Oilers’ Soto Battles Top Seed in State Quarterfinal Loss, Moves Into Wrestlebacks
East Alton-Wood River’s Michael Soto saw his IHSA State Finals run take a difficult turn Thursday night in Champaign, falling by pin to top-seeded Jeremiah Luke of Lena-Winslow in a state quarterfinal bout but remaining alive through the wrestleback bracket.
Soto ultimately lost by fall at 4:58 of the match, just seconds before the end of the second period. Luke, the No. 1 seed in the bracket, controlled the scoring, building a 15-1 advantage before securing the pin. The loss moves Soto out of championship contention, but the Oilers standout will continue his state tournament through the consolation side.
Despite the defeat, Soto extended the match deep into the third period against the bracket’s top seed. After surrendering early takedowns and back points, he continued to battle, avoiding an early fall and forcing Luke to work for the technical points that led to the 15-1 margin. His ability to push the match to that stage against a highly ranked opponent reflects the level of competition he has reached at the state level.
The loss sends Soto into the wrestlebacks, where every bout becomes an elimination match. His next opponent will be No. 5 seed Darian Holloway of Stanford (Olympia) on Friday. The matchup places Soto against another highly regarded wrestler, but it also presents a clear path to wrestle back for a spot on the podium if he can string together wins in the consolation rounds.
For East Alton-Wood River, Soto’s advancement to the state quarterfinals and continued presence in the tournament highlight the program’s progress on the big stage. Reaching Champaign and competing with the top seed in the state represents a significant step for the Oilers’ varsity lineup and sets a standard for future qualifiers from the program.
Soto will return to the mat Friday with medal hopes still in play. A victory over Holloway would keep him alive in the chase for a state placement, while each successive wrestleback bout will carry added pressure and opportunity as the tournament continues at the State Farm Center.
