Fifteen programs have title winners at IWCOA’s Freshman/Sophomore State Championships

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

In a familiar script that has played out often throughout the years, individuals who fell a bit short of trips to the IHSA Individuals Finals again got the chance to finish on a better note when they competed in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Freshman/Sophomore State Championships at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield.

A total of 479 individuals advanced to the Finals of the 28th annual tournament, and when the two days of competition were complete, there were champions from 15 different schools. Eleven of the title winners were sophomores and four were freshmen.

Normal Community’s Jackson Soney won the competition for the second time when he took top honors at 101. Other sophomores who captured titles were Hononegah’s Jackson Olson (106), Morton’s Harrison Dea (113), Glenbard East’s Ismael Chaidez (120), Lockport Township’s Isaac Zimmerman (126), Morris’ Carter Skoff (132), Lincoln-Way Central’s Jalen Byrd (144), Hersey’s Frank Tagoe (150), Marmion Academy’s Vincenzo Testa (175), Dundee-Crown’s Teigen Moreno (215) and Lincoln-Way East’s Ryan Stingily (285).

Freshmen champions were Barrington’s Danel Blanke (138), Marian Central Catholic’s Nic Astacio (157), Grant’s Aaden Arroyo (165) and Harvard’s Blake Livdahl (190).

Sophomores who finished second were Stevenson’s Evan Mishels (106), Yorkville’s Liam Fenoglio (113), Jacobs’ Ben Arbotante (120), Shelbyville’s Bodee Fathauer (126), Homewood-Flossmoor’s Robye Williams (132), Downers Grove North’s Caden Chiarelli (138), Normal Community’s Carter Mayes (144) and Grayslake Central’s Warren Nash III (150). 

Other sophomores who took second were Hampshire’s Michael Brannigan (157), Unity’s Abram Davidson (165), Rolling Meadows’ John Rappa (175), Springfield Southeast’s Christopher Hull (190), Marist’s Tommy O’Brien (215) and Barrington’s Clarence Jackson (285). The lone freshman who finished second was IC Catholic Prep’s Dominic Pasquale (101).

One champion, Arroyo, and one runner-up, Nash III, finished fourth in their regionals and didn’t advance to the sectional. Two finalists who didn’t compete in the IHSA state series were champion Stingily and runner-up Mayes. And Dea was the lone champion who placed last season at the IHSA Individual Finals, taking fifth place at 106 in Class 2A. 

Beside Soney (first at 101 in 2023), the other individual who competed in a title match for the second time was Zimmerman (second at 106 in 2023). Other champions who placed in last year’s IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals were Stingily (fourth at 285), Chaidez (sixth at 113), Brannigan (eighth at 152), Moreno (eighth at 220) and Olson (eighth at 106).

Soney led all competitors with 34 team points while Blanke, Byrd and Moreno scored 32 points and Dea collected 31 team points. Chaidez, Skoff and Testa had 30 team points. Arroyo and Zimmerman each scored 29.5 team points, Astacio had 28.5 points while Brannigan, Hull and Livdahl collected 28 team points and Olson and Williams finished with 27.5 points. 

Yorkville’s Caleb Viscogliosi and Soney both recorded five falls, with the latter needing 7:37 to pull that off. Maine South’s Jake Colleran led all entrants by scoring 71 match points while Naperville Central’s Vince Bern had 68 match points and Plainfield North’s Aidan DuRell finished with 65 match points.

Marist led the way with 241 match points while Lockport Township was second with 209 and St. Charles East ranked third with 191 match points. Maris recorded the most falls with 13 while Lincoln-Way Central and Moline both collected nine pins.

Programs with the most qualifiers for the Frosh/Soph State Finals were Marist (16), Lockport Township (10), Grant (7), Lincoln-Way East (7), Maine South (7), St. Charles East (7), Shepard (7), Carl Sandburg (6), Glenbard West (6), Lincoln-Way Central (6), Lincoln-Way West (6), Moline (6), Downers Grove South (5), Edwardsville (5), Evanston Township (5), Glenbrook South (5), Joliet Catholic Academy (5), Normal Community (5) and Washington Community (5).

Here’s a look at the 15 champions and their weight classes at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Freshman/Sophomore State Championships:

101 – Jackson Soney, Normal Community

Last season, Jackson Soney wasn’t able to compete much with Class 3A fifth-place finisher and 51-match winner Caden Correll at 106, so he entered the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals and beat Washington Community’s Symon Woods to win the title at 101. After going 40-4 this season and not being able to qualify at 113 at the Quincy Senior Sectional, the Normal Community sophomore again took part in the Frosh/Soph Tournament and won once again at 101 after recording a fall in 0:24 over IC Catholic Prep’s Dominic Pasquale. He was one of two finalists and medal winners among five qualifiers for the Ironmen, with 144 runner-up Carter Mayes being the other placewinner. Soney won all five of his matches by fall, with the first two also ending in the opening period before winning in 2:45 over St. Charles East’s Kaden Potter in the quarterfinals and in 2:31 over Niles Notre Dame’s Ray Long in the semifinals. Soney won by fall against all of the opponents that he faced in the IWCOA regional and sectional tournaments.

