By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

Mike Gussarson wrestled for Antioch coach Wilbur Borrero a decade ago, finishing fifth in Illinois at 132 in 2013. Gussarson also won an individual tournament title that year, at Antioch’s inaugural Ted DeRousse Invitational.

After girls wrestling became an IHSA sport in 2021, Antioch soon began hosting a girls tournament and two years ago, Borrero gave that tournament a name. The Sandy Gussarson Girls Invitational was thus born, named after Mike’s mother, who passed away in 2021.

“She was just such an avid supporter of wrestling and of our program,” Borrero said.

On Saturday at Lakes, Mike was present to honor his mother, handing out place-medals to girls on the awards stand at what is certainly one of the few wrestling tournaments- if not the only one – named so deservedly in tribute of a wrestling mom.

Mike Gussarson was fairly stunned when Borrero told him that he wanted to name the girls tournament after his mother.

“It definitely brought a tear to your eye, and it felt great,” Gussarson said. “It means she left her mark on the community.

“She was caring, hard-working — she was just a great person. She was always (Borrero’s) right-hand man, always helping out with fundraising and anything she could.”

More than 200 girls from 26 teams competed this year, with 12 wrestling mats set up in Lakes’ spacious fieldhouse.

Six mats were in use for the Gussarson tournament while six were in use for this year’s DeRousse. Combined, more than 500 wrestlers participated from 50 teams.

“Girls wrestling is huge. It’s blown up and it just keeps growing,” Gussarson said. “And these girls are tough.”

When the dust settled on the girls’ side, Lincoln-Way Central stood as this year’s Sandy Gussarson team champion. One year after placing second, the Knights out-pointed Oswego 457-355. Oak Forest finished third with 337 points.

The team from Lincoln-Way Central includes girls from Lincoln-Way East and West, and coach Josh Napier has seen his program follow a growth curve that mirrors the rise of girls high school wrestling in Illinois.

“We grew from three (girls) to eight to fifteen to now thirty-five girls this season,” Napier said. “So the message since June has been that we’re a wrestling program now and we’re taking it serious. We want to gain respect.”

“I felt pretty good about where we were going to be but I had no idea how we’d do here today. I knew we’d field a full lineup this year and we’re young, but we also have some experience – it’s about half and half. They’re hungry, and that’s what’s cool about them.”

Knights senior Monica Alvarez won a Gussarson title at 100 pounds Saturday and she likes the way this season has kicked off for her squad.

“I hoped that we’d have a lot of (wrestlers) and I like that it’s one big family,” Alvarez said. “And like they say ‘iron sharpens iron’, and we’re all beating each other up in practice.”

Also winning titles for Lincoln-Way Central were Zoe Dempsey (110) and Riley DePolo (235). Napier also got seconds from Emily Peyton (105) and Ella Giertuga (145), a third from Aubrey Barnes (120), and fourths from Abby Lizak (125) and Liv Clumpner (140). Lizak also scored the most points in a single match the entire tournament with 26.

Sierra Heatherly (115), Riley Cooney (130), Claire Bray (135), Kate Bohms (155), Jenna Lee (170), and Liana Zimmer (190) all scored team points in the Knights’ victory.

“This was the expectation coming into the tournament, to do this well, but we want a regional championship and a sectional championship, and a state trophy at some point,” Napier said.

Individual champion DePolo is in her first year of wrestling so she wasn’t sure what to expect from her team entering Saturday’s 26-team tournament.

“I was nervous but we all did really good. Everyone was amazing,” DePolo said. “The program is still very new and it’s been so much fun.”

Second-place Oswego sent four runners-up to the awards stand in Harmony Evans (130), Ameera Murphy (140), Kiyah Chavez (155), and Rikka Ludvigson (170) among coach Greg Scott’s 11 girls scoring team points for the Panthers.

Marjorie Rodriguez (115) and Iyobosa Odiase (145) won individual titles for third-place Oak Forest, and Isabel Peralta (190) placed second for the Bengals and coach Jamie Hubbard.

Other individual Gussarson champions were Dundee-Crown’s Diamond Rodriguez (105), Central’s Tori Macias (120) and Soraya Walikonis (135), Woodstock’s Hannah Olsen (125), Shepard’s Mila Rocush (130), Prospect’s Viola Pianetto (140), Hinsdale South’s Callie Carr (155), Palatine’s Sabrina Cargill (170), and Lakes’ Josie Larson (190).

Dundee-Crown’s Rodriguez, Oak Forest’s Odiase, Hinsdale South’s Carr, and Lakes’ Larson all became two-time Gussarson champs Saturday. The tournament’s outstanding wrestler award for the lower weights went to Rodriguez, and the upper-weight outstanding wrestler award went to Carr (155).

Palatine’s Cargill (170) had the most pins (5) in the least time (4:36) of all wrestlers present, while Antioch’s Londyn Lloyd (110) had the most tech fall wins (3) in the least time (13:30). Lloyd’s 63 total match points were also the most scored by any wrestler. Six girls tied for the most team points scored (52) in Macias, Walkinos, Rocush, Cargill, Carr, and Odiase. In placing sixth at 155, 22nd-seeded Brianna Crown of Woodstock provided the largest seed-place difference in the tournament.

Team scoring: 1. Lincoln-Way Central 457 2. Oswego 355 3. Oak Forest 337 4. Marist 306.5 5. Lakes 291 6. Dundee-Crown 213 7. Grant 211 8. Harvard 203 9. Woodstock 193.5 10. Shepard 174.5 11. Central 162 12. Grayslake North 161.5 13. Wilmont-Union WI 139 14. Freeport 133 15. Palatine 124.5 16. Peotone 121 17. Lake Park 114 18. Hinsdale South 94 19. Prospect 93.5 19. Rolling Meadows 93.5 21. Deerfield 93 22. Antioch 87 23. Guilford 79.5 24. Genoa Kingston 37 25. Carmel 8 26. Ken. St. Joseph Cath Ac. WI 0

Individual Sandy Gussarson Girls Invitational champions:

100 – Monica Alvarez, Lincoln-Way Central
The senior Alvarez went into the tournament as the third seed at 100, then went 5-0 including wins over Freeport’s second-seeded Aurielle Calmese (5-2) to capture the crown.
Alvarez (5-2) placed fifth in the tournament at 100 last season and she was on point at this year’s Gussarson.
“I’m really happy with today,” she said. “I teched my first (opponent), pinned my second, and won by points against my third one,” Alvarez said. “I was being aggressive and I know when they get tired — I see that and I know I’m not as tired as they are. I still have to work on my shots but I’m happy.”

Calmese placed second, Oak Forest’s Aliyah Blount was third, Palatine’s Kevelyn Price took fourth, Grayslake North’s Esther Migues-Gayton placed fifth, and Shepard’s Danielle Almaazan finished sixth at 100.

105 – Diamond Rodriguez, Dundee-Crown
Rodriguez was an IWCOA state champion at 100 pounds last season, and she won the last season’s Gussarson title at 100 pounds. The senior was slated to compete Saturday at 100 this year, but she made a tragic error in judgment on Thursday — she went to Texas Roadhouse with her family for Thanksgiving dinner.
“I should have never walked in there,” Rodriguez said. “Just smelling that place made me gain three pounds.”
Despite her best efforts since Thursday, Rodriguez couldn’t make weight to wrestle at 100 on Saturday. So instead, she wrestled up a weight at 105 as the No. 2 seed and won her second Gussarson title, with a tech fall win on the title mat against Lincoln-Way Central’s top-seeded Emily Peyton.
“I wanted the pin but she put up a hell of a fight,” Rodriguez said. “But I needed that workout, to be honest.”
Rodriguez won the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the lower weights Saturday, and she has her eyes squarely set on becoming a state qualifier this season.
“Last year I lost in the blood round at the sectional, then I was third at freestyle state. I love the sport. I started wrestling as a sophomore and I like the way it puts people on their feet, gets them thinking aggressively, thinking fast. And people might think girls are soft but it really brings it out and lets us be tough.”
Shepard’s Sophia Perez placed third, Central’s Allison Leffew was fourth, Marist’s Shae Halloran took fifth, and Central’s Malania Granda finished sixth at 105.

110 – Zoe Dempsey, Lincoln-Way Central
The Knights’ junior is a returning state qualifier and she posted a pair of tech fall wins and then a pin to reach the title match, where she won by fall over Harvard’s Alexa Herrera. Dempsey improved to 7-0 on the season with the win over Herrera (3-1), and she also won her second individual crown of the young season; Dempsey also won an individual title at Minooka’s 29-team tournament on Nov. 27.
Top-seeded Dempsey (7-0) won by first-period fall over third-seeded Herrera (3-1) for the title. Herrera reached the finals by upsetting second-seeded Haven Sylves by second-period fall. Dempsey won by fall in her semifinal against fourth-seeded Eva Hermansson of Woodstock.
Hermansson went on to place third, Sylves was fourth, Wilmont-Union’s Mya Rodriguez took fifth, and Dundee-Crown’s Melany Sanchez finished sixth at 110.

115 – Marjorie Rodriguez, Oak Forest
Bengals’ senior Rodriguez entered as the top seed at 115 pounds and won her first Gussarson title by fall against second-seeded Iris Torres of Dundee-Crown. Rodriguez is bringing a whole new mindset into her final high school season.
“Last year I had really low self-confidence but this year it’s really high. I’m not thinking negatively like last year, where I was always doubting myself. This summer I went to Fargo, which was a lot of fun and a big eye-opener for me, and since this is my last year I want to make it count.
“I was overall really happy with how I did. I fell in control most of the time and I was trying to be a little less aggressive and more smart. We’ve been doing boys practices, which are pretty intense, and that’s really helping all of us.”
There’s also no substitute for good coaching, and Rodriguez is grateful for hers.
“John Sebek has been with me all four years and he’s always pushing us to be the best,” Rodriguez said. “He’s like another father figure. He treats us like we’re his daughters, we’re all really close, and he’s always really honest about what we need to work on.”
Lakes’ Osmairi Medina placed third, Deerfield’s Belinda Esparza was fourth, Grant’s Kayden Manis took fifth, and Grant’s Jaiydyn Hoffman finished sixth at 115 pounds.

120 – Tori Macias, Central
The Rockets’ senior is a rare breed as one of the few three-time state medalists in girls wrestling in Illinois, having placed fourth once and fifth twice at the IHSA state finals.
She wants more and she’s pulling out all stops to get it.
“It’s my last season and I’m just trying to leave it all out there this year,” Macias said. “I’m putting everything on the mat and doing everything I can. I’m also a captain this year so I’m doing whatever I can to get girls to come out for wrestling at our school.
Top-seeded Macias (5-0) pinned her way to the title mat, where she won by fall over Marist’s Ava Enright (3-1).
“I feel stronger this year and as a veteran of the sport, I feel like I have the upper hand against the underclassmen. Today if I felt gassed or getting down, I just reminded myself that I’m a veteran at this and I know what to do.”
Marist’s Ava Enright (3-1) was seeded 11th at 120 but she won by fall against No. 2-seeded Marijose Avila of Freeport and No. 3 Ruby Vences of Central to reach the finals before losing to Macias. Lincoln-Way Central’s Aubrey Barnes placed third, Avila took fourth, Vences was fifth, and Grant’s Evelyn Gonzalez finished sixth at 120.

125 – Hannah Olsen, Woodstock
After placing 10th at 125 at the tournament last year as a sophomore, fifth-seeded Woodstock junior Olsen (4-0) went unbeaten on the day and claimed her first Gussarson title with two falls, one tech fall, and a 9-2 decision win over second-seeded runnerup Myla Reyes (4-1) of Grant.
Lake Park’s Elida Garcia placed third, Lincoln-Way Central’s Abby Lizak took fourth, Oswego’s Aaliyah Roldan was fifth, and Peotone’s Kaylee Boudreau finished sixth at 125.

130 – Mila Rocush, Shepard
One season after a 9th-place Gussarson finish as a freshman, the sophomore Rocush went 5-0 and took this year’s title at 130. Rocush won by fall over Oswego’s Harmony Evans (4-1) in the finals, and all five of Rocush’s wins came by fall. In placing second, 17th-seeded Evans provided the second-largest seed-place difference in the tournament.
Oak Forest’s Jordan Clyne took third, Lake Park’s Anna Guzman was fourth, Oak Forest’s Brooklyn Strelow placed fifth, and Lakes’ Makayla Williams finished sixth at 130 pounds.

135 – Soraya Walikonis, Central
Top-seeded senior Walikonis went 5-0 in pinning her way to the title at 135 for the Rockets, capped by a third-period pin on the title mat against seventh-seeded Morgan Rutherford (3-1) of Wilmont-Union, WI.
Walikonis pinned Lakes’ fourth-seeded Elise Kaylor to reach the title mat, while Rutherford won by fall in her semifinal match against sixth-seeded Annie Bergeron of Peotone.
Bergeron finished third, Kaylor placed fourth, Lincoln-Way Central’s Claire Bray took fifth, and Harvard’s Khloe Vest was sixth at 135 pounds.

140 – Viola Pianetto, Prospect
One year ago, Prospect senior Pianetto stood on a Gussarson title mat across from one of the best high school wrestlers in the country in Freeport’s Cadence Diduch, a multiple-time Illinois state champion now wrestling for the University of Iowa.
She only began wrestling last year, and when Pianetto lost by fall to Diduch it was a pivot point in her wrestling career.
“I didn’t know who she was going into that match and she was one of the best wrestlers I’ll ever see,” Pianetto said. “After that I knew that if I wanted to have a successful career in college, that match showed me that I had to get a lot stronger.”
Pianetto (7-0) has already committed to wrestle for Minot State in North Dakota. On Saturday she won her first Gussarson title as the tournament’s top seed, winning by fall over Oswego’s Ameera Murphy (3-1).
“It started off as a rough day. I was spitting on the bus, trying to make 135,” Pianetto said, “but I was two pounds over by the time we got here. So I just focused on what I can do and I prayed through every single match. I knew that no matter what happened, I just wanted to be proud of myself.”
Grant’s Annabelle Melton finished third at 140, Lincoln-Way Central’s Liv Clumpner was fourth, Marist’s Stella Harris took fifth, and Marley Gonzalez of Wilmont-Union, Wisconsin, finished sixth.


145 – Iyobosa Odiase, Oak Forest
The second of Oak Forest’s two individual champions on the day, returning state qualifier Odiase (5-0) pinned her way to her second Gussarson title at Lakes. The top-seeded junior ended her run with a title-mat pin against Lincoln-Way Central’s third-seeded sophomore Ella Giertuga (6-3), who was coming in off a fourth-place finish at Wednesday’s Minooka tournament.
Lakes’ Christina Hasner placed third at 145, Grayslake North’s Victoria Marquez took fourth, Marist’s Izzy Locascio was fifth, and Oswego’s Angeles Ponce finished sixth.

155 – Callie Carr, Hinsdale South
Top-seeded junior Carr is now a two-time Gussarson champion after winning by fall on the title mat against Oswego’s third-seeded Kiyah Chavez. She won the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the upper weights at Lakes and Carr is also a two-time state qualifier.

She’s itching to get to the state finals again and she wants nothing short of the top spot on the podium.
“That’s all I’m thinking about right now,” Carr said. “I want to be a state champ. I’ve been wrestling since eighth grade and now I feel like I can get through anything. It’s a great sport and mentally it will take a toll on you but like my pop always says it’s all about the six-inch space between your ears.”
Even if she wins a state title, Carr’s biggest contribution at Hinsdale South may have come off the mat.

“I was the only girl wrestling for a while,” Carr said. “I actually went to the (school) board and told them I didn’t have a coach or a team, while every team in our conference had a team and a coach. A lot of girls ended up joining and now there’s eight or nine of us in the program.”
Third-seeded Chavez won by fall in her semifinal match against second-seeded Makayla Hill of Oswego. Hill went on to place third, while 13th-seeded Joslyn Sheets of Oswego placed fourth. Rolling Meadows’ Janet Brindis placed fifth and Woodstock’s Brianna Crown took sixth at 155.

170 – Sabrina Cargill, Palatine
Pirates senior and 2024 IWCOA state champion Cargill (5-0) was seeded 11th but she burned her way through the girls seeded ahead of her with five pins, capped by a fall on the title mat at 170 against Oswego’s eighth-seeded Rikka Ludvigson (4-1). Ludvigson upset top-seeded Riley O’Grady of Grant to reach the title mat.
Marist’s Samantha Fontaine placed third, Palatine’s Angela Escalera was fourth, O’Grady placed fifth, and Rolling Meadows’ Leilani Brindis finished sixth at 170.

190 – Josie Larson, Lakes
Larson placed second in state at 190 last year and in her senior year for the Eagles, she’s bent on scaling to the top of the podium in every tournament she enters this season.
And she feels more ready than ever before to bring home an individual state title to Lakes.
“I’ve improved a lot. I wrestled a lot in the offseason, went to a lot of different tournaments, and that all helped,” Larson said. “I feel like I’ve refined my style. Last year I really only had one good move and this year I have three or four.”
Top-seeded Larson (5-0) became a two-time Gussarson champion with a fall on the title mat against Oak Forest’s second-seeded Isabel Peralta (4-1).
Last year, Larson and Zion-Benton’s Ileen Castrejon squared off six times, with Castrejon winning over Larson on the state title mat by 2-1 decision.
“I benefited from those matches. They were all close and we pushed each other to work harder and get better,” Larson said. “I’m competitive and I want to push myself to do better no matter what.”
Harvard’s Jarithsie Mercado placed third, Guilford’s Anjanne Haywood was fourth, Marist’s Sarah Parker took fifth, and Lincoln-Way Central’s Maryanna Quezada was sixth at 190.

235 – Riley DePolo, Lincoln-Way Central
Third-seeded sophomore DePolo beat top-seeded sophomore Alison Poole of Grayslake North by first-period fall to win her first Gussarson title. Not bad for a kid who wore a different high school uniform at this time last season.
“Riley was a basketball player at this time last year,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Josh Napier said. “We thought this was a better choice and I think today just solidified that for her.”
DePolo topped Dundee-Crown’s second-seeded Caroline Haiges in their semifinal match before winning by fall for the title against Woodstock’s top-seeded Allison Hill.
Beating two higher seeds en route to a tournament championship always makes for a good day.

“I was good on top today and I broke down a lot of people, so that was good,” DePolo said. “But I’ve got to work on bottom, and I want to keep working on breaking people down.”
Haiges went on to place third, Hill was fourth, Shepard’s Karrine Jenkins took fifth, and Oswego’s Helena Torres finished fifth at 235.

2024 Sandy Gussarson Girls Invitational medalists:

100:
Championship Round 1

Aliyah Blount (Oak Forest) 3-2, So. over Kevelyn Price (Palatine ) 2-3, Sr. (Dec 11-4)

Monica Alvarez (LW Central) 5-2, Sr. over Aurielle Calmese (Freeport) 5-2, Sr. (MD 9-0)

Round 2

Monica Alvarez (LW Central) 5-2, Sr. over Kevelyn Price (Palatine ) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 3:15)

Aurielle Calmese (Freeport) 5-2, Sr. over Aliyah Blount (Oak Forest) 3-2, So. (Fall 3:38)

Round 3

Aurielle Calmese (Freeport) 5-2, Sr. over Kevelyn Price (Palatine ) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 3:39)

Monica Alvarez (LW Central) 5-2, Sr. over Aliyah Blount (Oak Forest) 3-2, So. (MD 12-1)

105:

Championship Round 1

Emily Peyton (LW Central) 6-3, Sr. over Allison Leffew (Central) 2-3, So. (Fall 0:55)

Diamond Rodriguez (Dundee-Crown) 7-0, Sr. over Sophia Perez (Shepard) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 0:51)

Round 2

Emily Peyton (LW Central) 6-3, Sr. over Sophia Perez (Shepard) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 0:44)

Diamond Rodriguez (Dundee-Crown) 7-0, Sr. over Allison Leffew (Central) 2-3, So. (Fall 0:28)

Round 3

Diamond Rodriguez (Dundee-Crown) 7-0, Sr. over Emily Peyton (LW Central) 6-3, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:40 (17-2))

Sophia Perez (Shepard) 3-2, Jr. over Allison Leffew (Central) 2-3, So. (Fall 2:22)

110:

1st Place Match

Zoe Dempsey (LW Central) 7-0, Jr. over Alexa Herrera (Harvard) 3-1, Jr. (Fall 1:25)

3rd Place Match

Eva Hermansson (Woodstock) 4-1, Jr. over Haven Sylves(Lakes) 2-2, Sr. (Dec 10-6)

5th Place Match

Mya Rodriguez (Wilmont-Union) 3-1, . over Melany Sanchez (Dundee-Crown) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 1:25)

115:

1st Place Match

Marjorie Rodriguez (Oak Forest) 5-0, Sr. over Iris Torres (Dundee-Crown) 5-2, Sr. (Fall 1:35)

3rd Place Match

Osmairi Medina(Lakes) 4-1, So. over Belinda Esparza (Deerfield) 2-3, Jr. (Dec 10-3)

5th Place Match

Kayden Manis(Grant) 4-1, So. over Jaiydyn Hoffman(Grant) 3-2, So. (Dec 5-0)

120:

1st Place Match

Victoria Macias (Central) 5-0, Sr. over Ava Enright (Marist) 3-1, So. (Fall 1:52)

3rd Place Match

Aubrey Barnes (LW Central) 5-3, Fr. over Marijose Avila (Freeport) 6-4, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:16 (16-0))

5th Place Match

Ruby Vences (Central) 4-1, Sr. over Evelyn Gonzalez(Grant) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 1:46)

125:

Championship Round 1

Hannah Olsen (Woodstock) 4-0, Jr. over Elida Garcia Torres(Lake Park) 3-2, So. (TF-1.5 4:54 (18-0))

Myla Reyes(Grant) 4-1, So. over Abby Lizak (LW Central) 2-3, Fr. (Fall 1:29)

Round 2

Elida Garcia Torres(Lake Park) 3-2, So. over Abby Lizak (LW Central) 2-3, Fr. (Dec 7-3)

Hannah Olsen (Woodstock) 4-0, Jr. over Myla Reyes(Grant) 4-1, So. (Dec 9-2)

Round 3

Myla Reyes(Grant) 4-1, So. over Elida Garcia Torres(Lake Park) 3-2, So. (Fall 5:17)

Hannah Olsen (Woodstock) 4-0, Jr. over Abby Lizak (LW Central) 2-3, Fr. (Fall 1:05)

130:

1st Place Match

Mila Rocush (Shepard) 5-0, So. over Harmony Evans (Oswego) 4-1, Sr. (Fall 5:29)

3rd Place Match

Jordan Clyne (Oak Forest) 3-1, Jr. over Anna Guzman(Lake Park) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 3:17)

5th Place Match

Brooklyn Strelow (Oak Forest) 3-1, Fr. over Makayla Williams(Lakes) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 1:49)

135:

1st Place Match

Soraya Walikonis (Central) 5-0, Sr. over Morgan Rutherford (Wilmont-Union) 3-1, . (Fall 4:27)

3rd Place Match

Annie Bergeron (Peotone) 3-1, . over Elise Kaylor(Lakes) 2-2, So. (Fall 1:26)

5th Place Match

Claire Bray (LW Central) 3-3, So. over Khloe Vest (Harvard) 2-2, Fr. (Fall 1:09)

140:

1st Place Match

Viola Pianetto (Mt. Prospect (Prospect)) 7-0, Sr. over Ameera Murphy (Oswego) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 1:30)

3rd Place Match

Annabelle Melton(Grant) 4-1, Jr. over Liv Clumpner (LW Central) 2-2, Fr. (Fall 2:36)

5th Place Match

Stella Harris (Marist) 3-1, Jr. over Marley Gonzalez (Wilmont-Union) 2-2, . (Fall 0:40)

145:

1st Place Match

Iyobosa Odiase (Oak Forest) 5-0, Jr. over Ella Giertuga (LW Central) 6-3, So. (Fall 0:44)

3rd Place Match

Christina Hasner(Lakes) 4-1, Jr. over Victoria Marquez (Grayslake North) 5-2, So. (Fall 1:30)

5th Place Match

Izzy Locascio (Marist) 3-1, Jr. over Angeles Ponce (Oswego) 2-2, Fr. (Fall 1:30)

155:

1st Place Match

Callie Carr (Hinsdale S) 5-0, Jr. over Kiyah Chavez (Oswego) 4-1, Sr. (Fall 2:15)

3rd Place Match

Makayla Hill (Oswego) 4-1, So. over Joslyn Sheets (Oswego) 3-2, . (Fall 0:48)

5th Place Match

Janet Brindis (Rolling Meadows) 3-1, Jr. over Brianna Crown (Woodstock) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 4:16)

170:

1st Place Match

Sabrina Cargill (Palatine ) 5-0, Sr. over Rikka Ludvigson (Oswego) 4-1, Sr. (Fall 0:36)

3rd Place Match

Samantha Fontaine (Marist) 4-1, Jr. over Angela Escalera (Palatine ) 3-2, Sr. (MFFL)

5th Place Match

Riley O`Grady(Grant) 4-1, . over Leilani Brindis (Rolling Meadows) 3-2, . (Dec 7-3)

190:

1st Place Match

Josephine Larson(Lakes) 5-0, Sr. over Isabel Peralta (Oak Forest) 4-1, Sr. (Fall 4:29)

3rd Place Match

Jarithsie Mercado (Harvard) 4-1, Jr. over Anjanne Haywood (Guilford)3-2, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

5th Place Match

Sarah Parker (Marist) 4-1, Jr. over Maryanna Quezada (LW Central) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 1:29)

235:

1st Place Match

Riley DePolo (LW Central) 5-2, So. over Alison Poole (Grayslake North) 3-1, So. (Fall 1:47)

3rd Place Match

Caroline Haiges (Dundee-Crown) 4-2, Fr. over Allison Hill (Woodstock) 3-2, So. (Fall 3:03)

5th Place Match

Karrine Jenkins (Shepard) 3-1, So. over Helena Torres (Oswego) 2-2, So. (Fall 0:25)

By Chris Walker For the IWCOA

One of the things that a few of the individual champions shared during Saturday’s 16-team Hruska Classic was that they didn’t become wrestlers until they entered high school.

Elgin senior Fabian Ramirez (175), Leyden junior Erick Worwa (215) and De La Salle Institute senior David McCarthy (285) are each just a few years into the sport, yet they found themselves crowned as champions during their first invite of the season.

Carl Sandburg, which had five champions, won the invite with 299 points, while Glenbard North, which had three champions, took second place with 239.5. Oswego was a distant third at 150.

“I was a fat kid in middle school and I learned that my cousin, before he went into the military, that he wrestled and was a big wrestling fan,” McCarthy said. “My family has always been in martial arts and things like that and used to do karate and a lot of gymnastics stuff, and when I got to high school I played football and they came out and talked to me and said ‘Do you want to wrestle? I was like my whole family wrestled so why not I give it a try? I didn’t make weight freshman year, I was like 315 (pounds), but I made weight sophomore year, went to state and was like, ‘This is it, this is what I want to do.’”

It’s hard to imagine a big kid like McCarthy getting picked on, but he acknowledged that it happened.

“I grew up in a very big, fighting family and I’ve always been the smallest height-wise and weight-wise,” McCarthy said. “I’m always getting picked on by everybody else so I had to learn a way to defend myself and now I’m going head-to-head with 6-5, 300-something pound people and I’m like it’s my defense mechanism.”

McCarthy had some family members hooting and hollering for his efforts after his victory. In a rematch of last year’s title bout, McCarthy won by fall over Round Lake senior William Cole in 1:47. Last year, McCarthy was pinned by Cole in the opening minute. 

“I love my family but they are a little embarrassing,” McCarthy said. “But they come out and support every tournament. Somebody is coming, no matter who it is, somebody is there, two or three people. Somebody is always there to support, it always goes deep with the family.”

Elgin’s Ramirez started wrestling during his freshman year. Now a senior, Ramirez finished in third place at Conant last year. He won the title on Saturday after pinning Oswego East senior Demetrius Walker-Hill in 11 seconds.

“I saw it coming in and he shot, and I was like in awe because I’ve been in this position before,” Ramirez said. “I thought that if this is what he’s going to do then you got to punish that, and then just lifted him over, an 11-second pin. It’s something I can’t even explain. I just don’t think when I wrestle, I just go, I just react.”

Conant is a familiar place for Ramirez. Last year he won the Class 3A Conant sectional at 190 with a 9-5 decision against St. Charles East sophomore Cooper Murray. Two years ago, his sophomore season ended after he got pinned by Glenbard North senior Johnnie Robertson in the quarterfinals at 170 of the Class 3A Conant sectional.

“My brother wrestled so I wanted to do it and did that, and then during my sophomore year I was here at sectionals,” he said, “I lost in the first round and that really broke me. I was very very angry that I had lost that match because, you know, I was inexperienced and I hadn’t even wrestled for this long so it made me want to commit to it. I’ve gone to Gomez Wrestling RTC ever since then and he just made me who I am. It doesn’t matter who is in front of me anymore, it’s just another thing.”

Ramirez just finished up the football season as the Maroons went 3-6.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Ramirez said, “I’m still in shock because I’m from Elgin so it’s like … an unknown school. (Soccer) is the only thing we got. But I don’t like stereotypes and I try to break them. So I’m going to come out and ranked fourth at 190 I saw that and I don’t know, I’m here to make waves, some changes, to change the system (at Elgin).”

Leyden’s Worwa is another kid who hadn’t wrestled before high school. In fact, Worwa really wasn’t into athletics until he signed up for wrestling just a couple years ago. Now a junior, Worwa is only in his second varsity season, but already has a tournament championship on his resume for the new year. He won it with a 12-9 decision over South Elgin senior Deremit Zamora.

Just like Ramirez, Worwa has to thank an older brother for inspiring him to give wrestling a shot.

“No sports at all before wrestling,” he said. “It was pretty much my brother wrestling. When he was a senior I was a freshman and he told me I should join wrestling so I did. Freshmen year went well. I was all-conference and went to fresh-soph state that year and fell in love with the sport and really enjoyed myself. I figured this is my life now so let’s enjoy it as well as I can.”

At last year’s Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic, Worwa got dropped by Sandburg senior Ahmad Jaffal in his second match of the day.

“Last year I didn’t place at this tournament and this year I got first and am currently undefeated,” Worwa said. “It feels really good. I’ve been practicing and been pushing myself everyday. It just feels good to get started and to get on top. I’m starting to win more and be more confident in myself.”

He outlasted Zamora to earn the 215 title.

“I think the difference was pure determination,” Worwa said, “Me and the other guys, we were really determined. We were pushing each other. We were trying to get it. I was just going for the points, going for the shots, I didn’t want to lose so I was pushing myself. I was just in my mind ‘Don’t lose, push yourself, you’ve been pushing yourself all week hard. You earned it,’ and I just wanted to prove it to myself.”

It didn’t take long for Worwa to fall in love with the sport and the team while also becoming a talented competitor.

“I love the team,” he said. “Spending time with basically guys who have become your brothers over the season feels really good, especially when you push yourself constantly and you’re getting better. It feels amazing. That’s what I like about it. You see yourself improving that’s what I really enjoy about it.”

Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (120), Madden Parker (138) and Ryan Hinger (150) won for the second straight year at Conant. Hayes was named Most Valuable Wrestler for the second consecutive year.

“Yeah, so today was a pretty good day overall,” Hayes said. “Getting to my offense has been a big part of my success and just having a great mindset going into matches.”

Hayes is coming off an off-season of hard work, including some at the University of Virginia where he’ll continue next year.

“My off-season was good,” he said. “I trained at Virginia for some time and just made sure I got better and stronger overall. I’m a new me from last year. I’m a totally new person on the mat. I’m coming for a lot this season and I have a great mentality right now. From last year, I have just gotten bigger and stronger and that is what I needed. I became more technical and more offensive.”

He took care of business quickly and efficiently, earning pins at 0:55 in the quarterfinals, 2:29 in the semifinals, and 2:39 in the final. 

Tyson Bruce (132) and Wyatt Hochgraber (165) also won for the Eagles.

Bruce took fifth last year at Conant and did not qualify for state, 

“Since the season ended last year I’ve just been grinding basically all off-season through freestyle and Greco and I was practicing at R13 Wrestling with Carson Beebe and I think he helped me get a lot better,” Bruce said. “I’m way more focused on on my technique and foot work and being real smart on the mat and knowing what to do. I think that really helped with the jump there, and then just being more focused this year than anything.”

