Wrestling: McHenry’s Chris Moore survives in overtime to make push for undefeated season, state title

CHAMPAIGN – Chris Moore stood on the State Farm Center floor panting with scars on his face.

The McHenry junior wrestler tried to catch his breath through his mouth as his nose was stuffed with a cotton ball to stop the bleeding he suffered in his IHSA State Tournament semifinal match.

He couldn’t preserve his face from some damage on Friday night, but Moore protected his most-important treasure: his undefeated record and a chance to win his second state title.

“It feels great,” Moore said. “That’s two weeks in a row with an overtime match. I’m prepared to go as long as it takes to get a win. I think my conditioning is better than anybody’s here.”

Moore will headline a group of four McHenry County-area wrestlers who will compete for a state championship Saturday.

The McHenry junior fell behind 2-0 early in his Class 3A 160-pound semifinal match against Waubonsie Valley’s Antonio Torres but forced a tie at the beginning of the second period at two each before falling behind 4-2.

Moore clawed his way back to tie it four and the two battled into overtime, where the Warrior flipped over Torres and pinned his way to the state-title match.

“I’m feeling good, a little tired, a little beat up but nothing to slow me down there,” Moore said of his final stretch.

Richmond-Burton freshman Emmett Nelson took an early 2-0 lead in his Class 1A semifinal at 113 against Harriburg’s Tony Keene, but he had to push back some adversity when Keene took a 4-2 advantage midway through the second period. The freshman flipped the score and never looked back, finishing with a 11-7 decision win.

Nelson started attending state tournaments well before high school and said he has been preparing for a chance at his high school dream.

“I knew as a freshman I’d still be successful, even though I have less experience,” Nelson said. “I’ve been working toward this all year long.”

Crystal Lake South’s Shane Moran continued his strong stretch at 182 when he won his semifinal match against Fenwick’s Conor Paris. The senior ran out to a 16-0 lead before he won the match by a technical fall.

Moran relied on his past experience. He had been in state semifinals twice in his wrestling career, so when it came time to figure out a way to break through the third time around, he had all the ingredients to do so.

“This time I knew where I was at, I was more calm, more collected,” Moran said. “I just kept with my own attacks this time.”

Crystal Lake Central’s Dillon Carlson advanced to the Class 2A final at 160 after his 8-5 win over Kenwood’s Jashua Butler.

Crystal Lake South’s Josh Glover suffered his first loss of the season when he fell to Rochelle’s Xavier Vilalobos 5-3 on a move in the final seconds of their match. Marian Central’s Vance Williams (132), Harvard’s Ivan Rosas (145) and Johnsburg’s Logan Kirk (152) all lost in their respective semifinals and will compete for third or fifth place on Saturday afternoon.

Eleven McHenry County-area wrestlers will wrestle in the consolation bracket Saturday morning. Marian Central’s Kaden Harman (113), Harvard’s Bailey Livdahl (160) and Nathan Rosas (195), Richmond-Burton’s Brock Wood (220), Prairie Ridge’s Tyler Evans (120), Crystal Lake Central’s Connor Lezama (152), Burlington Central’s Nathan Kim (170), Cary-Grove’s Wade Abrams (195), Jacobs’ James Wright (126) McHenry’s Brody Hallin (170) and Huntley’s Ryder Hunkins (182) will all compete to stay alive in their respective classes and weights during the morning session.