Jordan McMahon will continue his wrestling career right in his own backyard.

Accepting a scholarship from Coach Kevin Tate and Rend Lake College, McMahon is set to join the Warriors this season.

“I’ve watched Jordan since he was a freshman,” Tate said. “He’s got a lot of heart and is going to be a good, solid kid for us.”

RLC’s wrestling program has developed into one of the best in the nation, finishing 14th in the country last season. Tate also coached two all-americans last season. Tate has one of those all-americans back this season and a total of four returnees from last year’s squad.

“We had a phenomenal recruiting class,” Tate said.

McMahon will have to make some changes to be ready for the college wrestling scene, Tate said.

“He will make the same changes any other kid in college has to make,” he said. “It’s just a matter of how hard he wants to work — that’s the way it is with everyone.”

McMahon’s high school coach, Neal Wilson, thinks he made a good choice.

“It was a good choice,” he said. “It’s good that he can be at home and continue on with wrestling and school.

“This is a good opportunity for him,” Wilson added. “I appreciate Coach Tate looking at local talent like he does. There are some good kids he can pull from here in southern Illinois.”