Sandburg coach Clinton Polz likes what he’s seeing from Bruce.

“He’s put in a lot of time over the years and it’s really starting to pay off and show on the mat,” Polz said. “So I’m really happy for him. He’s become a leader in our room and in the off-season and in-season.”

Polz said the Eagles were still missing one wrestler but expect to be at full strength soon.

“A lot of our guys aren’t down to their certification weights yet so that’ll happen next week for a lot of them.” Polz said .”So a lot of guys will be sliding down a weight class. I’m pretty happy with what we saw today with most of them up a weight class today.”

Glenbard North freshman Vannak Khiev won in his debut high school tournament. Kalani Khiev (126) and Julian Holland (190) also enjoyed championship days for the Panthers.

Oswego senior Brayden Swanson defeated Sandburg sophomore Brady Ritter, 4-1, to win at 150.

South Elgin’s Nick Dilallo won at 113, beating fellow freshman Kyle Hayes of Sandburg by tech fall. 

New Trier senior Tagg Miller scored a 13-9 decision win at 157 over Oswego senior Ethan Essick.

Sandburg also won the Hruska last year. Runner-up Glenbard North won it in 2022. The Eagles finished third that year.

“I think this team has only one goal in mind and it’s to win a state title this year and compete,” Bruce said. “It’s an uphill battle this year with some of the teams, but we finished pretty strong here today and that’s just great motivator for next week and weeks to come. I just hope we continue to do that.”

Motivating athletes was one of the late Chris Hruska’s many abilities. The former Conant wrestling coach died of cancer in 2011 and the school now hosts the Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic each winter.

Conant Chris Hruska Wrestling Classic championship matches

106 – Vannak Khiev (Glenbard North) 2-0, Fr. over Anthony Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 2-1, Jr. (Fall 1:35)

113 – Nick Dilallo (South Elgin) 6-0, Fr. over Kyle Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Fr. (TF-1.5 4:38 (20-2))

120 – Rocco Hayes (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Sammy Sikorsky (Geneva) 2-1, Sr. (Fall 2:39)

126 – Kalani Khiev (Glenbard North) 3-0, Sr. over John Sheehy (Notre Dame) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 11-6)

132 – Tyson Bruce (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Trey Thompson (Glenbard North) 3-1, Jr. (Dec 4-1)

138 – Madden Parker (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Matt Goolish (Conant) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 1:11)

144 – Brayden Swanson (Oswego) 5-0, Sr. over Brady Ritter (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, So. (Dec 4-1)

150 – Ryan Hinger (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Sr. over Dillon Griffin (Oswego) 4-1, Jr. (Fall 2:38)

157 – Tagg Miller (New Trier) 3-0, over Ethan Essick (Oswego) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 13-9)

165 – Wyatt Hochgraber (Carl Sandburg) 4-0, Jr. over Adnan Askar (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, (Fall 1:34)

175 – Fabian Ramirez (Elgin) 4-0, Sr. over Demetrius Walker-Hill (Oswego East) 5-1, Sr. (Fall 0:11)

190 – Julian Holland (Glenbard North) 4-0, Sr. over Chris Davis (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Jr. (Fall 0:26)

215 – Erick Worwa (Leyden) 4-0, Jr. over Deremit Zamora (South Elgin) 6-2, Sr. (Dec 12-9)

285 – David McCarthy (De La Salle) 3-0, Sr. over William Cole (Round Lake) 6-1, Sr. (Fall 1:47)

Third-place matches

106 – Evan Hamilton (South Elgin) 2-4, Jr. over Ryu Yamazaki (Conant) 1-2, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:31 (19-3))

113 – Ray Long (Notre Dame) 2-1, So. over Jaden Quito (Glenbard North) 1-2, So. (MD 18-5)

120 – Alex Rodriguez (Leyden) 2-1, Jr. over Jaylen Sandy (Bloomington) 1-2, So. (Dec 13-6)

126 – Luis Flores (Conant) 3-1, Jr. over Aiden Ortiz (Oswego) 4-2, Jr. (MD 10-2)

132 – Andrew Wendt (Geneva) 2-1, Sr. over Mike Goolish (Conant) 2-3, So. (Fall 1:39)

138 – Braeden Grisham (Oswego East) 6-1, Sr. over Richard Morales (Glenbard North) 1-2, Sr. (Dec 5-3)

144 – John Greifelt (Notre Dame) 2-1, Jr. over Tyler Barlow (Bloomington) 1-2, Jr. (Dec 12-8)

150 – Victor Chevganov (Conant) 3-1, Sr. over Dane Henson (South Elgin) 2-5, Jr. (Fall 3:30)

157 – Nick Nicosia (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, Sr. over Rylan Kradle (Glenbard North) 1-2, Sr. (Dec 5-3)

165 – Erik Esquivel (Glenbard North) 3-1, Jr. over Mylan Williams (Curie) 2-2, Sr. (MD 9-1)

175 – Ahmad Alomari (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, Sr. over Edgar Gomez (Round Lake) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 3:32)

190 – Terrelle Jackson (De La Salle) 3-1, Sr. over Michael Keany (Notre Dame) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 3:13)

215 – Malic Breish (Carl Sandburg) 3-1, Sr. over Kelvin Harris (Bloomington) 2-2, Sr. (Fall 0:47)

285 – Brodie Slou (Oswego) 4-1, Sr. over Joshua Edwards (Oswego East) 4-4, Sr. (Fall 1:32)

Fifth-place matches

113 – Damian Ramos (Conant) 4-1, Fr. over Justin Forbes (De La Salle) 3-2, Fr. (Fall 4:36)

120 – Isaac Velasco (Glenbard North) 2-1, Sr. over Vincent Arvetis (De La Salle) 2-2, So. (Fall 0:50)

126 – Oscar Kalman (Carl Sandburg) 4-1, So. over Jack Schweitzer (Bloomington) 3-2, Fr. (Fall 1:38)

132 – Brady Krueger (Notre Dame) 4-1, Jr. over Ryan Geogoplous (New Trier) 3-2, (Fall 0:56)

138 – Vincent Manfre (Oswego) 5-1, Sr. over Aamir Nieves-Allen (South Elgin) 2-5, Sr. (Fall 5:27)

144 – Angelo Gatses (Glenbard North) 4-1, So. over Sharjeel Saqibuddin (New Trier) 3-2, (Fall 2:43)

150 – Donovan Walsh (Notre Dame) 4-1, Sr. over Emir Mustapayev (Glenbard North) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 1:45)

157 – David Rueth (Geneva) 4-1, Jr. over Deniz Ozturk (Notre Dame) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 1:21)

165 – Marcus Regalado (New Trier) 4-1, over Kevin O`Grady (Oswego) 3-2, Sr. (MD 16-5)

175 – Joey Fitak (Glenbard North) 4-1, So. over Jackson Spizzirri (Conant) 3-3, So. (Dec 12-7)

190 – Karl Pretzer (South Elgin) 4-3, Sr. over Charlie Anderson (Oswego East) 5-2, Jr. (Fall 2:27)

215 – Jovan Cerny (Oswego East) 6-3, Jr. over Tyler Hvorcik (Glenbard North) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 1:03)

285 – Omar Alhmoud (Carl Sandburg) 5-1, Sr. over Jaylen Raab (Bloomington) 3-2, So. (UTB 3-2)

Seventh-place matches

113 – Nolan O´Grady (Oswego) 3-2, So. over Mateo Marin (Round Lake) 3-4, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:15 (16-0))

120 – George Driesbach (Geneva) 2-2, So. over Raval Drew (South Elgin) 0-4, Sr. (Fall 1:09)

126 – Matt Miralles (New Trier) 2-2, over Macarten Parker (Carl Sandburg) 2-3, . (MD 14-4)

132 – Emilio Chavarria (Round Lake) 7-2, Jr. over Jayden Edgar Gray (Elgin) 1-3, So. (Dec 12-8)

138 – Henry Quntar Jr. (Oswego) 2-2, over Melvin Cannon (De La Salle) 0-3, Sr. (Fall 4:55)

144 – Vladimir Castaneda (Conant) 2-2, over Gio Ortiz (Leyden) 1-3, Fr. (Fall 2:51)

150 – Yassin Aitzemkour (New Trier) 3-2, over Yuliel Quinonez (Curie) 1-3, Sr. (Fall 3:14)

157 – Nathan Jung (South Elgin) 3-5, Sr. over Emilio Guzman (Elgin) 1-3, Jr. (For.)

165 – Triston Stinson (Oswego East) 5-3, Jr. over Ian Hernandez (Round Lake) 4-4, Sr. (Dec 8-3)

175 – Daniel Aguas (Bloomington) 3-2, Jr. over Matthew Kessel (Notre Dame) 2-3, Sr. (Fall 2:36)

190 – Cooper Wynn (Oswego) 4-2, Sr. over Jaiden Thorney (Conant) 2-3, So. (Fall 1:53)

215 – Aiden Heiden (Oswego) 3-2, over Alaa Alrabi (Carl Sandburg) 2-3, (Fall 1:06)

285 – Dylan Hendee (Glenbard North) 3-2, Sr. over Victor Juarez (Elgin) 1-3, So. (Dec 4-3)

Team standings

1. Carl Sandburg 299, 2, Glenbard North 239.5, 3. Oswego 150, 4. Notre Dame 124, 5. South Elgin 114.5, 6. Conant 113.5, 7. Oswego East 90, 8. New Trier 86.5, 9. Bloomington 74.5, 10. De La Salle 72.5, 11. Geneva 67, 12. Leyden 61.5, 13. Round Lake 48.5, 14. Elgin 44, 15. Curie 22.

By Chris Walker For the IWCOA

Some wrestlers were able to loosen their belts and truly enjoy Thanksgiving on Thursday, including second helpings and desserts, after opening their 2024-2025 high school season by competing in the inaugural Marmion Cadet Invite on Wednesday in Aurora.

“This is the first year we put this tournament together and I would say every program that is here is either a friend of the staff or friend of the program,” Cadets coach Anthony Cirrincione said. “We just wanted to put together an event where these guys could wrestle before Thanksgiving and give the kids their Thanksgiving day to engage with their families and not worry about making weight on the weekend. There were a lot of good teams here.”

As what’s always expected at the beginning of the season, there’s a great deal of excitement amongst the competition but teams aren’t anywhere close to where they hope to be once the postseason rolls in. That includes the wrestlers themselves,

A couple state champions did not compete. Marmion junior Nicholas Garcia, who won at 113 in 3A last year and was fourth at 106 the year before, wasn’t in action. Marian Central Catholic senior Brayden Teunissen, last year’s state champion at 120 in 1A, also did not compete. Teunissen is shooting for his third state finish after taking second place in 1A at 106 during his sophomore season.

“No Nick (Garcia), no Joe (Favia), no Vinnie (Testa), no Aidan McClure,” Cirrincione said. “When those guys come back we’ll be a different team, believe it or not. That’s a lot of horsepower that’s sitting out right now. But they’ll be back probably within the next two to three weeks and looking to compete right on the other side of Christmas.”

All but Garcia is coming off Marmion’s fall football season. Heavyweight Mateusz Nycz is coming off of football and he scored in a big way, defeating Glenwood Chatham’s Cody Moss by tech fall in the championship bout to give the Cadets five champions on the day.

Marmion needed those champs to win its own invite, fighting its way past runner-up Marist, 211.5 to 206. Lincoln-Way West was third with 172.5 while Lockport had 147 and Glenwood Chatham had 140.5 to round out the top five team finishers.

Colton Wyller (106), Demetrios Carrera (132), Zach Stewart (138) and Ashton Hobson (150) also were crowned champions for the Cadets.

Marian Central Catholic had a pair of champions in Austin Hagevold (113) and Jimmy Mastny (190).

The final seven champions were the lone ones from their school which says a lot about the quality of the competition and its diversity. 

Huntley’s Radic Dvorak (157), Lincoln-Way West’s Nate Elstner (215), Marist’s Will Denny (165), Naperville Central’s Henry Rydwelski (175), Oakwood/Salt Ford’s Mason Swartz (120), St. Patrick’s Patrick Hulne (144) and West Chicago’s Ryan Alvarado (126) will go done in history as the first winners in their weight classic in this new tournament. 

Stewart (138 in 3A), Denny (150 in 3A) and Mastny (157 in 1A) are all returning after winning state titles a season ago. Stewart is the only one of the three wrestling in the same weight class.

“There was great competition today for sure,” Swartz said, after winning the crown at 120. “I didn’t have an easy match all day and every single match I had, I had to work as hard as I could to win. There were no shortcuts today.”

There may have been shorter ways for Swartz to get from Filthian to Aurora, but a flight didn’t seem like an option. Instead, he was up early with his team for the nearly three-hour drive. He also was able to pose for photos afterward on the award stand before the rest of the invite was complete in order to begin the long journey back home.

“It was an early morning, had to get up here super early and get weighed in and then just wrestled the whole day,” Swartz said. “The final match was a challenge. The first match is always hard and getting into it for the second match I felt a lot better, and the third match I felt even better. It feels good to progress throughout the day.”

Swartz, who was making his high school debut, is coming off a soccer season in which he scored 19 goals. He’s obviously a multi-sport athlete who has made a quick leap onto the scene in both sports at the high school level.

“A lot of hard work, early mornings and late nights,” he said. “Grinding. I’m working as hard as I can.”

Unlike Swartz, Rydwelski and Alvarado are both seniors who are coming off disappointing losses during the sectional last year. Both dedicated a great deal of their time in the off-season for their final high school seasons and both have already seen that work pay off immensely as they won titles.

“Last year I got knocked out of sectionals before the blood round which was heartbreaking as a junior,” Rydwelski said. “I wanted to get to state and where I’m at now I’m just proud of the work I put in during the off-season. I went to these tournaments, these high level tournaments and I lost a lot but those, you know, losses build character and I think those losses made me much better as a wrestler than any of the wins that I’ve had. I think that the losses are more important than anything in that losses taught me how to win against those good kids, how to wrestle those good kids in those good matches.”

Such wisdom did not arrive overnight.

“It’s something that has come later for me,” he said. “I just started wrestling freshman year so you know I was just a kid and every loss I would throw my head gear so I’ve learned to take those losses on the chin and really think about what I can do better and I think that’s why I won today.”

At 175, Rydwelski won by fall against Marmion’s Carsten Zink to open up his day before rattling off three wins by decision against Glenwood Chatham’s Eli Smith (4-1), Huntley’s Waylon Theobald (12-8) and Marist’s Kevin Tompkins (5-2).

“I saw people that I’ve never wrestled and I saw schools I’ve never heard of,” he said. “I just approached every match as it’s a new match and was not sure if I was going to win or lose, I just wrestled as hard as I could for six minutes and we’ll see what happens.”

The Redhawks placed eighth overall with 119.5

“We lost a lot of seniors, but we have a lot of good young guys and I’m really proud to be a leader on this team and a captain,” Rydwelski said. “I’m really proud with how my team performed today. We did take a lot of tough losses and heartbreaking defeats but I feel we got much better because we came to this tournament.”

Like Rydwelski, Alvarado saw his junior season end at sectionals last winter.

“I got knocked out in the blood rounds and took a little, small break for a month or two after it and then got right back,” he said. “I was lifting (weights) right after (the season) because I knew strength was a big difference. I got a tattoo and was out for a bit for that to heal, but I’ve wrestled every day of the week or at least three days a week to be where I’m at right now.”

Alvarado pinned Plainfield North’s Aidan Durell to begin his day. Durell would bounce back to take third place at 126.

“I felt nervous at the weigh-in so I wasn’t sure how I was going to do,” Alvarado said. “You could see I was nervous in the first match, my foot work is very stiff. In the finals I felt calm and confident and didn’t feel like I had much to lose. I really felt like I found how to calm myself compared to last year. I feel more mature and confident.”

Alvarado defeated a couple Lockport kids to get to the finals at 126 and pinning Glenwood Chatham’s Tyler Clarke, a state qualifier from a year ago, in 3:07.

“It was really surprising, I mean, I heard it was going to be a tough tournament so I wasn’t expecting to be at the top of the podium,” Alvarado said. Winning four matches in one day to open the season is not easy.

“I was pretty tired, but I knew that if I had given up there would be regret so I had to push through and keep going for what I wanted, Alvarado said. “I had to stay up without falling down. It was a pretty long day but I felt it was all worth it.”

Arguably the most-anticipated bout of the day came at 150, matching Hobson with Lockport junior Justin Wardlow. Last year, Wardlow was the Class 3A runner-up at 138. The year before that he also placed second, going home as runner-up at 120 in Class 2A.

The two had battled during the summer with Hobson sneaking past Wardlow, 1-0. It happened again while Hobson battled a bloody nose that was resilient.

As shouts of “tape his face!,” drifted towards the mats after a second injury delay, Hobson began to wonder if an injury time loss was his destiny. 

“It was definitely frustrating getting a bloody nose and it wouldn’t stop,” he explained. “I thought I was going to lose on injury time to be honest.”

Hobson credited his preparation in giving him just enough to prevail.

“I definitely knew it was going to be a battle,” he said. “I think it comes down to going harder in the room. I didn’t think he’d cut me in the second (period) but I knew I would be able to get out, and in the third I knew I could ride him and I’m really confident in my ability to ride. A pretty gritty match and it came down to me being able to ride him.”

The 106 match between Colton Wyller and Preston Morrison was the lone one to pair athletes from the same school as the Marmion sophomores went head-to-head like they so often do during training.

“We wrestle a lot with each other, doing tournaments together,” Wyller said. “We get a good feel for each other in practice, and in tournaments we just show up and wrestle. It went pretty well for both of us getting to the final.

Wyller prevailed this time, 3-1.

“This tournament was fun,” Morrison said. “It was something new, which is what I like, and I met a lot of new kids.”

Morrison said he was able to muscle up via off-season conditioning and put on some weight.

“I worked out a lot, I wasn’t too big last year,” he said. “I got some muscle on me and got more technique which is pretty good.”

Similarly, Wyller put in a lot of work to be in position to fight for titles.

“Toward the end of last year I got a lot better,” he said. “I worked a lot of one-on-ones with coaches and then in the summer I got a lot better. I got to wrestle at Fargo and got to the blood rounds. I’ve been working really hard, sometimes doing three practices a day.”

Marist may have only had a single champion, but its depth led to it narrowly winning the team title. The RedHawks had 14 placers including four runner-ups as Michael Esteban (132), George Marinopoulos (138), Kevin Tomkins (175) and Ricky Ericksen (190) advanced to championship bouts. They were without Donavon Allen, a senior who took third at 138 in Class 3A last year.

Other placers for the Redhawks included Eddie Astorga (138), Gordo Gil (106), Tommy Fidler and Kyle Herzog (215) who all took fourth place, Tommy O’Brien (215) and Jack Watson (285) who each were fifth and Colin Phelan (113) Joe Bronske (120) and Ethan Sonner (157) who each placed sixth.

Lincoln-Way West had 10 placers in addition to Elstner winning at 215.

Brady Glynn (113) and Haden Anderson (144) were runner-ups, Jakob Siwinski (138) and Brandon Bavirsha (285) took third each,  Shane Stream (126) and Jimmy Talley (190) placed fourth, Max Munn (120) was fifth and Carter Dibenedetto (132), Henry Finley (144) and Cole Yirsa (190) were sixth. The Warriors did not have Luke Siwinski, who took fifth in the state at 138 in Class 3A last season, in their lineup. 

Coming off their Class 1A state title season, Marian Central is talented and experienced again this winter, but was short-handed in the opener.

In addition to not having Teunissen, the Hurricanes were without Vance Williams, a three-time state placer at 132 and state qualifiers, Andrew Alvarado (138) and Dan French (190).

The football season obviously is playing a factor with the start of some wrestlers, particularly with multi-sport athletes who play football like French. Naperville Central’s William Erbeck is another one who isn’t back yet.

Championship matches
106 – Colton Wyller (Marmion Academy) 4-0, So. over Preston Morrison (Marmion Academy) 3-1, So. (Dec 5-1)
113 – Austin Hagevold (Marian Central Catholic) 3-0, Jr. over Brady Glynn (Lincoln-Way West) 2-1, So. (TF 2:53 (21-5))
120 – Mason Swartz (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 3-0, over Calvin Stahl (St. Patrick) 2-1, Jr. (Dec 4-2)
126 – Ryan Alvarado (West Chicago) 4-0, Sr. over Tyler Clarke (Glenwood) 3-1, (Fall 3:07)
132 – Demetrios Carrera (Marmion Academy) 4-0, Jr. over Michael Esteban (Marist) 3-1, Sr. (Dec 4-0)
138 – Zach Stewart (Marmion Academy) 4-0, Jr. over George Marinopoulos (Marist) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 3:37)
144 – Patrick Hulne (St. Patrick) 3-0, So. over Haden Anderson (Lincoln-Way West) 3-1, Jr. (Dec 8-6)
150 – Ashton Hobson (Marmion Academy) 4-0, Jr. over Justin Wardlow (Lockport Township) 3-1, Jr. (Dec 1-0)
157 – Radic Dvorak (Huntley) 3-0, So. over Andrew Haritos (Marmion Academy) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 0:58)
165 – Will Denny (Marist) 3-0, Sr. over Van Grasser (St. Patrick) 2-1, Jr. (Fall 3:12)
175 – Henry Rydwelski (Naperville Central) 4-0, Sr. over Kevin Tomkins (Marist) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 5-2)
190 – Jimmy Mastny (Marian Central Catholic) 3-0, So. over Ricky Ericksen (Marist) 2-1, Sr. (Dec 9-2)
215 – Nate Elstner (Lincoln-Way West) 3-0, Sr. over Wyatt Theobald (Huntley) 3-1, Sr. (Fall 5:24)
285 – Mateusz Nycz (Marmion Academy) 4-0, Sr. over Cody Moss (Glenwood) 3-1, Jr. (TF 4:52 (29-12))

Third-place matches
106 – Jack Koenig (St. Patrick) 5-1, So. over Gordo Gil (Marist) 4-2, So. (Dec 5-4)
113 – Logan Conover (Marmion Academy) 3-1, So. over Colin Abordo (Huntley) 2-2, Jr. (Fall 3:55)
120 – Cameron Abordo (Huntley) 4-1, Jr. over Austin Aguinaldo (Naperville Central) 2-2, Jr. (Dec 5-4)
126 – Aidan Durell (Plainfield North) 5-1, Jr. over Shane Stream (Lincoln-Way West) 3-2, So. (Dec 13-11)
132 – Liam Zimmerman (Lockport Township) 5-1, Sr. over Jacob Cochran (Naperville Central) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 2:21)
138 – Jakob Siwinski (Lincoln-Way West) 4-1, Jr. over Eddie Astorga (Marist) 4-2, So. (Fall 1:13)
144 – Santino Milazzo (West Chicago) 4-1, Sr. over Anthony Diorio (Lockport Township) 3-3, Jr. (Fall 4:32)
150 – Leo Rosas (West Chicago) 4-1, Jr. over Tommy Fidler (Marist) 3-2, Jr. (Dec 4-3)
157 – Luke Grindstaff (Plainfield North) 4-1, Jr. over Yusuf Sikander (Naperville Central) 4-2, Jr. (MD 15-3)
165 – Nic Astacio (Marian Central Catholic) 4-1, So. over Maizon Milestone (Glenwood) 3-2, Sr. (Fall 3:14)
175 – Eli Smith (Glenwood) 5-1, So. over Christian Czerwinski (Lockport Township) 5-2, So. (Fall 2:31)
190 – Max Wiezorek (Glenwood) 3-1, Sr. over Jimmy Talley (Lincoln-Way West) 3-2, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:34 (17-1))
215 – Drew Silzer (Lockport Township) 5-1, Jr. over Kyle Herzog (Marist) 3-2, Jr. (Fall 1:38)
285 – Brandon Bavirsha (Lincoln-Way West) 5-1, Sr. over Kaleb Eckman (Marian Central Catholic) 4-2, Sr. (Dec 3-2)

Fifth-place matches
106 – Dalton Meluch (Naperville Central) 3-2, Jr. over Ethan Bell (Marmion Academy) 2-3, So. (Fall 0:46)
113 – Danny Goodwin (St. Patrick) 2-2, Jr. over Colin Phelan (Marist) 1-3, So. (Fall 3:56)
120 – Max Munn (Lincoln-Way West) 3-2, Jr. over Joe Bronske (Marist) 1-3, Jr. (Fall 4:21)
126 – Isaac Zimmerman (Lockport Township) 4-3, Jr. over Justin Godina (Lockport Township) 2-3, Jr. (For.)
132 – Grayson Garcia (Marmion Academy) 4-2, So. over Carter Dibenedetto (Lincoln-Way West) 3-3, Jr. (Fall 2:32)
138 – Gavin Nischke (Huntley) 4-2, So. over Evan Curry (Lockport Township) 2-3, So. (For.)
144 – Carter Chambliss (Oakwood/Salt Fork) 2-2, Sr. over Henry Finley (Lincoln-Way West) 2-3, Jr. (Dec 7-2)
150 – Staverous Gerousis (Naperville Central) 4-2, Jr. over Larson Nestar (Glenwood) 3-3, Sr. (Dec 6-4)
157 – Julian Rammelkamp (Glenwood) 4-2, So. over Ethan Sonne (Marist) 2-3, So. (For.)
165 – Chris Miller (Lockport Township) 4-2, Jr. over Anthony Haddad (Marmion Academy) 3-3, Sr. (Fall 1:16)
175 – Waylon Theobald (Huntley) 3-2, So. over Jacob Reece (Plainfield North) 2-3, Jr. (Fall 3:20)
190 – Luke Boersma (Marmion Academy) 4-2, So. over Cole Yirsa (Lincoln-Way West) 2-3, So. (Fall 1:42)
215 – Tommy O`Brien (Marist) 2-2, Jr. over Bryson Melgoza (Lockport Township) 3-3, Sr. (Fall 3:44)
285 – Jack Watson (Marist) 3-2, Jr. over Abe Bonano (St. Patrick) 2-3, (Fall 3:59)

Team scoring

1. Marmion Academy 211.5, 2. Marist 206, 3. Lincoln-Way West 172.5, 4. Lockport Township 147, 5. Glenwood 140.5, 6. St. Patrick 128.5, 7. Huntley 120, 8, Naperville Central 119.5, 9. Marian Central Catholic 98.5, 10. West Chicago 89, 11. Oakwood/Salt Fork 61.5, 12. Plainfield North 55.

For information regarding registration for this event, click HERE.

It is with great pleasure that the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Illinois Chapter announces their 2024 selections for Lifetime Service Awards. This year’s Induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton-Alsip Hotel, 5000 W. 127th St., Alsip, IL on Sunday, October 6, 2024.  A Social begins at 3:00 PM with dinner and the presentation of awards to follow. To register for tickets to the Honors Banquet, simply click on this link: https://il-nwhof.ticketleap.com/2024nwhof-ilbanquettickets/ 

Selected to be recognized as Lifetime Service Award recipients are: 

Pete Alber, Dakota – Pete has a 30 plus career as coach at Dakota High School. During this time his teams won 6 IHSA Dual Team State Titles and 397 dual meets. 

Jim Chaloupka, Berwyn – A 2010 IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee, Jim officiated and coached for 44 years. He officiated at 9 IHSA State Championships. 

Ed Giese, Westmont – A 2X IHSA State Champion, Ed had a high school career record of 172-5. He was a two time Big Ten Champion for the University of Minnesota, Pan Am Champ and has 37 years of coaching, including head coach at the prestigious Dave Schultz Wrestling Club. 

Mike Matozzi, Oswego – With over 43 years of service to wrestling, Mike was an assistant coach and head coach at Hinsdale South High School in Darien. A long-time Executive Board Member of the IWCOA, he served as President and was IWCOA Man of the Year in 2013. 

John Welter, Ingleside – John has coached for over 53 years at several youth and high school programs across northern Lake County. A 2018 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, he served as Grand Marshal of the IESA State Tournament in 2009, was inducted into the Grant High School Hall of Fame in 2014, and the College of Lake County Hall of Fame in 1994. 

In addition, the Illinois Chapter will also recognize two individuals to receive the Outstanding American and Medal of Courage Awards along with the Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders Student Excellence Awards. 

Dru Goodman, Riverwoods will be honored as Outstanding American. He is a highly accomplished Illinois businessman whose success is due in great part to the foundational skills he learned through his involvement with Illinois wrestling as a competitor, coach and official. 

Selected to receive this year’s Medal of Courage Award is Adam Sikes. Adam is a former U.S. Marines – Silver Star Recipient who wrestled for the Lake Zurich Bears while in high school. He is an acclaimed author of espionage thrillers and has been a 20+ year CIA & Hollywood consultant. 

The Illinois Chapter will also honor a male and female to receive the Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders Award for 2024. To be recognized will be: 

Dillon Johnson, Joliet (Catholic Academy), (University of Wisconsin) – Schultz Award

Cadence Diduch, Freeport H.S., (University of Iowa) – Saunders Award 

The State Chapters Program was established by the Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. Its purpose is to pay tribute to those coaches, officials and contributors who represent the best qualities of what the sport of wrestling has to offer and who share those characteristics with young people day in and day out. The Illinois Chapter was formed in 1997. Since this time, 173 men and women of Illinois have been recognized.

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

Here is a summary of the Midwest Nationals Wrestling Tournament, which took place on June 29 at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center in Bloomington.

A total of 1,078 boys took part in the event while 195 girls participated. The Men College and Open division featured 122 individuals while 17 took part in the Women College and Open division bringing the total number of competitors in the tournament to 1,412.

2024 Midwest Nationals Highlight Video

There were 159 champions in the competition, with 104 of those being in the Boys division. The Girls division featured 42 of the title winners while there were nine champions in the Men College and Open Division and four in the Women College and Open division.

The largest number of participants in the Boys divisions were 9th and 10th grade (311), followed by 7th and 8th grade (235), 11th and 12th grade (220), 5th and 6th grade (114), 3rd and 4th grade (112) and 1st and 2nd grade (86). The division with the highest number of girls taking part was 9th and 10th grade (53), followed by 7th and 8th grade (46), 11th and 12th grade (42), 3rd and 4th grade (23), 5th and 6th grade (18) and 1st and second grade (13).

In the overall team scoring, Ozark Wrestling Club led the way with 324.5 points while Alber Athletics (267.5), Jr. Raiders/ SS (265.5), Built By Brunson (264), STL Warrior (256.5), Backyard Brawlers-Midwest (251.5), Relentless Training Center (210.5), Kewanee (147), Victory Elite (145.5) and Team Nazar (137.5) rounded out the top 10 in the field.

Others who scored 80 or more points were PSF Wrestling Academy (136.5), Gomez RTC (127.5), Team Mascotah (125.5), SouthStrong (124), ISI (121), Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club (120.5), Sauk Valley Wrestling (112.5), DeKalb WC (106), Bobcat Wrestling Club (101), nWo Wrestling Club (99.5), Oregon (98), TJ Trained Wrestling (94.5), The Foundation (93), Dixon (91), Bulls WC (88.5), Cahokia (87.5) and St. Charles Wrestling Club (84.5). Unattached and unaffiliated individuals accounted for 439 points.

Top three teams in the Boys 11th and 12th grade division were Ozark Wrestling Club (92), Mundelein (55) and Jr. Raiders/ SS (51); Leading the way in Boys 9th and 10th division were Jr. Raiders/ SS (100), Relentless Training Center (84) and SouthStrong (70). And the top three in the Boys 7th and 8th grade division were Team Nazar (70.5), Alber Athletics (69) and Jr. Raiders/ SS (63.5).

Top scoring teams in the Boys 5th and 6th grade division were STL Warrior (115.5), Built By Brunson (93) and Backyard Brawlers-Midwest (89). The top three in the Boys 3rd and 4th grade division were Backyard Brawlers-Midwest (87), Built By Brunson (68.5) and Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club (53). And leading the way in the Boys 1st and 2nd grade division were Little Giant WC (40), Wilmington WC (39.5) and Roxana WC (39).

Teams with the most points in the Girls divisions were Ozark Wrestling Club (82) and Gomez RTC (37.5) in 11th and 12th grade, Chatham Glenwood (50) and Bobcat Wrestling Club (47) in 9th and 10th grade, Bobcat Wrestling Club (54) and Ozark Wrestling Club (51) in 7th and 8th grade, P3 Warrior Wrestling Academy (19) and Belleville Little Devils WC (18) in 5th and 6th grade, Bulls WC (26) and Sparta Junior Bulldogs (26) in 3rd and 4th grade and RTC Wrestling (16) and Thunder Wrestling (10) in 1st and 2nd grade.

