Lawrence County captures title at Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones
By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA
When a team wins two tournament titles in three weeks after needing nearly all of last season to accomplish the same feat, then usually something really good is happening.
That’s how the Lawrence County co-op featuring the two schools in its county, Lawrenceville and Red Hill, views its prospects heading into 2025 after it captured top honors at Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones, a 20-team competition that took place last weekend in Toledo.
Coach Cody Bobe, in his first season of leading the program that had been coached by Sam Hyre for several years, saw his team follow up on a title at their own Lawrence County Tournament on December 7 with a second championship against a much bigger field.
Despite having only one champion, Lawrence County received team points from all 12 of its entrants and used three runner-up finishes to go along with two fourths, two fifths and a sixth to help it to 172.5 points, which was 14 points ahead of runner-up Salem, who had 158.5 points.
Shelbyville claimed third place with 154 points while Lichfield was fourth with 146, Althoff Catholic took fifth with 137.5 points and the host Pirates edged Monticello 127.5-125.5 for sixth. Harrisburg (106.5), Fairfield (95.5) and Effingham (94) rounded out the top half of the field.
Leading the way for Lawrence County was Cale Seitzinger, who captured the title at 138. Kyler Guercio (106), Hudson Meek (144) and Nick Morehead (175) also advanced to the title mat but placed second.
Keegan Liston (150) and Daniel Kiser (157) placed fourth, Delaney Ledbetter (113) and Dylan Camden (285) finished fifth and Malikye Williams (190) claimed sixth. Drew Seitzinger (120), Grayson Allender (126) and Wyatt Scott (215) didn’t place but added 19.5 critical team points.
Salem finishing second is a big deal because this is only the program’s third season. With co-coaches Brian Camp and Rob Ring leading the way, the Wildcats hope to have their first IHSA medalist in 2025. Keyton King took first place at 150 in the Skull & Crossbones while Carson Osborne was the runner-up at 190.
Despite only having eight competitors, Shelbyville finished in third place. Coach Caleb Duckett’s Rams were led at the Skull & Crossbones by Ryne Peavler, who won the title at 165 while Bodee Fathauer (132) and Andre Townsend (285) both settled for second place.
Litchfield/Mt. Olive co-op, which is coached by Chance Davidson, finished fourth and had three title winners and a tournament-high five finalists. Winning championships for the Purple Panthers were Vinny Moore (120), Clayton Hauter (144) and Tristan Staggs (215) while Rilynn Younker (113), who was fourth at 110 in the 2024 IHSA Girls Finals, and Braxton Kieffer (157) took second place.
Finishing in fifth place was Althoff Catholic, which is coached by Emauel Brooks. His Crusaders had a tournament-high four title winners, defending IHSA Class 1A 285 champion Jason Dowell (285) in addition to Brenden Rayl (132), Dawson Hawthorne (126) and Jacobi Cobbs (106).
The host Pirates, who are coached by Ash Edmonds, took sixth place and were led by champion Owen McGinnis (157) and runner-up Harley Pierce (138).
Monticello, which took seventh place, was led by title winner Hunter Romano (190) and second-place finishers Ezekiel Young (120) and Nick Litchfield (126).
Others who captured Skull & Crossbones titles were Fairfield’s Talan Keoughan (175) and Oakwood/Salt Fork co-op’s Weston Frazier (113). Also taking second place were Effingham’s Baker Moon (150), Herrin’s Kolby Coffey (165) and Harrisburg’s Gunner Wayman (215).
Five individuals repeated as champions in the tournament. They were Dowell, Keoughan, McGinnis, Rayl and Staggs. Peavler made the move up from runner-up to champion while Young, a 2023 title winner in the competition, lost in the finals to Moore, who took third last year.
King also went from third to first place while Romano took fourth last year and Seitzinger did not place and they both won titles. Cobbs, Frazier, Hawthorne and Hauter weren’t in the 2023 field.
Dowell led the way in most team points with 31.5 while Staggs was second with 30 and Keoughan took third with 29.5 points. Peavler was next with 28.5 while Cobbs, McGinnis and Romano tied with 28 points. King scored 27.5 while Hawtorne and Rayl tied with 27 team points.
Staggs was the lone competitor in the field that recorded four falls. And Richland County’s Zander Schrader had the most total match points with 54 while Peavler was next with 51.
Oakwood/Salt Fork co-op, the top-ranked team in the field and defending champions in the Skull & Crossbones, sent most of their top individuals to a dual meet at Coal City the night before for a clash of top 10 Class 1A teams, which the Coalers won.
