By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

WALTHER CHRISTIAN HOGER/TUOMI INVITATIONAL

In one of the tightest races for a team title anywhere in Illinois, Peotone, Mather, and the team from Seaholm, Michigan went down to the wire at this year’s 15-team Walther Christian Hoger/Tuomi Invitational.

Ultimately, Peotone had enough to get it done, 186.5-183 over Mather. Seaholm (173) finished a close third, followed by Westmont (156) and Northridge Prep (142) to round out the top five team finishes.

“Of course our champions were critical in the win,” Peotone coach Greg Goberville said of individual champions Blake Anderson (120), Connor Pasch (157) and Laith Abunijmeh (165). “But the most exciting and also critical matches for the team were from two wrestlers that got their first wins ever on Saturday.”
That extra credit given by Goberville went to an undersized 106-pounder in Jack Vallos and 175-pounder Marcus Baker.

As a first-year wrestler, sixth-place Baker’s first win of the season came via pin in a consolation semifinal match to earn Peotone six points, and Vallos’ 9-point contribution via fall for fifth place was the first match win of his career.

“These two boys sticking in out in wrestling even though they hadn’t found success before Saturday is a big  reason why the team won the tournament,” Goberville said. “Seeing how excited they were to get their first wins is a reason I love being a part of this sport.”

Anderson and Abunijmeh also earned bonus points for the Blue Devils in head-to-head championship matches against wrestlers from Mather.

1st place: Peotone (186.5)
In addition to titles from Anderson, Pasch, Abunijmeh and first-time heroics from placers Vallos and Baker, the Blue Devils got seconds from Tom Raschke (132) and Emerson Gall (138), a third from John Meneses (144), and a sixth from Omero Isais (285).

2nd place: Mather (183)
Mather coach Kyle Shinall got four runner-up finishes from Tommy Lam (120), Celvin Cung (165), Zomire Dilworth (175) and Denzel Lockhart (285), fourths from Shokrullah Sayedi (106), Gabriel Banderas (132) and Zabiel Lagunas (138), fifths from Omobobola Bankhole (157) and Julian Rios (215), and a sixth from Oscar Estrada (126).

3rd place: Seaholm, MI (173)
Seaholm got an individual title from Cole Southby (106), seconds from Nikhil Amiya Narula (113) and John Ranxa (157), a third from Blaize Burkhart (175), fourths from Blaise Bongiorno (126), Joe Roman (165), Liam Perry (175) and Oliver Smith (215), fifths from Amon Edwards (138) and Cruz Garcia (150), and sixths from Shomari John-Charles (138) and Carter Dresden (190).

Other wrestlers winning individual Hoger/Tuomi titles were Westmont’s Luke Jimenea (113), Nazareth Academy’s Alek Ramos (126), Northridge Prep’s Joe Kopecky (132), Rickover Naval Academy’s Justin Hernandez (138), Harvest Christian’s Max Mulhearn (144), Northridge Prep’s George McShane (150), Lutheran Westland’s Russell Mangiapane (175), Amundsen’s Adrian Zepeda (190), Streator’s Aydan Radke (215), and Westmont’s Rafael Castrejon-Tello (285).

Team scores:
Peotone 186.5, Mather 183, Seaholm, MI 173, Westmont 156, Northridge Prep 142, Streator 108, Lutheran Westland 84, Amundsen 80.5, Walther Christian 69, Nazareth Academy 59.5, Elmwood Park 52.5, Ridgewood 51, Rickover Naval Academy 45, Lutheran Northwest, MI 38.5, Harvest Christian 29.

Walther Christian’s Hoger/Tuomi Invitational results:

106

1st: Cole Southby (Seaholm) 7-2, d. Mason Ponce (Westmont) 5-4,  (MD 19-8)

3rd: Oscar Ruiz-Villa (Elmwood Park) 5-4, d. Shokrullah Sayedi (Mather) 7-6,  (F 2:54)

5th: Jack Vallos (Peotone) 2-7, d. Ben Peterson (Walther) 5-5,  (F 3:28)

113

1st: Luke Jimenea (Westmont) 7-3, d. Nikhil Amiya Narula (Seaholm) 5-3,  (F 0:55)

3rd: Patrick Manio (Northridge) 1-3, d. Josiah Espinosa (Rickover) 0-2,  (F 1:59)

120

1st: Blake Anderson (Peotone) 9-4, d. Tommy Lam (Mather) 10-4,  (F 1:23)

3rd: Julian Deschner (Lutheran Northwest) 8-2, d. Emilio Fortiz (Nazareth) 1-2,  (Dec 12-7)

5th: Ardan Baglaev (Westmont) 8-3, d. Sebastian Flores (Streator) 8-6,  (F 0:24)

126

1st: Alek Ramos (Nazareth) 3-0, d. Jesus Martinez (Streator) 7-3,  (Dec 5-0)

3rd: Shawn Hanton (Elmwood Park) 5-6, d. Blaise Bongiorno (Seaholm) 3-7, (TF 3:24 (20-4)

5th: Christian Rosa (Westmont) 8-3, d. Oscar Estrada (Mather) 3-5,  (F 1:02)

132

1st: Joe Kopecky (Northridge) 4-2, d. Tom Raschke (Peotone) 6-6,  (F 1:44)

3rd: Lawrence Walker (Westmont) 6-4, d. Gabriel Banderas (Mather) 7-8, (TF 3:17 (17-2)

5th: Garritt Benstine (Streator) 8-5, d. Patrick Loughnane (Elmwood Park) 2-2,  (F 0:57)

138

1st: Justin Hernandez (Rickover) 8-0, d. Emerson Gall (Peotone) 5-8,  (MD 14-4)

3rd: Mohamad Khater (Ridgewood) 8-4, d. Zabiel Lagunas (Mather) 3-4,  (F 3:03)

5th: Amon Edwards (Seaholm) 4-5, d. Shomari John-Charles (Seaholm) 2-2,  (F 0:27)

144

1st: Max Mulhearn (Harvest Christian) 6-1, d. Caleb Peterson (Walther) 10-2,  (TF 4:35 (15-0)

3rd: John Meneses (Peotone) 6-4, d. Josh Baltz (Lutheran Westland) 5-5,  (MD 11-3)

5th: Javi Rodriguez (Northridge) 4-3, .d. Isaac Depakakibo (Ridgewood) 4-5,  (TF 3:00 (18-2)

150

1st: George McShane (Northridge) 3-2, .d. Mission Hatchell (Westmont) 8-3,  (F 3:30)

3rd: Austin Speier (Lutheran Westland) 4-4, d. Kade Smorynski (Amundsen) 3-4,  (F 1:23)

5th: Cruz Garcia (Seaholm) 4-1, d. Peter Martin (Amundsen) 5-4,  (F 2:53)

157

1st: Connor Pasch (Peotone) 13-3, d. John Ranxa (Seaholm) 4-2,  (F 1:29)

3rd: Sean Patterson (Westmont) 9-5, d. Patrick Burns (Amundsen) 5-4,  (F 0:59)

5th: Omobobola Bankole (Mather) 11-5, d. Grant Wagner (Northridge) 3-2, . (F 1:32)

165

1st: Laith Abunijmeh (Peotone) 6-5, d. Celvin Cung (Mather) 8-6,  (TF 2:26 (17-1)

3rd: Kiran McCarter (Amundsen) 6-3, d. Joe Roman (Seaholm) 4-3,  (F 0:59)

5th: Steven Rodriguez (Walther) 6-4, d. Aaron Carlson (Ridgewood) 4-6,  (F 4:51)

175

1st: Russell Mangiapane (Lutheran Westland) 9-2, d. Zomire Dilworth (Mather) 13-2,  (F 3:37)

3rd: Blaize Burkhart (Seaholm) 2-4, d. Liam Perry (Seaholm) 1-3,  (F 0:28)

5th: Tyler Schoessow (Walther) 4-3, d. Marcus Baker (Peotone) 2-9,  (F 3:10)

190

1st: Adrian Zepeda (Amundsen) 6-0, d. James Reshoft (Amundsen) 7-2,  (MD 23-10)

3rd: Morgan Miller (Lutheran Westland) 10-2, d. Mason Wagner (Northridge) 2-2, . (F 0:16)

5th: Devin Thompson (Streator) 9-5, d. Carter Dresden (Seaholm) 3-3,  (F 2:20)

215

1st: Aydan Radke (Streator) 8-5, d. Samuel Swais (Nazareth) 2-1,  (F 0:36)

3rd: Aiden Spiehs (Lutheran Northwest) 5-3, d. Oliver Smith (Seaholm) 2-3,  (TF 1:59 (17-2)

5th: Julian Rios (Mather) 12-4, d. Israel Toroshina (Elmwood Park) 2-6,  (F 1:16)

285

1st: Rafael Castrejon-Tello (Westmont) 7-2, d. Denzel Lockhart (Mather) 10-7,  (F 3:12)

3rd: Thomas Suter (Northridge) 3-1, .d. Brian Gutierrez (Walther) 5-3,  (F 5:39)

5th: Aiden Ferris (Streator) 12-3, d. Omero Isais (Peotone) 4-8,  (F 2:53)

NILES WEST 7TH ANNUAL ROBERT E. PORTER INVITATIONAL

In a few short seasons, Montini coach Mike Bukovsky has returned the Broncos’ program to its former elevated place in Illinois high school wrestling, with a second-place state finish last season and a current top ranking in Class 2A.

Saturday’s team title at Niles West’s 26-team Robert E. Porter Invitational saw nine Broncos in the finals and five winning individual titles. Among scoring wrestlers, Montini added one third-place winner, one fourth, and one fifth. Two more Broncos finished fifth as non-scoring wrestlers.

“We had a good week,” Bukovsky said. “We ran our dual record to 7-0 and Saturday was a great way to end the week. We’re still missing two guys and we’re trying to get our lineup finalized after football but we feel good about where we are right now.”

Bukovsky was also the head coach of this year’s Montini football team, which won the Class 3A state title.
Montini won 583.5-478 over second-place Marist, which is currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois in 3A. Deerfield (368.5) placed third, Notre Dame (364) was third, and Conant (288) rounded out the top five team finishes.

1st place: Montini (583.5 points)

The Broncos got individual titles from Erik Klichurov (106) , Allen Woo (113), Bobby Ruscitti (120), Kam Luif (138) and Santino Tenuta (175), and runner-up finishes from Mikey Malizzio (126), Josh Vazquez (132), Kevin May (157) and AJ Tack (165).
Will Konder (144) placed third, Gavin Ericson (285) was fourth, and Jaxon Lane (215) placed fifth among scoring wrestlers.
Among non-scorers, Montini got fifths from Jack Bell (106) and Isaac Mayora (126).

“Our five champs led us but it was a total team effort,” Bukovsky said.

2nd place: Marist (478)

Illinois’ second-ranked 3A squad got individual titles for coach Brendan Heffernan from Tommy Fidler (144) and Ethan Sonne (157), seconds from Caden Campo (120) and Kevin Tomkins (175), thirds from Elio Gil (106), Colin Phelan (113) and George Marinopoulos (138), a fourth from Ronin Haran (165), and fifths from Tyrese Johnson (150) and Jack Watson (285).

3rd place: Notre Dame (364)

Ranked among the top 25 teams in Class 2A, the Dons and coach Anthony Genovesi got an individual title from John Sheehy (126), a second-place finish from Ray Long (106), a third from Brady Krueger (132), a fourth from Donovan Walsh (150), fifths from Deniz Ozturk (157) and Dean Lazaris (165), and a sixth from John Greifelt (144).

Other individual champions at Niles West were Deerfield’s Jackson Palzet (132), Sarah Goode’s Xavier Woods (150), Cary-Grove’s Noah Pechotta (165), Lake Zurich’s Rocco DiCanio (190), Taft’s Evan Jocic (215), and Geneva’s Joseph Petit (285).

Team scores:
Montini 583.5, Marist 478, Deerfield 368.5, Notre Dame 364, Conant 288, Lake Zurich 273, WW South 252, Bartlett 240.5, Geneva 240, Dundee-Crown 228, Normal Community West 213, Jacobs 204, Taft 186, Maine West 170, Central 163, Waubonsie Valley 158.5, Cary-Grove 151.5, Sarah Goode 138, Larkin 135, Waukegan 105, Highland Park 79.5, Reavis 74, Noble/Golder 71, Niles West 59, Lindblom 47, King 40

Robert E. Porter Invitational results:

106

1st: Erik Klichurov (Montini) 14-1, over Ray Long (Notre Dame) 14-2,  (MD 15-6)

3rd: Elio Gil (Marist) 11-5, over Aiden Healey (D-Crown) 15-4,  (F 3:36)

5th: Jack Bell (Montini) 4-1, .over Donovan Lowery (Normal W) 8-6,  (TF 4:39 (16-1)
113

1st: Allen Woo (Montini) 12-2, over Bernardo Roque (Taft) 14-2,  (TF 2:42 (19-2)

3rd: Colin Phelan (Marist) 10-5, over Dylan McGrew (Normal W) 10-3,  (D 7-6)

5th: Damian Ramos (Conant) 11-3, over Mason Goldman (Waubonsie V) 7-3,  (F 4:38)
120

1st: Bobby Ruscitti (Montini) 14-1, over Caden Campo (Marist) 9-5,  (TF 2:51 (21-6)

3rd: Danny Martinez (Deerfield) 9-5, over Michael Riggs (WW South) 8-5, . (D 8-5)

5th: Enrique Garcia (Jacobs) 10-3, over Sammy Sikorsky (Geneva) 13-5,  (F 5:54)

126

1st: John Sheehy (Notre Dame) 15-1, over Mikey Malizzio (Montini) 8-3,  (D 8-4)

3rd: Luis Flores (Conant) 11-3, over Adrian Cohen (Deerfield) 12-5,  (F 3:54)

5th: Isaac Mayora (Montini) 4-1, .over Logan Battersby (Maine West) 3-2,  (TF 5:45 (18-2)

132

1st: Jackson Palzet (Deerfield) 14-1, over Josh Vazquez (Montini) 7-2,  (NC)

3rd: Brady Krueger (Notre Dame) 11-6, over Nathan Duffield (Waubonsie V) 11-6,  (D 8-7)

5th: Andrew Wendt (Geneva) 11-6, over Nick Barton (Bartlett) 10-4,  (MD 10-1)

138

1st: Kam Luif (Montini) 12-0, over Jordan Rasof (Deerfield) 15-2,  (MD 15-6)

3rd: George Marinopoulos (Marist) 8-2, over Chris Gerardo (D-Crown) 14-5,  (D 2-1)

5th: Cameron Engels (Bartlett) 10-4, over Mason Wood (Normal W) 9-6,  (F 5:59)

144

1st: Tommy Fidler (Marist) 10-4, over Alexander Shvartsman (Deerfield) 12-5,  (TF 2:29 (18-3)

3rd: Will Konder (Montini) 10-4, over Damari Miller (Larkin) 12-3,  (MD 13-3)

5th: Jayden Patterson-Veal (Sarah Goode) 8-1, over John Greifelt (Notre Dame) 11-5,  (TF 3:50 (19-4)

150

1st: Xavier Woods (Sarah Goode) 11-0, over Victor Chevganov (Conant) 12-3,  (SV-1 14-11)

3rd: Nate Ferrari (Highland P) 12-1, over Donovan Walsh (Notre Dame) 10-3,  (F 1:34)

5th: Tyrese Johnson (Marist) 5-2, over Sebastian Gordon (Niles West) 5-4,  (F 4:49)

157

1st: Ethan Sonne (Marist) 8-3, over Kevin May (Montini) 10-6,  (MD 18-4)

3rd: Charlie Cross (Deerfield) 8-7, over David Rueth (Geneva) 12-5,  (NC)

5th: Deniz Ozturk (Notre Dame) 11-6, over David Miranda (Larkin) 9-4,  (F 5:55)

165

1st: Noah Pechotta (Cary-Grove) 17-1, over AJ Tack (Montini) 11-2,  (D 8-5)

3rd: Peter Greco (Maine West) 3-1, over Ronin Haran (Marist) 5-4,  (D 15-11)

5th: Dean Lazaris (Notre Dame) 7-6, over Kade Abrantes (Lake Zurich) 5-4,  (F 5:01)

175

1st: Santino Tenuta (Montini) 8-0, over Kevin Tomkins (Marist) 11-3,  (F 3:15)

3rd: Malik Salameh (Reavis) 4-1, over Jake Rhymes ( Central) 3-2,  (D 11-5)

5th: Lucas Pretkelis (Waubonsie V) 5-7, over Amjad Babidi (Maine West) 3-2,  (D 7-3)

190

1st: Rocco DiCanio (Lake Zurich) 16-3, over Michael Junitz ( Central) 11-6,  (MD 14-5)

3rd: Mason Monce (WW South) 8-4, .over Zach Anderson (D-Crown) 14-6,  (F 3:56)

5th: Lamero Ceaser (Waukegan) 5-3, over Mikel Horne (Niles West) 2-2,  (F 2:20)
215
1st: Evan Jocic (Taft) 10-2, over James Smrha (Bartlett) 11-2,  (F 1:23)

3rd: Teigen Moreno (D-Crown) 15-2, over Maciej Szelazek (Lake Zurich) 12-5,  (MD 14-0)

5th: Jaxon Lane (Montini) 8-1, .over Tennyson Welage-Stein (Geneva) 10-7,  (F 0:26)

285

1st: Joseph Pettit (Geneva) 12-0, over Ashton Kibbe (WW South) 9-3, . (TF 5:13 (16-1)

3rd: Lucas Burton (Cary-Grove) 8-1, over Gavin Ericson (Montini) 5-3,  (MD 10-1)

5th: Jack Watson (Marist) 10-5, over Luis Alba (Bartlett) 9-3,  (F 3:47)

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH LARRY GASSEN DUAL TOURNAMENT

Coal city coach Mark Masters saw his boys go 5-0 at this year’s 15-team Larry Gassen dual team tournament hosted by Downers Grove South, and he was pleasantly surprised.
“We just got all of our football players certified on Thursday so today was the first day we had all of our guys on the mat,” Masters said. “I was really proud of how hard our guys competed having a short time to train, make weight, and wrestle for six minutes. But our athletes over the years have built a culture that competing at a high level, max effort, and winning is expected.

“It’s our first time winning this tournament and it was awesome for our coaching staff and team.”
Coal City’s semifinal dual against third-place Geneseo had a doozy of a finish. Trailing 25-16 with three matches remaining, Masters got three consecutive pins from Jake Munsterman, Owen Petersen and Culan Lindemuth.

“That was the most exciting part of the tournament for our program and fans,” Masters said. Petersen, Cooper Morris and Brody Widlowski all went 5-0 on the day for Coal City.
For the day, Coal City topped Wauconda (60-14), Fremd (48-26), Mahomet-Seymour (47-13), and Geneseo (34-25), before winning the championship dual 43-19 over Downers Grove North.
To reach the finals, second-place Downers Grove North beat Crystal Lake Central (40-23), Belleville West (41-31), Lincoln-Way East (38-25), and Grant (52-17). Third-place Geneseo beat Oak Forest (59-14), Maine South (45-22), and Glenwood (43-23) before losing to Coal City, then won 41-31 over Grant to take third.
Fourth-place Grant’s wins came against Downers Grove South (40-20), Andrew (54-23), and Huntley (47-30).
Among the top four finishing teams, for wrestlers with at least four matches wrestled, Coal City got unbeaten days from Owen Petersen (113), Cooper Morris (126), and Brody Widlowski (138); going unbeaten for DG North was Christian Chiarelli (132); Geneseo’s Devan Hornback (132), Zachary Montez (165/175) and Kye Weinzierl (175/190) went unbeaten; and Grant’s unbeaten wrestlers were Vince Jasinski (126/132), Erik Rodriguez (138), and Casey Gibson (190/215).

Gassen team finishes: 1st: Coal City, 2nd: Downers Grove North, 3rd: Geneseo, 4th: Grant,5th: Lincoln-Way East, 6th: Glenwood, 8th: Wauconda, 8th: Huntley, 9th: Fremd, 10th: Downers Grove South, 11th: Crystal Lake Central, 12th: Maine South, 13th: Mahomet-Seymour, 14th: Andrew, 15th: Oak Forest, 16th: Belleville West

Final round dual scores:

1st: Coal City defeated Downers Grove North 43-19.

3rd: Geneseo defeated Grant 41-31.

5th: Lincoln-Way East defeated Glenwood 50-24.

7th: This match has not been wrestled yet.

9th: Fremd defeated Downers Grove South 36-31.

11th: Crystal Lake Central defeated Maine South 39-36.

13th: Mahomet-Seymour defeated Andrew 51-26.

15th: Oak Forest defeated Belleville West 50-27.

1st place dual results:
Coal City 43, Downers Grove North19

132 – Christian Chiarelli (DG North) over Luke Munsterman (Coal City) Dec 8-5

138 – Brody Widlowski (Coal City) over Aidan Cummings (DG North) Dec 7-3

144 – Caden Chiarelli (DG North) over Aidan Kenney (Coal City) Maj 12-4

150 – Noah Houston (Coal City) over Owen Kelly (DG North) TB-1 5-3

157 – Liam O`Sullivan (DG North) over Mason Garner (Coal City) Maj 20-11

165 – Brock Finch (Coal City) over Colin Cunningham (DG North) Fall 3:08

175 – Landin Benson (Coal City) over Jack Lasota (DG North) Fall 5:19

190 – Cade Poyner (Coal City) over Jack Helsdon (DG North) Fall 1:03

215 – John Keigher (Coal City) over Nate Olona (DG North) Fall 1:34

285 – Peter Rodriguez (DG North) over Alec Waliczek (Coal City) Maj 10-1

106 – Jason Piatak (Coal City) over Damian Garcia (DG North) Dec 3-1

113 – Owen Petersen (Coal City) over Matt Ramimi (DG North) Fall 1:05

120 – Tyler Tiancgo (DG North) over Culan Lindemuth (Coal City) Maj 14-1

126 – Cooper Morris (Coal City) over Cory Mongello (DG North) Maj 9-0

3rd place dual results:

Geneseo defeated Grant) 41-31

132 – Devan Hornback (Geneseo) over Ben Ramos (Grant) TF 16-1

138 – Erik Rodriguez (Grant) over Lincoln Barnett (Geneseo) Fall 1:56

144 – Izaac Gaines (Geneseo) over John Von Hoene (Grant) Fall 1:54

150 – Malaki Jackson (Geneseo) over Adrian Khi (Grant) Fall 4:41

157 – Grady Hull (Geneseo) over Grayson Lennon (Grant) SV-1 7-4

165 – Zachary Montez (Geneseo) over Gavin Farley (Grant) Fall 1:41

175 – Kye Weinzierl (Geneseo) over Aaden Arroyo (Grant) Maj 13-4

190 – Tyler Zdon (Grant) over Wyatt Neumann (Geneseo) Fall 2:51

215 – Casey Gipson (Grant) over Colten Mooney (Geneseo) Fall 1:51

285 – Jacob Stahl (Geneseo) over Ian Hernandez (Grant) Fall 7:30

106 – Carter Hutchinson (Grant) over Brycen Fahnestock (Geneseo) Dec 11-9

113 – Andrew Ocampo (Grant) over Elliott Kreiner (Geneseo) Maj 15-6

120 – Landen Vincent (Geneseo) over Breiydyn Hoffman (Grant) TF 15-0

126 – Vince Jasinski (Grant) over Tim Sebastian (Geneseo) Fall 1:40

HOFFMAN ESTATES MICKEY MARCHESE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

After Homewood-Flossmoor lost to Carl Sandburg in a dual meet on Dec. 12, coach James Sokoloski needed to see how his boys would react.
“We were humbled a little bit on Thursday night by Sandburg, who came to HF and gave us a beat down,” Sokoloski said, “so we challenged our guys Thursday night and Friday in practice to respond over the weekend.”
The Vikings answered the bell.
Homewood-Flossmoor took the team title at Hoffman Estates’ 14-team Mickey Marchese Memorial Tournament two days later, out-pointing second-place Wheeling 278.5-215 on Saturday.

The Vikings went six-for-six on the title mat, getting individual titles from Davion Henry (106), Chazz Robinson (120), Roan Dukes (126), Frenchie Ford (150), Jovan Vukajlovic (157) and RJ Robinson (175) to lead the charge.

“Our guys came ready to compete at a high level and score points,” Sokoloski said. “I couldn’t be happier with how our team responded and came to wrestle on Saturday. I know this experience was huge for our guys and it will be a springboard for the rest of the season.”
Mundelein (139.5) took third place, followed by Plainfield E (134) and Lane Tech (132) to round out the top five team finishes.

1st place: Homewood-Flossmoor (278.5 points)

In addition to titles from Henry, Chazz Robinson, Dukes, Ford, Vukajlovic, and RJ Robinson, the Vikings got third-place finishes from Ethan Hamilton (113), Adante Washington (132) and Jon Santiago (215), a fourth from Idris Akeeb (285), and fifths from Marcus Beach-Larrieu (138), Henry Maier (144) and Remond Lee (165).
In all, the Vikings went 12-1 in the place-medal round.
Sokoloski tipped his hat to his individual champions at Hoffman Estates and then some.

“To win a tournament, you need the other weight classes to contribute,” Sokoloski said. “We had some huge wins from Marcus at 138, Henry at 144, Remond at 165, and Jon Santiago at 215.  For all those guys to do what they did, that takes the pressure off of the rest of the team to carry that load.  I was also very proud of how Adante Washington (132) finished the tournament. He lost his semifinal match to a tough wrestler from Lane Tech, but absolutely responded afterwards and won his next two in dominant fashion. And Ethan (113) had a tough loss in round two but he learned from it and dramatically improved as the day went on.”

2nd place: Wheeling (215)
Wheeling’s Eddie Juarez (215) won an individual title and the Wildcats had five runner-up finishes for coach Charles Curran, in Franklin Katz (106), David Perez (113), Miguel Lopez (120), Johnny Dominguez (190) and Pablo Morales (285). Wheeling also got thirds from Joey Romano (126) and Nicholas Montesinos (165), and fifths from Max Katz (132), John Scanlon (157) and Danny Miranda (175).

3rd place: Mundelein (139.5)
Mundelein coach Craig Stocker got an individual title from Kevin Hernandez (165), a third from Neftall Cernas (120), fourths from Christian Saucedo (106), Gael Diaz (144), Alex Konewko (150) and Daniel Hernandez (175), and sixths from Pablo Becerra (126), Celso Cabrera (215) and Antonio Salazar (285).

Other individual champions at Hoffman Estates were South Elgin’s Nick Dilallo (113), Lane Tech’s Alex Valentin (132), Carmel’s Matthew Lucansky (138), Plainfield East’s Camden McCloskey (144), Streamwood’s Jace Wolf (190) and Zion-Benton’s Isaiah Tellado (285).

Team scores:
Homewood-Flossmoor 278, Wheeling 215, Mundelein 139.5, Plainfield E 134, Lane Tech 132, Zion-Benton 119.5, Streamwood 106.5, Harlem 95, South Elgin 93.5, Stagg 62.5, Carmel 59.5, Thornton-Fractional North 55.5, Elgin 27, Hoffman Estates 26.5

Mickey Marchese Memorial results:

106:
1st: Davion Henry (Homewood-F) 7-0, over Franklin Katz (Wheeling) 11-1,  (TF 6:00 (25-6)

3rd: Jeremiah Arroyo-McMullan (Lane) 5-2, over Christian Saucedo (Mundelein) 9-7,  (D 8-3)

5th: Evan Hamilton (South Elgin) 6-7, over Daniel Torres (Stagg) 1-3,  (F 1:36)
113

1st: Nick Dilallo (South Elgin) 14-0, over David Perez (Wheeling) 10-3,  (TF 4:49 (23-7)

3rd: Ethan Hamilton (Homewood-F) 6-2, over Jose Curiel (Lane Tech) 8-4,  (TF 4:46 (21-5)

5th: Brian Tejeda (Plainfield E) 12-5, over Braden Sroka (Zion Benton) 7-4,  (M. For.)
120

1st: Chazz Robinson (Homewood-F) 9-2, over Miguel Lopez (Wheeling) 10-3,  (F 3:12)

3rd: Neftali Cernas (Mundelein) 13-4, over Javier Corral (Stagg) 6-5,  (MD 17-4)

5th: Nathan Corder (Harlem) 2-2, over Joaquin Salameda (Lane Tech) 1-3,  (F 3:33)
126

1st: Roan Dukes (Homewood-F) 9-3, over Tamilore Ogundeyi (T-F North) 3-2,  (F 1:44)

3rd: Joey Romano (Wheeling) 12-3, over Jaydee Doke (Harlem) 4-2,  (F 0:25)

5th: Rudy Garcia (Carmel) 5-7, over Pablo Becerra (Mundelein) 5-4,  (M. For.)
132

1st: Alex Valentin (Lane Tech) 13-3, over Luis Medina (Zion Benton) 11-5,  (D 7-1)

3rd: Adante Washington (Homewood-F) 9-3, over Izayah Olejniczak (Harlem) 4-2,  (TF 3:58 (19-3)

5th: Max Katz (Wheeling) 11-5, over Jadyn Rios (Hoffman Estates) 3-3,  (TF 4:52 (16-0)
138

1st: Matthew Lucansky (Carmel) 10-1, over Dylan Solesky (Zion Benton) 10-6,  (MD 10-0)

3rd: Aamir Nieves-Allen (South Elgin) 10-7, over Owen Recoy (Harlem) 4-2,  (TF 5:48 (23-8)

5th: Marcus Bech-Larrien (Homewood-F) 3-2, over Abbas Abdulamir (Lane Tech) 7-4,  (F 3:10)
144 

1st: Camden McCloskey (Plainfield E) 14-2, over Samer Suleiman (Stagg) 5-1,  (D 8-5)

3rd: Vermaat VanderBrug (Lane Tech) 13-4, over Gael Diaz (Mundelein) 7-6,  (D 11-5)

5th: Henry Maier (Homewood-F) 7-4, over Alex Asllani (Carmel) 7-5,  (TB-1 17-7)
150

1st: Frenchie Ford (Homewood-F) 8-2, over Muhammad Hasib (Plainfield E) 6-8,  (D 9-2)

3rd: Juan Cortez (Streamwood) 6-3, over Alex Konewko (Mundelein) 7-6,  (D 7-6)

5th: Preston Fadness (Harlem) 4-2, over Fenton Pratt (Lane Tech) 6-6,  (D 9-4)
157

1st: Jovan Vukajlovic (Homewood-F) 4-0, over Joseph Merritt (T-F North) 4-2,  (TF 2:25 (17-2)

3rd: Dmytro Patykovskyi (Hoffman Estates) 7-1, over Nasser Hammouche (Lane Tech) 14-5,  (F 5:17)

5th: John Scanlon (Wheeling) 11-4, over Travis Barrera (South Elgin) 6-11,  (F 1:02)
165 

1st: Kevin Hernandez (Mundelein) 13-2, over Joseph Nino (Plainfield E) 8-6,  (TF 4:18 (17-0)

3rd: Nicholas Montesinos (Wheeling) 12-2, over Jeff Li (Streamwood) 6-2,  (F 2:50)

5th: Remond Lee (Homewood-F) 6-4, over Anthony Malone (Zion Benton) 6-8,  (TF 2:19 (16-1)
175

1st: RJ Robinson (Homewood-F) 7-2, over Fabian Ramirez (Elgin) 13-3, . (F 3:48)

3rd: Gabe Inorio (Streamwood) 7-2, over Daniel Hernandez (Mundelein) 11-5,  (F 3:17)

5th: Danny Miranda (Wheeling) 5-5, over Robert Vogel (Plainfield E) 10-6,  (F 1:21)
190

1st: Jace Wolf (Streamwood) 7-0, over Jonny Dominguez (Wheeling) 9-1,  (MD 8-0)

3rd: Tyson Poyer (Zion Benton) 13-5, over Hugh Callaghan (Plainfield E) 13-3,  (D 11-4)

5th: Francisco Yilmaz (Zion Benton) 8-4, over Maddox Bartoli (Lane Tech) 10-8,  (F 1:16)
215 

1st: Eddie Juarez (Wheeling) 11-0, over Deremit Zamora (South Elgin) 13-3,  (D 11-9)

3rd: Jon Santiago (Homewood-F) 4-1, over Colin Dominiak (Plainfield E) 9-6,  (D 10-9)

5th: Josiah Torres (Streamwood) 6-2, over Celso Cabrera (Mundelein) 6-2,  (M. For.)
285

1st: Isaiah Tellado (Zion Benton) 13-3, over Pablo Morales (Wheeling) 11-2,  (D 7-6)

3rd: Chandler Jack (Harlem) 4-1, over Idris Akeeb (Homewood-F) 3-4,  (F 2:25)

5th: Josh Burton (Streamwood) 4-4, over Antonio Salazar (Mundelein) 2-3,  (F 2:51)

CHICAGO HOPE ACADEMY BEAT THE STREETS DUALS

DePaul College Prep coach Patrick Heffernan saw his boys win their second tournament team title of the season on Saturday, as the Rams went 5-0 at this year’s 16-team Beat the Streets dual tournament, hosted by Chicago Hope Academy.