The top three finishers in the Men College and Open division were Team Strope (64), Sauk Valley Wrestling (56) and Herrin Tigers WC (40.5). Unattached and unaffiliated competitors accounted for 106.5 points. The top three teams in the Women College and Open division were The Compound (19), Eureka College (12) and Young Guns Kenosha (12) while those not affiliated with any team accounted for 53 points.

Individuals collecting the most total team points were Mason Boulanger (Team Nazar, 30), Cohenn Stark (Northwest Jr. Lions, 30), Lyndon Thies (PSF Wrestling Academy, 29.5), Dillon Hinton (Vandalia High School, 29), Clayton McClelland (Champions Wrestling Club, 29), Aaron Camacho (Jr. Raiders/ SS, 29), Samuel Golden (Francis Howell Central, 28), Henry Golembiewski (Unattached, 28), Luke Cline (Team Hammer, 28), Logan Staver (Alber Athletics, 28), Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy, 28), Robert Watt (Roxana, 28), Norman Kieffer (The Foundation, 28) and Noah Woods (Washington, 28).

Participants who collected the most total match points were Brayden Drew (PSF, 74), Oliver McPeek (Alber Athletics, 71), Kaaden Wood (Braidwood Reed-Custer, 69), Logan Salm (Team Nazar (69), Ali Adel (Harper Hawks, 69), Kingston Hamilton (Wildcat Wrestling Academy, 64), Bennett Westfallen (Built By Brunson, 63), Nolen Yeary (Olympia Wrestling, 62), Zachary Bryant (Petersburg PORTA, 62) and Patrick Provost (Fort Zumwalt, 62).

Boys 11th & 12th grade Finalists

Champions in the Boys 11th and 12th grade division were Kanyon Shurtz (Fort Zumwalt South) at 94-119, Edgar Mosquera (Beat the Streets) at 119-122, Noah Woods (Washington) at 123-135, Isaac Smith (Carbondale) at 129-137, Bradley Ruckman (Civic Memorial) at 138-145, Rikyis Doss (Peoria Wizards WC) at 142-144, Brock Ross (Team Mascoutah) at 144-151 and Mark Martinez (Relentless Training Center) at 151-159.

Other title winners in the Boys 11th and 12th grade division were Dillon Hinton (Vandalia High School) at 155-161, Tyler Sternstein (Naperville North High School) at 160-167, Marco Casillas (Illinois Top Dawg) at 167-175, Dawson McConnell (Lincoln) at 175-190, Robert Watt (Roxana) at 186-199, Gavin Gentille (OTHS Panthers) at 200-224, Ruben Arvizu (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 226-252 and Jose Deltoro (East Peoria Crossface WC) at 255-300.

Second-place finishers in the Boys 11th and 12th grade division were Justin Winter (P3 Warrior Wrestling Academy) at 94-119, Riddick Cook (PSF Wrestling Academy) at 119-122, Neftali Cernas (Mundelein) at 123-135, Grant Madl (Izzy Style Wrestling) at 129-137, Dylan Crouch (Dwight Wrestling Club) at 138-145, Oliver Davis (Harvey Twisters) at 142-144, Caden Harrington (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 144-151 and Gianni Panozzo (Clifton Central) at 151-159. 

Other runner-up finishers in the Boys 11th and 12th grade division were Jack Probasco (MVKWA Kettering Youth Wrestling) at 155-161, Marquis Deloach (Unattached) at 160-167, Ryan Muslimovic (ISI) at 167-175, James Harris (Franklin County Flyers Wrestling) at 175-190, Ryan Darnell (Quincy Notre Dame) at 186-199, Cole Bauer (Olympia Wrestling) at 200-224, Alejandro Duarte (Kewanee) at 226-252 and Remington Hiser (Mt. Zion Kids Wrestling Club) at 255-300.

Boys 9th & 10th grade Finalists

Title winners in the Boys 9th and 10th grade division were Nathan Lower (Rockridge) at 88-99, Symon Woods (Washington) at 100-111, Jakob Crandall (Izzy Style Wrestling) at 112-118, Caden Helton (Combative Sports Athletic Center) at 116-126, Dashawn Armstrong (Jacksonville High School) at 119-127, Carsten Burkemper (Fort Zumwalt Wrestling Club) at 126-134, Nolan Lowe (The Compound-SOTC) at 131-137, Mason Boulanger (Team Nazar) at 132-139, Brock Jackson (Mason Comets) at 139-143, Kaidge Richardson (Lincoln-Way WC) at 144-147 and Brady Ritter (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 147-148.

Other champions in the Boys 9th and 10th grade division were Aaron Camacho (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 148-159, Colin Weiss (Fort Zumwalt South) at 149-156, Talyn Vanhorn (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 152-157, Norman Kieffer (The Foundation) at 159-166, Kaden Meyer (Minooka) at 166-175, Lyndon Thies (PSF Wrestling Academy) at 172-182, Samuel Golden (Francis Howell Central) at 178-191, Cohenn Stark (Northwest Jr Lions) at 186-205, Ethan Miller (Westville High School) at 207-227 and Prosper Livingston-Holmes (Maritime Wrestling) at 230-331. 

Second-place finishers in the Boys 9th and 10th grade division were Frankie Pichler (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 88-99, Jaden Bradley (DeKalb WC) at 199-111, Charlie Olson (Sycamore Wrestling Club) at 112-118, Kingston Peterson (Kewanee) at 116-126, Andrew Salmieri (Relentless Training Center) at 119-127, Bodee Fathauer (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) at 126-134, Jack Platt (West Aurora High School) at 131-137, Cristian Helton (Combative Sports Athletic Center) at 132-139, Gavin Woodmancy (St. Charles Wrestling Club) at 139-143 and Ethan Lowe (The Compound-SOTC) at 144-147.

Other runner-up finishers in the Boys 9th and 10th grade division were Carter Skoff (Morris) at 147-148, Jaxon Jorgensen (Victory Elite) at 148-159, Malan Hatfield (West Aurora High School) at 149-156, Marko Tagle (Team St. Louis) at 152-157, Xavier Smiley (Gomez RTC) at 159-166, AJ Tack (Unattached) at 166-175, Jeremiah Clines (Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy) at 172-182, Casen Lyons (Unaffiliated) at 178-191, Johnny Ramaker (Trico WC) at 186-205, Teigen Moreno (Relentless Training Center) at 207-227 and Anthany Berry (Clinton Wrestling Club) at 230-331.

Boys 7th & 8th grade Finalists

Champions in the Boys 7th and 8th grade division were Colton Bevers (Iguana Wrestling Club) at 69-74, Connor Collins (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 77-84, Cam Whitehead (Alber Athletics) at 85-93, Dominick Turner (STL Warrior) at 94-100, Henry Golembiewski (Unattached) at 100-105, Peyton Boston (Van Buren High School) at 105-110, Clayton McClelland (Champions Wrestling Club) at 110-116, Ethan Hamilton (Victory Elite) at 116-120 and Luke Cline (Team Hammer) at 118-125.

Other title winners in the Boys 7th and 8th grade division were  Sammy Toth (Mt. Zion Kids Wrestling Club) at 124-129, Kai Balice (Naperville North) at 128-134, Mason Boulanger (Team Nazar) at 134-146, Caleb Linneman (Harvard Wrestling Club) at 141-152, Da`Kevion Rose (Cahokia) at 154-164, Noah Stout (Alber Athletics) at 164-176, Anthony Busby Jr. (STL Warrior) at 185-202, Jackson Ritch (Bloomington) at 205-211 and Isaiah Collins (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 222-233.

Second-place finishers in the Boys 7th and 8th grade division were Ashtyn Copley (Ridgeview Junior High School) at 69-74, Braxton McCall (Team Mascoutah) at 77-84, Daniel Macatangay (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 85-93, Julian Hanson (nWo Wrestling Club) at 94-100, Carter Pryor (Hillsboro Wrestling Club-MO) at 100-105, Peyton Nowicki (Relentless Training Center) at 105-110, Te`Jon Beals (Victory Elite) at 110-116, Derik Lohmeyer (QWB) at 116-120 and Jesse Swiney (Champaign Wrestling Club) at 118-125.

Other runner-up finishers in the Boys 7th and 8th grade division were Jase Ites (Premier Wrestling Center) at 124-129, Connor Petrakis (Unattached) at 128-134, Jaylin Bellamy (Maritime Wrestling) at 134-146, Talon Tassoul (Team Nazar) at 141-152, Anthony Castro (Wheeling High School) at 154-164, Ace LaFollette (Kewanee) at 164-176, James Long (Knoxville) at 185-202, Emmanuel Ramirez (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 205-211 and Michael Danial (Illinois) at 222-233.

Boys 5th and 6th grade Finalists

Title winners in the Boys 5th and 6th grade division were Chasen Burke (STL Warrior) at 59-64, Dominic Bruno (Built By Brunson) at 65-69,  Teidan Delisi (Built By Brunson) at 67-72, Landon Edwards (STL Warrior) at 70-75, Cayden Mango (STL Warrior) at 76-80, Dominik Budzyk (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 77-82, Wyatt Gillen (Sauk Valley Wrestling) at 82-90, Gavin Lamers (Wrightstown Wrestling) at 85-91 and Kellan Spisok (The Compound-SOTC) at 91-94.

Other champions in the Boys 5th and 6th grade division were Miyon Alkubechy (Young Guns) at 95-102, Torin McPeek (Alber Athletics) at 95-103, Jake Mushinsky (TJ Trained Wrestling) at 101-110, Anderson Gonzalez (Harvard Wrestling Club) at 106-112, Cruz Cortez (Kewanee) at 114-122, Bentley Colp (Herrin Tigers WC) at 127-136, Drake Tucker (Team Tucker) at 130-142 and Colton Moreno (Harvard Wrestling Club) at 150-176.

Runner-up finishers in the Boys 5th and 6th grade division were Drake Melton (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 59-64, Kade Roeder (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 65-69, David Wisbrock (Southside Outlaws Wrestling Club) at 67-72, Colt Roeder (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 70-75, Cameron Ramp (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 76-80, Apollo Rock (STL Warrior) at 77-82, Dante Bruno (Built By Brunson) at 82-90, Landon Piontek (X-Factor Elite) at 85-91 and Jaxson Barton (Young Guns) at 91-94.

Other second-place finishers in the Boys 5th and 6th grade division were Carson Planer (Region Wrestling Academy) at 95-102, Maxwell McGhee (Team Mascoutah) at 95-103, Dominic Englese (St. Charles Wrestling Club) at 101-110, Bryar Smith (Champions Wrestling Club) at 106-112, Caine Rogers (Fighting Farmers) at 114-122, Easton Ammer (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) at 127-136, Liam Munson (Little Giant WC) at 130-142 and Ramone Rias (Cahokia) at 150-176.

Boys 3rd and 4th grade Finalists

Champions in the Boys 3rd and 4th grade division were Evan Ross (Stillman Valley Wrestling Club) at 49-52, Liam Gatt (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 54-58, Anthony Ragona (Built By Brunson) at 57-61, Quinten Shaffer (Lawrence County Knights) at 60-62, Ethan Wagner (Alber Athletics) at 61-64, Kade Chilson (Victory) at 63-67, Michael Fangerow (Lincoln-Way WC) at 66-69, Kasen Cargo (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 67-70 and Adriana Ragona (Built By Brunson) at 68-73. 

Other title winners in the Boys 3rd and 4th grade division were Emilio Ortiz (Rhyno Academy of Wrestling) at 73-77, Oz Bellamy (Force Elite) at 77-83, Eden Hickman (Bulls WC) at 80-86, Payt Titus (Relentless Training Center) at 89-95, Raheem Busby (STL Warrior) at 91-94, Jaxon Anderson (Siwa) at 103-111, Jacob Cannon (RTL Wrestling Club) at 117-119 and Landry Agney (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) at 142-142 and at 167-167.

Second-place finishers in the Boys 3rd and 4th grade divisions were Kai Chambers (Iguana Wrestling Club) at 49-52, Tagg Hefner (TJ Trained Wrestling) at 54-58, Crew Bullerman (Heartland Wrestling Academy) at 57-61, Blakley Richards (Sandwich Wrestling Club) at 60-62, Julian Trujillo (Built By Brunson) at 61-64, Karson West (Bulls WC) at 63-67, Dawson Dyer (Mattoon Youth WC) at 66-69, Giovanni Salas (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) at 67-70 and 

Ryder Wiegand (Eureka Wrestling Club) at 68-73.

Other runner-up finishers in the Boys 3rd and 4th grade division were Tanner Brucker (Falcon Wrestling Club) at 73-77, Brayden Duitsman (Fisher) at 77-83, Alexander Martinez (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) at 80-86, Carter Fleisher (Little Giant WC) at 89-95, Aidan Keilman (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) at 91-94, Nathaniel Shelton (Panther Powerhouse Wrestling) at 103-111, Justice Fields (Gladiator Elite WC) at 117-119 and Liam Munson (Little Giant WC) at 142-142.

Boys 1st and 2nd grade Finalists

Champions in the Boys 1st and 2nd grade division were Vaughn Seibel (Belleville Little Devils WC) at 37-41, Easton Sanders (Contenders Wrestling Academy) at 43-44, Cristiano Gutierrez (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) at 45-48, Layton Kraemer (Maritime Wrestling) at 49-53, JT Tsokolas (Mustangs WC) at 50-54, Oliver Carlisle (Roxana WC) at 54-58, Kingston Smith (Thunder Wrestling) at 55-57 and Nico Poeta (Relentless Training Center) at 58-60. 

Other title winners in the Boys 1st and 2nd grade division were Jordan Benefiel (nWo Wrestling Club) at 61-65, Lincoln Projansky (Built By Brunson) at 63-68, Chase Stroot (Team Mascoutah) at 69-72, Kingston Hamilton (Wildcat Wrestling Academy) at 74-79, Jackson Mateo (Built By Brunson) at 83-90, Leonard Morgan (Wilmington WC) at 98-112 and Tony Hess (Wildcat Wrestling Academy) at 124-130. 

Second-place finishers in the Boys 1st and 2nd grade divisions were Jaxson Green (Sandwich Wrestling Club) at 37-41, Ryder Gatt (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) at 43-44, Sam Smith (Stockton Renegades) at 45-48, Boston Blakely (Alber Athletics) at 49-53, William Fitzgerald (Little Celtic Wrestling Club) at 50-54, Leo Hooker (Mattoon Youth WC) at 54-58, Quincy Noland (Little Giant WC) at 55-57 and Camden Powell (STL Warrior) at 58-60.

Other runner-up finishers in the Boys 1st and 2nd grade division were Isaiah Carroll (Little Giant WC) at 61-65, Miles Maes (X-Factor Elite) at 63-68, Londyn Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 69-72, Anthony Quiroz (Region Wrestling Academy) at 74-79, Hunter Voss (DC Wrestling Club) at 83-90, Ethan Kennedy (Bulls WC) at 98-112 and Hunter Lindsey (Dwight Wrestling Club) at 124-130.

Girls 11th and 12th Grade Finalists

Champions in the Girls 11th and 12th grade division were Emily Price (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 90-108, Emily Price (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 113-118, Alexis Seymour (Jacksonville Area Wrestling) at 119-132, Viola Pianetto (Built By Brunson) at 134-142, Valerie Hamilton (The Compound) at 142-158, Jasmine Rene (Gomez RTC) at 160-178 and Anjali Gonzalez (Hoffman Estates H.S.) at 191-211.

Second-place finishers in the Girls 11th and 12th grade division were Adilyn Hoelzle (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 90-108, Rilynn Younker (The Foundation) at 113-118, Paige Tihen (Fort Zumwalt South High School) at 119-132, Jalah Wilson (Thornton HS) at 134-142, Autumne Williams (Unattached) at 142-158, Jessica Stover (Oswego Wrestling Club) at 160-178 and Henessis Villagrana (Jr Raiders/ SS) at 191-211

Girls 9th and 10th Grade Finalists

Winning titles in the Girls 9th and 10th grade division were Fallon Dames (RPA) at 94-107, Kadi Wilbern (Chatham Glenwood) at 108-112, Alejandra Flores (Sloth Strong WC) at 108-115, Rain Scott (Springs Elite) at 116-125, Avery Crouch (Dwight Wrestling Club) at 123-131, Isabella Resendez (Chatham Glenwood) at 134-146, Natalie Beaumont (PSF Wrestling Academy) at 144-154 and Kaleigh Mehrkens (Unattached) at 159-175.

Finishing in second place in the Girls 9th and 10th grade division were Lainie Galvan (Bobcat Wrestling Club) at 94-107, Ariel Woodfin (Thornton) at 108-112, Mialee Copeland (Purler Wrestling Academy) at 108-115, Sydney Cannon (Patton Trained WC) at 116-125, Kyla Janowitz (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) at 123-131, Allison Garbacz (ISI) at 134-146, Makayla Faulkner (Bobcat Wrestling Club) at 144-154 and Emma Gischer (Team Mascoutah) at 159-175.

Girls 7th and 8th Grade Finalists

First-place finishers in the Girls 7th and 8th grade division were Molly Rzab (Oak Forest Warriors Wrestling) at 71-82, Kendra Ege (Oregon) at 86-97, Fallon Dames (RPA) at 104-113, Baileigh Self (Collinsville Wrestling Club) at 112-121, Ilyana Martinez (Rough Riders Wrestling) at 127-133, Allison Garbacz (ISI) at 141-147, Nevaeh Redd (Lion`s Den Wrestling Academy) at 147-157 and Shelby Michel (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 176-176.

Claiming second-place finishes in the Girls 7th and 8th grade division were McKenzie Steinke (Frankfort Gladiator Wrestling) at 71-82, Petra Hart (Unaffiliated) at 86-97, Saphira Parrett (Ozark Wrestling Club) at 104-113, Payton Charles (Bobcat Wrestling Club) at 112-121, Kyla Janowitz (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) at 127-133, Willow Rademacher (Bobcat Wrestling Club) at 141-147, Maliha Hamidou (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) at 147-157 and Emma Gischer (Team Mascoutah) at 176-176.

Girls 5th and 6th Grade Finalists

Champions in the Girls 5th and 6th grade division were Caroline Krupa (P3 Warrior Wrestling Academy) at 65-75, Kelianna Larkin (ISI) at 76-84, Hadley Vold (Team Nazar) at 92-93, Ella Anderson (RWC Rochester) at 99-101, Emilee Meier (Belleville Little Devils WC) at 106-113, Piper Sandell (Alber Athletics) at 130-131, Kylie Williams (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) at 147-147 and Aliana Bonilla (Gomez RTC)  at 181-181.

Second-place finishers in the Girls 5th and 6th grade division were Chloe Meiners (Rough Riders Wrestling) at 65-75, Elise Slaten (Bulls WC) at 76-84, Randelle McKay (Dixon) at 92-93, Aspynn Hursey (Individual) at 99-101, Francesca Yurs (ISI) at 106-113 and Penelope Anderson (DC Wrestling Club) at 130-131.

Girls 3rd and 4th Grade Finalists

Winning titles in the Girls 3rd and 4th grade division were Sloane Gabler (Sauk Valley Wrestling) at 54-54, Bailey Flanigan (Bulls WC) at 60-64, Koralee Larkin (ISI) at 64-69, Brynlee Jones (SOTC) at 71-74, Ilyssa Martine (Rough Riders Wrestling) at 81-85 and Norah Hay (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) at 90-97. 

Finishing in second place in the Girls 3rd and 4th grade division were Ava Voyles (Bulls WC) at 54-54, Elizabeth Agajanian (Sandwich Wrestling Club) at 60-64, Raelynn Jadin (Oak Forest Warriors Wrestling) at 64-69, Londyn Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) at 71-74, Ella Deterding (Sparta Junior Bulldogs) at 81-85 and Raya Windham (Oregon) at 90-97.

Girls 1st and 2nd Grade Finalists

First-place winners in the Girls 1st and 2nd grade division were Zoey Willis (DC Wrestling Club) at 42-47, Patricia Tytus (RTC Wrestling) at 51-55, Alannah Carter (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) at 61-65, Lexi Suits (Gladiator Elite WC) at 69-69 and Raya Windham (Oregon) at 94-94. 

Placing second in the Girls 1st and 2nd grade division were Ayah Garrett (Gladiator Elite WC) at 42-47, Penelope Hall (Thunder Wrestling) at 51-55, Katherine Kirkbride (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) at 61-65 and Ava Barber (Belvidere Bandits Wrestling Club) at 69-69.

Men College and Open Finalists

Champions in the Men College and Open division were Austin Brown (Hannibal) at 121-135, Jason Strope (Team Strope) at 137-153, William Tucker (Team Tucker) at 148-157, Andrew Marten (Fenwick High School) at 155-164, Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy) at 165-178,  Ryan Strope (Team Strope) at 173-191, Sincere Hall-Osbourne (CMWC) at 190-198, Max Schmitz (Unattached) at 201-214 and Logan Staver (Alber Athletics) at 221-266. 

Second-place finishers in the Men College and Open division were Joey Sikorsky (Batavia Pinners) at 121-135, Gianni Ruiz (Unaffiliated) at 137-153, Adam Meenen (Sauk Valley Wrestling) at 148-157, Hakeem Banks (Don`t Have A Team) at 155-164, Brody Ivey (Sauk Valley Wrestling) at 165-178, Alonzo Smiley (Gomez RTC) at 173-191, Devin Rogers (Young Guns Kenosha) at 190-198, Connor Rogers (Unattached) at 201-214 and Matthew Wilke (Unattached) at 221-266

Women College and Open Finalists

Finishing in first place in the Women College and Open division were Irelan Powell (Unattached) at 110-121, Haylie Nappier-Feth (Unattached) at 129-143, Valerie Hamilton (The Compound) at 144-154 and Autumne Williams (Unattached) at 147-158. 

Claiming second-place finishes in the Women College and Open division were Angelina 

Graff (Individual) at 110-121, Josie Barham (Individual) at 129-143, Jade Martin (No Team) at 144-154 and Nadia Flores (Young Guns Kenosha) at 147-158.

Boys – 11th & 12th Grade

1st Place Matches

94-119:  Kanyon Shurtz (Fort Zumwalt South) won by tech fall over Justin Winter (P3 Warrior Wrestling Academy) (TF 17-0)

119-122: Edgar Mosquera (Beat the Streets) won by decision over Riddick Cook (PSF Wrestling Academy) (Dec 4-3)

123-135: Noah Woods (Washington) won by major decision over Neftali Cernas (Mundelein) (Maj 16-4)

129-137: Isaac Smith (Carbondale) won by decision over Grant Madl (Izzy Style Wrestling) (Dec 9-5)

138-145: Bradley Ruckman (Civic Memorial) won by decision over Dylan Crouch (Dwight Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-2)

142-144: Rikyis Doss (Peoria Wizards WC) won by decision over Oliver Davis (Harvey Twisters) (Dec 5-1)

144-151: Brock Ross (Team Mascoutah) won by decision over Caden Harrington (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-0)

151-159: Mark Martinez (Relentless Training Center) won by decision over Gianni Panozzo (Clifton Central) (Dec 9-8)

155-161: Dillon Hinton (Vandalia High School) won by tech fall over Jack Probasco (MVKWA Kettering Youth Wrestling) (TF 17-1)

160-167: Tyler Sternstein (Naperville North High School) won by major decision over Marquis Deloach (Unattached) (Maj 11-2)

167-175: Marco Casillas (Illinois Top Dawg) won by decision over Ryan Muslimovic (ISI) (Dec 5-3)

175-190: Dawson McConnell (Lincoln) won by fall over James Harris (Franklin County Flyers Wrestling) (Fall 1:33)

186-199: Robert Watt (Roxana) won by fall over Ryan Darnell (Quincy Notre Dame) (Fall 1:50)

200-224: Gavin Gentille (OTHS Panthers) won by tech fall over Cole Bauer (Olympia Wrestling) (TF 16-0)

226-252: Ruben Arvizu (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Alejandro Duarte (Kewanee) (Dec 3-2)

255-300: Jose Deltoro (East Peoria Crossface WC) won by decision over Remington Hiser (Mt. Zion Kids Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-1)

Boys – 11th & 12th Grade 

3rd Place Matches

94-119: Brayden Edwards (Fithian Oakwood) won by fall over Jordan Quinn (Dubuque RTC) (Fall 0:27)

119-122: Tyler Lockhart (Sycamore Wrestling Club) won by decision over Vincent Moore (The Foundation) (Dec 2-0)

123-135: Jared Craig (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by decision over Kayson Duffney (Fried Daze) (Dec 6-0)

129-137: Kacper Kosciarz (Suplex) won by decision over Keaton Ellis (Liberty County) (Dec 5-0)

138-145: Jakob Siwinski (Victory Elite) won by injury default over Teagon Patterson (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Inj. 1:24)

142-144: Devan Hornback (Blue Line Training Academy) won by decision over Benjamin Messier (Naperville North) (Dec 8-2)

144-151:Colton Bendure (Mason Comets) won by major decision over Owen Kelly (Downers Grove Wrestling Club) (Maj 14-3)

151-159: Austin Perez (R13) won by tech fall over Keyton King (PSF Wrestling Academy) (TF 16-0)

155-161: Blake Forke (Eureka High School) won by fall over Joe Gonzalez (Fort Zumwalt South High School) (Fall 1:17)

160-167: Gage Decker (Illinois Top Dawg) won by decision over Gael Diaz (Mundelein) (Dec 7-0)

167-175: Dayton Moison (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Terence Willis (Black Ops WC) (Dec 7-0)

175-190: Jean-luc Guerra (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by decision over Max Wiezorek (Chatham Glenwood) (Dec 3-2)

186-199: Oliver McPeek (Alber Athletics) won by major decision over Kristian Hibbard (Clinton) (Maj 17-4)

200-224: Nolen Yeary (Olympia Wrestling) won by decision over Jamal Jones (DeKalb WC) (Dec 6-3)

226-252: Chunk Dailey (Beardstown) won by decision over Kael Morlock (Clinton) (Dec 6-2)

255-300: Jamir Thomas (Romeoville) won by decision over Abisai Hernandez (Mundelein) (Dec 10-4)

Boys – 11th & 12th Grade

5th Place Matches

94-119: Jayden Wiegand (OTHS Panthers) won by forfeit over Francisco Rodriguez (Munster) (FF)

119-122: Dylan McGrew (Normal West) won by tech fall over Trevor Hancock (Concordia Wrestling Club) (TF 17-2)

123-135: Tyler Perry (Unattached) won by major decision over Drayden Ramsey (Pontiac Township High School) (Maj 15-5)

129-137: Aaron Wilson (Pontiac Elite) won by medical forfeit over Yashua Amen (Team St. Louis) (MFF)

138-145: Chase Mccluskey (Harper Hawks) won by forfeit over Braden Kelly (Lion`s Den Wrestling Academy) (FF)

142-144: Drew Woolsey (SouthStrong) won by decision over Karter Hild (Lincoln) (Dec 8-6)

144-151: Angel Negron (SouthStrong) won by major decision over Hudson Meek (Lawrence County Wrestling) (Maj 12-4)

151-159: Brandon Watson (Glen Ellyn) won by fall over Alex Konewko (Mundelein) (Fall 1:23)

155-161: Ian O`Connor (Illini Bluffs) won by tech fall over Max Kenny (Fenwick High School) (TF 16-1)

160-167: Noah DeMarco (Oswego Wrestling Club) won by decision over Carson Maxey (GCMSF) (Dec 8-3)

167-175: Anthony Bauer (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Nathan Overley (Mason Comets) (Fall 0:36)

175-190: Zakery Wrobel (Sturgeon Bay/Sevastopol) won by major decision over Vinny Busalacchi (Blue Collar Wrestling Club) (Maj 14-3)

186-199: Calvin Gross (One Unit Wrestling Academy) won by forfeit over Russell Mattsson (Illinois) (FF)

200-224: Alec Deltoro (East Peoria Crossface WC) won by fall over Jabarie Brown (Sauk Village) (Fall 2:14)

226-252: Cohen Kean (Patton Trained WC) won by decision over Logan Wachendorf (Lincoln) (Dec 4-0)

255-300: Junior Rudd (Fort Zumwalt South) won by forfeit over Michael Sisk (Jr Raiders/ SS) (FF)

Boys – 9th & 10th Grade

1st Place Matches 

88-99: Nathan Lower (Rockridge) won by major decision over Frankie Pichler (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Maj 11-0) Round Robin

100-111: Symon Woods (Washington) won by injury default over Jaden Bradley (DeKalb WC) (Inj. 2:00)

112-118: Jakob Crandall (Izzy Style Wrestling) won by tech fall over Charlie Olson (Sycamore Wrestling Club) (TF 16-0)

116-126: Caden Helton (Combative Sports Athletic Center) won by tech fall over Kingston Peterson (Kewanee) (TF 17-1)

119-127: Dashawn Armstrong (Jacksonville High School) won by decision over Andrew Salmieri (Relentless Training Center) (Dec 10-7)

126-134: Carsten Burkemper (Fort Zumwalt Wrestling Club) won by decision over Bodee Fathauer (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) (Dec 6-4)

131-137: Nolan Lowe (The Compound-SOTC) won by major decision over Jack Platt (West Aurora High School) (Maj 12-3)

132-139: Mason Boulanger (Team Nazar) won by decision over Cristian Helton (Combative Sports Athletic Center) (Dec 9-3)

139-143: Brock Jackson (Mason Comets) won by decision over Gavin Woodmancy (St. Charles Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-1)

144-147: Kaidge Richardson (Lincoln-Way WC) won by decision over Ethan Lowe (The Compound-SOTC) (Dec 7-0)

147-148: Brady Ritter (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by decision over Carter Skoff (Morris) (Dec 7-4)

148-159: Aaron Camacho (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by fall over Jaxon Jorgensen (Victory Elite) (Fall 0:36)

149-156: Colin Weiss (Fort Zumwalt South) won by decision over Malan Hatfield (West Aurora High School) (Dec 5-3)

152-157: Talyn Vanhorn (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Marko Tagle (Team St. Louis) (Dec 3-1)

159-166: Norman Kieffer (The Foundation) won by fall over Xavier Smiley (Gomez RTC) (Fall 2:28)

166-175: Kaden Meyer (Minooka) won in tie breaker – 1 over Aj Tack (Unattached) (TB-1 3-1)

172-182: Lyndon Thies (PSF Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Jeremiah Clines (Thoroughbred Wrestling Academy) (Fall 0:31)

178-191: Samuel Golden (Francis Howell Central) won by major decision over Casen Lyons (Unaffiliated) (Maj 14-4)

186-205: Cohenn Stark (Northwest Jr Lions) won by fall over Johnny Ramaker (Trico WC) (Fall 0:38)

207-227: Ethan Miller (Westville High School) won by decision over Teigen Moreno (Relentless Training Center) (Dec 7-2)

230-331: Prosper Livingston-Holmes (Maritime Wrestling) won by decision over Anthany Berry (Clinton Wrestling Club) (Dec 1-0)

Boys – 9th & 10th Grade 

3rd Place Matches

88-99: Kyler Guercio (Lawrenceville Parkview) won by fall over Aden Doolen (PSF Wrestling Academy) (Fall 0:38) Round Robin

100-111: Owen Sater (Morris) won by decision over Riley Paredes (Dixon) (Dec 5-4)

112-118: Justin Forbes (Victory Elite) won by medical forfeit over Nathan Fisher (Cahokia) (MFF)

116-126: Jayden Hernandez (St. Charles Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jack Timothy Ragan (Dixon) (Dec 3-3)

119-127: Colton Wilson (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Ethan Hamilton (Victory Elite) (Dec 7-0)

126-134: Lucas Oliverio (No Team) won by decision over Ruben Rivera (Normal University High) (Dec 7-0)

131-137: Zachary Bryant (Petersburg PORTA) won by major decision over Patrick Provost (Fort Zumwalt) (Maj 13-0)

132-139: Max Mulhearn (Riot Room) won by decision over Aidan Eisenberg (Relentless Training Center) (Dec 1-0)

139-143: Maurice Bush (Englewood Live Wire) won by major decision over Broady Kelly (Robinson) (Maj 10-2)

144-147: Patrick Hulne (Team 312) won by decision over Gavin Nischke (Club 1:7) (Dec 8-3)

147-148: Connor Graham (Metamora) won by decision over Davian Hall (Englewood Live Wire) (Dec 13-10)