Here are the champions and weight classes of the Skull & Crossbones
106 – Jacobi Cobbs, Althoff Catholic
Jacobi Cobbs went 44-6 as a freshman competing in Mehlville, Missouri but fell one win shy of a trip to the state finals in that state. So this season he decided to try his luck on the other side of the Mississippi River and is excited to be competing for Althoff Catholic. He already is making a name for himself after earning the top spot at 106 in the Class 1A rankings by Illinois Matmen and he improved to 12-1 after winning by fall in 0:51 over Lawrence County co-op freshman Kyler Guercio in the 106 title match at the Skull & Crossbones.
He won all three of his matches with first-period pins, earning his spot on the title mat with a fall in 17 seconds against Salem junior Aden Doolen. This was his first invitational tournament as an Illinois athlete and he joined Dawson Hawthorne, Brenden Rayl and Jason Dowell as title winners to give coach Emanuel Brooks’ Crusaders a tournament-high four champions.
“I’m coming to Althoff because I have better coaches here and it might help me get better,” Cobbs said. “I haven’t skipped a single practice and I work hard in every practice and I never stop. They support you a lot, make good teammates and support you in the wrestling room.”
Guercio (11-2) was one of four finalists for Lawrence County, a co-op team, involving athletes from Lawrenceville and Red Hill that is coached by Cody Bobe. He earned his spot on the 106 title with two first-period falls, with the last of those coming in 1:10 over Effingham freshman Brendan Stewart in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Doolen (10-6) captured a 9-5 decision over Stewart (14-5). Fairfield sophomore Carter Poole won by technical fall in 1:54 over Monticello sophomore River Young to claim fifth place.
113 – Weston Frazier, Oakwood/Salt Fork
Weston Frazier was missing many of his Oakwood/Salt Fork co-op teammates for the Skull & Crossbones since they had made the long trip to Coal City the previous day to compete in a dual meet against the Coalers in a clash of top-10 teams in Class 1A. So while coach Mike Glosser’s team was not able to defend its title in the competition with only eight individuals participating, it was able to get a title win at 113 from Frazier, who is a freshman.
Frazier (9-2), who was one of two top-six finishers and the lone finalist for his team, won the 113 championship with a win by technical fall in 5:44 over Litchfield/Mt. Olive sophomore Rilynn Younker. He also collected a win by technical fall in his opener before earning his spot on the title mat with a 12-0 major decision over Cumberland junior Peyton Groves in the semifinals.
“It feels pretty cool, pretty fun,” I had a good time,” Frazier said. “I feel like we’ll be pretty good if we stay as a team and stay together. I really like the coaches and I really like the team and the school. It’s just a good place to be.”
Younker (15-5), who placed fourth at 110 in the 2024 IHSA Girls Finals in Bloomington, was one of a tournament-high five finalists for coach Chance Davidson’s Purple Panthers, who took fourth place. She won with falls in her first two matches, earning her spot on the title mat with a pin in 3:35 over Effingham freshman Cole Dulumback in the semifinals. Groves (11-7) won by fall in 3:22 over Dulumback (13-4) to finish third and Lawrence County co-op sophomore Delaney Ledbetter (5-4) took fifth with a fall in 3:08 over Herrin sophomore Brennan Jeralds.
120 – Vinny Moore, Litchfield/Mt. Olive
Vinny Moore has qualified for state in each of his first two seasons but after going 34-10 and falling a bit short of a medal at 110, the Litchfield/Mt. Olive co-op junior hopes to be one of individuals from the program who will get back on the awards stand at state after the Panthers missed out on a medal in 2024. Moore improved to 18-1 after capturing top honors at 120 in the Skull & Crossbones with a 10-0 major decision over Monticello sophomore Ezekiel Young. In the latest rankings, Young was ranked eighth while Moore was ninth.
One of a tournament-high five finalists and three title winners for coach Chance Davidson’s Purple Panthers, Moore advanced to the 120 title match with a win by technical fall and then a fall in 2:48 over Effingham senior Kaiden Stewart in the semifinals.
“I’ve had a lot of good matches in the past, but I think this year is the year that I think I can push through all of the hard ones and probably do something with it,” Moore said. “I have a great team and a great coaching staff and everyone that’s surrounding me is good. I did a lot of offseason work and I travelled to a lot of different states for dual teams and working out. And I overall tried to improve my diet. Just wrestling helps you get better at wrestling.”
Young (8-2), one of three finalists for coach Andy Moore’s Sages, opened with a victory by technical fall and advanced to the title mat with a pin in 4:18 over Salem freshman Rylan Moore. Stewart (16-3) recorded a fall in 0:40 over Moore (13-5) to claim third place and in the fifth-place match, Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine co-op senior Mason Correll (10-3) got a pin in 5:18 over Shelbyville sophomore Colin Wells (8-8).
