Macomb High wrestlers senior Avery Lundgren and junior Dru Hyde placed second and third in their respective weight classes Saturday, earning berths for next week’s Illinois High School Association Girls Wrestling Sectional at DeKalb.
The duo, along with Dana Kane and Jazmyn Nateras represented MHS in IHSA Regional competition at Geneseo.
At 190 pounds, Lundgren (15-7) opened with a win by pinfall over East Peoria’s Brooke Knee in 51 seconds.
In the semifinals, Lundgren pinned Moline’s Tatiana Cuellar in 1:07 to reach the finals.
In the title contest, Lundgren was defeated by Rock Island’s Courtney Walls, losing by pinfall in 1:53.
Wrestling in the 145 pound class, Hyde (22-9) started her day by defeating Knoxville’s Adalynn Powell by pinfall in 1:52.
In the semifinals, Hyde was defeated by Kewanee High’s Aaliyah Swearingen, losing an 11-4 decision.
Working her way back through the bracket, Hyde pinned Geneseo’s Annabella Kelley in 0:59 to reach the third place match.
In that contest, Hyde posted a 12-8 decision over Canton’s Kennedy Smith.
Wrestling in the 235 pound division, Nateras finished with an 0-2 record.
Nateras was pinned by Rock Island’s Sincerlyana Deemer in 2:26 in her opening- round bout.
Nateras would then be pinned by Peoria Richwoods wrestler Kya Norman in 2:31.
Wrestling in the 140 pound division, Kane finished with an 0-2 record.
In her opening-round match, Kane was pinned by Kacii Davis from Peoria Manual in 5:55.
Kane was then defeated by Maggie Allen from Illini Bluffs by pinfall in 1:35.
The Bombers posted a team score of 36 points in finishing 12th overall out of 30 teams taking part.
Host Geneseo topped the field with 169 points, followed by Pekin (107), East Peoria (101), Canton (94) and Galesburg (81) who rounded out the top five.
The top four finishers from each weight class advance to sectional competition, slated to start Friday at DeKalb.
The advancing wrestlers from the Geneseo Regional will join those from regionals hosted by Normal (Community West) and Belvidere (H.S.).
First, second, third and fourth place winners from each weight class will advance from Sectional to State Final competition.
The State Finals are scheduled for Feb. 27-28 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Sixteen (16) wrestlers in each weight class will compete for championship honors.
