Cory Drummond, Qarin Johnnic to represent WWS at wrestling state tournament

DOWNERS GROVE – Cory Drummond won’t have to look too far back to find a highlight from his wrestling career.

The Wheaton Warrenville South senior has had his sights set on a state tournament berth since middle school, and Saturday he punched his ticket to state at the Downers Grove North sectional.

“It’s great, I’m a senior and I’ve been working for this since sixth grade,” Drummond said. “I’ve always been a match away from state, but my goal is not to make it downstate. My goal is to be a placer.”

Drummond went 1-1 in the main draw at 132 pounds, losing in a quarterfinal match before winning three straight times in the backdraw to make it to the third-place match. He met a familiar foe in Brother Rice’s Juan Blanco, who ended Drummond’s season last year.

“I wrestled him last year to go down state and he pinned me, but this year was a lot different for me,” Drummond said. “I’m obviously staying with him, and I think if I were to get that takedown early in the match it would have been a totally different story. Next time I wrestle him, it’s all about getting that first takedown.”

Drummond is making his state tournament debut, but he’s familiar with the enhanced atmosphere surrounding the tourney.

“I went down last year to watch, and I’m definitely ready for it,” Drummond said. “I’ve been waiting for it.”

Joining Drummond on the road to state is Qarin Johnnic, who sealed his second straight state berth with a second-place finish at 138. Last year, he made it to the state semifinals at 138 and placed fourth in the state. Having state experience will be a bonus as he looks to bring home a state title.

“It definitely takes a lot of the pressure off because wrestling in the state tournament, there’s a lot of hype and a lot of nerves,” the senior said. “Being back a second time, it’s not going to be as nerve-wracking. I’m going to walk out on the mat ready to wrestle not having to think of anything else.”

Johnnic improved to 35-6 on the season with his sectional run and is confident about his chances at a successful state tourney.

“At 138, there’s no one deciding factor,” Johnnic said. “At other weight classes, you have … big guys that are picked to win. There’s no one really like that at 138. It’s anybody’s game, so it’s going to be a battle all the way through.”

George Beck, Andrew Ives and Andrew Leonard also wrestled for the Tigers at the sectional but came up short of making state.