Class 2A Sectional roundups from Hinsdale South, Lincoln, Washington
By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA
HINSDALE SOUTH SECTIONAL
One week ago, No. 1 Montini Catholic (19-3-0) used eight individual titles to help send the Broncos past No. 5 Providence at Richards to collect the regional championship.
On Saturday in Darien at the Hinsdale South sectional, it once again was the lower weight strength and depth of the Broncos that would help Mike Bukovsky’s club claim seven individual titles and advance ten state qualifiers.
“Our seven champions wrestled very strong, defeating several highly-ranked kids along their championship paths,” Bukovsky said. “Our other three guys did a great job and won some matches that they were not favored to win.
“Our tough schedule during the season helped prepare us for the competition we see throughout the IHSA state series, and the guys know that they have worked hard, and put in the necessary time to compete for state titles and medals this weekend in Champaign.”
Erik Klichurov (106, 44-4), No. 1 Allen Woo (113, 45-5), Mikey Malizzio (120, 37-8) and Bobby Ruscitti (126, 40-3) gave the Broncos four consecutive sectional titles after earning regional success as well, as did No. 1 Kam Luif (46-4) and teammate, No. 4 Santino Tenuta (37-7) at 165.
Woo is after a second straight state championship while Luif is in pursuit of his first title after finishing third a year ago, and sixth overall in 2023.
Not to be forgotten is the seventh Broncos champion Gavin Ericson (32-18) who held off St. Rita senior Pat Conneely (17-11) in his heavyweight final with a 1-0 decision.
The superb Heeg brothers, Justus (41-3) and Judah (37-3), continue to navigate their way through their weight divisions at supersonic speed, although at different high school programs.
No. 2 Justus Heeg would squeeze a 75-second pin in between a pair of tech-falls on his way to an impressive victory at 150, and a sixth major title of the season for the Providence Catholic freshman.
His older brother Judah at Lemont was just as dominant at 190 pounds. Judah Heeg remained hot on the heels of No. 1 Cayden Parks (Crystal Lake Central) as the No. 2-ranked 190-pounder in Illinois.
The junior Heeg went easily into the final where he met No. 4 Mike Taheny (Richards, 38-2), with Heeg earning a hard fought 8-5 victory.
STATE QUALIFIERS FROM THE HINSDALE SOUTH SECTIONAL
106
1st – Erik Klichurov of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Christian Corcoran of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
3rd – Liam Kissane of Burbank (St. Laurence)
4th – Jason Schickel of Oak Forest
113
1st – Allen Woo of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Jacob Sebek of Oak Forest
3rd – Elijah Sawyers of Chicago (Agricultural Science)
4th – Nathan Ortiz of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
120
1st – Mikey Malizzio of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Edgar Mosquera of Riverside (R.-Brookfield)
3rd – Jack Hogan of Chicago (St. Rita)
4th – Victor Alvarado of Chicago (Kennedy)
126
1st – Bob Ruscitti of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Adrian Cervantes of Evergreen Park
3rd – Cleto Protti of Chicago (St. Rita)
4th – Lucas Forsythe of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
132
1st – Tommy Banas of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
2nd – Bobby Conway of Chicago (Brother Rice)
3rd – Cory Zator of Lemont
4th – Isaac Mayora of Lombard (Montini)
138
1st – Kam Luif of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Chance Woods of Evergreen Park
3rd – Oliver Davis of Chicago (Brother Rice)
4th – Luke Banas of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
144
1st – Austin Perez of Oak Forest
2nd – Jonathan Harris of Chicago (Brother Rice)
3rd – Jin Tai of Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)
4th – Enzo Canali of Chicago (St. Rita)
150
1st – Justus Heeg of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
2nd – Jack O`Connor of Chicago (Brother Rice)
3rd – Xavier Woods of Chicago (Goode STEM Academy)
4th – David Johnson of Evergreen Park
157
1st – Frank Miceli of Chicago (Brother Rice)
2nd – Joseph Merritt of Calumet City (Thornton Fractional North)
3rd – Jasper Harper of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
4th – Andrew Lehman of Chicago (St. Rita)
165
1st – Santino Tenuta of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Micah Spinazzola of Chicago (St. Rita)
3rd – Joey Baranski of Chicago Heights (Marian)
4th – Jaylene Johnson of Crete (C.-Monee)
175
1st – Dan Costello of Chicago (Brother Rice)
2nd – AJ Tack of Lombard (Montini)
3rd – Declan Dircks of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
4th – Jason Janke of Oak Forest
190
1st – Judah Heeg of Lemont
2nd – Mike Taheny of Oak Lawn (Richards)
3rd – Jaxon Lane of Lombard (Montini)
4th – James Crane of Chicago (Brother Rice)
215
1st – Genesis Ward of Evergreen Park
2nd – Xavier Bitner of Burbank (St. Laurence)
3rd – Colin Goggin of Chicago (Brother Rice)
4th – Andrius Vasilevskas of Oak Forest
285
1st – Gavin Ericson of Lombard (Montini)
2nd – Pat Conneely of Chicago (St. Rita)
3rd – Marco Olvera of Midlothian (Bremen)
4th – Mike Sisk of New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
LINCOLN SECTIONAL
How’s this for everyone getting a piece of the State Farm Center pie?
