Rocky grad Overton has come a long way on mat

Article Source Written by: Quad City Times – Jeff Wendland Jan 1, 2020 Updated Jan 1, 2020

Photo: Rock Island graduate Tyree Overton, now at St. Cloud State, is 7-1 in his senior season and seven wins shy of 100 for his career. He was a two-time Junior College All-American at Lincoln College.
-St. Cloud State University

There were days at the end of his high school wrestling career that Rock Island graduate Tyree Overton thought his days on the mat were over.

An injury his senior year kept Overton from making it to the Illinois High School Association state finals and he had very little interest from colleges around the nation.

Overton is sure glad he didn’t give up.

Midway through his redshirt senior season at St. Cloud State, Overton is en route to wrapping up a stellar college wrestling career.

“The best I did in high school was a state alternate my senior year,” Overton said. “I was ranked as high as fourth or fifth in the state but I was in a tough bracket in sectionals and I was injured with a partially torn meniscus.

“I knew I still wanted to wrestle, and I knew I was going to have to take the hard way. I had two junior college offers and I finally picked Lincoln.”

At Lincoln, Overton captured a pair of Junior College All-American finishes and caught the eye of the St. Cloud coaching staff. Overton believes his career took off 150 or so miles away from home.

“It was kind of out in the middle of nowhere and that forced me to concentrate and work hard every day,” he said. “I stayed focused and I had two great coaches in my two years. Nothing against my Rocky coaches, they were great, but these guys pushed me to another level.

“I had Dave Klemm, who was an alternate in the Olympics the year the USA boycotted, and then I had Daryl Thomas who was ranked really high as a wrestler at the University of Illinois.

“They really stayed on me and it always felt like it was Division I room. They got our wrestlers ready for the next level. I ended up being a two-time All-American, taking eighth in the nation as a freshman and third as a sophomore.”

Overton saw his biggest jump from his first season to the second when he learned a lot more about being an elite college wrestler.

“That first year as a freshman, I needed to get my mindset together,” Overton said. “I didn’t handle my weight very well. I bumped up a weight the next year and that’s when it became something big for me and my future.

“I chose St. Cloud State because I knew they were good and they would push me further. They have won four of the last five NCAA Division II national championships.”

Following his third-place finish, he understood more about winning. Now that he is at St. Cloud, he knows what winning is all about. The Huskies have not lost a conference meet since 2010.

Overton fell just shy of making the NCAA Division II All-America list, again stymied by that same knee.

“I completely tore the meniscus off,” Overton said. “The doctors told me I needed surgery and to not wrestle, but I did and I made it to the nationals and was one win from making the All-American match.”

The injury and rehab helped Overton make a decision to redshirt last school year where he was able to put in a lot of school work to catch up for some credits that did not transfer from Lincoln to St. Cloud State.

He still wrestled unattached and went 15-1, winning five tournaments during the season. He is back healthy, wrestling at 184 pounds and off to a great senior start.

“I’m 7-1 so far this season and currently ranked No. 3 in the nation,” he said. “My only loss is to a nationally-ranked D-1 guy from Northern Iowa and I beat the top-ranked guy in D-II earlier this year.

“I’m at 93 college wins right now and getting to 100 would mean a lot. Having gone from a guy who didn’t even qualify for a state meet in high school to having 100 college wins is amazing.”

The trip from Rock Island to Lincoln to St. Cloud has certainly been worth it.

“There were times when I wondered if I was good enough to wrestle at any college,” he said. “Now, to be wrestling for the best Division II team in the nation says something.

“I think it was believing and having great coaches who pushed me to the next level. To think, I didn’t even start wrestling until I was a freshman at Rocky and never even took it serious until I was a sophomore. This is pretty good.”

Mount Carmel’s Noah Mis continues to work for junior achievement

‘I am not ever going to get complacent’

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Written By PATRICK Z. MCGAVIN – DAILY SOUTHTOWN |JAN 02, 2020 | 12:44 PM

Photo: Mount Carmel’s Noah Mis, left, tries to escape at 126 pounds during the Class 3A dual-team state quarterfinals against Warren at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)

After finishing fifth in the state last season at 126 pounds, Mount Carmel junior Noah Mis was undeterred by the moment.

