Boys recap: UEC, Melichar, Phillips Elite

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

PHILLIPS ELITE 2026

1st: Notre Dame (148.5)

With its first team away at the Illini Classic, the Dons were able to parlay two individual champions from Colin Walsh (157, 7-2) and John Duffy (215, 5-0) and 21 pins to edge St. Ignatius by a mere 1.5 points to lift the championship trophy.

“We sent a few guys with varsity experience, along with some jayvee guys to compete at the Phillips (tournament), and I thought it proved to be valuable experience to get them matches at the varsity level,” said Dons head coach, Anthony Genovesi.

“Colin (Walsh) and John (Duffy) are both good kids who are always looking to improve their game. I thought it was also good to see three of our guys get a feel of a blood round. Although we came out on the wrong end, it was good to get them there.

“We had five guys overall who placed, and of the eleven who wrestled, all but one of them won a match. It was a good day for our kids.”

Patrick Haugh (138) helped the cause with his second-place finish, and the Dons got a third from John Pacyna (106) and a fourth from Dominick Yale (120).

The Dons will begin to prepare for the ESCC conference tournament this Friday, January 23 at nearby St. Patrick.

2nd: St. Ignatius (147.0)

The Wolfpack were the returning 2025 team champion here in Lisle, and would come close to bringing home the big trophy again.

Nino Capuano (150, 22-6) was St. Ignatius’ lone individual champion, but the club claimed a trio of second-place medals.

Frank Valle (113), Pat Maroney (132) and Colin Often (190) did just that, with teammates Luke Sanchez third at 144 and Chinadu Madu fourth at 285.

Sophomore Gus Scheff (157) would record the fastest pin on the day (13 seconds) along with Dylan Crump from Proviso East.

Next up for the Wolfpack will be a triangular at nearby De La Salle this Thursday.

3rd: Sullivan (119.5)

The Sullivan Redskins watched two of their men win individual titles in Mohammed Zia (106, 16-4) and Charles Harris (25-3) at 285.

Moneeb Alsakka (120) and Mohsen Malicky (144) were second overall.

Additional individual champions:

Andrian Valadez (113, Thornton), Benito Chavez (120, Little Village), Jeremy Powell (126 AG Science), Alejandro Salas (132, Noble/Golder), Randy Lazaro (138, Schurz), Maurice Bush (144, AG Science), Grant Smith (165, Corliss), Brandon Dumas (175, Thornton), Sylvester Staples (190, AG Science).

Additional runners-up:

Wilson Paz (106, Lake View), Abel Alvarado (126, Lake View), Julian Chavez (150, Back of the Yards), Roderick Johnson (157, Phillips), Charles Barry (165, Proviso East), Nicholas Jungman (175, Kennedy), Malik Allen (215, Noble/UIC), Martaveon Howard (285, Proviso East).

Championship match results:

106- Mohammed zia Nadre (Sullivan) d. Wilson Paz (Lake View) (F 1:29).

113- Andrian Valadez (Thornton) d. Frank Valle (St. Ignatius) (MD 12-4).

120- Benito Chavez (Little Village) d. Moneeb Alsakka (Sullivan) (F 3:39).

126- Jeremy Powell (AG Science) d. Abel Alvarado (Lake View) (F 3:37).

132- Alejandro Salas (Noble/Golder) d. Pat Maroney (St. Ignatius) (D 15-8).

138- Randy Lazzaro (Schurz) d. Patrick Haugh (Notre Dame) (SV 6-3).

144- Maurice Bush (AG Science) d. Mohsen Maliky (Sullivan) (F 1:21).

150- Nino Capuano (St. Ignatius) d. Julian Chavez (Back of the Yards) (F 1:21).

157- Colin Walsh (Notre Dame) d. Roderick Johnson (Phillips) (D 3-1).

165- Grant Smith (Corliss) d. Charles Barry (Proviso East) (F 5:59).

175- Brandon Dumas (Thornton) d. Nicholas Jungman (Kennedy) (F 1:38).

190- Sylvester Staples (AG Science) d. Colin Offen (St. Ignatius) (F 3:43).

215- John Duffy (Notre Dame) d. Malik Allen (Noble/UIC) (F 1:45).

285- Charles Harris (Sullivan) d. Martaveon Howard (Proviso East) (F 2:59).

Third-place match results:

106- John Pacyna (Notre Damę) d. Jonathan Mendoza-Rodriguez (Lindbloom) (F 1:35).