“I won this tournament last year,” Soney said. “Obviously I wish that I could have placed at the IHSA but this is the next best thing, that’s what my parents and coaches tell me. They always say to get the next best thing and this is the next best thing that I could get. This one was different because I pinned everyone in the regionals, sectionals and state. It does light the fire in me. I’m very excited about this tournament and about how I performed and I’m excited for next season, as well. I put in my work during the offseason and lifted more. And I focused more on what my weak points were. All of the training and everything that I’ve done has helped a lot.”

IC Catholic Prep freshman Dominic Pasquale, who went 24-16 and fell a bit short of advancing to state from the Class 2A Grayslake Central Sectional, used two falls and two wins by ultimate tiebreaker to reach the title mat, winning 7-5 on an ultimate tiebreaker over St. Patrick’s Jack Koening in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Marist’s Dylan Weber won a 10-2 major decision over St. Charles East’s Kaden Potter. For fifth place, Niles Notre Dame’s Ray Long captured a 14-4 major decision over St. Patrick’s Jack Koenig. And in the seventh-place match, Marmion Academy’s Colton Wyller captured a 4-2 decision over Andrew’s Gerald Donnelly.

106 – Jackson Olson, Hononegah

Jackson Olson got to experience a lot of positive things during his sophomore season at Hononegah. He qualified for the Class 3A Barrington Sectional, claimed a win in his final match while competing with his team that advanced to the IHSA Dual Team Finals for the first time since 2016 and had four teammates who placed third or better at the IHSA Individual Finals who all figure to be back next season. With a lot of positives happening in his program, Olson, who went 19-13 this season, seems well-positioned to be a state qualifier or medalist in the future after winning the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State title at 106 with an 8-3 decision over Stevenson’s Evan Mishels. The Indians’ lone qualifier for the tournament opened with a 2-0 decision but then won a major decision and got a win by technical fall over Proviso West’s Andre Rice in the quarterfinals, before winning 11-0 over Montini Catholic’s Bobby Ruscitti in the semifinals. This was the second medal that Olson won in the event after placing eighth at 106 last season.

Stevenson sophomore Evan Mishels, one of two qualifiers and medalists for the Patriots, won his first three matches, which were all close decisions. Mishels, who went 35-16 this season and fell one win shy of advancing to state from the Class 3A Barrington Sectional, earned his spot on the 106 title mat by capturing a 3-0 victory over St. Charles North’s Declan Sons in the semifinals. Montini Catholic’s Bobby Ruscitti recorded a fall in 2:11 over Schaumburg’s Austin Phelps in the third-place match. Burlington Central’s Jackson Marlett captured a 2-1 decision over St. Charles North’s Declan Sons to finish in fifth place and Proviso West’s Andre Rice won a 10-9 decision over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Matthew Laird to claim seventh place.

113 – Harrison Dea, Morton

When a freshman is fortunate to not only qualify for the Individual State Finals but to place there but then falls just short of another trip to Champaign the following year, it can be disappointing. That’s what happened to Morton sophomore Harrison Dea, who went 37-11 last season and took fifth place in Class 2A at 106 but then lost in the semifinals of the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional and also the consolation semifinals to finish 29-7 this year. One of two Potters who advanced to the IWCOA Frosh/Soph Finals and placed, with Colton McKee (fifth at 165), the other, Dea took first place at 113 after capturing a 5-4 decision over Yorkville’s Liam Fenoglio in the championship match. Dea opened with three-consecutive falls, winning in 0:46 in the quarterfinals over Fremd’s Trentin Odachowski and then he claimed a 12-0 major decision over Naperville Central’s Jacob Cochran in the semifinals.

“I had a really rough sectional,” Dea said of the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional. “In my semifinal match, I was up until the last 10 seconds against Geneseo’s Tim Sebastian and then I had to turn back around and wrestle my blood-round match and I was up 6-0 and I got caught in a cradle. It was really a heart break, but as soon as that happened, I just focused on what was next and just kept moving and kept pushing forward and I went back in the room and trained hard and now I’m standing on top of the podium. In my freshman year I took fifth at IHSA state, Then when I came back, I was up a weight class and I had to learn to wrestle a different style because the kids from 106 to 113 are definitely stronger.”

Yorkville sophomore Liam Fenoglio went 27-20 this season and got the opportunity to compete in the IHSA Dual Team Finals for the Class 3A runner-up Foxes, where he went 2-1. Fenoglio, one of three qualifiers and two medal winners for Yorkville, claimed a 6-4 decision over Carl Sandburg’s Oscar Kalman in the quarterfinals and then captured a 12-4 major decision in the semifinals over Morris’ Brock Claypool, who took third place with an 8-7 decision over Maine South’s Brett Harman. In the fifth-place match, Naperville Central’s Jacob Cochran won by fall in 3:00 over Crystal Lake Central’s Dylan Ramsey and Fremd’s Trentin Odachowski claimed seventh place by medical forfeit over Carl Sandburg’s Oscar Kalman.