126 – Dawson Hawthorne, Althoff Catholic
Dawson Hawthorne had a successful freshman season and went 30-5 but got hurt right before the postseason and was unable to finish on a good note. So the Althoff Catholic sophomore has big plans for the upcoming season and they just got a boost after he won a 5-0 decision over Monticello junior Nick Litchfield in the 126 championship match at the Skull & Crossbones.
Hawthorne (6-0), the second of four champions for coach Emanuel Brooks’ Crusaders, used two falls and a major decision to advance to the 126 title mat. Ranked seventh at 120, he got his second pin in the semifinals where he won in 2:54 over Fairfield junior Jedd Wellen.
“We have a returning state champion and we picked up Jacobi Cobbs from Missouri and I got second as an eighth grader at state (IKWF),” Hawthorne said. “It’s fun, because we’re all like brothers. We all support each other and we push each other to do the best we can. We all push each other in the room and that makes it fun. And we all joke like we’re brothers, too. This year means a lot to me, coming back from an injury, so hopefully I can get to the podium.”
Litchfield, one of three finalists for coach Andy Moore’s Sages, opened with a win by technical fall and then won a 9-0 major decision in the semifinals over Shelbyville freshman Johnathan Kirkbride (10-7), who then went on to claim third place by winning a 5-4 decision over Wellen. Cumberland junior Sawyer Welbaum (13-3) took fifth place after recording a fall in 1:52 over Salem freshman Caleb Osborne (12-5).
132 – Brenden Rayl, Althoff Catholic
Brenden Rayl made it 3-for-3 for Althoff Catholic on the title mat when he followed Jacobi Cobbs and Dawson Hawthorne as champions at the first five weights of the Skull & Crossbones and the trio would later be joined in the last title match by defending IHSA Class 1A heavyweight champion Jason Dowell. The senior, who was ranked sixth at 132, claimed top honors at 132 with a win by technical fall in 3:24 over Shelbyville junior Bodee Fathauer.
Rayl, who is off to a 14-0 start, is a two-time IHSA qualifier who went 35-4 last season but fell one win shy of earning a medal at 126, so he’s focused on finally getting to the state awards stand this season. After needing just 13 seconds to secure a pin in his opener, he claimed a win by technical fall in 2:46 over Herrin junior Braden Berndt in the semifinals.
“We’ve got tons of good practice partners and we’re always working, even through sickness and injuries,” Rayl said. “This program is full of hammers and they want to be here. They come out to wrestle, they’re set toward it, they want to get after it. I’m really close with all of them and with them seeing me want to succeed, it makes them want to succeed even more. We have a great coach. I think that a lot of it is the mindset and I think right now my mindset is pretty good, but there’s always room for improvement. You’ve got to have that feeling that no matter who I step out there with, we’re going to fight and I’m going to come out on top, that’s what matters.”
Fathauer (14-4), one of three finalists for coach Caleb Duckett’s third-place Rams, was a state qualifier in 2023 who went 30-16 last season and fell one win shy of a state trip. He used two falls to reach the semifinals, where he won by technical fall in 4:28 over Cumberland sophomore Logan Aaron (12-6), who took third place by claiming a 17-7 major decision over Berndt (9-6). For fifth place, Richland County sophomore Kaeden Davis (15-5) won by fall in 3:41 over Johnston City senior Gabe Lively (9-4).
138 – Cale Seitzinger, Lawrence County
Cale Seitzinger was the lone champion among four finalists for the Lawrence County co-op, which features athletes from Lawrenceville and Red Hill. The team, which is coached by Cody Bobe, won the Skull & Crossbones championship with 172.5 points, which was 14 better than runner-up Salem. This title comes two weeks after it took first place at its own tournament. Seitzinger, a junior who didn’t place in the 2023 tourney, improved to 13-1 after winning a 15-4 major decision over Cumberland sophomore Harley Pierce in the 138 championship match.
Seitzinger, who went 28-16 last season but fell one win shy of advancing to the sectional, got a win by technical fall in 3:34 in his first match and then claimed a 7-3 decision in the semifinals over Johnston City junior Jace Weaver to earn his spot on the 138 championship mat.
“Everybody has been working hard and it’s really been showing off,” Seitzinger said. “I have a lot of good people right around my weight and we go back and forth in practice and it really helps. All of the season is just about the end of the year, really. And everyone is practicing and working hard and getting experience right now. I did a lot of offseason stuff this year and it really helps to have people around that I’m close to that wrestle, all of my friends, and we really push each other around the practice room. Everyone works hard and nobody gives up in their match even if they’re wrestling tough guys. And I like my coaches.”
