Dalton Brown, Jeff Gill and Buddy Holmes were escorted back into Shelbyville on Sunday afternoon as they returned from the IHSA Class A State Westling Meet and were the honored guests at an inpromptu rally at Shelbyville High School.

The motorcade started at the Shelbyville sale barn on the east side of town and escorted the returning athletes to Shelbyville High School gym where about 80 people gathered to honor Dalton Brown, the highest area finisher at State this year, and his teammates Gill and Holmes. Former mayor and SHS sports announcer Gary Crowder spoke, as well as SHS principal Kevin Ross, athletiic director Tony Pullen, and Coach Chad Wilmarth. Gill and Brown also spoke.

"Wrestling is not followed by a lot of people in this area, but it takes a lot of dedication and hard work to be a wrestler," Crowder said. "It takes a different kind of individual to be a wrestler. You have to say things in your own head to keep yourself going. You have to be concerned about your weight, as well as, your academics. It is a great sport.

"The wrestlng program has put Shelbyville on the (wrestling) map. These young men are good wrestlers, good athletes and that helps the student body as a whole. Shelbyville wrestling started in 1964 and we had one meet that year. We wrestled in sweat shirts and sweat pants We wrestled Argenta and we had just one wrestler win a match that day. That was our first year."

Tom Brachbill was the first werestling coach and since that modest beginning their has been just a hand full of standout wrestlers and a long drought in-between the generations. Tad Brachill was a top wrestler in the past and still holds the school career record for wins (135). Dax Mayfield and Jim Schwenker both captured third place finishes at State, and Barry Brown, Dalton Brown's father, had over 120 wins.

A generation past with one or two standout wrestlers per year, but with few accolades beyond the city limits or the conference. A little over ten years ago, the Ram junior wrestling program started and began feeding increased numbers and a higher level of recruits into the high school wrestling program, which was going through a resurgence.

Wade Duckett went to State a few years ago, then his brother Caleb Duckett went to State. Caleb was joined by Nate Bly and Jeff Gill (as a sophomore) and Dalton Brown (as a freshman). Alex Jones (as a freshman) joined Gill and Brown last year. This year, Holmes joined Gill and Brown.

Buddy Holmes (103 pound senior) finished his season 27-8. He was a regional and sectional champion, but lost his first match, quarterfinals, at State to Denning of Rock Falls, 9-3 in a match that was closer than that until the end. Denning was then beaten by Lyons, who won State.

Jeff Gill (160 pound senior) was at State for the third time in a row. Gill was a regional champ and a sectional runner-up. He won his first match at State, 10-4, then wrestled Cannon of Plano in the quarterfinals. Gill lost by a slim 3-1 margin on a controversial call taking away a shot at a take down. Cannon went on to be the state champ. Gill lost in wrestlebacks to a wrestler who finished third at State.

Dalton Brown (135 pound junior) was at State for his third straight year. He was a regional champ and a sectional champ. He won his first match at State, quarterfinals, with a second period pin. Brown then beat Takil Agnew of PORTA in the semifinal in four overtimes, avenging his only loss of the season. Brown went to the championship match, complete with all the pomp and circumstance of the Grand March on Saturday night.

Brown, a junior, fell behind to the senior, Wiedeman, and couldn't catch back up, losing 9-3. Still Brown finished the season second in State, the highest finisher of the area, and with a record of 38-2. His career record is 98-10.

Principal Ross pointed out that the wrestlers put in a lot of work that no one sees and even success that not many people see. Ross pointed out the mental tougness in Holmes that grew this year. Holmes got behind at sectional, but instead of giving in he fought back and took the title. Ross also talked about Gill being the "Ambassador of Wrestling."

"He knows everybody and everybody knows him (from others schools and programs)," Ross said. "He is a great example for the program."

Ross cited Brown for having a special type of character.

"He is calm and cool, but with intensity when he steps on that mat. He has character and class," Ross said. "He handles things the way they should be handled."

When Brown lost his finals match, he shook the opponent's hand and gave him a hug, as opposed to making a scene like some wrestlers did on Saturday One wrestler refused to shake hands, another wrestler ran into the stands inconsolable. Brown was a gentleman.

AD Pullen said it was "an honor to here. A great experience." He said he was proud of the guys and the parents and the coaches.

"We have a tremendous coaching staff and wrestling program," Pullen said.

Pullen cited Holmes for getting focused after the St. Thomas More match earlier in the season and going on a rampage all the way to the state meet. He cited Gill for his over 100 career wins (134) and cited Brown for being a crowd favorite at State.

"When he got Agnew in that cradle, the crowd at the Assembly Hall went crazy," Pullen said. "I was watching it on the internet and I could hear it over the internet. All that cheering was for Dalton."

Coach Wilmarth, himself placing third and fourth at State as a wrestler, was the coach of a chamionship match in his first year as SHS head coach.

"A lot of coaches don't experience that in their whole career," Crowder said.

Crowder said the wrestling program and the wrestlers have been great representatives for the community.

"I am proud of year we had and everyone here for an awesome job," Coach Wilmarth said. "It has been an exciting ride, a great year."