Vandal wrestlers dominate all-SCC team

Twelve of the VCHS wrestling team’s 14 starters – including all seven of its seniors – have earned all-South Central Conference accolades.

Seniors Josh Eller, Kevin Paulding, Cody Pyle, Adam Bowling, Matt Shroyer and Nathan Stone earned first-team honors, while classmate Curtis Hemminghaus was a second-team pick.

Sophomore Alex Foster also garnered a first-team nod, while classmate Anthony Wernle was a second-team selection along with juniors Zac Ledbetter, Jake Etcheson and Devin Cook.

Eller (112-pound division), Pyle (135), Bowling (145) and Shroyer (189) all placed second at state in their respective weight classes, finishing with more than 35 victories apiece. Stone (285) also medaled at state, placing fourth, on his way to a 40-victory season.

Hemminghaus (160) and Foster (125) also qualified for state, while Paulding (130), Wernle (103), Ledbetter (119), Etcheson (152) and Cook (215) were sectional qualifiers.

Other SCC first-team picks are: Litchfield’s Coy Davidson (103) and Chance Davidson (119), East Alton-Wood River’s Devin Terry (140) and Kyle Hanner (171), Hillsboro’s Zach Hopwood (152) and Ryan Knop (215), and Carlinville’s Mark Woods (160).

Other second-team picks are: Roxana’s Mike Caldwell (112) and Brandon Grizzle (130), Carlinville’s Casey Morin (125), Litchfield’s Jeremy Patillo (135), Nick Farrar (140), Cory Hauter (171), Gage Agers (285) and Michael Whitfield (189).