120 – Ismael Chaidez, Glenbard East

When someone reaches the semifinals of one of the state’s toughest sectionals but then fails to advance to the IHSA Individual Finals, it can be disheartening. Someone who certainly can understand that dejection is Glenbard East sophomore Ismael Chaidez, who won his first two matches at 126 in the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional only to run into Mount Carmel’s Seth Mendoza, who claimed his third-straight state championship one week later. A subsequent 7-6 consolation semifinal loss ended his 37-8 season. The Rams’ lone qualifier for the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, Chaidez captured a 5-1 decision over Jacobs’ Ben Arbotante to win the 120 title. He opened with three falls, winning in 3:43 over Lincoln-Way West’s Carter DiBenedetto in the quarterfinals before claiming a 3-0 victory over Oswego’s Aiden Ortiz to earn his spot in the 120 championship match. Chaidez also participated in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals last season and claimed a sixth-place finish at 113.

Jacobs sophomore Ben Arbotante, who fell short of earning a trip to state at the Class 3A Barrington Sectional to finish 29-13, was one of three medalists out of four qualifiers for the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals for the Golden Eagles. He won his first match by technical fall before capturing three-straight decisions, which included a 4-2 victory over Olympia’s Austin Kisner in the quarterfinals and a 5-4 win in the semifinals over Triad’s Glen Henry, who took third place with a 6-3 decision over Batavia’s Kyle Pasco. In the fifth-place match, Oswego’s Aiden Ortiz won 6-5 by ultimate tiebreaker over Plainfield North’s Aidan DuRell. For seventh place, Olympia’s Austin Kisner won a 5-1 decision over Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Tyler Huchel.

126 – Isaac Zimmerman, Lockport Township

Lockport Township’s Isaac Zimmerman won 34 matches as a freshman and then went 33-14 this season but for the second year in a row, he fell one win shy of advancing to the IHSA Individual Finals, after reaching the semifinals and consolation semifinals at the Class 3A Quincy Senior Sectional. After taking second at 106 to Mount Carmel’s Kavel Moore in last year’s IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, he would now like to get medals the next two seasons at the IHSA Finals. Zimmerman, one of 10 Porters who qualified for and three who claimed medals at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, won the championship at 126 by recording a fall in 3:45 over Shelbyville’s Bodee Fathauer. He earned his spot on the title mat\ with a win by technical fall over Bremen’s Izaiah Gonzalez. After opening with a fall, he won two decisions, which included a 13-12 victory over Mascoutah’s Desi Wade in the quarterfinals.

“Jameson Oster became our new coach last year and took over for Josh Oster,” said Zinmerman, who wanted to thank all of the Porters’ assistant coaches, Josh Zimmerman, Dan Swan, Mike Mucha, Rob Melgoza, Colin Holler, Josh Oster, Doug Chesna, Jim Ranney, Dave Mackey and Ron Farina. “The coaching staff has been great. My brother, Liam, who’s a junior, got to coach me in the Frosh/Soph and my dad has been coaching me since I was like five. We have a newer coach, Mike Mucha, and Abdullah (Assaf) didn’t coach that much this year, but he’s still one of my favorite coaches. In our room, we have Justin (Wardlow), who took second again, and I know that’s not what he was shooting for, but he’s really, really good. I don’t wrestle my brother often, but my brother also wrestles everybody else, so I get to wrestle everybody else, too. Iron sharpens iron, so everybody gets better.”

Shelbyville sophomore Bodee Fathauer went 30-16 this season and also advanced to the semifinals and consolation semifinals at his sectional, Class 1A Vandalia, to fall one win shy of a trip to Champaign. The lone IWCOA Frosh/Soph qualifier for the Rams, he followed a major decision and a pin with a 9-7 win by sudden victory over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Aurelio Munoz in the quarterfinals before recording a fall in 4:30 over Deerfield’s Adrian Cohen in the semifinals.In the third-place match, Naperville Central’s Vince Bern won a 10-5 decision over Bremen’s Izaiah Gonzalez. For fifth place, Joliet Catholic Academy’s Aurelio Munoz captured a 4-2 decision over Deerfield’s Adrian Cohen and in the seventh-place match, St. Charles East’s Gavin Woodmancy was a winner by medical forfeit over Stevenson’s Mikey Polyakov.

132 – Carter Skoff, Morris

Carter Skoff was one of four individuals from Morris that entered the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional with over 30 or more wins but only one of them was able to advance to state, Owen Sater, who won the sectional title at 106. So Skoff, a sophomore who went 35-8 this season, opted to compete in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals for the second time. He split four matches at last year’s tournament but this time his showing was much improved as he won all five of his matches, which included two falls and two major decisions before capturing a 9-8 decision over Homewood-Flossmoor’s Robye Williams in the 132 title match. Skoff, one of two medalists for Morris, got a major decision in his opener and a pin after that before winning another major decision, this time 11-3 over Granite City’s Braxton Tolley in the quarterfinals and added a second fall, in 1:33, over Lincoln-Way Central’s Jadon Zimmer in the semifinals.