“The guys really showed some grit and toughness Saturday,” Heffernan said. “Michael Trout really stepped it up for us at 175 Friday night and Saturday. Nabiel Rosario just keeps on impressing me at 132, he’s now 13-0 and looking really good. This team is good and we will keep getting better.”

The Rams topped second-place Crown Point, Indiana (4-1) 54-20 to cap their unbeaten day. Host Chicago Hope Academy (4-1) placed third with a 41-28 win over the jayvee team from Oak Park and River Forest (3-2).

On the day, DePaul also beat Kelly (63-11), Trinity (46-34), Hillcrest (65-9), and Chicago Hope Academy (40-30).

Second-place Crown Point topped Garrett Morgan (63-14), Noble/Comer (83-0), St. Ignatius (59-18), and OPRF (52-18).

Third-place Chicago Hope beat Rolling Meadows (60-21), Little Village (67-12), and Marist JV (43-27), while OPRF JV topped Phoenix Military Academy (78-6), Proviso West (52-22), and Chicago Agricultural Science (82-0).

Among the top four placing teams, going unbeaten on the day with a minimum of four matches wrestled for DePaul were Nabiel Rosario (132), Johnny Cunningham (138), Drew Gerstung (150), and Matthew Brendel (157); Crown Point got perfect days from Jacob Powers (106), Griffin Weber (126), Benjamin Clark (165), and Owen Evener (215); and Chicago Hope’s unbeatens were Arkail Griffin (175) and Roy Phelps (285).

Championship dual
DePaul College Prep 54, Crown Point 20
106 – Jacob Powers (Crown Point) over Aedan Dillow (DePaul) TF 21-3

113 – Dimitri Dobre (DePaul) over Damian Baca (Crown Point) F 0:39

120 – Colin Bosak (DePaul) over Gavin Carlisle (Crown Point) F 2:35

126 – Connor Maschek (DePaul) over Gavin Wimberly (Crown Point) F 3:44

132 – Nabiel Rosario (DePaul) over Kam Stash (Crown Point) Dec 11-10

138 – Johnny Cunningham (DePaul) over Maximus Benoit (Crown Point) F 2:30

144 – Teigan Newell (Crown Point) over Max Rosen (DePaul) Dec 7-2

150 – Drew Gerstung (DePaul) over Griffin Ablin (Crown Point) Dec 8-5

157 – Matthew Brendel (DePaul) over Hunter Schoon (Crown Point) F 0:40

165 – Benjamin Clark (Crown Point) over Andrew Brendel (DePaul) F 0:45

175 – Michael Trout (DePaul) over Caleb Ingerly (Crown Point) F 5:47

190 – Alex Drees (DePaul) over Parker Teibel (Crown Point) F 3:17

215 – Owen Evener (Crown Point) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

285 – Hunter Wahtola (DePaul) over Tony Brooks (Crown Point) F 3:41

Third-place dual
Chicago Hope Academy 41, OPRF JV 28
106 – Indigo Berg (Chicago Hope) over Jordan Dezara (OPRF) F 1:52

113 – Andrew Radtke (OPRF) over RaSean Fenner (Chicago Hope) F 2:31

120 – Nolan Callahan (Chicago Hope) over Matteo Drummer (OPRF) TF 19-2

126 – Alex Cohen (OPRF) over Johnny Amador (Chicago Hope) Dec 5-3

132 – Isaiah Gibson (OPRF) over Mike Garcia (Chicago Hope) F 5:32

138 – Josiah Willis (Chicago Hope) over Henry Brown (OPRF) F 1:09

144 – Dylan Galvez (Chicago Hope) over Alex Albrecht (OPRF) Dec 13-9

150 – Santori Knight (Chicago Hope) over Gabriel Krizan (OPRF) F 2:25

157 – Jeremiah Hernandez (OPRF) over Andrew Payne (Chicago Hope) F 3:16

165 – Brenden Lowenthal-Wojcik (OPRF) over Tony Jones-Blakely (Chicago Hope) MD 17-8

175 – Arkail Griffin (Chicago Hope) over Daniel Solano (OPRF) F 1:04

190 – Benjamin Martin (OPRF) oaver Ismael Montero (Chicago Hope) Dec 1-0

215 – Mastewal Evely (Chicago Hope) over Michael Bruce (OPRF) Dec 1-0

PROSPECT’S 64th ANNUAL MUDGE-MCMORROW WRESTLING INVITATIONAL

Joliet Catholic had 11 wrestlers finish in the top six, including five champions, to finish atop a field of 15 teams at Prospect’s 64th annual Mudge-McMorrow Invitational. The Hilltoppers finished with a 271.5-207.5 win over second-place Naperville Central.

York (173) placed third, followed by Prospect (140) and Grayslake Central (127) to round out the top five teams finishes.

“I’m very proud of the way our boys competed today, with every wrestler making the placement match round,” Joliet Catholic coach Ryan Cumbee said. “We have plenty of work to do this week before we head to Oklahoma for the NWHOF duals (the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dual Classic).”

1st place: Joliet Catholic (271.5 points)
The Hilltoppers got individual titles from Maddux Tindal (120), Jason Hampton (132), Nolan Vogel (157), Luke Hamiti (165) and Nico Ronchetti (190), seconds from Aurelio Munoz (138) and Elias Gonzalez (150), thirds from Kane Robles (106) and Matthew Laird (126), a fifth from Dawson Mack (144) and a sixth from Isaac Clauson (175).

2nd place: Naperville Central (207.5)
Redhawks coach Noah Fitzenreider saw two champions scale the awards stand, in Vince Bern (138) and Henry Rydwelski (175). Among scoring wresters, Central also got seconds from Jacob Cochran (132), Paul Peradotti (190) and William Erbeck (285), thirds from Jack Schwartz (113) and CJ Bierman (150), fourths from Dalton Meluch (106) and Jake Moore (126), and a sixth from Yusuf Sikander (157).

3rd place: York (173)
The Dukes had four individual champions in Mondo Marinelli (126), Frank Nitti (144), Jackson Hanselman (150) and Mikey Grazzini (215). York coach Nick Metcalf also got fourths from Tommy Connors (113) and Christian Diaz (285), and a fifth from Charlie Brown (120).

Team scores:
Joliet Catholic 271.5, Naperville Central 207.5, York 173, Prospect 140, Grayslake Central 127, Moline 102.5, Libertyville 102, McHenry 100, Addison Trail 98, New Trier 97.5, Hampshire 75, Belvidere North 56.5, St. Charles North 53, Round Lake 36.5, Noble/UIC 14

Mudge-McMorrow Invitational results:
106

1st: Vince DeMarco (Grayslake C) 13-1, over Nikolas Duarte (Addison Trail) 11-3,  (D 6-0)

3rd: Kane Robles (Joliet C) 6-2, over Dalton Meluch (Naperville C) 9-5,  (F 2:00)

5th: Jack Fitzgerald (Naperville C) 5-1, over Carlo DiFalco (Prospect) 1-2,  (TF 4:46 (25-8)

7th: Skyler Stewart (SC North) 9-3, over Suhail Osman (York) 0-3,  (F 1:13)
113

1st: Deegan Kirschke (Hampshire) 10-3, over Santiago Trejo-Huerigo (Addison Trail) 11-2,  (D 8-3)

3rd: Jack Schwartz (Naperville C) 11-4, over Tommy Connors (York) 1-2, . (D 6-2)

5th: Thomas Fidler (Prospect) 6-10, over Leonardo Zapien (Chicago (Noble/UIC) 4-2,  (F 0:36)

7th: Tyler Callaghan (Grayslake C) 6-6, over Moises Moronez (Belvidere N) 4-5,  (F 1:26)
120

1st: Maddux Tindal (Joliet C) 6-3, over Collin Ledbetter (Moline) 10-2,  (TF 2:49 (17-1)

3rd: Krish Sahu (Grayslake C) 13-4, over Adam Epperson (Prospect) 2-2,  (TF 4:39 (20-3)

5th: Charlie Brown (York) 4-1, over Zion Martinez (Addison Trail) 6-10,  (D 4-2)

7th: Lou Jensen (Hampshire) 7-7, over Evan Denardis (Prospect) 2-3,  (F 1:38)
126

1st: Mondo Martinelli (York) 3-0, over Bryson Teunissen (Belvidere N) 11-3,  (TF 2:22 (17-2)

3rd: Matthew Laird (Joliet C) 7-3, over Jake Moore (Naperville C) 6-3,  (MD 10-2)

5th: Jake Shafer (Libertyville) 7-6, over James Ball (Naperville C) 5-4,  (TF 3:50 (17-1)

7th: Karol Kosciarz (Prospect) 8-8, over Matthew Miralles (New Trier) 7-7,  (TF 2:49 (18-3)
132 

1st: Jason Hampton (Joliet C) 6-2, over Jacob Cochran (Naperville C) 12-3,  (TF 4:23 (21-6)

3rd: Ryan Hanson (McHenry) 2-1, over Joshua Amorn-Vichet (Addison Trail) 8-3,  (F 4:41)

5th: Gavin McDonald (Naperville C) 4-1, over Liam Halloran (Grayslake C) 14-5,  (F 0:38)

7th: Kacper Kosciarz (Prospect) 6-9, over Keelen Kassenbrock (SC North) 2-4, . (TF 1:48 (17-2)
138 

1st: Vince Bern (Naperville C) 7-1, over Aurelio Munoz (Joliet C) 5-4,  (D 7-1)

3rd: Ronin Umali (Prospect) 7-11, over Austin Schiltz (Naperville C) 4-5,  (TF 2:50 (15-0)

5th: Aidan Eisenberg (Grayslake C) 10-7, over Elliott Hibbard (Libertyville) 6-5,  (D 8-5)

7th: Resendez Leo (York) 3-2, over Nathan Finklesein (New Trier) 3-5,  (F 5:42)
144 

1st: Frank Nitti (York) 4-0, over Dominic Girardin (Belvidere N) 12-2,  (MD 16-8)

3rd: Matthias Hautzinger (Addison Trail) 9-3, over Trevor Hengl (Grayslake C) 8-7,  (F 1:21)

5th: Dawson Mack (Joliet C) 7-3, over Brogan Sons (SC North) 8-7, . (F 2:32)

7th: Ryan Johnston (McHenry) 13-2, over Quinn Schmitt (Libertyville) 4-7,  (TF 4:34 (21-5)
150

1st: Jackson Hanselman (York) 3-0, over Elias Gonzalez (Joliet C) 5-3,  (D 5-4)

3rd: CJ Bierman (Naperville C) 7-1, over Liam O`Brien (SC North) 10-3, . (F 4:41)

5th: Yassin Aitzemkour (New Trier) 11-3, over Quentin Conkle (Grayslake C) 11-8,  (F 4:36)

7th: Chris Napiorkowski (Hampshire) 12-7, over Carter Hoyt (McHenry) 6-8,  (TF 5:05 (16-0)
157

1st: Nolan Vogel (Joliet C) 7-2, over Tagg Miller (New Trier) 10-1,  (MD 20-7)

3rd: Bennett WestFen (Prospect) 13-4, over Justin Skryd (Naperville C) 2-2, . (TF 4:20 (19-2)

5th: Avian Roman (McHenry) 5-2, over Yusuf Sikander (Naperville C) 11-6,  (F 2:00)

7th: Benjamin Gorny (York) 3-2, over Hassan Ndiaye (Moline) 9-6,  (F 5:14)
165

1st: Luke Hamiti (Joliet C) 7-1, over Aiden Schuldt (McHenry) 10-3,  (TF 2:43 (17-2)

3rd: WIlliam Lyle (Grayslake C) 14-5, over Marcus Regalado (New Trier) 9-4,  (D 6-5)

5th: Jaxson Soliz (Moline) 12-2, over Nate McLoughlin (SC North) 10-5, . (F 3:34)

7th: Nicolas Olvera (Naperville C) 8-3, over Andrew Bucci (Belvidere N) 8-6,  (MD 9-1)
175
1st: Henry Rydwelski (Naperville C) 13-0, over Gavin Payne (Prospect) 10-5,  (D 5-4)

3rd: DeAnthony Simpson (Moline) 11-2, over Tucker Kemnitz (New Trier) 7-5,  (F 2:00)

5th: James Scanio (Libertyville) 8-5, over Issac Clauson (Joliet C) 6-4,  (TF 5:31 (20-4)

7th: Edgar Gomez (Round Lake) 13-7, over Coln Koehl (Grayslake C) 3-8,  (D 6-1)
190 

1st: Nico Ronchetti (Joliet C) 6-1, over Paul Peradotti (Naperville C) 7-1,  (MD 11-1)

3rd: Jude Ossian (Moline) 11-2, over Owen Dewey (Prospect) 1-3,  (F 0:53)

5th: Jack Treutelaar (Libertyville) 10-7, over Cooper Cramer (New Trier) 5-6,  (F 3:39)

7th: Emmanuel Leal (Addison Trail) 8-7, over Giovanni Marino (Hampshire) 7-5,  (D 4-0)
215

1st: Mikey Grazzini (York) 4-0, over Brody Lidbury (McHenry) 9-3, . (F 3:12)

3rd: Jackson Pierce (York) 4-2, over Jacob Syc (Libertyville) 2-2,  (F 5:02)

5th: Connor Curran (Prospect) 5-1, over Alijah Martin (Moline) 4-7,  (F 3:05)

7th: Aiden Bishop (Joliet C) 5-5, over Nithilan Gandi (Naperville C) 6-6,  (MD 13-1)
285

1st: William Cole (Round Lake) 16-1, over William Erbeck (Naperville C) 7-1,  (D 5-3)

3rd: Erich Walldorf (Libertyville) 8-3, over Cristian Diaz (York) 1-2,  (MD 16-4)

5th: Knox Homola (Hampshire) 8-4, over James Brouilette (Prospect) 8-8,  (F 2:52)

7th: Daniel Dalach (Joliet C) 4-6, over Kavon Grant (Chicago (Noble/UIC) 2-2,  (For.)

By Chris Walker – For The IWCOA

The 41st annual Plano Reaper Classic was truly a classic in 2024.

A two-time defending champion lost in his bid for a third title in his junior year.

There were a pair of state qualifiers who won titles in this tournament last year, but fell short.

A couple of freshmen made hour-plus bus drives to shine in their Plano Reaper Classic debuts, taking home titles.

Also a sophomore had a much shorter trip down Route 34 to make his classic debut. While he didn’t compete in it last year, his brother did and also won it. They’ve been the lone champions from their school for the past two years.

There was a high-level athlete who hadn’t wrestled yet this high school season prior to the tournament, but walked away as champion.

Another individual who won his 100th match the previous Saturday and finished his week with a championship.

There were six competitors who placed last year who climbed to the top of the podium to be  crowned champions.

And a heavyweight who was taken down hard on the mat that left him nearly motionless for a few minutes. He not only got back up, but knocked out another wrestler’s bid for a third-straight title at 285.

Also, the lone wrestler from his school to win a title, who went 0-2 last year at this tournament. On Saturday, he led his team to the championship, pinning his three opponents as Yorkville Christian won the title with 233 points, the runner-up host Reapers had 159 while Princeton was third with 131 points. 

This was the third time in four years that coach Mike Vester’s Mustangs won the Reaper title. They took first place in 2021 and 2022 before finishing second to Dixon last season.

The battle for fourth place was a good one between Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher (125.5), Hoopeston Area/Milford (124.5) and Sandwich (124).

Without a doubt, there was a lot of exciting action and interesting results at this year’s tournament.

“The old saying was if you placed at the Reaper Classic you were going to place downstate,” Plano coach Dwayne Love said. “It was tough and you did see a lot of tough competition. And there was a lot of good wrestling here today. Some state place finishers got beat here today and we had teams from all over and up to Chicago to up north to Glenbard South. We like to get more teams in here because we like that high level of competition for our kids.”

Yorkville Christian won its second-straight tournament. After going to Joliet to win the McLaughlin Classic at Joliet Central on December 7, the Mustangs took the much shorter trip to Plano on Friday and Saturday to win there.

Mustangs junior Jackson Allen had a dominant performance, finishing with a pin in 4:42 against De La Salle Institute senior Terrelle Jackson in the 190-pound final.

While he was the only champion from his school, the Mustangs were solid collectively throughout the tournament despite going 1-3 in championship matches and splitting their six matches for third place. 

Aiden Larsen (120), Nico Harris (132) and Robby Nelson (157) took second, Ryan Alaimo (126), Tyler Gleason (175) and Garrett Tunnell (285) won third-place matches, Davin Torza (106), Christian Sandoval (113) and Isaac Gray (165) took fourth and Adrian Wadas-Luis (138) placed sixth. Alaimo had the most pins in the least amount of time in the tourney with four in 6:35.

“We had some guys who did well and had some other matches where we expected more championships,” Vester said. “So we got some things we’ve got to work on, but it was a great team effort again and that’s the running theme all year – team – team – team – but we’ve got some things we’ve got to clean up.”

There were nine schools who walked out of Plano’s gym with a champion. It’s the same gym that Love competed in himself during the inaugural Plano Reaper Classic over 40 years ago. But no school had more champions than the Reapers, which is big news for the program, but not totally surprising either.

Plano had three champions, De La Salle Institute, Princeton and Hoopeston Area/Milford each had two and Dixon, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher, Kaneland, Sandwich and Yorkville Christian had one apiece.

“This is a group that works hard,” Love said. “They hold each accountable for everything they do and they are a fun group. They’ve been working together for the last four years to get to this point, wrestling in summer, off-season wrestling, doing everything together.”

Plano senior Richie Amakiri won a 23-12 major decision in the 215 finals over Ottawa Marquette sophomore Alex Schaefer. Last year, Amakiri took second place.

“We decided to put in the work and we worked in the summer doing off-season and doing preseason work and it brought us up to this point,” Amakiri said. “It means a lot because when we started out no one knew who Plano was.”

While the match had more of a football-score feel to it, there was also a reason for those eye-popping digits.

“Before the match, coach was telling me to score points, score points, score points and not worry about anything else,” Amakiri said. “So that was what I did, score points. And then when I started losing my confidence, my coach talked to me after the second period and said don’t let the throw discourage you and I got into my head and kept on wrestling my match.”

Plano senior Caidan Ronning defended his title at the Reaper, pinning Yorkville Christian senior Robby Nelson in 2:56 in the 157 title match.. Last year, Ronning became Plano’s first champion since 2016. This year, he had a mark on his back after that big win the previous December. Nelson had won at 157 at Plano a year ago.

“It’s a lot more nerve-wracking (after winning last year), because I feel I had a lot more to lose,” Ronning said. “But I just think I used that to motivate me. I’ve gotten a lot better at not letting the stress take over. I think the mental game was not there for me last year, especially at state I got in my head and let the long waits get to me and didn’t perform like I wanted to, so in the offseason I put in a lot of work.”

Antoine Gilford took fourth place at 138 last year at  the Reaper. Wrestling at 150 this weekend, the senior was destined for a great final tournament at home and he won an 8-4 decision over Glenbard South junior Jin Tai in the title match

“Coming into this year I just knew that I had to do something important,” Gilford said. “I knew I had the potential and the strength and I worked hard enough to be able to get somewhere in this tournament. Freshman year and sophomore year didn’t go my way, I didn’t place. But junior year I came home with fourth place and knew this year with the work I put in during the offseason I should be able to take it home.”

Recognizing Tai’s strength, Gilford knew he had to get in his shots.

“I knew when I got into my ties he was a strong person,” Gilford said. “I knew his defense was going to be there so getting to my shots was really important. Being able to control him with my ties and everything, getting those important takedowns is what I think I needed, especially going into the third period, I knew I had to control the match from there on.”

The Reapers were well represented at the end of Saturday with seven wrestlers involved in place matches. Shane Downs (113) took second place while Trevion Gilford (144),  Luis Ballesteros (175) and Tyler Mast (285) each took fourth place.

“We have 10 to 12 seniors this year, I think, and we’ve all been putting in the work since freshman year,” Ronning said. “We realize if we put in the work, we can get it and we’re showing these freshmen that how hard we work is how hard we want them to work. We’re 8-1 in duals and our only loss was to Richmond-Burton and we only lost by two points. We’re all out there working hard every day and just want to keep winning and want to go down to team state.”

These Reapers are invested in each other and it’s provided a great start to the season.

“There’s that trust between each and every teammate here,” Antoine Gilford said. “You know the person next to you is going to be able to encourage you and pick you up and it’s a good feeling.”

This weekend marked the return of De La Salle Institute junior Jeremiah Lawrence.

“I’m just coming back from a little injury I had and the coaches wanted me to sit out and make sure I was ready to go,” Lawrence said. “Last year, and the year before that, I got third freshman year and second last year so I came back here with a chip on my shoulder and wanted to bring that championship home.”

Lawrence fell behind Larsen in the 120 championship match, jumped ahead 3-1 and held on for the 3-2 victory. He was named lower weight outstanding wrestler of the tournament and was one of two champions for the Meteors, who are coached by Jason Davidson.

“I knew I had to go score if I wanted to win so I couldn’t hold,” Lawrence said. “So when he shot in I had to get to my attack. He tried to stalemate it out, but I didn’t want that. I wanted the win.”

Sidelined to open the season, Lawrence worked to ensure he didn’t lose his focus while patiently waiting to return.

“You just got to work hard during that time you’re out and I had to think, and I wanted to win,” he said. “That’s all I want to do is just win. So when I came back that’s why there are no excuses. If I’ve been out for a month I’ve got to go out and win.”

Gripping a stocking cap while speaking after his final victory, Lawrence acknowledged that losing friend and classmate Delilah Lincoln hurts, but competing for her has helped him persevere through such a tragedy. Lincoln died after suffering a severe asthma attack in her sleep in October 2023.

“She was a classmate and friend of mine who played softball,” he said. “I have people in my life like Delilah, who this hat is for, who I win for, like my family. Wrestling is something I’ve been doing for a long time and I enjoy it, and not just only the wrestling aspect but through the people around me – my team, my family, my coaches.”

Kaneland senior Alex Gochis was another impressive wrestler who had quite the finish to a memorable week. He recorded four straight technical fall victories for the 138 title, defeating East Aurora’s Joshue Delgado in the finals, after picking up his 100th career win the previous Saturday. He went 43-7 last year.

His brother Apollo, a junior, also reached the title mat at 175, where he lost to Hoopeston Area/Milford’s Angel Zamora. Their sister, Angelina, a sophomore, won the IHSA at 105 last season and recently received the Outstanding Wrestling Award when she was the lone Illinois competitor to win a title at the Girls Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa.

While it wasn’t the first time competing for Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Landen Lage (126) and Princeton’s Kane Dauber (132), the two are just freshmen and still getting accustomed to being a part of a high school team. They showed that they should be key contributors for the next few years as both earned titles.

Lage improved to 11-0 with a 4-0 decision over Hoopeston Area/Milford  junior Aiden Bell in the 126 title match.

“As a freshman a lot of people are not expecting me to kind of come out there and kind of bring it,” Lage said. “But I think my tech and my pace and me being very technical with my moves, being very strategic, helps me win because high school guys are a whole lot stronger and faster than me.”

While Lage is coming off a championship season as an eighth grader, having won the 112-pound championship in the IESA Class A state championship, he’s only been back wrestling for the past few years. After getting introduced to wrestling at the age of four, Lage caught on quickly,

“But then I kind of pushed myself too hard so then I quit,” he said. “I got back into it in my sixth grade year and just been training ever since. It’s a lifestyle.”

He went 45-0 last year in IESA competition. He’s pushing for similar success this year and throughout his high school years.

A significant injury a few years ago humbled the teen.

“I broke my leg in about two different places in the tibia alone and I got really chunky,” he said. “I wasn’t being made fun of at school, but I wasn’t the old person everyone knew me for. I wasn’t the wrestler any more. I wanted to play another sport and wanted to get into something I could love and have a passion for and finally I was like ‘Dad, let’s do this one more time,’ and I’ve just been going for it ever since.”

During his time away from wrestling, Lage found success playing football, but it didn’t feel right.

“Football coaches were pretty mad when I quit, but I didn’t have a passion for football anymore,” he said. “Wrestling is my thing. I love it with my heart. If there is anything I want to do in this world, it’s wrestling. You only live once, so after you find your purpose you’ve got to go for it,” he said. “You got to make your impact on the world. Everybody is here for reason.”

Lage opened with a win by fall over and followed with a hard-fought 4-2 decision over Yorkville Christian’s Alaimo before a victory by tech fall over Sandwich’s Jakob Gruca in the semis.

Dauber, one of two title winners and three finalists for third-place Princeton, which is coached by 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Steve Amy, won by fall in less than a minute in his first two matches. He earned a win by technical fall over Ottawa Marquette’s Beau Thompson in the semifinal before winning a 13-3 major decision against Yorkville Christian’ Harris.

“My practice partners and everybody got me to this level over the two months that we’ve wrestled,” Dauber said. They just got me to where I’m at and I’m thankful for that and my coach has been putting in a lot of time in the summer and the pre-season to be there for me.”

Dauber likes to keep things simple while making shared time on the mat anything but that for his opponents.

“I just go out there and wrestle and what I get out is what I get,” he said. “I go out and wrestle my best and have two good guys in my corner supporting me at all times and my family, and that really helps you through the finals.”

Casey Etheridge (165) also won a title for Princeton. The junior had a pair of pins and a major decision before winning 2-1 in a tiebreaker against Ottawa Marquette’s Reily Leifheit

“It’s just an all-around great team with great coaches,” Dauber said. “Everybody is putting in the time and effort at practice and everyone is doing their part for the Princeton wrestling team.”

Hoopeston Area/Milford co-op, which is coached by Chris Kelnhofer, had two champions, Charlie Flores (106) and Angel Zamora (175), and they remain undefeated on the season, improving to 9-0 each en route to their titles.

Zamora defended his title, needing just eight seconds to pin Kaneland’s Apollo Gochis. Last year, Zamora’s opponent went down with an injury and couldn’t wrestle. So in about the time it takes to tie your shoes, he’s won two titles.

“The offseason has paid off for all of us,” Zamora said. “We came into our wrestling room for work when we didn’t have to and some of us were doing offseason training with Patton Trained Wrestling.”

Flores was extra motivated after placing fourth last year at Plano. He earned a 11-4 decision against Dixon’s Riley Paredes to become a champion.

“It pushed me to go harder and I’ve always wanted to win a bracket from here,” Flores said. “First period, I knew I had to take him down and put him to his back. There was a tough third period. I was up, got put on my back but scrambled out of it and came out on top.”

Sandwich sophomore Cooper Corder didn’t compete in the Reaper Classic as a freshman. In his only other tournament appearance this season, Corder took fourth place at 138 at the 33rd Moore-Prettyman Wrestling Invitational on Nov. 30.

“There were a lot of super kids at Barrington that opened my eyes and got me ready for this season,” Corder said. “They showed me I’ve got a lot of work to do if I want to get to the top of the podium this year.”

Corder found a familiar face in the finals in Princeton’s Ace Christiansen, beating the senior 10-4, to win the 144 title.

Corder beat Christiansen 7-6, in the Class 1A Sandwich Regional final last year and beat him again 5-2, at the Class 1A Byron Sectional. Christiansen avenged those losses, though, in the Class 1A third place match, winning 5-4 on an ultimate tiebreaker.

“He’s really good and shows me what I need to work on,” Corder said. “And then today I knew he had (won) the last one so I know in his head he’s thinking ‘I’m there,’ but really I thought there was no chance that I was going to lose today so I went out there and do what I do best and came out and did it. I think it was a good match.”

Corder committed his summer to training so that he would see such success.

“I went to a lot of big tournaments, went to Fargo and all those high-end tournaments,” he said. “I’m just continuing to get better, hoping to get on the podium. I just did a lot of work and even (on Saturday) I was seeing my shots connecting and getting better through movement and my defense is a lot better. I think a big side of it is my mental (frame of mind). Last year as a freshman I had nothing to lose going out there and wrestling seniors. Now as a sophomore with more seasoning I’m not nervous in these tournaments. I’m happy to compete.”

Those that left before the final weight classes were decided missed out on De La Salle senior David McCarthy’s stunning victory over St. Francis junior Jayden Torres at 285.

Torres was looking to win his third straight title while McCarthy was looking down at the mat early after getting slammed down hard in the first period. He remained down for a few minutes but simply would not give up as he finally got back on his feet.

“I was down and it really hurt at the time, but I couldn’t give up on coach again like I did last year in state,” McCarthy said. “That really hurt,. So I got back up and I’m going to go ice it when I get back home. I’m going to keep pushing, Coaches push me every day to get faster, to lose more weight. They’re pushing me to be better and if I could get in my best condition I could win a state title.”

Dixon’s Jack Ragan (113) kept the Reapers from having a fourth champion. Ragan, who finished third at 106 last year, lost 4-1 in the semifinals to Lawrence from De La Salle.

After opening with two byes, Ragan pinned Sandwich’s Dom Urbanski in the semifinal before outscoring Plano’s Downs 8-6 on the title mat.

Zamora led all champions with the most team points with 29.5 while Dauber ranked second with 28.5 and Allen, Gochis and Ronning tied for third place with 28 points. Etheridge collected 27, Flores and Lawrence had 26 each, Lage scored 25.5 points and Amakiri and Corder had 25 team points. Yorkville Christian’s Alaimo had the most pins in the least amount of time in the tourney with four in 6:35 and Alex Gochis collected the most total match points with 77.

Plano Reaper Classic place matches

106

1st Place Match

Charlie Flores (Hoopeston Area/Milford co-op) 9-0, Jr. over Riley Paredes (Dixon) 9-2, So. (Dec 11-4)

3rd Place Match

Aden Spinelli (Amboy/Ashton-Franklin Center/Lamoille/Ohio co-op) 5-1, Fr. over Davin Torza (Yorkville Christian) 4-2, Fr. (Fall 1:50)

5th Place Match

Christian Sebastian (East Aurora) 6-4, Fr. over Brayden Bickett (Princeton) 4-5, Fr. (Fall 3:29)

113

1st Place Match

Jack Ragan (Dixon) 13-1, So. over Shane Downs (Plano) 7-4, Jr. (Dec 8-6)

3rd Place Match

Justin Forbes (De La Salle Institute) 3-1, Fr. over Christian Sandoval (Yorkville Christian) 6-7, Jr. (Dec 22-17)

5th Place Match

Dom Urbanski (Sandwich) 6-9, Fr. over Shea Conner (Ottawa Marquette) 1-3, So. (Fall 1:06)

120

1st Place Match

Jeremiah Lawrence (De La Salle Institute) 3-0, Jr. over Aiden Larsen (Yorkville Christian) 12-3, Sr. (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Koby Clark (Ottawa Marquette) 6-1, So. over Doolan Long (Dixon) 11-3, Fr. (Dec 8-5)

5th Place Match

Ty Florschuetz (Amboy) 5-3, So. over Gavin Stevenson (Mendota) 8-7, So. (Fall 4:55)

126

1st Place Match

Landen Lage (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher co-op) 11-0, Fr. over Aiden Bell (Hoopeston Area/Milford) 9-1, Jr. (Dec 4-0)

3rd Place Match

Ryan Alaimo (Yorkville Christian) 14-5, So. over Kaydin Gibson (Princeton) 5-2, Sr. (TF-1.5 3:48 (20-2))

5th Place Match

Chace Tankson (Marian Catholic) 5-4 over Jakob Gruca (Sandwich) 12-9, Sr. (TF-1.5 3:07 (21-5))

132

1st Place Match

Kane Dauber (Princeton) 8-0, Fr. over Nico Harris (Yorkville Christian) 11-5, Sr. (MD 13-3)

3rd Place Match

Beau Thompson (Ottawa Marquette) 7-1, So. over Colten Stone (Sandwich) 6-6, So. (Fall 2:50)

5th Place Match

Chase Montavon (Amboy co-op) 4-2, Jr. over Melvin Cannon (De La Salle Institute) 3-3, Sr. (Fall 3:25)

138

1st Place Match

Alex Gochis (Kaneland) 4-0, Sr. over Joshue Delgado (East Aurora) 4-5, Fr. (TF-1.5 2:55 (20-4))

3rd Place Match

Nolan Lowe (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 10-1, So. over Diego Myers (Glenbard South) 5-6, Sr. (Fall 3:08)

5th Place Match

Jaxson Blanchard (Sandwich) 15-4, Fr. over Adrian Wadas-Luis (Yorkville Christian) 11-4, Jr. (Dec 15-10)

144

1st Place Match

Cooper Corder (Sandwich) 16-2, So. over Ace Christiansen (Princeton) 6-1, Sr. (Dec 10-4)

3rd Place Match

Caiden Heath (Amboy co-op) 7-1, So. over Trevion Gilford (Plano) 10-3, Sr. (MD 16-5)

5th Place Match

Preston Richards (Dixon) 12-3, Fr. over Ethan Lowe (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 7-3, Jr. (Fall 4:44)

150

1st Place Match

Antoine Gilford (Plano) 12-0, Sr. over Jin Tai (Glenbard South) 7-2, Jr. (Dec 8-4)

3rd Place Match

Hudson Babb (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 10-2, So. over Chase Siguenza (St. Francis) 8-4, So. (TF-1.5 4:09 (20-4))

5th Place Match

Jack Gruber (Kaneland) 3-2, Jr. over Brysen Manley (Ottawa Marquette) 4-5, So. (Dec 15-9)

157

1st Place Match

Caidan Ronning (Plano) 11-0, Sr. over Robby Nelson (Yorkville Christian) 13-3, Sr. (Fall 2:56)

3rd Place Match

Jayden Weidman (Dixon) 14-2, Sr. over Corbin Ragle (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 6-3, Sr. (TF-1.5 2:00 (15-0))

5th Place Match

Joshua Kotalik (Sandwich) 11-10, Fr. over Lucas Marcoux (Metea Valley) 3-3, So. (Dec 7-1)

165

1st Place Match

Casey Etheridge (Princeton) 8-0, Jr. over Reily Leifheit (Ottawa Marquette) 6-1, So. (TB-1 2-1)

3rd Place Match

Joey Baranski (Marian Catholic) 10-2, Sr. over Isaac Gray (Yorkville Christian) 14-5, Sr. (Dec 7-5)

5th Place Match

Ayden Larkin (Hoopeston Area/Milford) 9-2, Sr. over Cooper Miller (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 8-4, So. (Fall 0:47)

175

1st Place Match

Angel Zamora (Hoopeston Area/Milford) 9-0, Sr. over Apollo Gochis (Kaneland) 3-1, Jr. (Fall 0:08)

3rd Place Match

Tyler Gleason (Yorkville Christian) 14-5, Jr. over Luis Ballesteros (Plano) 11-2, Sr. (Dec 8-3)

5th Place Match

Marquis Mays (De La Salle Institute) 4-2, Sr. over Reid Sebahar (Glenbard South) 8-6, Sr. (Fall 1:49)

190

1st Place Match

Jackson Allen (Yorkville Christian) 14-2, Jr. over Terrelle Jackson (De La Salle Institute) 2-1, Sr. (Fall 4:42)

3rd Place Match

Jaxon Wright (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher) 11-1, Jr. over Kaden Clevenger (Sandwich) 14-6, Jr. (Fall 4:30)

5th Place Match

Earl Kelnhofer (Hoopeston Area/Milford) 7-3, So. over Seth Shaffer (Dixon) 8-10, So. (Fall 3:31)

215

1st Place Match

Richie Amakiri (Plano) 11-0, Sr. over Alex Schaefer (Ottawa Marquette) 6-1, So. (MD 23-12)

3rd Place Match

Devon Blanchard (Sandwich) 15-4, Sr. over Ian Morris (Princeton) 4-2, Sr. (Fall 1:20)

5th Place Match

Evan Flanagan (Amboy co-op) 5-2, So. over Danny Langner (Glenbard South) 7-4, Jr. (Fall 4:45)

285

1st Place Match

David McCarthy (De La Salle Institute) 3-0, Sr. over Jaylen Torres (St. Francis) 6-1, Jr. (Dec 6-1)

3rd Place Match

Garrett Tunnell (Yorkville Christian) 14-3, Sr. over Tyler Mast (Plano) 4-2, Sr. (Fall 4:21)

5th Place Match

Dylan Bopes (Dixon) 8-5, Jr. over Angil Serrano (Mendota) 2-3, Sr. (Dec 8-4)

Team scores

1. Yorkville Christian 233, 2. Plano 159, 3. Princeton 131, 4. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher 125.5, 5. Hoopeston Area/Milford 124.5, 6. Sandwich 124, 7. Dixon 116.5, 8. De La Salle Institute 115, 9. Ottawa Marquette 106.5, 10. Amboy/Ashton-Franklin Center/LaMoille/Ohio 97.5, 11. Glenbard South 83.5, 12. Kaneland 74, 13. East Aurora 65.5, 14. St. Francis 43.5, 15. Marian Catholic 37, 16. Mendota 36, 17. Metea Valley 25.5, 18. Marmion Academy 11, 19. Saint Viator 6, 20. St. Edward 3.

