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player ready...Whether he’s rockin’ a 70s-style thin mustache or proudly sporting a large tattoo on the front of his right thigh, Tommy Helton portrays the image of a rebellious heavyweight wrestler.
Image is one thing, but the senior knows it will take some solid wrestling moves to become the second York heavyweight to place at the state meet. Harry Noffs finished fourth at 275 pounds in Class AA in 2002.
Helton, who signed in November to wrestle at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, will make a return trip to the Class 3A state meet beginning Thursday, Feb. 18, in Champaign. He won the Conant Sectional Saturday, Feb. 13, edging Glenbard West senior Darien Kaufmann 1-0.
Helton, also an offensive lineman for York’s football team, doesn’t mind the extra attention he draws with his facial hair and tattoo.
“I get a lot of comments about my mustache,” Helton said. “Everybody loves it.”
Helton is hard to miss out on the mat with his large tattoo, which extends below his singlet. After Helton competed in the Greco-Roman National Championship duals for Team Illinois in July, he decided to get the tattoo after listening to an inspirational speech by one of the coaches.
“He talked about how I should live my life and go on, and giving it my all,” Helton said.
His tattoo honors the warriors of ancient Greece and displays a Spartans helmet with a spear and shield. Underneath is a Greek inscription that translates, “With it or on it,” Helton said.
“Tommy is the third (and last) brother to wrestle here,” York coach Terry Clarke said. “What a family. He has a great group to support him through the years. All of the boys have been fun to coach.”
Helton also beat Kaufmann 1-0 on Feb. 7 to win the Glenbard West Regional. Helton (39-6) finished 2-1 in three matches with Kaufmann (35-6).
Helton earned the third seed at the state meet behind defending state runner-up Matt Allen (41-4) of Hinsdale Central and Bryan Ditchman (42-2) of Lincoln-Way Central. Helton will face Rock Island senior Daveonta Jackson (30-6) in his opening match at the State Farm Center.
Helton lost to Ditchman last season, 2-1, in his state meet opener and was knocked out in the consolation round by Cary-Grove’s Mike Gomez.
Helton had a productive offseason with the Iron Sharpens Iron club when he placed seventh at the USA Freestyle Junior Nationals and eighth at the Greco-Roman Junior Nationals last summer. He took second at the Fila Cadet Greco Nationals.
“He has done well in freestyle and Greco, but will have to transition to college wrestling,” SIU-Edwardsville coach Jeremy Spates said in a statement. “His best wrestling is still ahead of him.”
Twitter @geomwilcox