CHAMPAIGN — Bremen’s Morgan Turner was determined to take the tough road.
She chose to compete in the Illinois High School Association boys state series rather than the girls one.
After making history as a freshman, Turner plans to keep going further down that path and higher up the podium.
“I’ve been wrestling boys my whole life, so in a way, competing with girls is easier,” she said. “I haven’t had anyone to push me yet. I know there’s more to come as I get older.
“Boys are more of a challenge. I’m used to that. I won (Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation) boys state, and I wanted to do it in high school, too. I’m definitely not going to stop until I finish first.”
Turner became the first girl in the 86-year history of the IHSA boys wrestling tournament — which until last season was simply the IHSA wrestling tournament — to win a medal.
She took third in Class 2A at 106 pounds.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,” Turner said. “I’m glad I was able to do the boys tournament. I wanted to take first, but third place is also great.
“I feel accomplished being the first girl to do this.”
Turner (35-3), who lost 3-0 to eventual champion Anthony Alanis of Grayslake Central in the semifinals, beat Civic Memorial’s Bradley Ruckman 4-2 in the third-place match.
Turner said she looked up to Richards’ Mia Palumbo, who in 2018 became the first girl to win a match at state.
Mostly, though, Turner said she’s been inspired by male wrestlers, including the Bailey brothers.
Bilal, Sincere and Nasir Bailey all won state championships for T.F. North in 2019. Nasir — now at Rich Township — became a four-time state champion Saturday.
Turner has grown up wrestling with her brother Nore, a senior who finished fourth Saturday at 120.
“They were siblings winning state, and since I’ve been trying to do it with my brother, I liked following them,” Turner said of the Baileys. “It’s a sibling rivalry with Nore. I always wanted to be better than him.
“He’s helped me a lot, though, physically and mentally. He helped me get ready for this tournament. Me and him both being on the podium, it’s going to be great.”
Persevering Porter: Late in his Class 3A 120-pound semifinal Friday night, Lockport freshman Justin Wardlow heard a pop in his right arm.
Wardlow finished the match, upsetting Maine South’s Teddy Flores 6-5. Wardlow later found out he had wrestled the final minute-plus with a broken elbow.
“There was a minute and change left,” he said. “I took the injury time, they taped me up and I was able to do it. I was in pain, but I didn’t want to quit.”
Wardlow (41-13) had to forfeit Saturday’s state championship match to Loyola’s Massey Odiotti, accepting the runner-up medal with his right arm in a sling.
On the podium: For Marist junior Conor Phelan, a third-place finish in Class 3A at 182 pounds proved something to himself.
Phelan (34-16) pinned Bradley-Bourbonnais’ AJ Mancilla in the third-place match.
“It cleared a lot of doubt out of my mind, personally,” Phelan said. “A lot of my teammates definitely seem superior to me in a lot of aspects. I proved that I belong in that lineup with them.”
Other area third-place finishers were Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (106) and Homewood-Flossmoor’s Vincent Robinson (132) in 3A.
Taking fourth were Lincoln-Way Central’s Nathan Knowlton (126) and Marist’s Will Denny (145) and Luke Liberatore (3A 220) in 3A and Joliet Catholic’s Jason Hampton (113) and Connor Cumbee (152), Lemont’s Sammy Schuit (138), Brother Rice’s Gambino Perez (195) and Bremen’s Alex Jackson (220) in 2A.
Fifth-place finishers included Mount Carmel’s Damian Resendez (120) and Rylan Breen (182) in 3A and Oak Forest’s Caden Muselman (132) and Lemont’s Nate Wrublik (195) in 2A.
Lockport’s Logan Kaminski (138) and Lincoln-Way East’s Ari Zaeske (170) placed sixth in 3A, while Crete-Monee’s Josyah Holland (145) was sixth in 2A.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