Instead, it set the wheels in motion.

“That experience told me that I could win the state title this year,” Mis said. “My mentality right now is just to go out and not have any close matches.”

Mis finished with a 31-12 record as a sophomore, and his career has been marked by vast improvement. He qualified for state at 113 as a freshman.

He hasn’t missed a beat this season. Mis (16-3) is the top-ranked wrestler at 132 in Class 3A by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.

Mis’ highlight thus far has been winning the 132-pound championship at the prestigious Al Dvorak Invitational in Loves Park.

“Our schedule is very tough, but I love the competition,” Mis said. “I know that I am good enough to compete with kids at the highest level.”

He performs with an abandon and fearlessness, according to Mount Carmel coach Alex Tsirtsis.

“He is an extremely hard-working kid who has constant motion and attacks throughout the entire match,” Tsirtsis said. “As a coach, he does exactly what you want your wrestlers to do. He is always looking to score offensively and defensively.”

Like Tsirtsis and individual defending state champion Colton Drousias (120), Mis has roots in Indiana. He lives in Griffith.

“I already knew a couple of the kids at Mount Carmel like Colton, and my coach had also coached me when I was younger,” Mis said.

Mis’ older brother David played soccer for the Caravan. Wrestling, however, was always Noah’s preferred sport. He started at age 5.

Mis was subject to bullying when he was younger, and his parents thought wrestling would be a good route to learn how to defend himself.

His aggressive and fast style has accelerated his development. Even as he has moved up weight classes, Mis has not sacrificed his combination of speed, power and strength.

“I think the big difference from the past is that I am more confident,” Mis said. “In the past, I was a bit cautious because I was a younger kid. Now during my matches, I just tell myself to stay calm.”

His reputation also precedes him. His standout performance has made him the standard by which other wrestlers in his weight class are judged.

Knowing that only fuels his confidence.

“I am not ever going to get complacent,” he said. “There many other kids chasing me for that No. 1 spot, and the important thing for me is to work hard and keep getting better.”

A sport that he began in part to establish his own identity and develop his competitive instincts has become his primary signature.

“I have always been a good kid,” Mis said. “When people don’t feel you can do something and you prove them wrong, that is a great feeling.”

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

Lena-Winslow/Stockton wins Abe’s Rumble, but Tolono Unity’s breakthrough notable

It’s been a long time since Lena-Winslow/Stockton faced any adversity on a wrestling mat. Almost a year to the day, in fact.

After losing to Coal City in the final of the 2018 edition of Abe’s Rumble, the Pantherhawks didn’t lose again, breezing to the 1A state title by dethroning defending champion Aurora Christian.

Having graduated just two starters from that team, Lena-Winslow/Stockton has blown away the field again to start this season. Only nine of their first 17 dual-meet victims this season managed to score in double figures.

But LWS was not the only story at the BoS Center in Springfield. An Abe’s Rumble field that co-organizers Jeff Hill of Petersburg Porta and Matt Grimm of Auburn expanded to a record 60 teams in 12 pools saw the top four teams in the IWCOA rankings, LWS, Coal City, Vandalia and Tolono Unity, dominate their way to the semifinals.

And it was Tolono Unity that prevented a fourth finals matchup between LWS and Coal City in as many seasons, rallying past the Coalers, 39-31 in one semifinal. In the pre-season, we wrote that the Rockets had the best group of upper weights in Illinois, whether you’re talking 3A, 2A or 1A.

That group propelled Unity to the championship match, and almost helped them accomplish the unthinkable. But LWS added a second Abe’s Rumble championship to the one they one in 2017, rallying from a 21-point deficit to beat the Rockets, 40-30.

In a semifinal that started at 160 pounds, Unity scored six points in five of the six bouts through 285. Pate Eastin (160), Micah Downs (182), Oran Varela (220) and Logan Wilson (285) scored pins and Connor Eastin (170) won by forfeit. Though 2A state champion Daniel Jezik racked up five takedowns in a 12-4 major decision over state finalist Cade Scott at 195, Tolono Unity still led 30-4, and the Coalers never climbed out of the hole.