148-159: Brayden Drew (PSF) won by decision over Matthew Walsh (Breese Central) (Dec 11-4)

149-156: Giona Panozzo (Clifton Central) won by decision over Josiah Williams (Danville High) (Dec 8-1)

152-157: Cole Yarbrough (Vandalia Junior Wrestling Club) won by decision over Landon VanAcker (Belvidere Co-Op) (Dec 10-9)

159-166: Bennett Westfallen (Built By Brunson) won by fall over Michael Brannigan (Relentless Training Center) (Fall 2:54)

166-175: Tyler Sandusky (Alphas Wrestling) won by decision over Kaleb Belcher (Northwest Lions) (Dec 3-0)

172-182: Noah Greene (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by decision over Colton Mckee (Morton) (Dec 9-2)

178-191: Maddoxx Jones (Liberty Eagles Wentzville) won by decision over Hector Villagrana (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Dec 8-4)

186-205: Carter Hintz (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) won by tech fall over Vincent Goodman (Waterloo Bulldog Wrestling) (TF 15-0)

207-227: James Brouilette (Prospect) won by fall over Christopher Cali Jr (SouthStrong) (Fall 3:31)

230-331: Kashius Taylor (SouthStrong) won by forfeit over Nathaniel Olona (War Dog Training Center) (FF)

Boys – 9th & 10th Grade

5th Place Matches

88-99: Chase Cook (Sycamore Wrestling Club)

100-111: Pierce Bultmann (Patton Trained WC) won by decision over Gabriel Richmond (West Aurora High School) (Dec 6-4)

112-118: Kaaden Wood (Braidwood Reed-Custer) won by medical forfeit over David Perez (Wheeling High School) (MFF)

116-126: Michael Goolish (Unattached) won by fall over Lemar Treshansky (Murphysboro Wrestling) (Fall 2:37)

119-127: Michael Olson (Sycamore Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Hunter Kroll (Unattached) (Maj 16-7)

126-134: Carson Owens (STL Warrior) won by fall over Landyn Greenhagen (Kewanee) (Fall 2:51)

131-137: Jadon Dinwiddie (SouthStrong) won by forfeit over Carter DiBenedetto (Lincoln Way Warriors) (FF)

132-139: Nehemie Mbangi (Champaign Wrestling Club) won by fall over Emmanuel Adedeji (Thornton) (Fall 3:49)

139-143: Colton Huff (Beat the Streets) won by decision over Wyatt Roland (Omega) (Dec 6-1)

144-147: Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg Area Wrestling) won by fall over Mark Norris Jr. (Cahokia) (Fall 1:13)

147-148: Evan Cox (Clifton Central) won by decision over Timothy Garmon (Naperville North) (Dec 6-2)

148-159: Brodi Willnerd (Liberty Eagles Wentzville) won by decision over Maksym Yakymyshyn (SouthStrong) (Dec 8-3)

149-156: Henry Finley (Victory Elite) won by decision over Derek Wilkey (PSF) (Dec 8-1)

152-157: Bryce Bryant (Unattached) won by fall over Jayden Allison (Individual) (Fall 1:25)

159-166: James Escobar (RWC Rochester) won by decision over Jasper Hintz (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) (Dec 8-3)

166-175: Ryne Peavler (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) won by medical forfeit over Nicholas Montesinos (Wheeling High School) (MFF)

172-182: Duke Mays (Johnsburg Area Wrestling) won by tech fall over Douglas Gemberling (Sycamore Wrestling Club) (TF 20-2)

178-191: Gavin Payne (Suplex) won by major decision over Owen Moser (Illinois Valley Central) (Maj 14-5)

186-205: Elvis Mora (DeKalb WC) won by decision over Jack Helsdon (War Dog Training Center) (Dec 4-2)

207-227: Josh McCurry (Clifton Central) won by forfeit over Benjamin Buis (El Paso Gridley Youth Wrestling) (FF)

230-331: Christopher Damitz (Galesburg) won by fall over Joey Humphries (Big Game Wrestling Club) (Fall 3:44)

Boys – 7th & 8th Grade

1st Place Matches

69-74: Colton Bevers (Iguana Wrestling Club) won by decision over Ashtyn Copley (Ridgeview Junior High School) (Dec 3-0) Round Robin

77-84: Connor Collins (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) won by tech fall over Braxton McCall (Team Mascoutah) (TF 20-0)

85-93: Cam Whitehead (Alber Athletics) won by major decision over Daniel Macatangay (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Maj 16-5)

94-100: Dominick Turner (STL Warrior) won by decision over Julian Hanson (nWo Wrestling Club) (Dec 11-6)

100-105: Henry Golembiewski (Unattached) won by major decision over Carter Pryor (Hillsboro Wrestling Club – MO) (Maj 8-0)

105-110: Peyton Boston (Van Buren High School) won by major decision over Peyton Nowicki (Relentless Training Center) (Maj 10-0)

110-116: Clayton McClelland (Champions Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Te`Jon Beals (Victory Elite) (Maj 13-0)

116-120: Ethan Hamilton (Victory Elite) won by decision over Derik LOHMEYER (QWB) (Dec 6-0)

118-125: Luke Cline (Team Hammer) won by decision over Jesse Swiney (Champaign Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-2)

124-129: Sammy Toth (Mt. Zion Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jase Ites (Premier Wrestling Center) (Dec 6-0)

128-134: Kai Balice (Naperville North) won by fall over Connor Petrakis (Unattached) (Fall 1:52)

134-146: Mason Boulanger (Team Nazar) won by fall over Jaylin Bellamy (Maritime Wrestling) (Fall 0:24)

141-152: Caleb Linneman (Harvard Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Talon Tassoul (Team Nazar) (Maj 8-0)

154-164: Da`Kevion Rose (Cahokia) won by fall over Anthony Castro (Wheeling High School) (Fall 1:45)

164-176: Noah Stout (Alber Athletics) won by decision over Ace LaFollette (Kewanee) (Dec 2-1)

185-202: Anthony Busby Jr. (STL Warrior) won by decision over James Long (Knoxville) (Dec 11-4)

205-211: Jackson Ritch (Bloomington) won by major decision over Emmanuel Ramirez (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Maj 9-1) Round Robin

222-233: Isaiah Collins (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Michael Danial (Illinois) (Dec 2-0) Round Robin

Boys – 7th & 8th Grade

3rd Place Matches

69-74: Caleb Bevers (Iguana Wrestling Club) won by fall over Ryan Conway (Kewanee) (Fall 2:44) Round Robin

77-84: Ryken Hedgpeth (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) won by decision over Braden Edwards (STL Warrior) (Dec 6-1)

85-93: Javier Salas III (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) won by decision over Julian Medina (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Dec 6-0)

94-100: Tyler Gerhold (DC Elite) won by major decision over Bentley Fields (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) (Maj 8-0)

100-105: Landon Near (nWo Wrestling Club) won by fall over Damian Garcia (War Dog Training Center) (Fall 1:21)

5th Place Match

105-110: Julian Hernandez (DeKalb WC) won by decision over Pedro Hernandez (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Dec 4-3)

110-116: Sean Monroe (Edwardsville WC) won by major decision over Camden Brucker (SOTC) (Maj 11-0)

116-120: Jacob Powers (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Boone Alderks (Oregon) (Maj 9-1)

118-125: Brandon Buck (Nashville Catholic Wrestling) won by decision over Benjamin Kaminski (R13) (Dec 3-0)

124-129: Obie Vee (Crass Trained) won by decision over Bentley Stroder (Northwest Jr Lions) (Dec 12-7)

128-134: Logan Salm (Team Nazar) won by decision over Abayomi Alase Jr. (Bloomington) (Dec 12-6)

134-146: Lain Taylor (Kewanee) won in tie breaker over Finn Hoffman (Eureka Wrestling Club) (TB-2 12-3)

141-152: Joshua Tuttle (Ceberus) won by decision over Bentley Treece (Northwest Jr. Lions Wrestling) (Dec 3-0)

154-164: Alijah Atkins (Olympia Wrestling) won in sudden victory over Trevor Henning (Jr. Pirates) (SV-1 3-0)

164-176: Ryker Czubak (SouthStrong) won by major decision over Blake Dingley (Dixon) (Maj 14-0)

185-202: Blake Lively (Rough Riders Wrestling) won by fall over Darius Russell (DeKalb WC) (Fall 1:42)

205-211: Vann Olcott (United) won by fall over Sean Seibel (Dixon) (Fall 1:58) Round Robin

222-233: Yovanni Carreno (Oregon) won by fall over Reginald Luckett (Iguana Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:00) Round Robin 

Boys – 7th & 8th Grade

5th Place Matches 

77-84: Maurizio Castro (Gomez RTC) won by major decision over Juan Rosales (Omega) (Maj 15-4)

85-93: Leonidas Walker (Tecumseh Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Kaden Daugherty (Vandalia Junior Wrestling Club) (Maj 14-6)

94-100: Ian Rotramel (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) won by fall over Riley Hinton (Vandalia Jr High) (Fall 0:42)

100-105: Charlie Strezo (Victory Elite) won by fall over Jordan Lowe (Oregon) (Fall 1:21)

105-110: Jack Benesh (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Hank Wettstein (Eureka Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:36)

110-116: Colton Drinkwine (Callan Wrestling Academy) and Carson Yokel (Normal Community High School) (DFF)

116-120: Rylan Moore (PSF Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Xavier Sonon-Hale (Team Mascoutah) (Dec 7-3)

118-125: Matthew Leonchik (Unknown) won by decision over Dylan Woolsey (SouthStrong) (Dec 8-1)

124-129: Jackson Trotter (R13) won by decision over Joseph Guidi (Naperville North) (Dec 4-0)

128-134: Blake Konichek (Prairie du Chien) won by major decision over Connor Misner (Mt Zion Kids WC) (Maj 19-6)

134-146: Jack Taylor (Don`t have a team) won by fall over Jaxon Klaus (Eureka High School) (Fall 2:00)

141-152: Jeret Edwards (Murphysboro Wrestling) won by decision over Collin Rux (Harlem Huskies WC) (Dec 6-0)

154-164: Timothy Presley (Alphas Wrestling) won by fall over Broden Wilson (Western Boone) (Fall 0:26)

164-176: Alexander Vega (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) won by major decision over Anderson Fisher (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) (Maj 14-2)

185-202: Gabe Deltoro (TJ Trained Wrestling) won by fall over Andre Jones (Harlem Huskies WC) (Fall 2:25)

205-211: James Simmons of The Foundation

Boys – 5th & 6th Grade

1st Place Matches

59-64: Chasen Burke (STL Warrior) won by decision over Drake Melton (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) (Dec 9-2) Round Robin

65-69: Dominic Bruno (Built By Brunson) won by decision over Kade Roeder (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) (Dec 8-5)

67-72: Teidan Delisi (Built By Brunson) won by major decision over David Wisbrock (Southside Outlaws Wrestling Cl) (Maj 14-0)

70-75: Landon Edwards (STL Warrior) won by decision over Colt Roeder (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) (Dec 10-6)

76-80: Cayden Mango (STL Warrior) won by decision over Cameron Ramp (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) (Dec 1-0)

77-82: Dominik Budzyk (Jr Raiders/ SS) won by decision over Apollo Rock (STL Warrior) (Dec 7-1)

82-90: Wyatt Gillen (Sauk Valley Wrestling) won by fall over Dante Bruno (Built By Brunson) (Fall 0:48)

85-91: Gavin Lamers (Wrightstown Wrestling) won by fall over Landon Piontek (X-Factor Elite) (Fall 2:45)

91-94: Kellan Spisok (The Compound-SOTC) won by major decision over Jaxson Barton (Young Guns) (Maj 8-0)

95-102: Miyon Alkubechy (Young Guns) won by decision over Carson Planer (Region Wrestling Academy) (Dec 9-2)

95-103: Torin McPeek (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Maxwell McGhee (Team Mascoutah) (Fall 2:00)

101-110: Jake Mushinsky (TJ Trained Wrestling) won by major decision over Dominic Englese (St. Charles Wrestling Club) (Maj 9-1)

106-112: Anderson Gonzalez (Harvard Wrestling Club) won by fall over Bryar Smith (Champions Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:48)

114-122: Cruz Cortez (Kewanee) won by fall over Caine Rogers (Fighting Farmers) (Fall 2:17)

127-136: Bentley Colp (Herrin Tigers WC) won by tech fall over Easton Ammer (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) (TF 17-2) Round Robin

130-142: Drake Tucker (Team Tucker) won by fall over Liam Munson (Little Giant WC) (Fall 0:18, Fall 0:23)

150-176: Colton Moreno (Harvard Wrestling Club) won by fall over Ramone Rias (Cahokia) (Fall 1:27) Round Robin

Boys – 5th & 6th Grade

3rd Place Matches

59-64: Carter Noland (Fort Zumwalt Wrestling Club)

65-69: Wyatt McClain (Demolition WC) won by decision over Paxson Minkie (Alber Athletics) (Dec 8-3)

67-72: Miguel Sanders (STL Warrior) won by major decision over Makai Steele (Olney Cubs Wrestling Club) (Maj 15-4)

70-75: Alejandro Gomez (R13) won by fall over Dominic Boblak (Demolition WC) (Fall 1:37)

76-80: Oz Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) won by decision over Landon Delisi (Built By Brunson) (Dec 8-2)

77-82: Jacob Wagner (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Grayson Tracy (Storm Youth WC) (Fall 1:23)

82-90: Cahree Smart (STL Warrior) won by tech fall over Kolten Lowe (Oregon) (TF 18-1)

85-91: Brady Ramirez (Contenders Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Brady Lowe (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) (Dec 10-4)

91-94: Bradley De Lisio (Built By Brunson) won by tech fall over Cash Ware (STL Warrior) (TF 15-0)

95-102: Kardiais Richardson (Lincoln-Way WC) won by decision over Everett Garretson (Yorkville Wrestling club) (Dec 6-0)

95-103: Liam Lane (Bulls WC) won by decision over Marcelo Villarreal (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-4)

101-110: Rayshaad Watkins (DeKalb WC) won by decision over Carter Swearingen (Kewanee) (Dec 6-1)

106-112: Emelio Grey (Cahokia) won by decision over Zane Sundberg (nWo Wrestling Club) (Dec 9-7)

114-122: Beau Reed (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Dominic Trumpy (Pekin Boys & Girls Club) (Fall 2:34)

127-136: Jaxon Siler (Crawford County WC)

150-176: Joseph Brannigan (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) won by fall over Dominic Airoldi (Demolition WC) (Fall 0:19) Round Robin

Boys – 5th & 6th Grade

5th Place Matches 

65-69: Heston Sharp (HXS) won by fall over Da`Ryan Collier (Cahokia) (Fall 0:42)

67-72: Joshua Strode (Demolition WC) won in sudden victory over Teddy Millard (Rochelle Wrestling Club) (SV-1 3-0)

70-75: Mason Poll (Sabers WC) won by major decision over Finnley Wood (Braidwood Reed-Custer) (Maj 10-1)

76-80: Scott Kilmer (Lion`s Den Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Camden Chapman (Gladiator Elite WC) (Dec 8-6)

77-82: Kyler Roeder (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) won by fall over Lawson Kurtz (Sparta Junior Bulldogs) (Fall 1:22)

82-90: Jaxton Trumpy (Pekin Boys & Girls Club) won by decision over Jacob Cory (Harlem Huskies WC) (Dec 9-4)

85-91: Truman Dames (RPA) won by fall over Trevor Hale (West Frankfort Redbirds) (Fall 1:22)

91-94: Odysseus Hale (Midwest Central Youth Wrestling) won by decision over Gavin Crowley (Westmont) (Dec 7-0)

95-102: Colton Zabinski (Backyard Brawlers – Midwest) won by major decision over Michael Tasnic (Force Elite) (Maj 10-0)

95-103: Cristopher Ornelas (Ridgeview Jr High) won by fall over Rylan Kumer (Little Giant WC) (Fall 0:54)

101-110: Austin Wilson (Rhyno Academy of Wrestling) won by medical forfeit over Brycen Berkowski (Harlem Huskies WC) (MFF)

106-112: Jarrett Ites (Premier Wrestling Center) won in sudden victory – 1 over Donald Simpson (West Frankfort Redbirds) (SV-1 10-7)

114-122: Leland Dambacher (Belleville Little Devils WC) won by fall over Jase Cha (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) (Fall 2:55)

Boys – 3rd & 4th Grade

1st Place Matches

49-52: Evan Ross (Stillman Valley Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Kai Chambers (Iguana Wrestling Club) (Maj 10-0)

54-58: Liam Gatt (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) won in sudden victory over Tagg Hefner (TJ Trained Wrestling) (SV-1 10-7)

57-61: Anthony Ragona (Built By Brunson) won by fall over Crew Bullerman (Heartland Wrestling Academy) (Fall 0:45)

60-62: Quinten Shaffer (Lawrence County Knights) won by fall over Blakley Richards (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:12)

61-64: Ethan Wagner (Alber Athletics) won by major decision over Julian Trujillo (Built By Brunson) (Maj 9-0)

63-67: Kade Chilson (Victory) won by decision over Karson West (Bulls WC) (Dec 9-3)

66-69: Michael Fangerow (Lincoln-Way WC) won by fall over Dawson Dyer (Mattoon Youth WC) (Fall 0:17)

67-70: Kasen Cargo (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) won by major decision over Giovanni Salas (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) (Maj 11-0)

68-73:Adriana Ragona (Built By Brunson) won by decision over Ryder Wiegand (Eureka Wrestling Club) (Dec 2-0)

73-77: Emilio Ortiz (Rhyno Academy of Wrestling) won by tech fall over Tanner Brucker (Falcon Wrestling Club) (TF 16-0)

77-83: Oz Bellamy (Force Elite) won by tech fall over Brayden Duitsman (Fisher) (TF 20-3)

80-86: Eden Hickman (Bulls WC) won by major decision over Alexander Martinez (Red Raiders Wrestling Team) (Maj 12-0)

89-95: Payt Titus (Relentless Training Center) won by major decision over Carter Fleisher (Little Giant WC) (Maj 14-1)

91-94: Raheem Busby (STL Warrior) won by major decision over Aidan Keilman (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) (Maj 14-5)

103-111: Jaxon Anderson (Siwa) won by major decision over Nathaniel Shelton (Panther Powerhouse Wrestling) (Maj 12-0), (Maj 11-1)

117-119: Jacob Cannon (RTL Wrestling Club) won by fall over Justice Fields (Gladiator Elite WC) (Fall 1:30), (Fall 0:27)

142-142: Landry Agney (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) won by fall over Liam Munson (Little Giant WC) (Fall 0:44), (Maj 15-1)

167-167: Landry Agney of Shelbyville Rams Wrestling

Boys – 3rd & 4th Grade

3rd Place Matches

49-52: Marcelo Domena (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won by decision over Dominic Flores (Cory Clark Wrestling) (Dec 3-2)

54-58: Louie Tuason (Region Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Rafael Lopez (Cory Clark Wrestling) (Fall 0:20)

57-61: Nolan Gatt (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) won by tech fall over Hudsyn Pfanz (TJ Trained Wrestling) (TF 17-2)

60-62: Mason Black (Springs Elite) won by fall over Mason Holland (STL Warrior) (Fall 2:11)

61-64: Camden Fitzgerald (Little Celtic Wrestling Club) won by fall over Jack DeGroot (Sauk Valley Wrestling) (Fall 1:00)

63-67: Gabe Gillette (Gladiator) won by decision over Ahmose Amen (Team St. Louis) (Dec 10-7)

66-69: Lucas Whalen (LeRoy Panthers) won by major decision over Johnny Demonte (nWo Wrestling Club) (Maj 15-7)

67-70: Konnor Knight (Collinsville Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jax Kiethline (Fort Zumwalt Wrestling Club) (Dec 8-1)

68-73: Gus Korniak (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) won by decision over Beau Fields (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) (Dec 3-1)

73-77: Thomas Suits (Gladiator Elite WC) won by tech fall over Quinn Shelby (Little Celtic WC) (TF 17-1)

77-83: Neklous Jones (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Paxton Tasker (TJ Trained Wrestling) (Fall 0:49)

80-86: Kingston Simms (RTL Wrestling Club) won by tech fall over Clayton Moen (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) (TF 16-0)

89-95: Patrick Lawlor (Gomez RTC) won by tech fall over Adam Glause (Decatur Lakers Wrestling Club) (TF 19-2)

91-94: Roman Simms (RTL Wrestling Club) won by decision over Joseph Englese (St. Charles Wrestling Club) (Dec 3-0)

Boys – 3rd & 4th Grade

5th Place Matches

49-52: Rhett White (Roxana WC) won by decision over Grayson Shute (Panther Powerhouse Wrestling) (Dec 9-7)

54-58: Aaron Munks (SOTC) won by decision over Diezel Steele (Olney Cubs Wrestling Club) (Dec 12-5)

57-61: Brycen Legue (Stillman Valley Wrestling Club) won by fall over Elijah Foss (Gladiator Elite WC) (Fall 1:57)

60-62: Easton Benyo (Sauk Valley Wrestling) won by fall over Ryder Carroll (DC Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:15)

61-64: Grayson Short (The Foundation) won by decision over Oliver Tasnic (Force Elite) (Dec 12-9)

63-67: Oakley Davis (Iguana Wrestling Club) won by fall over Knox Raines (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:45)

66-69: Dominic Nava (ISI) won by major decision over Kash McKee (Unknown) (Maj 24-13)

67-70: Kree Burkey (Gladiator Elite WC) won by decision over Byron Cowman (PSF Wrestling Academy) (Dec 7-0)

68-73: Maddox Martinez (Tribe WC) won by fall over Kye Gillette (Gladiator) (Fall 2:38)

73-77:Graham Kaskavage (Oregon) won by major decision over Jake Meeks (Lawrence County Knights) (Maj 17-3)

77-83: Conrad Barber (Belvidere Bandits Wrestling Cl) won by fall over Griffin Heuck (DC Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:38)

80-86: Jase Spain (Relentless Training Center) won by tech fall over Konner Jacobson (Alber Athletics) (TF 16-0)

89-95: Charley Crouch (Eureka Wrestling Club) won by fall over Harrison Van Sickel (Franklin County Flyers Wrestling) (Fall 0:51)

91-94: Vincent Englese (St. Charles Wrestling Club) won by decision over Liam Lee (Built By Brunson) (Dec 9-2)

Boys – 1st & 2nd Grade

1st Place Matches

37-41: Vaughn Seibel (Belleville Little Devils WC) won by tech fall over Jaxson Green (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (TF 19-1) Round Robin

43-44: Easton Sanders (Contenders Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Ryder Gatt (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) (Fall 2:39) Round Robin

45-48: Cristiano Gutierrez (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) won by fall over Sam Smith (Stockton Renegades) (Fall 1:08)

49-53: Layton Kraemer (Maritime Wrestling) won by decision over Boston Blakely (Alber Athletics) (Dec 8-2)

50-54: JT Tsokolas (Mustangs WC) won by major decision over William Fitzgerald (Little Celtic Wrestling Club) (Maj 8-0)

54-58: Oliver Carlisle (Roxana WC) won by fall over Leo Hooker (Mattoon Youth WC) (Fall 1:47)

55-57: Kingston Smith (Thunder Wrestling) won by fall over Quincy Noland (Little Giant WC) (Fall 0:49)

58-60: Nico Poeta (Relentless Training Center) won by fall over Camden Powell (STL Warrior) (Fall 0:33)

61-65: Jordan Benefiel (nWo Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Isaiah Carroll (Little Giant WC) (Maj 13-4)

63-68: Lincoln Projansky (Built By Brunson) won by fall over Miles Maes (X-Factor Elite) (Fall 2:40)

69-72: Chase Stroot (Team Mascoutah) won by fall over Londyn Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:31)

74-79: Kingston Hamilton (Wildcat Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Anthony Quiroz (Region Wrestling Academy) (Dec 10-9) Round Robin

83-90: Jackson Mateo (Built By Brunson) won by fall over Hunter Voss (DC Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:53), (TF 16-1)

98-112: Leonard Morgan (Wilmington WC) won by major decision over Ethan Kennedy (Bulls WC) (Maj 12-2), (TF 19-1)

124-130: Tony Hess (Wildcat Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Hunter Lindsey (Dwight Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:38), (Fall 1:48)

Boys – 1st & 2nd Grade

3rd Place Matches 

37-41: Jaycin Boongaling (Gomez RTC)

43-44: David Kalmanovsky (Built By Brunson)

45-48: Sawyer Whelan (Liberty Mean Mugz) won by tech fall over Wylder Cookson (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) (TF 16-0)

49-53: Josiah Salas (Bulldog Premier Wrestling Club) won by decision over Dallas Morales (Cory Clark Wrestling) (Dec 7-4)

50-54: Tre`Lyn Morrow (Crystal Lake Wizards Wrestling) won by major decision over Jack Newsom (Cory Clark Wrestling) (Maj 14-0)

54-58: Chase Bronstein (Individual) won by major decision over Ryan Campos (Fox Lake WC) (Maj 13-4)

55-57: Knox Ferry (Belvidere Bandits Wrestling Cl) won by fall over Augustine Martinez (Tribe WC) (Fall 0:33)

58-60: Knoxx Larkin (ISI) won by fall over Jersi Cooper (Harvey Twisters) (Fall 0:17)

61-65: Gunnersyn Schulz (El Paso Gridley Youth Wrestling) won by major decision over James Klockowski (Champaign Wrestling Club) (Maj 17-5)

63-68: Lodi Morgan (Wilmington WC) won by fall over Knox Kamp (Roxana WC) (Fall 0:26)

69-72: Cahlil Powell (STL Warrior) won by decision over Peyton Ladd (DC Wrestling Club) (Dec 12-5)

74-79: Declan Wilking (Wilmington WC) won by fall over Nicolas Milazzo (Springs Elite) (Fall 1:00) Round Robin

Boys – 1st & 2nd Grade

5th Place Matches

45-48: Everett Sledge (Mattoon Youth WC) won by fall over Tennyson Anderson (DC Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:14)

49-53: Graier Vold (Team Nazar) won by tech fall over Myles Shick (Lawrence County Knights) (TF 15-0)

50-54: Carter Tompkins (Granite City WA) won by fall over Corbyn Tipsord (Panther Paw Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:36)

54-58: Lane Kesler (Fisher) won by tech fall over Connor Self (Collinsville Wrestling Club) (TF 17-0)

55-57: Wesson Coffey (Gladiator Elite WC) won by fall over Brixton Gomez (nWo Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:40)

58-60: Aiden Wilking (Wilmington WC) won by fall over Griffin Akers (Lawrence County Knights) (Fall 0:34)

61-65: Andre Ivy Jr (Thunder Wrestling) won by fall over Jaxon Eisch (Team Nazar) (Fall 1:23)

63-68: Maverick Tasker (TJ Trained Wrestling) won by fall over Damien Givhan (nWo Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:54)

69-72: Wyatt Schmieding (O’Fallon Little Panthers WC) won by decision over Ava Barber (Belvidere Bandits Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-0)

74-79: Jacob Deterding (Sparta Junior Bulldogs)

Girls 11th and 12th Grade

1st Place Matches

90-108: Emily Price (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Adilyn Hoelzle (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:09) Round Robin

113-118: Emily Price (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Rilynn Younker (The Foundation) (Fall 1:01)

119-132: Alexis Seymour (Jacksonville Area Wrestling) won by decision over Paige Tihen (Fort Zumwalt South High School) (Dec 3-1)

134-142: Viola Pianetto (Built By Brunson) won by decision over Jalah Wilson (Thornton HS) (Dec 9-8)

142-158: Valerie Hamilton (The Compound) won by tech fall over Autumne Williams (Unattached) (TF 19-2)

160-178: Jasmine Rene (Gomez RTC) won by fall over Jessica Stover (Oswego Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:58) Round Robin

191-211: Anjali Gonzalez (Hoffman Estates H.S.) won by fall over Henessis Villagrana (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Fall 1:56)

Girls 11th and 12th Grade

3rd Place Matches

90-108: Mya Downs (Unattached)

113-118: Leti Covello (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Veronica Cosio (Greg Gomez Trained) (Dec 8-3)

119-132: Kendall Smith (Civic Memorial) won by decision over Elise Burkut (Gomez RTC) (Dec 12-5)

134-142: Maelynn Sundlie (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Janelle Spohn (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:37)

142-158: Natalie Beaumont (PSF Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Julian Smith (St Louis) (Dec 8-3)

160-178: Lillian Garrett (Gomez RTC) won by fall over Kendra Sadler (Fort Zumwalt South) (Fall 0:57)

191-211: Jathziry Valencia-Carranza (Unattached)

Girls 11th and 12th Grade

5th Place Matches

113-118: Adilyn Hoelzle (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Maggie Gordon (Morris) (Fall 1:59)

119-132: Karina Lojowski (Built By Brunson) won by fall over Allison Kroesch (U-High) (Fall 1:44)

134-142: Brooke Coy (Oswego Wrestling Club) won by major decision over Liriana Rakoci (Hoffman Estates H.S.) (Maj 10-0)

142-158: Yuridia Colin Fajardo (House Springs) won by injury default over Allison Garbacz (ISI) (Inj. 0:00)

160-178: Isabella Chiovari (Hoffman Estates H.S.)

