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Sports

CLC Wrestlers Dominate at State

Tigers take home four state titles, team title still in site

entered the individual state wrestling tournament with grand expectations, and four of its stars were radiant in victory.

Trevor Jauch, and Austin Mardsen more than lived up to past expectations, while Gage Harrah joined the ever-expanding list of state champions this weekend at the University of Illinois’ Assembly Hall.

With four more state championships under their collective belts, the unrivaled foursome has recorded nine total state titles.

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Kielbasa had a hunch when he suffered what proved to be his only loss of the season—a championship decision at the Dvorak finals to Montini senior Steve Robertson—that the two would meet again.

“We’re both two-time state champions,” Kielbasa said. “I knew as soon as the match ended that we would wrestle again.”

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Sure enough, they met in the Class 2A 152-pound finals Saturday night. But it was Kielbasa who not only avenged his only loss of the year but also denied Robertson in his bid to become a three-time champion.

Tied 3-3 after six exhausting minutes, Kielbasa took down Robertson in overtime and iced his 8-3 win with a three-point near fall for good measure.

“All the hard work—it comes down to that,” said Kielbasa. “I wouldn’t have wanted to wrestle anyone else but Stephen Robertson in the finals. If we wrestle again (at the team state finals), it won’t be for me. It will be for the team.”

Two weight classes earlier, Jauch set the stage for Kielbasa after denying Cahokia senior Thomas Gantt 3-1 to claim the title at 140 pounds.

“It probably looked like I was stalling,” Jauch said of his tactical showdown. “I was trying to peel (his) hands off my wrist. I couldn’t peel the hands (to escape).”

Jauch improved to 44-4 on the season with the triumph.

The only question surrounding Mardsen and Harrah was whether they could complete their spotless seasons.

The answer proved to be as unqualified as their performances were electrifying.

“I’m just so excited to have a second (state championship),” Mardsen said after establishing a new state benchmark with falls in all three of his matches. “”I think it’s sweeter (than last year). I just got my points. We want that (team) state title this year. We’re not going to stop until we get it.”

The masterful Mardsen run—he begins team state competition on Tuesday with a 44-0 record—at 215 pounds was preceded by Harrah concluding his flawless season with a 5-0 triumph in the championship at 189.

“Everyone’s goal is to be an undefeated state champion,” said Harrah, who had two first-period falls to reach the finals. “I’m glad I finally got my (state title).”

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