Pierce (10-6), one of two finalists for coach Ash Edmonds’ host Pirates, opened with two pins before capturing a 15-2 major decision over Monticello sophomore Luke Andruczyk. For third place, Weaver (10-4) won by fall in 2:45 over Andruczyk (10-6). And for fifth, Salem sophomore Kevan Moore (13-4) got a pin in 5:46 over Effingham freshman Jeremiah Giles (6-4).
144 – Clayton Hauter, Litchfield/Mt. Olive
Clayton Hauter helped Litchfield/Mt. Olive co-op to enjoy a successful day at the Skull & Crossbones when he became the second of three champions for coach Chance Davidson’s Purple Panthers, following Vinny Moore and preceding Tristan Staggs to help their team claim fourth place in the 20-team competition. The senior improved to 18-3 after winning a 7-4 decision over Lawrence County co-op sophomore Hudson Meek in the 144 title match.
Hauter, who captured his first high school tournament title, went 24-15 last season and qualified for the Vandalia Sectional. He opened with a fall and then captured a 16-3 major decision over Cumberland junior Jaxson Dukeman in the semifinals to make him one of Litchfield’s five finalists, which was the highest total for any of the 20 teams in the tournament.
“Honestly, I’m so proud of them, every single one of our guys,” Hauter said. “It’s about how hard you go in practice, that’s when it matters, and we help each other. We had guys that lost at PORTA last week and then beat them. I had never won a high school tournament. It feels great. I have to thank God, I wouldn’t be anywhere without him and my dad. The people that push and it’s hard work, but it pays off. We all have a very special bond. It’s amazing, it’s something else.”
Meek (11-3), one of four finalists for coach Cody Bobe’s champion Lawrence County co-op team, went 32-13 last season and fell one victory shy of a trip to state. He got a win by technical fall in his opener and then earned his spot on the 144 title mat by recording a fall in 0:53 over Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine co-op freshman Jude Wirey in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Dukeman (10-7) won by fall in 3:12 over Wirey (12-5). And for fifth place, Salem freshman Kade Orrell (14-4) got a pin in 4:49 over Breese Central junior Jay Klemish (11-10).
150 – Keyton King, Salem
Keyton King highlighted a memorable day for Salem, a third-year program that took second place in Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones, finishing ahead of several well-established programs. King, a senior, improved to 14-1 after becoming the only champion for his team when he won by fall in 1:08 in the 150 title match over Effingham junior Baker Moon. He improved from a third-place finish from a year ago.
King, who went 39-6 last season but was unable to advance to state from the Class 1A Vandalia Sectional, was one of two finalists and eight individuals who placed sixth or better for the runner-up Wildcats, who are coached by Brian Camp and Rob Ring. They scored 158.5 points to finish 14 points behind champion Lawrence County and were 4.5 points ahead of third-place Shelbyville. King, who’s ranked 10th at 150 in 1A and hopes to be his school’s first state medal winner, opened with a win by technical fall in 2:49 and earned his spot on the 150 title mat with a pin in 2:42 over Oakwood/Salt Fork co-op sophomore Keagan Leclaire in the semifinals.
“I’m pretty happy because I got third last year,” King said. “I came in ready to win this year and I’m pretty excited that our team ended up getting second because we’re only a third-year team. We went to PSF Wrestling and we had a bunch of guys going there and working all year-round. That really helped us out a bunch. This gives me confidence. I’ve just wrestled all year-round and worked hard, and I didn’t really ever stop. I only started in my sophomore year and I’ve been wrestling since. I’m excited to see what they (Salem) can do in the next couple of years.”
Moon (9-2), who went 27-14 last season but fell one win shy of advancing from the Class 1A Robinson Regional, was the lone finalist for coach Bryan McMillan’s Flaming Hearts. He advanced to the finals with two first-period falls, with the second of those coming in the semifinals in 1:29 over Lawrence County co-op sophomore Keegan Liston. For third place, Leclaire (7-4) was a winner by fall in 1:29 over Liston (7-4). And for fifth place, Harrisburg senior Brock Felty (10-9) recorded a pin in 1:47 over Richland County freshman Levi Paddock.
157 – Owen McGinnis, Cumberland
Owen McGinnis had an impressive sophomore season in 2023-2024 where he went 44-7 and qualified for the Class 1A IHSA Finals. But instead of just getting to state this season, the Cumberland junior wants to finish on the award state. He definitely made the home crowd in Toledo happy after becoming the lone champion for the Pirates in their Skull & Crossbones when he took first place at 157 with a fall in 4:33 over Litchfield co-op junior Braxton Kieffer.
McGinnis, who improved to 15-2 and is ranked fifth at 157 in Class 1A, repeated as a champion in his own tournament and was one of two finalists for coach Ash Edmonds’ Pirates. After winning by fall in his opener, McGinnis earned his spot on the 157 title mat with a pin in 4:46 over Lawrence County co-op junior Daniel Kiser in the semifinals.