Homewood-Flossmoor sophomore Robye Williams (14-9) came up one victory away from a trip to state on two occasions at the Class 3A Quincy Senior Sectional after falling in the semifinals and the consolation semifinals. Williams, who also took part in last year’s Frosh/Soph State Finals and fell a bit short of getting a medal, opened with two falls and then got a win by technical fall over Fenwick’s Burke Burns in the quarterfinals and claimed a win by fall in 3:48 over West Aurora’s Jack Platt. In the third-place match, Maine South’s Jake Colleran captured an 8-3 decision over Glenbard West’s Alejandro Aranda. For fifth place, Lincoln-Way Central’s Jadon Zimmer won a 5-1 decision over West Aurora’s Jack Platt. And in the seventh-place match, Granite City’s Braxton Tolley prevailed by an ultimate tiebreaker over Hoopeston Area’s Aiden Bell.

138 – Daniel Blanke, Barrington

Considering how hard it is for experienced individuals to qualify for state, most freshmen might be content if they fell just one win shy of advancing in their first attempt. While Daniel Blanke did just that at his own Class 3A Barrington Sectional to conclude a 26-12 season, the Broncos freshman wanted to finish on a better note and he accomplished that by winning the 138 title in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals by getting a fall in 2:14 over Downers Grove North’s 

Caden Chiarelli. One of two qualifiers for the Broncos, with Clarence Jackson also getting to the title match at 285 and taking second, Blanke won four of his five matches by fall, including the first three. He got a pin in 2:54 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Ethan Harvey in the quarterfinals and reached the title mat by capturing a 7-3 decision over Sandwich’s Ian Hawkins in the semifinals.

“I did pretty well, but I didn’t qualify for state, which was a bummer,” Blanke said. “We have coach (Dan) Keller, and he’s a great coach and we’ve got a bunch of studs in our room. This makes me feel a lot better. And I’m definitely going to aim for being a medalist next year.”

Downers Grove North sophomore Caden Chiarelli also fell one win shy of a state trip at the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional after losing in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals to conclude a 26-18 season. Chiarelli, one of two Trojans to qualify for the Frosh/Soph State Finals and their lone medalist, opened with a fall and then won three-straight close decisions, claiming a 1-0 victory over Maine South’s Caden Ljubenko in the quarterfinals and prevailing 5-3 in sudden victory over Geneseo’s Grady Hull in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Sandwich’s Ian Hawkins claimed a 5-0 decision over Geneseo’s Grady Hull. For fifth place, Quincy Senior’s Cale Mixer got a fall in 2:47 over Maine South’s Caden Ljubenko. And in the seventh-place match, Lincoln-Way Central’s Ethan Harvey won 6-2 over Lockport Township’s Christian Czerwinski.

144 – Jalen Byrd, Lincoln-Way Central

When you’re the son of an IWCOA Hall of Fame wrestler, who also happens to be your head coach, trying to follow in your father’s footsteps is a typical goal. And if Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Jalen Byrd is able to achieve just a fraction of what his father Tyrone, a 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, accomplished first at Clinton and later at the University of Illinois, then he too will have a successful career. Coming up a bit short of a state trip at the Class 3A Quincy Senior Sectional to conclude a 22-6 season after finishing with 39 victories and falling one win shy of advancing to state a year ago, Byrd led the Knights’ six qualifiers and three medalists at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals when he won the 144 title with a fall in 2:12 over Normal Community’s Carter Mayes. He also had pins in his first three matches, which was capped by a fall in 2:33 over Prospect’s Bennett Westfallen in the quarterfinals and then he captured a 7-0 decision over DeKalb’s Cam Matthews in the semifinals.

“Sometimes it’s tough mentally and physically, and other times you get a lot of a reward out of it,” Byrd said of being able to compete for his father. “The work that he puts me through helps me to perform at my best. This year, I got hurt pretty early on in the season and came back, but I didn’t do too well at sectionals. But I came here and finished out the season with a good win. We’ve got a young team, too, and we’ll have two seniors next year, and that’s it. This will help me to get better so that I can get on the podium next year, that’s the biggest goal now, and on top of that is the best goal, to win that state title.”

Normal Community sophomore Carter Mayes was 31-10 after his team won the title at the Big 12 Conference Tournament but he didn’t compete in the IHSA state series. He was one of five qualifiers and two finalists and medalists at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals for the Ironmen, with 101 champion Jackson Soney the other. Mayes opened with two falls and then won an 18-4 major decision over Alton Senior’s Brayden Drew before winning 7-0 over Oswego’s Dillon Griffin in the semifinals. In the third-place match, York’s Jackson Hanselman won a 3-0 decision over Alton Senior’s Brayden Drew. For fifth place, Oswego’s Dillon Griffin captured a 6-4 victory over DeKalb’s Cam Matthews. And in the seventh-place match, Lockport Township’s Naseem Jaber claimed a 6-4 decision over Prospect’s Bennett Westfallen.

