello (Island Lake Matthews) 4-2 won by decision over Nic Jackson (Vandalia) 0-2 (Dec 4-2)
• Cons. Round 1 – Alex Carrier (Canton Ingersoll) 1-2 won by decision over Nic Jackson (Vandalia) 0-2 (Dec 5-2)
126A
Brody Matthews (1-2) scored 4 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Brody Matthews (Vandalia) 1-2 won by fall over Lucas Dunbar (Port Byron Riverdale) 0-2 (Fall 3:34)
• Quarterfinal – Brian Hart (Island Lake Matthews) 4-1 won by fall over Brody Matthews (Vandalia) 1-2 (Fall 3:55)
• Cons. Round 2 – Hudson Meek (Lawrenceville Parkview) 4-2 won by decision over Brody Matthews (Vandalia) 1-2 (Dec 9-4)
135A
Keagan Turner (4-1) placed 3rd and scored 17 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Keagan Turner (Vandalia) 4-1 won by major decision over Payton Temple (Clifton Nash) 0-2 (MD 12-0)
• Quarterfinal – Keagan Turner (Vandalia) 4-1 won by decision over Brayden Morrell (Erie) 1-2 (Dec 7-0)
• Semifinal – Tristin Golden (Kankakee Bishop McNamara) 4-0 won by major decision over Keagan Turner (Vandalia) 4-1 (MD 11-0)
• Cons. Semi – Keagan Turner (Vandalia) 4-1 won by fall over Caleb Linneman (Alden-Hebron) 3-3 (Fall 3:06)
• 3rd Place Match – Keagan Turner (Vandalia) 4-1 won by decision over Sage Lelm (Tremont) 4-2 (Dec 3-0)
155A
Dade Kleinik (1-2) scored 2 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Duke Mays (Johnsburg JHS) 4-0 won by fall over Dade Kleinik (Vandalia) 1-2 (Fall 1:52)
• Cons. Round 1 – Dade Kleinik (Vandalia) 1-2 won by major decision over Milos Kasapovic (Darien Eisenhower) 0-2 (MD 13-4)
• Cons. Round 2 – Micah Welch (Johnsburg JHS) 2-2 won by fall over Dade Kleinik (Vandalia) 1-2 (Fall 3:07)
167A
Noah Langston (2-2) scored 4 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Ben Buis (El Paso-Gridley) 4-0 won by fall over Noah Langston (Vandalia) 2-2 (Fall 0:48)
• Cons. Round 1 – Noah Langston (Vandalia) 2-2 won by fall over Adrian Geronimo (La Grange Gurrie) 0-2 (Fall 3:05)
• Cons. Round 2 – Noah Langston (Vandalia) 2-2 won by decision over Spiro Zarafonitis (Prospect Heights MacArthur) 1-2 (Dec 3-2)
• Cons. Round 3 – Liam Kilgore (Mackinaw Dee-Mack) 4-2 won by fall over Noah Langston (Vandalia) 2-2 (Fall 3:52)
215A
Dominic Swyers (4-1) placed 3rd and scored 20 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) 4-1 won by fall over Nick Larsen (Mt. Prospect River Trails) 0-2 (Fall 0:33)
• Quarterfinal – Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) 4-1 won by fall over Tony Ramirez (Rock Island Jordan Catholic) 1-2 (Fall 2:01)
• Semifinal – Shane Falasca (Richmond Nippersink) 4-0 won by decision over Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) 4-1 (Dec 2-0)
• Cons. Semi – Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) 4-1 won by decision over Charles Canby (Peotone) 4-2 (Dec 3-1)
• 3rd Place Match – Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) 4-1 won by fall over Caleb Reymer (Erie) 3-2 (Fall 2:08)
275A
Brody Jay (4-2) placed 5th and scored 17 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Brody Jay (Vandalia) 4-2 won by fall over Lucas Smerling (Johnsburg JHS) 0-2 (Fall 0:41)
• Quarterfinal – Cristian Medina (Forrest Prairie Central) 2-3 won by fall over Brody Jay (Vandalia) 4-2 (Fall 0:50)
• Cons. Round 2 – Brody Jay (Vandalia) 4-2 won by fall over Tamer Eldars (Willowbrook Westview Hills) 1-2 (Fall 1:33)

Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation
State Tournament
Novice 64
Dayton Patterson scored 6 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Dayton Patterson (Vandalia Jr WC) won by fall over Elijah Perez (Greg Gomez Trained Wrestling) (Fall 0:31)
• Champ. Round 2 – Dayton Patterson (Vandalia Jr WC) won by decision over Teddy Millard (Rochelle WC) (Dec 4-3)
• Quarterfinal – Aden Spinelli (nWo WC) won by fall over Dayton Patterson (Vandalia Jr WC) (Fall 0:53)
• Cons. Round 4 – Noah Flores (Force Elite WC) won by fall over Dayton Patterson (Vandalia Jr WC) (Fall 3:39)
Novice 134
Jaxton Carroll placed 7th and scored 9 team points.
• Champ. Round 1 – Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) received a bye () (Bye)
• Champ. Round 2 – Trent Watson (Englewood Live Wire WC) won by fall over Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) (Fall 2:03)
• Cons. Round 2 – Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) won by fall over Kellan Breen (Bolingbrook Junior Raiders WC) (Fall 2:09)
• Cons. Round 3 – Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) won by fall over Jordan Myers (Murphysboro Wrestling) (Fall 4:04)
• Cons. Round 4 – Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) won by decision over Hazen Murray (St. Charles WC) (Dec 7-3)
• Cons. Round 5 – Austin Bielski (Elevate Wrestling Academy) won by major decision over Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) (Maj 13-0)
• 7th Place Match – Jaxton Carroll (Vandalia Jr WC) won by decision over Owen Alderson (Williamsville WC) (Dec 5-2)

Team includes:

2022-23 VJHS Wrestling
Head coach: Michael Mabry
Assistant coaches: Jake Stewart and Chaston Womack
Team Members
Kamron Kirkland
Aiden Evans
Kaden Daugherty
Braxton Emerick*
Riley Hinton
Hunter Berning
Colton Lindley*
Max Kirk*
Max Philpot
Kyle Clanton
Elijah Mabry
Caleb Meyers
Cole Yarbrough
Nic Jackson
Noah Wilson*
Eydan McDowell*
Brody Matthews
Zayden Doehring
Bentyn Dively*
Keagan Turner
Camryn Bunker
Jaxton Carroll*
Corbin Meyers
Gunnar Major
Machai Cole*
Dominic Swyers
Brody Jay
Ty Stanis
•IKWF