Story by Kadin Rogers
Friday begins a big weekend for many wrestling programs from around the area, including the United Red Storm and Monmouth-Roseville Titans wrestlers. For the Titans boys, they will send 9 wrestlers on to sectionals beginning tonight, with 7 starters and 2 alternates. The starters for Monmouth-Roseville include Bawi Thang (Boy Tung) who took home a regional championship in the 106 pound weight class, Landon Montroy also won a regional title at 175 pounds. Liam Spears and Alex Gandarilla took 2nd in their weight class at regionals and will also start at sectionals, while Alejandro Morales, Gabe Ortiz-Mora, and Moises finished in 3rd place in their weight class and will start at sectionals. 2 alternates will also join M-R tonight, as Gavin Bell at 285 pounds and Gybani at 138 finished in 4th at regionals.
Assistant wrestling coach Jamie Smith has been with the Titans wrestling program for 6 years, he joined the WRAM Morning Show on Friday to talk about his wrestlers. Smith says that the Titans have reached many of the goals he set out for the program when he joined.
This weekend’s sectional wrestling at Stanford/Olympia starts on Friday will continue throughout Saturday. The IHSA individual wrestling state series is slated to begin in Champaign on February 15th at State Farm Center on the campus of the University of Illinois.
For the full interview with Coach Smith, visit the Sports Podcast section.
