Freeport Wins NIC-10 Wrestling Title

By Al Zipsie

Anthony Dedmond the Freeport wrestling coach has had some great moments both last year and this season with more to come.

Last year he was at the coaching chair for a great moment when his son Major Dedmond won the 170 pound Illinois  2A State Championship as a senior for the Pretzels.

With Major off to college playing football. Anthony this year led Freeport to its first-ever NIC-10 Conference wrestling team championship in school history.

The Pretzels on their home mats Saturday won the title with 222.5 points ahead of the second-place Belvidere Coop with 194.5 points. Followed by third-place Harlem 159.5, Rockford East 150.5, Hononegah who had won six straight NIC-10 titles was fifth with 96 followed by Boylan 69, Rockford Guilford 54, Rockford Jefferson 42 Rockford Auburn 12.

 Last year Freeport was the runner up but this they won it in impressive fashion and halting the Indians streak with six champions and three runner up finishes as all 14 wrestlers medaled.

The Pretzels Tyler Calam got them off in style winning the first weight class at 106. Markel Baker then at 113 got a high energy win over Saw Htoo of East 14-10.

Other Freeport champions were Jaylin Hail with a 3:09 fall of East's Kevin Pierce at 132. Keondrie Jackson had a stellar effort pinning Chad Richards of Harlem in 4:54 whose only two losses came all year at the tough Dvorak Tournament. Matthew Chavers is now 28-2 on the season winning the title at 182 with a fall in 4:34. And the perfect finish on the night for Anthony Batteast at 285 who with a 4-1 win over Josie Pizano of the Belvidere Coop.

The Pretzels also had runner up finishes from Jacob Redington at 120, Hard on. Jackson 138, KK Collier at 145 and Jamari Adams at 160.

Other conference champs were Belvidere North  Presley Bensley. at 120, Tony Alvarado 126 and Devin Diveley at 145. Jack Seacrest an East freshman at Dothan Dickson Boylan 152,  Cameron Mazde of Harlem at 160. Alvin Matmen of Jefferson at 220 and Cadence Hecox of Harlem at 145 who is unbeaten at 145.

NIC 10 wrestling teams split up going to 2A and 3A Regionals this weekend.