The Benton Ranger wrestling competed in the IHSA Sectional tournament this past weekend and have three going to the State Tournament this week to be held in Assembly Hall in Champaign on the campus of the University of Illinois. Senior Zach Mocaby led the way winning the sectional championship at 170 pounds. Also qualifying were sophomore twin brothers Chase and Chris Worthey. Chase placed third at 120 pounds. while Chris placed 4th at 126 pounds. Also competing at the sectional were junior Daniel Krug (138 pounds) and freshman Devon Sieveking (195 pounds). Krug went 2-2 and Sieveking 1-2 over the weekend but failed to qualify for Champaign.
Mocaby defeated Nick Berty (Robinson) 10-6 in the 1st round and advanced to the finals with a 6-4 decision over Kurtis Owens (Hillsboro) in the semi’s. Zach beat Tyler Gooden (Toledo-Cumberland) in the championship by a 2-1 margin. Gooden had defeated Mocaby 9-2, eight weeks earlier at the Cumberland Tournament.
Chase Worthey beat Brock Barnhill (Auburn) 2-0 in overtime in the first round then lost a 1-0 decision to eventual sectional champion Dalton Brito(Roxanna) in semi’s. Chase rebounded with a 12-0 win over Grant Henson (Rochester) and a 7-2 decision over Barnhill for 3rd place.
Chris Worthey opened sectional competition with a 4-2 win over Dalton Snell (Auburn) before dropping a 3-1 decision to eventual champion Devon Fenton(Litchfield) in the semi’s. Chris battled back winning his next bout by fall in 1:30 over Alec Keeler (Robinson) before losing a very controversial 3rd place match 10-9 to Snell(Auburn).
The top 4 placer’s from four sectionals around the state qualify for the state tournament.
Mocaby will matchup in the first round aginst another familiar foe in Jarod Noel (Bismark-Henning), Noel (34-11) defeated Mocaby (30-13) by a 12-3 margin in December at the Super Duals also held Champaign.
Chase Worthey (35-5) will face the states 2nd ranked wrestler at 120 lbs. in Jose Abitua (Stillman Valley) in the first round while brother Chris will matchup with the #1 ranked wrestler at 126 pounds in J.J. Whaley (39-2) also of Stillman Valley.
The State Tournament will kick off Thursday morning and run through Saturday evening.
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