113- Josue Tankson (Kennedy) d. Tommy Lam (Mather) (F 0:52).

120- Benjamin Flores (Noble/UIC) d. Dominick Yale (Notre Dame) (TF 17-0).

126- Leonardo Zapien (Noble/UIC) d. Jovanni Harris (Little Village) (D 4-0).

132- Jeremy Catching (Phillips) d. Jaylen Smith (Thornton) (D 7-1).

138- Alonte Lorek (Horizon) d. David Bahena (Little Village) (TF 17-2).

144- Luke Sanchez (St. Ignatius) d. Leonardo Juarez (Kellly) (D 11-10).

150- Marcus Freeman (CMA Bronzeville) d. Peter Martin (Amundsen) (F 3:30).

157- Habibullo Begov (Kennedy) d. Christian Laws (Corliss) (F 0:27).

165- Anton Kurbatov (Lake View) d. Christian Vega (Kennedy) (D 10-3).

175- Ethan Munoz (Back of the Yards) d. Danny Quizhpi (Mather) (F 3:34).

190- Braeden Carlson (Joliet Catholic) d. Isreal Paul (CMA Bronzeville) (F 3:26).

215- Daniel Smith (Little Village) d. Mikel Robinson (Hyde Park) (F 1:42).

285- Justin Powell (Hyde Park) d. Chinadu Madu (St. Ignatius) (F 1:22).

Final Team Results:

Notre Dame 148.5, St. Ignatius 147.0, Sullivan 119.5, AG Science 102.0, Little Village 94.0, Thornton 91.5, Noble/UIC 80.5, Kennedy 80.0, Lake View 76.0, Proviso East 73.5, Joliet Catholic Academy 59.0, Corliss 55.5, CMA Bronzeville 54.5, Back of the Yards 53.5, Kelly 53.0, Payton 40.0, Hyde Park/Schurz 38.0, Horizon 34.5, Amundsen 34.0, Mather 33.0, Noble/Golder 30.0, Phoenix Military 25.5, Lindbloom 23.0.

Statistics:

Leonardo Juarez from Kelly recorded the fastest tech-fall (1:35) with AG Science sophomore Jeremy Powell earning the most match points with 65.

Little Village would have the most total match points with 292.

MELICHAR WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Despite its small size relative to several larger tournaments happening over the weekend, the 14-team field at Lisle’s Melichar Tournament featured several state-ranked wrestlers all throughout the weight divisions.

It was good to be an Evergreen Park fan on Saturday, as Mustangs fans watched a team led by four state-ranked men help Ron Zimmermans’ men collect nearly 250 points, and inspire a second consecutive team title in Lisle.

The Mustangs earned 241.5 team points in 2025, and on Saturday they bagged 252 overall points, 69.5 more than runner-up Hinsdale South (183.5) with Northridge Prep third with 150.5.

(We finally have everyone healthy, and back in the lineup where they should be,” said Zimmerman, whose club won last year over second-place Glenbard East, which competed instead at the UEC Conference tournament this year.

“Senior Brayden Mateja-Bates (106) is a three-year starter, and captain, and today, his tilts were working nicely for him in his final,” continued Zimmerman. “Sophomore Michael Chatman at 138 has been on a roll the last three weeks, going 15-0 during that time.

“Our third of six individual champions, Essa Ruvalcaba (157) is a junior, and second-year guy on our varsity, while senior Owen Brady had a tech-fall in his semifinal, and a big pin in his final at 165. Kyle Croft (175) who is a junior, wrestled physical all day, and recorded a big throw in his semifinal victory.

“Last but not least, senior Willie Johnson (285) has had an amazing three-week stretch as well, going 15-1.”

1st: Evergreen Park (252.0)

The Mustangs registered 15 pins and seven tech-falls during the course of the day, and amassed a tourney-best 267 total match points. Eleven wrestlers earned medals for Evergreen Park.

The aforementioned six individual champs — Mateja-Bates (24-13), Chatman (21-4), Ruvalcava (10-2), Brady (22-11), Croft (23-13) and Johnson (24-10) went bonus-point crazy with their 15 pins on the day. They recorded a combined 12 tech-falls and pins on their way to the top of the podium.

The group also received plenty of help from its teammates: Adrian Cervantes (132) who finished second, as well as Jayden Cervantes who was third at 126.

Ethan Brantley (113), Jacob Ruvalcaba (150) and James Templin (190) all were fourth.

