Highland wrestlers Mitchell, Rottmann win sectional titles, advance to state tournaments
The Highland wrestling team will enjoy a couple more weekends of competition thanks to the efforts of Benny Mitchell and August Rottmann in sectional tournaments.
Mitchell, a senior for the Bulldogs wrestling team, punched his ticket for the IHSA individual state tournament this weekend in Champaign with a 160-pound sectional title win at the Class 2A Mahomet Seymour on Saturday, Feb. 12. Rottman, meanwhile, made the state cut thanks to her 170-pound sectional title at Peoria Richwoods High School the same day. She will compete at state Friday, Feb. 25.
For Mitchell, the individual state berth is the culmination of four years of hard work and perseverance that is finally paying off.
“It’s exciting and I’m really hyped to be moving on (to the state tournament),” Mitchell said.
Mitchell claimed his trip to the state tournament on the strength of a victory by pin of Champaign Centennial’s Connor Jannsen at 1:35 of the first period.
“I waited for a mistake and he (Jannsen) took his shot and I just knew how to deal with it. I just kind of caught him (out of position) and that was it,” Mitchell said.
Next up for Mitchell will be state, which is slated for Thursday, Feb. 17, through Saturday, Feb. 19, at State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus.
Mitchell wants to close out his Highland wrestling career the right way with a medal at state.
“My final goal (going there) is I want a medal and I want to finish (in the) top six (places),” Mitchell said. “I just want to keep my head on straight and not get ahead of myself in between matches.”
Highland coach Shorty Ohren said he believes Mitchell is primed to finish his season with a strong performance at state and on the medal stand.
“He hasn’t given up many points in the last three weeks and when you pin a guy in the finals at sectionals in the first period, there’s something there. Hopefully, that will take him right on in there,” he said.
While Mitchell was dominating at Mahomet Seymour, Rottmann clinched her state berth on the strength of a win by fall in the 170-pound championship match over Belleville East’s Kami Ratcliff in the IHSA girls sectional at Peoria Richwoods High School on Saturday, Feb. 12.
Rottman, a freshman, became the first Highland girls wrestler in her first season not only to win a sectional title but also qualify for the girls IHSA individual state tournament.
“It feels really good and rewarding that all my season has paid off wrestling (against) the boys,” Rottman said. “It’s a surreal experience.”
Headed for state
Against Ratcliff, Rottmann was at a bit of a weight disadvantage but that didn’t stop her from staying in the match and competing at a high level.
“She was a little bit heavier than me because I was at the bottom of my weight, but I was holding my own. And going all the way into the third period, I was leading 6-0 and then ended up pinning her,” she said. “I wasn’t really focused on pinning (her); I was just focused on keeping my points and leading with points and pinning her was just a bonus.”
Rottmann will head to Bloomington for the girls state tournament Friday, Feb. 25, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.
Her goal for the state tournament is crystal clear and she is laser-focused on achieving it.
“My goal is to be the first female to get a (wrestling) championship at Highland,” Rottmann said.
Preparation and work ethic
Ohren said the big key to Rottman’s success in her first season was her preparation and work ethic each week.
“She’s got a good work ethic and she practiced with Benny and she’s really worked out with all the guys and she’s like a sister to them,” Ohren said.
Ohren said Rottmann is primed to do well at state as well.
“She just needs to keep doing what she was doing this weekend, which is to stay in control, stay square with the wrestlers and don’t get out of whack and she’ll be good,” Ohren said.
This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM.