Galesburg High School wrestling program will be sending 4 females to DeKalb to participate in the IHSA Sectional, and 5 males to Geneseo to participate in the IHSA Sectional. All nine wrestlers are advancing after placing in the top three at their Regional competition.
At both the girls and boys Sectionals, each weight class will include 12 total wrestlers. Four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to State. Wrestlers who took first place at the Regional will get a first round bye. Those who took 2nd in Regional will wrestle vs a wrestle who took 3rd in another Regional.
Here is a look at the Silver Streaks headed to the Sectionals…
Amyah Pruitt- Junior- 120 pounds
Regional Place- 3rd Place
Season Highlight- My best win this season was definitely against a Sherrard girl at the Geneseo scramble.
Sectional Focus- My main focus is confidence, without confidence I won’t preform as good as I know I can.
Pre-Match Routine- I always pray for protection over me, my opponents and my team.
Best Advice- “Leave it all on the mat”
Dai’Driana Willford- Senior- 130 pounds
Regional Place- 1st Place
Record- 25-5
Season Highlights- Ever since this wrestling season started I was always so nervous to wrestle this girl from UT. I saw her as a threat bc she was strong, fast and I lacked the confidence she did. Even though I’d beaten her before that feeling never left my mind. But during Regionals my mindset was different. When I went against her for the 3rd time this season this match felt way different than all the others. It was simply because I wanted it more. I won that match because I worked hard and didn’t let up. It may not have been my hardest match physically but mentally I overcame a mental blockage for myself.
Sectional Focus- My focus and priority is gaining the confidence and seeing what others see in me. I’m also working on my stamina, pushing past tired to achieve big goals.
Pre-Match Routine- Before every match I always listen to “My Own Summer” by Deaftones. The song talks about escaping the chaos in your head and learning to find solace within the storm.
Best advice- Coach Ship once said “ Nothing else matters besides your present moment”. Whether it’s life or school the goal your reaching toward holds the upmost value. In the moments of wrestling it’s hard to not over think or question your ability but focusing solely in the moment helps you set up goals for yourself and when you successfully accomplish those goals there’s no better feeling.
Delilah Gregory- Sophomore- 135 pounds
Regional Place- 3rd Place
Season Highlight- My highlights of this year are when we went against Geneseo and Sterling.
Sectional Focus- To get to State I need to focus on breathing and not think so much.
Pre-Match Routine- I do not have any pre match rituals.
Best Advice- The best advice I have gotten is from Willow and it’s to just keep pushing even when it’s hard.
Vivian Aldus- Senior- 140 pounds
Regional Place- 4th place
Record- 20-10
Season Highlight- My favorite moments of the year have been never giving up. I never gave up any points regardless of how many points ahead I may have been. One specific highlight of that was the match that decided if I went to sectionals. We restarted with 30ish seconds left in the third period and I held onto this girls leg the entire time to avoid her getting 3 points on me even though I still would’ve beat her in points.
Sectional Focus- My focus needs to be on my consistent quality drills, pushing myself in practice everyday, and building up my tool bag to take on some of the toughest girls I’ll see this year.
Pre-Match Routine- My pre match rituals are pretty basic. A lot of people like to listen to music, but for me I love to listen to the room. I listen to the crowd, the refs whistles, and the loud motivating noises that always fills a wrestling room. When I think before a match I think about the work I’ve put in to be where I’m at, take deep breaths, and those moments are what best prepare me to wrestle my hardest.
Best Advice- The best advice for me has always been the simplest advice that I’ve gotten from my Coaches, “Give it everything!” When I step on the mat I’m always prepared to give more than I ever thought I could. I never want to think I could’ve pushed myself harder or I could’ve done anything else other than the performance that I put on.
Often this year, win or lose, if I was upset about my performance my wrestling partner Daidrianna would ask me, “Did you give it everything you had?” My answer was always yes. This sport has given me so many great opportunities and memories, so I always give it everything I have in return.
Landon Darst- Sophomore- 132 pounds
Regional Finish- 3rd Place
Record- 20 wins 16 losses
Season Highlight- A win this season that was the best was beating Geneseo.
Sectional Focus- My focus needs to be on sharpening my main attacks and setups along with my turns on top.
Pre-Match Routine- I like to pace back and forth and visualize my first moves.
Best Advice- Best advice I got from Coach Leibach would be” you don’t rise to your hopes on competition day you fall to your training.”
Jack Bernardi- Junior- 157 pounds
Regional Finish- 3rd Place
Record- 24-12
Season Highlight- Winning the Sterling tournament
Sectional Focus- Go wrestle smart and with confidence.
Pre-Match Focus- Listen to music
Best Advice- To not let your mind affect your wrestling.
Anthony Makwala- Senior- 165 pounds
Regional Finish- I took second at the regional
Record- 23-5
Season Highlight- My highlights are placing at all tourneys and reaching my 100th career win.
Sectional Focus- My focus needs to be in my mentality of self believe almost to a degree of delusion. 80% of the battle is in the mind before I even step on the mat.
Pre-Match Routine- Before the match I like to do some quick feet get my heart rate a little up then back down. Have a clear and concise playlist of me at my best.
Best Advice- Best advice I have gotten from my coach was, “go hard”, so simple but in reality that’s the essence of a battle. When I step out there I want to outlast, outwork, and dominate my opponent.
Mason Taylor- Senior- 175 pounds
Regional Finish- 3rd Place
Record- 30-9
Season Highlight- My significant wins on the season one came from the Moline dual this season against de Anthony Simpson of Moline, and Colton Mosack of Dunlap at the Metamora Invite.
Sectional Focus- My focus needs to be just to take it one match at a time and have fun with it and go out and get a fast start get to my offense.
Pre-Match Routine- My pre match routine is to get loose and stretch while listening to some hype music then when it gets to about three matches before my match, I put my headgear on and start by getting a few mental reps the the match before mine. I like to pray before I go out for my match then I go out and wrestle.
Best Advice- The best advice that I’ve gotten from my coaches is to have pride in my wrestling and to get a fast start and get to my attack and you gotta believe you the baddest dude in the gym.
Cale Johnson- Junior- 190 pounds
Regional Finish- 2nd
Record- 22-9
Season Highlight- Beating the Sterling 215 whom was 25 pounds heavier than me and winning the dual for our team was a highlight from the season.
Focus for Sectional- I need to focus on my confidence on the feet and work on getting up on bottom.
Pre-Meet Routine- I always spend a good amount of time before my matches visualizing good matches that I’ve had or visualizing winning said match.
Best Advice- The best advice I’ve gotten from my coaches is to not wrestle nervous and to realize they you always have a chance to win no matter what.
Click here to visit Evan Massey’s blog Massey Basketball.
Follow Massey Basketball on Twitter
Follow Massey Basketball on Faccbook
