By Dean Criddle BND
CHAMPAIGN -- It was a history making night for Mascoutah senior Lavion Mayes and the Indians wrestling program on Saturday at Assembly Hall in Champaign.
Taking on a familiar foe for the third straight week in Cahokia senior Bernard Gantt, Mayes scored four takedowns in the first 2 minutes and 15 seconds of the of the Class 2A 145-pound state title match as he went on to become the school's first wrestling state champion with a convincing 15-6 victory.
Mayes, who had beaten Gantt three times this season, including in Class 2A regional and sectional title bouts, wasn't to be denied as he conducted a takedown clinic against the Comanches standout.
"I wanted to keep getting takedowns, because it meant that with every one I got, he (Gantt) would have to do that much more to catch up," Mayes said. "When I came off the mat, it almost felt like the last two weeks. Coach (Chris) Lindsay assured me that once it sinks in, it will feel a lot better."
Third at state at 140 a year ago, Mayes ended his season with a 43-1 record. Gantt finished at 28-8.
"I couldn't be happier for Lavion," Linsday said. "He's a kid who started with our kids program when he was in the seventh grade and has worked his tail off to get where he's at.
"A great student, citizen and athlete, he's the kind of kid you love to see succeed."
While Gantt and Mayes battled for the Class 2A 145-pound title, two other metro-east wrestlers were awaiting their chances at a state title late Saturday at Assembly Hall.
Alton senior Taylor McGiffen (47-1) was set to take on top-ranked Sam Brooks (37-1) of Oak Park-River Forest in the 182-pound final.
Edwardsville senior Blake Blair (41-4), looking to become the first state champion in school history, was set to meet 36-0 Brad Johnson of Lockport at 195.
Neither match had started at press time.
Mayes wasn't the only local wrestler crowned with a title, as Civic Memorial senior David Pearce won the Class 2A championship at 126 with a 6-3 win over George Fisher of Aurora Marmion Academy.
Pearce becomes the sixth Eagles wrestler to win a state championship and first since Jason Christiansen won the 171 title in Class AA in 1997.
In all, 15 local wrestlers, including four from Belleville and three from Triad, earned medals on Saturday.
Althoff earned a pair of medals in its first state tournament as a Class 1A school. Senior Kameron Harris placed third at 182, while junior Michael Harris finished sixth at 126.
It was the first time since 2004 that Althoff has had multiple state tournament medalists.
"I'm very pleased. Of course we would have liked to have had two kids in the finals, and we felt they were both capable of making it," Althoff assistant coach Dave Harris said. "But it was a good tournament for Althoff wrestling.
"Michael lost 6-1 in the semifinals to a very good kid in J.J. Whaley (of Stillman Valley) and he has had a very sore back all weekend. And for Kameron to end his career with a third-place medal, I know he feels good about it."
While Althoff had two medal winners, Belleville West and Belleville East also earned some hardware as Lancers senior Skyler Procasky (138) and Maroons junior Demechico Spraggins (126) also finished in the top six of their weight classes in Class 3A.
Procasky became the Lancers first medal winner since 2007 by placing fifth.
A four-year starter for East coach Maurice Brown, Procasky defeated Matt Ornoff of Mundelein by injury default in the fifth-place bout.
"I'm pleased. I wanted to do a little better but in wrestling in a state like Illinois, to place in the top five is pretty good," Procasky said. "I had a couple of tough matches and I wondered if I could come back. But I did come back and it felt good not to let the coaches or anyone else down."
Spraggins, second in Class 3A at 103 and 119 the last two years, rebounded from a tough semifinal loss on Friday to become the first wrestler in West history to earn three state medals, when he placed fourth at 126.
Spraggins had been third for much of the season.
"Third wasn't what we came here for and I know Mech was disappointed by losing last night. But the kid he lost to (Nathan Davis of Plainfield Central) is one of the top wrestlers in the state and he executed his game plan to perfection," West coach Al Sears said. "But I know Mech learned some valuable lessons this weekend. Lessons he'll take with him in the offseason and as he prepares for next year."
For Triad, senior Jake Tindle led the way by placing third at 138 in Class 2A. Teammates Cole Wysocki (106) and Kyle Graumenz (138) both finished fourth.
Cahokia senior David Frazier gave the Comanches two medalist in Class 2A when he placed fourth at 152, while in Class 3A, Josh Dowdy of Granite City placed fourth at 170.
Tyler Floyd of Roxana placed fifth at 160 in Class 1A.
