After finishing as a state runner-up in 2009 and 2011, Pearce would not be denied as a senior, winning the Class 2A crown at 126 pounds with a 6-3 decision over Marmion Academy's George Fisher at Assembly Hall in Champaign. Pearce (26-2) got off to a slow start this season due to a knee injury, dropping a pair of matches at the prestigious Granite City Holiday event in late December. But he dominated down the stretch, beating the second-, third-, and fifth-place medalists over the weekend.
Send nominations and head shots by 6 p.m. Sunday to pkopsky@stltoday.com.
