Kyle Akins noticed the mat room work his teammates put in at the University of
Illinois. 

It helped push the Sycamore junior to a Class 2A 113-pound title and teammates Austin Culton and Jake Davis to respective second- and third-place finishes. But it also let Akins know the Spartans who weren’t in the individual state tournament are hungry for their moment.

At the Class 2A Rochelle Dual Team Sectional tonight at 6 p.m. against Northern Illinois Big 12 East foe Yorkville, the Spartans get a chance to make a fourth consecutive appearance at team state.