Bulldogs Send Five To Sectionals

Five Harrisburg High School wrestlers qualified for this week's Sectional at Vandalia after qualifying at this past Saturday's Carterville 1A Regional, where the Bulldogs had two wrestlers finish at top of the podium.

The Harrisburg duo of Bradyn Whiting and Tucker Bryant finished first for the Bulldogs, while Rayne Jerrel was second and Chantz Jaegers and Bryant Lester each took third place.

Whiting, who competed in the 160-pound weight class beat Carterville's Ethan Lannom and won by an 8-4 decision over Anna-Jonesboro's Bryce Lingle in the semifinals, before taking down Herrin's Dustin Hendrix by a 5-4 decision in the championship bout.

Bryant, who wrestled in the 220-pound division, got a first round bye and beat A-J's Matthew Wright in the semifinals and then knocked off Benton's Hunter Roberts in the championship match.

Jerrel lost to Benton's Logan Williams in the 195-pound weight class title match for second place. Jerrel picked up a semifinal win over Herrin's John Coates.

Lester, who wrestled in the 182-pound weight class, grabbed a third place finish after being AJ's James Patterson and then lost to Benton's Garrett Cardwell in the semifinals. Lester battled back to get a forfeit win in the consolations semifinals and then beat Murphysboro's Aiden McNitt by a 6-1 decision for third place.

In the 106-pound weight class, Jaegers knocked off Carterville's Raymon Thomas, but followed that up with a loss to West Frankfort's Trenton Schach. In the consolation semifinals, Jaegers pinned Murphysboro's John Alexander and then beat Benton's Josh Lenard for third place.c