Editor’s note: Assistant High School Wrestling Coach Tony Wright submitted this Junior High School Sectional press release and photographs, prior to the State Tournament.
The MJHS Colts are sending six members to the IESA State Tournament on March 7-8, 2025. Follow the action at the State Tournament on www.trackwrestling.com. You can follow our six competitors’ results by searching for the “IESA 2025 State Tournament.” Wrestling will begin at 11:30 a.m., on Friday, March 7.
Junior High Wrestlers (left-to-right) Mason Grismore, Eli Modglin, Jaken Updike, Waylon Phelps, Corbin Updike, and Uryah Wright all punched their State tickets, at last weekend’s Sectional Tournament in Oregon, IL.
Below, these young men took first place honors in their weight class: (left-to-right) Eli Modglin, Mason Grismore, and Uryah Wright.
The squad had nine individuals compete in the IESA Sectional Tournament on Saturday, March 1. These young men battled fiercely to give themselves an opportunity to compete at the State Tournament. Corbin Updike (75 lbs) won his first round match, before dropping his Quarterfinal bout to the eventual champ, Ben Duyvejonck of Orion. Updike recovered to win his next two wrestleback matches. In his blood-round, where nerves are at their highest, Updike took it to his opponent Brody Jefko, of Richmond-Nippersink, scoring first and often, to secure a technical fall and a pass to the State Tournament.
Uryah Wright (90 lbs) qualified for the third time to the State Tournament where he looks to reach the top of the podium. He placed 5th in 2023 and 2nd in 2024. He looks to improve on last year’s runner-up finish, to become Morrison Jr. High’s first State Champion. At Sectionals Wright dominated the competition. He wasted little time pinning his Quarterfinal opponent in 33 seconds; he followed up with a pin in the Semis in 1:49. In the Finals he cruised to a 12-1 major decision over Harvard’s Liam Parker. This is Wright’s second-consecutive Sectional title.
Like Wright, Eli Modglin returns to the State Tournament in search of a State title. Modglin has been hungry since his 3rd place finish a year ago and has mowed down competition all season, in preparation for his State title run. Modglin scored three pins at Sectionals and won his bracket in dominating fashion. He took out Rock Island’s Santiago Cruz in 1:29 in the Quarterfinals. In the Semi-finals Anderson Gonzalez of Harvard attempted to match Modglin’s pace, but like a hammer on an anvil, Modglin pounded him into submission in 2:54. In the Finals he took care of Rockridge’s Noah Behr in 2:19.
Waylon Phelps earned his first trip to the State Tournament. Waylon had a major gut check in his first round match. Losing late in the match against Gavin Bojan, of Island Lake Matthews, Phelps scored a late takedown and rideout to force overtime. In overtime, Phelps took command scoring a takedown to move on. In the Quarterfinals he made light work his opponent, scoring 16 points and a technical fall. He would fall to Connor Higgins 13-5 in the Semis in a hard-fought battle. In the blood-round Phelps locked up a cradle to pin Fox Lake Stanton’s Joel Lemus. He would stay hot and pin Kiryn Schull of Colona in the third place match.
Like Phelps, Jaken Updike makes his first trip to the State Tournament. Updike redeemed an earlier loss in the Quarterfinals, knocking off Erie’s Matthew Ballard 8-2. In the Semi-finals, Updike was in a wild back-and-forth match with Orion’s Blake Arnold. The match featured multiple lead changes. Arnold was able to hold Updike off 11-7. In the blood-round Updike faced Polo’s Ryder Faivre. Faivre scored the first takedown, but Updike maintained his composure and methodically worked his way back to an 8-5 decision to qualify. He met up with Ballard again in the third place match, where Updike cruised to a 13-3 major decision.
Mason Grismore earned himself his first tournament title in the form of a Sectional championship. Grismore pinned his first round opponent and followed with a controlled 9-5 victory over Kamden Palmer of Riverdale. In the Semi-finals Grismore brought the drama to the mat against Jordan Sylvanus of Johnsburg. These two traded takedowns and reversals and were tied 8-8 when Grismore muscled Sylvanus over for a pin, in an emotional win. In the finals Grismore faced West Carroll’s undefeated Garrett Carter, whom he had beaten Grismore three times prior. An inspired Grismore tossed Carter multiple times racking up a 16-7 lead, before pinning his foe and earning a Sectional title.
Three other Colts went to battle at Sectionals as well. Silas Harmon was a first time Sectional qualifier, along with Caleb McCaulley, who picked up a pin in a wrestleback match. Jakin Modglin went 1-2 on the weekend after earning a Regional title the week prior. Modglin had a standout 5th grade season, beating multiple State qualifiers and a returning State medalist, in his first year for the Colts. Modglin suffered a couple of heartbreaking losses including his blood-round match.