Blanton grabs glory

By TIMOTHY WOLFMEYER - twolfmeyer@nwnewsgroup.com

Richmond-Burton's Jordan Blanton wraps up Montini's Carl Foreside during during the championship bout in the 171-pound weight class of Saturday's State Finals at Assembly Hall in Champaign. Blanton won the decision, 8-6. (Travis Haughton photo)

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CHAMPAIGN – Some called it the match of the year. Others, the match of a lifetime.

“It will be remembered, for sure,” Illinois wrestling historian Rob Sherrill said.

Jordan Blanton’s stirring 10-8, semifinal-round victory over Neuqua Valley senior Chris Spangler was, without a doubt, one of the greatest matches in IHSA history – maybe even the greatest.

As one of the curators of the wrestling Web site illinoismatmen.com wrote after the bout’s conclusion, “Best match I’ve ever seen.”

“Considering how much was at stake, the atmosphere, the setting ... it probably was the biggest match of my career,” said Blanton, who, spurred on by his semifinal-round win, went on to capture his third state title, beating Montini junior Carl Foreside in the Class AA 171-pound final, 8-6.

The Richmond-Burton senior finished his career 152-1.

“Today was a pretty big day,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”

Few spectators ever will forget Blanton/Spangler, a bout between nationally ranked wrestlers that lived up to its massive hype. Spangler ran out to a 6-2 lead. Blanton scored an escape at the first-period buzzer to cut the deficit to three. Blanton scored three second-period points to even the match.

With nearly all of Assembly Hall behind him, Blanton seemed to get stronger as the match went on. Spangler, on the other hand, faded. He briefly took the lead, 7-6, but Blanton took him down to regain the advantage.

Blanton, per his style, let his opponent rise.

With 27 seconds left, and the score tied, 8-8, Blanton, to the delight of the crowd, took Spangler down again.

It was over.

When the final buzzer sounded Blanton gestured to his large, orange-clad contingent of followers, then – in a rare display of emotion – jumped into his coach’s arms. The crowd, who spent most of the match shouting “Jordan! Jordan!” rose as one.

And for possibly the first time in state history, a semifinal-round winner earned a standing ovation.

“It’s all still kind of a blur,” Blanton said. “That match ... it was incredible.

“I earned every point.”

Spangler said it was one of his worst matches, but gave Blanton credit.

“He’s one of the best,” he said. “He’s up there with the top guys.”

The championship match was more coronation than competition.

Blanton trailed, 2-0, early in the second, but rallied with six consecutive points. He led, 8-4, in the final seconds before Foreside scored a late takedown.

At that point, however, surrendering two points didn’t matter.

It was over.

At the final buzzer, Blanton burst off the mat and celebrated his third title with a subtle gesture – three fingers raised aloft. He acknowledged his cheering section. And, for the final time in his prep career, his arm was lifted.

“It says something that one kid, Blanton, was involved in two classic matches,” Sherrill said. “That absolutely speaks to his talent. He was part of two of the most intense, dramatic, hyped matches in IHSA history. No one else can say that.”