Prep Wrestling: Keene makes history for Harrisburg at State Finals

Harrisburg High School wrestling coach Greg Langley knows the future is bright for Bulldog sophomore Tony Keene.

Keene accomplished something very rare at HHS as he became just the second person in school history to place at the state tournament, finishing fourth over the weekend, joining 1994's Aaron Bailey as the only two Bulldogs to come away with a medal at Champaign.

After falling in the semifinal match Friday, Keene lost via pin fall to East Alton Woodriver's Aaron Niemeyer in the third place match Saturday at the State Farm Center.

On Friday, Keene lost by a 11-7 decision to Emment Nelson from Richmond Burton in the semifinals,

On Thursday, Keene picked up a pair of wins as the Harrisburg sophomore picked up an opening round pin fall win over St. Jospeh Ogden's Emmitt Holt and that followed a quarterfinal win over Newman's Briar Ivey.

Keene finishes the season 40-4 with three of his losses coming to wrestlers that finished first, second and third at the state tournament this past season.

"I couldn't be happier for Tony and what he was able to accomplish this season," Langley said. Tony has been wrestling for a while now and he continues to grow and get better each and every time. He has a knack for wrestling and finds that flow from one move to the next that can set him apart from other wrestlers.

"There's no doubt that he could have been a state champion this year, but he's just a sophomore and I think his future is really bright."