Next up for the Mustangs will be the South Suburban Conference tournament, hosted this year by Shepard High School, this Saturday, January 24.

They will also host a class 2A regional the following weekend as part of the Hinsdale South sectional.

2nd: Hinsdale South (183.5)

The Hornets recorded a tourney-best 19 pins, and would celebrate three individual champions.

Alexander Schuetz (120, 22-4), Benjamin Miller (190, 21-5) and Jonathan Mansker (215, 18-8) would climb atop the podium, and for Miller it was his second Melichor title after winning during his freshman season at 157 pounds.

Miller won earlier in the season at the Hornets Invite.

Sahil Malik (113) and James Cardenas (285) were second, George McShane (144) third, and Owen Miller (138) and Noah Koehler (157) were both fourth.

The Hornets were 2024 Melichor team champions.

3rd. Northridge Prep (150.5)

The Knights earned eight top-five medals, which included a pair of second-place medals from Patrick Kopecky at 138 and Javier Rodriguez at 150.

The trio of Patrick Manio (120), Joe Kopecky (132) and Thomas Suter (285) were third, while Michael Magallon (106), Lucas Landry (144) and Nick Belcore (215) all would finish fourth.

Rodriguez was a class 1A state qualifier last season.

Additional individual champions:

Emilio Fortiz (113, Nazareth), Alexander Fereri (126, Lisle), Brennan O’Donnell (132, Harvest-Westminster Academy), Jayden Veal (144, Goode), Skylar A. Phipps (150, Argo).

Additional runners-up:

Richie Gulli (120, Nazareth), Alek Ramos (126, Nazareth), Landon VanAcker (144, Belvidere), Ibraheem Harb (157, Lisle), Bequer Zamarripa (165, Lisle), David Hendrickson (175, Belvidere), Joshua Lewis (190, Walther Christian), Thomas Davis (215, Goode).

Final Team Results

Evergreen Park 252.0, Hinsdale South 183.5, Northridge Prep 150.5, Lisle 126.5, Nazareth 118.0, Argo 90.5, Chicago Goode 79.0, Genoa-Kingston 61.0, Belvidere 

55.5, Westmont 43.0, Harvest Westminster Academy 31.5, Walther Christian 30.0,

Christian Heritage Academy 20.0. 

Championship match results

106- Brayden Mateja-Bates (Evergreen Park) d. Luke Jimenea (Westmont) (TF 17-0).

113- Emilio Fortez (Nazareth) d. Sahil Malik (Hinsdale South) (TF 19-3).

120- Alexander Schuetz (Hinsdale South) d. Richie Gulli (Hinsdale South) (MD 12-1).

126- Alexander Ferari (Lisle) d. Alek Ramos (Nazareth) (F 3:22).

132- Brennan O’Donnell (Harvest-Westminster) d. Adrian Cervantes (Evergreen Park) (D 8-4).

138- Michael Chatman (Evergreen Park) d. Patrick Kopecky (Northridge Prep) 

MD 12-0).

144- Jayden Veal (Goode) d. Landon VanAcker (Belvidere) (D 3-2).

150- Skylar A. Phipps (Argo) d. Javier Rodriguez (Northridge Prep) (F 2:30).

157- Essa Ruvalcaba (Evergreen Park) d. Ibraheem Harb (Lisle) (D 6-3).

165- Owen Brady (Evergreen Park) d. Bequer Zamarripa (Lisle) (F 1:25).

175- Kyle Croft (Evergreen Park) d. David Hendrickson (Belvidere) (F 3:34).

190- Benjamin Miller (Hinsdale South) d. Joshua Lewis (Walther Christian) (TF 18-1).

215- Jonathan Mansker (Hinsdale South) d. Thomas Davis (Goode) (F 1:06).

285- Willie Johnson (Evergreen Park) d. James Cardenas (Hinsdale South) (D 5-4).

Third-place match results

106- Sebastian Lara (Lisle) d. Michael Magallon (Northridge Prep) (TF 16-1).

113- Eduardo Garcia (Goode) d. Ethan Brantley (Evergreen Park) (F 2:00).

120- Patrick Manio (Northridge Prep) d. Sebastian Rafacz (Lisle) (F 0:25).

126- Jayden Cervantes (Evergreen Park) d. Ardan Baglaev (Westmont) (MD 19-5).

132- Joe Kopecky (Northridge Prep) d. Joaquin Fortiz (Nazareth) (F 2:42).

