Braunagel brothers, Chase Bittle earn sectional titles as Althoff advances five to Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament

The wrestling Braunagel brothers were at it again on Saturday at the Class 1A Carterville Sectional Tournament.

Ranked first in the 138-pound weight class, Althoff senior Jarrid Braunagel romped through his weight class while twin brothers Danny and Zac Braunagel also won titles to lead the way as five Crusaders kept their dreams of state championships alive at Carterville High School.

Third in the state finals the past three years, Jarrid Braunagel looked sharp as he defeated Alex McGuire of Roxana 16-3 in the title match, Danny Braunagel improved to 40-2 for the season by winning the 145-pound crown, while Zac Braunagel took the 170-pound crown.

Sophomore Chase Bittle improved to 41-0 by winning the 120-pound crown while freshman Max Kristoff placed third in the 126-pound division to earn a state tournament trip.

Freeburg senior Cooper Secker earned a second straight trip to the Class 1A state finals by winning the 126-pound weight class.

Sparta senior Will Monroe took home the title in the 285-pound class, while teammate Clayton Sheldon took fourth in the 220 pound division to advance. Trevor Barbeau of Red Bud placed third to earn a trip in the 170-pound weight class.

The Class 1A, 2A and 3A State Wrestling Tournament begins Thursday at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Class 2A Mahomet-Seymour Sectional

Former Class 2A State Tournament medal winners Cole Witzig, Merik Fulton and John McKinney won titles and were among four Triad High School wrestlers to move into the state tournament with top four finishes at the Mahomet Seymour Sectional.

Second in the state at 170 pounds a year ago, Witzig earned a fourth straight trip to Champaign by winning the 170-pound crown Saturday, while Fulton took the crown at 132 pounds.

McKinney, out most of the season with an injury, took the 195-pound crown, while teammate Matt Sarhage placed third at 220.

East St. Louis also got a pair of championships from Christopher Tucker (113 pounds) and Tyler Dunn at 126. The Flyers also advanced James Harrell at 145 pounds.

It also turned out to be a good day for the Highland Bulldogs and more specifically junior Trent Rakers. One of only two undefeated wrestlers from the metro-east remaining in the tournament, Rakers ran his seasonlong streak to 39 straight wins with a title in the 160-pound weight class.

The other Bulldogs to advance was Jacob Mitchell (126).

Waterloo has a sectional champion in Austin Stewart (152), while regional team champion Cahokia advanced Antwon Johnson (120) and Martell Boone at 145 pounds.

Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional

Edwardsville senior Chris Prosser defeated Josh Torres of Oswego East 7-4 to win the 170-pound title as he led the way for metro-east wrestlers at the Class 3A Bolingbrook Sectional.

The O’Fallon Panthers and Belleville West Maroons have a pair of wrestlers moving on. Belleville West senior Nick Foster placed second in the 152-pound class, while sophomore Garrett Bass was fourth at 126.

O’Fallon advanced Alex Ziegler at 106 pounds and Mason Hewitt at 182, while Belleville East senior DeWayne Hill saw his dreams of an undefeated season end, but he still advanced with a third-place finish in the 220-pound class.

Granite City junior Kyle Thompson advanced in the 160-pound class.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:18 PM with the headline "Braunagel brothers, Chase Bittle earn sectional titles as Althoff advances five to Class 1A State Wrestling Tournament."