January 09, 2025
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State-ranked wrestlers, teams dot PIT lineup

Field includes 19 ranked teams, 7 past state champions

By Kevin Hieronymus
The Princeton Tigers, shown here at ABE's Rumble in Springfield, will be hosting their annual PIT on Friday and Saturday at Prouty Gym.

The Princeton Tigers, shown here at ABE's Rumble in Springfield, will be hosting their annual PIT on Friday and Saturday at Prouty Gym. (Photo provided by John Morris)

The 2025 Lyle King Princeton Invitational wrestling tournament will be another star-studded event Friday and Saturday on the Prouty Gym mats.

Nineteen of the 36 teams entered are receiving recognition in the state rankings, including four in the top 10. The field also includes seven defending or former state champions, 24 returning state finishers and 59 returning state qualifiers.

There are seven top-10 ranked wrestlers in the 120-, 126- and 157-pound divisions alone.

PHS coach Steve Amy said the field is as strong as ever and looks for his Tigers to compete for some championships.

The No. 1-ranked Vandalia Foxes head the list of ranked teams. They are joined by No. 3 Coal City, No. 7 LeRoy, No. 8 Richmond-Burton, No. 11 Fithian-Oakwood, No. 12 Olympia, No. 13 Petersburg PORTA, No. 14 Roxana, No. 15 Reed-Custer, No. 16 Gibson City/Melvin-Sibley, No. 19 Sterling Newman and No. 23 Byron in the state rankings.

Princeton is one of seven schools receiving honorable mention honors along with Auburn, Clifton Central, Clinton, Mt. Zion, Orion and Riverdale.

Other teams on hand will be Alleman, Dakota, Dixon, Illinois Valley Central, Illini Bluffs, Litchfield, Manteno, Mercer County, Monticello, Ottawa, Pittsfield, Riverdale, Rock Falls, Rockridge, Tremont, Warrensburg-Latham and Wilmington.

The Tigers will send five ranked wrestlers into the PIT fray with No. 2 Casey Etheridge (20-0) at 160, No. 4 Cade Odell (11-0) at 285, No. 5 Ace Christiansen (17-2) at 144, No. 6 Augustus Swanson (6-1) at 120 and No. 9 Kane Dauber (19-1) at 132.

Dauber is a freshman newcomer to the Tigers' program.

Odell and Swanson both placed second in last year’s PIT, with Etheridge and Christiansen claiming fourths.

The Tigers also had much success at state last year, with Christiansen (third), Odell (fourth) and Swanson (fifth at 113) all medaling, while Etheridge qualified.

Also in the Tigers' lineup will be Brayden Bickett (10-11) at 106, Jacob Paull (8-5) at 113, Kaydin Gibson (10-3) and Jaydon Cooke (6-2) at 126, Corbin Brown (7-8) at 138, Dominic Lewis (2 2) at 150, Brennen Emmett (5-10) at 165, Michael Kurth (5-9) at 175 and Ian Morris (15-3) at 215.

The PIT starts at 4:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. The finals start about 3 p.m. Saturday.

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