‘In my mind, I’m the best in the state’: Uppinghouse keeps perfect record intact at sectional

Referee Ray Eickelschulte raises Owen Uppinghouse's hand after his 3-0 victory in the championship match of the 165-pound division at the Class 3A sectional on Saturday at Blue Devil Gym. | David Adam photo

QUINCY — To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man. Owen Uppinghouse believes he’s the man to beat at 165 pounds in Illinois. Uppinghouse won three matches this weekend in the Class 3A sectional in Blue Devil Gym to remain undefeated after 54 matches. The most important victory was a 3-0 decision over…

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‘Owen’s just a special kid’: Uppinghouse clears first hurdle to state tournament with regional title

Quincy High School's Owen Uppinghouse flexes in celebration of winning the Class 3A regional wrestling championship in the QHS gymnasium Saturday afternoon. | David Adam

QUINCY — Phil Neally has worked with many successful teams and wrestlers during his 20 years as the head coach at Quincy High School, but as the 2023-24 season winds down, he knows his time to witness true greatness is dwindling. Neally has had a ringside seat for Owen Uppinghouse’s dominating senior season. The QHS…

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Showcasing heart and talent: QHS wrestlers dominate own invitational, win team title for third straight year

Quincy High School's Payton Eddy, left, reacts as teammate Bryor Newbold holds up the team trophy after the QHS wrestling squad won the championship of the Quincy Invitational on Saturday at the QHS gym. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Imperfect weather couldn’t deter the Quincy High School wrestling team from having a perfect weekend. Truly, that’s all Bryor Newbold wanted. In search of his first Quincy Invitational championship in his final try, the senior dominated the 175-pound weight class with four pins and a technical fall in his five matches, finishing his…

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Iron sharpens iron: QHS’s Newbold, QND’s Darnell, Pittsfield’s Cook benefit from head-to-head competition

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold, right, controls the leg of Quincy Notre Dame's Ryan Darnell during Wednesday night's dual at The Pit. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Tucker Cook understands it may be a while before he can get a tattoo, especially one of any significant size, but he already has a plan for what he wants it to look like and say. The words “iron sharpens iron” will be prominent. “I believe in that,” the Pittsfield junior wrestler said.…

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Blue Devils’ Uppinghouse reaches century mark with championship, Newbold tops talented field

Quincy High School senior wrestler Owen Uppinghouse won the 165-pound bracket at the Baltzley Invitational in Johnston, Iowa, on Saturday, earning his 100th career victory in the process. | Matt Schuckman photo

JOHNSTON, Iowa — A career milestone came with a championship and a statement. Owen Uppinghouse refuses to be beaten. The Quincy High School senior wrestler earned his 100th career victory Saturday during the Baltzley Invitational, beating two of the top three ranked Class 3A wrestlers in Iowa in the process and winning the 165-pound championship.…

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Three individual titles, third-place team finish make for solid opening tourney for QHS wrestlers

ANTIOCH, Ill. — The Quincy High School wrestling team made a strong statement during its first tournament of the season. The Blue Devils finished third in the 24-team Ted DeRousse Invitational on Saturday, capturing three individual championships. QHS racked up 356.5 points to finish behind Elmhurst IC Catholic and Marmion Academy. IC Catholic has produced…

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Loss to top seed in semifinals forces Quincy’s Uppinghouse to focus on third-place medal

Quincy's Owen Uppinghouse wrestles Hersey's Aaron Hernandez during their match on Friday morning at the IHSA individual wrestling state finals on Friday in Champaign. | Photo courtesy of PhotoNews Media/Chris Johns

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Quincy High School’s Owen Uppinghouse hopes of winning a state championship game to an end on Friday night.  Now, the focus is on capturing a third-place medal. Uppinghouse lost to undefeated and top-seeded Ethan Stiles of Conant by pinfall in 3:03 in the semifinals of the 160-pound division in the Illinois High…

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Uppinghouse advances to 160-pound quarterfinals with 1-0 decision; four other local wrestlers in loser’s bracket

Quincy's Owen Uppinghouse, top, wrestles Marist's Ricky Ericksen during their Class 3A 160-pound match at the IHSA individual wrestling state finals on Thursday in Champaign. | Photo courtesy of PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Quincy High School’s Owen Uppinghouse didn’t score a point until the third period, but it was the only point he needed. Uppinghouse won his first-round match in the 160-pound weight class at the IHSA Class 3A state wrestling meet in Champaign by a 1-0 decision over Marist’s Ricky Ericksen. An escape 15 seconds…

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QND Invitational: Pins and third-place finish give Blue Devils’ Newbold boost before regionals

Quincy High School's Bryor Newbold pins Kirkwood's Ethan Gjelvik in the 182-pound third-place match Saturday at the QND Invitational. Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — A weekend of travel, multiple matches and relentless effort could have left Quincy High School wrestler Bryor Newbold a little weary. It actually has him energized. Newbold, a sophomore wrestling at 182 pounds, finished third in both Friday’s Western Big 6 Conference championships and Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Invitational, providing the jolt of…

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