Railer wrestlers make school history with trip to State

[February 16, 2018] 

Striving for greatness, two Lincoln Community High School wrestlers made school history on Thursday. Trevor Bree and Austin O’Donoghue became the first duo of underclassman from LCHS to wrestle in the State Tournament. Bree, a sophomore, and O’Donoghue, a freshman, entered the Illinois High School Association Individual Wrestling State Tournament on Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Bree and O’Donoghue both have become accustomed to success in the wrestling programs in Lincoln.

- Both young men started in the Lincoln Youth Club coached under Walt Landers to bring that experience into the Junior High where they were both wrestled at the State Tournament and an All-State Medal.
- Both wrestlers have excelled in the high school program at LCHS with high expectations for themselves.
- Both wrestlers are on track to achieve an unprecedented 150 wins if they keep their current pace up.

Austin O’Donoghue

Austin O’Donoghue was the first up at Thursday’s competition. O’Donoghue, Lincoln’s first freshman in LCHS history to qualify for the IHSA Tournament, came into the tournament as an underdog. IHSA Illinois Matmen predications had O’Donoghue losing in the first round to Justin Graves from Chicago Ag Science.

After a first period of both wrestlers grappling back and forth with multiple scrambles and near points awarded to no avail, the period ended 0-0.

Graves won the coin flip in the second period picking down getting a quick escape with O’Donoghue down by 1-0. Both wrestlers continued to go back and forth in a very exciting match to end the period 1-0 Graves up.

O’Donoghue chose down in the third period getting an early escape to tie the match 1-1. Graves on the attack takes O’Donoghue down and rode him for a minute before O’Donoghue makes a miraculous move to reverse Graves tying the match and taking it into overtime.

In overtime the two wrestlers continued to scramble with Graves shooting on, on O’Donoghue, and in a last ditch effort O’Donoghue pulls out an athletic head stand step over to take Graves down for a win 5-3 and moving onto the Quarter Finals.

When asked about his thoughts on the match Austin had this to say, “I wrestled good against a good opponent. I was a little nervous, but after I stepped on the mat my instincts took over and I thrived in the environment I love, and want to continue to advance and bring a medal home to Lincoln.”

Trevor Bree

Trevor Bree stepped on the mat opposite side of the stadium to Grant LaDuke from Lemont predicted to take fifth in the tournament.

Bree attacked early in the match with LaDuke getting the first takedown to end the first period 2-0.

In the second period LaDuke got a reversal and rode Bree out for the period.

In the third period Bree continued to attack resulting in LaDuke taking a time-out due to blood. Bree rode a hard fought third period going the distance with LaDuke resulting in a hard-fought grueling win to beat Bree to advance to the semifinals.

Bree’s destiny now is in the hands of LaDuke winning his Semi Final match to become All-State to have the opportunity to continue wrestling.

Bree’s thoughts on the match, “I thought I was in way better shape than him, I sat back way too long in the first period and started to come back in the second period a little too late. One thing I have learned is to not quit. I would like to continue wrestling tomorrow and have a second chance in this tournament to get on the podium.”

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Head Coach Justin Dietrich had this to say about the competitors, “I think they both wrestled really well and wrestled the matches they needed to. At this level, one point, here that point could be win or loss. Great to see Austin get that one; a heartbreaker to see Trevor lose to a very good kid who will most likely be a placer. In regard to the overall picture, it is a great feeling to know the success we are going to have in the upcoming years ahead.”

Class 2A Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. on Friday with live matches streaming on Track Wrestling or IHSA if any fans would like to watch live. Wrestling will continue for the three classes through the rest of Friday, all day Saturday, with Saturday night championship matches doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

[Jason Lawrence]

See detailed schedule http://www.ihsa.org/documents/wr/2017-18/WRI-TimeSchedule.pdf

To live stream events go to http://www.ihsa.org/