ROCHELLE — Rapper Tech N9ne’s “I’m a Beast” boomed from the speakers as Rochelle eighth-grader Ben Harvey worked in the high school mat room on Tuesday preparing for the 2017 Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation State Championships at Rockford’s BMO Harris Bank Center this coming weekend.
It’s only fitting that a song describing a beast would resonate in the background as the 156-pound Harvey went through a practice session with his grandfather Carl Harvey, who is an assistant coach for the high school wrestling team. The son of RTHS head coach Rich Harvey and the younger brother of Rochelle junior and Illinois High School Association state qualifier Alex Harvey, Ben is eager to make his name known after finishing first as a senior competitor at both the IKWF Regional in Byron and the IKWF Sectional at Rochelle over the past two weekends.

“It’s a really big accomplishment for me since I didn’t qualify last year,” he said. “This year I’ve really been working hard and I’ve been more into it since I went up a weight class and I’m not cutting any weight this year… Hopefully I can go up there and do well.”

Representing the Rochelle Wrestling Club at the sectional tournament, Harvey received a bye over the first two rounds of championship competition before winning by fall in 3:28 over Marengo Youth Club’s Michael Macias. Harvey then edged out Hononegah’s Antonio Figueroa by 3-2 decision for the sectional title.
“My riding and my shots have really improved,” Harvey said. “I’ve been more of a defensive wrestler but this past year in practice we’ve been working on shots and more offensive moves. It’s helped me make it to state and to become a better wrestler overall.”
Harvey will begin the state tournament on Friday, March 10, and the competition will run through Saturday, March 11. Drawing upon his wrestling experience, the eighth-grader said the biggest thing for him will be not stressing about the match when he steps on the mat to begin his quest for a title.
“Just going out there and wrestling your match and controlling everything I do,” he said. “Before the match it’s just about focusing on what you’re doing and not giving in to what the opponent wants you to do.”
Harvey was one of several RWC wrestlers taking the floor at RTHS this past weekend. Seven competitors battled at the intermediate level, with Elias Koonce placing first at 70 pounds and Brandyn Metzger landing in third at 74 pounds. Xavier Villalobos also took third at 62 pounds for Rochelle, and the three intermediates combined for nine sectional victories overall.
Eight wrestlers competed at the novice level, while Ethan Albers and Keith Holland both wrestled at the senior level after qualifying out of the regional tournament. Led by Tommy Tourdot and Erich Metzger, the RWC novices brought home two victories in the sectional tournament, with Tourdot winning by fall over Wolves Wrestling Club’s Travis Dittmer in 2:23 and Metzger beating WWC’s Jimmy Stone by fall in 1:03.