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

EAST AURORA GIRLS INVITE

This tournament turned into a battle between crosstown and league rivals West Aurora and East Aurora with the Blackhawks from West Aurora taking home the hardware in 218-183 win when the final contest of the day was whistled over.

“Overall, it was a great tournament, and we were all very proud of our girls for the way they competed against some really tough opponents,” said Blackhawks assistant, Kayla Krieger.

The tourney champs received championship efforts from Kameyah Young (110), Aiyanah Sylvester (125) and Victoria Stackowicz at 285, as well as four top 4 medal winners, which included Ruby Bolanos-Carbajal, who finished second at 105.

“(Ruby) had a great day of wrestling – she has been working incredibly hard as a freshman, and we were happy with her second place finish.”

“I was really pleased with how we competed – we’ve grown as a team a lot in the first month of the season, and I believe we can continue to have success as the season progresses – and hopefully start to peak at the end of January and into February,” said East Aurora head coach Ryan Mick.

1st place: West Aurora (218.0 points)

As mentioned beforehand: Kameyah Young, Aiyanah Sylvester and Victoria Stackowicz made their way to the top of the podium.

“We were proud of the fact that those three girls continue to bring to the mat what we talk about in the room all week, and thrilled with their composure and ability to remain focused during three periods of wrestling,” said Krieger.

Melissa Melgar (100) and Lailonie Molina (120) would each claim third place medals while Diana Llanos (115) placed fourth. The Blackhawks also got fifths from Mia Orozco (130), Giselle Marin-Carrasco (140), and Brooklyn Czenk (190) and sixths from Charlotte Weiles (135) and Reyna Equivel (170).

The Blackhawks will begin to prepare for the first ever dual-team state tournament on December 28 at host Hoffman Estates.

2nd place: East Aurora (183.0 points)

The host Tomcats would celebrate Alyssa Galarza’s title at 145, and a second place trophy from Joselyn Llanos (100) and Amani Williams (145) in addition to a pair of third place medals from Ruby Becerra (130) and teammate Lupita Garcia at 135.

“Alyssa has been improving with each week – she’s really a 40-pounder but she is a very tough, competitive girl who is never afraid of a challenge, and is always willing to do what is best for her team,” said coach Ryan Mick.

The Tomcats head coach liked what he saw from freshman Joselyn Llanos, who says her confidence continues to grow, and that she is just a sponge in the room.

Lilli Ortiz (235) and Amani Williams (145) both were recent champions at the Minooka JV tournament, and each did well here on their home mats.

“Lilli continues to learn from her mistakes, while Amani, who began last year as our manager – has been a pleasant surprise for us this season,” said Mick.

3rd place: Oswego (152.0 points)

Oswego was unable to secure an individual title, but with the help of seconds from Harmony Evans (130) and Mak Hill (155), and third place contributions from Joslynn Sheets (145) and Kiyah Chavez at 155, the Panthers were able to distance themselves far enough way (152.0-113.0) from fourth-place Lyons Township.

Janiah Murray (Yorkville), Ruby Becerra (East Aurora) and Alketa Picari of Metea Valley all recorded a tourney high five pins, with Murray and Danely Villagomez from Riverside-Brookfield tying for the fastest pin on the day at 0:13 seconds.

The South Elgin duo of: Azucera Rodriguez and Allison Garbacz, along with Alyssa Galarza (East Aurora) all had a tourney high 30 team points collected.

Others earning championship medals were: Analiese Garrison (Yorkville, 100), Ashley Hammond (Larkin, 105), Azucena Rodriguez (South Elgin, 115), Amelia Nidelea-Polanin (Hampshire, 120), Catalina Pacheco (Seneca, 130), Sofia Turek (Lyons Township, 135), Quinn Janssens (Oswego East, 140), Allison Garbacz (South Elgin, 155), Anneliese Tavira (Hampshire, 170), and Jadelin Caballero (Larkin, 190).

Final Team Scores: West Aurora 218.0, East Aurora 183.0. Oswego 152.0, Lyons Township 113.0, Larkin 108.0, Oswego East, South Elgin 105.0 each, Yorkville 96.0, Seneca 83.0, Metea Valley 67.0, Hampshire 60.5, Hinsdale Central 59.5, Riverside-Brookfield 54.0, Antioch 51.0, Plainfield North 27.5, Buffalo Grove 16.0.
East Aurora Girls Invite place matches

Varsity – 100

1st Place Match

Analiese Garretson (Yorkville) won by decision over Joselyn Llanos (East Aurora) (Dec 8-2)

3rd Place Match

Melissa Melgar (West Aurora) won by major decision over Susan Cruz (Larkin) (Maj 17-7)

5th Place Match

Savannah Martell-Quinones (Oswego) won by fall over Remy Heins (Antioch) (Fall 0:28)

Varsity – 105

1st Place Match

Ashley Hammond (Larkin) won by major decision over Ruby Bolanos-Carbajal (West Aurora) (Maj 13-0)

3rd Place Match

Jhania Wickert-Haris (Lyons Township) won by fall over Anni Romo (South Elgin) (Fall 4:57)

5th Place Match

Vanessa Tesillos (East Aurora) won by fall over Brook Ruffner (Antioch) (Fall 1:01)

Varsity – 110

1st Place Match

Kameyah Young (West Aurora) won by major decision over Avi Gonzalez (Lyons Township) (Maj 12-2)

3rd Place Match

Monserrat Alvarez (South Elgin) won by fall over Mikaela Busse (Oswego) (Fall 1:10)

5th Place Match

Itzel Villa (East Aurora) won by fall over Isabella Hernandez (South Elgin) (Fall 1:41)

Varsity – 115

1st Place Match

Azucena Rodriguez (South Elgin) won by fall over Alexandra Avila (Larkin) (Fall 3:02)

3rd Place Match

Ashley Uhler (Lyons Township) won by decision over Diana Llanos (West Aurora) (Dec 15-14)

5th Place Match

Ella Worlds (Oswego East) won by fall over Anayah Dabney (Oswego) (Fall 2:34)

Varsity – 120

1st Place Match

Amelia Nidelea-Polanin (Hampshire) won by fall over Janiya Moore (Metea Valley) (Fall 5:24)

3rd Place Match

Lailonie Molina (West Aurora) won by fall over Aaliyah Roldan (Oswego) (Fall 3:51)

5th Place Match

Haven Nicolaides (Seneca) won by fall over Payton Lustrup (Oswego East) (Fall 2:19)

Varsity – 125

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Aiyanah Sylvester (West Aurora) won by fall over Marija Neskovic (Hinsdale Central) (Fall 0:45)

3rd Place Match

Zoe Connelly (Lyons Township) won by fall over Mia Nevarez (Oswego East) (Fall 3:41)

5th Place Match

Ayelen Higuera (East Aurora) won by fall over Lilly Rademacher (Seneca) (Fall 3:09)

Varsity – 130

1st Place Match

Catalina Pacheco (Seneca) won by fall over Harmony Evans (Oswego) (Fall 2:34)

3rd Place Match

Ruby Becerra (East Aurora) won by fall over Lauren Lauer (Oswego East) (Fall 1:53)

5th Place Match

Mia Orozco (West Aurora) won by fall over Angelica Solis (Riverside-Brookfield) (Fall 0:33)

Varsity – 135

1st Place Match

Sofia Turek (Lyons Township) won by fall over Rylee Coy (Yorkville) (Fall 2:53)

3rd Place Match

Lupita Garcia (East Aurora) won by fall over Tennille Johnson (Oswego) (Fall 1:28)

5th Place Match

Haiden Lavarier (Seneca) won by fall over Charlotte Weiles (West Aurora) (Fall 4:56)

Varsity – 140

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Quinn Janssens (Oswego East) won by fall over Vicki Rodnikova (Plainfield North) (Fall 3:01)

3rd Place Match

Alketa Picari (Metea Valley) won by fall over Sammie Greisen (Seneca) (Fall 3:11)

5th Place Match

Giselle Marin-Carrasco (West Aurora) won by fall over Sasha Johnson (Antioch) (Fall 0:57)

Varsity – 145

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Alyssa Galarza (East Aurora) won by injury default over Amani Williams (East Aurora) (Inj. 0:00)

3rd Place Match

Joslynn Sheets (Oswego) won by fall over Dariia Dzhumasheva (Metea Valley) (Fall 1:15)

5th Place Match

Isabella Marcomb (Antioch) won by fall over Angeles Ponce (Oswego) (Fall 1:10)

Varsity – 155

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Allison Garbacz (South Elgin) won by fall over Mak Hill (Oswego) (Fall 5:52)

3rd Place Match

Kiyah Chavez (Oswego) won by fall over Alondra Tejeda (Buffalo Grove) (Fall 1:28)

5th Place Match

Alexa Najera (Larkin) won by medical forfeit over Danely Villagomez (Riverside-Brookfield) (MFF

Varsity – 170

1st Place Match

Anneliese Tavira (Hampshire) won by fall over Jessica Stover (Oswego East) (Fall 1:09)

3rd Place Match

Diana Garcia (Riverside-Brookfield) won by fall over Yoheadi Contreras (East Aurora) (Fall 1:13)

5th Place Match

Rikka Ludvigson (Oswego) won by fall over Reyna Equivel (West Aurora) (Fall 1:10)

Varsity – 190

1st Place Match

Jadelin Caballero (Larkin) won in tie breaker over Chloe Black (Hinsdale Central) (TB-1 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Janiah Murray (Yorkville) won by fall over Josie Blau (Antioch) (Fall 0:43)

5th Place Match

Brooklyn Czenk (West Aurora) won by fall over Helena Torres (Oswego) (Fall 1:27)

Varsity – 235

1st Place Match

Victoria Stackowicz (West Aurora) won by fall over Lilli Ortiz (East Aurora) (Fall 4:54)

3rd Place Match

Lesley Castillo (Riverside-Brookfield) won by forfeit over Clara Rogers (Hinsdale Central) (FF)

5th Place Match

Anastasia Norwood (Yorkville) won by medical forfeit over Kimberly Reyes (Larkin) (MFF)

MAINE EAST’S EMILIANO HERNANDEZ GIRLS OPEN

The fourth annual Emiliano Hernandez Girls Open at host Maine East would see FVC power Huntley lift the championship trophy at this 22-team affair.

“We had a great weekend, it felt great to win some hardware,” began Huntley head coach Gannon Kosowski.

“We’ve had a tough schedule thus far with tournaments at Minooka, then the Dan Gable to help prepare us for this tournament, so it was great to see Aubrie Rohrbacher (130) win easily, and Grecia Garcia (135) win her first tournament title ever to validate the growth she’s made since last year.”

West Chicago (124.0) was runner-up, New Trier (114.5) was third with Burlington Central edging Conant 95.0-94.5 to claim fourth-place honors.

1st place: Huntley 159.0 (points)

The Red Raiders received championship efforts from Aubrie Rohrbacher (130, 15-2) and Grecia Garcia (135, 10-3) plus a quartet of third place medals from: Nariah Adams (140), Roya Shayestehjah (155), Natalie Aguirre (170) and Sara Willis at 285. Rohrbacher would pin all of her rivals in the first period en route to her title.

2nd place: West Chicago (124.0)

West Chicago junior Brissia Bucio (8-0) earned an individual title at 105, while teammate Sophia Newell (110) finished second and Mackensie Szajda was third at 120.

3rd place: New Trier (114.5)

The Trevians duo of: Lola Bianco (110, 11-3), Jillian Giller (140, 14-1) captured individual titles on this day. Giller was a regional and sectional champion last season, and state qualifier with a 33-6 record. Sunny Aitzemkour (100) was third at 100 pounds.

Others earning championship medals were: Riley Kongkaeow (Round Lake, 100, 16-0), 

Harlee Hiller (Loyola Academy, 115, 7-1), Brithany Mondragon (Addison Trail, 120, 11-1), Gianna Mezzano (Ridgewood, 125, 11-2), Kennedy Murray (Evanston, 145, 12-1), 

Camilla Martinez-Gonzalez (Rickover Naval Academy, 155, 9-0), Ryann Miller (Burlington Central, 170, 3-0), Danai Kostarelou (Maine South, 190, 5-2), Jasmine Mejia (Rickover Naval Academy, 235, 11-1).

Kongkaeow is a two-time state qualifier, Hiller a three-time state qualifier with a state title in 2023 at 105 pounds, while Mejia claimed a fifth place state medal last year at 235.

Final Team Scores: Huntley 159.0, West Chicago 124.0, New Trier 114.5, Burlington Central 95.0, Conant 94.5, Elgin 94.0, Harvard 88.0, Round Lake 86.5, Rickover Naval Academy 78.0. Addison Trail 77.0, Evanston 75.0, Elk Grove 66.0, Chicago Lane 65.0, Maine South 61.0, Loyola Academy 52.5, Niles West, Ridgewood 51.0 each, Vernon Hills 45.0, Maine West 42.0, Maine East 38.0, Taft 36.0, Waukegan 3.0.

Mejoe Hernandez tournament results:

100

1st Place Match

Riley Kongkaeow (Round Lake) 16-0, Jr. over Sunny Aitzemkour (New Trier) 6-3, So. (Fall 3:32)

3rd Place Match

Linna Vo (Elk Grove) 6-1, So. over Karyme Estrada (Maine East) 4-4, Fr. (Fall 3:15)

5th Place Match

Lourdes Hernandez (Elgin) 4-1, Sr. over Evelyn Torres (Maine East) 8-4, Fr. (Fall 1:26)

105

1st Place Match

Brissia Bucio (West Chicago) 8-0, Jr. over Sophia Guerrero (Lane Tech) 9-4, Jr. (Fall 1:02)

3rd Place Match

Mali Patino (Elgin) 5-2, Sr. over Alexa Herrera (Harvard) 6-5, Jr. (Fall 2:30)

5th Place Match

Valeria Gonzalez (Round Lake) 4-1, Jr. over Isabella Castro (New Trier) 5-6, So. (Dec 5-0)

110

1st Place Match

Lola Bianco (New Trier) 11-3, Sr. over Sophia Newell (West Chicago) 7-3, Sr. (Fall 0:42)

3rd Place Match

Hanna Lee (Vernon Hills) 11-4, Jr. over Nour Al Radi (Niles West) 5-4, So. (Fall 0:14)

5th Place Match

Samantha Albaugh (Evanston Township) 5-4, So. over Andrea Reyes (Maine East) 8-5, Fr. (TF-1.5 0:00 (18-3))

115

1st Place Match

Harlee Hiller (Loyola Academy) 7-1, Sr. over Ireland McCain (Round Lake) 12-3, Sr. (Fall 1:50)

3rd Place Match

Zoe Pomeranets (Niles West) 8-2, Jr. over Ruby Vences (Burlington Central) 10-4, Sr. (Fall 1:10)

5th Place Match

Donna Garcia (Huntley) 9-7, Fr. over Giada Reising (Harvard) 7-6, Fr. (Dec 6-0)

120

1st Place Match

Brithany Mondragon (Addison Trail) 11-1, Jr. over Victoria Macias (Burlington Central) 11-2, Sr. (Inj. 0:00

3rd Place Match

Mackensie Szajda (West Chicago) 4-1, So. over Kayla Foley (Conant) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 0:15)

5th Place Match

Susana Correa (West Chicago) 7-3, Sr. over Heba Kiloul (Maine East) 9-6, Sr. (Fall 2:58)

125

1st Place Match

Gianna Mezzano (Ridgewood) 11-2, Fr. over Drea Lazzara (Addison Trail) 11-5, Fr. (Fall 0:02)

3rd Place Match

Emily Pizano (Elgin) 7-1, Sr. over Zmorah Izenstark (New Trier) 7-6, Jr. (Fall 3:27)

5th Place Match

Alianna Luna (Elk Grove) 9-5, Fr. over Naomy Chavez (Rickover Naval Academy) 3-2, . (Fall 0:58)

130

1st Place Match

Aubrie Rohrbacher (Huntley) 15-2, Jr. over Nyah Lovis (Lane Tech) 11-2, Sr. (Fall 0:58)

3rd Place Match

Sophia Kellikidis (Ridgewood) 9-3, Fr. over Soraya Walikonis (Burlington Central) 9-3, Sr. (Fall 0:29

5th Place Match

Brianna Perez (Round Lake) 9-4, Sr. over Khloe Vest (Harvard) 8-4, Fr. (Fall 1:08)

135

1st Place Match

Grecia Garcia (Huntley) 10-3, So. over Jasmine Zavaleta (Conant) 13-2, Jr. (Dec 2-0)

3rd Place Match

Briana Anselmo (Elgin) 6-1, Jr. over Isabella Patitucci (Maine West) 6-4, So. (Fall 1:28)

5th Place Match

Zabby Badru (Lane Tech) 12-5, So. over Lauren Jalowiecki (Burlington Central) 3-2, Fr. (Fall 5:52)

140

1st Place Match

Jillian Giller (New Trier) 14-1, Sr. over Ewa Krupa (Conant) 15-2, Jr. (Fall 1:57)

3rd Place Match

Nariah Adams (Huntley) 7-6, Sr. over Ella Habib (Burlington Central) 4-6, Jr. (Fall 0:32)

5th Place Match

Batula Nasib (West Chicago) 6-3, So. over Aylee Gabourel (Elgin) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 1:02)

145

1st Place Match

Kennedy Murray (Evanston Township) 12-1, Sr. over Madeline Beltran (Addison Trail) 9-5, Jr. (Fall 3:57)

3rd Place Match

Stephanie Valdez (Elk Grove) 6-3, Sr. over Susan Bilyal (Conant) 2-7, So. (Fall 1:17)

5th Place Match

Aaizah Khan (Niles West) 6-4, Sr. over Lotus Alhyasat (Maine South) 6-5, Sr. (Fall 0:56)

155

1st Place Match

Camilla Martinez Gonzalez (Rickover Naval Academy) 9-0, Sr. over Analiese Aberman (Conant) 11-6, Jr. (Dec 5-4)

3rd Place Match

Roya Shayestehjah (Huntley) 7-5, So. over Elyanna de Leon (Vernon Hills) 5-4, So. (Dec 12-8)

5th Place Match

Mma Akela (Loyola Academy) 4-1, Jr. over April Cardenas (Harvard) 6-7, Jr. (Fall 1:24)

170

1st Place Match

Ryann Miller (Burlington Central) 3-0, So. over Lillian Garrett (Maine West) 13-3, Sr. (Fall 0:58)

3rd Place Match

Natalie Aguirre (Huntley) 12-6, Sr. over Olivia Halminiak (West Chicago) 8-4, So. (Fall 0:42)

5th Place Match

Melody Leynes (Elgin) 4-1, Sr. over Sanaa Hudgins (Maine South) 6-6, So. (Fall 2:47)

190

1st Place Match

Danai Kostarelou (Maine South) 5-2, Fr. over Jarithsie Mercado (Harvard) 7-4, Jr. (Fall 0:24)

3rd Place Match

Fatima Gomez (Evanston Township) 5-4, Jr. over Ava Buchanan (Elk Grove) 4-5, So. (Fall 1:48)

5th Place Match

Brianna Felde (Huntley) 6-6, Jr. over Ava Adorni (Conant) 8-6, Jr. (Fall 4:34)

235

1st Place Match

Jasmine Mejia (Rickover Naval Academy) 11-1, Sr. over Rim Ayouchi (Taft) 5-1, Sr. (Fall 0:54)

3rd Place Match

Sara Willis (Huntley) 8-6, Sr. over Ariana Bonilla (West Chicago) 7-5, Jr. (Dec 4-0)

5th Place Match

Jereni Marshall (Evanston Township) 3-5, Sr. over Sophia Fortis (Maine South) 4-5, So. (Fall 0:50)

MARION WILDCATS INVITE

The Fort Campbell Falcons made their nearly three-hour drive north into Illinois a successful one when they claimed their second consecutive team championship here at the Marion Wildcats Invite.

The Falcons, who last season tied for third at the first ever Kentucky small state tournament, outscored host Marion 129.0-108.0, and state rival Caldwell County which finished third with 104.0 points.

McCracken County, located just west of Paducah, Kentucky earned fourth place with its 103.5 points with Paris rounding out the top five on the leadership with 94.5 points

This invite went from 14 teams a year ago to 27 this season. Last year Fort Campbell amassed 100.0 points (38) more than Caldwell County (62) with Goreville (47), Marion (43) and Benton finishing with 38 overall points.

1st place: Fort Campbell, KY. (129.0 points)

Tourney champion Fort Campbell saw Elizabeth Allen (155, 9-0) win here for the second consecutive year, and while the Allen title was the one on the day for the Falcons, it was its depth throughout the brackets that led to them lifting the big trophy.

Zemirah Witt (105), Delaney Perry (110), Lillianah DeWitt (120), Cassidy Harrington (130) 

were all second, while Carlee Blair (135) and Jennifer Velazquez (140) helped their club with fourth place medals.

2nd place: Marion (108.0 points)

The host Wildcats would give the Marion faithful plenty to celebrate when the trio of: 

Alauni Muex (125), Brooklyn Phemister (140) and Olivia McDermott (235) all came in second overall. 

3rd place Caldwell County, KY (104.0 points)

Freshman Sophie Parrish (12-1) fourth last year at the state middle school championships won it all here at 100 pounds, as did junior Alyvia Barnwell (9-5) at 110. Parrish would pin her way to her championship crown.

Teammates Kamyra Dickey (105) and Virginia Stewart at 190 helped the cause with third place medals at their respective weight divisions.

Others earning championship medals were: Belle Hatfield (Ohio County, 105, 6-3), Delaney Measimer (Carbondale, 115, 10-0), Sophia Bechelli (West Frankfort, 120, 4-0), Eelynn Hayden (McCracken County, 125, 7-1), Talynn Clark (Ohio County, 130, 8-0), Emerson Barrett (Paris, 135, 8-0), Natalie Beaumont (Cumberland, 140, 6-0), Kyla Ford (Carbondale, 145, 9-2), Emma Shelkey (Paris, 170, 7-0), Krista McBride (Goreville, 190, 3-0), Olivia McDermott (Kennett, 235, 6-2).

Natalie Beaumont was state runner-up a year ago at 135 pounds with a 19-3 record to give her program its first ever state medal, and 11th for the school in wrestling. Krista McBride would join her three-time state medalist teammate Alivia Ming in Champaign last season with a 24-7 record. Ming is now wrestling at the University of Cumberlands in Kentucky.

Paris junior Gabbie Collins (155) recorded the most pins on the day with (5), followed by Nikolette Ronketto (West Frankford), Elizabeth Allen (Fort Campbell) and Jamarria Rogers from Kennett all with four each.

Kathleen Loyola from Carbondale needed just under one minute (0:57) to pin her three opponents. Most team points on the day went to both Talynn Clark (Ohio) with Elizabeth Allen (Fort Campbell) while McCracken County freshman Eelynn Hayden right there with 27.5 points.

Final Team Scores: Fort Campbell, KY. 129.0, Marion 108.0, Caldwell County, KY. 104, McCracken County, KY. 103.5, Paris 94.5, Kennett, MO. 80.0, Ohio County, KY. 79.0, Carbondale, West Frankfort 72.0 each, Waterloo 60.0, Murphysboro 59.0, Robinson 55.5, Benton 28.0, Goreville 24.0, Mt. Vernon 22.5, Cumberland 21.5, Breeze Central 19.0, Paducah Tilghman, KY. 16.0, Pinckneyville 4.0, Sparta 3.0.

100

1st Place Match

Sophie Parrish (Caldwell County, KY) 12-1, Fr. over Jillian Conn (McCracken County, KY) 2-1, Fr. (Fall 0:47)

3rd Place Match

Nickolette Ronketto (Frankfort/Christopher) 7-1, Sr. over Lily Autry (Ohio County, KY) 4-4, Fr. (For.)

105

1st Place Match – round robin

Belle Hatfield (Ohio County, KY) 5-2, 8th. over Zemirah Witt (Fort Campbell, KY) 6-3, 8th. (Fall 1:53)

3rd Place Match – round robin

Kamyra Dickey (Caldwell County, KY) 8-8, 7th. over Annalyn Osborn (Robinson) 0-3, Fr. (Fall 0:33)

110

1st Place Match

Alyvia Barnwell (Caldwell County, KY) 9-5, Jr. over Delaney Perry (Fort Campbell, KY) 5-4, 8th. (Fall 0:57)

3rd Place Match

Vida Folis (Marion) 6-3, Fr. over Kaidence Eveland (Paris) 4-3, So. (Fall 1:45)

115

1st Place Match

Delaney Measimer (Carbondale) 10-0, So. over Paisley Reed (Paris) 5-2, So. (Fall 0:59)

3rd Place Match

Abgayle Haller (Breese Central) 3-1 over Jordyn Conn (McCracken County, KY) 2-2, 7th. (Fall 0:31)

120

1st Place Match

Sophia Bechelli (Frankfort/Christopher) 4-0, Jr. over Lillianah DeWitt (Fort Campbell, KY) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 1:48)

3rd Place Match

Jamarria Rogers (Kennett, MO) 8-2, Jr. over Kathleen Loyola (Carbondale) 7-4, Jr. (Fall 1:49)

125

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Eelynn Hayden (McCracken County, KY) 7-1, Fr. over Alauni Muex (Marion) 9-2, Jr. (Fall 0:41)

3rd Place Match

Gabby Mason (Murphysboro) 8-1, Jr. over Heather Jones (Kennett, MO) 7-2, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

130

1st Place Match

Talynn Clark (Ohio County, KY) 8-0, Jr. over Cassidy Harrington (Fort Campbell, KY) 9-2, So. (Fall 3:06)

3rd Place Match

Hermayoni Gembe (McCracken County, KY) 6-4, Jr. over Lakelynn Janssen (McCracken County, KY) 7-3, Sr. (Inj. 3:44)

135

1st Place Match

Emerson Barrett (Paris) 8-0, Sr. over Rachel Richey (Robinson) 4-3, Sr. (TF-1.5 2:24 (18-0))

3rd Place Match

Madelyn Edler (Waterloo) 4-3, So. over Carlee Blair (Fort Campbell, KY) 6-5, Sr. (Fall 2:30)

140

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Natalie Beaumont (Cumberland) 6-0, Jr. over Brooklyn Phemister (Marion) 6-3, Jr. (Fall 0:51)

3rd Place Match

Daniya Musgrave (Mt. Vernon) 6-4, Fr. over Jennifer Velazquez (Fort Campbell, KY) 2-2, Sr. (MD 16-4)

145

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Kyla Ford (Carbondale) 9-2, Jr. over Roxie Royster (Murphysboro) 2-3, Jr. (Fall 5:06)

3rd Place Match

Melissa Comerford (Marion) 7-4, So. over Carlie James (Benton/Sesser-Valier) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 2:59)

155

1st Place Match

Elizabeth Allen (Fort Campbell, KY) 9-0, Jr. over Nahima Mateo (Murphysboro) 6-1, Jr. (Fall 0:53)

3rd Place Match

Gabbie Collins (Paris) 8-1, Jr. over Macee Hammond (Robinson) 4-4, So. (Fall 0:54)

170

1st Place Match

Emma Shelkey (Paris) 7-0, Jr. over Lily Browning (Frankfort/Christopher) 4-1, So. (Fall 0:58)

3rd Place Match

Ariel Clayton (Robinson) 4-1, So. over Payten Simmons (Caldwell Count, KY) 9-9, So. (Fall 1:55)

190

1st Place Match

Krista McBride (Goreville/Dongola/Vienna) 3-0, Jr. over Izabell McBride (Waterloo) 4-3, So. (Fall 0:49)

3rd Place Match

Virginia Stewart (Caldwell County, KY) 13-6, Fr. over Abbie Johnson (Kennett, MO) 5-3, Fr. (Fall 2:00)

235

1st Place Match – round robin

Jazlynn Covington (Kennett, MO) 6-0, So. over Olivia McDermott (Marion) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 2:35)

3rd Place Match

Maihaleigh Browning (Benton/Sesser-Valier) 0-2, Fr.

By Chris Walker for the IWCOA

Thornton Township High School Girls Tournament

If you’re going to put in all the time and effort to host a tournament, you may as well do whatever it takes to also win it.
It was one heck of a Saturday for Thornton Township (131.5) as the Wildcats won the team title at home in Harvey.
“This is a repeat championship for our girls,” Thornton Township coach Philip Rembert said. “We see a lot of potential out of all these girls and we’re hoping they will grow more by the end of the season.”

Bloom Township (103) finished second, Hillcrest (93) was third, De La Salle (88) was fourth and Proviso East (79) took fifth. T.F. South (74), Evergreen Park (70), Rich Township (43) and St. Viator (34) also were among the nine-team field.

1st place: Thornton Township (131.5 points)

Ariel Woodfin (105), Jalah Wilson (130), Lenahja Selvestor (170) and Sionna Stampley (190) all earned individual titles to lead the Wildcats to the title. Destiny Bright (120) took second, Shuntara Freeman (135) placed third and Trinity Jones (155) took fourth.
“Jalah Wilson is a two-time state qualifier, Ariel Woodfin was a sectional semifinalist last year, and Sionna Stampley made it to the blood rounds in the sectional,” Rembert said. “Destiny Bright was a state qualifier in 2023, then she won her first tournament last year and had a season-ending injury shortly after that.
“LeNahja Selvestor won a title as a newcomer on the scene and we had another newcomer freshman that took third place in Shuntara Freeman.”