“It’s just a good time to come out here with all of your teammates and show the work that you’ve been putting in in the wrestling room,” McGinnis said of competing at his school’s tournament. “The coaches support you, and the teammates, you put in the work and you’re with them every day, it’s just like a brotherhood. This summer I lifted in the weight room and I got bigger for football and wrestling. I was a linebacker and a running back.”
Kieffer (14-2), who went 34-10 last season but fell one win shy of advancing to state from the Class 1A Vandalia Sectional following a 6-0 loss to McGinnis in the consolation semifinals, was one of a tournament-high five finalists for coach Chance Davidson’s Purple Panthers, a co-op team that includes athletes from Litchfield and Mt. Olive. After opening with a win by technical fall, Kieffer, who’s ranked eighth at 157 in 1A, won an 8-3 decision in the semifinals over Breese Central junior Matthew Walsh (17-5), who went on to take third place with a fall in 4:33 over Kiser. For fifth place, Fairfield senior Nic Masterson (11-6) won by medical forfeit over Herrin senior Jack Finley (10-4).
165 – Ryne Peavler, Shelbyville
Ryne Peavler went 40-9 last season and qualified for the IHSA Class 1A Finals as a sophomore but was 0-2 there. The Shelbyville junior not only wants to get back to state but hopes to medal there and he’s definitely off to a good start with a 15-1 record after capturing the 165 title at Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones with a 17-6 major decision over Herrin senior Kolby Coffey.
Peavler, who’s ranked tenth in Class 1A at 165 and was one of three finalists and the lone champion for coach Caleb Duckett’s third-place Rams, opened with a pair of first-period pins before claiming a win by technical fall in 4:08 over Salem junior Granger Motch in the semifinals.
He improved from a runner-up showing that he had in the 2023 tournament.
“I believe that we did really good considering the fact that we only had eight wrestlers today, and three of them, this is their first year back,” Peavler said. “So it was a very good tournament. It’s just my hometown and I’ve been here for so long and made a lot of connections with my coaches that I see them more as family members than I do as coaches any more. We just got a new coach and we’ve pretty much just adopted him into the family as if he’d been here for awhile. It’s just a really tight-knit, small community. I just really need to be able to get a wide variety of matches and different experiences. It’s not all about winning and losing, it’s more so getting the best challenges that you can to become the best person you can be.”
Coffey (12-2), who went 30-15 last season but failed to advance from his own regional to the Class 1A Vandalia Sectional, was the lone finalist for coach Kelsey Lewis’ Tigers. He got a pin in his opener, followed that with a 9-1 major decision and earned a trip to the 165 title mat by claiming an 11-7 decision in the semifinals over Harrisburg senior Briar Butler (15-3), who went to claim third place with a fall in 1:41 over Motch (14-4). For fifth place, Althoff Catholic’s Austin Wilkinson (10-6) was a winner by fall in 3:12 over Effingham junior Gage Emmerich (5-4).
175 – Talan Keoughan, Fairfield
Talan Keoughan was one of five individuals who repeated as a champion at Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones and the Fairfield senior hopes that his repeat title win and 15-3 start is just the beginning of his quest to not only qualify for the IHSA Finals for the first time but also to win a medal there, a feat that has been achieved by only four others in his program. He won the 175 title with a victory by technical fall in 3:07 over Lawrence County co-op’s Nick Morehead.
Keoughan, the lone finalist for coach Jordan Griffith’s Mules, opened with two first-period falls before getting another pin in the initial period when he got a pin in 1:44 over Shelbyville senior Tucker Kull to earn his spot in the 175 championship match.
“It was amazing,” Keoughan said. “I suffered a medical forfeit two weeks ago and hurt my shoulder in a tournament. I just asked my coach to put me in there since I wanted to prove that no matter what, that I can wrestle with the best of the best. It’s all been about my cardio and my mindset. I came in here and knew that I was going to have a good kid. He won the PORTA Invite, which is a very hard tournament, and I saw him in the semis. I just had to leave it all on the mat and I showed everybody that I know that I can do all of this and I can win state. In Fairfield we don’t have a youth program and we don’t have a wrestling room, we roll our mats into the girls small gym. But it’s not really about what kind of things we have because my coaches and all of my teammates have made it so easy for me to love this sport so much.”
Morehead (11-7) was one of four finalists for coach Cody Bobe’s champion Lawrence County co-op team, which includes athletes from Lawrenceville and Red Hill. The team scored 172.5 points to claim top honors in the 20-team tourney, which was 14 points better than runner-up Salem. Morehead followed a fall with a 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals and advanced to the 175 title mat following a fall in 4:38 over Harrisburg senior Caleb Williford in the semifinals. For third place, Kull (13-2) won by medical forfeit over Willford (10-4). And for fifth place, Salem junior Killian Merrill (13-4) got a pin in 1:15 over Litchfield co-op junior Jayden Ellinger (15-4).
