It was like déjà vu along U.S. Route 24 Monday morning as Chloe Hoselton was recognized for the second year in a row after once again winning the state wrestling championship.
That’s not something that happens very often but it is becoming a tradition for the Prairie Central wrestling program.
The two-time champion received an escort by the Chenoa Fire Department and SELCAS from the Chenoa Fire Station to Prairie Central High School with sirens blaring and passing motorists honking in support of the wrestler.
“It feels pretty good,” said Hoselton of her big win at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington over the weekend. “I wanted to go out there ending my season with a win.”
And she did just that. Hoselton made the semis with a pin and a tech fall leading to her advancing to Saturday morning’s semifinal with a big pin. She then competed in the state finals in the afternoon and won.
“In the semis match, she came out tough and a little aggressive, but nothing I couldn’t handle,” recalled Hoselton.
Hoselton acknowledges the news hasn’t truly soaked in yet and she considers the support received the past few days “surreal.” She describes an awesome experience hearing the crowd cheer as she progressed toward the end of the match.
PCHS wrestling coach Scott Ziller describes Hoselton as a great kid and leader, creating a great atmosphere among teammates.
“I couldn’t be prouder of her, the whole coaching staff and the whole team,” Ziller notes.
Hoselton set the goal of winning a state championship last year and this year. She worked through the pressure along with the mental and physical effort it takes to win, according to Ziller.
Prairie Central wrestler Yuri Vilchis also competed over the weekend, losing to the three-time state champ in the first round and losing the next to a girl she was closely matched with and beating but the opponent had one good position she took advantage of. Vilchis was a state qualifier in only her second season wrestling.
“She had some really good matches in the postseason to make it there and qualify,” Ziller added.