2nd place: Bloom Township (103 points)

The Blazing Trojans received championship wins from their two Myas. They had six athletes who placed overall with Mya Gray (125) and Mya Coffey (155) leading the way to the top of the podium. Lilly O’Brien (100) and Janet Aranda (170) took second and Daviana Smith (120) and Miricale Nash (145) were fourth.

3rd place: Hillcrest (93 points)

Tamera Gibbs (235) won for the Hawks as she received two forfeit victories after opening with a bye. Melissa Nance (155) and

Jordyn Coleman-Harrison (190) took second, Sydney West (170) won her third place match while Taniyah Moss (110), Isaly Rodriguez (130), Nataliee Miller (135) and Keevona Brown (170) were fourth.

Other girls winning individual titles at Thornton included De La Salle’s Anapaula Cerna-Rivera (100), Mia Vargas (115) and Iliana Heredia (120). Evergreen Park’s Riley Osborn (110) and T.F. South’s Quincy Onyiaorah (135) also were champs.

Thornton Township’s Lenahja Selvestor, Bloom’s Mya Coffey and T.F. South’s Quincy Onyiaorah each had three pins with Selvestor accomplishing it in the least amount of time in 3:22. Bloom’s Mya Gray was among seven wrestlers who scored tech fall victories, but none did it faster than Gray’s 22 seconds. Bloom’s Mya Gray and Thornton Township’s Ariel Woodfin scored the most team points with 26 each. Woodfin also had the most single match points with 24. Proviso East’s Regina Jones led all wrestlers with 40 total match points scored. The largest seed-place difference of the tournament came from T.F. South’s Dakodia Kelley who took second place as the 7th seed at 110 pounds.

Team scores:
Thornton Township 131.5, Bloom Township 103, Hillcrest 93, De La Salle 88, Proviso East 79, Thornton Fractional South 74, Evergreen Park 70, Rich Township 43, Saint Viator 34

Thornton Township Girls Tournament results:

100

1st Place Match

Anapaula Cerna-Rivera (De La Salle) 2-0, Jr. over Lilly OBrien (Bloom Township) 2-1 (Fall 0:56)

3rd Place Match

Lidia Basave (Proviso East) 2-1, So. (For.)

105

1st Place Match – round robin

Ariel Woodfin (Thornton Township) 6-0, Jr. over Paola Lopez (Proviso East) 2-1 (TF-1.5 0:32 (24-7))

3rd Place Match – round robin

Maya Phillips (Rich Township) 1-2 over Lamya Love (Rich Township) 0-3 (Fall 1:18)

110

1st Place Match

Riley Osborn (Evergreen Park) 3-0 over Dakodia Kelly (Thornton Fractional South) 2-1, So. (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Regina Jones (Proviso East) 3-1, So. over Taniyah Moss (Hillcrest) 3-2, Jr. (Dec 14-11)

115

1st Place Match – round robin

Mia Vargas (De La Salle) 2-0, Fr. over Shaniya Tharp Thomas (Thornton Fractional South) 1-1, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:18 (17-1))

3rd Place Match

Aliah Diaz (Evergreen Park) 0-2 (For.)

120

Guaranteed Places

1st Place Match

Iliana Heredia (De La Salle) 2-0, Sr. over Destiny Bright (Thornton Township) 4-2, Sr. (Fall 2:27)

3rd Place Match

Abibatu Mogaji (Thornton Fractional South) 3-1, Jr. over Daviana Smith (Bloom Township) (Fall 1:03)

125

1st Place Match

Mya Gray (Bloom Township) 3-0 over Anastasia Papaioannou (Saint Viator) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 3:14)

3rd Place Match

Crystal Solis (Evergreen Park) 1-2 over Stevonna Dixon (Rich Township) 0-3 (For.)

130

1st Place Match

Jalah Wilson (Thornton Township) 5-0, Sr. over Mia Tellado (Proviso East) 1-1, Jr. (MD 11-1)

3rd Place Match

Abigail Trendle (De La Salle) 2-1, Sr. over Isaly Rodriguez (Hillcrest) 1-2, So. (Fall 1:32)

135

1st Place Match

Quincy Onyiaorah (Thornton Fractional South) 3-0, Sr. over Na`Kiah Campbell (Proviso East) 2-1, Jr. (Fall 3:25)

3rd Place Match

Shuntara Freeman (Thornton Township) 3-3, Fr. over Nataliee Miller (Hillcrest) 1-2, Sr. (DQ)

145

1st Place Match – round robin

Illan Wheeler (Evergreen Park) 2-1 over Miricale Nash (Bloom Township) 2-1 (Fall 3:41)

3rd Place Match – round robin

Christin Jones (Rich Township) 0-2 over Nina White (Rich Township) 1-1 (DFF)

155

1st Place Match

Mya Coffey (Bloom Township) 3-0 over Melissa Nance (Hillcrest) 2-2, So. (Fall 1:19)

3rd Place Match

Avery Brooks (SaintViator) 8-8, Sr. over Trinity Jones (Thornton Township) 3-4, Sr. (Fall 3:00)

170

1st Place Match

Lenahja Selvestor (Thornton Township) 3-0 over Janet Aranda (Bloom Township) 1-1 (Fall 1:10)

3rd Place Match

Sydney West (Hillcrest) 2-3 over Keevona Brown (Hillcrest) 1-2 (Fall 0:32)

190

1st Place Match

Sionna Stampley (Thornton Township) 5-1, Sr. over Jordyn Coleman-Harrison (Hillcrest) 1-1, Jr. (Fall 1:15)

3rd Place Match

Lili Meierkort (Evergreen Park) 2-1 over Anabell Baska (Evergreen Park) 1-2 (Fall 4:09)

235

1st Place Match – round robin

Tamera Gibbs (Hillcrest) 2-1 over Amaya Mclain (Rich Township) 1-1 (For.)

3rd Place Match

Kyliegh Allen (Rich Township) 0-2, (Bye)

Team scores:

1. Thornton Township 131.5, 2. Bloom Township 103, 3. Hillcrest 93, 4. De La Salle 88, 5. Proviso East 79, 6. Thornton Fractional South 74, 7. Evergreen Park 70, 8. Rich Township 43, 9. Saint Viator 34.

Westinghouse Girls Scramble #1

Host Westinghouse had four champions to win its 11-team tournament. 

The Lady Warriors led the way with 87.5 points while 

Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences and Crane tied for second with 60. Lake View was right behind those two squads with 59. Chicago Academy had 43 to round out the top five teams.

1st place: Westinghouse (87.5 points)

Daniyah Rogers (135-140), Cecilia Colon (155), Emily Nieto (190) and Persia Foster (235) won individual titles to pace the winners. Kanaan McIntyre (170) and Alana Martin (120) took third place and Kimani Glasper (110-115), Mariah Brady (110-115) and Honesty Nash (110-115) were fifth.

2nd place tied: Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences (AG SCI) (60 points)

Despite having only four wrestlers in action, AG SCI shared second place overall with Crane. Madison Cruz (125) and

Elena Haugh (170) won titles while Carmen Jackson (115-120) and Kennedy Smith (120) placed second.

2nd place tied: Crane (60 points)

Andrea Wells (120) won a title for the Cougars. Amelia Chronopoulos (135-140) and Dorca Morales (170) took second place. Hannah Chong(115-120) and Simone Dyer (125) placed third and Katherine Gonzalez-Moline (100-105) was fourth.

The tournament’s other individual champions were Chicago Academy’s Giana Romero (100-105), Lindblom’s Danita Palmore (115-120) and Lake View’s Raynisha Sims (130-135).

Westinghouse’s Cecilia Colon had the most pins in the least amount of time with three in 1:44. Her teammate, Westinghouse’s Kimani Glasper, had the most tech falls in the least amount of time with one in 3:27. Colon and Chicago Academy’s Giana Romero had the most team points with 20 apiece. Lindblom’s Danita Palmore had the most total match points with 31. Colon and AG SCI’s Carmen Jackson had the largest seed-place differences. Colon was a 4th seed and took first. Jackson was a 5th seed and took second.

Team scores:
Westinghouse 87.5, Chicago school for Agricultural Science 60, Crane 60, Lindblom 29, Intrinsic 16, Phillips 12, Niles North 9, Corliss 3, South Shore 0

Westinghouse Girls Scramble #1 place matches

100

1st place – round robin

Giana Romero (Chicago Academy) 3-0, Fr. over Adelina Diaz (Chicago Academy) 2-1, Fr. (Fall 1:23)

3rd place – round robin

Jaden Concepcion (Chicago Academy) 1-2, Fr. over Katherine Gonzalez- Moline (Crane Medical) 0-3, Jr. (Fall 3:02)

110-115

1st place – round robin

Kimani Glasper (Westinghouse) 4-0, Sr. over Vineyard Valencia (Lake View) 2-1 (For.)

3rd place – round robin

Mariah Brady (Westinghouse) 1-2, Fr. over Honesty Nash (Westinghouse) 1-2, Fr. (Fall 1:46)

5th place  

Abigail Fryza (Intrinsic) 1-4, Jr.

115-120

1st place – round robin

Danita Palmore (Lindblom) 4-0, . over Carmen Jackson (Agricultural Science) 3-1, Jr. (MD 17-9)

3rd place – round robin

Hannah Chong (Crane Medical) 2-2, Fr. over Camrynn Collier (Corliss) 1-3, Fr. (Fall 1:30)

5th place 

Zuri Lendecy (Chicago Academy) 0-4, So.

120

1st place – round robin

Andrea Wells (Crane Medical) 2-0, Jr. over Kennedy Smith (Agricultural Science) 1-1, Jr. (Fall 0:40)

3rd place- round robin

Alana Martin (Westinghouse) 0-2, Jr.

125

1st place – round robin

Madison Cruz (Agricultural Science) 2-0, Fr. over Nakya Scott (Lindblom) 2-1, . (Fall 0:29)

3rd place

Simone Dyer (Crane Medical) 0-2, Sr.

130-135

1st place  – round robin

Raynisha Sims (Lake View) 2-0, Sr. over Kayla Nolan (Phillips) 1-1, Jr. (Fall 2:30)

3rd place

Sonya Diaz (Lake View) 0-2

135-140

1st place – round robin

Daniyah Rogers (Westinghouse) 2-0, Fr. over Amaleia Chronopoulos (Crane Medical) 1-1, Jr. (Fall 2:21)

3rd place

Makia Lewis (Lake View) 0-2

155

1st place – round robin

Cecilia Colon (Westinghouse) 3-0, Sr. over Juliamay Teston (Intrinsic) 2-1, So. (Fall 0:27)

3rd place – round robin

Gabrielle Toney (Niles North) 5-2, So. over Caley Bonneau (Lake View) 0-3, . (Fall 2:01)

170

1st place – round robin

Elena Haugh (Agricultural Science) 2-0, Fr. over Dorca Morales (Crane Medical) 1-1, Jr. (Fall 2:38)

Kanaan McIntyre (Westinghouse) 0-2, Fr.

190

1st place – second match

Emily Nieto (Westinghouse) 2-0, Sr. over Jasmin Fernandez (Lake View) 0-2, Fr. (Fall 1:53) 

235

1st place – round robin

Persia Foster (Westinghouse) 2-0, Sr. over Keira Rodriguez (Lake View) 1-1, So. (Fall 0:39)

3rd place

Andrea Velasco (Lake View) 0-2, Fr.

Beat the Streets Girls High School Brawl 2024 at Chicago Hope Academy

Out-of-staters Crown Point (196) took over the Windy City on Friday night at Chicago Hope Academy. The Bulldogs had a huge night on the award stand with 21 of its girls competing and 16 placing to help bring the title back to Indiana.

Phoenix Military Academy (167.5) finished second, Homewood-Flossmoor (147.5) was third, Back of the Yards (97.5) was fourth and Rolling Meadows (78) placed fifth to round out the top five team finishers among the 17-team field.

1st place: Crown Point (196 points)

Jaila Powers (105), Ava Strayer (125) and Kylie Benoit (130) each earned an individual title for the tournament champions. Isabella Paape (100) and Annalise Neal (120) finished in second place while Eve Angelini (110), Helene Papadakis (135), Kaylee Taylor (140) and Allison Luka (145) won their respective third place matches. Olivia Hunt (170) took fourth place, Keewa Yu (115), Maggie Monroe (130), Giana Castillo (135) and Mia McDaniel (155) were fifth and Leena Vinson (120) and Breanna Dominguez (130) took sixth.

2nd place: Phoenix Military Academy (167.5 points)

Phoenix Military Academy, one of nine schools from Chicago to compete, matched Crown Point with three individual champions in 

Jitzel Aranda (100), Diana Lopez-Jimenez (115) and Ariel Foreman (135). Placing second for the Firebirds were America Cabrera (140) and AJ Grant (145) while Marisol Castro (125) and Alexia Ramos (155) took fourth. Mia Thomas (120) was fifth and Kyla Blackmon (110) took sixth.

3rd place: Homewood-Flossmoor (147.5 points)

Junior London Gandy (110) and senior Nina Hamm (120) led the way for the Vikings with championships. Makayla Marr (125) and Amara Nwoye (135) finished in second place, Natalia Coleman (120), Na’imah Lamon (140) and Denise Brown (145) picked up points via their fourth place finishes and Madelynn McClements (145), Rachel Nugin (155) and Cai Triplett (190) placed sixth.

Other girls winning individual titles within Chicago Hope Academy’s fieldhouse were Mother McAuley’s Maggie Zuber (140), Hillcrest’s Christiara Finley (145), St. Ignatius’ GG Garduno (155), Kelly’s Sara Martinez Lopera (170), Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation’s Johanna Bogan (190) and Lindblom’s Kiara Owens (235).

Kelly’s N’Dyia Mahon-Godfrey had five pins in 2:07 to lead the tournament. In fact, 11 wrestlers had four pins but only Proviso West’s Anika Gonzalez (2:51) and Rolling Meadows’ Muneeba Butt (4:32) achieved so in under five minutes like Mahon-Godfrey. Agricultural Science’s Carmen Jackson had two tech Fs in 5:57 for the most tech Fs in the least time. Jackson also had the most single match points with 41.

Team scores

1. Crown Point, IN 196, 2. Phoenix Military Academy 167.5, 3. Homewood-Flossmoor 147.5, 4. Back of the Yards 97.5, 5. Rolling Meadows 78, 6. Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, OH 77, 7. Lindblom 74.5, 8. Hillcrest 72.5, 9. Proviso West 58, 10. Kelly 56, 11. Willowbrook 52, 12. Taft 50, 13. Saint Ignatius 47, 14. Highland Park 31, 15. Mother McAuley 29, 16. Agricultural Science 28, 17. Hancock 9

Beat the Streets Girls Brawl place matches

Girls – 100

1st Place Match

Jitzel Aranda (Phoenix Military Academy) won by fall over Isabella Paape (Crown Point, IN) (Fall 4:38)

3rd Place Match

Naylah Charles Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, OH) won by fall over Madyson Worthing (Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, OH) (Fall 4:36)

5th Place Match

Valerie Martinez (Back of the Yards) (Bye)

Girls – 105

1st Place Match

Jaila Powers (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Annie Aguilar-Cruz (Kelly) (Fall 1:20)

3rd Place Match

Taniya Edwards (Proviso West) won by fall over Nayeli Salgado (Willowbrook) (Fall 2:52)

5th Place Match

Aurora Petrulis (Mother McAuley) won by injury default over Rossy Gomez (Back of the Yards) (Inj. 0:00)

Girls – 110

1st Place Match

London Gandy (Homewood-Flossmoor) won by tech fall over Taniya Moss (Hillcrest) (TF 21-3)

3rd Place Match

Eve Angelini (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Kenaya Mwehu (Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, OH) (Fall 3:09)

5th Place Match

Yasmin Mendoza (Back of the Yards) won by fall over Kyla Blackmon (Phoenix Military Academy) (Fall 3:23)

Girls – 115

1st Place Match

Diana Lopez-Jimenez (Phoenix Military Academy) won by fall over Danita Palmore (Lindblom) (Fall 1:48)

3rd Place Match

Carmen Jackson (Agricultural Science) won by tech fall over Yazmine Garcia (Kelly) (TF 20-4)

5th Place Match

Keewa Yu (Crown Point, IN) won by medical forfeit over Daisy Trujillo (Willowbrook) (MFF)

Girls – 120

1st Place Match

Nina Hamm (Homewood-Flossmoor) won by fall over Annalise Neal (Crown Point, IN) (Fall 2:46)

3rd Place Match

Jennifer Arenas (Taft) won by fall over Natalia Coleman (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 1:24)

5th Place Match

Mia Thomas (Chicago (Phoenix Military Academy)) won by fall over Leena Vinson (Crown Point, IN) (Fall 3:23)

Girls – 125

1st Place Match

Ava Strayer (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Makayla Marr (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 2:30)

3rd Place Match

Emmely Munoz (Back of the Yards) won by fall over Marisol Castro (Phoenix Military Academy) (Fall 1:28)

5th Place Match

Ardita Beqke (Taft) won by decision over Riley Moore (Highland Park) (Dec 8-3)

Girls – 130

1st Place Match

Kylie Benoit (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Nakya Scott (Lindblom) (Fall 3:17)

3rd Place Match

Muneeba Butt (Rolling Meadows) won by fall over Anika Gonzalez (Proviso West) (Fall 0:49)

5th Place Match

Maggie Munroe (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Breanna Dominguez (Crown Point, IN) (Fall 3:24)

Girls – 135

1st Place Match

Ariel Foreman (Phoenix Military Academy) won by fall over Amara Nwoye (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 0:23)

3rd Place Match

Helene Papadakis (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Leylani Bahena (Kelly) (Fall 1:47)

5th Place Match

Giana Castillo (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Allison Flores-Morales (Willowbrook) (Fall 4:52)

Girls – 140

1st Place Match

Maggie Zuber (Mother McAuley) won by decision over America Cabrera (Phoenix Military Academy) (Dec 6-2)

3rd Place Match

Kaylee Taylor (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Na`imah Lamon (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 4:42)

5th Place Match

Ziza Sanchez (Rolling Meadows) won by fall over Jaqueline Soon (Proviso West) (Fall 2:39)

Girls – 145

1st Place Match

Christiara Finley (Hillcrest) won by decision over Aj Grant (Phoenix Military Academy) (Dec 9-7)

3rd Place Match

Allison Luka (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Denise Brown (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 2:48)

5th Place Match

Evelyna Perez (Back of the Yards) won by fall over Madelynn McClements (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 2:45)

Girls – 155

1st Place Match

GG Garduno (Saint Ignatius) won by fall over Dana Holt (Highland Park) (Fall 2:41)

3rd Place Match

Janet Brindis (Rolling Meadows) won by decision over Alexia Ramos (Phoenix Military Academy) (Dec 10-3)

5th Place Match

Mia McDaniel (Crown Point, IN) won by fall over Rachel Nugin (Homewood-Flossmoor) (Fall 0:31)

Girls – 170

1st Place Match

Sara Martinez Lopera (Kelly) won by fall over Leilani Brindis (Rolling Meadows) (Fall 0:54)

3rd Place Match

Zykaria H (Proviso West) won by fall over Olivia Hunt (Crown Point, IN) (Fall 1:26)

5th Place Match

Aiaishah Sanchez (Rolling Meadows) won by fall over Valeria Santiago (Saint Ignatius) (Fall 3:17)

Girls – 190

1st Place Match

Johanna Bogan (Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, OH) won by fall over Jordyn Coleman-Harrison (Hillcrest) (Fall 2:30)

3rd Place Match

N`Dyia Mahon-Godfrey (Kelly) won by fall over Nyomi Ascencio (Back of the Yards) (Fall 0:42)

5th Place Match

Jayde Keaty

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

The Rex Lewis Invite trophy will return home to Schaumburg after Mike Levanti’s men held off the field Saturday afternoon in Buffalo Grove.

The Saxons claimed just two individual champions on the day, but another seven top-four medal winners were enough for the Saxons to earn an overall edge in points to hold off runner-up Glenbrook South, 192.5-185.5.

Morris was third with 167, Lake Park next with 145, followed by St. Patrick which collected 137.5 points.

“It truly was a team effort today,” said Levanti, whose club won it all here in 2023.

“Brady (Phelps) at (120) and Callen Kirchner (150) gave us great efforts at their weights and across the weight classes we had guys who helped us earn points throughout the day.

“We are still a very young team, and you saw some of those guys exposed in spots, but that can be addressed and hopefully corrected.”

The Saxons held a 10-point advantage (166-156) just ahead of the final round over Glenbrook South, which earlier in the day was chasing a 17-point deficit before the Titans put on a late charge to run away from Morris for the second place trophy.

The first ever Rex Lewis Invite was held on December 11, 1976, which was also the first dual-meet tournament in Illinois. Dennis Riccio, the first head coach at Buffalo Grove, invited Bloom Township, RIchards, and East Leyden to the inaugural event.

Rex Lewis, his wife Dodie and their eight children lived in Buffalo Grove, his two sons Keith and Kirt wrestled at Wheeling, where Keith was a teammate of the classy long-time head coach at Buffalo Grove, Bob Tipsword. When Buffalo Grove opened in 1973, Rex Lewis became the president of the Booster Club and the voice of Bison wrestling for the next 20-plus years.

In 1991, the format of this tournament would change to the current individual format.

Let’s take a look at each championship match from Saturday’s tournament:

106- Jack Koenig (St. Patrick)

St. Patrick sophomore Jack Koenig continued his early season success when he edged defending Rex Lewis champion Owen Sater (Morris) in a hard fought 6-5 decision to open the final round here on Saturday.

Sater earned a place in the 2024 state tournament with an amazing 41-3 record. 

Koenig (15-2) would deal No. 2 seed Austin Phelps (Schaumburg, 15-1) his first loss of the season in his semifinal, then do the same in his final with Sater (11-1) who entered the weekend as the No. 3-ranked man in 2A.

“I just kept fighting my way back into the match until I was able to get that takedown with just a few seconds left,” said Koenig, No. 6 in state polls.

Sater went out to a 3-0 advantage early in the second period, and it became 4-0 on an escape to start the third period. A takedown made it 4-3, but after Sater added another escape, up popped Koenig with his match-winning takedown with 11 seconds remaining.

Koenig won his first major of the season at Rockford East.

113- Bryce Mensik (Lake Park)

Bryce Mensik kept his early season record spotless after the Lake Park senior recorded a pin at 6:35 to defeat Morris sophomore Paxton Valentine.

Both contestants in this final advanced with ease before the two found themselves level at 4-4 after six minutes, until Mensik, 31-11 a year ago, finished things off with a pin in overtime to win his first Lewis title, after his second-place finish in 2023.

“After losing in the blood round last year at sectionals, I’ve got to put everything into getting downstate this year,” said Mensik, who has plans to be a physical therapist after college.

120- Brady Phelps (Schaumburg)

Three-time state medal winner and the No. 2-ranked man in the state at 120, Schaumburg’s Brady Phelps got a first hand look at future star in Sasha Havrylkiv, and the Schaumburg senior came away impressed following his third-period pin for the win.

Phelps earned the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award after the win.

After a wild first period that had Phelps leading 8-4, the Saxons star increased his advantage to 14-4 after two periods despite a handful of dangerous situations in which Havrylkiv (11-1) came  close to taking a bite out of Phelps’ lead.

“When he gets more match time, he’s going to be a place-winner at state,” Phelps said of Havrylkiv. Phelps tweaked his knee in the third period after the Buffalo Grove freshman registered a takedown to make it 15-7. Phelps then stuck Havrylkiv at the 5:40 mark.

But the freshman earned the respect of Phelps and his coach.

“(Havrylkiv) is good in all positions and you saw just how explosive he can be,” added Saxons head coach Mike Levanti. Havrylkiv came to Buffalo Grove as an under-15 national champion in Ukraine.

126- Brock Claypool (Morris)

Morris sophomore Brock Claypool gave his club its first title of the day and won his second straight Lewis title after his dominating all-day performance, which ended with a 21-5 technical fall victory over Schaumburg senior Adrian Quevedo at 5:03.

“I spent a lot of time training at Izzy Style, doing Freestyle and Greco, and just working out two to three times a day to prepare for this season,” said Claypool, now 12-1 on the season.

Claypool, who entered the weekend as the No. 7-rated 126-pounder in 2A, enjoyed a marvelous rookie season that ended abruptly at sectionals.

“I was able to come back from my first round loss, but it wasn’t enough, so it’s all about getting downstate and on the podium,” said Claypool, 35-4 a year ago.

132- Sergio Hernandez (Lake Park)

Lake Park’s Sergio Hernandez was all smiles just ahead of climbing atop the podium at Buffalo Grove. And why not.

The Lake Park senior would claim the first major title of his career after mashing the competition in all three of his matches, including an impressive effort over Aiden Quevedo (15-2) a sophomore from Schaumburg.

“I was fifth here last year, so this was a big jump up for me,” said Hernandez, now 11-2 overall following his 20-2 tech-fall win on the title mat, which came just seconds before the clock went to zero.

“I did a lot of Freestyle and Greco during the offseason, competed in a few tournaments, and just worked hard so I can make my senior season my best of all,” added Hernandez, who is likely to attend UW-Whitewater in the fall where he will major in business management.

138- Patrick Hulne (St. Patrick)

St. Patrick sophomore Patrick Hulne roared through his first two contests on Saturday to set up his final with top seed Nicholas Merola (8-2) of Lake Park. Once there, Hulne finished on a high note with a pin at 5:00 to win his first major of the season.

“I wanted to open strong, and not let up until the very end,” said Hulne, now 15-3.

Hulne was one of eight Shamrocks to advance to sectionals last February. But the then-rookie fell short in his bid to join teammates Danny Goodwin, Olin Walker, Nikolas Karamaniolas and Van Gasser in Champaign.

“I want to make it downstate this year,” Hulne said. “I feel like playing football and rugby has helped me be stronger, so I spent a lot of time improving my hand fighting, and shot-taking during the offseason.”

144- Carter Skoff (Morris)

No. 10-ranked Carter Skoff is now a two-time Rex Lewis champion after his thrilling 5-4 decision over No. 3 seed Jacob Van Allen (11-1) from Argo.

The Morris junior chased the Argonauts senior all throughout the contest until taking a bite out of a 4-0 deficit with a reversal to start the third period.

“(Van Allen) was a tough opponent so it was important not to panic and to stay composed,” admitted Skoff, who used a three-point takedown with 21 seconds from time to seal the championship.

Skoff (10-1), a sectional qualifier a year ago with a 35-8 overall record, says he was diligent in his offseason training, working on all facets of his game – in particular work on the bottom to help improve his chances of earning a trip to Champaign.

150- Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg)

A key figure in back-to-back regional team championships, a two-time state qualifier, and currently ranked 7th in Illinois – Schaumburg’s Callen Kirchner was in total command en route to his title at 150.

“In the past I paid far too much attention to state rankings – where I was ranked and an opponent’s ranking as well – and that’s something that’s not of any interest to me this year,” began Kirchner, now 16-0 on the season following his pin at 1:11 over Oliver Quiros (12-3) of Niles North.

“It really is all about staying focused, taking it one match at a time in order to get myself back downstate and making a run at a state title,” Kirchner said.

The affable senior possesses a rare advantage in that he stands 6-foot–3, making it possible for him to wrap up his opponents like an octopus putting the final touches on his next meal.

Kirchner was 30-10 at 113 pounds when he qualified to state as a freshman, then went 34-7 in 2023 before going 35-10 last season at 144 pounds, when he earned a second spot in the final 16-man bracket.

157- Dominic Marino (Glenbrook South)

The third time proved to be the charm for Glenbrook South junior Dominic Marino, who erased a pair of early season losses to league rival Ilan Ruderman (13-3) of Glenbrook North to capture the Lewis title at 157.

“I didn’t want to go 0-3 against (Ruderman) so I was talking to my dad beforehand, and asked him what I should do in my final. He said to just go out there and wrestle my match,” Marino said with a smile.

Marino, the No. 3 seed at 157, impressed on his way to the final after opening with a tech-fall victory, followed by consecutive pins, including his pin of second-seeded Logan Wisner (Woodstock) in the semifinals.

“I was too lazy last year, and my fitness wasn’t anywhere near the way it should be in order to compete on the varsity,” Marino said. “So I made a commitment to get better with that part of my game and more.”

165- Henry Downing (Glenbrook South)

Henry Downing followed his GBS teammate onto the top of the podium after his hard-fought 9-7 decision over Buffalo Grove senior and top-seeded Chris Chi (7-2) who was looking to claim his second Rex Lewis title in a row.

“(Chi) was a strong upper-body guy, so I knew it would be a match where I had to fight hard, and get to my shots if I wanted to win,” opined Downing, who in a star-studded 157-pound sectional at Barrington last February was a blood-round victim despite his 34-win season.

“It was a lot of Freestyle and Greco for me during the offseason, and even though I was unable to qualify for Fargo, I felt like there was a lot of improvement in my overall game,” said Downing, now 11-1 overall.

175- Ilia Dvoriannikov (Vernon Hills)

In one of the most highly anticipated finals of the day, two of the very best in the state at 165 pounds met on mat number three to decide the 175-pound championship.

In a tepid but hard-fought six-minute affair, 2A state runner-up Ilia Dvoriannikov from Vernon Hills outlasted No. 3 Van Grasser (11-5) of St. Patrick with a 2-1 decision to nab his second straight Rex Lewis title.

“I was way too defensive in that match,” admitted Dvoriannikov, who lost to four-year standout Nick Mueller of Dunlap by 4-2 decision in their 165-pound state title match a year ago. Mueller’s win also gave Dunlap it’s first-ever state title in wrestling.

The junior Dvoriannikov, ranked No. 2 in Illinois, has enjoyed plenty of success away from the prep scene, and he was level with Grasser after a scoreless chess-like first period.

A late reversal in the second period by Dvoriannikov, and an escape from Grasser mid-way through the third period was all the fans would see, with strong defensive work down the stretch from Dvoriannikov helping him earn his title.

190- Isiah Escobar (Romeoville)

There was no stopping Romeoville senior Isiah Escobar, who pinned his way to the 190-pound title after winning by fall against top seed Adnan Shkeir (10-1) from Maine East.

“This was my first tournament championship of my high school career, and it feels really good right now,” said Escobar.

Escobar was a blood-round victim last year at the Joliet Central regional, sending him home with a 18-10 season record and a desire for bigger and better things in his final year of high school.

“Not qualifying for sectionals did not feel real good, so I put a lot of time in during the offseason. I wanted improve all parts of my game, especially my under-hooks, set-ups and throws, and so far I’m feeling really good about the way things are going.”

215- Samel Morrero (Chicago Horizon/Southwest)

Chicago Horizon/Southwest big man Samel Moreno can rightly say he’s a tournament champion after his terrific performance throughout the day in Buffalo Grove.

Seeded sixth 215, the junior majored the No. 3 seed Salvador Espinoza (St. Patrick) before recording a pin at 2:36 over No. 2 seed Sain Uranbold (Glenbrook South) to send him into his final with No. 1 seed Malachi Congo (9-4) of Morris.

“There is so much to learn right now, but I’m very happy about this championship,” said Marrero, who went 29-3 last season and honed his skills at Frosh-Soph state.

Marrero conceded a reversal to Congo late in the second period to level things at 2-2.

Starting in the neutral position to begin the third period, Marrero would take the lead for good with a takedown at five minutes, then later add to his lead en route to a hard fought 8-4 victory.

285- Jamir Thomas (Romeoville)

Romeoville senior Jamir Thomas got off to flying start in his 285-pound final, and would not slow down en route to his dominating tech-fall effort to capture the first title of his prep career.

Thomas stunned top seed, and No. 9-ranked Mikey Milovich (11-3) of Elk Grove with an all-out attack from the opening whistle. Thomas built an insurmountable 15-2 advantage after one period before turning the Grens senior to his back to end to the contest at 2:35 with a 17-2 lead.

“I knew coming in he was way taller and bigger than me, and he was ranked in the top ten in the state,” began Thomas, now 13-1.

“The plan was to go hard from the very start, get an early lead, and just keep attacking and never letting him get in on me,” added Thomas, who during the offseason spent time training at the Fox Valley Wrestling Club.

Thomas, like his teammate Isiah Escobar, suffered a heart-breaking blood-round defeat at regionals to end his 2023-2024 season with a very respectable 24-8 overall record.