Girls 9th and 10th Grade

1st Place Matches

94-107: Fallon Dames (RPA) won by fall over Lainie Galvan (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:54) Round Robin

108-112: Kadi Wilbern (Chatham Glenwood) won by fall over Ariel Woodfin (Thornton) (Fall 1:42) 

108-115: Alejandra Flores (Sloth Strong WC) won by major decision over Mialee Copeland (Purler Wrestling Academy) (Maj 13-2)

116-125: Rain Scott (Springs Elite) won by injury default over Sydney Cannon (Patton Trained WC) (Inj. 2:27)

123-131: Avery Crouch (Dwight Wrestling Club) won by fall over Kyla Janowitz (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:28)

134-146: Isabella Resendez (Chatham Glenwood) won by injury default over Allison Garbacz (ISI) (Inj. 0:00)

144-154: Natalie Beaumont (PSF Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Makayla Faulkner (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:31)

159-175: Kaleigh Mehrkens (Unattached) won by fall over Emma Gischer (Team Mascoutah) (Fall 1:41) Round Robin

Girls 9th and 10th Grade

3rd Place Matches

94-107: Kierra Kerns (Ozark Wrestling Club)

108-112: Elaine Hay (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won by fall over Miley Locke (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:29)

108-115: Blair Grennan (Newman Central Catholic) won by fall over Baileigh Self (Collinsville Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:36)

116-125: Amelia Huncovsky (Northwest) won by major decision over Delaney Locke (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Maj 12-0)

123-131: Bree Hirsch (Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Alauni Muex (Carterville Lions) (Fall 3:22)

134-146: Kiana Mayne (No Team) won by disqualification over Scarlett Gentille (OTHS Panthers) (DQ)

144-154: Jasmine Zaveleta (Conant HS) won by fall over Cait Jones (ISI) (Fall 0:57)

159-175: Yazmin Bonilla (Gomez RTC)

Girls 9th and 10th Grade

5th Place Matches

108-112: Jordan Rodriguez (Raiders) won by medical forfeit over Adalyn Raue (Hustisford) (MFF)

108-115: Rilynn Younker (The Foundation) won by fall over Maggie Lewellen (Northwest) (Fall 1:32)

116-125: Katie Hartgraves (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by decision over Amelia Robison (Northwest Lions) (Dec 3-2)

123-131: Kamila Sandoval Florencio (Schaumburg) won by decision over Gretchyn Dunbar (Sycamore Wrestling Club) (Dec 10-4)

134-146: Hannah Maskrod (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Joelene Nappier-Feth (Unattached) (Fall 2:41)

144-154: Ewa Krupa (Unattached) won by fall over Roxie Royster (Murphysboro Wrestling) (Fall 0:27)

Girls 7th and 8th Grade

1st Place Matches

71-82: Molly Rzab (Oak Forest Warriors Wrestling) won by major decision over McKenzie Steinke (Frankfort Gladiator Wrestling) (Maj 8-0) Round Robin

86-97: Kendra Ege (Oregon) won by major decision over Petra Hart (Unaffiliated) (Maj 10-1)

104-113: Fallon Dames (RPA) won by major decision over Saphira Parrett (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Maj 10-1)

112-121: Baileigh Self (Collinsville Wrestling Club) won by fall over Payton Charles (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:46)

127-133: Ilyana Martinez (Rough Riders Wrestling) won by fall over Kyla Janowitz (Palmyra Youth Wrestling Club) (Fall 1:19)

141-147: Allison Garbacz (ISI) won by major decision over Willow Rademacher (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Maj 11-0) Round Robin

147-157: Nevaeh Redd (Lion`s Den Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Maliha Hamidou (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) (Fall 1:42) Round Robin

176-176:Shelby Michel (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Emma Gischer (Team Mascoutah) (Fall 1:44) Round Robin

Girls 7th and 8th Grade

3rd Place Matches

71-82: KyLynn Larkin (ISI)

86-97: Hadley Vold (Team Nazar) won by decision over Autumn Starr (Iguana Wrestling Club) (Dec 4-0)

104-113: Olivia Hay (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won by major decision over Cailyn Young (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Maj 8-0)

112-121: Macy Fordyce (Central Indiana Academy Of Wrestling) won by fall over Zoey Meadows (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:28)

127-133: Easton Bosley (Bobcat Wrestling Club) won by decision over Stella Wheeler (Ozark Wrestling Club) (Dec 7-1)

141-147: Kylie Williams (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won in sudden victory over Aaliyah Swearingen (Kewanee) (SV-1 5-2) Round Robin

147-157: Phoebe Jones (Ozark Wrestling Club) won by fall over Reese Scardina (Bobcat Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:32)

176-176: Aliana Bonilla (Gomez RTC)

Girls 7th and 8th Grade

5th Place Matches

86-97: Shayla Garner (Team Mascoutah) won by major decision over Penelope Kaplan (West Lafayette) (Maj 13-0)

104-113: Sydney Stieb (St. Charles Wrestling Club) won by fall over Kara Knipp (Team Mascoutah) (Fall 1:27)

112-121: Zandra Vock (Oregon) won by fall over Lulu Festner (Concordia Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:42)

127-133: Chloe Rice (Bulls WC) won by decision over Londyn Long (Lion`s Den Wrestling Academy) (Dec 1-0)

141-147: Zoe Ruhland (Jefferson Wrestling Club)

147-157: Cierra Jo Damitz (Galesburg)

Girls 5th and 6th Grade

1st Place Matches

65-75: Caroline Krupa (P3 Warrior Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Chloe Meiners (Rough Riders Wrestling) (Fall 1:00) Round Robin

76-84: Kelianna Larkin (ISI) won by decision over Elise Slaten (Bulls WC) (Dec 4-2), (Dec 8-2)

92-93: Hadley Vold (Team Nazar) won by fall over Randelle McKay (Dixon) (Fall 1:49)

99-101: Ella Anderson (RWC (Rochester)) won over Aspynn Hursey (Individual) (Maj 10-0), (Fall 1:21)

106-113: Emilee Meier (Belleville Little Devils WC) won by fall over Francesca Yurs (ISI) (Fall 0:14)

130-131: Piper Sandell (Alber Athletics) won by fall over Penelope Anderson (DC Wrestling Club) (Fall 2:48), (Fall 2:27)

147-147: Kylie Williams (Brown Deer Jr Falcons)

181-181: Aliana Bonilla (Gomez RTC)  

Girls 5th and 6th Grade

3rd Place Matches

65-75: Marli Cobbs (Belleville Little Devils WC) won by fall over Emelia Cecchetti (Dixon) (Fall 2:50) Round Robin

92-93: Teagan Phillips (Olympia Wrestling)

106-113: Avery Rygol (Concordia Wrestling Club)

Girls 3rd and 4th Grade

1st Place Matches

54-54: Sloane Gabler (Sauk Valley Wrestling) won over Ava Voyles (Bulls WC) (Fall 2:00), (TF 18-2)

60-64: Bailey Flanigan (Bulls WC) won by decision over Elizabeth Agajanian (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (Dec 5-0) Round Robin

64-69: Koralee Larkin (ISI) won by fall over Raelynn Jadin (Oak Forest Warriors Wrestling) (Fall 0:53) Round Robin

71-74: Brynlee Jones (SOTC) won by decision over Londyn Bellamy (Chicago Wrestling Club) (Dec 6-4) Round Robin

81-85: Ilyssa Martine (Rough Riders Wrestling) won by decision over Ella Deterding (Sparta Junior Bulldogs) (Dec 7-1)

90-97: Norah Hay (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won by tech fall over Raya Windham (Oregon) (TF 15-0) Round Robin

Girls 3rd and 4th Grade

3rd Place Matches

60-64: Cale Duckett (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) won by tech fall over Aubrey Schmieding (O’Fallon Little Panthers WC) (TF 16-1) Round Robin

64-69: Makenna Austra (Bulls WC) won by fall over Natalya Moberg (RWC (Rochester)) (Fall 2:56) Round Robin

71-74: Alivia Deterding (Sparta Junior Bulldogs) won by fall over Sawyer Goldman (Sandwich Wrestling Club) (Fall 0:44) Round Robin

81-85: Chevi Sanchez (Champaign Wrestling Club) won by decision over Linzee Mason (Northwest Jr Lions) (Dec 5-0)

90-97: Stella Nava (ISI WC)

Girls 3rd and 4th Grade

5th Place Matches

81-85: Aryana Resendez (Chatham Glenwood) won by medical forfeit over Raya Reading (Little Giant WC) (MFF)

Girls 1st and 2nd Grade

1st Place Matches 

42-47: Zoey Willis (DC Wrestling Club) won by fall over Ayah Garrett (Gladiator Elite WC) (Fall 1:41) Round Robin

51-55: Patricia Tytus (RTC Wrestling) won by major decision over Penelope Hall (Thunder Wrestling) (Maj 13-2) Round Robin

61-65:Alannah Carter (Brown Deer Jr Falcons) won over Katherine Kirkbride (Shelbyville Rams Wrestling) (Fall 0:25), (TF 20-4) 

69-69: Lexi Suits (Gladiator Elite WC) won over Ava Barber (Belvidere Bandits Wrestling Club) (Maj 9-0), (Fall 2:29)

94-94: Raya Windham (Oregon)

Girls 1st and 2nd Grade

3rd Place Matches

42-47: Kendall Short (The Foundation)

51-55: Grace Danielle Sinks (TJ Trained Wrestling) won by fall over Penelope Flores (Cory Clark Wrestling) (Fall 0:16)

Girls 1st and 2nd Grade

5th Place

51-55: Miley Smith (Team Smith)

Men College and Open

1st Place Matches

121-135: Austin Brown (Hannibal) won by fall over Joey Sikorsky (Batavia Pinners) (Fall 2:32)

137-153: Jason Strope (Team Strope) won by major decision over Gianni Ruiz (Unaffiliated) (Maj 8-0)

148-157: William Tucker (Team Tucker) won by fall over Adam Meenen (Sauk Valley Wrestling) (Fall 1:58)

155-164: Andrew Marten (Fenwick High School) won by tech fall over Hakeem Banks (Don`t Have A Team) (TF 15-0)

165-178: Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy) won by tech fall over Brody Ivey (Sauk Valley Wrestling) (TF 15-0)

173-191: Ryan Strope (Team Strope) won by decision over Alonzo Smiley (Gomez RTC) (Dec 4-0)

190-198: Sincere Hall-Osbourne (CMWC) won by major decision over Devin Rogers (Young Guns Kenosha) (Maj 8-0)

201-214: Max Schmitz (Unattached) won by decision over Connor Rogers (Unattached) (Dec 6-4)

221-266: Logan Staver (Alber Athletics) won by major decision over Matthew Wilke (Unattached) (Maj 12-1)

Men College and Open

3rd Place Matches

121-135: Caleb Scott (Civic Memorial) won by forfeit over Aaron Meenen (Sauk Valley Wrestling) (FF)

137-153: Brady Grennan (UW Platteville) won by forfeit over Ethan Pullum (Herrin Tigers WC) (FF)

148-157: Warren Zeisset (Black Ops WC) won by decision over Guiseppe Guerra (Jr Raiders/ SS) (Dec 5-3)

155-164: Joseph Beck (One Unit Wrestling Academy) won by decision over Jordan Carson (PSF) (Dec 4-3)

165-178: Michael Anderson (Chicago Wrestling Club) won by decision over Maguire Hoeksema (Young Guns Kenosha) (Dec 12-6)

173-191: Shamar Pugh (Morton College) won by decision over Drake Holland (Herrin Tigers WC) (Dec 6-0)

190-198: David Papach (Berg Wrestling Training Center) won by decision over Ali Adel (Harper Hawks) (Dec 5-1)

201-214: Cadence Hecox (Hecox Team Benaiah) won by fall over Braiden Young (Unattached) (Fall 1:22)

221-266: Jared Shafer (Pedigo Submission Wrestling Academy) won by major decision over Ashton Brown (Unattached) (Maj 10-0)

Men College and Open

5th Place Matches

121-135: Ian Rosborough (Relentless Training Center) won by fall over Kayson Duffney (Fried Daze) (Fall 1:13)

137-153: Coby Windle (Backyard Brawlers-Midwest) won by decision over Dennis Belleh (no team) (Dec 10-3)

148-157: Cody Strope (Team Strope) won by medical forfeit over Christopher Borders (Herrin Tigers WC) (MFF)

155-164: Dylan Watts (Unaffiliated) won by forfeit over Dylan Burnoski (Jr Raiders/ SS) (FF) 

165-178: Diego Garcia (Gomez RTC) won by tech fall over Benjamin Mitchell (Unattached) (TF 21-6)

173-191: Charley Murray (Illinois) won by fall over Andrew McAllister (Unattached) (Fall 2:14)

190-198: Tyren Moore (Eureka Wrestling Club) won by decision over Darren Eads (Bloomington South) (Dec 12-7)

201-214: Anthony Pavia (N/A) won by fall over Justin Dallas (Unaffiliated) (Fall 0:50)

221-266: Jaalen Banner (Chicago Wrestling Club) won by fall over Weston Swise (Unattached) (Fall 1:38)

Women College and Open

1st Place Matches

110-121: Irelan Powell (Unattached) won by fall over Angelina Graff (Individual) (Fall 1:08) Round Robin

129-143: Haylie Nappier-Feth (Unattached) won by fall over Josie Barham (Individual)

(Fall 1:24)

144-154: Valerie Hamilton (The Compound) won by fall over Jade Martin (No Team) (Fall 1:18) Round Robin

147-158: Autumne Williams (Unattached) won by decision over Nadia Flores (Young Guns Kenosha) (Dec 4-3) Round Robin

Women College and Open

3rd Place Matches

110-121: Kyley-Ann Bair (Eureka College) won by fall over Rilynn Younker (The Foundation) (Fall 3:00)

129-143: Katerina Conrad (Los Guerreros)

144-154: Abigail Ji (Honey Badgers) won by fall over Savannah Berry (Eureka College) (Fall 1:42) Round Robin

147-158: Natalie Beaumont (PSF Wrestling Academy) won by fall over Nakiza Williams (Eureka College) (Fall 1:58) Round Robin

Women College and Open

5th Place

110-121: Mckenzy Mason (Tech Fall Elite)

147-158: Mannie Anderson (Individual)

It is with great pleasure that the National High School Athletic Coaches Association announces the upcoming induction of Joseph Cliffe from Fairbury, Illinois into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame. This year’s induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 will take place at the National High School Athletic Coaches Association’s national convention at the Dakota Ballroom at the Bismarck Hotel and Convention Center on June 25, 2024. This year’s class includes forty coaches from twenty-three states across the nation.

Coach Cliffe coached for over forty years at Georgetown, Plano, Fairbury (Prairie Central) and most recently El Paso-Gridley High School.  He has coached over 560 dual meet wins and eleven state champions.  He has also served on the board of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Official Association and was President from 2006-2007.  In addition, Coach Cliffe served on the Executive Committee of the NHSACA from 2013 through 2022.   He was President of the NHSACA in 2016-17 and again in 2018-19.

Coach Cliffe was selected for this national honor by Illinois Coaches Association. This selection was based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, and other specific state criteria. The National High School Athletic Coaches Association is the oldest coaches association in the nation formed by coaches, for coaches, and has honored coaches from across the nation with induction into the NHSACA National Hall of Fame since 1996. Coach Joseph Cliffe will now be added to this illustrious list of coaches in honor of his outstanding career.

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

Much as the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Boys Freshman/Sophomore State Championships has served as a second-chance for boys who missed out on qualifying for the IHSA Individual Finals for nearly three decades, the IWCOA Girls Open Championships now has a similar role after being a catalyst for the foundation for the young sport’s IHSA Individual Finals series, which capped its third season with many significant accomplishments as well as a tremendous amount of enthusiasm due to the explosive early growth of the sport.

A total of 301 girls met to determine the 15 champions and the 120 medal winners who finished in eighth-place or better. Any individual who had competed at the eight sectional sites, Evanston Township, Granite City, Heyworth, Lake Zurich, Naperville Central, Shepard, Sterling and Thornton Township, could participate in the two-day event at Bank of Springfield Center.

Among the eight IWCOA Sectionals, Thornton Township produced the most state champions with five. They were Minooka seniors Bella Cyrkiel (145) and Abbey Boersma (155), Romeoville sophomore Daniela Santander (95), Seneca/Plainfield Central senior Courtni Chuway (110) and Homewood-Flossmoor junior Nina Hamm (120).

Other champions who also won IWCOA sectionals were Sherrard senior Brianna Bynum (135) and  Sycamore freshman Jasmine Enriquez (235) at Sterling, Dundee-Crown junior Diamond Rodriguez (100) at Lake Zurich, Centennial freshman Ava Beldo (115) at Heyworth, Proviso West freshman Tierra Hardin (125) at Evanston Township and West Aurora junior Brittney Moran (190) at Naperville Central.

Granite City’s two champions, sophomore Ma’Kayla Bonner (105) and freshman Audrey Barnes (130), did not win titles at their own sectional with Barnes and Bonner taking second. Along with Minooka’s two champions, seniors Bella Cyrkiel (145) and Abbey Boersma (155), this is the first time since the initial tournament in 2017 that two athletes from two schools won four of titles. 

Bloomington sophomore Alicia Swank (140) also didn’t win an IWCOA Sectional title, finishing second at Heyworth. And Palatine junior Sabrina Cargill (170) also went from taking second at the Lake Zurich Sectional to a title winner in Springfield. Cyrkiel and Swank won IWCOA Girls Open Championships for the second year in a row, at the same weights as they did in 2023. They join seven other individuals who have won two or more titles in the competition.

Second-place finishers in the IWCOA Girls Open were Canton freshman LT Diephuis (95), Curie Metropolitan sophomore Giselle Arambula (100), Wauconda senior Lilliana Aly (105), Edwardsville junior Gianna Linhorst (110), Neuqua Valley senior Veronika Arabova (115), Kaneland junior Dyani Torres (120), Addison Trail sophomore Brithany Mondragan (125) and Shepard senior Stacey Massey (130).

Other IWCOA Girls Open Championships runners-up were Geneseo senior Gia Ritter (135), Plainfield North freshman Viktoriia Rodnikova (140), Oswego freshman Makayla Hill (145), Oswego East junior Jessica Stover (155), Bloom Township junior Kinnidi Riley (170), Fremd junior Jazz Ocampo (190) and Palatine freshman Monika Irazoque (235).

All of the finalists but four of the second-place finishers advanced to the IHSA sectionals. The four second-place finishers who did not advance from their regional were Addison Trail’s Mondragon, Oswego East’s Stover, Palatine’s Irazoque and Bloom Township’s Riley, with the latter not being able to qualify from a boys regional.

Five of the champions and six runners-up saw their IHSA seasons conclude at the rugged Schaumburg Sectional. Six of the title winners and three second-place finishers missed out on trips to state at the Geneseo Sectional. Three champions and one runner-up were eliminated at the Richwoods Sectional while one title winner and one second-place finisher saw their hopes dashed at the Evanston Township Sectional.

The Southwest Prairie Conference prides itself as one of the top conferences in the sport and the 10-team league from the southwest suburbs dominated the field at the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Girls Open Championships as it had five individuals who competed in the SPC Tournament who won titles and three others who took second place. 

The SPC stood out in consecutive weight classes, 145 and 155, with all four of the finalists being from the Southwest Prairie Conference. Of the conference’s eight finalists, five were SPC champions and two took second place. Santander (95), Chuway (110), Cyrkiel (145) and Moran (190) all won titles in both the IWCOA Girls Open and in their conference.

Boersma (155), who took fourth in the SPC, won the IWCOA title at 155. Rodnikova (140), who won the SPC title, took second. Hill (145) and Stover (155) took second place in both the 

IWCOA Open Championships and in the SPC meet. 

The Southwest Prairie Conference finished with 12 medal winners while the Mid-Suburban League had 10 individuals who were medalists for top-eight finishes.

Belleville West had consecutive champions in the inaugural Girls Open Championships in 2017, Kaylee Foster (146) and Brooke Holt (156). Relentless Pursuit also had two champions in 2017’s debut Open, Riverside-Brookfield’s Jelitza Cortes (96) and Amanda Martinez (136) and Relentless Pursuit also had two title winners in 2018, but they were from different schools.

Swank and Cyrkiel join seven others who won two or more IWCOA Girls Open Championships. El Paso-Gridley’s Gabrielle Hamilton (191 in 2017 and 2018, 180 in 2019) won three titles while Vandalia’s Morgan Dothager (101), Belvidere’s Mia Rodriguez (111) and Jacksonville’s Jocelyn Murphy (117) took firsts in 2017 and 2018. The other two-time champions in the competition are East Peoria’s Randi Robison (122 in 2017, 132 in 2019), Stevenson’s Sara Sulejmani (145 in 2019, 138 in 2021) and Lanphier’s Ella Miloncus (105 in 2022, 110 in 2023).

Geneseo and Schaumburg both had four medal winners to lead all schools. Others that had three medalists included Lincoln-Way Central, Morris, Oswego, Shepard and Wheaton North.

Schools that had the most participants included Shepard (10), Batavia (7), Schaumburg (7), Maine East (6), Oswego (6), Rickover Naval Academy (6), Geneseo (5), Kankakee (5), Larkin (5), Lincoln-Way Central (5) and Metea Valley (5).

Here’s a look at the 15 champions and the other medalists from the 2024 Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Girls Open Championships:

95 – Daniela Santander, Romeoville

After falling one win shy of earning a trip to state from the the tough Schaumburg Sectional to conclude a 28-8 sophomore season, Romeoville’s Daniela Santander was looking for a better  way to close things out and found it at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships when she won the title at 95 by recording a fall at 4:07 over Canton’s LT Diephuis. Santander, the only medalist of the three individuals the Spartans had at the tournament, recorded two-straight falls, including one in 1:53 over New Trier’s Sunny Aitzemkour in the quarterfinals, before winning a 12-4 major decision over East Peoria’s Abella Brown in the semifinals.

Canton freshman LT Diephuis concluded a 10-16 season at the Geneseo Sectional and likely

felt much better after winning three-straight matches by fall to advance to the 95 title match at the IWCOA Girls Open. The top finisher of two medal winners and one of three Little Giants who competed in the tournament, she recorded a fall in 3:34 over Naperville Central’s Annika Hull in the semifinals to earn her spot in the finals. For third place, Triad’s Claire Crouch won by fall in 2:49 over Naperville Central’s Annika Hull. In the fifth-place match, Wheaton North’s Izzy Paz captured a 6-4 decision over East Peoria’s Abella Brown. And for seventh place, Curie Metropolitan’s Melani Martinez won with a pin in 4:25 over New Trier’s Sunny Aitzemkour.

100 – Diamond Rodriguez, Dundee-Crown

Dundee-Crown junior Diamond Rodriguez joined many other competitors who knew that they were good enough to qualify for the IHSA Individual Finals but were unable to get there as the result of competing in the Schaumburg Sectional. But she was able to get some consolation after closing out a 28-5 season by capturing top honors at 100 at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships when she won by fall in 0:41 over Curie Metropolitan’s Giselle Arambula. Rodriguez, who was eliminated in the sectional by the IWCOA’s 95 champion, Romeoville’s 

Daniela Santander, was one of two champions for the Chargers in Springfield, with Teigen Moreno winning the IWCOA Frosh/Soph Boys title at 215. Rodriguez pinned her way to the title with four falls, with three of those ending in the first period, including in 1:54 over TF South’s Dakodia Kelly in the quarterfinals. She won by fall in 4:29 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Emily Peyton in the semifinals.

“Honestly, my second match was harder, but this was exhausting,” Rodriguez said. “A lot of these girls were pretty tough so I was really glad that I was able to win this. (At the Schaumburg Sectional) I actually lost 6-7 to the girl that was the champion at 95 pounds. I feel like it was cut short for me, maybe if I was in a different sectional I probably could have gone. I’m just glad that I had the opportunity to wrestle here after not competing at state. It was kind of a second opportunity. So even though I didn’t get to state individually, I’m still glad that I got this far.”

Curie Metropolitan sophomore Giselle Arambula lost in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals at the Evanston Township Sectional to fall one win shy of a trip to the IHSA Finals and conclude a 22-7 season. The top finisher of the Condors’ two medalists, she opened with a fall, won a 13-11 decision and then got a pin in 3:43 over Canton’s Shayla Schielein in the semifinals. For third place, Sandwich’s Norah Vick captured a 7-2 decision over Dunlap’s Aerith Adams. In the fifth-place match, Lincoln-Way Central’s Emily Peyton won by fall in 1:43 over Canton’s Shayla Schielein. And Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Gracie Pattison claimed seventh place by medical forfeit over Mt. Vernon’s Lilly Davis.

105 – Ma’Kayla Bonner, Granite City

Granite City’s Ma’Kayla Bonner and Audrey Barnes both came up a bit short of trips to the IHSA Finals at the Richwoods Sectional, so they decided to take part in the IWCOA Girls Open Championships to end things on a better note and they both wound up winning titles with Bonner taking first at 105 and Barnes placing first at 130 to make the Warriors and Minooka the only two schools in the competition that had two title winners. Bonner, a sophomore who went 24-15 this season, took top honors at 105 when she won 6-4 in sudden victory over  Wauconda’s Lilliana Aly. She opened with a fall and then won 10-9 over Westinghouse College Prep’s Kimani Glasper before prevailing 7-5 in sudden victory over Schaumburg’s Justice Girod in the semifinals. 

Wauconda senior Lilliana Aly joined a lot of other quality individuals who were unable to qualify from the rugged Schaumburg Sectional and closed out her final season with a 19-10 record. She opened the IWCOA Girls Open Championships with three-consecutive falls and earned her spot on the title mat by winning an 8-5 decision over Larkin’s Ashley Hammond in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Westinghouse College Prep’s Kimani Glasper claimed an 8-3 decision over Schaumburg’s Justice Girod. For fifth place, Larkin’s Ashley Hammond captured a 13-0 major decision over Rochester’s Carlly Ho. And in the seventh-place match, Morris’ Maggie Gordon recorded a fall in 2:38 over Neuqua Valley’s Sofia Gold.

110 – Courtni Chuway, Seneca

Plainfield Central senior Courtni Chuway lost in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals at the Geneseo Sectional to fall short of a trip to the IHSA Individual Finals by one win as she concluded her high school career with a 29-8 record this season. She decided to compete in the IWCOA Girls Open Championships and did so representing Seneca and that move paid off as she took first place at 110 thanks to a fall in 2:17 over Edwardsville’s Gianna Linhorst in the title match. Chuway won all five of her matches with pins, recording a fall in 2:18 over Stevenson’s Nastasia Kobets and then getting a pin in 1:32 over Burlington Central’s Ruby Vences.

Edwardsville junior Gianna Linhorst, who also came up one victory shy of advancing to the IHSA Finals from the Richwoods Sectional after losing in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals to conclude a 26-11 season, was one of two Tigers who competed in the event and they both won medals. Linhorst opened with a fall and then won decisions in her next three matches, edging Metea Valley’s Janiya Moore 3-2 in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Geneseo’s Lydia King won by fall in 4:28 over Stevenson’s Nastasia Kobets. For fifth place, Metea Valley’s Janiya Moore got a pin in 2:50 over Burlington Central’s Ruby Vences. And in the seventh-place match, Reed-Custer senior Judith Gamboa, who finished in fifth place at 105 in 2023 at the IHSA Individual Finals, recorded a fall in 0:33 over Mascoutah’s Zoey Nelson. 

115 – Ava Beldo, Centennial

Like so many others who competed in the IWCOA Girls state series, Ava Beldo lost in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals of a sectional to miss out on advancing to the IHSA Individual Finals in Bloomington by one win. Centennial freshman Beldo concluded a successful 32-12 debut season when she was unable to qualify from the Richwoods Sectional. Beldo, the Chargers’ lone competitor in the IWCOA Girls Open, recorded falls in all four of her matches. She won the 115 championship with a pin in 1:40 over Neuqua Valley’s Veronika Arabova after reaching the title mat with a fall in 1:35 over Edwardsville’s Alexandra Chong in the semifinals and another pin in 2:34 in the quarterfinals over Mt. Vernon’s Deziare Jones.

“It was very hard to get to state,” Beldo said. “I got a bad pool in the bracket, but everything happens for a reason. And with God, you can do anything. I stumbled down, but coming back to state, I pulled myself back up and won the title and I’m proud of what I’ve done. I am very happy with how I did as a freshman. There’s a lot of good wrestlers at Centennial, and there’s a lot of good seniors that are leaving us like Trevor Schoonover and Ando Beldo, they were really good leaders. It was such a blessing to be able to win this state title as a freshman.”

Neuqua Valley senior Veronika Arabova went 16-4 in her final season but came up one win shy of advancing from the Schaumburg Sectional. One of two medal winners and four individuals in the IWCOA Girls Open for the Wildcats, Arabova recorded four falls to reach the 115 title mat, getting a pin in the semifinals in 0:41 over Kankakee’s Taniyah Sherman, who went on to finish in third place after winning by fall in 3:53 over Edwardsville’s Alexandra Chong. For fifth place, West Aurora’s Lailonie Molina captured a 9-5 decision over Naperville Central’s Gracie Meluch. And in the seventh-place match, Civic Memorial’s Kendall Smith recorded a fall in 1:26 over Morris’ Makensi Martin.

120 – Nina Hamm, Homewood-Flossmoor

One real good indicator of just how difficult it was for girls to advance to the IHSA Individual Finals this season was the fact that two state placewinners from a year ago won titles at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships in Springfield. One of those was Homewood-Flossmoor junior Nina Hamm, who took sixth place at 110 last season at the second IHSA Finals to cap a 31-14 season. Hamm lost in the consolation semifinals in sudden victory at the Evanston Township Sectional to fall one win shy of a trip to state and closed out this season with a 27-11 record. One of four Vikings qualifiers and their lone medalist, Hamm won the 120 title after capturing a 14-4 major decision over Kaneland’s Dyani Torres in the championship match. She opened with two falls, including one in 4:12 in the quarterfinals over Rock Falls’ Ryleigh Eriks before earning her spot on the title mat with a 9-7 win by sudden victory over J. Sterling Morton’s Monica Garcia in the semifinals.

“There’s a lot of work to put in because this is such a physically exhausting sport,” Hamm said. “We didn’t really have consistent practices and also the girls that didn’t make it along the way kind of stopped coming to practice, which left me without a partner. And the part about making weight was huge, too, because with the whole week off, it was so hard to maintain your weight.”

Kaneland junior Dyani Torres, who lost in the semifinals of the Geneseo Sectional to eventual IHSA 120 champion Angelina Cassioppi and again the consolation semifinals to fall short of advancing to the IHSA Finals to end a 39-10 season, was one of two IWCOA medalists for the Knights, who made history this season by getting their first IHSA champion, freshman Angelina Gochis at 105. Torres got a fall in her first match, won a 4-2 decision over Fenton’s Giselle Castillo in the quarterfinals and earned her spot on the 120 title mat by getting a pin in 2:19 over Morris’ Danica Martin in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Fenton’s Giselle Castillo recorded a fall in 2:22 over Morris’ Danica Martin, For fifth place, Wheaton North’s Ryan Mark was a winner by medical forfeit over J. Sterling Morton’s Monica Garcia. And Rock Falls’ Ryleigh Eriks captured a 6-2 decision over Marion’s Alauni Muex to finish in seventh place.

125 – Tierra Hardin, Proviso West

Like so many others who had the misfortune of trying to claim one of the four qualifying spots at the rugged Schaumburg Sectional, Proviso West freshman Tierra Hardin bounced back from the disappointment of not being able to advance to the IHSA Individual Finals in an otherwise successful 25-5 season by winning the 125 title at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships when she captured a 9-5 decision over Addison Trail’s Brithany Mondragon. One of two individuals who competed for the Panthers and their lone medal winner, Hardin recorded falls in her first three matches, including one in 1:55 over Wilmington’s Ava Cupples in the quarterfinals before she captured a 10-2 major decision over Shepard’s Mila Rocush in the semifinals.

Addison Trail sophomore Brithany Mondragon went 20-10 this season but was unable to even compete in the Schaumburg Sectional after failing to advance from the Conant Regional. So finishing in second place in the IWCOA Girls Open was obviously a great way to see her season conclude. She opened with a fall before capturing a 4-2 decision in the quarterfinals over J. Sterling Morton’s Sofia Petronijevic and earned her spot on the 125 title mat with a 2-0 decision over Durand’s Evie Anderson in the semifinals. For third place, Somonauk’s Rylie Donahue won a 9-4 decision over Shepard’s Mila Rocush. In the fifth-place match, J. Sterling Morton’s Sofia Petronijevic was a 6-1 victor over Durand’s Evie Anderson. And for seventh, Stevenson’s Karina Lojowski won by fall in 0:42 over Charleston’s Morgan Krone-Smallhorn.

130 – Audrey Barnes, Granite City

Audrey Barnesmade it 2-for-2 for Granite City as it became one of two teams with two title winners in the IWCOA Girls Open Championships, with Minooka the other, when Barnes won the 130 title by recording a fall in 3:42 over Shepard’s Stacey Massey to add to the earlier championship at 105 that was claimed by teammate Ma’Kayla Bonner. Barnes, a freshman who went 22-13 this season and fell one victory short of advancing to the IHSA Finals from the Richwoods Sectional, was one of three qualifiers and two champs for the Warriors. She got falls in her other three matches, including in 2:53 over Schaumburg’s Sharon Olorunfemi in the quarterfinals and in 2:41 over Glenwood’s Isabella Resendez in the semifinals.

Shepard senior Stacey Massey was the top finisher of her team’s 10 participants and three medalists with her second-place showing. She concluded her final season with a 19-8 record after being unable to advance to the IHSA Finals from the challenging Schaumburg Sectional. Massey opened with a 9-2 win before recording falls in her next two matches, winning in 1:36 over Batavia’s Anabelle Guthke in the quarterfinals and in 0:56 over O’Fallon’s Scarlett Gentille in the semifinals. In the third-place match, O’Fallon’s Scarlett Gentille won by fall in 0:40 over Glenwood’s Isabella Resendez. For fifth place, Ottawa Township’s Ava Weatherford got a pin in 2:57 over Schaumburg’s Sharon Olorunfemi. And in the seventh-place match, Glenbard East’s Maria Green captured a 7-6 decision over Lincoln-Way Central’s Eleanor Giertuga.

135 – Brianna Bynum, Sherrard

Brianna Bynum made history in 2022 when she finished sixth at 125 to become Sherrard’s first all-stater at the inaugural IHSA Individual Finals to highlight her sophomore season. As a senior, she was hoping to close her career with another state medal this season but came up one win shy of advancing from the Geneseo Sectional after falling in both the semifinals and consolation semifinals to finish with a 21-13 record. But the lone qualifier for the Tigers hoped to end things on a more positive note and she did just that by winning the 135 title at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships when she captured a 12-0 major decision over Geneseo’s Gia Ritter. Bynum won her other three matches by fall, getting a pin in 0:39 over Oswego’s Ameera Murphy in the quarterfinals and a win by fall in 1:43 over Buffalo Grove’s Christina Marogy in the semifinals.

“I fell short (at the Geneseo Sectional) and I wasn’t going to come here, but my coach convinced me and I’m really happy that I did,” Bynum said. “I worked with the other girl that was on my team (Nadia Anderson), who went to IHSA State. I definitely made history for Sherrard and I’m very happy that I did. I first started wrestling when the first IHSA (tournament) came out, so the difference between then and now is huge. And everyone loves each other and they’re supportive and I really like the community.”

