CHAMPAIGN — Matt Allen has waited almost his entire wrestling season for a rematch with Lincoln-Way Central junior Bryan Ditchman.
His patience paid off Friday night at the State Farm Center as the Hinsdale Central junior beat Ditchman 3-2 in the Class 3A semifinals at 285 pounds to earn his first trip to the state finals.
Ditchman (43-4) beat Allen (43-2) 7-4 on Nov. 29 in the championship match of the Barrington Moore/Prettyman Invitational.
Allen will meet Marist senior Jake Ford (46-2) Saturday in the state championship match. Allen’s only other loss of the season came Jan. 17 against Ford in the championship of the Lincoln-Way East Invitational.
“It would be pretty amazing (to win),” Allen said. “I would be excited for about a week and then it would be back to work.”
Against Ditchman, Allen scored first on a takedown in the first period, then scored the winning points an escape early in the third period.
“I didn’t think I would get that takedown in the first period,” Allen said. “I saw it and gave it the best chance I had.”
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Allen is looking to become the third Hinsdale Central wrestler to win a state championship. His brother, Jack, won in 2011 and oldest brother Brian won in 2013.
Hinsdale South’s King advances
Hinsdale South junior Josh King (46-1) defeated Libertyville senior Mark Dunsing (40-7) in the 220 semifinals 11-2, to advance to the final against Eric Johnson (48-3) of Plainfield South.
King would become the Hornets’ first state champion since Sebastian Pique won at 112 in 2011.