Team scores:
Schaumburg 192.5, Glenbrook South 185.5, Morris 167, Lake Park 145, St. Patrick 137.5, Buffalo Grove 117.5, Romeoville 111.5, Vernon Hills 83.5, Glenbrook North 69.5, Maine East 68.5, Palatine 62.5, Argo 57, Niles North 55, Woodstock 47.5, Elk Grove 43.5, Horizon/Southwest Chicago 29

Rex Lewis results:

106

1st: Jack Koenig (St. Patrick) 15-2, over Owen Sater (Morris) 11-1,  (D 6-5)

3rd: Austin Phelps (Schaumburg) 15-1, over Liam Lovelace (Lake Park) 8-2,  (TF-1.5 3:26 (17-2)

5th: Parker Barry (Morris) 3-1, over Charles Dominguez (Vernon Hills) 9-6,  (D 7-1)

7th: Pedro Hernandez (Romeoville) 10-5, over Duncan Tenezaca (Maine E) 8-5,  (F 0:43)

113

1st: Bryce Mensik (Lake Park) 8-0, over Paxton Valentine (Morris) 12-1,  (F 6:35)

3rd: Diego Arteaga (GB South) 8-4, over Tony Lopez (Vernon Hills) 7-4,  (MD 12-4)

5th: Zander Spatafore (Elk Grove) 10-4, over Jairo Kish (Maine E) 7-7,  (TF-1.5 5:03 (20-3)

7th: Dominic Cimino (Vernon Hills) 7-4, over Nurislam Karybekov (Buffalo Grove) 2-3,  (TF-1.5 4:25 (19-3)

120

1st: Brady Phelps (Schaumburg) 13-0, over Oleksandr Havrylkiv (Buffalo Grove) 11-1,  (F 5:40)

3rd: Calvin Stahl (St. Patrick) 11-5, over Brandon Anderson (Morris) 11-2,  (D 6-2)

5th: Ermuun Urtanasan (GB South) 12-1, over Sevak Ohanyan (Lake Park) 6-4,  (TF 5:08 (16-1)

7th: Charles Dvorak (Summit (Argo) 6-6, over A.J Metallo (GB North) 3-12,  (F 2:37)

126

1st: Brock Claypool (Morris) 12-1, over Adrian Quevedo (Schaumburg) 8-1,  (TF-1.5 5:03 (21-5)

3rd: Mykola Shamray (Buffalo Grove) 11-2, over Munkhtulga Tsendayush (GB South) 8-5,  (D 11-4)

5th: Luca Rutili (Lake Park) 9-5, over Taqi Baker (Woodstock () 13-5,  (D 7-4)

7th: Ammar Khan (GB South) 3-2, over Dean Angelo III (St. Patrick) 6-11,  (F 1:11)

132

1st: Sergio Hernandez (Lake Park) 11-2, over Aiden Quevedo (Schaumburg) 15-2,  (TF-1.5 6:00 (20-2)

3rd: Daniel Deredlyak (Palatine) 8-2, over Dulguun Nyamdavaa (Maine E) 7-6,  (D 12-5)

5th: Roman Ocampo (GB South) 6-3, over Justice Randall Leach (Lake Park) 5-4,  (D 9-4)

7th: Daniel Nilsson (Woodstock () 3-3, over Aidyn Taylor (Morris) 5-10,  (TF-1.5 2:09 (18-3)

138

1st: Patrick Hulne (St. Patrick) 15-3, over Nicholas Merola (Lake Park) 8-3,  (F 5:00)

3rd: Brody Hinkle (Schaumburg) 8-2, over Jordan Mokhtarian (GB North) 9-9,  (MD 11-0)

5th: Aldo Gutierrez (Summit (Argo) 9-5, over Landyn White (Woodstock () 7-8,  (D 10-4)

7th: Mohamed El-Zin (Palatine) 4-4, over Jacob Meloun (Morris) 3-4,  (D 6-5)

144

1st: Carter Skoff (Morris) 10-1, over Jacob Van Allen (Summit (Argo) 11-1,  (D 5-4)

3rd: Justin Cortes-Apolinar (Schaumburg) 5-1, over Kale Schrauth (GB South) 10-4,  (D 6-2)

5th: Bohdan Malaksianov (Buffalo Grove) 10-3, over Dominic Peterka (Lake Park) 5-6,  (F 0:23)

7th: Zachary Hempen (Niles N) 7-4, over Andrew Diaz (Vernon Hills) 10-6,  (TF-1.5 3:37 (17-1)

150

1st: Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg) 16-0, over Oliver Quiros (Niles N) 12-3,  (F 1:11)

3rd: Andrew Rieger (St. Patrick) 10-8, over Aidan Minihane (GB South) 11-3,  (F 3:04)

5th: Tony Klinkas (Buffalo Grove) 9-5, over Andrew Peterson (Morris) 9-5,  (TF-1.5 3:06 (21-5)

7th: Sual Razo (Romeoville) 8-5, over Malsymilian Wala (Lake Park) 6-10,  (D 13-7)

157

1st: Dominic Marino (GB South) 12-1, over Ilan Ruderman (GB North) 13-3,  (F 4:09)

3rd: Logan Wisner (Woodstock () 13-6, over Andrew Garcia (Maine E) 4-5,  (F 4:20)

5th: Alan Allende (Palatine) 4-1, over Andrew Somenek (Elk Grove) 5-7,  (F 3:25)

7th: Jose Sotero (Palatine) 3-2, over Evan Lazik (Niles N) 8-8,  (D 11-8)

165

1st: Henry Downing (GB South) 11-1, over Chris Chi (Buffalo Grove) 7-2,  (D 9-7)

3rd: Ian Wills (Morris) 7-2, over Henry Hafner (GB North) 10-5,  (F 1:24)

5th: Tyler Lewis (Romeoville) 4-4, over Connor Riley (Niles N) 11-5,  (MD 12-1)

7th: Michael Starzyk (Summit (Argo) 5-4, over Shane Bigler (Lake Park) 2-12,  (MD 9-1)

175

1st: Ilia Dvoriannikov (Vernon Hills) 12-1, over Van Grasser (St. Patrick) 11-5,  (D 2-1)

3rd: Shane Onixt (GB North) 12-3, over Sean Christoffel (Schaumburg) 7-5,  (Inj. 1:41)

5th: Trey Widlowski (Palatine) 9-2, over Sonny Tugs (Buffalo Grove) 6-6,  (F 3:57)

7th: Hector Villagrana (Romeoville) 7-5, over Liam O`Rourke (St. Patrick) 8-10,  (F 0:50)

190

1st: Isiah Escobar (Romeoville) 9-1, over Adnan Shkeir (Maine E) 10-1,  (F 5:51)

3rd: Jacob Shamoon (GB South) 6-1, over Antonin Svoboda (Lake Park) 8-7,  (MD 9-0)

5th: Timur Arzumanov (Vernon Hills) 6-7, over Joshua Benson (Schaumburg) 8-9,  (F 5:19)

7th: Ilya Pilshchikov (Palatine) 2-2, over Vincent Romano (Buffalo Grove) 3-5,  (M. For.)

215

1st: Sami Marrero (Chicago (Horizon/Southwest) 8-0, over Malachi Congo (Morris) 9-4,  (D 8-4)

3rd: Sain Uranbold (GB South) 10-3, over Matthew Carver (Schaumburg) 6-9,  (M. For.)

5th: Emmanuel Ramirez (Romeoville) 3-2, over Salvador Espinoza (St. Patrick) 4-8,  (F 1:40)

7th: Jonathan Keats (Vernon Hills) 3-4, over Dilan Bustillos (Summit (Argo) 2-8,  (F 0:57)

285 

1st: Jamir Thomas (Romeoville) 10-1, over Mikey Milovich (Elk Grove) 11-3,  (TF-1.5 2:35 (17-2)

3rd: Hunter Johnson (GB South) 9-4, over Jaylen Maiden (Palatine) 6-6,  (F 1:55)

5th: Abraham Bonano (St. Patrick) 7-6, over Christofer Arciniega-Sanchez (Schaumburg) 10-6,  (F 0:47)

7th: Xhevdet Rustemi (Lake Park) 9-4, over Daniel Cisneros (Maine E) 5-6,  (TF-1.5 4:09 (18-3)

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

‘The Munch’ Boys Pontiac Invitational

Morton and Olympia went at each other at Pontiac’s 20-team ‘The Munch’ Invitational, and Morton came out on top thanks to a key factor that plays out in every close tournament finish.
“The difference in the tournament was we scored bonus points in 32 matches,” Morton coach Ed Henderson said. “It was a good battle with Olympia, They’re a very strong team with a great tradition.”
Morton’s 246.5-223 edge over Olympia featured 11 Morton wrestlers with top-five finishes, including six in the finals and five individual champions in Harrison Dea (132), Caiden Robison (144), Clay McKee (165), Colton McKee (175) and Ben Chaffer (215).

“I feel all five champs are wrestling well for this time of the year, but are focused on getting better and peaking in February,” Henderson said.
Evergreen Park (160) placed third, JS Morton (140) was fourth, and Springfield (89) took fifth in Pontiac.

1st place: Morton (246.5)
In addition to its five champs, Morton also got a second-place finish from Brody Watson (126), thirds from Evan Bierma (106) and Ryan Siebenthal (113), a fourth from Noah Harris (120), fifths from Joseph Roth (106) and Miles Chaffer (190), and sixths from Lincoln Yerby (138) and Carter Jones (150).
Chaffer (215) won his second tournament title of the season, and Clay McKee (165) and Colton McKee (175) “bonus-pointed their way through the tournament,” Henderson said.
“I was specifically pleased with the way Harrison Dea (132) finished the tournament off with a major decision over a very tough Garrett VerHeecke (of Datur Unity Christian),” Henderson said. “We’re happy with where we are at this point of the season, but our focus is getting better.”

2nd place: Olympia (223)
Olympia matched Morton with five individual champions in Brandon Gaither (106), Tucker Garey (113), Dylan Eimer (120), Kelton Graden (157) and Darian Holloway (285). The Spartans also got a second from Austin Kisner (144), thirds from Cooper Phillips (144) and Kaden Collins (150), fourths from Kayden Thomas (165) and Zach Fry (190),  and a sixth from Kenzer Burrell (132).

3rd place: Evergreen Park (160)
The Mustangs had an individual champion in Adrian Cervantes (126) and four second-place finishers in Jayden Cervantes (120), Chance Woods (138), David Johnson (150) and Ashton Gray (165). Evergreen Park also got a fourth from Brayden Mateja-Bates (106) and a fifth from Christian Ramirez (120).

Other individual champions in Pontiac were Unity Christian’s Clinton VerHeecke (138), Dwight’s Dylan Crouch (150), and Wilmington’s Logan VanDuyne (190).


Team scores:
Morton 246.5, Olympia 223, Evergreen Park 160, JS Morton 140, Springfield 89, Unity Christian 80.5, Macomb 75.5, Illinois Valley Central 72.5, Wilmington 71, Herscher 67, University 66, Kankakee 58, Pontiac 56.5, Prairie Central 51, Springfield Southeast 43, Rantoul 40.5, Dwight 32, Lincoln 31.5, Urbana 27.5, Taylorville 11

“The Munch” Invitational results:

106

1st: Brandon Gaither (Olympia) 11-1 d. Angel Jacobo (JS Morton) 10-6  (TF 4:00 (19-2)

3rd: Evan Bierma (Morton) 6-1 d. Brayden Mateja-Bates (Evergreen Park) 5-3,  (SV-1 4-3)

5th: Joseph Roth (Morton) 8-5 d.  Jayce McMillon (Taylorville) 8-6,  (MD 17-3)
113

1st: Tucker Garey (Olympia) 6-1 d.  David Roldan (JS Morton) 11-5,  (F 1:23)

3rd: Ryan Siebenthal (Morton) 6-5 d.  Nicholas Olson (Illinois Valley Central) 9-6,  (MD 11-0)

5th: Jairon Royer (Macomb) 8-5 d.  Devin Findlay (Wilmington) 1-2,  (D 9-3)
120 

1st: Dylan Eimer (Olympia) 7-1 d Jayden Cervantes (Evergreen Park) 7-1,  (TF 3:35 (18-2)

3rd: Ethan Hoyt (Macomb) 8-1 d Noah Harris (Morton) 10-4,  (D 9-8)

5th: Christian Ramirez (Evergreen Park) 9-1 d Joshua Butler (University) 7-3,  (D 6-0)
126

1st: Adrian Cervantes (Evergreen Park) 6-0, d Brody Watson (Morton) 8-5,  (F 3:44)

3rd: Ruben Rivera (University) 14-2 d Jose Berrios (JS Morton) 7-10,  (TF 1:13 (19-3)

5th: Owen Bollino (Herscher) 12-1, d Drake Clemons (Prairie Central) 9-11,  (MD 16-2)
132

1st: Harrison Dea (Morton) 11-1 d Garrett VerHeecke (Unity Christian) 13-1,  (MD 11-2)

3rd: Emiliano Bedolla (Urbana) 7-1 d John Traub (Prairie Central) 12-5,  (D 5-0)

5th: Lucas Landry (Evergreen Park) 4-1, d Kenzer Burrell (Olympia) 10-5,  (D 14-12)
138

1st: Clinton VerHeecke (Unity Christian) 12-0 d Chance Woods (Evergreen Park) 6-1,  (TF 5:20 (20-5)

3rd: Oakley Rivera (Wilmington) 3-1, d Giovanni Sundeen (Lincoln) 5-6,  (TF 3:35 (15-0)

5th: Anthony Trujillo (JS Morton) 12-5 d Lincoln Yerby (Morton) 8-6,  (MD 12-1)
144

1st: Caiden Robison (Morton) 12-2 d Austin Kisner (Olympia) 12-3,  (MD 14-6)

3rd: Cooper Phillips (Olympia) 9-4 d Devon Stone (Illinois Valley Central) 9-5,  (TF 4:00 (15-0)

5th: Frank Kittrell (Springfield SE) 10-3 d Gavin George (Unity Christian) 3-5,  (MD 11-0)
150

1st: Dylan Crouch (Dwight) 15-0 d David Johnson (Evergreen Park) 8-1,  (TF 3:12 (15-0)

3rd: Kaden Collins (Olympia) 11-4, d Hayden Washum (University) 10-4,  (F 2:46)

5th: Caleb Berg (Unity Christian) 10-4, d Carter Jones (Morton) 9-5,  (F 1:37)

157

1st: Kelton Graden (Olympia) 10-3 d Bryce Bryant (Springfield) 5-3,  (TF 4:08 (15-0)

3rd: Darius Williams (Rantoul) 3-1 d Ethan Ziller (Prairie Central) 8-3,  (M. For.)

5th: Lucas Maier (Pontiac) 5-1, d Joshua Caraballo (University) 12-6,  (MD 13-0)
165 

1st: Clay Mckee (Morton) 12-2 d Ashton Gray (Evergreen Park) 5-1,  (F 0:56)

3rd: Atsard Aplogan (Macomb) 13-4 d Kayden Thomas (Olympia) 6-6,  (F 1:09)

5th: Ryne Metelko (Lincoln) 6-3 d Carlito Lattin (Pontiac) 3-2,  (D 9-7)
175 

1st: Colton Mckee (Morton) 10-1, d Owen Moser (Illinois Valley Central) 12-3,  (F 1:46)

3rd: Keyshaun Harris (Springfield) 3-1 d Brayden Crews (Herscher) 9-4,  (TF 2:26 (16-1)

5th: Santiago Moya (JS Morton) 7-3, d Jeshua McPheeters (Macomb) 9-6,  (F 1:33)
190

1st: Logan VanDuyne (Wilmington) 4-0 d Chris Hull (Springfield SE) 10-4,  (D 8-4)

3rd: Jacob Vinardi (Kankakee ) 9-2 d Zach Fry (Olympia) 13-4,  (F 2:50)

5th: Miles Chaffer (Morton) 7-3 d Oliver Record-Frank (Springfield) 4-4,  (D 7-1)
215

1st: Benjamin Chaffer (Morton) 11-1 d Carlos Arriaza (JS Morton) 9-7,  (MD 8-0)

3rd: Jackson O`Connor (Springfield) 4-2 d Drew Owen (Rantoul) 5-6,  (F 2:53)

5th: Will Wilson (Wilmington) 4-1, d Isai Brito (Kankakee () 3-9,  (F 2:53)
285

1st: Darian Holloway (Olympia) 13-2 d Rogelio Cornejo (Kankakee () 9-1,  (F 2:30)

3rd: Matthew Stone (Herscher) 8-2 d Alex Brown (Macomb) 9-5,  (F 1:40)

5th: Hunter McCullough (Pontiac) 4-1, d Daniel Lopez (JS Morton) 5-8,  (F 1:50)

PORTA’s Rex Avery Invitational

Three individual champions among eight top-six finishers led the way for host PORTA and coach Jeff Hill, whose Bluejays won 207-174 over second-place Kewanee at this year’s 32-team Rex Avery Invitational.
“We were pretty happy with the way we wrestled,” Hill said. “I’m anxious to see how this team does at (Abe’s Rumble) with fourteen wrestlers who know how to wrestle because there are some very good teams at the Rumble with Vandalia, Coal City, Lena-Winslow, and defending champ Marian Central Catholic.”

PORTA will compete at one of Illinois’ premier tournaments at Abe’s Rumble, a dual-team event that will see 60 teams compete at Springfield’s BOS Center on D. 27-28.

LeRoy (173.5) finished a mere half-point behind Kewanee in third place, Canton (169) was fourth, and Mt. Zion (165) rounded out a hotly-contested top-five team finish.
“It was also surprising that heavyweight had the most participants in the field and was also the deepest weight with five state qualifiers,” Hill said.
When the fur stopped flying in a loaded heavyweight division, it was Canton’s Connor Williams taking the top prize in a 3-0 title-mat decision over Shelbyville’s Andrew Townsend.

1st place: PORTA (207 points)
The host Bluejays were led by a trio of individual champions in Kainin Fillbright (113), Zach Bryant (132) and Justin Zimerman (157).
“They helped propel us and separate us from the field,” PORTA coach Jeff Hill said.

Hill also got a second-place finish from Logan Baker (150), a third from Coyt Rademaker (106), a fifth from Dane Jiannoni (190), and sixths from Max King (126) and Jaxson Ferguson (144). Others contributing team points in the win were Hunter King (138), CJ Welbourne (165), JJ Dyson (215) and Hunter Morris (285).

“We were pretty happy with the way we wrestled, with 32 teams in the field,” Hill said. “Most weight classes had 24 wrestlers. Also with Kewanee, Leroy and Mt. Zion in the field, I wasn’t really sure how we were going to finish with five freshmen in the lineup. But our juniors did a great job and carried the team.”

2nd place: Kewanee (174)
Boilermakers coach Charley Eads got a second-place finish from Lain Taylor (138), thirds from Ben Taylor (150) and Alejandro Duarte (215), a fourth from Tyson Currie (113), and fifths from Kingston Peterson (120) and Ace Lafollette (175). Kewanee also had a pair of consolation first-place finishers in Hunter Vancil (126) and Joey McGuire (165).

3rd place: LeRoy (173.5)
Coach Brady Sant Amour got a pair of individual titles from Brady Mouser (120) and Kobe Brent (150), fourths from Jim Chaon (138), Brock Owens (165), Bo Zeleznik (175) and Tate Sigler (285), and a sixth from Austin Pacha (106). LeRoy also got a consolation first-place finish from Matt Helfrich (132).

Team scores:
PORTA 207, Kewanee 174, LeRoy 173.5, Canton 169, Mt. Zion 169, Shelbyville 152.5, Warrensburg 125.5, Lawrenceville 121, Pittsfield 119.5, St. Joseph Ogden 117, Monticello 104, Cumberland 104, Beardstown 93, Litchfield 86.5, Robinson 76.5, Heyworth 61.5, Hillsboro 60.5, Sacred Heart-Griffin 57.5, Farmington 57, Auburn 53, Monmouth-Roseville 39.5, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 38.5, Knoxville 38, West Hancock 33.5, Williamsville 32, Mid-West 31.5, Havana/PORTA 21, Ridgeview 18, Monmouth United 14, Carlinville 9

PORTA’s Rex Avery Invitational results:
106 

1st: Kyler Guercio (Lawrenceville) 7-1, d Ben Wells (SJ Ogden) 9-2,  (TF 3:38 (24-6)

3rd: Coyt Rademaker (PORTA) 12-2, d Kohl Fuller (Hillsboro) 6-3,  (TF 3:52 (19-3)

5th: Jaxsun Owens (Canton) 8-4, d Austin Pacha (LeRoy) 8-3,  (F 1:25)
Consolation 1st: Evan King (Deer Creek Mackinaw) 3-1 d Jaydin Schmider (Farmington) 2-2 (Fall 0:22)
113

1st: Kainin Fillbright (PORTA) 12-2, d Vincent Baker (Mt. Zion ) 9-2,  (TF 5:37 (15-0)

3rd: Jackson Walsh (SJ Ogden) 9-3 d Tyson Currie (Kewanee) 10-3,  (F 2:29)

5th: Peyton Groves (Cumberland) 8-5 d Emmett Roeder (Heyworth) 9-7,  (TF 4:48 (19-2)
Consolation 1st: Rilynn Younker (Litchfield) 13-2 d Delaney Ledbetter (Lawrenceville) 2-2  (MD 13-0)

120 

1st: Brady Mouser (LeRoy) 12-0 d Logan Roberts (Warrensburg) 9-1,  (D 8-3)

3rd: Ezekiel Young (Monticello) 4-1, d Jacob Hardesty (Canton) 11-2,  (D 7-4)

5th: Kingston Peterson (Kewanee) 10-4 d Landon Peterson (Monmouth-R) 6-6,  (F 3:19)
Consolation 1st: Vincent Moore (Litchfield) 13-1 d Colin Wells (Shelbyville) 6-4 (Fall 4:34)
126

1st: Dyllan Steele (Canton) 10-1 d Sammy Toth (Mt. Zion ) 11-1,  (MD 15-2)

3rd: Sawyer Welbaum (Cumberland) 10-1 d Nick Litchfield (Monticello) 8-3,  (F 0:47)

5th: Johnathan Kirkbride (Shelbyville) 7-4, d Max King (PORTA) 7-6,  (F 2:57)
Consolation 1st: Hunter Vancil (Kewanee) 5-1 d Jordan Jones (Farmington) 13-5, . (TF-1.5 2:27 (18-1)
132

1st: Zach Bryant (PORTA) 12-2 d Kaden Roberts (Warrensburg) 6-1,  (F 1:27)

3rd: Bodee Fathauer (Shelbyville) 9-2 d Drayven Hamm (Auburn) 8-4,  (D 6-2)

5th: Gavyn Stevens (Knoxville) 12-6 d Dylan Aten (Lawrenceville) 6-2,  (M. For.)
Consolation 1st: Matt Helfrich (LeRoy) 10-5 d Joel Noble (Pittsfield) 6-6, (Fall 5:58)

138 

1st: Jack Jochums (Canton) 11-2 d Lain Taylor (Kewanee) 10-2,  (MD 11-0)

3rd: Kai Humphry (West Hancock) 7-3  dJim Chaon (LeRoy) 9-5,  (D 12-10)

5th: Chase Frye (Farmington) 10-5, d Cory Hurst (Havana/PORTA) 3-3,  (TF 3:29 (16-0)
Consolation 1st: Cale Seitzinger (Lawrenceville) 8-1 d Luke Andruczyk (Monticello) 6-4 (Fall 1:18)
144 

1st: Bradlee Ellis (Farmington) 14-1, d Hudson Meek (Lawrenceville) 7-2,  (F 2:54)

3rd: Charlie Wittmer (Warrensburg) 10-3 d Luis De La Cruz (Beardstown) 15-4,  (TF 4:40 (17-1)

5th: Clayton Hauter (Litchfield) 13-3 d Jaxson Feagans (PORTA) 10-6,  (TF 2:31 (16-0)
Consolation 1st: Remington Vonderheide (Mid-West) 9-5 d Gage Fox (Knoxville) 15-5 (D 14-8)

150 

1st: Kobe Brent (LeRoy) 13-1 d Logan Baker (PORTA) 11-3,  (MD 9-1)

3rd: Ben Taylor (Kewanee) 14-1 d Matthew Miller (Williamsville) 10-4,  (MD 11-3)

5th: Drayden Smith (Mt. Zion ) 10-3 d Maddox Medrano (Beardstown) 11-9,  (F 5:15)

Consolation 1st: Preston Bassonette (Warrensburg) 7-4 d Levi Pearson (Knoxville) 9-7 (MD 20-7)
157 

1st: Justin Zimmerman (PORTA) 14-0 d Owen McGinnis (Cumberland) 11-1,  (D 8-7)

3rd: Ben Mullins (Robinson) 10-1, d Daniel Kees (Canton) 9-6,  (TF 2:22 (15-0)

5th: Jake Oitker (Pittsfield) 5-5 d Jovonis Lundford (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 3-2,  (M. For.)

Consolation 1st: Hunter Bockelman (Heyworth) 10-6 d Daniel Kiser (Lawrenceville) 7-3 (D 15-9)
165
1st: Ryne Peavler (Shelbyville) 9-1 d Grant Keyser (Cumberland) 10-2,  (F 0:54)

3rd: Waylon White (Pittsfield) 9-3 d Brock Owens (LeRoy) 11-4,  (F 1:11)

5th: Kahne Hyre (Robinson) 8-3 d Kaden Long (Hillsboro) 6-3,  (F 1:38)
Consolation 1st: Joey McGuire (Kewanee) 6-2 d CJ Welbourne (Petersburg PORTA) 9-6 (Fall 3:36)
175 

1st: Tucker Kull (Shelbyville) 9-0 d Gunner Looker (Beardstown) 16-1,  (MD 14-6)

3rd: Jayden Ellinger (Litchfield) 12-2 d Bo Zeleznik (LeRoy) 10-5,  (F 0:51)

5th: Ace Lafollette (Kewanee) 10-4, d Nick Morehead (Lawrenceville) 7-5,  (F 2:53)
Consolation 1st: Garrett Sego (Canton) 10-7 d Fisher McEuen (Pittsfield) 3-2 (TF-1.5 4:00 (24-9)
190 

1st: Bodine Marable (Pittsfield) 10-1 d Kaden Becker (Mt. Zion ) 6-1,  (F 3:52)

3rd: Casen Lyons (Sacred Heart-Griffin) 4-1, d Hunter Romano (Monticello) 4-1,  (M. For.)

5th: Dane Jiannoni (PORTA) 13-4 d Gavan Rhodes (Shelbyville) 8-4,  (F 0:49)
Consolation 1st: Maliki Fitch (Auburn) 10-2 d Jarrod Fulcher (Heyworth) 6-4 (Fall 1:38)
215

1st: Keller Stocks (Mt. Zion ) 7-0 d Tristan Staggs (Litchfield) 12-2,  (F 1:57)

3rd: Alejandro Duarte (Kewanee) 11-2 d Tucker Cook (Pittsfield) 8-3,  (F 4:48)

5th: Nathan Phillips (SJ Ogden) 9-4 d Anthony Beckman (Williamsville) 11-3,  (F 1:22)
Consolation 1st: Alex Gandarilla (Monmouth Roseville) 12-3 d Taven Agney (Shelbyville) 8-3 (Fall 0:49)

285

1st: Connor Williams (Canton) 10-0 d Andre Townsend (Shelbyville) 10-1,  (D 3-0)

3rd: Chunk Dailey (Beardstown) 17-4 d Tate Sigler (LeRoy) 11-3,  (D 6-4)

5th: Joey Humpherys (DC Mackinaw) 4-2, d Dylan Camden (Lawrenceville) 5-3,  (F 1:15)
Consolation 1st: Jack Kerley (Warrensburg) 9-3 d Devin Hansel (Litchfield) 11-5 (Fall 0:41)

Washington Holiday Invitational

Host Washington edged Mount Carmel 244.5-232.5 at this year’s 8-team tournament, with IC Catholic Prep (194) placing third, Hersey (167) in fourth, and Belleville East (157) rounding out the top five, followed by Unity (141), Rock Island (90) and Westville (61).

1st place: Washington (244.5 points)
Panthers coach Nick Miller got individual titles from Symon Woods (106), Noah Woods (126), Wyatt Medlin (157) and Josh Hoffer (215) to lead the host team. Four additional Panthers reached the finals and placed second in Lucas Bach (113), Michael Mendoza (138), Peyton Cox (144) and Sean Thornton (285), and Washington got thirds from Logan Makiney (120) and Wyatt Leman (190), and fifths from Cayden Park (132) and Cruise Brolley (165).

2nd place: Mount Carmel (232.5)
Mount Carmel had 10 wrestlers finish in the top three of their weight classes in Washington. The Caravan had a trio of champions in William Grafton-Hodgetts (113), Seth Mendoza (138) and Jairo Acuna (150), and coach Alex Tsirtsis got seconds from Kavel Moore (120), Justin Wiliamson (132), Liam Kelly (157) and Kevin Kalchbrenner (165), thirds from Sebastian Garcia (106), Sergio Calleros (175), and Leonard Siegel (215), and a sixth from Francis Burke (126).

3rd place: IC Catholic Prep
Knights coach Danny Alcocer got three individual titles from Kannon Judycki (120), Deven Casey (132) and Brody Kelly (175), seconds from Dominic Pasquale (106) and Foley Calcagno (215), thirds from Mike Bird (113) and Anthony Sebastian (285), a fourth from Joey Pontrelli (150), and fifths from Jacob Alvarez (138) and Aidan Arnett (144).

Team scores:
Washington 244.5, Mount Carmel 232.5, IC Catholic Prep 194, Hersey 167, Belleville East 157, Unity 141, Rock Island 90, Westville 61

Washington Holiday Invitational results:

106 

1st: Symon Woods (Washington) 13-2 d Dominic Pasquale (IC Catholic) 10-4,  (D 10-3)

3rd: Sebastian Gracia (Mt. Carmel) 10-2, d Jackson Schadegg (Belleville E) 4-4,  (F 2:55)

5th: Angelo Parker (Rock Island) 7-2, d Kevin Bisonaya (Mt. Carmel) 1-3,  (TF 5:16 (22-2)

113 

1st: William Grafton-hodgetts (Mt. Carmel) 9-2, d Lucas Bach (Washington) 11-5,  (TF 3:23 (15-0)

3rd: Mike Bird (IC Catholic) 6-3, d Tyquez Hudson (Rock Island) 4-4,  (F 5:21)

5th: William Torres (Hersey) 1-2, d Jimmy Obedi (Rock Island) 3-6,  (D 9-5)

120 

1st: Kannon Judycki (IC Catholic) 7-4, d Kavel Moore (Mt. Carmel) 8-3,  (D 6-5)
3rd: Logan Makiney (Washington) 9-6 d Corbin Zeisset (Belleville E) 2-5,  (MD 16-2)

126

1st: Noah Woods (Washington) 14-0 d Riddick Variano (Hersey) 10-4, . (D 4-2)

3rd: Anthony Orozco (Hersey) 3-1 d Merrick Stockwell (Rock Island) 6-2,  (MD 21-12)

5th: Delane Mosley (Belleville E) 6-4 d Francis Burke (Mt. Carmel) 4-8,  (MD 23-14)

132 

1st: Deven Casey (IC Catholic) 15-2 d Justin Williamson (Mt. Carmel) 6-3,  (D 4-3)

3rd: Elijah Garza (Hersey) 11-3, d Hunter Shike (Unity) 8-3,  (F 0:58)

5th: Cayden Park (Washington) 6-6, d Micheal Gibson (Belleville E) 0-5,  (TF 3:34 (15-0)

138

1st: Seth Mendoza (Mt. Carmel) 11-1 d Michael Mendoza (Washington) 9-5,  (F 1:16)

3rd: Taylor Finley (Unity) 9-1, d Braden Kelly (Belleville E) 3-2,  (D 11-7)

5th: Jacob Alvarez (IC Catholic) 7-4, d Nolan Variano (Hersey) 8-6,  (TF 5:19 (18-3)
144

1st: Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey) 11-3, d Peyton Cox (Washington) 8-3,  (D 8-7)

3rd: Antonio Parker (Rock Island) 8-1 d Kaden Inman (Unity) 10-2,  (D 3-2)

5th: Aidan Arnett (IC Catholic) 9-4, d George Hollendoner (Mt. Carmel) 7-7,  (MD 16-3)
150

1st: Jairo Acuna (Mt. Carmel) 8-2 d Rodrigo Arceo (Hersey) 8-2,  (D 7-1)

3rd: Holden Brazelton (Unity) 11-1 d Joey Pontrelli (IC Catholic) 6-4,  (F 1:25)

5th: George Tate (Rock Island) 4-5 d Myles Greenfield (Belleville E) 4-7,  (SV-1 11-8)

7th: Sebastian Howe (Washington) 3-5, d Devon Irvin (Westville) 2-6,  (F 0:41)
157

1st: Wyatt Medlin (Washington) 17-2 d Liam Kelly (Mt. Carmel) 9-3,  (D 4-2)

3rd: Killian Rauch (Belleville E) 7-3, d Gabriel Kiddoo (Westville) 7-2,  (D 14-9)

5th: Keegan Germano (Unity) 2-2, d Luke Koclanis (Hersey) 7-6,  (D 7-5)

7th:  Ben Czarnowski (IC Catholic) 1-4 d Conner Coppage (Belleville E) 0-4,  (MD 13-4)
165

1st: Terence Willis (Belleville E) 9-1 d Kevin Kalchbrenner (Mt. Carmel) 9-2,  (F 3:46)

3rd: Abram Davidson (Unity) 8-3 d Grant Moga (Hersey) 9-6,  (F 4:18)

5th: Cruise Brolley (Washington) 11-4 d Logan Mahaffey (Westville) 6-4,  (TF 3:38 (18-3)

7th: Daniel Htoo (Rock Island) 2-6,  () , . (Bye)
175 

1st: Brody Kelly (IC Catholic) 12-2 d Ryan Rink (Unity) 8-3,  (F 3:24)

3rd: Sergio Calleros (Mt. Carmel) 3-1, d Eliot Dahm (Belleville E) 5-5,  (F 1:07)

5th: Connor Moga (Hersey) 6-6 d Josh Heath (Unity) 1-3,  (F 2:58)

7th: Justin Nose (Westville) 10-7 d Braden Brown (Washington) 9-8,  (F 2:30)
190

1st: Hunter Eastin (Unity) 3-0 d Ethan Miller (Westville) 10-1,  (MD 18-6)

3rd: Wyatt Leman (Washington) 12-5 d Cedric King (Belleville E) 8-3,  (F 2:41)

5th: Jonathan Slump (Hersey) 2-2 d Julyan Mayares (Rock Island) 3-4,  (F 1:33)

7th: Kenneth Seggerson (Mt. Carmel) 0-3,  () , . (Bye)
215

1st: Josh Hoffer (Washington) 17-3 d Foley Calcagno (IC Catholic) 11-3,  (D 7-2)

3rd: Leonard Siegal (Mt. Carmel) 9-3 d Nick Larsen (Hersey) 5-6,  (TF 4:00 (16-1)

5th: Rowan Stockwell (Rock Island) 4-2, d Chason Daly (Unity) 1-3,  (F 4:18)

7th:  Antwon Brown (Belleville E) 2-3 d Bleighten Irelan (Westville) 3-6,  (F 0:48)
285

1st: Jonathan Rulo (Belleville E) 10-0 d Sean Thornton (Washington) 12-5,  (F 3:03)

3rd: Anthony Sebastian (IC Catholic) 7-2, d Harrison Lacaeyse (Hersey) 6-7,  (D 1-0)

5th: Emilio Guzman (Rock Island) 6-3 d Josiah Sedlacek (Westville) 9-5,  (F 4:35)

7th: Landin Carter (Mt. Carmel) 1-3 d Jaden Dene (Unity) 0-4,  (F 1:27)

Marion Wildcat Duals

The team from Paducah Tilgham, Kentucky finished at the top of the heap of this year’s 21-team field in Marion. Host Marion placed second, Waterloo was third and Carbondale finished fourth.
Paducah (6-0) won 72-12 over Breese Central, 60-21 over Red Bud, 54-17 over Harrisburg, and 59-24 over Mt. Vernon to reach the semifinals, where Paducah Tilgham won 44-35 over Waterloo and 57-24 over Marion to take the team title.
Host Marion (5-1) took second thanks to wins over Pinckneyville (77-0), Effingham (57-24), Kennett, MO (72-6), Caldwell County (60-11) and Carbondale (49-29).
Third-place Waterloo (5-1) topped Centralia (66-17), Johnston City (57-23), Benton (48-36), McCracken County, KY (53-24) and Carbondale (45-35), while fourth-place Carbondale (4-2) beat Sparta (54-24), Fort Campbell, KY (61-15), Carmi-White County (53-24) and West Frankfort (48-33) to reach the championship round.