150 – Frank Tagoe, Hersey

Frank Tagoe got the opportunity to be on a special team in his sophomore season as Hersey qualified 12 individuals, including eight seniors, for the Class 3A Barrington Sectional and advanced six to the IHSA Individual Finals, where two were All-Staters. While Tagoe came up a bit short of joining his teammates in Champaign and finished with a 17-13 record, he did get to end things on a high note after taking first place at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals when he won a 7-0 decision over Grayslake Central’s Warren Nash III in the 150 title match. One of two qualifiers and the lone medalist for the Huskies, he had one fall and three other decisions. In the quarterfinals, he won 4-1 over Robinson’s Benjamin Mullins and he earned his spot on the title mat with an 8-7 victory over Evanston Township’s Rodrigo Salinas in the semifinals.

“I just have to keep putting that work in and hopefully I get there,” Tagoe said. “Everyone in our room has a common goal and when you have people in a room like we have, everyone just pushes each other every day to get better, and it’s the same with the coaching staff.”

Grayslake Central sophomore Warren Nash III is one of the success stories of those who advanced to a title match at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals since he failed to qualify for the Class 2A sectional that his school hosted after taking fourth at the Antioch Regional to conclude a 32-17 season. Nash III, the lone medalist of the Rams’ four qualifiers,  opened with two major decisions before winning 8-6 by sudden victory over New Trier’s Yassin Aitzemkour in the quarterfinals and then he recorded a fall in 3:57 over Wheaton Academy’s Tyler Jones in the semifinals. In the third-place match, East St. Louis Senior’s Pierre Walton was a winner by fall in 4:28 over Wheaton Academy’s Tyler Jones. For fifth place, Robinson’s Benjamin Mullins captured a 6-3 decision over Evanston Township’s Rodrigo Salinas and for seventh-place, Warren Township’s Nicholas Hermsen got a fall in 4:54 over Woodstock’s Logan Wisner.

157 – Nic Astacio, Marian Central Catholic

Things couldn’t have gone much better for Nic Astacio during his freshman season at Marian Central Catholic since he not only had the chance to compete along with his senior brother Max, but he got the rare opportunity as a freshman to be a major contributor for a team that won the IHSA Class 1A Dual Team champion to claim its first title and the Woodstock school won its first title in a boys sport since 1989. He fell one win shy of joining eight of his Hurricanes teammates as state qualifiers at the rugged Class 1A Byron Sectional but then went 2-1 in at the IHSA Dual Team finals to finish 32-25 for the season and he helped Marian Central Catholic beat defending champion Coal City 34-27 in the championship dual meet. Astacio, the only qualifier from his school, won the IWCOA Frosh/Soph title at 157 by recording a fall in 2:01 over Hampshire’s Michael Brannigan. He opened with a win by technical fall before capturing a 4-1 victory. He followed that with a 5-1 decision over Washington Community’s Cruise Brolley and then won a 12-2 major decision over Downers Grove South’s Noah Greene in the semifinals.

“That was the best training that I could get,” said Astacio of wrestling against his senior brother, Max, who overcame injuries to take sixth at 165 in Class 1A to capture his second state medal. “I practiced with Max almost every single day in the wrestling room. He’s a senior and he’s been in this way longer than me. He’s the best mentor, and in fact, he was my coach these past two weeks. And everything that I’ve learned is from my father, Mario. It certainly was one helluva team. I have some of the best coaches that I could ask for. There’s a bright future for Marian Central, for sure. There’s a lot of kids who would wish to be in my spot and I just couldn’t be more grateful to be here. The main thing that I take away from this is the state championship. I’ve learned so much this freshman year. I’ve learned how to high school wrestle.”

Hampshire sophomore Michael Brannigan also fell a bit short of earning a state trip at the Class 3A Barrington Sectional and finished with a 30-15 record. One of three qualifiers and two medal winners for the Whip-Purs in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, Brannigan recorded falls in his other four matches, including in 3:26 in the quarterfinals over Galesburg’s Anthony Makwala and in 3:21 over Moline’s Deanthony Simpson in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Lincoln-Way East’s Declan Dircks won with a pin in 2:39 over Marquette Academy’s Reily Leifheit. For fifth place, Moline’s Deanthony Simpson captured a 5-3 decision over Downers Grove South’s Noah Greene. And in the seventh-place match, Libertyville’s James Scanio won 4-2 in sudden victory over Washington Community’s Cruise Brolley.

165 – Aaden Arroyo, Grant 

When you look at most of the individuals who win titles at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, you expect to see a majority who fell just shy of advancing to the IHSA Individual State Finals, while those who failed to qualify from a regional or had season records below .500 are unusual. But that really didn’t matter very much to Grant freshman Aaden Arroyo, who went 8-9 this season and finished in fourth place at 175 in the Class 3A Libertyville Regional. One of seven qualifiers and the lone medalist for the Bulldogs, Arroyo captured the IWCOA Frosh/Soph title at 175 when he won 7-5 by sudden victory over Unity’s Abram Davidson in championship match. He won a second-round match by technical fall and had pins before and after that, winning in 1:51 in the quarterfinals over Batavia’s Colin Peyton and Arroyo earned his spot in the title match with another close decision, winning 6-5 over Morton’s Colton McKee in the semifinals.

“I think I did very well,” Arroyo said. “I definitely could have done a lot better at the start of the season. But then I really started to work harder for it. Coming into this tournament, I placed second at the regional and third at the sectional and I really wanted it, so I kind of pushed myself to keep going. (Competing at Grant) Definitely the team pushes you to be better and the coaches are always trying to help you strive for more. So I’m constantly trying to be better and focusing on what needs to be done.”