Geneseo senior Gia Ritter also fell a bit short of advancing to the IHSA Finals from the sectional that her school hosted to close out her career with a 30-11 season. She was the best finisher among four medalists for the Maple Leafs, who tied Schaumburg for the most placewinners. Ritter earned her spot in the IWCOA Girls Open 135 title match with a 9-3 win over Batavia’s Amelia Howell in the semifinals. She opened with a fall and claimed a 9-0 major decision over Freeburg’s Aubrey Raban in the quarterfinals. In the third-place match, Buffalo Grove’s Christina Marogy prevailed 2-0 in sudden victory over Batavia’s Amelia Howell. For fifth place, Hillcrest’s Christiara Finley won by fall in 3:32 over East Aurora’s Britany Chavarria. And St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maddie Wells took seventh by claiming a 6-3 win over Oswego’s Ameera Murphy.

140 – Alicia Swank, Bloomington

Alicia Swank enjoyed winning the 140 title at the 2023 IWCOA Girls Open Championships in Springfield so the Bloomington sophomore decided to give it another try after falling a bit short of advancing to the IHSA Finals from the Geneseo Sectional when she lost in her final match to the eventual IWCOA 145 champion, Minooka’s Bella Cyrkiel, to conclude a 19-10 sophomore season. Swank, one of two qualifiers and the lone medalist for the Purple Raiders, won her second-straight title in the competition when she captured a 6-3 decision over Plainfield North’s Viktoriia Rodnikova in the 140 championship match. She won all of her other three matches by fall, getting a pin in 4:40 over St. Charles East’s Addison Wolf in the quarterfinals and winning by fall in 1:49 over Oak Park and River Forest’s Isabella Miller in the semifinals.

“The sectional was really fun but my sectional was also really hard,” Swank said. “The two weeks gave us more time to get ready for it but it also had us in and out of it and I know that some girls had trouble making the weight. I remember last year when there were maybe six girls in my bracket and there’s 18 of us this year. I’ve seen girls for the past year or two, and then there are a bunch of freshmen who are coming up to high school and getting into it or some of the juniors and seniors who want to do something in their last years in high school.”  

Plainfield North freshman Viktoriia Rodnikova came up a bit short of qualifying for the IHSA Finals from the rugged Schaumburg Sectional to conclude a 21-4 debut season. The Tigers’ lone qualifier for the IWCOA Girls Open Championship, she recorded falls in her first three matches, winning in 1:50 in the quarterfinals over Hoffman Estates’ Liriana Rakoci before getting a pin in 4:14 in the semifinals over Normal West’s Vivian Guither. For third place, Vandalia’s Brynn Swyers captured a 17-5 major decision over Lincoln-Way Centrral’s Bailey Mitchell. In the fifth-place match, Normal West’s Vivian Guither recorded a fall in 3:44 over Oak Park and River Forest’s Isabella Miller. And for seventh place, St. Charles East’s Addison Wolf claimed an 8-6 decision over Hoffman Estates’ Liriana Rakoci.

145 – Bella Cyrkiel, Minooka

Minooka’s Bella Cyrkiel and Oswego’s Makayla Hill were well aware of each other since they 

met for the Southwest Prairie Conference championship with senior Cyrkiel winning a 5-0 decision over freshman Hill in the 145 finals. The two faced off again at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships for the 145 title and Cyrkiel won another decision by five points, this time by a 6-1 score, to give the Indians two champions in the competition as Abbey Boersma, the Indians’ other qualifier, followed with a first-place finish at 155 in another matchup of SPC competitors. Cyrkiel, who also won the the 145 title at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships in 2023, went 36-6 this season after falling one win shy of a trip to the IHSA Finals from the Geneseo Sectional, was one of five individuals from her conference who won IWCOA titles as well as one of eight finalists and 12 medalists. She opened with three falls, winning in 0:57 over Hoffman Estates’ Nikki Hubbard in the quarterfinals before getting a pin in 1:57 over Lake Park’s Joscelin Ritthamel. With Granite City also having two champions, this was the first time since the initial Girls Open in 2017 that a school had two title winners and that two teams pulled off that feat.

“I had a tough loss there, so this is part of my redemption coming back,” Cyrkiel said of her loss in the Geneseo Sectional. “We have great coaches and a great program and it keeps getting better and better. We have a lot of good competition and that helps us get better.”

Oswego freshman Makayla Hill came up a bit short of qualifying for a trip to the IHSA Finals at the Schaumburg Sectional as she closed out a 31-8 season. One of six qualifiers and the top-finisher of three medalists for the Panthers, Hill followed a pin with a 5-0 decision over Jersey Community’s Rory Speidel in the quarterfinals and then captured a 16-2 major decision over Unity’s Anna Vasey in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Metea Valley’s Alketa Picari won 4-2 by sudden victory over Lake Park’s Joscelin Ritthamel. For fifth place, Unity’s Anna Vasey won by fall in 4:07 over Woodstock’s Brianna Crown. And in the seventh-place match, Jersey Community’s Rory Speidel claimed a 2-1 decision over Chicago Marshall’s Cecilia Colon.

155 – Abbey Boersma, Minooka

On a day where individuals from Southwest Prairie Conference schools captured five of the 15 titles, senior Abbey Boersma followed in the footsteps of her teammate and 145 champion Bella Cyrkiel to give Minooka two title winners in the IWCOA Girls Open Championships, which made it and Granite City the only schools in the competition with two champions. Boersma, who went 35-13 after falling one win shy of a trip to state from the Geneseo Sectional, which featured the two IHSA Finalists at her weight, was the only one of the five title winners from the SPC who didn’t also win conference. Like Cyrkiel, she faced an SPC opponent in the finals, where she won a 12-6 decision over Oswego East’s Jessica Stover. Boersma opened with a victory by technical fall before getting a pin in 0:55 over Wheeling’s Nikol Orendarchuk in the quarterfinals. She earned her spot on the 155 title mat with a 4-0 decision over Geneseo’s Madelyn Mooney.

“I don’t like how our postseason was spread out with two weeks in between,” Boersma said. “I am so grateful for everything that I’ve gained from wrestling at Minooka. We have the best coaches and Paige Schoolman is the best.The sport has gotten so much tougher.  I think it’s so cool seeing the little girls that are wrestling and I know that by the time that they’re my age, they’re going to be great because I only wrestled for two years.”

Oswego East junior Jessica Stover failed to advance from the Shepard Regional and finished with a 21-7 record. One of two participants in the IWCOA Girls Open and the lone medalist for the Wolves, Stover recorded falls in her first three matches, which included one in 4:21 in the quarterfinals against another individual from her conference, Plainfield East’s Kaitlyn Bucholz, before earning her spot on the 155 title match with a 6-2 decision over Larkin’s Zamaya Taylor, who lost by fall in 3:39 in the third-place match to Geneseo’s Madelyn Mooney. For fifth place, Oak Park and River Forest’s Caliyah Campbell got a pin in 2:30 over Mt. Vernon’s Derika Gradford and in the seventh-place match, two more SPC competitors squared off with Oswego’s Kyiah Chavez getting a fall in 1:30 over Joliet Township’s Noelie Perez-Bedolla.

170 – Sabrina Cargill, Palatine

Sabrina Cargill advanced to the challenging Schaumburg Sectional but was unable to compete in it and finished her junior season with a 24-5 record. So it’s understandable that her title win at 170 in the IWCOA Girls Open Championships was a good way to close things out and she took top honors in impressive fashion, winning all four of her matches by fall, recording a pin in 1:45 over Bloom Township’s Kinnidi Riley for the championship. One of five IWCOA individuals from her team who competed and one of two finalists for the Pirates, Cargill recorded a pin in 1:38 in the quarterfinals over Richwoods’ Sydney Johnson and then earned her spot on the 170 title match after getting a fall in 0:39 over Lake Park’s Paige Washburn in the semifinals.

“I think that I really improved from last year,” Cargill said. “I qualified for IHSA state last year but I didn’t place. The sport is growing so big now and there’s a lot of experience so you really have to buckle up. It’s really surprising that there are a lot of girls that are joining the sport because boys dominated, so it’s good since it shows that women can do any sport that they want. What I like the most about girls wrestling is win or lose, we’re all there for each other. No matter if we’re on a different team, we’re always cheering each other on and saying hi to each other and giving hugs. I see that most boys don’t do that, they’re all too serious. We kind of have a twist to it that makes it serious, but fun at the same time.”

Bloom Township junior Kinnidi Riley didn’t take part in the IHSA girls state series, instead she competed with the boys co-op team for Bloom and Bloom Trail in the Class 3A Rich Township Regional. So it was a big deal that a member of the Blazing Trojans was able to compete for an IWCOA Girls Open Championships title at 170. One of three qualifiers and the lone medalist for Bloom Township, Riley opened with a fall and then won two close decisions, claiming a 9-7 win over Schaumburg’s Alya Razzak in the quarterfinals and edging Urbana’s Franciana Kalanga 1-0 in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Schaumburg’s Alya Razzak got past Richwoods’ Sydney Johnson 2-1 and for fifth, Lake Park’s Paige Washburn claimed a 6-1 decision over Urbana’s Franciana Kalanga. In the seventh-place match, Conant’s Anaelise Aberman won by fall in 4:16 over Batavia’s Caoimhe Mitchell, whose Bulldogs placed third at the IHSA Finals.

190 – Brittney Moran, West Aurora

After placing sixth the past two seasons at 190 in the IHSA Individual Finals, West Aurora’s Brittney Moran was sick while competing in the Schaumburg Sectional, which thwarted her attempt to try to get back to state for the third time and also become one of the 20 individuals who were the first three-time medalists in the tournament. So the junior, who went 28-3 this season with two of her losses coming at the sectional, decided to close out her season on a more positive note and she did that by winning the IWCOA Girls Open Championships at 190 when she recorded a fall in 1:42 over Fremd’s Jazz Ocampo. One of three individuals who competed in the event and the best finisher among two medalists for the Blackhawks, Moran won all three of her matches with pins, needing 0:56 to beat Highland’s Sophia Elkins in the quarterfinals and won in 2:45 in the semifinals over Schaumburg’s Nadia Razzak, who ended her season at the Schaumburg Sectional and denied her of a third trip to the IHSA Finals.

“It was difficult,” Moran said. “I got sick and everything and I didn’t wrestle my best (at the sectional). This actually kind of helps me a little because I beat one of the girls that beat me. This year was difficult, for sure, but I honestly feel like that’s a good thing because the sport is growing.  I just wish that they would separate from the guys’ teams to just the girls and they should add classes, too.”

Fremd junior Jazz Ocampo went 24-12 this season and finished one win shy of a state trip from the Schaumburg Sectional. Ocampo, the only qualifier for the Vikings, won narrow decisions in her first two matches, prevailing 5-2 over Robinson’s Shyiema Poole in the quarterfinals and edging Kaneland’s Sadie Kinsella 2-1 in the semifinals to earn her spot on the 190 title mat. Schaumburg’s Nadia Razzak took third place after winning by fall in 2:08 over Kaneland’s Sadie Kinsella. For fifth place, Robinson’s Khyiema Poole recorded a pin in 1:19 over Maine East’s Angelica Wszolek. And for seventh place, Rickover Naval Academy’s Julia Augello won by fall in 2:16 over Highland’s Sophia Elkins. 

235 – Jasmine Enriquez, Sycamore

After falling just short against the eventual IHSA 235 champion, Prairie Central’s Chloe Hoselton, in the consolation semifinals of the Geneseo Sectional, Sycamore’s Jasmine Enriquez wanted to show that she could also finish on top of the awards stand when she was able to compete again at the IWCOA Girls Open Championships, and that’s just what she did by winning the 235 title by fall in 1:55 over Palatine’s Monika Irazoque. Enriquez, a freshman who went 6-5 this season and was the lone entrant for the Spartans, won her other two matches with pins, recording one in 1:26 over Shepard’s Kassandra Lee in the quarterfinals and earning her spot on the 235 title mat with a fall in 3:56 over Fenton’s Ariana Solideo.

Palatine freshman Monika Irazoque, who failed to advance from the Conant Regional in the IHSA series, was a real success story for the IWCOA Girls Open Championships since she won twice in Springfield, which was how many wins she had after going 0-2 in the regional. She recorded a fall in 2:08 over Geneseo’s Aislan Leetch in the quarterfinals and joined 170 champion Sabrina Cargill as a finalist for the Pirates after getting a pin in 0:27 over Maine East’s Lyric Walton, who went on to finish in third place following her win by fall in 1:49 over Glenbard North’s Asreilla Wallace. In the fifth place match, Fenton’s Ariana Solideo recorded a pin in 2:35 over Wheaton North’s Iana Victory. And for seventh place, Geneseo’s Aislan Leetch was a winner by fall in 1:51 over Shepard’s Kassandra Lee.

Championship matches
 95 – Daniela Santander (Romeoville) won by fall over LT Diephuis (Canton) Fall 4:07
100 – Diamond Rodriguez (Dundee-Crown) won by fall over Giselle Arambula (Curie Metropolitan) Fall 0:41
105 – Ma`Kayla Bonner (Granite City) won in sudden victory over Lilliana Aly (Wauconda) SV 6-4
110 – Courtni Chuway (Seneca) won by fall over Gianna Linhorst (Edwardsville) Fall 2:17
115 – Ava Beldo (Centennial) won by fall over Veronika Arabova (Neuqua Valley) Fall 1:40
120 – Nina Hamm (Homewood-Flossmoor) won by major decision over Dyani Torres (Kaneland) Maj 14-4
125 – Tierra Hardin (Proviso West) won by decision over Brithany Mondragon (Addison Trail) Dec 9-5
130 – Audrey Barnes (Granite City) won by fall over Stacey Massey (Shepard) Fall 3:42
135 – Brianna Bynum (Sherrard) won by major decision over Gia Ritter (Geneseo) Maj 12-0
140 – Alicia Swank (Bloomington) won by decision over Viktoriia Rodnikova (Plainfield North) Dec 6-3
145 – Bella Cyrkiel (Minooka) won by decision over Makayla Hill (Oswego) Dec 6-1
155 – Abbey Boersma (Minooka) won by decision over Jessica Stover (Oswego East) Dec 12-6
170 – Sabrina Cargill (Palatine) won by fall over Kinnidi Riley (Bloom Township) Fall 1:45
190 – Brittney Moran (West Aurora) won by fall over Jazz Ocampo (Fremd) Fall 1:42
235 – Jasmine Enriquez (Sycamore) won by fall over Monika Irazoque (Palatine) Fall 1:55

Third-Place Matches
 95 – Claire Crouch (Triad) won by fall over Annika Hull (Naperville Central) Fall 2:49
100 – Norah Vick (Sandwich) won by decision over Aerith Adams (Dunlap) Dec 7-2
105 – Kimani Glasper (Westinghouse) won by decision over Justice Girod (Schaumburg) Dec 8-3
110 – Lydia King (Geneseo) won by fall over Nastasia Kobets (Stevenson) Fall 4:28
115 – Taniyah Sherman (Kankakee) won by fall over Alexandra Chong (Edwardsville) Fall 3:53
120 – Giselle Castillo (Fenton) won by fall over Danica Martin (Morris) Fall 2:22
125 – Rylie Donahue (Somonauk) won by decision over Mila Rocush (Shepard) Dec 9-4
130 – Scarlett Gentille (O`Fallon) won by fall over Isabella `Izzy` Resendez (Glenwood) Fall 0:40
135 – Christina Marogy (Buffalo Grove) won in sudden victory over Amelia Howell (Batavia) SV 2-0
140 – Brynn Swyers (Vandalia) won by major decision over Bailey Mitchell (Lincoln-Way Central) Maj 17-5
145 – Alketa Picari (Metea Valley) won in sudden victory over Joscelin Ritthamel (Lake Park) SV 4-2
155 – Madelyn Mooney (Geneseo) won by fall over Zamaya Taylor (Larkin) Fall 3:39
170 – Alya Razzak (Schaumburg) won by decision over Sydney Johnson (Richwoods) Dec 2-1
190 – Nadia Razzak (Schaumburg) won by fall over Sadie Kinsella (Kaneland) Fall 2:08
235 – Lyric Walton (Maine East) won by fall over Asreilla Wallace (Glenbard North) Fall 1:49

Fifth-Place Matches
 95 – Izzy Paz (Wheaton North) won by decision over Abella Brown (East Peoria) Dec 6-4
100 – Emily Peyton (Lincoln-Way Central) won by fall over Shayla Schielein (Canton) Fall 1:43
105 – Ashley Hammond (Larkin) won by major decision over Carlly Ho (Rochester) Maj 13-0
110 – Janiya Moore (Metea Valley) won by fall over Ruby Vences (Burlington Central) Fall 2:50
115 – Lailonie Molina (West Aurora) won by decision over Gracie Meluch (Naperville Central) Dec 9-5
120 – Ryan Mark (Wheaton North) won by medical forfeit over Monica Garcia (J. Sterling Morton) MFF
125 – Sofia Petronijevic (J. Sterling Morton) won by decision over Evie Anderson (Durand) Dec 6-1
130 – Ava Weatherford (Ottawa Township) won by fall over Sharon Olorunfemi (Schaumburg) Fall 2:57
135 – Christiara Finley (Hillcrest) won by fall over Britany Chavarria (East Aurora) Fall 3:32
140 – Vivian Guither (Normal West) won by fall over Isabella Miller (Oak Park and River Forest) Fall 3:44
145 – Anna Vasey (Unity) won by fall over Brianna Crown (Woodstock) Fall 4:07
155 – Caliyah Campbell (Oak Park and River Forest) won by fall over Derika Gradford (Mt. Vernon) Fall 2:30
170 – Paige Washburn (Lake Park) won by decision over Franciana Kalanga (Urbana) Dec 6-1
190 – Khyiema Poole (Robinson) won by fall over Angelica Wszolek (Maine East) Fall 1:19
235 – Ariana Solideo (Fenton) won by fall over Iana Victory (Wheaton North) Fall 2:35

Seventh-Place Matches
 95 – Melani Martinez (Curie Metropolitan) won by fall over Sunny Aitzemkour (New Trier) Fall 4:25
100 – Gracie Pattison (Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) won by medical forfeit over Lilly Davis (Mt. Vernon) MFF
105 – Maggie Gordon (Morris) won by fall over Sofia Gold (Neuqua Valley) Fall 2:38
110 – Judith Gamboa (Reed-Custer) won by fall over Zoey Nelson (Mascoutah) Fall 0:33
115 – Kendall Smith (Civic Memorial) won by fall over Makensi Martin (Morris) Fall 1:26
120 – Ryleigh Eriks (Rock Falls) won by decision over Alauni Muex (Marion) Dec 6-2
125 – Karina Lojowski (Stevenson) won by fall over Morgan Krone-Smallhorn (Charleston) Fall 0:42
130 – Maria Green (Glenbard East) won by decision over Eleanor Giertuga (Lincoln-Way Central) Dec 7-6
135 – Maddie Wells (St. Joseph-Ogden) won by decision over Ameera Murphy (Oswego) Dec 6-3
140 – Addison Wolf (St. Charles East) won by decision over Liriana Rakoci (Hoffman Estates) Dec 8-6
145 – Rory Speidel (Jersey Community) won by decision over Cecilia Colon (Chicago Marshall) Dec 2-1
155 – Kyiah Chavez (Oswego) won by fall over Noelie Perez-Bedolla (Joliet Township) Fall 1:30
170 – Anaelise Aberman (Conant) won by fall over Caoimhe Mitchell (Batavia) Fall 4:16
190 – Julia Augello (Rickover Naval Academy) won by fall over Sophia Elkins (Highland) Fall 2:16
235 – Aislan Leetch (Geneseo) won by fall over Kassandra Lee (Shepard) Fall 1:51

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

101 – Jackson Soney, Normal Community

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

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

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

106 – Jackson Olson, Hononegah

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

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

113 – Harrison Dea, Morton

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

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

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

120 – Ismael Chaidez, Glenbard East

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

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

126 – Isaac Zimmerman, Lockport Township

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

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

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

132 – Carter Skoff, Morris

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

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

138 – Daniel Blanke, Barrington

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

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

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

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

144 – Jalen Byrd, Lincoln-Way Central

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

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

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

150 – Frank Tagoe, Hersey

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

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

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

157 – Nic Astacio, Marian Central Catholic

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

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

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

165 – Aaden Arroyo, Grant 

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

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

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

175 – Vincenzo Testa, Marmion Academy

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

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

190 – Blake Livdahl, Harvard

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

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

215 – Teigen Moreno, Dundee-Crown

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

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

285 – Ryan Stingily, Lincoln-Way East

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

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

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

Championship Matches

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

Third Place Matches

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

Fifth Place Matches

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

Seventh Place Matches

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

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA 

Angelina Cassioppi, Cadence Diduch, Sydney Perry, Gabby Gomez.

In that order, history was made at the third IHSA Girls Individual State Finals at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington as those four became the first-ever three-time IHSA champions.

While Batavia senior Sydney Perry closed out a perfect 41-0 season with a win by technical fall in 5:00 over Goreville senior Alivia Ming in the 145 finals two matches after Freeport senior Cadence Diduch concluded an unbeaten 29-0 campaign with a 10-1 major decision over Cumberland sophomore Natalie Beaumont at 135, there was much more suspense in both the first state championship match as well as in the last one.

Perry had a tournament-high three wins by technical fall for the second year in a row. She also recorded three falls, one major decision, won a medical forfeit and claimed one decision in her other six matches at state in the past three years. Diduch’s 12 wins in the IHSA Finals were also impressive since she had five pins, two tech falls and five major decisions with no decisions.

Because there wasn’t an IHSA Finals when they were freshmen, Diduch and Perry competed in the IWCOA State Finals and they each won titles, thus making them four-time state champions. The IWCOA Girls Championships began in 2017 and there was no tournament in 2020, so this is the first class of girls that could have been four-time state champions in the two state series.

Hononegah junior Angelina Cassioppi finished 17-1 after winning a 4-3 decision over Hoffman Estates junior Sophia Ball at 120 in the first title match to begin the finals and Glenbard North junior Gabby Gomez capped a perfect 38-0 season with a 4-3 decision over Loyola Academy junior Harlee Hiller at 115, which was the final championship match.

In between the dramatic historic title wins by Cassioppi and Gomez, there were a lot of great story lines. The first of those was another historic first for the three-year old competition, and that was awarding trophies to the three teams who finished with the most points.

Lakes Community led the way with 61 points to make coach Devin Tortorice’s Eagles not only the first IHSA girls team champion but it also was that school’s first state title in any sport. The team had three medalists who all placed at the IHSA Finals for the second time. They were junior Josephine Larson, who was second at 190, senior Ava Babbs, who took third place at 125 and senior Olivia Heft, who placed fifth at 120. The team’s other two state qualifiers were senior Zaryia Mouzon at 105, who fell one win shy of a medal, and junior Haven Sylves at 110.

Tortorice has been the Eagles head coach for the past two seasons and has been involved with the program for five years. He wrestled at Wauconda, where he took third place at 132 in Class 2A in 2013. He feels fortunate to have three of the school’s previous head coaches assisting him as the program became Lakes Community’s first IHSA champion in any sport.

“It’s surreal, it’s unique,” said Tortorice. “We knew that we had a special group of girls and they have just been so incredibly committed all year long. They train year-around and just bought in together and it’s a family. I have coaches who’ve been coaching 30-plus years and they said this was very unique and it may never happen again, so I’m going to really enjoy it. My three assistants, Curt Onstad, Mark Stave and Jack Troesch, were all the previous head coaches. I’m extremely lucky. To be able to have them all year-around training with me has built a relationship that’s going to last a lifetime.

“Yeah, this season for Lakes wrestling is literally one for the history books. We were fortunate enough to walk away with the first-ever State Title. Lakes walked in with five qualifiers and left with three state placers, and all of them are multiple-time placers. They are Olivia Heft (fourth in 2021 IWCOA/second in 2022/fifth in 2024); Ava Babbs (third in 2023/third in 2024) and Josephine Larson (fifth in 2023/second in 2024). Zaryia Mouzon went 2-2 and Haven Sylves also competed.”

Lockport Township, coached by Nathaniel Roth, took second place after finishing three points out of first with 58 points while Batavia, coached by Scott Bayer, claimed third place with 46.5 points, which was 3.5 points better than the 43 points that both Hoffman Estates, coached by Leo Clark, and Schaumburg, coached by Matt Gruszka, scored to tie for fourth place.

The runner-up Porters were the only team in the competition that had two state champions. Sophomore Claudia Heeney edged Collinsville junior Taylor Dawson 4-2 in the 130 title match in a matchup of past state finalists. Heeney, a runner-up a year ago who finished with a 21-1 record, and 2022 runner-up and 2023 third-place finisher Dawson, who went 47-1 this season. 

Also winning a title for the Porters was sophomore Morgan Turner, who made history last season at Bremen when she became the first girl to place at the IHSA Boys Individual Finals with a third-place finish. Turner, who competed with the boys team during a regular season which was limited due to an injury, capped an 11-0 run by winning the 110 title with a fall in 2:40 over Joliet Township senior Eliana Paramo, who was a three-time medalist who took second place for the second year in a row.

Junior Averi Colella at 105 and freshman Rebekah Ramirez at 235 were Lockport Township’s other qualifiers. Batavia claimed third place with just two qualifiers, three-time IHSA champion and four-time state title winner senior Sydney Perry, who posted a 96-0 record the past three seasons, and sophomore Lily Enos, who took third  place at 100.

“We’re a really young team and hopefully we’ll keep dominating for the next couple of years,” Roth said. “I give all of the credit to the girls. They’re passionate about it and it shows. They work hard in the room and the camaraderie that they have, they’re all friends. And that helps them push each other and get better. Three years ago we didn’t get a whole lot of competition in our area. They may have had 20 matches and this year, as long as they were healthy, they had 40-some matches, and that’s huge. We’re a young team, so we lost a lot. In the moment, it’s disappointing, but that’s where you get better. With all of the tough teams around our area, that’s why we got better, because we wrestled them.”

The other three-time finalist in the tournament, Boylan Catholic senior Netavia Wickson, repeated as a state champion after taking first place at 140 with a 19-5 major decision over Schaumburg junior Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic to cap a 23-2 season.

In the third-straight postseason tournament title match to see who would be the champion at 170, Peotone senior Kiernan Farmer won the biggest prize with a 9-6 decision over Plainfield Central junior Alicia Tucker, who was a defending state champion. Farmer finished 21-1 while Tucker went 36-2 with all of their losses to each other.

Moline senior Maryam Ndiaye capped a perfect 31-0 season when she won the 155 title, thanks to a 14-5 major decision over Richwoods senior Jaida Johnson, who was also a state runner-up in the first IHSA Finals in 2022. 

Vandalia junior Sophie Bowers got the rare opportunity to be a part of a trophy team in the Dual Team Finals, which was also taking place in Bloomington, and being an individual champion after she won a 6-0 decision for the 125 championship over Canton junior Kinnley Smith, who also took second place a year ago. Bowers, who finished 27-7, and her Vandals teammates took fourth place in Class 1A.

Glenbard West senior Alycia Perez concluded her career on a high note by finishing with a perfect 35-0 record and claiming her first state medal by winning a 1-0 decision over West Aurora junior Kameyah Young in the 100 title match to become the Hilltoppers’ first champion.

Zion-Benton senior ILeen Castrejon, who was a runner-up in 2022 and took third a year ago, concluded her career with a 2-1 decision over Lakes Community junior Josephine Larson in the 190 title match to cap a 25-1 season and become her program’s first state champion as well as being one of of perhaps two girls at the school to win a state title in any sport.  

In the longest title match, Prairie Central junior Chloe Hoselton joined her brothers Brandon, who won titles in 2018 and 2019, and Drew, who also won a title in 2018, as IHSA champions after winning 2-1 in an ultimate tiebreaker to win the 235 championship over Unity sophomore Phoenix Molina to cap a 19-3 season.

In a tournament that featured seniors and juniors winning 11 of the titles, there was one freshman who took top honors, Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis, who claimed an 8-2 decision over Huntley sophomore Janiah Slaughter in the 105 championship match to cap a 47-5 season and become her school’s first IHSA champion.

Ten individuals who competed in title matches are three-time medalists. They are three-time champions Cassioppi, Diduch, Gomez and Perry and the only other three-time finalist, Wickson, who joins Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey and Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro, who were 2022 and 2023 champions, as the only two-time title winners thus far.

Two-time finalists and three-time medal winners who also advanced to title matches at the third finals were Castrejon, Dawson, Hiller, Ming and Paramo.

Ten other individuals who did not advance to title matches also won medals in each of the first three IHSA Finals. They are Yorkville senior Yamilet Aguirre (fourth at 125), Oak Park and River Forest senior Sarah Epshtein (fourth at 235), Curie Metropolitan senior Aaliyah Grandberry (third at 235), Lincoln-Way Central senior Gracie Guarino (third at 115), El Paso-Gridley junior Savannah Hamilton (fourth at 155), West Chicago senior Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (fifth at 190), Grant senior Ayane Jasinski (third at 110), Burlington Central junior Victoria Macias (fifth at 115), Schaumburg senior Valeria Rodriguez (fifth at 155) and Highland junior August Rottmann (sixth at 170). 

Huesca-Rodriguez won a title in 2022 and took second place last season while Jasinski and Rottmann won championships a year ago. Grandberry, Guarino and Hamilton were runners-up in both 2022 and 2023 and Aguirre finished second last year.

Bartlett junior Emma Engels won a title in 2023 but took sixth place at 110. And Anna-Jonesboro junior Zoee Sadler took second last season and finished fourth at 105.

Medalists in 2022 and 2023 who fell short of placing again this year were East Peoria senior Bailey Lusch, Round Lake junior Ireland McCain, Morris senior Ella McDonnell, Stevenson senior Sajra Sulejmani and Oak Park and River Forest senior Trinity White.

Just as in previous years, a majority of the state champions were nationally-ranked. In the February National Girls High School Rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling, eight individuals who were in the top 30 at their weights won titles. Turner was top-ranked at 105, Perry was third at 145, Diduch ranked fourth at 135, Gomez was fifth at 115, Wickson ranked sixth at 140, Cassioppi was 17th at 120, Heeney ranked 27th at 130 and Farmer was 29th at 170. 

Nationally-ranked individuals who finished second were Hiller (11th at 115) and Dawson (15th at 130) while Wheeling’s Jasmine Rene (28th at 190) and Grandberry (ninth at 235) placed third and Rottmann (24th at 170) finished sixth after forfeiting her last two matches due to injury. 

In the inaugural IHSA Finals in 2022, 11 of the champions were nationally-ranked as were two of the second-place finishers. Last season, nine title winners were in the top-30 nationally, as were three runners-up.

Edwardsville and Richwoods now have had five different individuals who have placed at state in the first three IHSA Finals while Homewood-Flossmoor, J. Sterling Morton co-op and West Aurora each have had four different all-staters in the past three years of the IHSA state series.

“Congratulations to all the girls and coaches who have stuck, continued to improve and helped pioneer this sport of wrestling for future girls,” Edwardsville coach Jon Wagner said. “The state tournament is definitely getting stronger. Thanks to the IHSA and the IWCOA for making it the event it is. Let’s keep improving.”

With Lakes Community winning the first IHSA team championship and Batavia finishing third to go along with fourth-place finishes from Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg, the north, western and northwest suburbs are clearly producing some of the top talent in the fast-growing sport, as is evidenced by having four state champions who combined to win 139 of 140 matches. The quality of competition from those areas was on display at the rugged Schaumburg Sectional, which was clearly the most-competitive sectional in the sport’s brief history.”Overall, the state tournament keeps on getting tougher and tougher,” Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said. “The quality has really increased and the growth of girls in the IKWF is also going to increase the talent level on the IHSA level. It already has this year with some of those tough freshmen winning it and placing.”

The south and southwest suburbs continue to be one of the state’s most competitive regions in the first three years of IHSA competition. And having Lockport Township get a trophy for second place in addition to two nationally-ranked state champions will only add more fuel to the fire.

“The growth of girls wrestling over the past few years has been nothing short of remarkable,” Joliet Township coach Liz Short said. “What was once considered a male-dominated sport has now evolved into a thriving community of female athletes. A key factor contributing to the growth of girls wrestling is the increased support and investment from governing bodies like the IHSA and IWCOA. The state tournament this year was a true testament to the increased visibility and growth of the sport of girls wrestling.”

