The Roundup, Feb. 28, 2026: Pyle, Rocke, Hill medal at swim state finals, quartet of girls wrestlers fall just short

Normal Community's Wade Pyle. Photo via Normal Community Athletics/X

The boys swimming and girls wrestling seasons wrapped up on Saturday with several area athletes competing on the final day.

Normal Community’s Wade Pyle capped off a standout season with a pair of silver medals while Normal West’s Ethan Rocke and Richwoods’ Jude Hill both swept all of their races in the athletes with disabilities competitions. Metamora, Normal West and Normal Community all had additional state finalists as well. 

Wrestlers from Olympia, Pekin and Canton all fell one win short of placing at state in girls wrestling.

Check out all the recaps and top performers from the day in The Roundup!

In boys swimming and diving

At Westmont: Normal Community’s Wade Pyle put a bow on a historic season by finishing second in two of the final heats at the IHSA State Finals. Pyle swam a 43.95 to take second in the 100 free and a 1:37.27 to place likewise in the 200 free. Normal West’s Cooper Franz finished 10th in the 100 back, touching the wall in 50.39. Metamora’s Kenan Nowak placed 11th in diving with a score of 439.75 and Normal Community’s Sam Grojean took 14th in the 100 breast in 57.40. Normal Community’s Ethan Rocke and Richwoods’ Jude Hill both swept their way to first place finishes in all of the races in their athletes with disabilities division. Hill’s first place times were 34.64 in the 50 free, 1:17.26 in the 100 free, 1:50.95 in the 100 breast and 2:42.13 in the 200 free. Rocke’s times were 53.74 in the 50 free, 2:00.63 in the 100 free, 2:49.75 in the 100 breast and 4:05.79 in the 200 free.

In girls wrestling 

In Bloomington: Four girls wrestlers who reached the second day of the IHSA State Finals fell just short of a top-six placement. Olympia’s Chloe Collins (100) dropped a 17-2 tech fall in the consolation quarterfinals, Pekin’s Tessa Donaldson (105) dropped an 18-0 tech fall, Canton’s Chloe Hedges (115) was pinned in the second period of her consolation quarterfinal and Pekin’s Ava Mayer (120) was pinned as well.