Central’s Louderback one victory away from securing another state wrestling medal

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Camp Point Central’s Amber Louderback is chasing another state medal.

The sophomore wrestler, who finished fourth last season at 125 pounds in the Illinois girls state wrestling tournament, is one victory away from earning a spot on the podium and a top-six finish at 130 pounds.

Louderback opened by pinning Edwardsville’s Olive Linhorst in 1 minute, 35 seconds, using a takedown 35 seconds into the match to take control. In the quarterfinals, Louderback led Lockport’s Claudia Heeney 5-0 going to the third period, but Heeney chose to start on the bottom.

She used a reversal and a three-point nearfall to set up a pin of Louderback in 4:38.

In the wrestlebacks, Louderback responded with a 4-1 victory over Erie’s Michelle Naftzger. Louderback led 2-0 going to the third period before Naftzger escaped with a minute to go. Louderback scored a takedown with 21 seconds to go to cement the victory.

Louderback (21-10) will face TF South junior Quincy Onyiaorah (25-5) in Saturday morning’s blood round. The winner will bring home a state medal.

At 145 pounds, Macomb junior Kelly Ladd went 1-2 and was eliminated. She opened with a 9-6 victory over Auburn senior Jadyn Perry before suffering a 24-9 technical fall loss to undefeated Batavia senior Sydney Perry. In the wrestlebacks, Ladd was pinned in 2:30 by Rochelle junior Dempsey Atkinson.

Ladd finished with a 26-9 record.