Championship dual results:
1st place: Paducah Tilgham, KY 57, Marion 24
3rd place: Waterloo 45, Carbondale 35

1st place dual:

Paducah Tilghman defeated Marion 57-24

106 – Jake Pulliam (Paducah) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

113 – Christian Prietto-Bottoms (Paducah) over Rigdon Meacham (Marion) Fall 0:36

120 – Case Simmons (Paducah) over Juelz Elliott (Marion) Fall 0:40

126 – Jeremiah Pulliam (Paducah) over Hunter Detrick (Marion) Fall 0:30

132 – Jordynn Davis (Paducah) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

138 – Zach Bell (Marion) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

144 – Jaylin Bellamy (Paducah) over Nate Page (Marion) TF 19-4

150 – Brady Lamoureux (Paducah) over John Walters (Marion) Fall 1:20

157 – Ethan O`Malley (Paducah) over Justin Murphy (Marion) Fall 5:12

165 – Tate Miller (Marion) over Titan Henderson (Paducah) Fall 0:20

175 – Grayson Sanders (Marion) over Phoenix Marshall (Paducah) Fall 4:52

190 – Ben Hall (Paducah) over Evan Francis (Marion) Maj 12-2

215 – Bryan Madinger (Marion) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

285 – Prosper Livingston-Holmes (Paducah) over Logan Black (Marion) Fall 1:03

3rd place dual:

Waterloo defeated Carbondale 45-35

144 – Ty Kinzinger (Waterloo) over Joe Prideaux (Carbondale) Maj 13-2

150 – Tyshawn Welch (Carbondale) over Kadyn Brewer (Waterloo) TF 28-11

157 – Jon Martin (Carbondale) over Jackson Hock (Waterloo) Fall 0:57

165 – Thomas Imboden (Carbondale) over Austin Goddard (Waterloo) Fall 0:02

175 – Vince Goodman (Waterloo) over Jeramiah Walden (Carbondale) Fall 0:21

190 – Mason West (Waterloo) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

215 – Jaxson Mathenia (Waterloo) over Connor Daly (Carbondale) Fall 0:30

285 – Drew Glowacki (Waterloo) over Jordyn Lomax-Brown (Carbondale) Fall 0:32

106 – Matthew Deutch (Waterloo) over Dajuan Anderson (Carbondale) Fall 0:00

113 – Ian Holzmueller (Carbondale) over Jackson Wirth (Waterloo) Fall 0:00

120 – Bradley O`dell (Carbondale) over Carter Marshall (Waterloo) Fall 0:00

126 – Konnor Stephens (Waterloo) over Ayden Swan (Carbondale) TF 15-0

132 – Kurt Ford (Carbondale) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf

138 – Jaxon Mifflin (Waterloo) over Xavier Toliver-Cook (Carbondale) Fall 0:00

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

Eight seniors won individual titles at Richmond-Burton’s 18-team Tom DuBois Invitational on Saturday, and almost to a man they each talked about evolving from timid freshmen to bold seniors who are hungry for state finals hardware.

Nobody put that senior-year confidence and hunger into words better than Grayslake North’s Owen Anderson, after he won a DuBois title at 150 pounds.

“I take offense when people stand on the line against me,” Anderson said. “You’ve got to be mean on the mat. He’s disrespecting me by standing on that line; that’s the mentality I have now.”

Results in the finals of this year’s DuBois suggested that there were plenty of offended wrestlers at Richmond-Burton. In all, individual DuBois champions post five pins, four tech falls, and three major decisions on the title mat.

When the dust cleared, host Richmond-Burton hoisted the team title plaque thanks to five champions, one runner-up, one third-place finish, two fourths, and two fifths.

And the Rockets pulled if off while wrestling without a few key members of their lineup in Kyan Gunderson and Dane Sorensen.

“It’s just been awesome watching everyone grow,” Richmond-Burton senior heavyweight Colin Kraus said. “I knew we had guys coming in that were really, really good and we all showed up today.”

Thirteen of the Rockets 14 wrestlers scored team points in a 235.5-154 win over second-place Oregon. Johnsburg (145) placed third, followed by Prairie Ridge (138) and Union Grove (126.5) to round out the top five team finishes.

“I’ve been waiting nine years for this team,” Richmond-Burton coach Tony Nelson said. “We’ve known all these kids coming up and this is what we’ve been working for. So if we can all mesh…but I’m just happy because these guys are just awesome together and they have so much fun. Whatever happens, happens, but it’s going to be a great year no matter what.”

Winning titles for the Rockets were Lelan Nelson (106), Emmett Nelson (144), Blake Livdahl (175), Breckin Campbell (190) and Kraus (285). Shane Falasca (215) took second and the Rockets got a third from Clayton Madula (126), fourths from Kristian Gersch (113) and Adam Glauser (120), and fifths from Dalton Youngs (150) and Dylan Falasca (165).

Nelson applauded all of his wrestlers’ contributions, and was tickled by another strong performance by Falasca (11-4) — a freshman wrestling mainly against upperclassmen at 215 pounds.

“Last week at Rockford East he lost his second match and then went 7-1 for third place,” Nelson said. “He’s been wrestling for the Richmond Wrestling Club his whole life, he’s a two-time IESA state champ, and (a tournament title) is going to happen for him by the end of the year.”

Second-place Oregon was led by a trio of second-place finishes from Josiah Perez (113), Isaiah Perez (120) and Briggs Sellers (285). Third-place Johnsburg got a title from Landon Johnson (138) and seconds from Kainoa Ancog (150) and Duke Mays (175); fourth-place Prairie Ridge had two champions in Jake Lowitzki (120) and Mikey Meade (126); and fifth-place Union Grove was led by individual champs Camden Rugg (113) and Cole Dummer (157).

Other individual DuBois champions were Crystal Lake South’s Nate Randle (132), Grayslake North’s Owen Anderson (150), Wheaton Academy’s Tyler Jones (165), and Lake Forest’s Yaree Sandifer (215).

Tom DuBois individual champions:

106: Lelan Nelson, Richmond-Burton
After one period, the Rockets’ freshman trailed 6-1 in the finals to Stillman Valley’s Michael Pannarale (6-1). Nelson (10-1) then outscored Pannarale 10-2 the rest of the way, getting three takedowns and showing some mettle beyond his years in an 11-8 decision.
“He just kept wrestling,” coach and father Tony Nelson said of Lelan. “He wrestled in the off-season against some of the toughest kids in the country and that was a good win for him. Lelan just works. He showed a lot of composure against a good senior kid (in Pannarale).”
Lelan’s older brother is Emmett Nelson, who likes what he’s seeing from his kid brother.
“I see a lot of myself in him, in terms of pace,” Emmett said. “It’s been great to see and I hope I can inspire him a little bit, and push him to work hard. Sometimes I feel like I’m a little hard on him but I hope it’s worth it.”
Lelan Nelson placed second at 106 at last week’s 29-team Giardini Invitational at Rockford East.
Crystal Lake South’s Christopher Talbert took third in Richmond, Alden Hebron’s Riley Krumsee was fourth, Winnebago’s Cam Whitehead was fifth and Johnsburg’s Kai Surdick placed sixth at 106.

113: Camden Rugg, Union Grove WI
Top-seeded Rugg (8-0) wrestled the title match at 113 like a hungry man late for dinner. Of the four tech falls posted in the championship bouts, Rugg’s tech fall in 2:19 was the fastest of the group, against Oregon’s previously unbeaten junior Josiah Perez (7-1). Perez swept into the finals with a pin and a tech fall of his own.
The sophomore Rugg placed third in Wisconsin at 106 pounds last year. Johnsburg’s Chase Vogel placed third Saturday, Richmond-Burton’s Kristian Gersch was fourth, North Boone’s Drew Patel took fifth and Prairie Ridge’s Johnny Cabano placed sixth at 113.

120: Jake Lowitzki, Prairie Ridge
Top-seeded, two-time state qualifier Lowitzki (10-0) buzzed through the competition to reach the finals with two tech fall wins, then won a 13-1 major decision in a battle between two previously unbeaten wrestlers on the title mat, against Oregon’s Isaiah Perez (8-1).
Lowitzki also won a Giardini Invitational title last week and senior-year urgency has the varsity veteran focused on an upward plane towards a shot at Illinois’ ultimate prize.
“I’m excited. All the work I’ve put in — I want to win the (state) title,” Lowitzki said. “I came up short two years, losing in the blood round, and this year I want to win the whole thing.”
The senior piled up points on Saturday in helping his team to its fourth-place finish.
“When I felt guys were starting to break, I pushed the pace,” Lowitzki said. “I want to push the pace the whole year. We were good on our feet all day and we all wrestled through the whistle, the whole time. We never stopped wrestling.”
Lake Forest’s Charlie Biddell took third, Richmond-Burton’s Adam Glauser was fourth, Johnsburg’s Chase Davis took fifth and Woodstock North’s Anthony Motejzik placed sixth at 120.

126: Mikey Meade, Prairie Ridge
To be a wrestler is to be temporarily content but permanently discontented, where a win allows you to be briefly happy with the understanding that you can always be better.

Not 30 seconds after second-seeded Meade completed a dominant day of wrestling with a major decision win for the title at 126, two of his coaches took turns instructing him on a few minor things he might have done differently.
Like a good wrestler, even after posting a 14-0 major decision to win a tournament title, Meade happily took their advice.
“I love being corrected,” Meade said. “It only makes me better.”

Meade (10-1) won by major for the title against North Boone’s Gavin Ekberg (10-2), who won a tournament title at 126 at last week’s Giardini Invitational, where Meade placed third at 132. Meade (10-1) is a two-time state qualifier in 2A and Ekberg (10-2) finished sixth in 1A at 138 last year.
“Last year I was a good wrestler and I’ve always been a defensive wrestler, but this year I’m wrestling more offensive,” Meade said. “I’m not holding back. I stepped in the room after football season and started wrestling with Jake (Lowitzki) — a tough kid who’s been training all four years, every day — and that’s when it started clicking. I want to wrestle in matches the same way I’m training in the room, and give it my all.”

Richmond-Burton’s Clay Madula placed third, Lake Forest’s Tommy Demetrio was fourth, Johnsburg’s Tanner Hansen was fifth and Union Grove’s Paul Keeku took sixth at 126.

132: Nathan Randle, Crystal Lake South
The Gators’ junior placed second in Illinois two years ago for Wauconda at 113 but after missing out on a state medal last season, Randle (14-0) is hungrier than ever now that he’s settled in at Crystal Lake South.
Randle learned an invaluable lesson in the process.
“I wasn’t there mentally last year but this year I’ve got my mind right,” Randle said. “After being second in state my freshman year I thought I was unbeatable my sophomore year, but I got beat a couple times and it brought my mental game to an all-time low. I was overconfident. This year I know I can beat anyone but I also know that it’s okay to take a loss as long as you’re out there trying your hardest.”
Randle and Wheaton Academy junior Lincoln Hoger (12-4) – who placed 5th in 2A at 126 last year — locked horns in the closest finals match of the day in Richmond. Randle’s 4-2 decision win gave him the title; Randle led 3-2 after a period and escaped in the third en route to his 4-2 decision win.
It was Randle’s third tournament title of the year, having won at 132 at Vernon Hills and at last week’s Giardini Invitational at Rockford East. Hoger won a DuBois title in 2022 at 120 pounds. This year, Hoger won a title at Seneca’s 20-team tournament, and placed third at this year’s 24-team Ted DeRousse Invitational.
“I wrestled (Hoger) last year and was able to get to my takedowns. I know if I get the first takedown I have a good chance at winning,” Randle said. “I’m just trying to put everything out there this year, win or lose.”
Oregon’s Nelson Benesh placed third, Marengo’s Hayden Beebe was fourth, Prairie Ridge’s Christian Pease took fifth and Winnebago’s Chase Whitehead finished sixth at 132.

138: Landon Johnson, Johnsburg

One of three Johnsburg wrestlers to reach the finals, Johnson (15-2) won his first tournament title of the year for the Skyhawks with a tech fall win against Lake Forest’s Tony Telos (6-5) in the finals. Third-seeded Telos battled his way to the finals with a pair of decision wins in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, while Johnson ticked off two pins to reach the title mat.

Johnson also placed second at 138 at Vernon Hills’ 17-team tournament and third at last week’s Giardini invite in Rockford.

“Since then he has been on fire,” Johnsburg coach James Sylvanus said. “We’ve broken down film and worked through his missed opportunities, and I’m confident we will continue to see this same kid throughout the ’24-’25 season.

“Landon had a dominant performance, not allowing any earned points the entire (DuBois) tournament. He has a goal of standing on the podium at the end of the year and he’s working toward it every day in the practice room.”

Oregon’s Jackson Messenger placed third, Wheaton Academy’s Zion Willitts was fourth, Rockford Jefferson’s Antonio Flood took fifth and Grayslake North’s Huerta Rodriguez finished sixth at 138.

144: Emmett Nelson, Richmond-Burton
A 3-time Illinois state medalist, Nelson feels like a different wrestler to start his senior season for the Rockets. And it’s been high-level training that has him more ready to win a state title than he’s ever been.

“I was fortunate to spend a lot of time at Askren Wrestling Academy (in Wisconsin) and that has really helped me elevate my game,” Nelson said. “Believing in yourself is a huge part of it and my chain wrestling has improved.”

Nelson (8-0) won the fourth Tom DuBois title of his career and earned the DuBois’ outstanding wrestler award for the lower weights, after his tech fall win on the title mat against Crystal Lake South’s Aiden Marrello (15-3).

The two got in a wild scramble to start the match and Marrello only trailed 3-0 after a period before Nelson broke the match open. Marrello won a tournament title at 144 at Vernon Hills this year and placed third at Rockford East’s Giardini Invitational.

“He was a good opponent,” Nelson said. “I feel like I was able to score in a lot of places but it’s nice to see what I can do against a really good kid. I always feel like the longer a match goes on, the better I am. I was able to push my pace at the end and I think I tired him out.”
Oregon’s Levi Benton took third, Winnebago’s Jaxon Gustafson was fourth, Crystal Lake South’s Ethan Phillips was fifth and Union Grove’s Lucas Wright finished sixth at 144.

150: Owen Anderson, Grayslake North
Senior-year urgency is a real thing, and Grayslake North senior Owen Anderson feels it.
“I’m not going to get this opportunity again so I have to make sure not to waste it,” Anderson said. “I’ll miss this a decade from now so I have to make the most of it right now.”
Top-seeded Anderson (14-0) remained unbeaten and added a DuBois title to the title he won at Vernon Hills on Nov. 30. Anderson won a major decision and then a fall in his semifinal before winning by second-period fall in the final against Johnsburg’s Kainoa Ancog (11-7).
Anderson believes that his conversion from hesitancy to aggression on the mat is directly correlated to his decision to ignoring rankings.
“That mentality definitely grew this year,” Anderson said. “My junior and sophomore year I was looking too much at guys’ records on TrackWrestling, and I’d get intimidated. This year, I haven’t checked once.”
The lanky senior is also bringing the funk this year.
“I’ve always been taller and a little weaker than guys so I had to get really good in funky positions,” Anderson said. “I drill with (teammate) Jacob Ronsman and in all of these funky positions I can freeze people, because they don’t know what to do. I need to work on my feet a little bit but I couldn’t be happier with my defense.”
Stillman Valley’s Henry Hildreth took third, Woodstock North’s Trenton Combs was fourth, Richmond-Burton’s Dalton Youngs was fifth and Prairie Ridge’s Matt Moritz placed sixth at 150.

157: Cole Dummer, Union Grove WI
Seeded fifth, Cole Dummer from Union Grove, Wisconsin let the field know in no uncertain terms who the big dog at 157 was on Saturday. Dummer posted two pins and two tech falls in blazing his way to a DuBois title.
“I never heard of any of these guys so I just rely on my coaches’ information, but mostly it’s just attack, attack, attack and score a lot of points,” said Dummer, who placed third at 144 in Wisconsin last year. “I’m good on my feet, and I’ve been working on my turns. Third-place (in Wisconsin) won’t be good enough this year.”
Dummer’s attack mentality earned him the tournament’s outstanding wrestler award for the upper weights in Richmond. Dummer was also a training partner during the off-season at Wisconsin’s Askren Wrestling Academy with Richmond-Burton’s Emmett Nelson, who won the OWA for the lower weights on Saturday.
After winning by tech fall over top-seeded Chasen Kazmierczak of Wheaton Academy, Dummer did the same on the title mat against Grayslake North’s third-seeded Jacob Ronsman.
Kazmierczak finished third, Alden-Hebron’s Caleb Linneman was fourth, Oregon’s Ethan Mowry took fifth and Marengo’s Owen Ostler placed sixth at 157.

165 Tyler Jones, Wheaton Academy
Jones (13-1) won a title at Seneca’s 20-team Irish Invite and placed third at this year’s 24-team DeRousse Invitational at Lakes. The Wheaton Academy junior secured his second tournament title of the year with a third-period fall against Grayslake North’s Kacper Nalezny (4-2).
Second-seeded Jones opened with a fall in the quarterfinal round before winning 4-1 in his semifinal against Union Grove’s Evan Petrick.
Petrick went on to place third, Stillman Valley’s Ethan Waugh was fourth, Richmond-Burton’s Dylan Falasca took fifth and Johnsburg’s Aaron Alvarez placed sixth at 165.

175: Blake Livdahl, Richmond-Burton
Richmond-Burton sophomore Blake Livdahl placed second at 175 at last week’s Giardini Invitational and on Saturday he got over the hump to secure his first tournament title of the season. Top-seeded Livdahl (11-1) posted a tech fall and a fall before pinning third-seeded Duke Mays (8-4) of Johnsburg in the finals.
Livdahl led 3-0 after a period on a single-leg takedown, then turned Mays twice in the second period before turning him in the third and winning by fall.
“Blake has always had that ability and in the finals today, he opened up more than he has this season,” coach Tony Nelson said. “A lot of it is confidence. We don’t wrestle in a Thanksgiving tournament so a lot of our guys are just starting to hit their stride and Blake is one of them.”
Prairie Ridge’s Aiden Rodriguez placed third, Union Grove’s Kyle Sorensen was fourth, Grayslake North’s Gavin Cafferkey took fifth and Marengo’s Gavin Baros finished sixth at 175.

190: Breckin Campbell, Richmond-Burton
Just like fellow sophomore and teammate Livdahl, Richmond-Burton’s Breckin Campbell won the first tournament title of his young season. Third-seeded Campbell (11-4) won by fall in the second period in his title match against Alden-Hebron’s top-seeded Logan Crowell (5-1).
Campbell had a pair of decision wins to reach the finals, while Crowell posted two pins to reach the title mat.
“That kid just started wrestling two years ago,” Rockets coach Tony Nelson said of Campbell. “He looks like he’s 20 years old with that frame and he’s just getting better every week. I like that he can mix it up more like a middle-weight or a light-weight at 190 pounds. His leg attacks are so effective. And he finishes.”

Prairie Ridge’s Frank Matviychuk took third, Woodstock North’s David Randecker was fourth, Stillman Valley’s Brady Stewart took fifth and Marengo’s Devin Storti finished sixth at 190.

215: Yaree Sandifer, Lake Forest

Lake Forest’s top-seeded Yaree Sandifer used a pair of first-period falls to reach the title mat, where a 14-2 major decision win over Richmond-Burton freshman Shane Falasca (11-4) earned him the title.
Sandifer improved to 11-1 with the win.

“Yaree has been wrestling well and is looking to bounce back this year and make a run at state,” Lake Forest coach Nick Kramer said. “He put in work this offseason and so far this season his only loss is up at heavyweight against (Anthony) Soto from Warren. He is starting to put things together and looked great at Richmond-Burton. He was able to stay composed and beat a talented freshman from Richmond Burton in the finals.”

Wheaton Academy’s Jeremy Johanik took third, Marengo’s Owen Bills was fourth, Prairie Ridge’s Walter Pollack placed fifth and North Boone’s Nick Davis finished sixth at 215.

285: Colin Kraus, Richmond-Burton

Richmond-Burton senior heavyweight Colin Kraus wasn’t quite sure what to expect Saturday. After winning a DuBois title in the way he did, those expectations have unavoidably risen.
All Kraus did as the fifth seed was gut out a 1-0 quarterfinal decision against third seeded Austin Waidal of Union Grove, before pining Wheaton Academy’s top-seeded Hezekiah Garcia in the semifinals.
Staying in the moment keyed Kraus’ mentality all day long.
“I wasn’t expecting to take first place,” Kraus said. “I always go out there thinking about winning and losing, but today I just thought about wrestling and what I had to do out there. I wasn’t thinking about winning or losing.”

A fall over Oregon’s Briggs Sellers, mid-way through the third period of a hard-fought match, gave Kraus his first tournament title.

“Colin is the best kid,” coach Tony Nelson said. “He shows up to practice early, washes mats for us, and it’s always whatever he can do for everybody else. So for him to have that success with all eyes on him today was just fantastic.”

Winnebago’s Josh Cowman took third, Wheaton Academy’s Hezekiah was fourth, Union Grove’s Austin Waldal finished fifth and Lake Forest’s Rusian Martin placed sixth at 285.

Winnebago’s Josh Cowman finished with the most pins (3) in the least time (2:59) of any wrestler in the tournament, and Grayslake North’s Jacob Ronsman finished with the most tech falls (3) in the least time (9:07). Oregon’s Maxx George had the fastest fall in 12 seconds, and Prairie Ridge’s Jake Lowitzki posted the fastest tech fall in 1:52. Union Grove’s Cole Drummer scored the most team points (29), Union Grove’s Braxton Storbeck had the most single-match points (24), and Prairie Ridge’s Frank Matviychuk scored the most total match points (60).

Team scores: Richmond-Burton 235, Oregon 154, Johnsburg 154, Prairie Ridge 138, Union Grove, WI 126.5, Wheaton Academy 116.5, Grayslake North 107.5, Lake Forest 106, Crystal Lake South 72, Marengo 72, Stillman Valley 69, North Boone 65, Winnebago 55.5, Alden-Hebron 52.5, Woodstock North 42, Rockford Jefferson 22, Genoa Kingston 13, Durand 3

Richmond-Burton’s Tom Dubois Invitational results

106

1st: Lelan Nelson (Richmond-B) 10-1 def. Michael Pannarale (Stillman Valley) 6-1,  (D 11-8)

3rd: Christopher Talbert (CLSouth) 12-6 def. Riley Krumsee (Alden-Hebron) 4-2,  (F 1:33)

5th: Cam Whitehead (Winnebago ) 10-3 def. Kai Surdick (Johnsburg) 13-7,  (TF-1.5 2:57 (16-0)
113

1st: Camden Rugg (Union Grove) 8-0 def. Josiah Perez (Oregon) 7-1,  (TF-1.5 2:19 (16-0)

3rd: Chase Vogel (Johnsburg) 15-4 def. Kristian Gersch (Richmond-B) 9-5,  (F 4:24)

5th: Drew Patel (N Boone) 10-3 def. Johnny Cabano (P Ridge) 3-7,  (D 8-6)

120 

1st: Jake Lowitzki (P Ridge) 10-0 def. Isaiah Perez (Oregon) 8-1,  (MD 13-1)

3rd: Charlie Biddel (Lake Forest) 8-2, . def. Adam Glauser (Richmond-B) 11-4,  (For.)

5th: Chase Davis (Johnsburg) 15-5 def. Anthony Motejzik (Woodstock N) 14-7,  (F 5:29)

126 

1st: Mikey Meade (P Ridge) 10-1 def. Gavin Ekberg (N Boone) 10-2,  (MD 14-0)

3rd: Clayton Madula (Richmond-B) 11-2 def. Tommy Demetrio (Lake Forest) 10-4, . (F 2:30)

5th: Tanner Hansen (Johnsburg) 12-5 def. Paul Keeku (Union Grove) 4-5,  (MD 11-2)

132

1st: Nathan Randle (CLSouth) 14-0 def. Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Ac) 12-4,  (D 4-2)

3rd: Nelson Benesh (Oregon) 6-2 def. Hayden Beebe (Marengo) 5-3,  (TF-1.5 5:57 (17-1)

5th: Christian Pease (P Ridge) 5-4 def. Chase Whitehead (Winnebago ) 8-3,  (M. For.)

138

1st: Landon Johnson (Johnsburg) 15-2 def. Tony Telos (Lake Forest) 6-5, . (TF-1.5 2:59 (18-3)

3rd: Jackson Messenger (Oregon) 4-3 def. Zion Willitts (Wheaton Ac) 1-11,  (F 1:39)

5th: Antonio Flood (Rockford Jefferson) 2-1 def. Emilio Huerta Rodriguez (Grayslake N) 3-10,  (F 2:51)

144 

1st: Emmett Nelson (Richmond-B) 8-0 def. Aiden Marrello (CLSouth) 15-3,  (TF-1.5 5:37 (19-4)

3rd: Levi Benton (Oregon) 8-1 def. Jaxon Gustafson (Winnebago ) 6-4,  (TF-1.5 3:58 (17-0)

5th: Ethan Phillips (CLSouth) 5-4 def. Lucas Wright (Union Grove) 4-5,  (MD 16-8)

150

1st: Owen Anderson (Grayslake N) 14-0 def. Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg) 11-7,  (F 3:30)

3rd: Henry Hildreth (Stillman Valley) 4-2 def. Trenton Combs (Woodstock N) 6-10,  (F 1:04)

5th: Dalton Youngs (Richmond-B) 5-7 def. Matt Moritz (P Ridge) 5-6,  (D 5-0)

157 

1st: Cole Dummer (Union Grove) 8-1 def. Jacob Ronsman (Grayslake N) 12-2,  (TF-1.5 4:57 (17-2)

3rd: Chasen Kazmierczak (Wheaton Ac) 14-2 def. Caleb Linneman (Alden-Hebron) 5-2,  (F 1:25)

5th: Ethan Mowry (Oregon) 7-4 def. Owen Ostler (Marengo) 4-3,  (F 5:21)

165 

1st: Tyler Jones (Wheaton Ac) 13-1 def. Kacper Nalezny (Grayslake N) 4-2,  (F 5:23)

3rd: Evan Petrick (Union Grove) 6-2 def. Ethan Waugh (Stillman Valley) 3-2,  (F 1:23)

5th: Dylan Falasca (Richmond-B) 8-7 def. Aaron Alvarez (Johnsburg) 2-2,  (D 10-3)

175
1st: Blake Livdahl (Richmond-B) 11-1 def. Duke Mays (Johnsburg) 8-4,  (F 5:41)

3rd: Aiden Rodriguez (P Ridge) 9-6 def. Kyle Sorensen (Union Grove) 4-4,  (D 7-2)

5th: Gavin Cafferkey (Grayslake N) 10-7 def. Gavin Baros (Marengo) 6-3,  (D 6-5)

190

1st: Breckin Campbell (Richmond-B) 11-4 def. Logan Crowell (Alden-Hebron) 5-1, . (F 2:24)

3rd: Frank Matviychuk (P Ridge) 7-3 def. David RanDker (Woodstock N) 8-4,  (D 8-6)

5th: Brady Stewart (Stillman Valley) 4-4 def. Devin Storti (Marengo) 5-3,  (F 1:36)

215

1st: Yaree Sandifer (Lake Forest) 11-1, . def. Shane Falasca (Richmond-B) 11-4,  (MD 14-2)

3rd: Jeremy Johanik (Wheaton Ac) 12-3 def. Owen Bills (Marengo) 4-3,  (F 5:24)

5th: Walter Pollack (P Ridge) 10-3 def. Nick Davis (N Boone) 7-6,  (F 2:07)

285

1st: Colin Kraus (Richmond-B) 8-3 def. Briggs Sellers (Oregon) 5-5,  (F 5:16)

3rd: Josh Cowman (Winnebago ) 9-6 def. Hezekiah Garcia (Wheaton Ac) 10-5,  (F 1:25)

5th: Austin Waldal (Union Grove) 7-3 def. Ruslan Martin (Lake Forest) 3-2, . (D 4-2)

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

With three of the top eight teams in Class 2A and a total of five top-25 teams on hand,  Rockford East’s E-Rab Giardini Invitational figured to be a good early measuring stick for teams like Geneseo, Rochelle and Mahomet-Seymour that have competed in the IHSA Class 2A Dual team Finals in recent years and for St. Patrick, Rockford East and Class 1A Richmond-Burton who haven’t been to the state duals for a while but would like to be in the mix this season.

Not surprisingly, things were very competitive throughout and Geneseo led Rochelle 165-162 for top honors with Richmond-Burton third at 158.5 heading into the place matches. But that’s when coach Jon Murray’s Maple Leafs began to pull away from coach Alphonso Vruno’s Hubs as Geneseo built up a 205-184 cushion over Rochelle heading into the championship matches.

In response to coaches’ suggestions, E-Rabs coach Gene Lee and his staff moved the championship matches from the fieldhouse to the classic 1940 gymnasium where the tournament had been contested in its entirety throughout much of its nearly 40-year history. And the finals on adjacent mats featuring half of the weight classes going up from 106 and half coming down from 285 didn’t disappoint. 

When the competition was complete, longtime entrant Geneseo won the title with 215 points while Rochelle was second with 192 points and Richmond-Burton took third with 171.5 points. Mahomet-Seymour (150.5), St. Patrick (150), Belmont/Platteville, Wisconsin (136) and Rockford East (135) rounded up the top seven teams of the competition, which featured 29 schools.

The first-place Maple Leafs had two title winners, Zachary Montez (165) and Izaac Gaines (150). Montez made history by becoming one of the few individuals to capture four-straight championships in the invitational. Other top finishers for Geneseo were Devan Hornback (second at 138), Landen Vincent (third at 120), Grady Hull (third at 157), Kye Weinzierl (third at 175), Tim Sebastian (fourth at 132), Colten Mooney (fifth at 215) and Brycen Fahnestock (sixth at 106).

“It was our first tournament for the season, so it was a good start,” said Murray, a 2023 IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee. “There was good competition and we exposed some weaknesses which is what we need to go back to the drawing board and get ready for the more important things toward the end of the season. They’ve up the competition at this tournament, as well, so that was great and we were happy to see that. We’ve been here quite a while and we  were coming here before the fieldhouse existed and everything was in this gym, so it was kind of nostalgic to come back to this gym, it reminded me of the good old days. We had a double win today for Geneseo for the boys and girls, so it was a good day for Geneseo wrestling. We have decent leadership out of these seniors and they’re stepping up and being there for each other, so that makes a big difference.”

