Mid-Illini title would be their first in the sport

The Washington wrestling team completed a perfect Mid-Illini Conference dual season Thursday.

The Panthers subdued host Morton, 43-24, and Canton, 39-24, to improve to 6-0 in the league.

Against the Potters, Johnathan Hardey, Mason Wright, Dan Massengill and Keil Dossett all provided pins.

Dylan Reel supplied a technical fall and Colton Gladwell and Derek McIntosh registered major decisions.

Brandon Rice and Jake Lamb also prevailed for Washington.

Austin Wileman and Massengill pinned Little Giant grapplers.

Panthers Rice, Lamb and Cody Stewart each registered positive decisions.

Gladwell, Wright and Reel were credited with forfeit wins.

Washington, the No. 16 team in the Jan. 20 Illinois Matmen Class 2A state poll, also was scheduled to compete Friday in Champaign and Saturday in Metamora.

Conference: The Mid-Illini Conference tournament is set for 10 a.m. Saturday. Pekin is this year’s host.

Washington is in the driver’s seat, needing only a second-place tournament finish to claim its first league championship in the sport.

Pekin is the defending champ, its first title since joining the M-I.

State rankings: Two Panthers held their spot and one moved up from the previous poll in the Illinois Matmen individual rankings for Jan. 20.

Reel stayed first in 160, while Rice kept the No. 3 slot in 125.

Wright rose to seventh in 152 from eighth in the Jan. 13 version.

Earl Born of Washington is honorable mention in 119.