Of the 31 teams at Lincoln in the Neil Alexander Gymnasium, 23 teams will send at least one wrestler downstate, including Mahomet-Seymour, which led the way with one half-dozen — one more than Civic Memorial, Glenwood, and Mascoutah’s five apiece.
No. 13 Glenwood takes on Marion in a dual-team sectional contest at Lincoln in two weeks, while the tourney host meets Mahomet-Seymour in the other dual-team sectional.
Last season, Glenwood went on to finish third at the 2A dual-team state tournament, with Mahomet-Seymour advancing into the final eight only to fall to eventual fourth place Brother Rice in its state quarterfinal.
Glenwood edged Civic Memorial two weeks ago during a fierce battle for top honors at the Civic Memorial regional, with heavyweight Cody Moss recording a pin in the last match of the day to give Glenwood the team title by a scant 2.5 points (199.5-197.0).
Moss (35-5) was one of three Titans to win individual sectional titles, along with Avery Jaime (126, 36-10) and teammate Tyler Clarke (120, 38-9), who is now a two-time sectional champion.
Nearly all of the state-ranked men across the weight divisions would earn sectional titles, including No. 1 Tyson Rakers (Highland, 157, 43-2) and No. 3 Bradley Ruckman (Civic Memorial, 132, 40-3) who is after his third state medal in four trips.
Marco Casillas (47-3) won at 175 to continue his marvelous rookie season, however at both 165 and 190, the final order was tossed up for grabs before all was said and done.
At 165, No. 7 James Wojcikiewicz (38-11) fought his way nicely after a second round defeat sent the Civic Memorial sophomore into wrestle-backs where he avenged a regional final loss to earn an eventual third place finish and a second straight trip downstate.
The Honorable Mention duo of Pierre Walton (East St. Louis, 38-4) and AJ Demos (Mahomet-Seymour, 37-11) would have their way at 165 to finish one-two.
Over at 190, Ashton Zobrist (Highland, 42-5) who recently stood as the No. 6 man at 215 pounds, dropped down to win easily to claim his second consecutive trip downstate where he looks to improve on his sixth place stare finish from a year ago.
STATE QUALIFIERS FROM THE LINCOLN SECTIONAL
106
1st – Pierce Bultmann of Rochester
2nd – Cooper Clarke of Chatham (Glenwood)
3rd – Xavier Sonon Hale of Mascoutah
4th – Maddox Williams of Jerseyville (Jersey)
113
1st – Dylan McGrew of Normal (Community West)
2nd – Jaxon Ferguson of Chatham (Glenwood)
3rd – Gideon Hayter of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
4th – Conner Carroll of Rochester
120
1st – Tyler Clarke of Chatham (Glenwood)
2nd – Will Kelly of Troy (Triad)
3rd – Kayson Duffney of Decatur (Eisenhower)
4th – Trotter Titus of Charleston
126
1st – Avery Jaime of Bethalto (Civic Memorial)
2nd – Talin Baker of Champaign (Central)
3rd – Aj Williams of Chatham (Glenwood)
4th – Tristan Porter of Mattoon
132
1st – Bradley Ruckman of Bethalto (Civic Memorial)
2nd – Jordan Kholian of Jacksonville
3rd – Konnor Stephens of Waterloo
4th – Emiliano Bedolla of Urbana
138
1st – Ronald Baker III of Champaign (Central)
2nd – Justus Vrona of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
3rd – Braden Rowe of Troy (Triad)
4th – Desi Wade of Mascoutah
144
1st – Dillon White of Mt. Vernon
2nd – Ben Capitosti of Mattoon
3rd – Brody Smith of Troy (Triad)
4th – Nathen Herrin of Bethalto (Civic Memorial)
150
1st – Knox Verbais of Bethalto (Civic Memorial)
2nd – Talon Decker of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
3rd – Brock Ross of Mascoutah
4th – Bryce Bryant of Springfield
157
1st – Tyson Rakers of Highland
2nd – Joe Reif of Jacksonville
3rd – Jordan Sonon-Hale of Mascoutah
4th – Nicholas Hartley of Jerseyville (Jersey)
165
1st – Pierre Walton of East St. Louis (Sr.)
2nd – AJ Demos of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
3rd – James Wojcikiewicz of Bethalto (Civic Memorial)
4th – Sean Murphy of Mascoutah
175
1st – Marco Casillas of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
2nd – Dawson McConnell of Lincoln
3rd – Elijah Smith of Chatham (Glenwood)
4th – Corey Robinson of East St. Louis (Sr.)
