Rising Sun freshman Silas Filliaux showed that his UCBAC tourney title was not a fluke, but rather a harbinger of things to come. Filliaux claimed the 132-pound east region title Saturday when his finals opponent Mike Jantz of North Caroline was forced to default because of an injury. "It feels great," said Filliaux. "After I won conference, the feeling of me winning was just like ridiculous. And I just couldn't let go of that feeling of winning. Coming in first feels real nice. I just couldn't let go of that so I had to get first." Jantz led 3-1 in the second period when Filliaux nearly tied it with a takedown that occurred just off the edge of the circle. After that tussle, Jantz stayed down on the mat and was not cleared to continue. "I wouldn't say [it was an] injury default," Filliaux said. "It was 3-0 and I did get out and I did do a blast double. Even if it did continue it would've been 3-3. The way he was wobbling around I don't think he would've made it. But that's just my opinion." Coach Cory Hall said Filliaux when is good position to win the match even had Jantz been able to go on. "Actually, they didn't give him the takedown so it still would've been a 3-1 match," said Hall. "Silas builds momentum. [His opponent] did score first, but it's a six-minute match, and that's why you keep going…We're confident he would've been coming back in that match." Filliaux says he has "a lot" of confidence heading into the state meet. "I still don't know how states is," he said. "I'm just a freshman. I still don't know. I said that when I won conference, but I easily feel I can place in the top four, definitely." Hall credits Tigers' assistant coach Joe Arranté for helping Filliaux reach his zenith in the postseason. "[Silas is] peaking at the right time," Hall said. "Like I said from the very beginning, we knew we had a special kid. It was just a matter of getting him ready and tuned up for this run. He's coming around good. Joe has got him tuned up. They are definitely prepared. It's been an exciting run." Hall doesn't discount Filliaux's chances of making another run at state meet. "He's got as good as [chance as] any," Hall said. "The state tournament and tournaments in general, draws are important. You're not wrestling the top six guys. You could have 10 guys above you but they're wrestling each other so everybody's knocking each other out. Matchups are what it ultimately comes down to." No Rising Sun freshman has ever won a state title. "We've been really fortunate that we've seen a lot of talent come through Rising Sun," said Hall. "Silas, as a freshman, is starting to make a name, and starting to get some sort of momentum moving forward. Every step, there's always these comparisons. He's his own individual and each year will be a little different. But this year, he's had a great run. And if he keeps working the way he's working he's got a chance to keep stacking up with some of the best. We're real excited." Filliaux (30-8) will take on the west's fourth place finisher Joshua Small of Catoctin (28-11) in the first round of the state tournament Friday afternoon. Comments are closed.
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