McConnell leads Lincoln Railer
wrestlers in post season
[March 01, 2025]
The Lincoln Railer Wrestlers continue to make post season
history in 2025. The Railers Wrestled in Regionals on February 8th,
2025 entering 13 Wrestlers in 14 Weight Classes to defend their
Regional title from 2024 in Bloomington, IL. The Wrestlers completed
a remarkable experience by besting 2nd place host Bloomington High
School by 43 points to win the 8 team Regional. The Railers put all
13 of their competitors in placing matches advancing 11 wrestlers to
Individual Sectionals, the 2nd best in school history followed by
the 12 qualifiers and Regional Championship team from 2023. 2
Wrestlers finished 4th and were Sectional Alternates. Lincoln Railer
Wrestling has won 4 total Regional Championships in School history
with 3 of the Regional Champions coming in the past 6 years led by
Head Coach Justin Dietrich, Assistant Coaches Sam McShane, Jason
Lawrence, Colton Davis and JT Guzzardo. Of the 13 Lincoln
Competitors, 8 never stepped onto a mat to learn the sport until
their freshman year in high school, 1 being his first year and
another this being his 2nd year wrestling and finished the season
finishing in the top 8 in 5 Varsity Tournaments.
Fast forward to Sectionals where the 11 Wrestlers competed in their
home Gym in the Lincoln Community High School Gym where 4 mats
covered the floor and Wrestlers from 4 regionals and 35 teams
competed for the top 4 to Qualify for the 16 man brackets at the 2A
Wrestling State Tournament that is held at the State Farm Center in
Champaign, IL. The Wrestlers advanced 2 Wrestlers to the blood
round, Karter Hild and Aiden Frye both lost 1 match shy of placing
in the top 4 and both of their individual seasons fell short 1 match
to qualify for state and were alternates in case another Wrestler
ahead of them could not compete in the tournament.
Dawson McConnell, returning All-State Wrestler who took 4th Place in
the 2023 IHSA State Wrestling Finals finished 2nd place in the
Sectional to All-State Wrestler from Mahamet Seymour Marco Casilis.
Dawson wrestled a tough tournament finishing 1-2 on the weekend to
fall short of placing for the second time. McConnell not only had
over 100 wins for his career, he finished his career breaking the
school record previously held by Austin Donohue by having 100 Career
pins for his High School Career. He also broke O’Donohue’s most wins
in school history record by capping an astounding 161 wins in his 4
years as a Railer.
[to top of second column] |
Photo by Aiden Drye
The Railer Wrestlers competed in the Team Sectional Championship
against Mahamet Seymour marking a top 16 finish for the second year
in a row. The Railers fell short for the second year in a row to the
Bulldogs ending one of the best seasons in the school’s history.
The Railers finished the season with a school team record of 25-3
breaking the previous record wins by 5 more wins which has stood for
over 30 years. The Wrestling team brought home a Championship from
the 20 team Rochester tournament and a Regional title with 11
Sectional Qualifiers. 3 of the High School captains finished the
year with surpassing the 100 win mark, Dawson McConnell, Karter Hild
and Cort Pentecost with Senior Captain Aiden Frye who was 1 match
short of qualifying for state for his second year in a row and
finishing his career with 99 wins.
Head Coach Justin Dietrich and the rest of the coaching staff
couldn’t be prouder of this team. The dedication to the team,
teammates and work put in during the season and off-season speaks
for itself. The kids are some of the hardest working, selfless and
inspirational group to ever walk the halls in the Lincoln High
School. It is bitter sweet to see this season end. The Railer
Wresters will return to regular season play in November 2025.
[Jason Lawrence]
 |
