Wrestling: Aurora Christian flexes its muscles in Class 2A debut, takes regional title

SYCAMORE – After winning the Class 1A title in 2018 and taking second in 2019, Aurora Christian was bumped up to Class 2A this year.

The Eagles wasted little time in flexing their muscles in the new class. Aurora Christian won Saturday's Class 2A Sycamore regional by advancing 12 wrestlers to next week's Rochelle sectional.

The Eagles scored 229.5 points and took home eight first place medals, one second place honor and three third place titles. Grapplers placing in the top four slots in their weight class earned a sectional berth.

Aurora Christian, in only its fourth year of competition, advanced in all but two of the 14 weight classes.

"We were expecting to get everybody through. We were expecting to win," said Aurora Christian coach Justin Pearch. "There were only a couple who unfortunately aren't going to make it on to sectional but they are going to be with us on the journey and help these guys to continue to grow."

What was more impressive is the Eagles won seven of the final matches by either a pin or a technical fall.

The host Spartans took second place, tallying 198 points and also advanced 12 wrestlers to next weekend's competition.

Among the Eagles' eight first place finishers were two-time defending state champions Cameron Johnson (132 pounds) and Noah Villarreal (138).

Kaneland (82.5) came in fifth and will have six representatives at Rochelle. Three Knight wrestlers earned second place medals. Burlington Central (68), which will have four wrestlers competing in the sectional, came in sixth.

Noah Dial (106), Chris Moore (113) and Joe Mylin (120) also took first place honors for Aurora Christian.