138- Owen Miller (Hinsdale South) d. Isaiah Poole (Goode) (F 4:52)

144- George McShane (Northridge Prep) d. Lucas Landry (Evergreen Park) (Inj.)

150- Anthony Gum (Genoa-Kingston) d. Jacob Ruvalcaba (Evergreen Park) (Inj.)

157- Dan Vazquez (Argo) d. Noah Koehler (Hinsdale South) (D 6-3).

165- Hunter Wendt (Genoa-Kingston) d. Josh Bollinger (Nazareth) (F 3:29).

175- Michael Starzyk (Argo) d. Kaden Sosnowski (Genoa-Kingston) (F 1:45).

190- Ezra Luthardt (Christian Heritage Academy) d. James Templin (Evergreen 

Park) (F 0: 24).

215- Wilson Wunder (Lisle) d. Nick Belcore (Northridge Prep) (F 4:45).

285- Thomas Suter (Northridge Prep) d. Dilan Bustillos (Argo) (F 3:50).

UPSTATE EIGHT CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

West Aurora would bag seven individual champions and place 13 across the weight classes to demolish the field in Bensenville, at the UEC Conference tournament hosted by Fenton.

The 294.0 points scored by the Blackhawks would eclipse the 292.00 it collected a year ago to give Andrew Plata’s club a second consecutive league championship.

“We have a good group of guys who are working hard, and have been pushing the pace each week, but we have to keep the intensity up and continue to work hard to get ourselves ready for regionals,” said Plata.

“I like our room, we have really good depth,” senior Dayne Serio said. “It’s great to win this UEC title, but we all know there’s more that we want ahead of us.”

Serio (30-4) is ranked third at 175 in 3A and was voted the outstanding wrestler at this year’s UEC tournament. He placed sixth a year ago at state, is a strong contender for a state title this season, and will join his brother Dominick – a state runner-up a year ago – at Ohio University in the fall.

All seven individual Blackhawks champions registered either a tech-fall or a pin, to help give the club a tourney-best 20 pins, and 12 tech-falls over the course of the day.

They also led the field with 437 total match points.

Gabe Richmond, Jack Platt, Evan Matkovich, Malan Hatfield, and Serio are now two-time UEC champs as well.

1st: West Aurora (294.0)

Richmond (113, 26-4) and Platt (138, 22-9) won titles before an upper-weight explosion by the Blackhawks put them in the driver’s seat.

Evan Matkovich (150, 24-9), Malan Hatfield (157, 25-7), Marcus Quintana (165, 22-4), Serio, and heavyweight Alfonso Aguilar (22-10) all won titles. 

Hatfield would have a tourney-best three tech-falls.

Donovan Johnson (106) and Eric Castillo (120) were second, Jeremiah Haynes (126) third, while Michael Huicochea (144), Jesuovic Uz-Ikelegbe (190) and Miguel Guerrero (215) all contributed with fourth-place medals.

Uz-Ikelegbe registered four pins on the day.

2nd: South Elgin (178.0)

Logan Dilallo could not have flashed a bigger smile after taking home his first UEC title of the season following a well played 19-9 decision over Gus Saletta (Bartlett, 22-5) in the 144-pound final.

“It feels great to win here and it’s an amazing way to continue my final year at South Elgin,” began Dilallo, who took time off from the sport to compete in MMA.

“I had to come back for my senior year, and to be a part of the South Elgin team, and to be with my brother Nick,” continued Dilallo, now 21-6.

Nick Dilallo has been on the injured list all season, and Storm head coach James Gloudeman has his fingers crossed his 2025 state qualifier at 113 will return in time for the postseason.

Not to be forgotten was the work from freshman Leo Salas (18-9) who won the 106-pound title with a 8-5 decision over West Aurora freshman Donovan Johnson.

Alejandro Facio (285) was second on the day, with Evan Hamilton (120), Connor Ignacio (138), Dane Henson (165) and Landree Dracousis (190) adding points with their third place medals.

Justin Bayna (132) and Tommy Visvardis (150) were fifth.

3rd: Glenbard East (131.5)

No. 7 Ismael Chaidez (31-4) is now a three-time UEC champ following his masterful effort in the 126-pound weight class.

“I’m bigger, stronger, and have a much better gas tank compared to last season, and I can feel from the extra work that I put in during the offseason that I can score points in a variety of ways,” says Chaidez, who won at Geneva last weekend.

