Senior wins four matches at the IHSA State Tournament
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Josh Tardy won four matches at the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament this weekend and finished on the podium in 4th place at 135 pounds. The tournament was held at the Assembly Hall in Champaign Illinois on the campus of the University of Illinois. Luke Roth also wrestled in the tournament for the Redhawks losing the only match in which he competed.
Josh Tardy faced Bloom of Deerfield High School early on Friday morning. Bloom scored the first takedown but Tardy answered with an escape and takedown before giving up an escape to make the first period score 3-3. Josh took the lead again with an escape in the second period. In the third period, Bloom looked to win the match when he escaped and then scored a late takedown to go up 4-6. But Tardy got off the bottom for an escape point and then earned an penalty point as time expired when his opponent was called for stalling. With the score knotted at 6-6, Josh scored a takedown with his signature shuck to win 8-6.
In the state quarter-finals, Tardy faced Holler of Sandburg. Holler scored a point when Tardy was called for stalling, then Holler scored an escape and takedown in the second period to put the match out of reach for Tardy. With the 2-6 loss, Josh would need to win two in a row in the wrestle-backs to place at state.
In the preliminary wrestle backs Tardy faced off with Windmoeller of Lyons Township High School. Josh Tardy was down 1-2 after the first period. After giving up an escape in the second period, Tardy scored on a sweep single for a takedown and kept the arm for a near-fall turn. The five point move put Tardy up 6-3 heading to the third period. Tardy added another two takedowns and another three point nearfall in the third period to win commandingly 14-4. The win advanced Tardy to the quarterfinal wrestle back round, a must win round for a place at state.
Tardy faced Frank McKeown of Naperville North. Tardy and McKeown have faced off three times earlier in the season with Tardy winning two of those matches. Josh Tardy scored a takedown and two-point nearfall in the first period with a low-level whizzer throw. The move put Tardy up 4-1 heading to the second period. Josh Tardy added three more points on an escape and takedown in the second period to go up 7-1. In the third period, McKeown scored a takedown but Tardy escaped and scored a takedown to finish the match 10-4. Tardy would earn a state medal, but would have two more matches to determine 3rd through 6th place.
In the semifinal wrestle back Josh locked up with Cruz of Mundelein. With no score heading to the second period, Tardy picked down and scored an escape to go up 1-0. Then Tardy scored a big takedown on a deep double leg attack and finished on top up 3-0. Cruz escaped in the third period but was unable to get close to a takedown. Cruz attempted a throw late in the match in desperation, but Tardy countered the moved and scored a takedown and two point nearfall to win 7-1. The win advanced Josh Tardy to the third place match.
Josh would get another shot at Holler from Sandburg in the bronze medal match. Holler scored a takedown in both the first and second period and then coasted to a 2-5 win. Tardy finished the tournament in 4th place with a record of 4-2 and 10 takedowns. He was ranked 12th in the state entering the tournament. Josh becomes a All-State wrestler, the second year in a row that NCHS had a place winner.
Luke Roth wrestled McGiffen of Alton. McGiffen scored a takedown in the first period and added an escape and nearfall in the second period. He added a third takedown in the last period to win 0-9. McGiffen lost in the second round to Nudera of York. That loss eliminated Roth from the tournament. McGiffen went on to take 3rd at state, a high place than Nudera.
The Redhawk wrestling team will host its award banquet on Monday, February 28 at 6:30 in the main cafeteria. We will be recognizing our wrestlers and enjoying some food. Most Valuable, Most Improved, Most Inspirational, Hardest Worker, JV Wrestler and Freshman Wrestler awards will be awarded as well as Iron Man winners. We will also recognize our Pin Pals and managers as well. Hope you can come for the fun.
GO REDHAWKS!