Boys wrestling: Lockport’s Brayden Thompson, Andrew Blackburn-Forst, Joliet Catholic’s Gylon Sims, Dillan Johnson win state titles

CHAMPAIGN – Andrew Blackburn-Forst made history Saturday night.

Not only did the Lockport wrestler win a IHSA state title, but the senior became one of the most-decorated athletes in the school’s history, winning a wrestling championship last year, a football title this fall and another wrestling title Saturday at State Farm Center.

“I don’t think anyone has won as many state titles as I have, which that being said is freaking incredible that I was able to do that,” Blackburn-Frost said, “especially in a short amount of time I was able to.”

The senior was one of four Herald-News wrestlers who won a state championship – his teammate Brayden Thompson won at 170 pounds, while Joliet Catholic’s Dillan Johnson (285 pounds) and Gylon Sims (113) also took home titles.

Blackburn-Forst and Marist’s Ghee Rachal started their match at 220 pounds with a scoreless first period before Rachal took a 1-0 lead to end the second. Blackburn-Forst escaped to tie the match at 1-all before a move that gave him a 3-1 lead, and he held off Rachal for a 3-2 win.

Saturday’s win won’t be the senior’s final action. His teammates cheered him on during his title win, and he’s ready to compete for a team title starting Tuesday with Lockport’s team sectional match.

“We’re coming for that team title,” Blackburn-Forst said. “All those boys in the stands [that] cheered us on will be in my heart forever.”

Thompson remembered the first time he went to the IHSA state meet as a freshman. It opened his eyes to how cool the tournament and how much it means to everybody.

He finished third as a freshman and swore that he would never lose in the State Farm Center again. The junior kept his word and capped a 45-0 season with the Class 3A 170-pound title

“I told myself that’s the only loss I’m going to take here ever again,” Thompson said. “I kind of fulfilled that tonight. Moving on, consistency, working hard, that’s what it will get you.”

Thompson looked dominant right from the beginning in his title match against Marmion’s Tyler Perry, taking a quick 2-0 lead after one period and then running away to a 7-2 title win.

While many wrestlers might feel the pressure competing for a state title and trying to keep their perfect record, Thompson relied on his experience to cap the perfect season.

“I was a little nervous, but I’ve been doing this for a while,” Thompson said. “I’ve been going to every tournament since I was little, and I’ve been telling myself I’m the best kid in the country. If you want to be that guy, you have to be that guy on the mat when everyone’s watching.”

Johnson noticed something in his 285-pound Class 2A title-match against Fenwick’s Jimmy Liston. The Friar kept going to his back when Johnson would make a move, so the Hilltoppper stayed on his feet, moving left and right.

That analysis helped Johnson win the title and set a Class 2A record for fastest pin.

“It’s proof of how hard I’ve worked,” Johnson said, “it’s proof that I’ve earned it.”

Johnson finished the season 34-0, and all the sophomore could do after winning was enjoy the moment.

“It’s everything I’ve worked for all season long,” Johnson said. “I’ve been focused on improving and improving.”

[ Photos: Class 1-2-3A wrestlers compete for the state title Saturday night ]

Sims remembered how he felt as a freshman when he qualified for the state championship and finished second. He won the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s 106-pound title over the summer, but he wanted to come back to State Farm Center to redeem himself.

The junior remembered how much it hurt him, but he used it as motivation to come back to Champaign two years later and win the Class 2A title at 113 pounds.

“To receive the beating that I got, it made me more hungry,” Sims said. “Now I’m back here, and I kind of mirrored what happened to me.”

The Hilltopper ran out to a 2-0 lead after one period and that would be the closest his match against Rochelle’s Xavier Villalobos would get. Sims ran out to a 8-0 lead before Villalobos scored, but the Hilltopper continued to pour it on, winning 17-6.

“I put in a lot of work,” Sims said. “Offseason, in season, I’m always working, never satisfied.”

Joliet Catholic’s Mason Alessio (145) fought hard in his Class 2A title match against Montini’s Jaydon Colon, but he couldn’t give the Hilltoppers their third state title of the night.

Colon tied the match at 1-all in the second period before Alessio tied it at 3 to end the period. Colon took a 6-3 lead that proved to be too much for the junior to overcome, but left him with motivation for next season.

“It does feel good, but I do want to win a bracket board, and I have next year to do that,” Alessio said. “I’m excited.”

Dwight’s Dillon Sarff (138) made it a close battle in 1A after falling behind, but the senior came up short in his bid for a state title, falling, 10-6, against Dakota’s Maddux Blakely.

“It’s obviously not where I want to be, but my hard work paid off,” Sarff said. “I’m a little upset, but it’s not a bad place to end up.

Coal City’s Ashton Harvey (195) has only wrestled for a month after missing most of the season, but Saturday he was happy he made the effort to wrestle this season. He finished third in 1A after coming back in the third period to win 7-6 against Tremont’s Cooper Wendling.

“It feels great to come back,” Harvey said. “I’ve had about a month to prepare, so it’s honestly outstanding. I’m glad I came back.”

Reed-Custer’s Kody Marschner (220) finished third in 1A when his opponent left the match with an injury.

Fifteen Herald-News wrestlers placed in third through sixth place Saturday afternoon. In Class 3A, Plainfield Central’s Jacob Macatangay (126) finished fourth, Plainfield South’s John Pacewic (195), Plainfield North’s Jared Gumila (160) and Lincoln-Way Central’s Joey Malito (120) finished fifth, and Plainfield South’s Matthew Janiak (170) and Lockport’s Logan Swaw (152) finished sixth.

In Class 2A, Lemont’s Alex Tagler (170) and Joliet Catholic’s Owen Gerdes (195) finished fourth, and Lemont’s Moe Khalil and Joliet Catholic’s Owen O’Connor (138) finished fifth. In Class 1A, Coal City’s Brant Widlowski (120) and Zach Finch (152) each finished fifth, while Peotone’s Marco Spinazzola (138) finished sixth.