190
1st – Ashton Zobrist of Highland
2nd – Jackson Deutch of Waterloo
3rd – Brock VanDeveer of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
4th – Chris Hull of Springfield (Southeast)
215
1st – Jaxson Mathenia of Waterloo
2nd – Kenner Bye of Bloomington
3rd – Mitchell Clapp of Mattoon
4th – Noah Daniels of Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
285
1st – Cody Moss of Chatham (Glenwood)
2nd – Drew Glowacki of Waterloo
3rd – Aiden Surratt of Jacksonville
4th – David Williams of Bloomington
WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
Reigning 2A state champion Washington would celebrate another outstanding two days of play from its sensational trio of top-ranked guys.
Peyton Cox (144, 36-4), Wyatt Medlin (157, 44-3) and Josh Hoffer (215, 45-3) would further validate their No. 1 statuses in the state, however it would be No. 4 Geneseo who would steal the show on the Panthers’ home gym.
One week after lifting the championship trophy at the Dixon regional, and sending ten into sectionals, the Maple Leafs would make history when they would equal a program-best eight state qualifiers, including sectional titles from No. 1 Zachary Montez (40-0) at 165 and teammate Kyle Weinzieri (41-2) at 175.
This high-profile sectional venue played out in 62-year old Torry Gymnasium and featured no less than seven top-20 clubs in the state and 39 top 10-ranked wrestlers, five of which are No. 1 in their weight class.
The aforementioned Cox, Medlin and Hoffer sailed past their rivals, as did Montez and No. 1 Jose Del Toro (East Peoria, 45-2) at 285.
Del Toro was fourth a year ago at state.
Cox, thrice a state runner-up, appears ready to be on course to end that streak, while Illinois-bound Wyatt Medlin is looking to repeat his state title at 138.
No. 1 Noah Woods (41-2) would edge No. 2 Aiden Larsen (Yorkville Christian, 39-4) with a thrilling 2-1 decision in the 120-pound final.
Despite the presence of Washington and Geneseo, seven others would ‘wrestle’ away sectional crowns from the field, including Xavier Villalobos (126, 39-5) from Rochelle who is now a two-time sectional champion.
Donald Cannon (138, 29-4) and teammate Dana Wickson (150, 32-5) from Rockford East, who were both third a year ago, would reach the summit on Saturday in their weight divisions.
SECTIONAL QUALIFIERS FROM THE WASHINGTON SECTIONAL
106
1st – Carson West of Sycamore
2nd – Symon Woods of Washington
3rd – Treyden Diduch of Freeport
4th – Ryan Festerling, jr. of Yorkville (Y. Christian)
113
1st – Paxton Valentine of Morris
2nd – Noah Harris of Morton
3rd – Jack Ragan of Dixon
4th – Eduardo Vences of Burlington (Central)
120
1st – Noah Woods of Washington
2nd – Aiden Larsen of Yorkville (Y. Christian)
3rd – Landen Vincent of Geneseo
4th – Michael Olson of Sycamore
126
1st – Xavier Villalobos of Rochelle
2nd – Harrison Dea of Morton
3rd – Tim Sebastian of Geneseo
132
1st – Zyan Westbrook of Sterling
2nd – Devan Hornback of Geneseo
3rd – Austin Lee of Burlington (Central)
4th – Cooper Chester of East Peoria
138
1st – Donald Cannon of Rockford (East)
2nd – Alex Gochis of Maple Park (Kaneland)
3rd – Charlie Connors of Dixon
4th – Jayden Dohogne of Sycamore
144
1st – Peyton Cox of Washington
2nd – Izaac Gaines of Geneseo
3rd – Carter Skoff of Morris
4th – Landon VanAcker of Belvidere
150
1st – Dana Wickson of Rockford (East)
2nd – Grady Neal of Metamora
3rd – Malaki Jackson of Geneseo
4th – Josiah Carter of Galesburg
157
1st – Wyatt Medlin of Washington
2nd – Grady Hull of Geneseo
3rd – Caidan Ronning of Plano
4th – Ty Smart of Rockford (East)
165
1st – Zachary Montez of Geneseo
2nd – Grant Gensler of Rochelle
3rd – John `isaac` Gray of Yorkville (Y. Christian)
4th – Anthony Makwala of Galesburg
175
1st – Kye Weinzierl of Geneseo
2nd – Cooper Bode of Sycamore
3rd – Gage Tate of Sterling
4th – Luis Ballesteros of Plano
190
1st – Prince Amakiri of Plano
2nd – Jackson Allen of Yorkville (Y. Christian)
3rd – Dalton Oakman of East Peoria
4th – Roman Villalobos of Rochelle
215
1st – Josh Hoffer of Washington
2nd – Kaiden Morris of Rochelle
3rd – Alec Del Toro of East Peoria
4th – Benjamin Chaffer of Morton
285
1st – Jose Del Toro of East Peoria
2nd – Collin Hughes of Sycamore
3rd – Sean Thornton of Washington
4th – Larry Randolph of Galesburg