Teammate Orlando Hoye (15-1, 190) won his second UEC crown, and in doing so, also recorded the most total match points (67) in the tournament.

Evan Reichert (215) was second, Nick Greenfield (106) third, and Lance Padieanos (120) fourth overall.

Additional individual champions:

Jace Serpa (120, West Chicago), Izaiah Gonzalez (132, Riverside-Brookfield), Victor Juarez (215, Elgin).

Additional runners-up:

Ulises Vega (113, West Chicago), Emanuel Rangel (126, West Chicago), Brian Correa (132, West Chicago), Jayden Edgar (138, Elgin), Gus Saletta (144, Bartlett), Cameron Engels (150, Bartlett), Cesar Munoz (157, West Chicago), Omar Diaz (165, Fenton), Nick O’Connor (175, Riverside-Brookfield), Emmanuel Diaz (190, East Aurora), Evan Reichert (215, Glenbard East).

Final Team Results:

West Aurora 294.0, South Elgin 178.0, Glenbard East 131.5), West Chicago 130.0, Bartlett 128.5, Riverside-Brookfield 97.0, Fenton 92.0, East Aurora 79.5, Elgin/Glenbard South 76.0, Streamwood 60.0, Larkin 36.0, Ridgewood 20.0, Elmwood Park 0.0.

Championship match results:

106- Leo Salas (West Aurora) d. Donovan Johnson (West Aurora) (D 8-5).

113- Gabe Richmond (West Aurora) d. Ulises Vega (West Chicago) (TF 18-3).

120- Jace Serpa (West Chicago) d. Eric Castillo (West Aurora) (TF 19-4).

126- Ismael Chaidez (Glenbard East) d. Emanuel Rangel (West Chicago) (F 1:25).

132- Izaiah Gonzalez (Riverside-Brookfield) d. Brian Correa (West Chicago) (F 5:59).

138- Jack Platt (West Aurora) d. Jayden Edgar (Elgin) (F 2:15).

144- Logan Dilallo (South Elgin) d. Gus Saletta (Bartlett) (MD 19-9).

150- Evan Matkovich (West Aurora) d. Cameron Engels (Bartlett) (F 4:50).

157- Malan Hatfield (West Aurora) d. Cesar Munoz (West Chicago) (TF 20-5).

165- Marquis Quintana (West Aurora) d. Omar Diaz (Fenton) (F 4:00).

175- Dayne Serio (West Aurora) d. Nick O’Connor (Riverside-Brookfield) (TF 17-0).

190- Orlando Hoye (Glenbard East) d. Emmanuel Diaz (East Aurora) (TF 24-8).

215- Victor Juarez (Elgin) d. Evan Reichart (Glenbard East) (MD 15-4).

285- Alfonso Aguilar (West Aurora) d. Alejandro Facio (South Elgin) (F 0:44).

Third-place match results:

106- Nick Greenfield (Glenbard East) d. James Kowalski (Bartlett) (F 5:52).

113- Luis Martinez (Streamwood) d. Miles Russell-Barnes (Riverside-Brookfield)

(F 2:27).

120- Evan Hamilton (South Elgin) d. Lance Padiernos (Glenbard East) (F 4:25).

126- Jeremiah Hayes (West Aurora) d. Sal Garcia (Larkin) (F 3:01).

132- Rene Reyna (Fenton) d. Joseph Caputo (Bartlett) (MD 17-7).

138- Connor Ignacio (South Elgin) d. Mohammed Khater (Ridgewood) (D 10-5).

144- Jin Tai (Glenbard South) d. Michael Huicochea (West Aurora) (F 5:09).

150- Ruben Kassman (Glenbard South) d. Aiden Veltman (Riverside-Brookfield)

(F 1:23).

157- Emilio Guzman (Elgin) d. Jorge Farias (East Aurora) (TF 17-1).

165- Dane Henson (South Elgin) d. Armani Meola (East Aurora) (F 3:48).

175- Dereck Mazariegos (Fenton) d. Kevin Sanchez (East Aurora) (D 7-1).

190- Landree Dracousis (South Elgin) d. Jesuovie Uz-Ikelegbe (West Aurora) 

(D 11-10).

215- Amar Dzananovic (Bartlett) d. Miguel Guerrero (West Aurora) (F 1:18).

285- Chase Paduch (Bartlett) d. Ambrose Davis (Glenbard South) (F 3:27).