The other semifinal featured a battle of unbeatens. Only 3A rival Belleville West, in the season opener, had come within 24 points of Vandalia heading into that match. But LWS won 11 of 14 matches in a 56-12 semifinal win.

With the final starting at 170, state placewinner Case Harmston beat Connor Eastin, 4-1 to give the Pantherhawks a 3-0 lead. Downs, Scott, Varela and Wilson then scored consecutive pins, and suddenly Tolono Unity led, 24-3.

From there on, despite the four consecutive pins, the question was whether the Rockets could break through for another win against an LWS lineup that combined for a 67-5 record at the BoS Center from 106 through 160.

They did – two of them. But decisions by Ben Gavel, 7-5 over Jaden Rice at 126 and 9-7 by Pate Eastin over Andrew Haas at 160 weren’t enough. That’s because LWS followed Wilson’s pin with three straight pins of its own – by Garrett Luke (106), Dillon Raab (113) and Zach White (120) – and Winston McPeek (138) and state placewinner Jason Hermann (152) added pins of their own. Vandalia scored six pins of its own to beat Coal City, 52-20 in the tbhird-place match.

Nearly half of the field – 28 of the 60 teams – entered the BoS Center ranked in the IWCOA.net top 25 rankings or honorable mention. How accurate were those rankings? The ranked or higher-ranked team posted a record of 120-29 throughout the two days, a success rate of 80.5 percent.

Some other teams that impressed:

Dwight – the honorable mention Trojans finished 13th, beating Mercer County, 48-36 and Heyworth, 37-30 in pool competition. Their final match was a 36-33 victory over another top 25 team, Tremont.

Erie/Prophetstown – the Cardinals beat top 25 opponents Monticello, 45-34 and Mount Carmel, 60-24 to win one of the tougher pools. Although the Aces got them back the second day, 36-35, honorable mention Erie/Prophetstown finished 15th.

Fithian Oakwood – the Comets started the tournament ranked No. 19, but beat two higher-ranked teams the second day. In the round of 16, they trailed Prairie Central, 33-11 with six matches remaining before ripping off three pins, a technical fall and a decision for a 37-37 tie, advancing with a 2-1 edge in technical falls. The Comets also beat Petersburg Porta, 46-33 to finish seventh.

Morrison – the Mustangs were the team story of the tournament, finishing the highest of any unranked team. Morrison went 7-2, beating top 25 schools Tremont, 42-33 to win its pool, Monticello, 45-36 to advance to the Gold pool and Fithian Oakwood, 48-30 the second day. They finished eighth with losses to LWS and Auburn.

Sacred Heart-Griffin – the unranked Crusaders went only 5-4, but all four losses were to top 25 teams – Sherrard and Seneca in pool competition and LWS and Prairie Central the second day. They rode their upper-weight trio of Mason Clem (182), Reece Edwards (195) and Jesiah Bradshaw (220) to wins over top 25 teams Robinson and Mount Carmel and two honorable mention teams to finish 11th.

Maroon Wrestling Hosts Chi-Town Invite, Wins Six Weight Classes

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CHICAGO – The University of Chicago wrestling team was back in action as hosts of the Chi-Town Invite on Sunday afternoon at Henry Crown Field House.

The four-mat invite saw Triton College and University of Dubuque come out for the round-robin format, with a total of 56 wrestlers in action. The Maroons ultimately came away with six weight class champions on the day, including senior Steve Bonsall (157 pounds), junior Will Britain (165 pounds), senior Kyle Peisker (174 pounds), sophomore Ben Sarasin (184 pounds), senior Nick Carola (197 pounds) and first-year Cole Fibranz (285 pounds).

“This was kind of a unique event where three teams brought their entire squads with the idea that each get a few matches to shake the rust off after the holidays,” said Head Coach Leo Kocher. “Although we established weight class winners, the limited number of matches in each weight class prevented us from establishing other placers.”