A key to the sport’s continued explosive growth is how well it will be accepted by smaller schools. With Kaneland, Peotone, Prairie Central and Vandalia all having state champions this year, a clear signal has bet set that quality performers can come from any setting as long as girls are willing to put in the extra effort that comes with having fewer athletes to work with in a sport that has been dominated thus far by a lot of much bigger programs.
“I am excited to see the growth of the IHSA State Girls Finals,” Clifton Central coach Travis Williams said. “To see where it has developed in depth and talent in just three years of existence is inspiring. 

The growth of girls wrestling has freshened up the wrestling community.  It brings many coaches who have been involved in the sport for decades a new perspective and opportunity to build again.”

And when fans of the sport reflect back at its early days to see an area that enjoyed some of the most success, Rockford will definitely be one of the first communities that comes to mind, considering that two of the first four three-time champions and three of the initial five three-time finalists were from that region and combined for eight state championships in three seasons. And another area that has a great deal of passion for the sport, the Quad Cities region, claimed its first state champion.

Here’s a summary of the third IHSA Girls Individual State Finals, with stories of the 14 title winners and all of the other all-state athletes who helped to make the competition one that will no doubt be remembered for a long time because of all of the history that took place there.

120 – Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah

The third IHSA Individual State Finals couldn’t have gotten off to a more dramatic start than what unfolded in the 120 championship match between a pair of juniors who entered with a combined 43-1 record, Honongah’s Angelina Cassioppi (17-1) and Hoffman Estates’ Sophia Ball (27-1). Cassioppi trailed 3-1 going into the third period but was able to get a takedown in the final seconds to pull out a 4-3 victory over Ball and thus become the first three-time IHSA champion. She was later joined in that historic club by Freeport senior Cadence Diduch at 135, Batavia senior Sydney Perry at 145 and Glenbard North junior Gabby Gomez at 115. Cassioppi had her most-challenging title run yet as evidenced by her capturing three decisions and a win by technical fall. In her first two championship runs, she had three pins, two wins by technical fall and three decisions. She claimed a 5-1 win in the semifinals over Edwardsville’s Norah Swaim and followed a win by technical fall over Belleville West’s Brooklyn Zeller in her opener with a 6-2 decision over Glenbrook North’s Ariella Dobin in the quarterfinals. Cassioppi was 17th at 120 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. The lone qualifier for coach Tyler DeMoss’ Indians, Cassioppi went 27-6 last season and defeated Yorkville’s Yamilet Aguirre in the 120 finals and in 2022, she capped a 23-6 season by finishing first at 100 with a title win over TF South’s Dutchess King. In 2022, her sister Rose joined her as one of the first IHSA champions when she took first place at 170. Her freshmen brothers won Class 3A medals at the Boys Individual Finals as Rocco took second at 106 and Bruno finished third at 113 and they were also competing in Bloomington with their team, who lost to St. Charles East in the quarterfinals of the IHSA Class 3A Dual Team Finals.

“I’m just excited for next year to make it four,” Cassioppi said. “I’m just really grateful for the 

opportunity. She was very strong and aggressive and I think I just need to go out there next time and be a little less stressed and more relaxed and not worry about what’s going to happen. I don’t even know, I can’t remember (the winning move) but I know there were two seconds to go. It’s crazy how much it’s progressed from the first year. I’m so excited to see what comes of it and how much more it grows in the future. It’s definitely gotten more competitive in past years. They did really good (her freshman brothers, Rocco and Bruno) and I’m glad that they’re in the room to push me every single day.”

Hoffman Estates junior Sophia Ball (27-1), who finished fifth at 120 last season to become her program’s first medal winners, was one of four qualifiers and two medalists, with Anjali Gonzalez (fifth at 235) the other for coach Leo Clark’s Hawks, who tied Schaumburg for fourth place in the team standings with 43 points. She advanced to the finals by getting a pin in 1:44 over Lakes Community’s Olivia Heft in the semifinals. Ball opened with a fall in 0:40 over Phoenix Military Academy’s Marisol Castro and then captured a 9-7 decision over Jacksonville’s Alexis Seymour in the quarterfinals. 

“I had a fun match,” Ball said. “I was working all summer with Gomez (Wrestling) and also my Hoffman coaches, and just the grind. It was a lot more fun than last year.”

“Sophia is a tough wrestler and it showed in the finals,” Hoffman Estates coach Leo Clark said. “It is her third year in the sport and she continues to improve year after year. Her first year she was a state qualifier and was happy to be there. Her second year she wanted to be a placer and she took fifth. This year she wanted to be in the finals and we all saw the match. Credit to Cassioppi for never giving up and pushing all the way through to the end. Sophia is now more motivated and eager to rise to another level and be a state champion next year. She has the best blast double in the state and looks forward to showing it off at Fargo this year.”

Edwardsville senior Norah Swaim (21-2) claimed her first state medal after placing third by winning a 6-5 decision over Glenbrook North freshman Ariella Dobin (33-5), who became her school’s first all-stater. For fifth place, Lakes Community senior Olivia Heft (33-4) recorded a fall in 4:32 over Jacksonville junior Alexis Seymour (30-6). Heft, her school’s first medal winner, was an IHSA runner-up to Glenwood’s Maya Davis at 115 in 2022 and placed fourth at 113 in the IWCOA Finals in 2021 while Seymour took fourth place at 120 in 2023. Falling one win shy of earning all-state honors were Grayslake Central sophomore Gianna Arzer (37-11) and Joliet Catholic Academy junior Grace Laird (22-9), who were both seeking their first medals.

125 – Sophie Bowers, Vandalia

It’s not often that someone can be a member of a boys team that advances to the state finals while also competing in a girls individual state finals on the same weekend. But that’s just what Vandalia junior Sophie Bowers did when she took part in the IHSA Girls Individual Finals while her teammates were also competing in the IHSA Dual Team Finals at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. And on the same day that coach Jason Clay’s Vandals earned another Class 1A trophy for fourth place in their 22nd state appearance, Bowers became her school’s first champion and second medalist in her IHSA Finals debut, following Lauren Dothager, who took fourth in both 2022 and 2023, by winning the title at 125 with a 6-0 decision over Canton’s Kinnley Smith, who advanced to the title mat for the second year in a row. Bowers (27-7), the lone qualifier for the Vandals, edged Lakes Community’s Ava Babbs 5-2 in the semifinals, handing the senior her only loss of the season. She opened with a win by technical fall over J. Sterling Morton’s Nayeli Rodriguez and won a 6-2 decision in the quarterfinals over Yorkville’s Yamilet Aguirre, a state runner-up in 2023 who also is a three-time IHSA medal winner.

“It feels amazing,” Bowers said. “I had two surgeries and I had to overcome them, and I did just that. And here I am, I’ve worked so hard and I’m state champ now. I felt very confident and I knew if I just stuck to how I wrestle and if I wrestled my game, that I’d do good. Once I got the reversal in the third, I knew that I was doing pretty good. My boys on my team have fought hard and they’re going for third. And they came here and cheered for me, they’re the best teammates that I could ever ask for. Next year we’re going to come back and win it all as a team.”

Canton junior Kinnley Smith (27-4), who was one of two qualifiers and medalists for coach Zach Crawford’s Little Giants, with Katelyn Marvel (fourth at 145) the other, took second at state last year at 135 to Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson. Smith earned her spot on the title mat with a 10-0 major decision over Bartlett’s Lilly White in the semifinals. She opened with a win by fall over Riverside-Brookfield’s Eleanor Aphay and then edged Edwardsville’s Holly Zugmaier 1-0 in the quarterfinals. She was Canton’s first all-stater and is now its initial two-time medal winner.

“I’m just so thankful for my teammates and just having someone to also understand what I’m talking about,” Smith said. “Me and my partners just kind of boost each other up. The boys are great and we have great coaches, for sure. During the summer time in June or July, we take a team down to Disney duals. We take girls from all around us and our conference, and we’ll have girls from schools like East Peoria, Pekin and Peoria Notre Dame. We’ve had the team for a couple of years and it’s been really growing. In the first year we probably had four or five girls, and that was it. And now we have a whole roster that’s missing just a few weights. It’s great because you get a different feel for partners and really intense practices. And it definitely keeps you in shape in the summer. time.  When I was a little girl, I’d go to a tournament and see one older girl, and my dad was like, ‘this is going to be you, and I was like, ‘this is so cool.’ It’s exciting to see all of the girls who have put in the work to get to this spot.”

Lakes Community senior Ava Babbs (32-1) bounced back from her first loss of the season to Bowers in the semifinals to claim third place with a fall in 1:51 over Yorkville senior Yamilet Aguirre. Babbs, who also placed third last year at 125, was one of three medalists and five qualifiers who helped coach Devin Tortorice’s Eagles to become the first IHSA team champions after they beat out Lockport Township 61-58 for top honors. Aguirre (28-3), who only lost once prior to the state finals, was the runner-up at 120 to Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi last season and also took fourth place at 115 in 2022. 

“Yamilet Aguirre is the first three-time all-state wrestler in Yorkville history,” Foxes coach Kevin Roth said. “The growth of the sport in the state of Illinois has had a direct correlation on her development as a wrestler and person. As the quality of competition at the state tournament continues to rise, so does the caliber of athlete. Yamilet has proven herself to be one of the state’s best year in and year out, and it is thanks to the girls wrestling community. These girls push each other to be better and the camaraderie in girls wrestling is like nothing I’ve seen before. Yamilet, like many of the girls at this time, have built the foundation of what girls wrestling in the state of Illinois will look like for years to come. The records these multi-time state medalist have set will continue to raise the bar for girls following in their footsteps.”

For fifth place, Bartlett sophomore Lilly White (31-5) won by medical forfeit over Edwardsville junior Holly Zugmaier (34-8). White joined 2023 100 champion and this year’s sixth-place finisher at 110, junior Emma Engels, as her school’s second medal winner while Zugmaier and Norah Swaim (third at 120) became the fourth and fifth medalists for IWCOA Hall of Fame coach Jon Wagner’s Tigers. Falling one win shy of medals were Kaneland junior Brooklyn Sheaffer (16-5), who took sixth at 120 in 2023 to become her school’s first medalist, and Schaumburg junior Madyson Meyer (38-8), who hoped to join Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (second at 140) and Valeria Rodriguez (fifth at 155) as medalists for coach Matt Gruszka’s 

Saxons, who tied Hoffman Estates for fourth place with 43 points, which was just 3.5 points behind Batavia, who claimed the third-place trophy.

130 – Claudia Heeney, Lockport Township

The memory of suffering her lone defeat in 43 matches last season in the 125 championship match at the IHSA Individual Finals to Freeport’s Cadence Diduch pushed Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney to not take anything for granted this season. The last test that the Porters sophomore had to get past in order to achieve her goal of being a champion was Collinsville junior Taylor Dawson, who had the double disappointment of finishing second in the 2022 IHSA Finals and placing third last season. According to the February national rankings at 130 by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling, Dawson was 15th and Heeney was 27th. In one of the nine championship matchups that were settled by decision and the lone finals match that was decided by two points, Heeney (21-1) got a reversal with 1:10 left to give her a 4-2 victory as she became the first champion for her school and was later joined by Morgan Turner at 110 as Lockport Township not only was the only team to have two title winners but that also helped coach Nathaniel Roth’s team to become the first-ever IHSA runner-up, after scoring 58 points, which was three points behind champion Lakes Community, who had 61 points. Heeney, who is 63-2 in two seasons, advanced to the title mat for the second year in a row thanks to a fall in 2:57 over Seneca’s Sammie Greisen. She opened her title run with a fall in 5:33 over Tinley Park’s Simone Standifer and then recorded a pin in 4:38 over Camp Point Central’s Amber Louderback in the quarterfinals. Heeney tied the two champions that followed her Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (135) and Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson (140) for third place in team points with 28, which was one point behind the leaders in that category, her Porters teammate Morgan Turner (110) and Moline’s Maryam Ndiaye (155).

“It was a moment of relief and a moment of happiness and excitement,” Heeney said. “I couldn’t believe it and I still can’t believe it. There’s so many emotions. I didn’t take my loss that hard last year, just shed a few tears and moved on because we had bigger things to take care of. I didn’t realize how much it really meant to me until just now. I was saying to myself warming up, ‘I’m going to be a state champ, I’m going to be a state champ.’ I knew that I could do it, and I did it. I’ve been practicing cradle defense for the past six weeks knowing that it might come down to that. She might want to cradle me, since I’m a long wrestler, and I get that often, so I’ve been working on that. And it was a big moment of relief to be able to get out of bottom twice, not just once, and to defend the cradle the whole time. (The Porters taking second place) It’s super exciting. We have a hard-working room and everyone is there to push each other to get better. Every year, the girls are getting better and better. This year, I had a bunch of close matches and lots of tough competitors. It’s amazing to see that everyone is getting better together.”

“Claudia is not very emotional, she’s very in the zone and when she wins, she’s like, ‘okay, cool I won, but I usually win,” Porters coach Nathaniel Roth said. “So to see her so happy was just amazing and all of us as coaches were so happy. It was phenomenally cool, working as hard as she does non-stop, and to have that finally come true. I couldn’t be happier for her and I’m so proud of her. It was a very great experience.”

Collinsville junior Taylor Dawson (47-1) suffered her only defeat on the 130 title mat. In the first IHSA Finals in 2022, she lost the championship at 125 to Yorkville’s Natasha Markoutsis. One of two qualifiers for coach Jordan May’s Kahoks and her school’s only medalist, Dawson earned her second trip in three years to the title mat by recording a fall in 1:02 over Minooka’s Addison Cailteux. She got pins in her first two matches, in 2:56 over Erie/Prophetstown’s Michelle Naftzger in her opener and in 0:32 over Prospect’s Viola Pianetto in the quarterfinals. 

Huntley sophomore Aubrie Rohrbacher (45-5), took third place when she won a 12-0 major decision over Cailteux. She became Huntley’s second medalist with teammate Janiah Slaughter earning all-state honors for the second-straight year after placing second at 105. Minooka sophomore Addison Cailteux (27-6) was her team’s lone medal winner and became the second individual from her school to place at state. Camp Point Central sophomore Amber Louderback (23-11) took fifth to become a two-time medalist after placing fourth at 125 a year ago, In the fifth-place match, she won by fall in 5:40 over Seneca sophomore Sammie Greisen (31-11), who became her school’s all-stater. Missing medals by one win were Thornton Fractional South junior Quincy Onyiaorah (25-6) and Prospect junior Viola Pianetto (24-6), with the latter hoping to be her school’s first all-stater.

135 – Cadence Diduch, Freeport

Cadence Diduch assured her position as one of the most significant early leaders for her sport when she became the second three-time champion in the IHSA Individual State Finals and a four-time state champion in her career, along with Batavia’s Sydney Perry, as the result of winning the IWCOA title in 2021, after capturing a 10-1 major decision over Cumberland’s Natalie Beaumont in the 135 title match. That capped a perfect 29-0 season for the Freeport senior, who followed Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi (120) and preceded Batavia’s Sydney Perry (145) and Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez (115) as the only individuals to win a title in the each of the first three IHSA Finals. Last season, she went 11-0 and won a 12-2 major decision over Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney in the 125 title match and in the first IHSA Finals in 2022, she took top honors at 120 with an 11-0 major decision over Edwardsville’s Mackenzie Pratt to conclude a 22-3 season. In addition in 2021, she took first place at 113 at the IWCOA’s Girls State Finals with a 5-2 decision over Batavia’s Taylin Long. In her 12 matches that she competed in at the IHSA Finals, she had no decisions. She had five pins, two wins by technical fall and five major decisions. Diduch was fourth at 135 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. The lone qualifier for coach Nathan Arendt’s Pretzels as well as the only medalist that her school has had, Diduch advanced to the IHSA title mat for the third time with a 13-2 major decision over Glenwood’s Jenna Tuxhorn in the semifinals. Diduch, who went 62-3 during her three-year run of success in the IHSA state series and was a perfect 40-0 during her final two seasons, recorded falls in her first two matches, winning in 1:58 over Collinsville’s Leann Cory in her opener and then claiming a victory in the quarterfinals with a pin in 1:11 over Mother McAuley’s Maggie Zuber. She tied for third in most team points with 28 along with Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney (130) and Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson (140), which was one less point less than the two leaders in that category, Lockport Township’s Morgan Turner (110) and Moline’s Maryam Ndiaye (115) finished with. Diduch will continue her education and career at the University of Iowa.

“It’s pretty exciting for my school, I’ll be the first girl to win a state title of some sort all through my years of high school,” Diduch said. “Even when I was little, I’d go to tournaments and I would see a girl every once in a while. And now I go to tournaments and they’re just girls tournaments. So it’s really exciting seeing how it’s growing and the numbers keep on going up. And you also have more colleges that are getting the sport, so it’s growing everywhere. Now I’m hoping that those girls that come up behind me that they can win the IHSA four years in a row and there’s more records that they can be breaking, so that’s pretty exciting.”

Cumberland sophomore Natalie Beaumont (19-3) made history by becoming the first medalist for her school, which is located in Toledo, in Cumberland County. She was one of two qualifiers for coach Ash Edmonds’ Lady Pirates. She earned her spot in the Grand March after capturing a 5-4 decision over Bolingbrook’s Katie Ramirez-Quintero in the semifinals. Beaumont followed a fall in 5:59 over Minooka’s Eva Beck in her opener with a pin in 2:55 over Thornton Fractional South’s Jermia Moore in the quarterfinals. 

For third-place, Bolingbrook senior Katie Ramirez-Quintero (34-4) captured an 8-1 decision over Glenwood sophomore Jenna Tuxhorn (23-4). Ramirez-Quintero, the lone qualifier and first and only all-stater for her school, claimed her second medal, adding to a sixth-place effort at 130 in the 2022 Finals. Tuxhorn joined the 2022 IHSA champion at 115, Maya Davis, as just the second medal winner for the school in Chatham that’s coached by Jerod Bruner, whose Titans boys won their first state trophy when they took third place in Class 2A at the IHSA Dual Team Finals, which also took place at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington. And in the fifth place match, Olympia senior Jordan Bicknell (16-4) prevailed 15-11 over Elmwood Park senior Rose Craig (19-6) in a clash between individuals who were their school’s first state medal winners. Falling one win shy of a medal were Sherrard junior Nadia Anderson (14-8) and Phoenix Military Academy junior Ariel Foreman (17-6).

140 – Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

In future years when people ask what region of the state and the conference that had the most significant impact in the early years of girls wrestling, seasoned observers will be able to reflect back and say emphatically that the Rockford-area and NIC-10 Conference were the clear leaders after producing two of the first four three-time IHSA champions in Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi and Freeport’s Cadence Diduch, as well as one of the initial three-time IHSA finalists who also won two-straight titles after placing second, Boylan Catholic senior Netavia Wickson, who completed her stellar career in impressive style by winning a 19-5 major decision over Schaumburg’s Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic in the 140 championship. Wickson (23-2), who competed primarily against boys throughout her four seasons, went 19-5 and took first place at 135 in 2023 with a 9-1 major decision over Canton’s Kinnley Smith, and was the runner-up at 135 to one of the six initial IHSA two-time champions, Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro, in the inaugural 2022 Finals to cap a 14-12 season. In addition, she also took second at 120 in the 2021 IWCOA Finals to Glenwood’s Maya Davis, who won the IHSA 115 title in 2022. She was sixth at 140 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. Wickson, the lone qualifier and the only all-stater for the Rockford school that’s coached by her father, Dathan, opened her quest for her second championship with a fall in 4:35 over Urbana’s Rickasia Ivy and then got a pin in 0:50 over Richmond-Burton’s Jasmine McCaskel in the quarterfinals. She assured herself of a fourth trip overall and third-straight appearance on the IHSA title mat with a 10-0 major decision over Richwoods’ Kaila Williams. Wickson tied for Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney (130) and Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (135) for the third-most team points with 28, which was one point behind Lockport Township’s Morgan Turner (110) and Moline’s Maryam Ndiaye (115). 

“I’m grateful to be here,” Wickson said. “I put in a lot of work in the offseason and after practice, just putting the extra hours in to be where I’m at right now. It feels amazing. I remember taking second my freshman and sophomore years and I knew that I didn’t want to be in that place ever again. So I just made sure that I was working so hard these past two years to not be there again and show off what I’m really capable of and how powerful I am on the mat. I’m really blessed to be able to be the person to help and show other people at my school  that you can do things that you never thought that you could do and just go over and above to be excellent and to be powerful and to be different and to show people who you really are. I’ve been the only girl wrestler these four years (at Boylan), so being able to be that person to do this feels amazing.”

Schaumburg junior Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (37-3), one of three qualifiers and two medal winners for coach Matt Gruszka’s Saxons, who tied for fourth with Hoffman Estates with 43 points, 3.5 points behind final trophy winner Batavia, took fifth last season at 125. She earned her first trip to the state title mat after rallying for a 12-11 win in the semifinals over McHenry’s Natalie Corona. Zerafa-Lazarevic opened with a fall in 3:22 over Oak Forest’s Iyobosa Odiase and then got a pin in 5:02 over Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Taylor Owens in the quarterfinals. “I think Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic had a really good tournament,” Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said. “To be down 9-1 in the semis and come back and win 12-11 proves she is never really out of a match. We knew Netavia Wickson would be a tough one in the finals and we were right.” 

In the third-place match, Richwoods senior Kaila Williams (27-2) won a 7-2 decision over Richmond-Burton senior Jasmine McCaskel (23-5). Williams, one of three qualifiers and two medalists for coach Rob Penney’s Lady Knights, won her first state medal and joined four others who’ve placed at state while McCaskel, the lone qualifier for her school, was also its first all-stater last season when she took fourth place at 140. For fifth place, McHenry sophomore Natalie Corona (24-5) won by fall in 0:38 over Galesburg junior Annalisa Gibbons (22-7). Corona, the lone qualifier for McHenry, became her school’s second medal winner while Gibbons made history for coach Greg Leibach’s Silver Streaks, who had their first two all-staters, with senior Hannah Almendarez (23-5) placing fifth at 100. Falling one win shy of medals at 140 were New Trier junior Jillian Giller (33-6) and Saint Ignatius College Prep freshman GG Garduno (25-4).

145 – Sydney Perry, Batavia

It’s going to take quite a performance to top the one that was turned in by Sydney Perry as she concluded her historic career at Batavia. The third of four individuals who became the first three-time IHSA champions won three of her four matches by technical fall and captured a major decision in the other, wrapping up her title at 145 with a win by technical fall in 5:00 over Goreville’s Alivia Ming. In addition, she joined Freeport’s Cadence Diduch as a four-time state champion since they both captured IWCOA titles in 2021. The title victory over Ming capped a perfect 41-0 senior season for Perry, who went 34-0 last season and defeated El Paso-Gridley’s Valerie Hamilton 7-4 in a memorable 145 title match and also was the first IHSA champion in 2022 when she won by fall in 5:20 over West Aurora’s Dyani Rivera to conclude a 21-0 season. She went 96-0 during the past three seasons and joins Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez, who went 83-0 during the past three seasons, as the only undefeated three-time champions. In 2001 as a freshman, she took first in the IWCOA Finals at 132 after winning by fall in 3:03 over Yorkville’s Natasha Markoutsis. During her three-year title run in the IHSA Finals, she had six wins by technical fall, three pins, one major decision, one win by medical forfeit and the decision over Hamilton a year ago. She was third at 145 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. Perry earned her spot in her fourth title match and third in the IHSA Finals as she just missed out on another win by technical fall when she captured a 19-6 major decision over Phoenix Military Academy’s AJ Grant. She opened with a win by technical fall in 4:42 over Stevenson’s Sajra Sulejmani (11-8) and then got a win by technical fall in 3:45 over Macomb’s Kelly Ladd in the quarterfinals. With her and Lily Enos (third at 100), supplying all of their scoring, coach Scott Bayer’s Bulldogs became the first team to receive a third-place trophy after finishing with 46.5 points, which was 3.5 points ahead of fourth-place finishers Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg. Lakes Community was the first IHSA team champion with 61 points while Lockport Township was the initial runner-up after collecting 58 points. Perry was the only individual in the tournament who had three wins by technical falls while 105 champion Angelina Gochis and 110 title winner Morgan Turner both recorded two tech falls. Only six others were able to win once by technical fall. Not surprisingly, she had 91 total match points which was 28 more than Turner, who ranked second in that category. The 91 match points beat the old record of 78 points, set by Gomez last season.

“It was a great experience to be a part of,” Perry said. “It was cool being able to win it all four years. These are my people and I’ve had a lot of important relationships. It’s really great after going up and wrestling guys at IKWF tournaments and now being here where I see a whole gym full of girls. The numbers are going up every year, especially in Fargo, and that’s nice to see. It’s important for the sport and it’s important for girls in general. With Morgan coming here and Cadence, who committed to Iowa, she’s here. It’s making the sport more serious and it brings a lot more recognition for the girls. I still get the same amount of joy (of winning a title), but it’s not for the same reason. My first reason was mainly just to win it and be noticed. And now it’s kind of turned into for the sport and to make myself known and just having people that are looking up to me. I think it’s cool since I was the first girl to win state a few years ago when it first became sanctioned, so I’m already kind of part of history, so now it’s just trying to make more of a name for myself. It just means a lot to me to be a part of the sport and to be a part of the history-making and trailblazing.”

Goreville senior Alivia Ming (37-1) suffered her first loss in the 145 title match as she fell to Perry in a meeting of two unbeaten competitors, which was the only championship match where both competitors entered with perfect records. Ming also took second place last year at 140 when she lost to Edwardsville’s Mackenzie Pratt on the title mat. A three-time medal winner for coach Bart Pulliam’s Blackcats, Ming was her school’s first of two all-staters when she finished fourth at 135 in 2022. She advanced to the 145 title match after claiming a 5-0 decision over Canton’s Katelyn Marvel in the semifinals. Ming opened with a fall in 1:58 over Rochelle’s Dempsey Atkinson and then recorded a pin in 3:44 over Harvard’s Ithandehui Rosas in the quarterfinals. 

In the third-place match, Phoenix Military Academy sophomore AJ Grant (29-2) won by fall in 1:47 over Canton junior Katelyn Marvel (27-6). Grant was the first all-stater for her program. Marvel won her first medal and joined junior Kinnley Smith, who took second at 125 to Vandalia’s Sophie Bowers to finish as a runner-up for the second-straight year, to help coach Zach Crawford’s Little Giants have two all-staters for the first time. For fifth place, Rochelle junior Dempsey Atkinson (21-7) won with a fall in 1:10 over Zion-Benton junior Naomi Foote (39-11). Atkinson became the first state medalist for the Lady Hubs while Foote joined 190 champion ILeen Castrejon as all-staters for coach Hal Lunsford’s Zee-Bees, the second time in three years that Zion-Benton has had two state medalists. Falling one win shy of medals were Stevenson senior Sajra Sulejmani (11-8) and Rock Island senior Sanaa Hampton (13-4). Sulejmani, who was fourth last year at 145 and fifth at 145 in 2022 to become her school’s lone all-stater, was looking to cap her career with a fourth medal, since she took fifth at 145 at the IWCOA in 2021. Hampton hoped to become her school’s second all-stater.

155 – Maryam Ndiaye, Moline

After dropping a 3-1 decision to Plainfield Central’s Alicia Tucker last season in the 155 title match at the IHSA Individual Finals to conclude a successful 19-5 junior season, Maryam Ndiaye was on a mission to cap her career at Moline by becoming a state champion and that’s just what the senior did. She certainly turned in an impressive finish, recording three falls and then winning a major decision in the finals. Ndiaye (31-0) completed a perfect season with a 14-5 major decision over Richwoods’ Jaida Johnson in the 155 title match. The lone qualifier for coach Jacob Ruettiger’s Maroons, she has set a high standard for athletes from the Quad Cities schools by becoming the first title winner, two-time finalist and two-time medalist from those communities. She recorded three falls to reach the title mat for the second time, getting a pin in 2:54 over Clifton Central’s Payton Temple in the semifinals. Ndiaye opened with a fall in 0:48 over New Trier’s Nina Aceves and got a pin in 3:09 over Alton Senior’s Elanna Hickman in the quarterfinals. Ndiaye tied the 110 champion, Lockport Township’s Morgan Turner, for the most team points with 29, which was one more than Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (135), Lockport Township’s Claudia Heeney (130) and Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson (140) collected.

“It feels real good because I’ve worked very hard for this moment,” Ndiaye said. “I’m very proud of myself and I’m proud of everyone that has coached and supported me. And I’m very happy to represent Moline. Ever since I lost that match last year, I was like I’m going to do whatever I can to get number one because I didn’t want that to happen again. I’m very happy with how this sport is growing. And I’m happy that it grew because it gives me a chance to show my stuff and a lot of other girls chances to show what they can do also.”

Richwoods, which had three qualifiers and two medal winners, has been one of the state’s top programs for some time under coach Rob Penney and senior Jaida Johnson now has the distinction of being its first two-time all-stater as well as a two-time finalist among its five individuals who have placed at the IHSA Finals, and the program’s first three-time medalist thanks to her third-place finish at 170 at the IWCOA Finals in 2021. She lost 10-8 to Unity’s Lexi Ritchie in the 155 title match at the first IHSA Finals to cap a 17-4 sophomore season. A year ago, she broke her arm but still qualified for state but lost in the quarterfinals to conclude a 26-4 season, suffering three of those losses in the sectional and at state. “Being a four-time state qualifier and three-time placer is not an easy thing to accomplish,” Richwoods coach Rob Penney said. “The unfortunate thing is that Jaida was 26-0 last season and broke her arm at the Batavia Tournament. Jaida was not ready to stop and she continued conditioning only until she was released by her doctor to compete three days before the sectional, where she took second to advance to state. The broken arm on January 12, just four weeks before sectionals and six weeks before the state tournament, had created a cautious and guarded wrestler. She wasn’t the same, unfortunately, but did make it to the blood round at the state tournament before her junior season ended.  
“As Jaida said in a news interview, ‘Last year was a minor setback before a major comeback.’  Jaida is an example of a true warrior with the never-stop attitude and the internal motivation to push herself to be the best she can be. Finishing her senior year as a runner-up for the second time in her four-year high school career doesn’t sit well with Jaida. She plans to learn from her losses, take those experiences to the next level and continue wrestling in college where I know she will continue to thrill the crowds and her future coaches. Thank you, Jaida, it’s been a wonderful experience and I wish you great success.”

In the third-place match, Alton Senior senior Elanna Hickman (33-6) won an 8-2 decision over El Paso-Gridley junior Savannah Hamilton (14-4), who won her third medal in the IHSA Finals. Hickman became the Redbirds’ second all-stater, joining 2022 champion at 140 and two-time placer Antonia Phillips in that company. Hamilton took second at 130 a year ago after losing 9-3 to Homewood-Flossmoor’s two-time champion Attalia Watson-Castro and placed second at 140 in 2022 after dropping a 6-2 decision to Phillips. For fifth place, Schaumburg senior Valeria Rodriguez (40-3) won by fall in 0:14 over Clifton Central freshman Payton Temple (8-7). Rodriguez, who was one of three qualifiers and two medalists for the fourth-place Saxons, capped an historic career by becoming her school’s first three-time IHSA medalist, taking third place at 140 a year ago and also third at 155 in 2022. She also won a medal as a freshman in the IWCOA Finals when she finished sixth at 160. Temple and senior Karmen Cody (sixth at 190) were the lone qualifiers for coach Travis Williams’ Lady Comets and they became their program’s first IHSA medalists. Coming up one victory shy of all-state honors were Plainfield South junior Teagan Aurich (26-7) and Hinsdale South sophomore Callie Carr (27-5).

“Valeria Rodriguez became a three-time state placer by placing fifth at 155, which was short of her goal, but overall, she has left a mark on girls wrestling in Illinois,” Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said.

170 – Kiernan Farmer, Peotone

After taking sixth place last season at 155 to become Peotone’s first IHSA medalist, Kiernan Farmer decided that she needed to work much harder if she hoped to challenge for a state title in her senior season. If that meant travelling long distances in order to improve, then that’s what she was going to have to do. And that strategy paid off in a big way as she defeated last year’s IHSA champion at 155, Plainfield Central’s Alicia Tucker, by capturing a 9-6 decision in the 170 title match. It was her second win in the postseason over Tucker, who was unbeaten heading into the Geneseo Sectional, where Farmer (21-1) won a 9-0 major decision over the Plainfield 

Central junior in the title match. Two weeks before that in the finals of the Minooka Regional, Tucker (36-2) won an 11-5 decision over Farmer. The pair also met up last year at the IHSA Finals with Tucker getting a fall in 5:42 over Farmer in the semifinals. The lone qualifier for coach Josh Kreske’s Blue Devils, as well as her school’s first and only state medal winner, Farmer was 29th at 170 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. She advanced to the championship match with an 8-4 decision in the semifinals over Peoria Notre Dame’s Autumne Williams. She opened up her run with a win by technical fall over District 230’s (Andrew/Carl Sandburg/Stagg) Janae Vargas (28-11) and then won a 5-0 decision over Auburn’s Heaven Workman (15-8) in the quarterfinals.

