N. Joseph takes 35-1 record into state final
Nate Joseph earned the chance to place at state again.
With a third-place finish Saturday in the Class 2A Sterling Sectional, the East Peoria Community High School senior will appear at the Illinois High School Association state final in Champaign.
Joseph placed fourth in 2009 at the Assembly Hall in 215 pounds, the same bracket he will take part in this year.
A 3-2 quarterfinal victory over Cole Spinks of Galesburg was pivotal for Joseph.
When the two met again to decide third place in the sectional, Joseph (35-1) was handed a walkover victory.
To get to the final bout, Joseph scored a 23-8 technical fall against Notre Dame’s Gabe Tudor. Joseph also defeated Tudor the previous week for the Washington Regional title.
Joseph enters the state tournament with a 75-7 record over the last two years.
Cody Largent and Jeremy Gumm accounted for a combined three sectional victories for the Raiders.
State: Action begins in 2A at 11 a.m. Friday with first-round matches. Quarterfinals start at 6 p.m. on the campus of the University of Illinois.
Joseph, Illinois Matmen’s No. 3 ranked wrestler on Feb. 10, squares off against No. 11 Dustin Cole of Mt. Vernon in the first round.
The winner meets Andy Crivellone, the No. 10 rated grappler from Oak Lawn Richards, in the quarterfinals.
