Prep Wrestling: Keene wins regional title for Bulldogs

Tony Keene reigned supreme as the sophomore was the lone Bulldog to come away with a first place finish Saturday at the IHSA Class 1A wrestling regionals inside Davenport Gymnasium at Harrisburg High School.

A pair of other Harrisburg wrestlers, Brendan Hicks and Bryant Lester also wrestled in their respective championship matches, but fell just short with a second-place finish.

Keene, wrestling in the 113-pound weight class, knocked off Goreville's Briley Lehmen with a pin fall, sending the sophomore to next weekend's Vandalia sectional.

Keene (34-1) got a first-round bye and beat Fairfield's Steven Sexton by pin fall in the semifinals.

Brendan Hicks, wrestling in the 182-pound weight class, lost to Fairfield's Landon Stewart in the championship match by a 13-11 decision.

Hicks (24-16) knocked off West Frankfort's Brandon Turner in the first match of the day and then took care of No. 1 seed Isaac King of Carmi-White County by a 12-7 decision in the semis.

Lester (23-8) lost by a 16-4 majority decision to Fairfield's Konnor Dagg in the 195-pound weight class first-place match Saturday.

The senior started off his day with a win over Carterville's Jon Weiderman and then beat Carmi's Nelson Rider in the semifinals, setting up the championship match with Dagg.

Also on Saturday, Harrisburg's Briar Butler took fourth, losing to Anna-Jonesboro's Brett Smith via pin fall.

Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.