By contrast, Unity sophomore Abram Davidson was a typical IWCOA finalist who fell in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals at 157 at the Class 1A Olympia Sectional and finished 39-11 after competing with his team in the IHSA Class 1A Dual Team Finals in Bloomington. One of four qualifiers and the only medal winner for the Rockets, Davidson followed a fall in his opener with two close decisions, including a 4-1 win in the quarterfinals over Lena-Winslow/Stockton’s John Mensendike in the quarterfinals. He earned his spot in the title match by getting a pin in 3:53 over Civic Memorial’s Luke McCoy, who claimed third place after capturing a 6-0 decision over Yorkville’s Caleb Viscogliosi. In the fifth-place match, Morton’s Colton McKee recorded a fall in 1:57 over Yorkville Christian’s Tyler Gleason, and for seventh place, Oak Forest’s Jason Janke captured a 7-2 decision over Lincoln-Way East’s Colton Zvonar.

175 – Vincenzo Testa, Marmion Academy

Marmion Academy sophomore Vincenzo Testa got the opportunity to be on one of the state’s top 3A teams this season and one of its 10 qualifiers for the rugged Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, but he fell one win shy of joining seven other Cadets in Champaign and finished with a 27-13 record after his team fell to eventual 3A Dual Team champion Mount Carmel in the Downers Grove South Sectional. Testa, one of two medalists and four qualifiers for Marmion Academy at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, captured the 175 championship with a 3-1 decision over Rolling Meadows’ John (Jack) Rappa. He opened his title run by recording three-straight falls, including a pin in 2:37 over Rich Township’s Kelcey Span in the quarterfinals and followed that with an 8-3 decision over Naperville Central’s Paul Peradotti in the semifinals.

Rolling Meadows sophomore John (Jack) Rappa, who went 25-13 this season and fell a bit short of advancing to state from the Class 3A Barrington Sectional, was one of two qualifiers and the lone medalist for the Mustangs in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals. After opening with two falls, he won a pair of two-point decisions, prevailing 3-1 over Lincoln-Way East’s Brody Gish in the quarterfinals and then he claimed a 2-0 victory over Yorkville Christian’s Jackson Allen in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Naperville Central’s Paul Peradotti captured a 3-0 decision over Libertyville’s Jack Treutelaar. For fifth place, Yorkville Christian’s Jackson Allen won by fall in 4:38 over Trico’s Johnny Ramaker. And Jacobs’ Johnny Strauss won by injury default over Marist’s Kyle Herzog to claim seventh place.

190 – Blake Livdahl, Harvard

When a freshman has a 20-5 record and falls one win shy of qualifying for state at a tough sectional, it usually is a good way to conclude a debut season. Harvard freshman Blake Livdahl did just that, losing in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals at the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional. The lone qualifier for the Hornets at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals, Livdahl won the 190 title match by capturing an 8-1 decision over Springfield Southeast’s Christopher Hull.  He opened with a pin and then claimed another 8-1 decision before winning a 13-4 major decision over Olympia’s Darian Holloway in the quarterfinals. Livdahl earned his spot in the 190 championship mat with another major decision, this time 11-2 over Freeburg’s Dane Olmstead.

Springfield Southeast sophomore Christopher Hull also came up one win shy of advancing to state from the Class 2A Mahomet-Seymour Sectional to conclude a 29-10 season. The lone IWCOA Frosh/Soph State qualifier for the Spartans, Hull recorded falls in his first four matches. He won in 0:42 over Marmion Academy’s Luke Boersma in the quarterfinals and then pinned Joliet Catholic Academy’s Derrick Pomatto in 3:36 in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Lena-Winslow/Stockton’s Oliver McPeek captured an 8-1 decision over Lincoln-Way West’s James Talley, Jr. For fifth place, Freeburg’s Dane Olmstead won by medical forfeit over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Derrick Pomatto. And in the seventh-place match, Hampshire’s Carter Hintz pulled out an 11-10 victory over Westville’s Ethan Miller.

215 – Teigen Moreno, Dundee-Crown

Dundee-Crown sophomore Teigen Moreno fell one win short of qualifying for the IHSA Individual Finals from the Class 3A Barrington Sectional to close out a 28-10 season. He hopes that winning the 215 title at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals helps him to qualify for state and possibly medal there next year. Moreno, the lone qualifier for the Chargers, recorded a fall in 1:23 over Marist’s Tommy O’Brien in the 215 championship match. He also got pins in his first three matches, which included one in 2:10 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Aiden Hennings in the quarterfinals. Moreno earned his spot on the title mat by claiming a 5-4 decision over Mahomet-Seymour’s Noah Daniels. He placed eighth at 220 at the Frosh/Soph State Finals a year ago.