The runner-up Hubs received title wins from Kaiden Morris (215) and Brenden Voight (157). Other teams with two champions were Mahomet-Seymour and St. Patrick. Title winners for the Bulldogs were Marco Casillas (175) and Brock VanDeveer (190) and first-place finishers for the Shamrocks were Jack Koenig (106) and Danny Goodwin (113).

Others who won titles were Prairie Ridge’s Jake Lowitzki (120), North Boone’s Gavin Ekberg (126), Crystal Lake South’s Nathan Randle (132), Rockford East’s Donald Cannon (138), Belmont/Platteville, WI’s Dylan Weigel (144) and Zion-Benton’s Isaiah Tellado (285).

Tellado led all competitors with 32 team points while Lowitzki was next with 31.5 points and Goodwin ranked third with 31 points. Cannon scored 30.5 points, Richmond-Burton’s Shane Falasca, a third-place finisher at 215, and Gaines both scored 30 points, VanDeveer, Voight and Weigel each had 29 team points, Ekberg collected 28.5 points and Morris finished with 28 team points.

The tournament is named for the Giardini family. Gary, a 2008 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, spent his entire 36-year educational career at the school as teacher, head wrestling coach, assistant football coach and athletic director. Perry coached the E-Rabs football team to a 1985 IHSA Class 5A title with Gary assisting him and also led the wrestling program to a third-place finish in Class AA in 1998. And Terry has been a wrestling official for nearly 50 years, with most of that time in the NCAA and he also evaluates officials. 

106 – Jack Koenig, St. Patrick

Jack Koenig has big hopes as he begins his sophomore season after going 24-14 in 2023-2024 and falling one win shy of advancing to the sectional. He’d like to do what his teammate Daniel Goodwin achieved last season, which was qualifying for the IHSA 2A Finals and placing there. 

The sophomore is off to a good start after finishing third at Marmion Academy and second at Antioch in the opening week and then preceding Goodwin as a champion at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational. Koenig (12-2), who took second in this tournament a year ago, kicked off the lower weights in the finals with an 11-2 major decision over Richmond-Burton’s Lelan Nelson at 106. After opening with a win by technical fall in the quarterfinals, he became one of two of coach Dominic Angelo’s Shamrocks to reach the finals after winning a 23-9 major decision over Freeport’s Treyden Diduch in the semifinals.

“I knew going into it what I had to do for me to win the tournament,” Koenig said. “I knew that I was well-prepared so I just had to be physical with him, and it paid off. The brotherhood here is like no other. We all come in ready to work and that creates a good environment for good practice and in the end it all pays off because everyone wants to get better and that’s the most important thing.”

Nelson (4-1), a freshman, became the first of the four finalists for coach Tony Nelson’s Rockets. He opened with two falls, with the second coming in 1:01 in the semifinals over Geneseo freshman Brycen Fahnestock. Diduch (5-1), a freshman whose sister Cadence is one of four three-time IHSA champions, claimed third place with a win by technical fall in 2:00 over Crystal Lake South sophomore Christopher Talbot (8-4). For fifth place, Winnebago freshman Cam Whitehead won by technical fall in 4:29 over Fahnestock (4-4). And in the seventh place, Johnsburg freshman Kai Surdick (8-5) won by fall in 5:23 over Rockford East junior Tyler Gentry.

285 – Isaiah Tellado, Zion-Benton

Isaiah Tellado obviously has bigger plans for his senior year after going 19-14 and being unable to advance from the Class 3A Libertyville Regional last season. And while he might not have had the kind of start that he would have liked after finishing seventh at Antioch last weekend, he definitely had a different perspective on things after winning by fall in 5:36 over Hampshire’s Knox Homola in the 285 championship at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational.

Tellado, the lone finalist and one of three medal winners in the tournament for coach Hal Lunsford’s Zee-Bees, competed in five matches over the two days. He opened with three-straight falls, with the quickest of those coming in 1:17 in the quarterfinals. The senior earned his spot on the title mat with a 7-1 decision over Sun Prairie West, WI senior Corbin Smith.

“The competition, they really put me through a loop, these are some good wrestlers,” Tellado said. “We wrestled in one (tournament), and I didn’t do so well. It feels really good but like my coach told me, that even though I won, there’s still things that I have to change and that I have to work on. I’m excited just to showcase my skills. I’ve been hitting the weight room hard and I played football and play defensive line and that’s helped me.”

Homola (6-4), a freshman who only won one match a week earlier at Barrington, became one of two finalists for coach Matthew Todd’s Whip-Purs when he won by fall in 4:32 over Harlem junior Chandler Jack in the semifinals. He opened with a win by technical fall before getting another pin in the quarterfinals. Dakota junior Randy McPeek (6-1) won by forfeit over Smith (4-1) for third place. Jack (7-3) claimed fifth place with a fall in 1:23 over Winnebago senior Josh Cowman (4-3). And for seventh place, Belmont/Platteville, WI’s Rusty Wruck (4-2) won with a pin in 4:19 over Rockford East senior Eddy Esguerra (8-3).

113 – Danny Goodwin, St. Patrick

Danny Goodwin capped a successful sophomore year by being one three individuals from St. Patrick to medal at the IHSA Class 2A Finals when he took fifth place at 106 to cap a 40-11 season. Now he hopes to join fellow 2024 medalist Van Grasser to become the fourth and fifth Shamrocks to win two or more medals and also the third and fourth to reach the state title mat. 

After opening this season with a fifth-place effort at Marmion Academy, Goodwin (10-2) added to a title at Antioch by winning the 113 championship at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational when he followed teammate Jack Koenig’s title at 106 with one of his own at 113 as he captured a win by technical fall in 3:36 over Rochelle junior Freddie Hernandez in the finals to claim top honors in the invite for the second-straight year. One of two champions and three finalists for coach Dominic Angelo’s Shamrocks, he followed a fall and then a win by technical fall with a pin in 1:58 over Richmond-Burton senior Kristian Gersch in the semifinals.

“Marmion was definitely a tough tournament to start the year and I ended up taking fifth there but I really turned it around at Antioch and I won the tournament there,” Goodwin said. “We’ve really turned it around. We had about five seniors leave from last year, so our junior core, with me as a team captain and our 120-pounder Calvin Stahl and Van Grasser, who’s also in the finals, we decided that we wanted to change the culture around the place and we really want people to know St. Pat’s for wrestling. Our head coach, Dom Angelo, when he came in last year, we were really able to turn it around. We have a great coaching staff. I think I’m a natural shooter, so I just need to keep shooting and get to my attacks and just have fun out there.”

Hernandez (4-2), became one of four finalists for coach Alphonso Vruno’s second-place Hubs when he captured an 11-9 decision over Dakota junior Brandon White in the semifinals. That followed another decision in his first match and a major decision in the quarterfinals. White (4-1) claimed third place with a fall in 0:43 over Hampshire junior Deegan Kirschke (9-5). Gersch (5-2) took fifth after winning a 6-4 decision over Mahomet-Seymour sophomore Gideon Hayter (6-4). And for seventh, Johnsburg freshman Chase Vogel (10-3) won by forfeit over Rochelle junior Colten Manning.

215 – Kaiden Morris, Rochelle

Kaiden Morris became one of six individuals from Rochelle to compete in a title match at the IHSA Finals last season and settled for second at 215 after getting pinned in 2:12 by IC Catholic Prep’s Michael Calcagno to finish with a 41-4 record. Now the senior hopes that he can become the second to win a state championship, joining Pat Brownson, who won Class AA titles at 189 in both 2002 and 2003.  

Morris (6-0) started his season off on a good note as he won the 215 title at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational when he captured a 12-5 decision over Sun Prairie West, WI senior Jaxon Johnson to become one of two champions for Rochelle, with Brenden Voight the other at 157. After opening the competition with two falls, Morris, who also took first in this invite a year ago, won another decision in the semifinals, this time 4-2 over Geneseo sophomore Colten Mooney, to become one of the four finalists for coach Alphonso Vruno’s Hubs, who took second place in the invite and advanced to quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Finals last season.

“(Jaxon Johnson) He was on a team that this was their first year first coming here so I haven’t seen him in the past,” Morris said. “He’s a Wisconsin guy and it’s great to see other competition and it’s also great competition early in the year and I really like that. We came in here with a goal of 200, and we ended up at 192, so we’re really close, we’re right there. Coach has been preaching to us that we’re a great team and we can bang with these guys and we showed it. We’re just like a family and I think with this close-knit group, we push everybody to be better, and that just makes the team better as a whole. It’s a mindset thing. I know that I have to believe in myself and that I can win this and I can beat anybody in the state and I can be a champion. When it comes down to that, you win the match even before you step out there if you have that mindset.” 

Johnson, who placed fourth last season in the WIAA Finals and competes for a program that had a co-op with Sun Prairie West for two years, was one of two individuals from Wisconsin to advance to the finals. He recorded first-period falls in his other three matches, pinning another competitor from north of the border, Belmont/Platteville, WI’s Mason Mandurano, in 27 seconds in the semifinals. Richmond-Burton freshman Shane Falasca (8-2) won by fall in 0:59 over Prairie Ridge senior Walter Pollack (6-2) to claim third place while Mooney (7-2) took fifth place by forfeit over Mandurano. For seventh, Mahomet-Seymour senior Hayden Hart (8-3) won a 13-7 decision over North Boone sophomore Nick Davis (3-3).

120 – Jake Lowitzki, Prairie Ridge

Jake Lowitzki qualified for the IHSA Class 2A Finals last season as a junior but came up a bit shy of a medal to finish with a 35-10 record. He’s looking forward to bigger and better things in 2024-2025 and is off to a good start after winning a title in his initial tournament, the E-Rab Giardini Invitational, capturing the 120 championship by injury forfeit in 1:30 over Richmond-Burton’s Adam Glauser.

Lowitzki, the lone finalist and one of four medal winners for coach Ross Ryan’s Wolves, followed a fall with a win by technical fall in the quarterfinals before earning his spot on the title mat with another first-period pin, this time in 0:46, over Geneseo freshman Landen Vincent in the semifinals.

“It’s super exciting with all of the hard work that I’ve put in leading up to this tournament,” Lowitzki said. “I’m a senior and it’s exciting since it’s one last run and I’m preparing for a state run. I worked out every single day and I lifted and I had two practices working on technique. I have great coaches who are pushing me to be my best. I want my mindset to be as strong as it possibly can be. This feels great.”

Glauser (5-2), a freshman who was one of four second-place finishers for coach Tony Nelson’s third-place Rockets, got a fall in his first match, followed that with a win by technical fall and a pin in the quarterfinals before winning a 6-2 decision in the semifinals over St. Patrick junior Calvin Stahl. Vincent (8-1) claimed third place with a fall in 1:36 over Stahl (8-5). Rochelle freshman Aidan Lopez (6-2) took fifth with an 11-5 decision over North Boone freshman Gabe Marella (6-3) and Hampshire junior Lou Jensen (6-5) won by fall in 4:37 over Woodstock North senior Anthony Motejzik (9-5) to finish in seventh place.

190 – Brock VanDeveer, Mahomet-Seymour

Brock VanDeveer had a successful junior year by going 36-16 in 2023-2024 but fell a bit shy of qualifying for the IHSA Class 2A Finals from his own sectional, Mahomet-Seymour, before competing with his team in the IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Finals. With his sights set on making a trip to Champaign to cap off his senior season, he’s off to a good start after opening with a third-place showing at Antioch’s DeRousse Invite in week one with a championship at 190 at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational. 

He’s off to an 8-1 start after being one of two champions and finalists for the Bulldogs, who are coached by 2011 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Rob Ledin, with Marco Casillas the other. VanDeveer opened with a win by technical fall and then recorded a pin in the quarterfinals before advancing to the 190 title mat with a 4-2 decision over Rochelle junior Roman Villalobos in the semifinals. He got another win by technical fall in the finals, needing just 2:21 to defeat Elgin senior Fabian Ramirez.

“It was a great tournament,” VanDeveer said. “I had a good semifinals match and I like getting those good matches to get some experience. Obviously the title match could have gone either way, but it went my way, and that’s great. Marco is a freshman and he’s going to be great. I’ve practiced with the Casillas, Marco and Mateo, and being able to practice with them is a privilege. Coach Ledin is a great coach and he treated me like family the day I got here. Dan Casillas and coach (Craig) Acree have been great to me and they’ve helped me to become such a better wrestler.”

Ramirez (7-1), a Class 3A state qualifier last season who finished with a 20-6 record, was the lone medalist for coach Brandon Massey’s Maroons. He advanced to the title mat with three first-period falls, recording a pin in 2:00 over Prairie Ridge sophomore Frank Matviychuk in the semifinals. Villalobos (6-1) claimed third place with an 8-0 major decision over Zion-Benton senior Tyson Poyer (10-4). For fifth place, Matviychuk (3-2) won by fall in 0:45 over Richmond-Burton sophomore Breckin Campbell. In the seventh-place match, Woodstock North junior David Randecker (4-2) won by fall in 1:07 over Woodstock sophomore Jaxson Hansen.

126 – Gavin Ekberg, North Boone

Gavin Ekberg made history last season at North Boone after he became just the fourth individual from his program to place at state and the first to do so since four-time IHSA Class 1A finalist and two-time champion Brandon Briggs wrapped up his career in 2015. Now he hopes that he can follow up on his 39-9 junior year where he finished sixth at 126 in Class 1A to join Briggs as the lone individuals from the Poplar Grove school to win more than one state medal.

Ekberg (6-0), who did not place in this tournament a year ago, was the lone finalist for coach Jason Mamer-Cox’s Vikings. He won the E-Rab Giardini championship at 126 with a 7-0 decision over Richmond-Burton’s Clay Madula. After opening with a fall, he added a major decision and earned his spot on the title mat with a win by technical fall in 4:00 over Harlem sophomore Jaydee Doke.

“I’m going for the title this year, that’s the plan,” Ekberg said of his state goals. “I practiced a little with Dalton Bullard and we ironed a lot of things out. I don’t think that a lot of people were expecting me to go down to state so that definitely changed a lot of things. I need to be wrestling smarter than a lot of people, minimizing mistakes and trying to be faster and just taking it one match at a time. This was the championship, but I treated every match through this tournament like it was the last one.”

Madula (5-1), a senior who took second in this tournament a year ago, was one of four finalists for coach Tony Nelson’s Rockets. He opened with a win by technical fall before recording two pins, with the second of those in 3:53 over Belvidere North junior Bryson Tuenissen in the semifinals. Woodstock junior Taqi Baker (10-3) took third place with an 11-8 win by sudden victory over Tuenissen (7-2). Rockford East sophomore Victor Onofre (8-4) claimed fifth place after winning by technical fall in 5:58 over Doke (7-3). And for seventh place, Freeport sophomore Thomas Olson (6-3) won by fall in 1:04 over St. Patrick sophomore Dean Angelo.

175 – Marco Casillas, Mahomet-Seymour

Marco Casillas hopes to follow in his brother Mateo’s footsteps, and for good reason. Mateo won the IHSA Class 2A title at 195 after placing third at that weight in 2022 and took second at 195 in the IWCOA Open Finals in 2021. His title in 2023 was the first for Mahomet-Seymour since Andrew Brewer took top honors in Class 2A at 171 in 2009. His brother also was a standout athlete in football and baseball, and is now competing in baseball in college. 

Casillas (8-1) is off to a good start in his freshman season, bouncing back from a second-place finish at Antioch’s DeRousse Invite one week earlier with a title at 175 in the E-Rab Giardini Invitational when he captured a 7-5 decision over Richmond-Burton’s Blake Livdahl. He claimed wins by technical fall in his first two matches before joining 190 title winner Brock VanDeveer as one of two champs and finalists for the Bulldogs, who are coached by 2011 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Rob Ledin.

“It motivates me to be better because I want to be better than he was,” Marco said of his brother Mateo. “Brock and I are always pushing each other and we’re just trying to get better. (His teammates) They’re really fun to hang out with, I have a great time. I want to get experience by wrestling tougher guys and always keep working.”

Livdahl (5-1), a sophomore who was one of four finalists for coach Tony Nelson’s Rockets, opened with a win by technical fall and then won a pair of two-point decisions, prevailing 6-4 over Rockford East junior Malachi Cannon in the semifinals. Geneseo junior Kye Weinzierl (8-1) took third place with a 13-3 major decision over Sun Prairie West, WI sophomore Niko DeZiel (6-2). Belmont/Platteville, WI senior Kadyn Davis (5-2) captured a 16-8 major decision over Cannon (4-3) to finish fifth and Belvidere junior Juan Cervantes (6-2) claimed seventh place when he won 7-6 by ultimate tiebreaker over Harlem sophomore Charles Faulkner (5-5).

132 – Nathan Randle, Crystal Lake South

Nathan Randle went 35-11 and qualified for the IHSA Class 2A Finals at 126 and was a member of a Wauconda team that qualified for the Dual Team Finals in 2024. The previous season, he took second place in 2A at 113 in 2023 after falling 3-2 to Glenwood’s Drew Davis in the title match and he also was a member of a Bulldogs team that finished third at Dual Team State. After enjoying success for two seasons under coach Trevor Jauch, the junior decided to move to a new setting, Crystal Lake South, which is where Jauch, a three-time IHSA Class 2A champion from 2009-2011 at Crystal Lake Central, is the new head coach of the Gators’ program.

So far, so good for Randle (9-0) as he followed up on a title at Vernon Hills with one at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational after rallying from an early 7-0 deficit to capture a 9-8 decision over Rochelle’s Xavier Villalobos in the 132 championship match. The Gator’s lone finalist, he won his opener by technical fall, claimed a 9-3 decision in the quarterfinals and earned his spot on the title mat with another win by technical fall, in 5:52, over Geneseo senior Tim Sebastian.

“Me and him kind of have the same back story,” Randle said. “Freshman year we both placed pretty high, sophomore year we both DNP. He’s a senior and in his junior year, he came back and placed so I’m trying to be back up there again junior year. I’m super fired-up. Last year was really mental for me and I just wasn’t there. So this year, I’ve been working on my mental game since I feel like I have all of the physicals to be there. I just transferred from Wauconda and my coaches came here, so we moved and I decided to come to Crystal Lake South to be with them because they’re the greatest coaches out there.”

Villalobos (5-1), a senior who went 44-4 a year ago and claimed fifth place at 126 in the IHSA 2A Finals and also was on a team that competed in the Dual Team Finals after finishing second at 113 in 2022 as a freshman, was one of four finalists for coach Alphonso Vruno’s runner-up Hubs. A defending champion in this tournament, Villalobos had falls in his first two matches before capturing a 7-2 decision in the semifinals over Prairie Ridge senior Mikey Meade (6-1), who took third place with a 10-9 decision over Sebastian (7-2), who also was a state qualifier last season. Belmont/Platteville, WI freshman Briggs Weigel won by fall in 3:12 over Harlem junior Izayah Olejniczak (6-3) to finish fifth and Zion-Benton senior Luis Medina (9-4) claimed seventh place with a pin in 1:33 over Johnsburg junior Jared Lopez (7-7).

165 – Zachary Montez, Geneseo

Zachary Montez accomplished something that few have achieved at the E-Rab Giardini Invitational, and that is winning the tournament championship for the fourth year in a row. Now the Geneseo senior, who went 42-3 and placed third in the 2024 IHSA Class 2A Finals at 150 a year ago, hopes to become the first Maple Leaf to be a four-time state medalist and also join the program’s other three-time medalists, 

Hunter Grau and Adam Sheley, as state champions. He also took third place at 132 in 2023 and finished fourth at 113 in 2022.

Montez (8-0) won his fourth championship in the competition by claiming a 12-3 major decision over St. Patrick’s Van Grasser in the 165 title match. He followed a fall with a 5-3 decision in the quarterfinals before becoming one of four finalists for the champion Maple Leafs when he captured a 7-1 decision over Rochelle’s Grant Gensler. He joined Izaac Gaines, the 150 champion, as one of two title winners for Geneseo, who’s coached by 2023 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Jon Murray.

“It’s special getting that four times,” Montez said. “That was a pretty tough bracket. (Being a state champion) That’s the goal and that’s what I’ve been looking forward to. My goals are not just to get that individual title but it’s also to get that team title. We want to get top two and hopefully get that championship. Every day we’re in the room trying to get better. Everyone is trying to get better and we’re helping each other and we’re doing all of the extra stuff that we’re supposed to be doing to be a top team.”

Grasser (8-4), a junior who went 39-17 last season and claimed sixth in the Class 2A Finals at 157, was one of three finalists for coach Dominic Angelo’s Shamrocks. He opened the season with a second-place finish at Marmion Academy before finishing fourth at Antioch’s DeRousse Invite. Grasser recorded falls in his first three matches, earning his spot on the 165 finals with a pin in 2:42 over Rockford East juniorTy Smart. Gensler (6-1), a senior, took third with a 4-0 decision over Northridge Prep senior Adam Haddad (4-2). In the fifth-place match, Mahomet-Seymour  junior AJ Demos (7-4) won by forfeit over Smart (7-3). And for seventh, Belvidere North junior Andrew Bucci (6-3) won by fall in 2:37 over Freeport senior Maddox Olson (4-4).

138 – Donald Cannon, Rockford East

Donald Cannon has two big opportunities to make history at Rockford East as he concludes his career this season. One is to become the second E-Rab to be a three-time IHSA medalist, which has only been done by Jordan Kolinski from 2002-2004. The other is to become a state champion, which only four other E-Rabs have been able to accomplish, including just one since 2000, which was Aydin Guttridge, who claimed first place at 285 in Class 3A in 2019. 

A year ago, he capped a 37-3 season by finishing fourth in Class 2A at 132 and in 2022 as a freshman, he took fifth at 126 in 2A. A runner-up in the E-Rab Giardini Invitational a year ago, he’s off to a good start this season with a 6-0 record after recording a fall in 2:40 over Geneseo’s Devan Hornback in the 138 title match to be the only champion and one of two finalists for coach Gene Lee’s E-Rabs. Cannon opened his title run with a fall, followed with a major decision and won by technical fall in 4:07 over United Township junior Xavier Marolf in the semifinals.

“I really think that I can finish off on a good note,” Cannon said. “I want to thank my mom and dad because they really help me out and my dad is always there for me and trying to encourage me to do better. We’re all working as a team to improve each other and everybody wants to improve on the team.”

Hornback (7-2), a senior who won 26 matches last season but fell a bit short of a state trip, opened the tournament with two falls and earned his spot on the 138 title match by claiming a 5-4 decision over Belmont/Platteville, WI senior Cam Spensley in the semifinals. Johnsburg senior Landon Johnson (10-2) captured third place with a 12-1 major decision over Mahomet-Seymour junior Justus Vrona (7-4). In the fifth-place match, Marolf (7-2) won by fall in 3:30 over Spensley and for seventh place, Harlem senior Owen Recoy (5-2) recorded a pin in 3:19 over Woodstock sophomore Landyn White (6-6).

157 – Brenden Voight, Rochelle

Brenden Voight fell a bit short of qualifying from the Class 2A Sycamore Sectional a year ago, but he went 32-10 and got the chance to compete for Rochelle in the IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Finals as the program made its second appearance the competition and first since 2018, when it took fourth place in Class 2A. The Hubs junior is hoping for another appearance at team state as well as earning a trip to Champaign prior to that and he’s off to a good start with a 7-0 record after claiming a 9-7 decision over Hampshire’s Aric Abbott in the 157 championship match of the E-Rab Giardini Invitational, where Rochelle finished second to champion Geneseo.

Voight, one of four finalists and two champions for coach Alphonso Vruno’s Hubs, competed in five matches during the two-day event, opening with two wins by technical fall before recording a pin in the quarterfinals and earning his spot on the 157 title mat with a 7-4 win by sudden victory over Geneseo junior Grady Hull.

“We only really lost two of our guys from last year and we had a lot of people fill in for them so we have a lot of the guys that have been in the lineup for the past three years,” Voight said. “Coach Vruno has been running the program great and we do the same things every year and we get a lot of help from our other coaches. The coaches’ focus on us is good and they get a lot of 1-on-1 time with us. Our coaching staff is great and I think our team is going to be great this year, too. We have a great bond with all of us guys being on the team together for the past three years. And we have a great bond with the coaching staff, too, we’re all a family out there. I have a good partner in Grant (Gensler), he helps me a lot. The big thing for me is my partner and my coaches. I definitely love the competition here, there’s a lot of good schools. I thought it was a great tournament and it’s been a tough tournament every year.”

Abbott (8-4), a junior who went 16-10 last season and fell one win shy of Class 3A sectional trip, joined 285-pounder Knox Homola as the two finalists for coach Matthew Todd’s Whip-Purs. He got his first win by technical fall in his opener and followed with two pins before earning his spot on the 157 title mat with a victory by technical fall in 4:17 over Freeport junior Sajjad Abdulrazzaq in the semifinals. Hull (8-1) took third place with a fall in 3:00 over United Township junior Brody Oppendike (8-2). For fifth place, Woodstock junior Logan Wisner (10-4) recorded a pin in 5:11 over Abdulrazzaq (6-3). And in the seventh-place march, North Boone senior Maysen Smith (6-2) captured a 10-7 decision over LaSalle-Peru senior Zach Pocivasek (7-4).

144 – Dylan Weigel, Belmont/Platteville, Wisconsin

Dylan Weigel qualified for the WIAA D2 Individual Finals in each of the last two seasons and is looking to have a breakthrough season by placing there this time. The junior from Belmont/Platteville, WI was the lone champion from the three out-of-state teams at the E-Rab Giardini invitational with another being from Wisconsin and the other from Mississippi.  Weigel (4-0) captured the title at 144 with an 11-3 major decision over Belvidere North’s Dominick Girardin. The lone finalist for his team, he also had two wins by technical fall and a major decision, winning by technical fall in 5:30 over Belvidere junior Landon VanAcker in the semifinals.

Girardin (8-1), a senior who went 25-8 last season but was unable to advance from the Class 3A Barrington Sectional, was the lone finalist for coach Ronald Hamilton’s Blue Thunder. He opened with two wins by technical fall before capturing a 9-7 decision over Metamora junior Connor Graham in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Crystal Lake South sophomore Aiden Marrello (11-2) won a 10-3 decision over VanAcker (5-2). St. Patrick sophomore Pat Hulne (12-3) claimed an 11-9 decision over Graham (7-3) for fifth. For seventh place, Rochelle sophomore Joshua Lassiter (5-3) won by fall in 4:49 over United Township freshman Caleb Flint (6-3). 

150 – Izaac Gaines, Geneseo

Izaac Gaines made an impressive debut last season as he finished his freshman season with a 21-6 record and was one five state qualifiers for Geneseo and got a victory in his first match in Champaign. He’d obviously like to build on that success and not only get back to the IHSA Finals but also place there. And a bonus would be helping to get the Maple Leafs back to the IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Finals for the second time in three years and hopefully get a trophy, as they did in 2023 when they claimed fourth place. 

Gaines (8-0) was one of three finalists and joined four-time E-Rab Giardini champion Zachary Montez as one of the two title winners for the Maple Leafs, who captured top honors in the 29-team competition and are coached by 2023 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Jon Murray. Gaines secured one of the last titles of the tournament when he won a 10-0 major decision over Rockford East’s Dana Wickson for the 150 championship. The sophomore got wins by technical fall in his first and third matches and also had a first-minute pin in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals he won by technical fall in 4:49 over Metamora sophomore Grady Neal.

“I just really wanted to go out there and put up a lot of points and just wrestle my best,” Gaines said. “We wrestled really good and a lot of our guys competed very well. A couple of guys didn’t make it to the finals but they came back and wrestled hard. We all get along well and it’s like a family. I’ve been putting a lot of work in and I’m excited to see what happens this year.”

Wickson (8-1), a junior who was one of two finalists for coach Gene Lee’s E-Rabs, also was a state qualifier last season who won his first match in Champaign to cap a 38-12 season. He opened his run to the finals with two wins by technical fall before capturing a 10-0 major decision over Freeport freshman Blake Slusser in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Belmont/Platteville, WI junior Tyler Kisamore (7-1) was a winner by technical fall in 4:55 over Mahomet-Seymour sophomore Talon Decker (5-2). Neal (7-3) recorded a fall in 1:29 over Slusser (5-3) to claim fifth place and Hampshire senior Chris Napiorkowski (9-5) was a winner by fall in 1:24 over Johnsburg junior Kainoa Ancog (8-5) to take seventh place. 

E-Rab Giardini Invitational place matches 

106

1st Place Match

Jack Koenig (St. Patrick) 12-2, So. over Lelan Nelson (Richmond-Burton) 4-1, Fr. (MD 11-2)

3rd Place Match

Treyden Diduch (Freeport) 5-1, Fr. over Christopher Talbert (Crystal Lake South) 8-4, So. (TF-1.5 2:00 (18-2))

5th Place Match

Cam Whitehead (Winnebago) 4-2, Fr. over Brycen Fahnestock (Geneseo) 4-4, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:29 (15-0))

7th Place Match

Kai Surdick (Johnsburg) 8-5, Fr. over Tyler Gentry (Rockford East) 3-5, Jr. (Fall 5:23)

113

1st Place Match

Danny Goodwin (St. Patrick) 10-2, Jr. over Freddie Hernandez (Rochelle) 4-2, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:36 (19-3))

3rd Place Match

Brandon White (Dakota) 4-1, Jr. over Deegan Kirschke (Hampshire) 9-5, Jr. (Fall 0:43)

5th Place Match

Kristian Gersch (Richmond-Burton) 5-2, Sr. over Gideon Hayter (Mahomet-Seymour) 6-4, So. (Dec 6-4)

7th Place Match

Chase Vogel (Johnsburg) 10-3, Fr. over Colten Manning (Rochelle) 2-3, Jr. (For.)

120

1st Place Match

Jake Lowitzki (Prairie Ridge) 6-0, Sr. over Adam Glauser (Richmond-Burton) 5-2, Fr. (Inj. 1:30)

3rd Place Match

Landen Vincent (Geneseo) 8-1, Fr. over Calvin Stahl (St. Patrick) 8-5, Jr. (Fall 1:36)

5th Place Match

Aidan Lopez (Rochelle) 6-2, Fr. over Gabe Marella (North Boone) 6-3, Fr. (Dec 11-5)

7th Place Match

Lou Jensen (Hampshire) 6-5, Jr. over Anthony Motejzik (Woodstock North) 9-5, Sr. (Fall 4:37)

126

1st Place Match

Gavin Ekberg (North Boone) 6-0, Sr. over Clay Madula (Richmond-Burton) 5-1, Sr. (Dec 7-0)

3rd Place Match

Taqi Baker (Woodstock) 10-3, Jr. over Bryson Tuenissen (Belvidere North) 7-2, Jr. (SV-1 11-8)

5th Place Match

Victor Onofre (Rockford East) 8-4, So. over Jaydee Doke (Harlem) 7-3, So. (TF-1.5 5:58 (27-11))

7th Place Match

Thomas Olson (Freeport) 6-3, So. over Dean Angelo (St. Patrick) 3-8, So. (Fall 1:04)

132

1st Place Match

Nathan Randle (Crystal Lake South) 9-0, Jr. over Xavier Villalobos (Rochelle) 5-1, Sr. (Dec 9-8)

3rd Place Match

Mikey Meade (Prairie Ridge) 6-1, Sr. over Tim Sebastian (Geneseo) 7-2, Sr. (Dec 10-9)

5th Place Match

Briggs Weigel (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 5-2, Fr. over Izayah Olejniczak (Harlem) 6-3, Jr. (Fall 3:12)

7th Place Match

Luis Medina (Zion-Benton) 9-4, Sr. over Jared Lopez (Johnsburg) 7-7, Jr. (Fall 1:33)

138

1st Place Match

Donald Cannon (Rockford East) 6-0, Sr. over Devan Hornback (Geneseo) 7-2, Sr. (Fall 2:40)

3rd Place Match

Landon Johnson (Johnsburg) 10-2, Sr. over Justus Vrona (Mahomet-Seymour) 7-4, Jr. (MD 12-1)

5th Place Match

Xavier Marolf (United Township) 7-2, Jr. over Cam Spensley (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 3:30)

7th Place Match

OWEN RECOY (Harlem) 5-2, Sr. over Landyn White (Woodstock) 6-6, So. (Fall 3:19)

144

1st Place Match

Dylan Weigel (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 4-0, Jr. over Dominick Girardin (Belvidere North) 8-1, Sr. (MD 11-3)

3rd Place Match

Aiden Marrello (Crystal Lake South) 11-2, So. over Landon VanAcker (Belvidere) 5-2, Jr. (Dec 10-3)

5th Place Match

Pat Hulne (St. Patrick) 12-3, So. over Connor Graham (Metamora) 7-3, Jr. (Dec 11-9)

7th Place Match

Joshua Lassiter (Rochelle) 5-3, So. over Caleb Flint (United Township) 6-3, Fr. (Fall 4:49)

150

1st Place Match

Izaac Gaines (Geneseo) 8-0, So. over Dana Wickson (Rockford East) 8-1, Jr. (MD 10-0)

3rd Place Match

Tyler Kisamore (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 7-1, Jr. over Talon Decker (Mahomet-Seymour) 5-2, So. (TF-1.5 4:55 (18-3))

5th Place Match

Grady Neal (Metamora) 7-3, So. over Blake Slusser (Freeport) 5-3, Fr. (Fall 1:29)

7th Place Match

Chris Napiorkowski (Hampshire) 9-5, Sr. over Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg) 8-5, Jr. (Fall 1:24)

157

1st Place Match

Brenden Voight (Rochelle) 7-0, Jr. over Aric Abbott (Hampshire) 8-4, Jr. (Dec 9-7)

3rd Place Match

Grady Hull (Geneseo) 8-1, Jr. over Brody Oppendike (United Township) 8-2, Jr. (Fall 3:00)

5th Place Match

Logan Wisner (Woodstock) 10-4, Jr. over Sajjad Abdulrazzaq (Freeport) 6-3, Jr. (Fall 5:11)

7th Place Match

Maysen Smith (North Boone) 6-2, Sr. over Zach Pocivasek (LaSalle-Peru) 7-4, Sr. (Dec 10-7)

165

1st Place Match

Zachary Montez (Geneseo) 8-0, Sr. over Van Grasser (St. Patrick) 8-4, Jr. (MD 12-3)

3rd Place Match

Grant Gensler (Rochelle) 6-1, Sr. over Adam Haddad (Northridge Prep) 4-2, Sr. (Dec 4-0)

5th Place Match

AJ Demos (Mahomet-Seymour) 7-4, Jr. over Ty Smart (Rockford East) 7-3, Jr. (For.)

