Champaign — Jordan Ellingwood is one step away from a perfect season.
The Plainfield Central senior won two matches Friday at Assembly Hall to punch his ticket to the Class 3A finals. But Ellingwood knows his toughest matchup — and possibly the most anticipated finals in the state tournament — waits for him tomorrow.
Ellingwood (46-0) will meet Sandburg’s Wisconsin recruit, nationally-ranked Ricky Robertson (47-0) for the 195-pound state title.
“I’m pretty excited,” Ellingwood said. “I kind of want to get the match going already.”
To get there, Ellingwood took down Proviso’s West Jamier Thurman 6-0 in the quarterfinals and Harlem’s Sage Hecox 5-2 in the semifinals.
“I went out there and wrestled my match. I didn’t let anybody get into my head,” Ellingwood said.
Plainfield South junior Miguel Silva and Lincoln-Way East’s Kyle Langenderfer also remained unbeaten. Silva (41-0) beat Praire Ridge’s Travis Piotrowski 6-3, while Langenderfer (42-0) overpowered Mount Carmel’s Notay Jackson with a second period fall to reach the finals.
In Class 1A, Coal City’s murderer’s row of light weights continued their trek to gold. Cody Minnick (106), Corey Jurzak (113) and Casey Brown (120) all advanced to Saturday’s finals.
Wilmington’s returning state finalist, Andy Rodawold, has a chance for his third state medal and finals redemption. Rodawold beat Althoff Catholic’s Michael Harris 6-0 to reach the finals at 132 pounds.
“It’s my senior year and I want to get it done this time,” Rodawold said. “My whole goal is to bring home a state title. Ever since I started wrestling in the third grade.”
Seneca’s Sage Friese adds to the Class 1A finalists. Friese will battle Stillman Valley’s J.J. Whaley for the 126-pound crown.
Minooka’s Corbett Oughton (145), Joliet Central’s Sharod Wilson (182) and the Providence pair of Roanld Triche (113) and Vince Ambrose (220) fell in the semifinals.
Joliet Central’s Trayvon Zabala (120) picked up his first loss of the year in the quarterfinals to Sandburg’s Sebastian Pique.
