Free Press Advocate

Dooley captures F/S regional title, prepares for Coal City Sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:50pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington wrestler Landon Dooley captured the Joliet West fresh/soph regional title on Sunday.
Dooley was the lone Wildcat competing and made the most of it at 113 pounds.
Dooley came in as an underdog but proved he could wrestle well with a first round pin of Clifton Central’s Blaike Archer (3:50).
Dooley followed that by outlasting Bolingbrook’s top seed Jared Craig with a pin in the third round at the 5:05 mark.

Yanke falls in wrestlebacks, still has memories to look back on from state

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:49pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
It wasn’t a packed house Friday during the first day of the IHSA girls wrestling tournament but there was still plenty of electricity in the air from cheering as the IHSA hosted its first-ever female wrestling final.
It was just as exciting as boys state held the Saturday before at the State Farm Center in Champaign, IL Still, Girls State had a vibe all its own at the Gossinger Auto Center in Bloomington, IL

WMS wrestlers crown one regional champion, send two to sectional

Published by admin on Tue, 03/01/2022 - 4:43pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington Middle School wrestling team had one regional champion Saturday at Reed-Custer.
Will Wilson, a seventh grader, beat Coal City’s Dane Eaton (8th) at 185 pounds to capture the title.
Wilson will be the top dog awaiting the winner of Forrest Prairie Central’s Kaden Davis and Heyworth’s Calvin Andrews.
Wildcat Memphis Iwen was another sectional qualifer. Iwen, an eighth grader, placed third at 215 pounds.

‘Cats end season in loss to Comets

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:29pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington boys basketball team had their season come to an end in a 78-62 loss to Reed-Custer on Saturday during the Wilmington Regional.
The ‘Cats fell behind early but fought back to close within five points at the end of the first quarter.
The ‘Cats were unable to slow down Comet guard Lucas Foote, who helped double that lead at the half, 32-22.

Yanke excited to wrestle at first IHSA girls state

Published by admin on Tue, 02/22/2022 - 5:28pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wilmington’s Dezirae Yanke advances to the first-ever Illinois High School Association girls state wrestling finals which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Grossinger Motors Center in Bloomington, IL.
One thing is certain, Yanke will be tested in a full, 16-girl bracket.

Shirey bows out in Coal City Sectional, plans to wrestle in college

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:18pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
Wildcat matman Blake Shirey was unable to advance to state despite putting up a good fight during the Coal City Sectional.
Shirey (285), an Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association honorable mention, started out his day on Friday with a big pin that got him to the quarterfinal round.
He began with an electrifying pin of Chicago Phoenix sophomore Brendyn Shields.
Then, he ran into a buzzsaw, eventual champion and the second ranked wrestler in the class, IC Catholic’s Isaiah Gonzalez.

Lady ‘Cats fall to Peotone in regional semifinal game

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:17pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls basketball team had their season come to an end in a 47-18 loss to Peotone on Monday during the Reed-Custer Regional Semifinal game.
The ‘Cats played great defense and stayed right with the Blue Devils as they only trailed by four at the end of one, 10-6.

Yanke captures second place at girls sectional, advances to state

Published by admin on Tue, 02/15/2022 - 5:16pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington girls wrestling team competed well during the Andrew High School Sectional, sending one to the first-ever Illinois High School Association girls wrestling state which will be held at the Grossinger Motors Center in Bloomington, IL Feb. 25.
Dezirae Yanke (155) placed second in the sectional and punched her first ticket to state.

They’re the first WMS boys basketball team to qualify for state

Published by admin on Thu, 02/10/2022 - 4:04pm

The Wilmington Middle School 8th grade boys will make school history Saturday as the first boys basketball team to advance to state. Since 1968, the ‘Cats have qualified for state in other sports like wrestling, track, baseball and volleyball, but never in boys basketball. In 1990-1991 there was a girls 7th grade cager team that made it but lost in the preliminary round.

Wildcats can’t catch up with Irish, fall to Reed-Custer’s late surge

Published by admin on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 4:42pm

by shawn long
Sports writer
The Wilmington boys basketball team fell 79-54 to a tough Seneca team on Saturday.
Seneca put up an early run but Wilmington cut the Irish half-time lead to 40-28. That would be as close as they would get in the second half.
Seneca continued to put up points and Wilmington just was unable to catch up as the Irish outscored them 39-26 the rest of the way.
Reid Juster led the ‘Cats with 18 points while Ryder Meents followed with 13 points and Cade McCubbin added 10 points.
Wilmington 48
Reed-Custer 64