Chi-Town Invite Weight Class Winners
125 – Memo Juarez (Triton)
133 – Bradley Ritter (Triton)
141 – Jaylan Claudio (Triton)
149 – Luke Radeke (Dubuque)
157 – Steve Bonsall (UChicago)
165 – Will Britain (UChicago)
174 – Kyle Peisker (UChicago)
184 – Ben Sarasin (UChicago)
197 – Nick Carola (UChicago)
285 – Cole Fibranz (UChicago)

NEXT MEET:

  • Saturday, Jan. 4 @ 11:00 AM (ET) – UChicago at D3 National Challenge (Cleveland, Ohio)

7 Bearcats Place in 2019 Senior National, Trials Qualifier

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(FORT WORTH, Tex. – Dec. 22) – The McKendree University women’s wrestling team closed out the 2019 calendar year at the 2019 Senior Nationals and Trials Qualifier before the Christmas holiday week. Natalie Reyna (Hesperia, CA/Whittier High School), Felicity Taylor (Spillville, IA/South Winneshiek High School), Emma Bruntil (), Alara Boyd (Muncie, IN/Yorktown High School), Alexandria Glaude (West Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers High School), Andrea Sennett (Wheeling, IL/Wheeling High Shcool) and Kori Bullock(Cahokia, IL/Cahokia High School) all placed in the top-8 of their respective weight classes.

The Bearcats had 10 wrestlers compete in the tournament, where seven placed in the top-8 of their weight classes, including a National Championship title and two qualifying spots for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Below are the individual results for the Bearcats.

50 kg.
Natalie Reyna (Hesperia, CA/Whittier High School) defeated by fall (VFA 3:56 6-3) Mariah Anderson of Rise Wrestling in the first round of competition. Reyna went on to win a 13-9 decision over unattached wrestler Asia Ray. In the quarterfinals round, Reyna was defeated by technical fall (VSU 10-0, 0:42) to Alyssa Lampe of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Reyna was placed in the consolation bracket for the 5th place title, where she was defeated by fall (VSU 11-2, 5:56) to Alleida Martinez of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Reyna placed sixth and went 2-2 on the weekend.

Katherine Sumner (Port Byron, NY/Dana L. West) was defeated by fall at (VFA 4:3, 12-8) to unattached wrestler Ira Jean Navarro in the first round of competition. Sumer moved into the consolation bracket, where she was defeated by technical fall (VSU 10-0, 1:23) to unattached wrestler Hannah Peterson. Sumner went 0-2 on the weekend.

53 kg.
Felicity Taylor (Spillville, IA/South Winneshiek High School), ranked No.6 going into the tournament, defeated Danielle Garcia of Team Tornado Wrestling Club on a VPO 6-0 decision in the first round of competition. Taylor went on to defeat Allena Gomez of Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club in a technical fall (VSU 10-0, 3:21). In the quarterfinals match, Taylor was defeated by technical fall (VSU 11-0, 4:41) to Katherine Shai of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Taylor moved into the 5th place match where she was defeated by technical fall (VSU 11-0, 5:24) to Ronna Heaton of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Taylor placed sixth and went 2-2 in the weekend.

57 kg.
Graduate Student Gabrielle Weyhrich received a bye in the first round of competition. Weyhrich defeated Alexandria Herle of Lion Wrestling club in a technical fall (VSU 10-0, 3:59). Weyhrich was defeated by fall (VFA 5:03, 6-4) to Tiana Jackson of Menlo Wrestling Club. Weyhrich moved into the consolation bracket there she defeated Allison Petix in of Team Tornado Wrestling Club in a 7-5 decision. Weyhrich’s final competition of the day was a 4-3 defeat to Gracie Figueroa of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Weyhrich went 2-2 on the weekend.

