Ryner, Hoge capture regional championships for Bombers, 12 other wrestlers advance to sectionals

MACOMB, Ill. — A pair of Macomb wrestlers won Class 1A regional titles and led a brigade of area wrestlers who qualified for the Clinton Sectional.

Bombers senior Max Ryner improved to 45-2 with his championship at 195 pounds, while Macomb senior Carter Hoge will take a 42-6 record to sectionals after winning the title at 152 pounds.

Ryner won all three of his matches by pinfall, sticking Illini West’s Cameron Wardlow in 32 seconds, Farmington’s Caden Record in 3:01 and Quincy Notre Dame’s Ryan Darnell in the title match in 3:12. Darnell advances with a 27-7 record.

Hoge won his first two matches by pin and beat Camp Point Central’s Hunter Bolton 15-8 in the title match. Bolton takes a 36-12 record to sectionals.

Seven other wrestlers finished in second place in their respective weight classes.

Central sophomore Paul Schenck finished as the runner-up at 113 pounds, getting pinned by Farmington’s Keygan Jennings in 1:40 in the title match. Schenck takes a 34-10 record to sectionals.

QND’s Bradi Lahr reached the title match at 132 pounds before losing a 3-0 decision to Illini Bluffs’ Ian O’Connoer. Lahr is 36-6.

West Hancock’s Evan Carel won his first two matches before getting pinned by Illini Bluffs’ Jackson Carroll in 3:33 in the 138-pound title match. Carel carries a 24-7 record forward.

Central’s Joseph Friday took second at 145 pounds, losing by technical fall to Illini Bluffs’ Paul Ishikawa, who is now 44-0. Friday is 31-17 heading to sectionals.

Central’s Conner Griffin scored a technical fall in the semifinals before getting pinned in 3:15 in the 160-pound title match by Canton’s Danny Murphy. Griffin is 33-11 overall.

QND’s Taylin Scott won two matches before getting pinned by Petersburg PORTA’s Bryar Lane in 2:46 in the 182-pound title match. Scott moves on with a 32-13 record.

Macomb’s Ethan Ladd took second at 220 pounds, winning his first two matches by pin before suffering a 6-2 loss to Beardstown’s Owen O’Hara in the championship bout. Ladd is 43-5.

Illini West sophomore Shawn Watkins (170) and QND sophomore Aidan Brunier (285) both finished third in their respective classes to advance.

Pittsfield freshman Joel Cook took third at 106 pounds at the Class 1A Auburn Regional to advance, winning three of his four matches by pin.