The Taylorville Tornado wrestling squad made a huge leap forward Saturday, by winning their first ever team wrestling regional title at the Matoon Regional. Coach Mateer was ecstatic over the heart and resolve shown by his squad. The team claimed the title by one point, edging Mt Zion 188.5 to 187.5. The Tornadoes were trailing by twenty half way through the match and never took the lead until their last bout of the day. The squad will be sending 11 wrestlers on to the sectionals in Mt. Zion. The Tornadoes had never sent more than 8 to sectionals from any regional qualifier previously. The wrestlers and their results are as follows:
Caleb Dean – 3rd place – 106 lbs – fall :45 – record 21-13
Nick Flannell – 1st place - 113 lbs – fall 3:50 – record 25-3
Kidd Morrison – 3rd place – 120 lbs. – record 25-14
Jake Smothers – 3rd place – 126 lbs. – fall 3:48 – record 30-9
Jake Hamell – 4th place – 145 lbs. – record 13-12
Aaron Herkert – 3rd place – 152 lbs. – fall 3:13 – record 21-16
Nic Turner – 3rd place – 160 lbs. – score 16-1 – record 23-11
Brock Letcher – 1st place – 170 lbs. – fall :51 – record 19-3
Dalton Stokes – 1st place – 182 lbs. – fall 1:34 – record 27-7
Heath Garner – 3rd place – 195 lbs. – score 8-4 – record 24-12
Kyle Tex – 3rd place – 220 lbs. – fall 3:47 – record 25-10
Blake Hooper – 3rd place – 285 lbs. – score 2-1 – record 24-12