62 kg.
Emma Bruntil (), ranked No 3 going into the tournament, defeated unattached wrestler Andrea Schlabach by technical fall (VSU 2:28, 10-0) in the first round of the tournament. Bruntil went on to defeat Marlee Smith of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in an 8-0 decision. Bruntil continued her winning streak by defeating Teshya Alo of Titan Mercury Club in a 6-0 decision. Bruntil defeated Macey Kilty of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club in the semifinals match in a 6-4 decision. In the final match of the tournament, Bruntil defeated Maya Nelson of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club by injury fault, placing first and taking the title. Bruntil placed first, awarded the National Championship title, went 5-0 on the weekend, and qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Alara Boyd (Muncie, IN/Yorktown High School), ranked No. 7 going into the tournament, defeated Viktorya Torres of Victory Wrestling-Central WA by fall (VFA 2:34, 8-0) in the first round of the tournament. Boyd went on to win by fall (VSU 2:49, 14-1) over unattached wrestler Mattison Parker. Boyd was then defeated in a 5-0 decision to Macey Kilty of Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. Boyd was placed in the consolation bracket and defeated unattached wrestler Andres Schlabach by technical fall (VSU 2:43, 10-0). Boyd advanced to defeated Michaela Beck of New York Athletic Club in a 9-0 decision. Boyd was then defeated by Julia Salata of New York Wrestling Club in a 7-4 decision. In the 5th place match, Boyd was defeated by technical fall (VSU 5:07, 12-2) to Jennifer Page of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club. Boyd placed sixth and went 4-3 on the weekend.

68 kg.
Joye Levendusky (Avon, NY/Avon High School) received a bye in the first round of the tournament. Levendusky’s was defeated in an 8-6 decision to Rachel Watters of New York Wrestling Club. Levendusky was placed in the consolation bracket and defeated Alma Mendoza of Colorado Mesa Wrestling Club by technical fall (VSU 4:24, 12-1). Levendusky advanced to defeat unattached wrestler Aine Drury by fall (VFA 1:56, 2-2). In her final match of the tournament, Levendusky was defeated in an 11-9 decision to Iman Kazem of Menlo Wrestling Club. Levendusky went 2-2 on the weekend.

Alexandria Glaude (West Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers High School), ranked No. 3 going into the tournament and wrestling for Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, defeated unattached wrestler Adrianna Orozco by technical fall (VSU 1:25, 10-0). Glaude went on to defeat Hunter Robinson of Grand View Wrestling Club by technical fall (VSU 3:22 11-0). Glaude advanced to defeat Skylar Grote of New York Athletic Club in a 2-1 decision. Glaude was then defeated by Victoria Francis of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club in the semifinal match, in a 3-2 decision. Glaude placed fourth, went 3-1 on the weekend, and qualified (for the second time) for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

76 kg.
Andrea Sennett (Wheeling, IL/Wheeling High Shcool) defeated unattached wrestler Nessa Martinez by fall (VFA 1:25, 6-0) in her first round of the tournament. Sennett went on to defeat Marilyn Garcia of Menlo Wrestling Club by technical fall (VSU 4:56, 14-3). Sennett was defeated in the quarterfinals match by Precious Bell of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club in a 10-4 decision.  Sennett was placed in the consolation bracket, where she went on to defeat Brittany Marshall of Cardinal Wrestling Club by fall (VFA 1:21, 4-2). Sennett was then defeated by Alyvia Fiske of Titan Mercury Wrestling Club in a technical fall (VSU 4:08, 10-0). In the 7th place match Sennett won by forfeit against school teammate Kori Bullock(Cahokia, IL/Cahokia High School). Sennett placed seventh and went 4-2 in the weekend.

Kori Bullock (Cahokia, IL/Cahokia High School), ranked No. 4 going into the tournament and wrestling for Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, received a bye in the first round. Bullock’s first competition was Yelena Makoyed of Cardinal Wrestling Club and was defeated in a 6-3 decision. Bullock was placed in the consolation bracket, where she defeated unattached wrestler Jesaphine Lee in a 2-1 decision. Bullock went on the defeat unattached Wrestler Paige Baynes in another 4-2 decision. Bullock advanced to defeat another unattached wrestler Nkechinyere Nwankwo in a 12-3 decision. Bullock was then defeated by Rani Beltz of Army WCAP. In the 7th place match Bullock lost by forfeit to school teammate Andrea Sennett (Wheeling, IL/Wheeling High Shcool). Bullock placed eighth and went 3-3 on the weekend.

The McKendree University men’s and women’s wrestling teams will open the new year Jan 10 – 11 in Louisville, Ken. The Bearcats will be competing in the 2020 U.S Marine Corps/ NWCA Multi-Division National Dual Meet Championship, presented by ARMS Software & Defense Soap, hosted by NUWAY. The two-day competition will take place in the Kentucky Exposition Center.-McK-Print Friendly Version