Marist sophomore Tommy O’Brien fell a bit short of joining eight of his teammates as state qualifiers from the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional and finished with a 20-15 record for one of the top 3A teams this season. O’Brien was the lone finalist and one of three medal winners for the RedHawks, who had 16 individuals who participated in the IWCOA’s Frosh/Soph State Finals. O’Brien got a pin in his opener and then won two decisions, including a 3-2 victory over Minooka’s Santino Capodice in the quarterfinals. He advanced to the 215 title match with a fall in 4:29 over Vandalia’s Dominic Swyers. In the third-place match, Mahomet-Seymour’s Noah Daniels won a 9-4 decision over Vandalia’s Dominic Swyers in a meeting of individuals who were on teams that advanced to the IHSA Dual Team Finals with the Vandals placing fourth in Class 1A. For fifth place, Horizon Science Academy – Southwest Chicago’s Samel Marerro won a 10-1 major decision over Minooka’s Santino Capodice. And in the seventh-place match, Oak Forest’s Andrius Vasilevskas prevailed 5-3 in sudden victory over Jacobs’ Lucas Retzler.

285 – Ryan Stingily, Lincoln-Way East

Ryan Stingily had a 12-12 record in mid-January and then did not compete in the IHSA Class 3A Rich Township Regional. So it’s easy to see why the Lincoln-Way East sophomore was excited to close out his season by claiming top honors at 285 at the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals. In the 285 championship match, he won 4-2 on a tiebreaker over Barrington’s Clarence Jackson. Stingily, the lone finalist and one of three medal winners for the Griffins, who had seven competitors who advanced to Springfield, received a bye in his opener and then won two decisions, including 3-1 over Washington Community’s Sean Thornton in the quarterfinals. He earned his spot on the title mat by recording a fall in 2:07 over Wheeling’s Pablo Morales. Stingily also placed in the IWCOA Frosh/Soph State Finals last year, finishing fourth at 285.

“It’s a great feeling and I’ve been working all season to get to this point,” Stingily said. “Being with my teammates and me cheering them on and them cheering me on. I like the family aspect of it (competing for Lincoln-Way East). When you’re part of a team at East, it’s like you’re part of a big family. It’s fun looking back on it to see where I started to where I am now. When I first started, I couldn’t even get into a stance and now I’m holding this plaque.”

Barrington sophomore Clarence Jackson and the 138 champion, freshman Daniel Blanke, were the Broncos’ only qualifiers and they both advanced to the title mat. Jackson, who went 30-13 this season and fell one win shy of advancing from his school’s Class 3A sectional, got pins in his first two matches and won 5-3 by sudden victory over East Peoria’s Keegan Barnes in the quarterfinals before recording a fall in 4:33 over Evanston Township’s Ian Sims in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Fenton’s Josh Zuniga won by fall in 1:32 over Evanston Township’s Ian Sims. For fifth place, Wheeling’s Pablo Morales captured a 3-1 decision over Dakota’s Randy McPeek. And in the seventh-place match, St. Charles East’s Matt Medina, who got the opportunity to compete with his team in the IHSA Class 3A Dual Team Finals where the Fighting Saints took third place,  recorded a pin in 1:33 over Fremd’s Owen Jakubczak.

Championship Matches

101 – Jackson Soney (Normal Community) won by fall over Dominic Pasquale (IC Catholic Prep) Fall 0:24
106 – Jackson Olson (Hononegah) won by decision over Evan Mishels (Stevenson) Dec 8-3
113 – Harrison Dea (Morton) won by decision over Liam Fenoglio (Yorkville) Dec 5-4
120 – Ismael Chaidez (Glenbard East) won by decision over Ben Arbotante (Jacobs) Dec 5-1
126 – Isaac Zimmerman (Lockport Township) won by fall over Bodee Fathauer (Shelbyville) Fall 3:45
132 – Carter Skoff (Morris) won by decision over Robye Williams (Homewood-Flossmoor) Dec 9-8
138 – Daniel Blanke (Barrrington) won by fall over Caden Chiarelli (Downers Grove North) Fall 2:14
144 – Jalen Byrd (Lincoln-Way Central) won by fall over Carter Mayes (Normal Community) Fall 2:12
150 – Frank Tagoe (Hersey) won by decision over Warren Nash III (Grayslake Central) Dec 7-0
157 – Nicolas Astacio (Marian Central) won by fall over Michael Brannigan (Hampshire) Fall 2:01
165 – Aaden Arroyo (Grant) won in sudden victory over Abram Davidson (Unity) SV 7-5
175 – Vincenzo Testa (Marmion Academy) won by decision over John Rappa (Rolling Meadows) Dec 3-1
190 – Blake Livdahl (Harvard) won by decision over Christopher Hull (Springfield Southeast) Dec 8-1
215 – Teigen Moreno (Dundee-Crown) won by fall over Tommy O’Brien (Marist) Fall 1:23
285 – Ryan Stingily (Lincoln-Way East) won in tie breaker over Clarence Jackson (Barrrington) TB 4-2

