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

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 into the third period was the only point scored. Uppinghouse defended two shoots by Ericksen in the final 20 seconds to secure the shutout.

Uppinghouse (42-1) will wrestle in the quarterfinals on Friday against Aaron Hernandez of Hersey (28-5), who decisioned Devin Medina of Wheaton North 3-2 in his first round match.

Uppinghouse’s teammate, Bryor Newbold, wasn’t as successful on Thursday.

Newbold lost his first-round match in the 182-pound class by a 7-2 decision to Elmhurst York’s Evan Grazzini. Newbold gave up an escape with 50 seconds left in third period to trail 3-2. As he scrambled to score a tying point in the final seconds, Newbold got caught and allowed a four-point near fall.

Newbold (40-9) will wrestle Caleb Baczek of Libertyville in the loser’s bracket on Friday. Baczek (18-11) lost by technical fall in four minutes to Jack Lasher of Marmion in the first round.

Three Macomb wrestlers will in the loser’s bracket of their respective weight classes in the Class 1A tournament.

Ethan Ladd won his first match at 220 pounds, winning 3-0 over Mike Haas of Lena-Winslow. He then lost in the quarterfinals 7-2 to Gabriel Kaminski (30-0) of Nazareth. Ladd (48-7) will meet the winner of the match between Landon Wierenga of Eureka and Drake Dearth of Coal City.

Max Ryner lost his first match at 195 pounds to Chris Peura of Seneca by pinfall in 3:21. Ryner (48-5) will meet Vandalia’s Wyatt Dothager in the loser’s bracket. Dothager (38-15) was pinned in 39 seconds by Sherrard’s Walker Anderson in his first-round match.

Carter Hoge lost his first match at 152 pounds in a 9-2 decision to Ethan Struck of Woodstock Marian. Hoge (45-9) will wrestle again in the loser’s bracket again Landin Benson (22-7) of Coal City, who lost his first match 8-7 to Bryson Capansky of Oakwood.