It was a special night on the mat for Taylorville Junior High wrestling, as the program recognized its eighth-grade wrestlers and backed it up with strong performances.

Eighth graders Annabella Blue, Laiyken Coady, Braylon Smithson, and Ian Sneed were honored prior to competition, and their improvement throughout the season was evident. The team wrestled with confidence and composure, showing growth in every match.

Ian, Braylon, Laiyken, Annabella

Taylorville competed well against Porta, winning six of the ten matches, with two of the losses coming by close decisions. The Tornadoes followed that up with a hard-fought matchup against a tough Auburn squad, picking up three wins in eight matches. The eighth graders helped lead the way, but the entire team went out and competed from start to finish.

With regionals approaching, Taylorville Junior High is excited about the progress being made and the momentum building as the season continues.