Third Place Matches

101 – Dylan Weber (Marist) won by major decision over Kaden Potter (St. Charles East) Maj 10-2
106 – Bobby Ruscitti (Montini Catholic) won by fall over Austin Phelps (Schaumburg) Fall 2:11
113 – Brock Claypool (Morris) won by decision over Brett Harman (Maine South) Dec 8-7
120 – Glen Henry (Triad) won by decision over Kyle Pasco (Batavia) Dec 6-3
126 – Vince Bern (Naperville Central) won by decision over Izaiah Gonzalez (Bremen) Dec 10-5
132 – Jake Colleran (Maine South) won by decision over Alejandro Aranda (Glenbard West) Dec 8-3
138 – Ian Hawkins (Sandwich) won by decision over Grady Hull (Geneseo) Dec 5-0
144 – Jackson Hanselman (York) won by decision over Brayden Drew (Alton Senior) Dec 3-0
150 – Pierre Walton (East St. Louis Senior) won by fall over Tyler Jones (Wheaton Academy) Fall 4:28
157 – Declan Dircks (Lincoln-Way East) won by fall over Reily Leifheit (Marquette Academy) Fall 2:39
165 – Luke McCoy (Civic Memorial) won by decision over Caleb Viscogliosi (Yorkville) Dec 6-0
175 – Paul Peradotti (Naperville Central) won by decision over Jack Treutelaar (Libertyville) Dec 3-0
190 – Oliver McPeek (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) won by decision over James Talley, Jr. (Lincoln-Way West) Dec 8-1
215 – Noah Daniels (Mahomet-Seymour) won by decision over Dominic Swyers (Vandalia) Dec 9-4
285 – Josh Zuniga (Fenton) won by fall over Ian Sims (Evanston Township) Fall 1:32

Fifth Place Matches

101 – Ray Long (Niles Notre Dame) won by major decision over Jack Koenig (St. Patrick) Maj 14-4
106 – Jackson Marlett (Burlington Central) won by decision over Declan Sons (St. Charles North) Dec 2-1
113 – Jacob Cochran (Naperville Central) won by fall over Dylan Ramsey (Crystal Lake Central) Fall 3:00
120 – Aiden Ortiz (Oswego) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Aidan DuRell (Plainfield North) UTB 6-5
126 – Aurelio Munoz (Joliet Catholic Academy) won by decision over Adrian Cohen (Deerfield) Dec 4-2
132 – Jadon Zimmer (Lincoln-Way Central) won by decision over Jack Platt (West Aurora) Dec 5-1
138 – Cale Mixer (Quincy Senior) won by fall over Caden Ljubenko (Maine South) Fall 2:47
144 – Dillon Griffin (Oswego) won by decision over Cam Matthews (DeKalb) Dec 6-4
150 – Benjamin Mullins (Robinson) won by decision over Rodrigo Salinas (Evanston Township) Dec 6-3
157 – Deanthony Simpson (Moline) won by decision over Noah Greene (Downers Grove South) Dec 5-3
165 – Colton McKee (Morton) won by fall over Tyler Gleason (Yorkville Christian) Fall 1:57
175 – Jackson Allen (Yorkville Christian) won by fall over Johnny Ramaker (Trico) Fall 4:38
190 – Dane Olmstead (Freeburg) won by medical forfeit over Derrick Pomatto (Joliet Catholic Academy) MFF
215 – Samel Marerro (Horizon Science Academy – Southwest Chicago) won by major decision over Santino Capodice (Minooka) Maj 10-1
285 – Pablo Morales (Wheeling) won by decision over Randy McPeek (Dakota) Dec 3-1

Seventh Place Matches

101 – Colton Wyller (Marmion Academy) won by decision over Gerald Donnelly (Andrew) Dec 4-2
106 – Andre Rice (Proviso West) won by decision over Matthew Laird (Joliet Catholic Academy) Dec 10-9
113 – Trentin Odachowski (Fremd) won by medical forfeit over Oscar Kalman (Carl Sandburg) MFF
120 – Austin Kisner (Olympia) won by decision over Tyler Huchel (Oakwood/Salt Fork) (Dec 5-1
126 – Gavin Woodmancy (St. Charles East) won by medical forfeit over Mikey Polyakov (Stevenson) MFF
132 – Braxton Tolley (Granite City) won in the ultimate tie breaker over Aiden Bell (Hoopeston Area) UTB 6-6
138 – Ethan Harvey (Lincoln-Way Central) won by decision over Christian Czerwinski (Lockport Township) Dec 6-2
144 – Naseem Jaber (Lockport Township) won by decision over Bennett Westfallen (Prospect) Dec 6-4
150 – Nicholas Hermsen (Warren Township) won by fall over Logan Wisner (Woodstock) Fall 4:54
157 – James Scanio (Libertyville) won in sudden victory over Cruise Brolley (Washington Community) SV 4-2
165 – Jason Janke (Oak Forest) won by decision over Colton Zvonar (Lincoln-Way East) Dec 7-2
175 – Johnny Strauss (Jacobs) won by injury default over Kyle Herzog (Marist) Inj. 2:38
190 – Carter Hintz (Hampshire) won by decision over Ethan Miller (Westville) Dec 11-10
215 – Andrius Vasilevskas (Oak Forest) won in sudden victory over Lucas Retzler (Jacobs) SV 5-3
285 – Matt Medina (St. Charles East) won by fall over Owen Jakubczak (Fremd) Fall 1:33