190 – Hunter Romano, Monticello
Hunter Romano provided Monticello with its biggest highlight of the Skull & Crossbones when he recorded a fall in 1:01 over Salem senior Carson Osborne in the 190 championship match to become his school’s only title winner. Romano, a senior who improved to 9-1, was one of three finalists for coach Andy Moore’s Sages. He finished in fourth place at last year’s tournament.
Romano, who went 32-14 last season but was unable to advance out of the Class 1A Unity Regional, opened with a first-minute fall and then earned his way to the 190 title match with another quick pin, this one in 0:42 over Harrisburg junior Braxton Welge in the semifinals.
“I didn’t wrestle for very long, but there were good matches all the way around,” Romano said. “We got Nick Litchfield this year and he took second here and Zeke Young did very well, as well. And we have a couple of newcomers too that are looking real good. Trey Leynes is a new practice partner for me, so I’m excited about this group of guys. I’ve done a lot of work with the Casillas brothers, Mateo and Marco, we’re very close with both of them. Hard work, the same as everyone else, I just have to keep moving. I’m looking forward to it.”
Osborne (14-3), was one of two finalists for runner-up Salem, who’s coached by Brian Camp and Rob Ring. The Wildcats, who are a third-year program, scored 158.5 points, which was 14 points behind champion Lawrence County co-op. Osborne, who went 19-15 last season and advanced to the 1A Vandalia Sectional, followed a first-period pin with a victory by technical fall in 3:51 in the semifinals over Shelbyville senior Gavan Rhodes. In the third-place match, Welge (13-3) won by fall in 1:32 over Rhodes (12-6). For fifth, Richland County senior Ilario Catania (12-4) recorded a pin in 5:00 over Lawrence County co-op junior Malikye Williams (7-4).
215 – Tristan Staggs, Litchfield/Mt. Olive
Tristan Staggs repeated as a champion at the Skull & Crossbones and he also was one of three champions and a tournament-best five finalists for Litchfield/Mt. Olive, which helped coach Chance Davidson’s team claim fourth place with 146 points. Staggs joined Vinny Moore and Clayton Hauter as champions for their team, which is a co-op that have athletes from Litchfield and Mt. Olive. He won the 215 title with a fall in 1:31 over Harrisburrg junior Gunner Wayman.
Staggs, a junior who improved to 17-2, went 26-8 last season but fell one win shy of advancing from the Class 1A Auburn Regional. He recorded three first-period falls to reach the 215 title mat, getting a pin in 0:51 in the semifinals over Shelbyville junior Taven Agney.
“We’re pretty close,” Staggs said. “I don’t hang out with them all of the time, I like to be by myself. When I’m by myself, I’m more focused mentally, but when I’m with people I feel like I’m goofing off more. In the beginning of the season I wasn’t doing so good, I gassed out pretty quickly. One of the kids I wrestled here today I pinned in the first period but in the beginning of the season I beat him only by one point. I just put in a bunch of hard work because I wasn’t doing so well, so I just kept persevering through it. When I see other people win on my team or they get first, it’s like, “I’ve got to win, too.’”
Wayman (8-3), a junior who was the lone finalist for coach Greg Langley’s Bulldogs, opened with two first-period falls before getting a pin in 2:59 in the semifinals over Richland County junior Zander Schrader (15-5), who went on to capture third place with a fall in 3:58 over Agney (11-6). For fifth place, Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin/Armstrong co-op senior Ricky Smith was a winner by fall in 5:45 over Althoff Catholic junior Braden Bush (6-4).
285 – Jason Dowell, Althoff Catholic
Jason Dowell is understandably very grateful of the fact that he was able to be the IHSA Class 1A champion at 285 in 2024, completing a 32-2 junior season with a dramatic 2-1 decision over St. Francis’ Jaylen Torres in the title match. The Althoff Catholic senior hopes to do what only four others from his program have accomplished, winning two or more state titles and he’s off to a good start toward that goal after winning the Skull & Crossbones title at 285 for the second year in a row, beating Shelbyville senior Andre Townsend by technical fall in 6:00 in the finals.
Dowell (11-0) was one of five repeat champions in the competition and also helped coach Emanuel Brooks’ Crusaders have a tournament-best four title winners as they went 4-0 in championship matches with Jacobi Cobbs, Dawson Hawthorne and Brenden Rayl joining him on top of the awards stand. The top-ranked individual at 285 in 1A opened with two first-minute falls before recording a pin in 1:22 over Fairfield senior Bentley Rogers in the semifinals.
