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CHAMPAIGN – When Brayden Peet beat Braden Stauffenberg two weeks ago, he got a takedown early to help pad his score in the overtime win.
Last week in the sectional, Peet didn’t get a takedown in an overtime loss for the crown.
In the rubber match with a Class 2A title on the line Saturday at the IHSA state tournament, the Sycamore 152-pounder got his takedown, but the Aurora Christian wrestler got a quick reverse, rode it out, then got a takedown in overtime for a 5-3 win and a championship.
“I came up short in my goal,” Peet said. “It’s something I’ve been striving for since I was a kid. But second is still better than four of the people around me. But I still need to work on some things.”
Peet, a senior, and Sycamore heavyweight Lincoln Cooley each earned medals, with Cooley taking sixth. Kaneland’s Cam Phillips took fourth at 106.
“Brayden, you’re heart breaks for him,” Sycamore coach Alex Nelson said. “But he’s come a long way from when he was a freshman to where he is now. He worked extremely hard, and we’re proud of him. There are thousands of kids in the stands who would love to be in his spot.”
Nelson said not only was giving up the reverse costly, but the fact that Stauffenberg didn’t allow an escape also changed the complexion of the match.
“It kind of neutralized that situation,” Nelson said. “He was able to ride us out, and that kind of neutralized it like it was 0-0. We came out like we wanted to and took him down, but he’s a great wrestler.”
Cooley dropped his sixth-place match to Glenwood’s Alex Hamrick, suffering a pin in the second period.
“I got a medal, so that’s always good,” the Sycamore junior said.
Nelson said it was good to get Cooley on the podium.
“He’s got a whole other year for us,” Nelson said. “It was nice to get him down here and see what the atmosphere is like and how things work down here. And for him to come away with a medal is exciting.”
Phillips lost to Aurora Christian’s Deven Casey, 16-3.
“I’m not exactly satisfied, but it’s whatever, I guess,” Phillips said. “It’s not exactly what I wanted, but I guess it’s good.”
Kaneland coach Ken Paoli said he’s glad Phillips could medal to cap a standout career for the Knights.
“I’m proud of the effort Cam has put in the last four years,” Paoli said. “He has 115 wins over four years, a 40-win season this year. He’s top 10 for all-time wins at Kaneland and top 10 for wins in a season. ... Very proud the effort he put in. He’s our captain, he’s our leader, and it’s been a pleasure to coach him these last four years.”
The Spartans will face Rock Island on Tuesday in the Class 2A Washington Team Sectional.
“They worked hard to get that regional title,” Nelson said. “Our guys are going to go in there and wrestle hard, and hopefully it’s enough to win the sectional, and if not, we had a great season.”