ROCHELLE — Gavin Ansteth needed to wrestle through three opponents in order to qualify for the IHSA 2A State Championships in Champaign next weekend. One of those foes was Aurora Christian regional title winner Braden Hunter, who topped Ansteth with a close 3-0 decision in the Sycamore regional this past weekend.

Determined to avenge his regional loss and achieve the goal he set at the start of his senior season, Ansteth scored takedowns in both the first and second periods before stonewalling Hunter in the third period to win the rematch 4-2 and clinch his spot in the state meet. Ansteth (28-12) medaled in fourth place in the 195-pound bracket.

“I had a goal at the beginning of the season to step on the state mat,” Ansteth said. “That was in my mind before every match, and I did everything I could to get that done. It’s an awesome feeling, and coach [Rich] Harvey was really rooting for me to make it. I feel like I made a lot of people proud. I was able to keep my space during the match and work my offense.”

Ansteth opened the tournament on Saturday needing to win three straight wrestlebacks in order to earn his place in the state meet. The senior had minimal trouble during his first two bouts, recording pins over Joliet Catholic’s Aidan Watkins and Rich East’s Julian Imoniruwe. The wins moved Ansteth into the consolation semifinals, where he used the same move twice to score both takedowns against Hunter and gain the advantage.

“I knew I had to dominate with my offense,” Ansteth said. “I kept tight ties throughout the match and I was able to get it done. I’m looking forward to enjoying the experience down there. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me and I’m going to make the best of it.”

Junior Ben Harvey (39-4) will also be heading to the state championships next weekend. Harvey started Saturday’s session with a semifinal bout against Freeport regional champion Matthew Chavers. After a scoreless first period, Harvey took a slight lead on an escape, and he successfully rode Chavers in the third period to emerge with a 1-0 victory. Harvey placed second in the 182-pound bracket and will compete at state for the second time.

“I tried some things in the first period but nothing was really working for me,” Harvey said. “I managed to get up pretty easily in the second period. He chose bottom for the third period, and after about a minute, I realized that he wasn’t moving very much. I milked the time with my bar and I was able to hang on for the win.”

Six Hubs returned to the mats for sectional competition on Saturday including senior Keegan Davis-Carter (31-11), who fell one match short of qualifying for the state meet. The 138-pounder won back-to-back wrestlebacks, defeating Rich East’s Kaylon Vaughn 14-3 and slipping past Freeport’s Tarrone Jackson 8-7. Davis-Carter scored last in his consolation semifinal bout with Geneseo’s Logan Tuggle, but fell just short in a 3-2 decision.

Sophomore 126-pounder Caleb Nadig (32-8) won his first wrestleback, pinning Aurora Christian’s Adan Rocha before dropping a tough 2-0 decision against Joliet Catholic’s Logan Kuhel-Trimmer. Junior 132-pounder Grant Thompson (22-19) and sophomore 145-pounder Ethan Tooley (21-21) both lost their opening wrestlebacks. The IHSA State Championships will begin on Thursday, Feb. 20 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.