“I was just real happy to be here and real happy to win my bracket,” Dowell said. “I just trust in God and trust the process that he has for me. I trust his will and trust to walk with Him. I’ve been doing that for a very long time right now. (Coach Emanuel Brooks) “I look at him as a father/big brother, he’s been there for me through some really hard times, the lows and of course, the highs. He’s been a blessing straight from God and I can’t thank God enough for that man. Of course with Emanuel Brooks as our coach, it’s hard to have a room for just a bunch of mean kids. We want to go in there and have fun and make each other better and improve every day.”
Townsend (15-2) was one of three finalists for coach Caleb Duckett’s Rams, who ended up taking third place in the 20-team competition with 154 points, which was just 4.5 points behind runner-up Salem. Townsend, who went 33-8 last season and fell a bit short of qualifying for the IHSA Class 1A Finals from the Vandalia Sectional, recorded falls in his first two matches before getting a pin in 2:00 over Harrisburg’s Matt Brown in the semifinals.In the third-place match, Rogers (14-4) won by fall in 3:10 over Brown (17-3) and for fifth, Lawrence County co-op senior Dylan Camden (9-5) recorded a pin in 0:27 over Mt. Carmel freshman Carter Pyatt (8-7).
Skull & Crossbones place matches
106
1st Place Match
Jacobi Cobbs (Althoff Catholic) 12-1, So. over Kyler Guercio (Lawrence County) 11-2, Fr. (Fall 0:51)
3rd Place Match
Aden Doolen (Salem) 10-6, Jr. over Brendan Stewart (Effingham) 14-5, Fr. (Dec 9-5)
5th Place Match
Carter Poole (Fairfield) 7-9, So. over River Young (Monticello) 6-9, So. (TF-1.5 1:54 (18-1))
113
1st Place Match
Weston Frazier (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 9-2, Fr. over Rilynn Younker (Litchfield) 15-5, So. (TF-1.5 5:44 (16-1))
3rd Place Match
Peyton Groves (Cumberland) 11-7, Jr. over Cole Dulumback (Effingham) 13-4, Fr. (Fall 3:22)
5th Place Match
Delaney Ledbetter (Lawrence County) 5-4, So. over Brennan Jeralds (Herrin) 7-6, So. (Fall 3:08)
120
1st Place Match
Vinny Moore (Litchfield) 18-1, Jr. over Ezekiel Young (Monticello) 8-2, So. (MD 10-0)
3rd Place Match
Kaiden Stewart (Effingham) 16-3, Sr. over Rylan Moore (Salem) 13-5, Fr. (Fall 0:40)
5th Place Match
Mason Correll (Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine) 10-3, Sr. over Colin Wells (Shelbyville) 8-8, So. (Fall 5:18)
126
1st Place Match
Dawson Hawthorne (Althoff Catholic) 6-0, So. over Nick Litchfield (Monticello) 11-6, Jr. (Dec 5-0)
3rd Place Match
Johnathan Kirkbride (Shelbyville) 10-7, Fr. over Jedd Wellen (Fairfield) 2-2, Jr. (Dec 5-4)
5th Place Match
Sawyer Welbaum (Cumberland) 13-3, Jr. over Caleb Osborne (Salem) 12-5, Fr. (Fall 1:52)
132
1st Place Match
Brenden Rayl (Althoff Catholic) 14-0, Sr. over Bodee Fathauer (Shelbyville) 14-4, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:24 (16-1))
3rd Place Match
Logan Aaron (Cumberland) 12-6, So. over Braden Berndt (Herrin) 9-6, Jr. (MD 17-7)
5th Place Match
Kaeden Davis (Richland County) 15-5, So. over Gabe Lively (Johnston City) 9-4, Sr. (Fall 3:41)
138
1st Place Match
Cale Seitzinger (Lawrence County) 13-1, Jr. over Harley Pierce (Cumberland) 10-6, So. (MD 15-4)
3rd Place Match
Jace Weaver (Johnston City) 10-4, Jr. over Luke Andruczyk (Monticello) 10-6, So. (Fall 2:45)
5th Place Match
Kevan Moore (Salem) 13-4, So. over Jeremiah Giles (Effingham) 6-4, Fr. (Fall 5:46)
144
1st Place Match
Clayton Hauter (Litchfield) 18-3, Sr. over Hudson Meek (Lawrence County) 11-3, So. (Dec 7-4)
3rd Place Match
Jaxson Dukeman (Cumberland) 10-7, Jr. over Jude Wirey (Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine) 12-5, Fr. (Fall 3:12)
5th Place Match
Kade Orrell (Salem) 14-4, Fr. over Jay Klemish (Breese Central) 11-10, Jr. (Fall 4:49)
150
1st Place Match
Keyton King (Salem) 14-1, Sr. over Baker Moon (Effingham) 9-2, Jr. (Fall 1:08)
3rd Place Match
Keagan Leclaire (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 7-4, So. over Keegan Liston (Lawrence County) 7-4, So. (Fall 1:29)
5th Place Match
Brock Felty (Harrisburg) 10-9, Sr. over Levi Paddock (Richland County) 3-4, Fr. (Fall 1:47)
157
1st Place Match
Owen McGinnis (Cumberland) 15-2, Jr. over Braxton Kieffer (Litchfield) 14-2, Jr. (Fall 4:33)
3rd Place Match
Matthew Walsh (Breese Central) 17-5, Jr. over Daniel Kiser (Lawrence County) 11-5, Jr. (MD 12-2)
5th Place Match
Nic Masterson (Fairfield) 11-6, Sr. over Jack Finley (Herrin) 10-4, Sr. (M. For.)
