Area wrestlers bow out in second round of wrestlebacks at Class 1A state championships

Quincy Notre Dame senior Ryan Darnell, right, grapples with Reed-Custer's Dominic Alaimo during the second round of wrestlebacks at 215 pounds Friday during the Class 1A state wrestling championships at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. | Photo courtesy Chris Johns/PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The road through the wrestlebacks ended abruptly. Three area wrestlers — Quincy Notre Dame’s Sam Darnell, Illini West’s Shawn Watkins Jr. and Pittsfield’s Tucker Cook — saw their seasons end Friday with losses in the consolation bracket at the Class 1A state wrestling championships at the State Farm Center on the University…

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QND’s Darnell to chase state podium through wrestlebacks, while Illini West’s Watkins, Pittsfield’s Cook do the same

Quincy Notre Dame's Ryan Darnell, right, locks up Woodstock Marian's Dan French during their opening round match at 215 pounds in the Class 1A state wrestling tournament at the State Farm Center in Champagn, Ill. | Photo courtesy Clark Brooks, PhotoNews Media

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The luck of the draw wasn’t on Ryan Darnell’s side. A runner-up in the Class 1A Clinton Sectional, the Quincy Notre Dame senior wrestler drew a spot at the top of the 215-pound bracket at the Illinois state wrestling championships, which began Thursday at the State Farm Center on the University of…

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Pittsfield wrestlers deliver pair of pins on cue to complete sweep of duals at Central quadrangular

Pittsfield senior wrestler Tucker Cook gets his hand raised after pinning Illini West's Chase Yelton during Monday's quadrangular in Camp Point, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Tucker Cook and Bodine Marable heard Pittsfield wrestling coach Johnathon Peterson’s plea loud and clear. Nearing the end of the final dual Monday night at the Camp Point Central quadrangular, the Saukees needed to rack up as many team points as they did individual victories to make a clean sweep. So…

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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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