About 49 minutes out from the start according to the official clock. Things got started with Metallica's "Enter Sandman," an interesting choice. Haven't heard the chicken dance yet, but if it's anything like previous years folks here will be hearing it in their sleep by the time the tournament ends.
Class 1A is up first and we've got a lot of wrestlers in it to cover.
Class 1A (9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
106 — Briar Cochran, Moravia.
113 — Ryan Cale, Cardinal Community.
120 — Jeren Glosser, Eddyville Blakesburg.
126 — Cody Brown, Eddyville Blakesburg; Jacob Heisel, Van Buren.
132 — Blake Marolf, Eddyville Blakesburg; Trey Busick, Pleasantville.
138 — Jason Crosby, Eddyville Blakesburg.
145 — Tucker Black, Eddyville Blakesburg, Josh Yoder, Sigourney-Keota.
152 — Austyn Vogel, Pekin.
160 — Tyler Foubert, Tri-County-Montezuma.
170 — Cole Streigle, Sigourney-Keota.
182 — Dustin Miller, Cardinal Community; Dillon Pigsley, Eddyville Blakesburg.
195 — Ty Schneider, Southeast Warren
220 — Chance Wursta, Eddyville Blakesburg.
285 — Dylan Conley, Moravia; Tucker Fowler, Sigourney-Keota.
You can always tell fans. They're grouped by school and most are wearing school colors. If you've ever seen a patchwork quilt, you've got the idea. The tournament draws huge crowds and I'm already seeing people filling in the very top row of seats here at the arena.
Just got a reminder of how close some of the fans are. The teams jog before getting started with the matches, and when one team comes by the folks in front of me cheer. Loudly. Makes for a fun atmosphere when people are this into it.
Looks like the photo feed is starting to work. That's new this year. We're going to try to send photos directly from the floor, almost as quickly as they're taken. Advance of technology, folks.
Sorry about the delay there, folks. We had some major problems with the wi-fi here at the arena. Less than 10 minutes out from the first matches now.
And of course that came just after a comment on the advance of technology. Sometimes fate has a twisted sense of humor.
And we've had the chicken dance for the first time at this year's tournament.
You know it's getting close when the refs start taking off their jackets. The wrestlers are starting to make their way to the mats if they're in the first six matches.
The refs have been asked to report to their mats for the opening matches.
The announcer just boomed a request for wrestlers to clear the mats. Very, very close now. Saw several refs shake hands with scorers at the tables. That's a relationship that doesn't get much thought, but it's critical.
Time for the National Anthem
Looks like Briar Cochran of Moravia is the first up for our wrestlers.
Up first, 106 lb wrestlers
No score in Cochran's match so far.
Now 2-1. Cochran is wrestling Sheldon Ealy of North English
End of the first and it's 4-1 Briar Cochran of Moravia
Now 4-2. Cochran still in the lead
Two more points for Cochran. Has a 6-2 lead now.
The 113 lb wrestlers are starting their matches. Ryan Cale of Cardinal is in that class
Cohran is up 15-3. He is dominating.
No score for Cale yet. He's right in front of my spot.
Cochran's match should end shortly. He's up big and his opponent needs a pin to have a prayer.
Cale still 0-0. He's against Grant Barron of Don Bosco.
At the end of the first and there's no score in Cale's match. Very even.
Jeren Glosser will be coming up soon in the 120-lb category.
Cale has his opponent down, but can't quite flip him for points.
Wow. tight match for Ryan Cale. Neither has broken through.
Cale and his opponent are down on the mat after a restart, but it's still scoreless
And Cale breaks through with three points. As close as this is, that could be enough.
About 1:30 to go for Cale. He has a three-point lead.
Pause for a bloody nose with Cale.
Glosser's match should be coming up shortly.
Cale's opponent making a bid for his own points, but Cale turns him.
Glosser is on the mat now. No score in the first.
Glosser has a 2-0 lead in his match.
About 49 minutes out from the start according to the official clock. Things got started with Metallica's "Enter Sandman," an interesting choice. Haven't heard the chicken dance yet, but if it's anything like previous years folks here will be hearing it in their sleep by the time the tournament ends.
