SYCAMORE — The Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team suffered its first Interstate 8 Conference loss of the season on Thursday, falling 40-28 against Sycamore. Rochelle (16-6, 4-1 Interstate 8) will compete at the Sycamore Invitational this weekend.

The conference dual opened with the 160-pound bout, where Sycamore’s Gus Cambier scored a first-period pin to give the Spartans an early lead. Sycamore’s Zack Crawford followed with an 11-0 major decision to win the 170-pound bout before Spartan wrestler Luis Garcia rallied for a 9-7 sudden victory over Rochelle sophomore Leo Stoffel in the 182-pound bout.

Sycamore’s Gable Carrick earned a first-period pin to win the 195-pound bout, putting the Spartans ahead 19-0 before Rochelle freshman Kaiden Morris stopped the bleeding in the 220-pound bout, scoring two takedowns and an escape to defeat Jackson Funderburg by 5-0 decision. Sycamore’s Lincoln Cooley followed with a first-period pin to win the 285-pound bout.

Trailing 25-3, Rochelle won the next four bouts to even the score at 25-25. Sophomore Tommy Tourdot  took down and pinned Logan Whelpley in the first period to win the 106-pound bout before freshman Weylin Nay outlasted Thomas Lind in the 113-pound bout, notching two takedowns, one near-fall and one reversal for an 11-2 major decision. Freshmen Xavier Villalobos and Joseph Nadig secured consecutive pins against Zachary Baugus and Jonathan Buckheister and in the 120-pound and 126-pound bouts to tie the score.

Sycamore regained the lead with back-to-back pins from Greg Degand and Trent DuMont in the 132-pound and 138-pound bouts. Rochelle freshman Grant Gensler edged Sycamore’s Jaden Cochran with a 5-1 decision in the 145-pound before Sycamore’s Brayden Peet sealed the Spartan victory with a 4-2 decision against Rochelle senior Caleb Nadig in the 152-pound bout.