Four-team Junior freestyle race

[Rob Sherrill]

It’ll only be three out of four this week, as Illinois had a tough Friday morning round.

From 41 wrestlers to start, only nine will become Junior freestyle All-Americans.

Three made the semifinals: Isaiah White (145) and a pair of heavyweights, Adarios Jones and Michael Hobbs.

But some other states also met their match. Ohio, which had 27 wrestlers to start the day, will place only three. California fell from 20 to just two.

Oklahoma is in the driver’s seat, leading the top four teams with 13 All-Americans and eight semifinalists. The Outlaws have 26 points to 25 for Minnesota, 23 for New Jersey and 22 for Pennsylvania. Minnesota and New Jersey, each with 11 All-Americans, have seven and six in the semifinals, respectively. Pennsylvania has 12 All-Americans – four at 145 – and five semifinalists.

Illinois stands fifth with 15 points.

Several wrestlers, while they didn’t place, racked up impressive win totals.

Here’s the list of some of them.

6 contested wins:

Mike Cullen, 120

Alex Butler, 138

5 contested wins:

Cody Minnick, 113

Kegan Calkins, 126

Nick DeLoach, 152

Edgar Ruano, 195

4 contested wins:

Dack Punke, 106

Pat Augustyn, 120

Phyllip DeLoach, 145

Trace Carello, 160

Charley Popp, 170

Colin Carr, 182

Eight more had 3 wins each.

Great job, everyone!