165
1st Place Match
Ryne Peavler (Shelbyville) 15-1, Jr. over Kolby Coffey (Herrin) 12-2, Sr. (MD 17-6)
3rd Place Match
Briar Butler (Harrisburg) 15-3, Sr. over Granger Motch (Salem) 14-4, Jr. (Fall 1:41)
5th Place Match
Austin Wilkinson (Althoff Catholic) 10-6, Fr. over Gage Emmerich (Effingham) 5-4, Jr. (Fall 3:12)
175
Guaranteed Places
1st Place Match
Talan Keoughan (Fairfield) 15-3, Sr. over Nick Morehead (Lawrence County) 11-7, So. (TF-1.5 3:07 (18-1))
3rd Place Match
Tucker Kull (Shelbyville) 13-2, Sr. over Caleb Williford (Harrisburg) 10-4, Sr. (M. For.)
5th Place Match
Killian Merrill (Salem) 13-4, Jr. over Jayden Ellinger (Litchfield) 15-4, Jr. (Fall 1:15)
190
1st Place Match
Hunter Romano (Monticello) 9-1, Sr. over Carson Osborne (Salem) 14-3, Sr. (Fall 1:01)
3rd Place Match
Braxton Welge (Harrisburg) 13-3, Jr. over Gavan Rhodes (Shelbyville) 12-6, Sr. (Fall 1:32)
5th Place Match
Ilario Catania (Richland County) 12-4, Sr. over Malikye Williams (Lawrence County) 7-4, Jr. (Fall 5:00)
215
1st Place Match
Tristan Staggs (Litchfield) 17-2, Jr. over Gunner Wayman (Harrisburg) 8-3, Jr. (Fall 1:31)
3rd Place Match
Zander Schrader (Richland County) 15-5, Jr. over Taven Agney (Shelbyville) 11-6, Jr. (Fall 3:58)
5th Place Match
Ricky Smith (Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin/Armstrong) 5-6, Sr. over Braden Bush (Althoff Catholic) 6-4, Jr. (Fall 5:45)
285
Gu1st Place Match
Jason Dowell (Althoff Catholic) 11-0, Sr. over Andre Townsend (Shelbyville) 15-2, Sr. (TF-1.5 6:00 (17-1))
3rd Place Match
Bentley Rogers (Fairfield) 14-4, Sr. over Matt Brown (Harrisburg) 17-3, Jr. (Fall 3:10)
5th Place Match
Dylan Camden (Lawrence County) 9-5, Sr. over Carter Pyatt (Mt. Carmel) 8-7, Fr. (Fall 0:27)
8th Place Match
Kam Acord (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 3-4, Sr. over Anthony Escobedo (Robinson) 5-7, Fr. (For.)
Cons. A Champ
Devin Hansel (Litchfield) 15-7, Sr. over Landynn Balla (Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin/Armstrong) 8-3, Jr. (TF-1.5 2:54 (18-2))
Cons. B Champ
Luke Pruett (Breese Central) 7-13, So. over Nate Darnell (Monticello) 3-7, Jr. (Fall 1:09)
Team scores
1. Lawrence County co-op 172.5, 2. Salem 158.5, 3. Shelbyville 154, 4. Litchfield/Mt. Olive co-op 146, 5. Althoff Catholic 137.5, 6. Cumberland 127.5, 7. Monticello 125.5, 8. Harrisburg 106.5, 9. Fairfield 95.5, 10. Effingham 94, 11. Richland County 73.5, 12. Oakwood/Salt Fork co-op 71, 13. Herrin 57.5, 14. Oblong/Hutsonville/Palestine co-op 46.5, 15. Johnston City 46, 16. Mt. Carmel 42.5, 17. Breese Central 29, 18. Bismarck-Henning Rossville-Alvin/Armstrong co-op 28, 19. Pinckneyville 15, 20. Robinson 10.