As you can tell from the picture...it was a GREAT WEEKEND!!!
We left for Champaign at 4:30a on Saturday morning and arrived at 7am.
We found a parking spot, bought our tickets and headed in to Assembly Hall.
The wrestlers were all down on the mat, and I found Jordan, laying on his belly getting a massage from his awesome coach, Bret Wojcik.
We joined Grandma & Papa Blanton in section C4, for the moment, we were the only 4 "Blanton Boosters" but soon enough, the section would be filled (and overlapping into sections C3 & C5!) with family, friends and well wishers.
We were loud, proud and very orange when Jordan and Spangler stepped out to the mat.
We screamed! We clapped! We wolf whistled! We chanted "Jordan, Jordan!"
We weren't alone.
The atmosphere was undoubtedly ELECTRIC.
It sounded like everyone was cheering for Jordan Blanton.
It got so loud, I thought the roof was going to blow off.
The match was gut wrenching, watching Spangler score, then relief when Jordan started racking up the points.
The cheering got louder (as if that was even possible!)
Then it was over.
Jordan did it, he beat Chris Spangler of Neuqua Valley 10-8.
Every orange clad Blanton Booster was reduced to tears. Tears of joy and pride, tears of relief!
We hugged, we cried some more. It was the best cry I've ever had.
When Jordan came up from the floor, he got a much deserved standing ovation...not just from us - from nearly the entire crowd at Assembly Hall. He zigged and zagged through the crowd and when he got up to us, there were hugs for everyone.
Over 100 of us, and Jordan gave hugs to everyone. He even signed some autographs (how cool is that??!!)
This had been the match that people were comparing to last year's final against Benefiel, saying there was a slim chance that Jordan would beat Spangler. Well, I'm going to say that hard work, determination and an utter devotion to winning this match is what made Jordan #1.
After we all regained our composure, we headed over to Eastland Suites for a much needed lunch and (of course!) a couple beers ; )
Our reception room was packed, buzzing with "Can you effing believe it?!" everyone was in awe, we logged on to Illinoismatmen.com to read the comments on the match, people were saying it was the greatest match they've ever seen. I agree whole-heartedly.
Mike and I went back to our hotel room and took a much needed nap before we had to return to the finals, and have our guts turned inside out one more time when Jordan stepped out onto the mat to wrestle his final match as a high school student against Carl Foreside of Montini.
Our group of fans had grown exponentially since lunch time, and we were officially overlapping into other sections.
We sat on the edge of our seats once again as the Championship Finals began, and Jordan took the mat with Foreside.
We were not disappointed with Jordan's performance, and for the 3rd and last time in his high school career - Jordan was number one in the state.
He beat Foreside 10-8.
There are no words to explain how proud I am to be Jordan's aunt.
As a wrestler and as a man, Jordan is number one.
You can read the newspaper article here.
Still buzzing with Blanton-win-itis...
Aunt Jenn
We found a parking spot, bought our tickets and headed in to Assembly Hall.
The wrestlers were all down on the mat, and I found Jordan, laying on his belly getting a massage from his awesome coach, Bret Wojcik.
We were loud, proud and very orange when Jordan and Spangler stepped out to the mat.
We screamed! We clapped! We wolf whistled! We chanted "Jordan, Jordan!"
We weren't alone.
The atmosphere was undoubtedly ELECTRIC.
It sounded like everyone was cheering for Jordan Blanton.
It got so loud, I thought the roof was going to blow off.
The match was gut wrenching, watching Spangler score, then relief when Jordan started racking up the points.
The cheering got louder (as if that was even possible!)
Then it was over.
Jordan did it, he beat Chris Spangler of Neuqua Valley 10-8.
Every orange clad Blanton Booster was reduced to tears. Tears of joy and pride, tears of relief!
We hugged, we cried some more. It was the best cry I've ever had.
When Jordan came up from the floor, he got a much deserved standing ovation...not just from us - from nearly the entire crowd at Assembly Hall. He zigged and zagged through the crowd and when he got up to us, there were hugs for everyone.
Over 100 of us, and Jordan gave hugs to everyone. He even signed some autographs (how cool is that??!!)
This had been the match that people were comparing to last year's final against Benefiel, saying there was a slim chance that Jordan would beat Spangler. Well, I'm going to say that hard work, determination and an utter devotion to winning this match is what made Jordan #1.
After we all regained our composure, we headed over to Eastland Suites for a much needed lunch and (of course!) a couple beers ; )
Our reception room was packed, buzzing with "Can you effing believe it?!" everyone was in awe, we logged on to Illinoismatmen.com to read the comments on the match, people were saying it was the greatest match they've ever seen. I agree whole-heartedly.
Mike and I went back to our hotel room and took a much needed nap before we had to return to the finals, and have our guts turned inside out one more time when Jordan stepped out onto the mat to wrestle his final match as a high school student against Carl Foreside of Montini.
Our group of fans had grown exponentially since lunch time, and we were officially overlapping into other sections.
We sat on the edge of our seats once again as the Championship Finals began, and Jordan took the mat with Foreside.
We were not disappointed with Jordan's performance, and for the 3rd and last time in his high school career - Jordan was number one in the state.
He beat Foreside 10-8.
There are no words to explain how proud I am to be Jordan's aunt.
As a wrestler and as a man, Jordan is number one.
You can read the newspaper article here.
Still buzzing with Blanton-win-itis...
Aunt Jenn
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