7th Place Match

Andrew Bucci (Belvidere North) 6-3, Jr. over Maddox Olson (Freeport) 4-4, Sr. (Fall 2:37)

175

1st Place Match

Marco Casillas (Mahomet-Seymour) 8-1, Fr. over Blake Livdahl (Richmond-Burton) 5-1, So. (Dec 7-5)

3rd Place Match

Kye Weinzierl (Geneseo) 8-1, Jr. over Niko DeZiel (Sun Prairie West, WI) 6-2, So. (MD 13-3)

5th Place Match

Kadyn Davis (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 5-2, Sr. over Malachi Cannon (Rockford East) 4-3, Jr. (MD 16-8)

7th Place Match

Juan Cervantes (Belvidere) 6-2, Jr. over Charles Faulkner (Harlem) 5-5, So. (TB-1 7-6)

190

1st Place Match

Brock VanDeveer (Mahomet-Seymour) 8-1, Sr. over Fabian Ramirez (Elgin) 7-1, Sr. (TF-1.5 2:21 (17-2))

3rd Place Match

Roman Villalobos (Rochelle) 6-1, Jr. over Tyson Poyer (Zion-Benton) 10-4, Sr. (MD 8-0)

5th Place Match

Frank Matviychuk (Prairie Ridge) 3-2, So. over Breckin Campbell (Richmond-Burton) 6-3, So. (Fall 0:45)

7th Place Match

David Randecker (Woodstock North) 4-2, Jr. over Jaxson Hansen (Woodstock) 6-5, So. (Fall 1:07)

215

1st Place Match

Kaiden Morris (Rochelle) 6-0, Sr. over Jaxon Johnson (Sun Prairie West, WI) 3-1, Sr. (Dec 12-5)

3rd Place Match

Shane Falasca (Richmond-Burton) 8-2, Fr. over Walter Pollack (Prairie Ridge) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 0:59)

5th Place Match

Colten Mooney (Geneseo) 7-2, So. over Mason Mandurano (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 3-2, Sr. (For.)

7th Place Match

Hayden Hart (Mahomet-Seymour) 8-3, Sr. over Nick Davis (North Boone) 3-3, So. (Dec 13-7)

285

1st Place Match

Isaiah Tellado (Zion-Benton) 10-3, Sr. over Knox Homola (Hampshire) 6-4, Fr. (Fall 5:36)

3rd Place Match

Randy McPeek (Dakota) 6-1, Jr. over Corbin Smith (Sun Prairie West, WI) 4-1, Sr. (M. For.)

5th Place Match

Chandler Jack (Harlem) 7-3, Jr. over Josh Cowman (Winnebago) 4-3, Sr. (Fall 1:23)

7th Place Match

Rusty Wruck (Belmont/Platteville, WI) 4-2, Sr. over Eddy Esguerra (Rockford East) 8-3, Sr. (Fall 4:19)

Team scores

1. Geneseo 215, 2. Rochelle 192, 3. Richmond-Burton 171.5, 4. Mahomet-Seymour 150.5, St. Patrick 150, 6. Belmont/Platteville, WI 136, 7. Rockford East 135, 8. Hampshire 116, 9. Prairie Ridge 104.5, 10. Harlem 97, 11. Zion-Benton 95.5, 12. Johnsburg 90, 13. Crystal Lake South 81, 14. Sun Prairie West, WI 80.5, 15. United Township 80, 16. Freeport 78, 17. Belvidere North 73.5, 18. Woodstock 69, 19, Dakota 66, 20. North Boone 64.5, 21. Winnebago 47.5, 22. LaSalle-Peru 37, 23. Metamora 34, 23, Oak Grove, MS 34, 25. Elgin 32, 26. Belvidere 28, 27. Northridge Prep 27, 28. Woodstock North 27, 29. Metea Valley 6.

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

Kaneland’s Gochis receives OWA at Girls Dan Gable Donnybrook

Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis not only was the lone Illinois champion at the prestigious Girls Dan Gable Donnybrook in Coralville, Iowa but she was also selected as the recipient of the event’s Outstanding Wrestler Award after recording four wins by technical fall as well as a pin to capture the title at 110 with a win by technical fall in 3:50 over Lincoln-Way co-op’s Zoe Dempsey in a matchup of the only two individuals from Illinois who advanced to the title mat.

Gochis (8-0), a sophomore who went 47-5 last season and won the IHSA championship at 105, tied two others for second place for the most team points with 48, which was just one point behind the leader, Fort Dodge, Iowa’s Mariaha Benedict  and she also the second-highest total of match points with 84, which was four behind the leader, Raccoon River-Northwest Iowa’s Cassidy McCallister. Her four wins by technical far were twice as many as the next-best mark of two, which was achieved by five competitors.

Gochis opened with a win by technical fall, followed with a first-minute pin and then won two more times by technical fall to reach the 110 title match. Herfirst three wins by technical fall were all completed in the opening period, with her win in 1:13 over Basehor-Linwood’s Delaney Locke in the semifinals assured her of her matchup with Dempsey for the championship.

Kaneland, coached by Josh West, had five placewinners to help it tie for 13th place with 150 points and Lincoln-Way co-op, coached by Joshua Napier, placed six individuals to finish 15th with 145.5 points. 

Other top finishers for Kaneland were Brooklyn Sheaffer (third at 130), Sadie Kinsella (fourth at 190), Dyani Torres (eighth at 145) and Carly Duffing (11th at 235). Sheaffer (9-1) advanced to the semifinals while Kinsella (5-2), Torres (6-4) and Duffing (6-4) all lost in the quarterfinals. Sheaffer finished sixth at 120 in the 2023 IHSA Finals.

“We brought six girls out of 14 weight classes and finished in 13th place,” Kaneland coach Josh West said. “I am very proud of our girls and their effort. We have a solid team. They are a great group of girls. I believe we were a top 10 team with our full lineup at Donnybrook. We placed five of our six wrestlers. 

“Angelina has taken her wrestling to another level this year. She did not give up a single offensive point the entire tournament. She was named tournament outstanding wrestler voted on by the 45 coaches in attendance. I know I’ve said this before, but she really is something special on the wrestling mat. I love that the girls sport of wrestling is growing so much here in Illinois. I hope some of our young lady wrestlers look at her or emulate her style. She works hard, does all the little things. Angelina is a good teammate, a good student and really just a great person.  

“Dyani wrestled really well finishing seventh and Sadie lost a close one for third place. We will fix a few positions moving forward with both Dyani and Sadie and I think they both can make the IHSA State Tournament. Brooklyn finished third and she had a good tournament. Our goal is to get her to wrestle her match, be on the offense and attack more,  I believe this tournament is the start of that mindset. Carly stepped in at 235 giving up over 50 pounds and placed 11th, she was one win away from making the podium. I’m very proud of her tournament.”  

Dempsey (11-1), a junior who went 20-7 last season and placed fifth at 105 in the IHSA Finals, won her first three matches by fall and then captured a 10-3 decision over Mount Vernon, IA’s Kiersten Swart in the semifinals.  

Additional top performers for Lincoln-Way co-op were Riley DePolo (7th at 235, 9-4), Riley Cooney (10th at 125, 10-6), Ella Giertuga (10th at 140, 10-6), Emily Peyton (11th at 105, 8-6) and Aubrey Barnes (12th at 115, 8-7).

DeKalb had three finishers in the top 10. The Barbs were led by Alex Gregorio-Perez (fourth at 105, 9-2), Reese Zimmer (sixth at 125, 7-3) and Aarianna Bloyd (ninth at 235, 7-2). Zimmer advanced to the semifinals while Gregorio-Perez and Bloyd lost in the quarterfinals. At last year’s IHSA Finals, Gregoria-Perez went 33-9 last season and took sixth at 105 in the IHSA while Zimmer was 35-3 last season and placed sixth at state at 115.

Lockport Township also had three individuals who placed in the top 10. The Porters top finishers were Rebekah Ramirez (sixth at 235, 7-5), Veronica Skibicki (ninth at 110, 9-3) and  Sophie Kelner (ninth at 190, 7-4). 

Huntley had two medalists, Aubrie Rohrbacher (fourth at 135, 11-3) and Natalie Aguirre (eighth at 170, 9-5). Rohrbacher, who went 45-5 last season and placed third at 130 in the IHSA Finals, lost in the semifinals while Aguirre fell in the quarterfinals

The other top two finishers from Illinois schools were Montini Catholic’s Katelyn Bell (third at 100, 9-1) and Joliet Catholic Academy’s Grace Laird (fifth at 130, 5-2). Bell, who went 25-9 last season and placed sixth at 100 in the IHSA Finals, lost in the semifinals while Laird fell in the quarterfinals.

Cassioppi champion, Andrew/Carl Sandburg co-op fifth at the Women’s Ironman 

Two individuals from Illinois schools reached the title mat in the Women’s Ironman, which was held at Walsh Jesuit in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Hononegah’s  Angelina Cassioppi won the championship at 120 while Loyola Academy’s Harlee Hiller took second place at 115.

Cassioppi won a 7-0 decision over Olentangy Orange, OH’s Mackenzie Carder in the 120 title match. She also won a pair of close decisions, including by a 2-1 score in the semifinals over Tulsa Union, Oklahoma’s McKenna Wilson after recording a pin in the quarterfinals.

The Hononegah senior who went 17-1 last season and won the IHSA title at 120 and placed first at 120 in 2023 and first at 100 in 2022, is one of the four girls who have won three-straight IHSA titles. The others are Batavia’s Sydney Perry and Freeport’s Cadence Diduch, who are now in college, and Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez, who’s not competing this season.  

Hiller lost a 12-3 major decision to Blair Academy, NJ’s Marie Sharp in the 115 finals. She won her first three matches by fall, including one in 5:33 over Canon-McMillan, PA’s Marlee Solomon in the semifinals. The Ramblers senior is a three-time IHSA medalist, going 24-9 and taking second at 115 in 2024, winning the title at 105 in 2023 and placing third at 105 in 2022.

Andrew/Carl Sandburg co-op scored 80 points to claim fifth place. Four competitors for coach Liz Short’s team finished in the top seven, Emma Akpan (third at 190), Alyssa Keane (fifth at 135), Nola Obon (sixth at 155) and Jade Hardee (seventh at 100).

Akpan is a two-time IHSA medalist, went 34-8 and took fourth at 190 in 2024 and sixth at 235 in 2023 while Keane finished third at state at 135 in 2023. Akpan, Obon and Hardee all fell in the quarterfinals while Keane lost her opener and then won four of her next five matches.

Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney also competed in the event, but lost in the quarterfinals at 135 and then fell to Keane in her next match. The Porters junior went 21-1 and won the IHSA title at 130 last season after placing second at 125 in 2023.

Wardlow wins title, Joliet Catholic Academy fourth at Dan Gable Donnybrook

Lockport Township’s Justin Wardlow won the 150 championship while Joliet Catholic Academy’s Kane Robles placed second at 106 and Luke Hamiti took second place at 165 and Marmion Academy’s Mateusz Nycz was the runner-up at 285 in the Dan Gable Donnybrook, which was held at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

Joliet Catholic Academy placed eight individuals in the top 10 to help it claim fourth place at the 38-team competition. The Hilltoppers finished with 326.5 points, which was six behind third place Don Bosco, IA. Bettendorf, IA won the title with 366.5 points while Staley, MO took second place with 352.

Top finishers for coach Ryan Cumbee’s fourth-place Hilltoppers were runners-up Robles (106) and Hamiti (165) while Nicholas Ronchetti (190) took third and Jason Hampton (126) finished fourth. JCA also received seventh-place finishes from Elias Gonzalez (144), Nolan Vogel (150) and Vince Tindal (157) while Issac Clauson (175) took 10th and Aiden Bishop (215) was 12th.

Robles lost by fall in 3:14 in the 106 finals to Waukee Northwest, IA’s Carew Christensen and Hamiti dropped a 5-4 decision to Don Bosco, IA’s Kyler Knaack in the 165 title match.

Last season, Hamiti went 36-20 and finished fifth at 157 in the Class 3A Finals. Ronchetti went 36-12 and placed sixth at 190 after taking second at 182 in 2A in 2023. And Hampton had a 35-16 record last season and finished second at 120 in 3A after taking fourth at 113 in 2A in 2023.

“Great start to the year at our first tournament!” Cumbee said. “There’s still a lot of work to do, but I’m really proud of the effort from the entire team and how they supported each other along the way.”

Marmion Academy finished 13th with 185.5 points, Lincoln-Way West took 16th with 173.5 points and Lockport Township was 18th with 162 points. DeKalb placed 22nd with 152 points, Montini Catholic took 23rd with 138 points and Huntley placed 25th with 136 points. Other Illinois teams that scored were Mount Carmel (31st, 107), Antioch (32nd, 91) and Marian Central Catholic (36th, 67).

The top performer for Marmion was runner-up Nycz, who lost by fall in 0:25 to Freedom, WI’s Hunter Vander Heiden in the 285 finals. Others in the top-12 were Demetrios Carrera (5th, 126), Preston Morrison (9th, 106), Colton Wyller (10th at 106), Andrew Haritos (10th, 157), Vincenzo Testa (11th, 175), Grayson Garcia (12th, 132) and Luke Boersma (12th, 190).

Lincoln-Way West was led by a seventh-place finish from Jimmy Talley (190) and ninth-place showings from Max Munn (120) and Nate Elstner (215) while Shane Stream (10th, 126), Jakob Siwinski (11th, 138) and DJ Freeman (11th, 165) were next in line.

Leading the way for Lockport Township was champion Wardlow (150) and Liam Zimmerman (5th, 132). Wardlow won the 150 title match 4-1 in sudden victory over Iowa City West, IA’s Justin Avila. He also had three wins by technical fall as well as a decision to give him a total of 50.5 team points. Wardlow went 42-7 last season and took second at 138 in Class 3A after also placing second at state at 120 in 2023.

DeKalb’s best showings were turned in by Hudson Ikens (6th, 150), Sean Kolkebeck (7th, 165) and Kaden Klapprodt (8th, 120). Top performers for Montini Catholic were Eric Klichurov (3rd, 106), Jack Bell (6th, 106), Jeremy Huf (6th, 132) and Isaac Mayora (12th, 126).

Huntley was paced by Radic Dvorak (6th, 157), Colin Abordo (7th, 113) and Jesse Lovell (11th, 190). Leading the way for Mount Carmel were Justin Williamson (4th, 132), who placed sixth at 113 in Class 3A last season and Sebastian Gracia (5th, 106). The top performers for Antioch were Owen Shea (5th, 285) and Ben Vazquez (9th, 175). Marian Central Catholic was led by Austin Hagevold (6th, 113), who took fourth place at 106 in Class 1A last season.

Noble claims championship, Mendoza, Denny runners-up at Ironman

Three individuals from Illinois advanced to the title mat at Walsh Jesuit’s Ironman in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio with Warren Township’s Caleb Noble winning the title at 106 while Mount Carmel’s Seth Mendoza finished second at 138 and Marist’s Will Denny was the runner-up at 157.

Noble won the 106 championship 4-1 by sudden victory over Malvern Prep, PA’s Justin Farnsworth. However, that wasn’t his only close call in his title run. He won 16-13 in sudden victory in his second match, prevailed 11-10 in the quarterfinals and earned his spot on the title mat with a 6-2 win over Edmond North, OK’s Turner Ross in the semifinals. Noble went 42-3 last season and won the IHSA 3A title at 106.

Mendoza dropped a 4-1 decision to Perrysburg, OH’s Marcus Blaze in the 138 title match. He opened with three-straight wins by technical fall before capturing a 4-0 decision in the semifinals over Sunnyside, AZ’s Sergio Vega. Mendoza, a three-time defending IHSA 3A champion, won at 126 last season when he went 46-2, took first at 113 in 2023 and was first at 106 in 2022.

Denny lost a 12-4 major decision to Edmond North, OK’s Kody Routledge in the 157 title match. After opening with a win by technical fall and a major decision, he won 4-1 in the quarterfinals and captured a 5-4 decision over Bishop McCort, PA’s Devon Magro in the semifinals. Denny won the IHSA 3A title last season at 150 when he went 42-4 after placing fourth at 145 in 2023.

Eight others from Illinois also finished in the top eight in the competition which featured competitors from more than 120 schools . 

St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto finished third at 120 and Marian Central Catholic’s Jimmy Mastny took third at 190. Munaretto took second at 113 in Class 3A last season after winning the title at 106 in 2023.Mastny was the Class 1A champion at 157 last season.

IC Catholic Prep’s Deven Casey placed fifth at 132, Fremd’s Evan Gosz finished fifth at 144 and Washington’s Wyatt Medlin took fifth at 150. Casey was the Class 2A champion at 120 last season after taking third at 113 in 2023 and third at 106 in 2022. Medlin took first at 138 in the IHSA 2A Finals last season after placing third at 126 in 2023. And Gosz was second at 144 in 3A last season after taking third at 126 in 2023 and third at 113 in 2022.

Warren Township’s Aaron Stewart placed sixth at 175, Marmion Academy’s Zach Stewart was seventh at 132 and Washington’s Josh Hoffer took eighth at 215. Aaron Stewart won the 3A title at 157 last season after taking third at 152 in 2023. Zach Stewart was the IHSA Class 3A champion at 138 last season. Hoffer placed fourth at 190 in 2A last season after taking sixth at 195 in 2023.

Edwardsville wins Francis Howell North Tournament

Edwardsville had five champions and nine finalists to help it score 81.5 points and win the title of the 10-team Francis Howell North Tournament by 38 points over the hosts in Saint Charles, Missouri. 

Title winners for coach Eric Pretto’s champion Tigers were Bryson Nuttall (113), Ryan Richie (138), Blake Mink (150), Roman Janek (215) and Riley Steinkuehler (285).

Michael McNamara (106), Levi Wilkinson (126), Tyler Perry (132) and Simon Schulte (190) took second place. Claiming third place were Logan Hiller (144), KJ Jamison (157), and Brendan Landau (175) while Colin Waddington (120) and Jack Cloud (165) took fourth. Edwardsville also won the junior-varsity invite with 222 points to finish four points ahead of Jackson, Missouri. 

Granite City also took part in the competition and took seventh with 19.5 points. Leading the Warriors was champion Eli Miller (175) and third-place finisher Braxton Tolley (138).

Erie/Prophetstown has two champs at Willard Howell Invite

Erie/Prophetstown co-op was the lone Illinois team in the 60th Willard Howell Invitational in Wapello, Iowa. The Panthers had two champions and three finalists to take fifth in the 13-team tournament with 104.5 points.

Champions for Erie/Prophetstown were Wyatt Goossens (157) and Caleb Reymer (285) while Jordae Crow (175) took second and Noah Wetzell (144) and Tristan Hovey (150) were fourth.

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

Wrestling fans were able to get a close look at five teams that will be a part of the first ever dual-team state championship later this month, when Schaumburg hosted eight clubs at the 2024 Schaumburg Girls Invite on Saturday.

There was some terrific competition jammed nicely into a neat little round-robin package that gave all of those on hand a guaranteed three matches.

“Girls wrestling continues to grow leaps and bounds, and in a few weeks it’s going to be an exciting day of wrestling at Hoffman Estates, at the dual-team state championships,” Schaumburg head coach Matt Gruszka said.

Gruszka has been one of the biggest advocates for the sport, and one who continues to be a positive voice for all involved.

“Today you were able to see five of the 16 teams who will be a part of that historic Saturday at Hoffman Estates, plus another good group of wrestlers from the other teams we invited here today,” Gruszka said.

The host Saxons, along with Hoffman Estates, Homewood-Flossmoor, Minooka, and West Aurora will compete in the dual-team  state finals on December 28.

East Aurora, Oak Park-River Forest and Yorkville were present in Schaumburg as well, bringing with them wrestlers who competed in groups of four wrestlers for both the JV and varsity level.

Here’s a closer look at each club that was on hand:

East Aurora

Ryan Mick considers himself the luckiest wrestling coach around, thanks in part to quartet of seniors he enjoys on his East Aurora varsity roster.

Ruby Becerra, Brittany Chavarria, Yoheadi Contreras and Brenda Escobedo came in as freshmen, and immediately impressed Mick, and his staff.

“(Those) four are just incredible young women, who excel both in the room, and the classroom, as each comes to practice each and everyday ready to work hard, and lead by example – it’s like having four assistant coaches in the room,” said Mick, who admits to getting emotional when speaking of his quartet.

Escobedo is fully enjoying her senior season.

“We all want to have better results, but all of us enjoy this sport so much, our teammates, and just being together in the room each day,” said Escobedo, who was 19-8 a year ago.

Escobedo (140) who is likely on her way to Aurora University next fall, says getting better shots, and being more confident in herself were two things she worked on during the offseason.

Chavarria, an IWCOA fifth-place medal winner in freestyle, wants to increase the number of take-downs in her matches and, like Escobedo, says her mental game has improved since last season.

“We have a list of goals as individuals and as a team,” said Chavarria (125-130), who also plans to attend Aurora University.  “We want to win another conference title; I do as well, and making it to state is very important to me.” 

Contreras, who will compete at 155 this season, would claim the best record for the Tomcats last season at 20-10.

“After losing in the blood-round at regionals last year, my obvious goal was to get out of regionals and wrestle well enough to make it to sectionals and possibly state in my final year of high school,” said Contreras.

Last but not least is Becerra, who on Monday received the best news of her young life when she was accepted to attend Northwestern University, where she plans to major in neuroscience.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself at times last year, but I feel so much better about that part of my game,” Becerra said. “With regionals not going very well last year, I know I will be better prepared for this year.” Becerra went 14-11 last season.

Mink is overseeing a program that reflects the growth explosion of girls wrestling in Illinois.

“We have a terrific group of wrestlers, with numbers that have consistently improved with each season to where we stand with over fifty right now,” Mink said.

“I give everything that I can, both on and off the mats, because these girls give so much of themselves back to our program.”

Hoffman Estates

Seniors Sophia Ball and Anjali Gonzalez led a contingent from Hoffman Estates that enjoyed a terrific day at the home of division and league rival Schaumburg.

Ball, the 2024 state runner-up at 120, and Gonzalez, fifth a year ago at 235, were a perfect 3-0 on the day, as were teammates Roselyn Comier, and Jennifer and Judy Soto.

“This is a good team we have, we’re getting better with each day in the room, and we have some girls who are ready to step up this season,” said Ball, who suffered her lone defeat last season in her state final against Angela Cassioppi.

Ball is a two-time state medalist.

Gonzalez, who would like to wrestle in college while pursuing a degree in art, hopes to make her third trip to the state tournament her most memorable one.

“I was dealing with an injury during the offseason which required some physical therapy, but I am feeling so much better now,” Gonzalez said. “I feel if I stay healthy, continue to work, stay hungry and mentally strong, I’ll be able to make a run at a state title.” Gonzalez had three pins Saturday, which required just over two minutes to record.

“I am a lot stronger and tougher than last year, so I know I’ll be able to handle my opponents at 235 pounds,” said Gonzalez (32-7) who is a two-time state qualifier.

The Hawks will be at Conant this week along with Schaumburg, then take some time off in advance of hosting the dual-team state tournament on December 28.

Homewood-Flossmoor 

Vikings head coach Scott Aronson admits he’s having more fun than ever with a program that continues to see more success come its way as the numbers continue to grow in the room.

“It’s an absolute blast coaching this sport,” Aronson said. “It’s just amazing to see how it’s growing all around the state and at Homewood-Flossmoor.”

Aronson was named the 2023-2024 Coach of the Year in Illinois by the 

National Wrestling Coaches Association.

“It’s exciting to see a wrestler like London Gandy come along to become such an outstanding talent so quickly, and to have others starting to make a name for themselves as well,” added Aronson, who was the man in charge of the boys program at H-F for eight years.

As a sophomore last year, Gandy advanced to the state tournament at 110 pounds and finished with a respectable 22-16 record.

“Physically and mentally London has grown so much since a year ago, and she has the confidence of a lion now,” Aronson said.

Gandy was unstoppable in her three matches Saturday, and points to an invaluable experience in the off-season.

“(Fargo) was such a great experience for me,” said Gandy, who was 2-2 there. “It taught me a lot about myself, and what I have to do in order to be the best that I can.

“I did not do well under pressure, and panicked a little, but now I feel that my confidence is so much better and that I have a stronger mental approach to everything with this sport. There’s always a lot to learn, and I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

In addition to a glowing report on Gandy, Aronson highlighted a trio of Vikings as the day drew to a close.

Senior Nina Hamm, who lost in the blood round at the Evanston sectional, was 27-11 last year, and a state qualifier as a sophomore.

Makayla Marr qualified for state last season as a sophomore, and Aronson said she is as tough as they come, and he believes the improvement from sophomore Amara Nwoye (135) will lead to plenty of victories before the season comes to an end.

Minooka

It was another solid day on the mats for the Minooka Indians, who look to repeat as regional champions and go even further in the postseason.

The Indians lost just four from its championship club, including state qualifiers Eva Beck (27-13) and Peyton Kuetlzo (34-13). But Minooka returns a solid core beginning with a pair of seniors in Palmer Calvey and Beth Castro.

“This team has been working hard and we are all confident in each other,” Calvey said. “If we continue to work, this will be a very good year for us. I worked a lot on my set-ups, and my position on top during the offseason, so I am confident that will help me this season.”

Calvey lists Loras College as one of a handful of colleges she’s considering, but fellow senior Beth Castro will take a different route following her graduation this spring.

“I want to go into the trades as a welder,” said Castro, “There’s a shortage in a lot of the trades, and welding is something that I am very interested in.”

Castro is also considering college where a business management degree would provide the skills needed for a role in team management as well.

For now, her focus is set squarely on the wrestling season.

“I am asking for a lot more help from our coaching staff this year – trying to be as open minded as I can to whatever they help me with,” Castro said.

Juniors Sabina Charlevoix and Ezra Rodriguez are ready to make their mark on the season and for head coach Minooka coach Paige Schoolman.

“I’ve been in this sport for three and a half years, and I really feel like the work I’ve put in will have me ready for this season,” Charlevoix said. “Last year I wrestled at the Clash, and that experience helped me a lot also.”

Charlevoix will compete at either 125 or 130 for the Indians.

As a sophomore last year, Rodriguez sent 16-10 and advanced into the Geneseo sectional, where she lost her opener, 2-0.

“I was happy with the way my things went for me in just my second year of being in the sport,” Rodriguez said. “Being able to have success in regionals, and get into sectionals gave me a lot of confidence headed into this year.

“I really think we’ll do well this year as a team, and with some really good freshmen, we should be even better than last year.”

Minooka will host its own mega-dual on Saturday.

Oak Park-River Forest

Although not at full strength, Oak Park and River Forest head coach Patrick Woulfe nonetheless was quite pleased with the effort his club put forth.

“We were a little down today, but we performed well, especially Pearl Lacey and Lariyah Apollo, who both finished second in their group,” Woulfe said. “Pearl is a senior and leader of our program.

“I felt like she is doing a great job or wrestling in her positions, and competing to make her opponent wrestle where she wants the match to be.”

Lacey recorded pins in her first two matches, needing just under two and a half minutes to do so on her way to a 2-1 day.

“(Pearl) is having fun, and trying hard, and as a coach that’s all you can ask for,” Woulfe said.

Apollo made quick work of her first two opponents as she used all of 1:52 to register pins before running into 2024 fifth-place state medalist Anjali Gonzalez from Hoffman Estates.

“Lariyah is just a two year wrestler, and I was really proud of her fight today,” said Woulfe.

“(Her) final match was a great wrestler (Gonzalez) – so we got to see how Lariyah stacked up against an All-State wrestler, and I am excited to see she can close the gap as the season progresses.”

Teammates Alessandra Pina and Isabella Miller were 1-2 on the day, with each recording a pin.

The Huskies are away for their league opener against Downers Grove North, before taking part in the Homewood-Flossmoor quad on Saturday.

Schaumburg

Reigning MSL and regional champion Schaumburg once again saw its top wrestler Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic overwhelm a trio of opponents, while receiving plenty of help from teammates Maya Brzosko, Aubree Jones and 2024 state qualifier Madyson Meyer.

All four posted 3-0 records on Saturday.

“I am really excited about this season, and the year that we can have,” said Zerafa-Lazarevic, who was second last year at state with a 37-3 overall record to give her a pair of state medals.

“Obviously my goal is to get on the top of the podium in Bloomington this year; of course that’s one of my goals. But I want to see our team win another conference title, and go on from there to win state as a team after finishing fourth last year.”

“We lost an amazing wrestler when Valeria Rodriguez graduated (Rodriguez was a three-time state medal winner), but we have a lot of depth this year, with some freshmen who came in with club experience.

“The new girls, along with those of us back will give us a great mix of wrestlers.”

Zerafa-Lazarevic will attend Illinois State University in the fall, which does not currently have a women’s program. But the affable Saxons senior will look to start a club program with the hope it will lead to a full-fledged D-1 collegiate program.

Not to be forgotten was the work from Alya and Nadia Razzak, who together were 3-0 at the end of the day.

The Saxons will be at Conant on Wednesday, then travel to Glen Ellyn on Saturday to compete in a quad at host Glenbard West.

West Aurora

West Aurora, was second a year ago at regionals and is one of the 16 teams that will take part in Hoffman Estates’ dual-team state tournament. Several of its wrestlers hope to do well in their group play, beginning with Kameyah Young, who went 21-4 last year and finished second in state at 100 pounds.

The Blackhawks star was 3-0 on the day, as was teammate Vicki Stackowicz.  Aiyanah Sylvester and Giselle Marin-Carrasco also earned plenty of praise from assistant coach Kayla Krieger.

“I was very proud of how the team wrestled today,” began Krieger, filling in for head coach Charles Graves. “A lot of our girls have been working hard in the room, and today they were able to see that pay off with some nice individual wins.

“Aiyanah has been consistent in her wrestling to start the season. She has a great attitude, absorbs as much information as she can, and is very competitive in the room and on the mat.

“Giselle (Marin-Carrasco) is another incredibly hard working wrestler. She comes to the room ready to work every day, and is gritty on the mat. We saw that today with her getting some good wins against tough opponents.”

Young continues to show an enormous amount of composure according to Krieger when giving a new move or two a try, while it’s the experience she’s gathered along the way that provides the type of leadership her teammates look up to.

Young was a preseason nationals champion during the offseason.

West Aurora is at Larkin this week before competing at the East Aurora Invite on the weekend.

Yorkville

Sophia Martin, Addison Tooley and Lauren Trotter all enjoyed a perfect day in Schaumburg, as the trio combined for five pins and a tech-fall (by Trotter) to lead Yorkville.

“(Overall) we were happy with the girl’s performance throughout the day, with many of our newer girls getting their feet wet at both the JV and varsity levels,” opined Yorkville head coach Kevin Roth.

“In just the few years of our existence, we feel this is the strongest group of freshmen we’ve ever had, with some coming here with prior experience from middle school.”

Janiah Murray earned praise from Roth after another solid day on the mats for the junior.

“Janiah is really coming into her own after building on her past success the last two seasons,” Roth said. “She was a bit undersized for the 190-pound bracket, but her quickness and strength makes her a force to be reckoned with.”

Murray feels like a different person on the mat this season.

“Last year wasn’t the greatest,” she said. “I felt like I could have been better. But I did a lot of extra work during the offseason to improve my fitness and strength, and my participation in Olympic Power lifting made me much stronger than a year ago.

“I really changed my diet also which is more of a high calorie diet, which includes fasting on Saturday for eight hours, and having my ‘cheat’ day on Sunday.”

Returning state qualifier Danielle Turner (30-13) and sectional qualifier Brooke Coy were unavailable for Yorkville. Roth expects both to return soon as his club prepares to host Batavia and Metea Valley on Wednesday in advance of competing at the East Aurora Invite this coming weekend.