Injury slows BE wrestler Randall at state; Tonon wins bronze

The third time wasn’t the charm for Bishop England High School wrestler Finn Randall. 

The senior qualified for the individual state championships for the third year in a row and was seeking his first medal after finishing in sixth place last winter. However, he suffered an injury on the Monday leading up to the Class AAAA individual state championships and could not compete. 

“I felt bad for him,” Coach Paul Spence said of Randall, who was scheduled to compete in the 165-pound division Feb. 20-21 at the Florence Civic Center. “He’s a senior leader who has done everything that is asked of him. I know it has to be hard on him. It was hard on me.” 

Randall was one of four Bishops who qualified for the individual championships. The others included freshman Crosby Hoover, junior Tommy Sheehan, and senior Brody Tonon. 

Tonon competed in his first individual state championships as a Bishop after reaching the state championships last winter as a member of the Philip Simmons High School team. 

Tonon was a low seed at this year’s meet but surprised the experts by defeating the Nos. 3, 4, 5, and 6 seeds. Tonon lost to eventual state champion K.J. Burg of South Pointe High School and finished with a bronze medal. 

Tonon was also selected to compete in the Best Western North-South All-Star Wrestling Classic. 

Hoover went 0-2 over the weekend. “But he made it to state,” Spence said of his freshman. “That’s a step in the right direction.” 

Spence said Sheehan showed potential in his first state appearance. 

“He held his own,” Spence said. “He wasn’t overwhelmed. It was a good experience.”