State Wrestling: Wilmington’s Rodawold ends on a high note
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media February 16, 2013 11:32PM
Wilmington's Andy Rodawold celebrates his Class 1A 132-pound state championship. | Jeff Cagle~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: March 18, 2013 6:43AM
CHAMPAIGN — Andy Rodawold had been close before but a third state medal for the Wilmington senior wasn’t going to cut it.
“I wasn’t going to leave this place without getting first,” Rodawold said.
Rodawold outlasted Dakota’s J.J. Wolfe 5-3 in overtime to become the Class 1A state champ at 132 pounds.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Rodawold said. “It was a tough match and definitely the way I wanted to go out. This is what I’ve dreamed about ever since I started wrestling.”
Joliet Central had a pair of third-place finishers in seniors Trayvon Zabala (120) and Sharod Wilson (182).
Zabala ended his career as one of the most decorated wrestlers in Joliet Central history, while Wilson, a JV wrestler two seasons ago, has seen a meteoric rise to his career.
“I’m happy with (my career overall),” Zabala said. “I wanted to come out with a state title, but a three-time state-placer is pretty good.”
Brothers Carson and Corbett Oughton both reached the podium for Minooka.
Carson, a freshman 145-pounder, took sixth. Corbett, coming back from a midseason dislocated elbow, finished fourth at 152.
“I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Corbett said of reaching the podium with his brother. “Being off for a month and a half is tough; it’s huge considering it’s most of the season. Once I got back into it, I started hitting it hard, and (the coaching staff) really got me ready for this tournament.”
Lockport junior Brian Rossi lost to Thornton’s reigning state champion, Kris Williams, in the semifinals. Rossi bounced back and won two matches Saturday to take third for the second year in a row.
“When you come down to Champaign, there are a ton of competitors all working for one thing. It’s tough to be that one,” Rossi said. “Coming out with a third-place medal, I’m disappointed, but it will fuel the fire next year to come out and win state.”
Coal City’s Cody Minnick (106), Corey Jurzak (113) and Casey Brown (120) all came up short in the finals.