“There’s been a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of travelling,” Farmer said. “I’d go from my high school practice all the way to a practice an hour and a half away at The Compound. I’d get home around 10 or 11 o’clock at night and when I’d wake up, I’d just be so sore. Literally, diet, gym and two practices a day can make this all happen for anybody. Even if I didn’t win a state championship, I loved showing up and competing for everything that I got last year. But this year obviously I made a lot of improvement, so I’m happy about that.”

Plainfield Central junior Alicia Tucker, who went 34-2 last season and won a 3-1 decision over Moline’s Maryan Mdiaye in the 155 title match to become not only her school’s initial medalist but also their first state champion. The lone qualifier for coach Terry Kubski’s Wildcats, she opened with a 13-1 major decision over Proviso East’s Haley Arechiga and then Tucker got a fall in 1:58 over Thornton Township’s Keyhanna Phillips in the quarterfinals and captured a 7-4 decision over Highland’s August Rottmann, the 170 defending champion, in the semifinals. 

“Alicia Tucker finished her junior campaign with a record of 36-2 bumping up to 170 pounds from 155 pounds the previous year,” Plainfield Central coach Terry Kubski said. “Of her 36 wins, 30 of those were bonus wins and 29 via pins.  Alicia’s two losses came in the sectional and state finals to Farmer, who Alicia defeated in the regionals finals. Alicia had a good season capped with a good state tournament. In the semis, Alicia was paired up with the 170 pound returning state champion (Highland’s August Rottmann) in a marquee matchup in which Alicia won 7-4 setting up the rematch with Farmer, who came out on top in a great finals match, 9-6.”  

In the third-place match, Peoria Notre Dame junior Autumne Williams (23-5) won by fall in 0:22 over Downers Grove North senior Kayleigh Loo (25-2), and both individuals were the first medal winners for their programs. And for fifth place, Burlington Central freshman Ryann Miller (36-5) won by medical forfeit over Highland junior August Rottmann (28-5). Miller became her school’s second medal winner, with Victoria Macias the other, placing in both 2023 and 2022. Rottmann won by fall in 5:10 over Joliet Township’s Nydia Martinez in last year’s 170 title match to cap a 21-1 season after taking third place at 170 as a freshman. Rottmann was 24th at 170 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling, but a late-season injury affected her hopes of repeating as a champion and after losing to Tucker 7-4 in the semifinals, she tried to compete again but ultimately had to forfeit due to injury in her final two matches. And falling one victory shy of medals were Thornton Township senior Keyhanna Phillips (14-2) and Maine West junior Lillian Garrett (28-7).

“This year we had a returning state champion in August Rottmann at 170,” Highland coach Nick Bellamy said. “The first day of competition (at state), we got two wins, and were well on our way to another state championship at 170. The next day when we started the semifinal match, she was once again plagued by injury that had occurred right before regionals where she rolled her ankle really bad. When the match started, she was taken down and I could see it right away the pain in her face. Just trying to apply pressure to get out was extremely painful and we ended up finishing that match but losing. We went to the trainer and taped it up and tried to continue in the next match but shortly after the beginning of the match, we had to medically forfeit due to the pain from the injury to our ankle, and medically forfeit the fifth-place match. 

“This was very hard and disappointing for her to succumb to injury because she is a fierce competitor, and there’s no doubt in my mind, if she was healthy, she would have been a two- time state champion at the 170 weight class. Now that state is done, focusing on healing and preparing for offseason tournaments, like Fargo, where she placed fourth last year. This year she was ranked 14th in the nation at 170, Next year, as a senior, August Rottmann will reclaim her state championship title.”

190 – ILeen Castrejon, Zion-Benton

ILeen Castrejon positioned herself well to be a state champion when she took second place to Hononegah’s Rose Cassioppi in the title match at 170 in the first IHSA Finals in 2022. But a year ago, she lost in the semifinals to the eventual runner-up, Joliet Township’s Nydia Martinez, and wound up taking third place. With one last chance to finish on top of the awards stand in Bloomington, the Zion-Benton senior made the most of the opportunity and captured the 190 title after claiming a 2-1 decision over Lakes Community junior Josephine Larson. As a result, Castrejon not only became the Zee-Bees’ first IHSA champion but also is one of the few girls to win an individual title in any sport at the school. One of four qualifiers and two medalists for coach Hal Lunford’s Zee-Bees, she earned her second trip to the title mat in three years when she recorded a fall in 1:04 over Clifton Central’s Karmen Cody in the semifinals. Castrejon opened with a 9-3 decision over Putnam County’s Bailey Herr and then captured a 5-2 decision over Oak Park and River Forest’s Trinity White in the quarterfinals. 

“There’s been a few close matches, and a few not so close, but this one was definitely close,” Castrejon said. “It kind of hurts sometimes coming so close and not being there. It’s kind of cool seeing it grow. In my first year, we only had two girls come down and this year we had four. And a lot of more girls are coming in, so it’s just fun to watch how it grows. And it was definitely more competitive this year.””Wow, what an amazing career for this young woman,” Zion-Benton coach Hal Lunsford said. “She has been working so hard for this huge accomplishment and she did it. I am so proud of her and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her. I will be extremely sad to see her graduate, but forever grateful to be her coach. ILeen will always be a part of the Zee-Bee wrestling family.”

While Lakes Community junior Josephine Larson (32-8) just missed out on becoming the first champion for her school, she was thrilled afterward since he had helped the Eagles to become the first IHSA team champions in the competition. Lakes Community scored 61 points, which was three more than runner-up Lockport Township had with 58 points. She was one of three medalists and five qualifiers who helped coach Devin Tortorice’s Eagles to become the first team from the Lake Villa school to win a state championship. Larson, who took fifth at 190 last season, joined teammates Ava Babbs (third at 125) and Olivia Heft (fifth at 120) as two-time medalists and is the second Eagle to reach the title match, something that Heft did in 2022 when she lost to Glenwood’s Maya Davis in the 115 IHSA Finals. Larson won by fall in 1:56 over West Chicago’s Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez in the semifinals. She opened with a pin in 4:26 over Morris’ Morgan Congo and followed that with a 6-3 decision over Wheeling’s Jasmine Rene.

“I didn’t even think that we could do that,” said Larson of her team winning the team title. “It’s just amazing. Our coaching staff is phenomenal and coach Devin Tortorice and coach (Mark) Stave are both really good. The coaching staff is very supportive and very understanding. They know what certain people need and what our styles are. And then we just have amazing talent. It’s just amazing and I’m so happy. I’m so happy that it’s growing so much. My coach said that this is the first-ever team state champion that Lakes has had.” 

In the third-place match, Wheeling sophomore Jasmine Rene (38-2) won 7-6 in a tiebreaker over District 230 (Andrew/Carl Sandburg/Stagg) junior Emma Akpan (34-8). Rene was her program’s first medalist last season when she took fourth at 190, while Akpan, who was sixth at 235 in 2023, became her district co-op program’s first two-time all-stater. Rene was 28th at 190 in the February national rankings by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling. For fifth, West Chicago senior Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (21-6) won by fall in 0:29 over Clifton Central senior Karmen Cody (15-5). Huesca-Rodriguez, who beat J. Sterling Morton’s Diana Rodriguez by technical fall to win the IHSA title at 190 in 2022 and took second to Homewood-Flossmoor’s Ini Odumosu at 190 last season, is a three-time medalist and the only one from her school to reach the awards stand. Cody joins teammate freshman Payton Temple, who finished sixth at 155, as the first medalists for Clifton Central.
“I had a wrestler in Karmen Cody who went from just clinging to the team she enjoyed being a part of as a freshman with no IHSA-sponsored event to becoming a sectional champion and state place winner,” Clifton Central coach Travis Williams said. “

Her journey is countered by our freshman Payton Temple, who is driven to be a four-time place winner and eventual state champion.” 

235 – Chloe Hoselton, Prairie Central

Trying to follow in her brothers’ footsteps prompted Chloe Hoselton to compete in the IHSA series as a junior and her hopes to do what her two brothers accomplished, being an IHSA champions for Prairie Central, were rewarded after she opened with two decisive victories before pulling off two suspenseful wins to capture the 235 title with a 2-1 win by ultimate tiebreaker over Unity’s Phoenix Molina. Her brothers Brandon and Drew both won IHSA 1A titles in 2018 and Brandon also was a champion in 2019 and a three-time finalist while Drew was a two-time finalist. Hoselton captured another dramatic win in the semifinals, when she won a 3-1 decision over Curie Metropolitan’s Aaliyah Grandberry, who was the 235 runner-up in both 2023 and 2022 to Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey, and it was the first loss of the season for the senior who ended up placing third. The lone qualifier for coach Scott Ziller’s Hawks became her school’s first medalist and champion, Hoselton opened with a 13-0 major decision over Lockport Township’s Rebekah Ramirez and then won by fall in 0:42 over Robinson’s Rylee Hammond.

“It’s unreal to finally be here and to finally have this moment,” Hoselton said. “It was a long season with a lot of practices and a lot of conditioning. I just really wanted it and I’m so happy to be the one to have it. I knew that I could do it, and I’m so glad that I got to push through it. She’s a tough opponent and we’re going to have those tough matches all of the time. Everyone can (win a title), you just have to put in the work, have the heart, and believe in yourself and just know that you can do it. If you can, go to a practice, go try it and have fun. It’s not all supposed to be serious, you can bond with every single person on your team, and that’s what I’ve done and I’m happy to have them by my side. My parents and my family (supported me). My brothers, Drew and Brandon were state champs, so I had to live up to that moment and my cousin Andy was a state champ. They knew I could do it, they’ve been practicing with me and they pushed me. I was glad to have them here to support me. I’m happy to be the first girl in the family to win a championship.”

Unity sophomore Phoenix Molina (28-6) was her school’s second medalist, with the other being Lexie Ritchie, the  2022 champion and 2023 fourth-place finisher at 155. She used three-straight close decisions to reach the title mat. She won 2-1 by sudden victory over Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jocelyn Williams in her opener, edged Ottawa Township’s Juliana Thrush 4-2 in the quarterfinals and won 3-2 over Oak Park and River Forest’s Sarah Epshtein in the semifinals to reach the title mat. A year ago, Molina went 17-5 after losing in the quarterfinals to Grandberry. 

For third place, Curie Metropolitan senior Aaliyah Grandberry (24-1) won by fall in 1:41 over Oak Park and River Forest senior Sarah Epshtein (27-5) in a matchup of three-time medalists. Grandberry, the first athlete from a Chicago Public School to be a three-time all-stater, took second place at 235 in 2023 and 2022, both times to Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey, who handed her the only loss of each season. Grandberry was ninth at 235 in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling February national rankings. Epshtein, who took fourth last year and fifth in 2022 at 235 became the first three-time all-stater for the Huskies. 
“Aaliyah Grandberry’s determination and talent have led her to become a two-time finalist and three-time medalist, making history for our school and the CPS district.” Curie coach Yahya Muhammad said. “Starting as a team manager during the COVID year, Aaliyah’s journey from support role to star wrestler is truly inspiring. Despite challenges, she persevered and achieved remarkable results, finishing second in 2022 and 2023 and third in 2024. 

Through her resilience, talent, and unwavering dedication, Aaliyah Grandberry had not only made a name for herself in the world of wrestling but had also paved the way for future generations of athletes in her school and community. Her story was one of triumph, perseverance and the power of believing in oneself against all odds.”

And for fifth place, Hoffman Estates junior Anjali Gonzalez (32-7) got a pin in 3:34 over Ottawa Township sophomore Juliana Thrush (30-6) as both became all-staters for the first time. Falling one win shy of a state medal were Homewood-Flossmoor senior Jocelyn Williams (20-5) and Minooka senior Peyton Kueltzo (34-13). Williams took fourth at 235 in the first IHSA Finals, making her H-F’s third two-time IHSA all-stater, with 2023 and 2022 champion Attalia Watson-Castro and 2023 title winner Ini Odumosu the others.

“Anjali Gonzalez was the 235 fifth-place medalist,” Hoffman Estates coach Leo Clark said. “She is a dangerous wrestler and we saw it downstate. You don’t want to see her on your side of the bracket. She is incredibly strong and it showed. When she gets on top the match is over. She is a two-time qualifier and was upset with how her season ended last year. She is excited for the postseason and trying to qualify for Fargo.” 

100 – Alycia Perez, Glenbard West

After falling in the consolation semifinals at the sectional in both 2023 and 2022, Alycia Perez was determined to not fall short of a trip to state in her third attempt as she concluded her career at Glenbard West. Not only did the Hilltoppers senior assure herself of a first appearance in the IHSA Individual Finals, there was no drama this time as she concluded an unbeaten regular season with Shepard Regional and Schaumburg Sectional championships and carried that momentum to four more wins in her state debut, capping a 35-0 season with the title at 100 after edging West Aurora’s Kameyah Young 1-0 in the title match. As a result, she became Glenbard West’s first champion and its second medalist, with Khatija Ahmed taking sixth at 130 last season. Perez earned her spot on the 100 title mat with a fall in 5:03 over Montini Catholic’s Kat Bell. Perez, one of two qualifiers and the lone medalist for the Hilltoppers, opened with a win by technical fall over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Justice Milligan before capturing a 7-0 decision over Rickover Naval Academy’s Mia Vazquez in the quarterfinals.

“It was a really hard loss for me last year,” Perez said. “I lost in the blood round at the sectional. So I just went back to the room and I trained as hard as I could. Every day I’d go back and just train and try to get better and work on things and rewatch my videos and just learn from my mistakes so I could get here. I could have been sad about it and not come back this year. But I just had to take that and use it as motivation to get to where I am. I’m definitely going to continue to wrestle.”

West Aurora junior Kameyah Young (32-4), who took fourth place last season at 100 while competing for East Aurora, was hoping to become the first state champion for her new school. Instead she ties Dyani Rivera, who took second place to Batavia’s Sydney Perry at 145 in 2022, for the best finish among the four all-staters that the program has had. Young advanced to the title mat after capturing a 4-2 decision over Batavia’s Lily Enos. She opened with a fall in 2:20 over Roxana’s Madelyn Murphy and won a 15-2 major decision over Newman Central Catholic’s Blair Grennan in the quarterfinals. 

In the third-place match, Batavia sophomore Lily Enos (42-11) won by fall in 3:24 over Newman Central Catholic freshman Blair Grennan (17-3). Enos improved on a fifth-place finish at 100 a year ago to become a two-time all-stater while Grennan is the first medalist for her school. And for fifth place, Galesburg senior Hannah Almendarez (23-5) won by injury forfeit over Montini Catholic junior Kat Bell (25-9), who also became the first all-stater for the Broncos after falling one win shy of medals at 100 in both 2023 and 2022. Almendarez joined Annalisa Gibbons (sixth at 140) as the first medalists for coach Greg Leibach’s Silver Streaks. Falling one win short of winning a state medal were Rickover Naval Academy junior Mia Vazquez (33-6) and Glenwood freshman Kadi Wilbern (23-2).

“The State Tournament atmosphere is electric because it is where season-long goals are made reality,” Greg Leibach said. “The third round wrestlebacks (blood round) were exciting matches for us, knowing that the podium was just beyond. I am proud of Hannah and Annalisa for their composure and clarity that allowed them to execute in that pressure moment. These are the first girls medals for the Galesburg program, so there is a sense of history to the moment. For Hannah, it is an awesome way to cap her high school career. For Annalisa, it is evidence of her constant progression and should give her deserved confidence for her senior season.”

105 – Angelina Gochis, Kaneland

On a day where 22 of the 28 IHSA finalists were juniors or seniors, having a title matchup between a freshman and a sophomore didn’t appear to be too likely, but that certainly wasn’t the way that freshman Angelina Gochis and sophomore Janiah Slaughter viewed their paths through in the 105 weight class. Kaneland’s Gochis and Huntley’s Slaughter met in the lone title match where an underclassman was assured of being the champion, and even the the Red Raiders sophomore might have looked to be the favorite after placing third at 100 last season, it was Knights freshman Gochis who made the day for all of the first-year performers in the competition when she won an 8-2 decision that not only made her the lone freshman state champion but also the first title winner for the Maple Park school and its second medalist, following up on Brooklyn Sheaffer’s sixth-place finish at 120 last season. One of two qualifiers for coach Josh West’s Knights, with Sheaffer the other, Gochis (47-5) earned her spot on the title mat with a 9-3 decision over Glenbard East’s Nadiia Shymkiv in the semifinals. The freshman champion kicked off her title run with a win by technical fall over Romeoville’s Josefina Orozco and followed with another win by technical fall over Pekin’s Tessa Donaldson in the quarterfinals. She tied Lockport Township’s Morgan Turner for second for wins by technical fall with two while Batavia’s Sydney Perry led all competitors with three wins by technical fall. Gochis also collected the most victories of any of the champions with 47.

“It was crazy, I was just so happy,” Gochis said. “I feel really good doing this for all of my friends, family and all of my coaches. I was thinking that I was going to do pretty good, knowing all of the hard work that I’ve put into it. I was just trying to keep moving, go to my offense and do what I do. I Iike the hard work, to keep going and doing what you need to do. We’ve been doing good, there’s a lot of good coaching and my teammates work hard.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of Angelina and what she accomplished during her freshman year,” Kaneland coach Josh West said. “She works hard, moves well and is always open to criticism and feedback.  She is extremely coachable and makes others better in our room. But what’s best about Angelina, is how she carries herself off the mat.  She is funny, kind and humble.  She doesn’t boast and is always cheering on other girls in the sport. It has been an honor being a part of her journey this year.”

Huntley sophomore Janiah Slaughter (29-3) was joined by teammate Aubrie Rohrbacher (45-5), who took third at 130, as all-staters for coach Gannon Kosowski’s Red Raiders, who only had Slaughter’s third-place at 100 from a year ago before adding two to its total over the weekend. Slaughter became the first girl from her school to reach the title mat when she won a 7-2 decision over Anna-Jonesboro’s Zoee Sadler in the semifinals. She opened with a 4-2 decision over Lincoln-Way West’s Zoe Dempsey and then won a 22-12 major decision over Lakes Community’s Zaryia Mouzon in the quarterfinals. 

In the third-place match, Glenbard East sophomore Nadiia Shymkiv (22-1) bounced back from her lone loss to Gochis to record a fall in 3:14 over Anna-Jonesboro junior Zoee Sadler (39-12). Shymkiv placed fourth at 105 last season while competing for Glenbard North while Sadler became her school’s first medalist last season after finishing second to Loyola Academy’s Harlee Hiller at 105. For fifth place, Lincoln-Way West sophomore Zoe Dempsey (20-7) captured an 8-6 decision over DeKalb sophomore Alex Gregorio-Perez (33-9). Dempsey became the first all-stater for coach Brian Glynn’s Warriors while Gregorio-Perez joined junior Reese Zimmer (sixth at 115) as the first medal winners for coach Conor Infelise’s Barbs. 

Coming up one win shy of medals were East Peoria senior Bailey Lusch (16-6) and Lakes Community senior Zaryia Mouzon (35-6). Lusch, who placed sixth at 105 last year and fifth at 105 in 2022, was hoping to become a three-time medalist. While Mouzon missed joining teammates and two-time medalists Josephine Larson (second at 190), Ava Babbs (third at 125) and Olivia Heft (fifth at 120) as all-staters for coach Devin Tortorice’s program, she can take plenty of consolation that her efforts helped the Eagles become the first IHSA champion in the sport and for her school in any sport after Lakes Community scored 61 points to edge out Lockport Township (58) for the state championship while Batavia (46.5) claimed third place.

110 – Morgan Turner, Lockport Township

A year ago, Morgan Turner made history by becoming the first girl to place at the IHSA Boys Individual Finals when she capped her freshman season by finishing in third place at 106 in Class 2A to finish with a 35-3 record while competing for Bremen. One year later, sophomore Turner, who was ranked third pound-for-pound and first nationally at 105 in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling February national rankings, made more history by not only winning her first state championship at 110 by recording a fall in 2:40 over Joliet Township’s Eliana Paramo in her debut in the girls tournament but also helping Lockport Township to win one of the first trophies that were handed out in the sport to the top-three scoring teams at its third Individual Finals. Coach Nathaniel Roth’s Porters scored 58 points, which was three points behind champion Lakes Community, who had 61 points, while Batavia took third place with 46.5 points. Lockport Township was the only team in the field that had two champions as another talented sophomore, Claudia Heeney (21-1), advanced to the title mat for the second year in a row and claimed the 130 title with a 4-2 decision over Collinsville’s Taylor Dawson. It was a special day for the Porters wrestling program as two of its graduates, Roth and Yorkville’s Jake Oster, both led teams to second-place finishes, with Oster’s Foxes taking second place in Class 3A to Mount Carmel. 

Turner (11-0), who competed with the Porters boys team during the regular season, advanced to her first title match with a win by technical fall over Sandwich’s Ashlyn Strenz. She opened her title run with a fall in 2:24 over Lakes Community’s Haven Sylves and then claimed another win by technical fall, this time over Morris’ Ella McDonnell. Turner and the 105 champion, Kaneland’s Angelina Gochis, both won two matches by technical fall while Batavia’s three-time IHSA champion, Sydney Perry, who took first at 145, capped her historic career with three wins by technical fall. Turner tied Moline’s Maryam Ndiaye, the champion at 155, with the most team points with 29 while Heeney tied Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (135), a three-time IHSA champion, and Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson (140), a three-time IHSA finalist and two-time champion, with 28 team points. Turner also ranked second in total match points with 63 while Perry set a new record with 91 total points. Junior Averi Colella (40-13 at 105) and freshman Rebekah Ramirez (36-14 at 235) were the other two qualifiers for the IHSA runner-up Porters.

“It feels good,” Turner said of the state title. “It’s what I came down here to do. My shoulder is still sore, but I am grateful the doctor cleared me to wrestle against girls. Wrestling against boys helped me in this tournament. The boys are stronger. I felt like my first match was a little tough. But I feel like if I run the score up I have a gap just in case. So I try to build up a cushion.”

“Morgan is a very talented wrestler,” Porters coach Nathaniel Roth said. “She demonstrated that and helped us to a state runner-up finish.”

Joliet Township senior Eliana Paramo (37-4) capped an historic career for coach Liz Short’s Steelwomen after claiming second place for the second-straight year for the co-op team featuring athletes from Joliet Central and Joliet West. Paramo lost to Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez 12-3 in the 115 title match a year ago and Gomez joined Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi, Diduch and Perry as the first three-time IHSA champions when she took top honors at 115, which was the last contested weight class of the finals. A fifth-place finisher at 115 in 2022 while competing for Joliet West, Paramo is one of three JT all-staters and its first three-time medalist. She advanced to the title mat for the second-straight year after recording a fall in 5:11 in the semifinals over Bartlett’s Emma Engels, who was the IHSA 100 champion last season. Paramo opened with a fall in 2:42 over Glenbard West’s Valentina Fantoni and then recorded a pin in 3:20 over Crystal Lake South’s Annalee Aarseth in the quarterfinals. 

“I’m just really grateful that I have the opportunity to even compete on this level,” Paramo said. “I just think that’s incredible that I got to do this and to represent Joliet. I think it’s truly incredible that it’s (the IHSA Finals) gotten to this size. I remember that I came downstate in 2022, it was a completely different atmosphere than it was today. It’s so competitive now that the athletes that are competing here, it’s at another level. It’s really amazing and I’m so excited about the future generations for women’s wrestling.”

“Eliana is a three-time state placer and two-time state runner-up and has been an integral part of the success of the Joliet Township Girls wrestling team these past two years” Joliet Township coach Liz Short said. “Eliana has worked extremely hard this summer traveling to offseason tournaments and participating on the Team Illinois National Dual Team in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Junior National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. Beyond her individual accomplishments, she has been a tremendous leader and role model for her teammates.  Her work ethic, positive attitude and willingness to support and encourage others have helped foster a culture of excellence within our team.  She has led by example, showing her teammates what it means to be a true competitor and a loyal teammate. It has been an absolute privilege to witness her growth and development as an athlete and individual. She has overcome adversity with grace and determination, never backing down from a challenge and always striving to be the best version of herself.”

In the third-place match, Grant senior Ayane Jasinski (22-4) concluded a memorable career by capturing a 13-7 decision over Litchfield freshman Rilynn Younker (29-11). Jasinski, one of two medalists for Grant in the past three years and its first three-time all-stater, beat Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino 2-0 in sudden victory to win the 110 title last season after placing fourth at 100 in 2022 while Younker is the first medalist for the Lady Panthers. For fifth place, Sandwich senior Ashlyn Strenz (18-6) claimed a 4-1 decision over Bartlett junior Emma Engels (32-16). Strenz became Sandwich’s first medal winner a year ago when she took fourth place at 115. Engels, Barlett’s only medalist, was the 100 champion a year ago when she won a 4-0 decision over Oak Forest’s Alexandra Sebek. Falling one win shy of medals were Morris senior Ella McDonnell (33-5) and Crystal Lake South freshman Annalee Aarseth (34-6). McDonnell placed fourth at 110 last season and fourth at 105 in 2022 and is her program’s only all-stater while Aarseth was hoping to become the first individual from her school to win a state medal.”Ayane Jasinski placed third at the IHSA Girls State Tournament to become a three-time all-state wrestler for the Bulldogs,” Grant coach Mark Jolcover said. “She entered the tournament as the returning state champion, but we knew the task was tall to repeat. Ayane dropped a heartbreaking bout in overtime to a returning state place winner. The conversation quickly shifted to getting the ‘next best thing’ which is exactly what she did battling back for third, defeating a returning place winner in the blood round and a returning state champ in the consolation semis to eventually win four-straight matches and finish third. We are incredibly proud of her as a program, and she has been someone who has raised the standard and expectation as far as preparation, investment and dedication. She is a true professional on and off the mat. We will be forever grateful for her impact on our program and community and look forward to watching her at the next level.”
Editor’s note: Many thanks to longtime Chicago area reporter Randy Whalen for comments that he provided which were from Lockport Township’s Morgan Turner and Nathaniel Roth.

115 – Gabby Gomez, Glenbard North

Just as the Individual Finals started with drama with an individual looking to become a three-time champion, in Angelina Cassioppi’s 4-3 decision over Sophia Ball in the 120 title match, the competition ended in a similar fashion when Gabby Gomez looked to follow what Hononegah’s Cassioppi, Freeport’s Cadence Diduch and Batavia’s Sydney Perry achieved by becoming the first three-time IHSA champions, when she met Loyola Academy’s Harlee Hiller in the 115 championship match. It was the only matchup on the title mat between 2023 state champions and not surprisingly, it was another dramatic match that was decided again with a 4-3 decision as Gomez got a last-minute takedown and then held off determined efforts by Hiller to make a late comeback as the Glenbard North junior capped a 38-0 season. In the February national rankings at 115 by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, USA Wrestling and FloWrestling, Gomez was fifth and Hiller was 11th. Last year, Gomez won a 12-3 major decision over Joliet Township’s Eliana Paramo for the 115 title to wrap up a 33-0 campaign. And as a freshman in 2022, Gomez captured a 5-3 decision over Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino to win the 105 title and conclude a 12-0 season. Through the first three seasons of the sport with an IHSA series, Gomez is one of two individuals with a perfect record, which is 83-0, while Perry is the other. The lone individual for coach Chris Edwards’ Panthers that was able to qualify for state, she earned her spot on the title mat for the third-straight year by winning a 6-1 decision over Guarino, who also took second place last season. Gomez began her run for her third-straight title with a fall in 2:45 over University High’s Allison Kroesch and followed that up with another pin, this one in 2:16 over Springfield High’s Ella Miloncus. As the result of the four two-time champions all winning a third title, they move past the other two individuals who won IHSA titles as juniors and seniors who graduated in 2023, Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro and Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey, who are now joined as two-time champs by Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson, who like the four three-time champions i one of only five individuals who have competed for titles each year. With Diduch, Perry and Wickson closing out their historic careers in Bloomington, Gomez and Cassioppi can now set their sights on becoming the sports’ initial four-time finalists and more importantly, the first-ever four-time IHSA champs.

“It was a pretty crazy match,” Gomez said. “I think every year it’s just going to get better because we’re seeing a lot of different girls competing at different levels. You see these girls that are seniors who are graduating and they’re leaving a legacy that no one will ever touch. A big sign of how the sport is growing is seeing different levels of girls being able to win a state title, that’s a big thing because it’s a confidence boost for them and Illinois girls wrestling. I still have one more year but I’ve seen a lot of my friends graduate this year, and that’s sad. Seeing Sydney go off to college and Cadence, it’s really something special because we all grew up together and we all wrestled each other and went back and forth when we were younger. And seeing us with three state titles and two state titles that Netavia has. We all first started as just normal little girls who wanted to try a sport and it led to us all having state championships together. I think soon enough the girls Illinois wrestling will be one day bigger than the boys, and that’s a goal for us. The boys are doing great this year, but I think the girls set a standard this year that not a lot of people are going to beat so it’s going to take the 2025 class to really step it up. We need to show our talents and show that we’re a force to be reckoned with and when it comes to national tournaments, we’re not going to mess around. 

“I think that they ran a real good tournament this year and it was better than the years before, but next year we need to separate the top teams a little bit. They’re really helping us grow. I think having team trophies is a big thing because it shows that next year that team is going to want to defend their title. It’s not just about where our state tournament is, girls wrestling is still growing so you’re not going to see stands packed. We’re not at the point where we need a bigger place. But I think us having a week on and a week off and a week on and a week off shouldn’t be. We saw at state that a lot of girls didn’t make weight because they had that week off. They would never do that for the guys. I’m having a lot of fun and I really do like high school season, but it is also kind of sad that we can’t wrestle outside of our high school during high school season because some of us girls that are higher-ranked side like Sydney Perry, we also need to be able to get more competition out of the series. Since Midlands is only 25 minutes away from my house, I should be able to go wrestle in it and see where I stand with those college girls. For my Freestyle season, those are the girls that I’m going to be wrestling.”

Loyola Academy junior Harlee Hiller (24-9) came very close to upsetting the party for one of the four two-time champions who were seeking a third-straight title when she took Gabby Gomez down to the wire before dropping a 4-3 decision. Last season, Hiller beat Anna-Jonesboro’s Zoee Sadler 8-1 in the 105 title match to cap a 32-5 season and in 2022, she took third place at 105 behind Gomez and Guarino to wrap up a 22-5 debut campaign. The lone qualifier for coach Matt Collum’s Ramblers and also her program’s only all-stater, she assured herself of a second-straight trip to the title mat with a fall in 2:36 over Mt. Zion’s Sydney Cannon. Hiller opened with a fall in 1:22 over Mahomet-Seymour’s Kalista Granadino and then got a pin in 5:00 over Burlington Central’s Victoria Macias in the quarterfinals. 

For third place, Lincoln-Way Central senior Gracie Guarino (27-1) bounced back from her only loss of the season to Gomez in the semifinals by winning with a fall in 0:51 over Mt. Zion sophomore Sydney Cannon (24-5). Guarino established a high bar for coach Tyrone Byrd’s Knights by becoming her school’s first all-stater, a two-time finalist and three-time medalist in IHSA competition. And in 2021, she finished in third place at 106 in the IWCOA Tournament. Cannon, who claimed third place at 110 a year ago, is her school’s only medal winner. 

“I knew that my semifinals obviously would be a really hard match,” Guarino said. “I went 115 just to try again. She’s (Gomez) been my teammate in the offseason. I knew that it would be a hard match and that one of us was going to end up third and one of us was going to end up first. I’m happy that I ended my career on a win.”

In the fifth-place match, Burlington Central junior Victoria Macias (36-6) won by fall in 3:30 over DeKalb junior Reese Zimmer (35-13). Macias, her school’s first all-stater, is now a three-time placewinner after also finishing fifth at 110 a year ago and fourth at 110 in 2022. And the good news for coach Jeff Richart’s Rockets is that they added their second medal winner this  season, freshman Ryann Miller, who took fifth place at 170. And coach Conor Infelise’s DeKalb Barbs enjoyed an historic state tournament as they got their first two medal winners as Zimmer claimed sixth place at 115 while sophomore Alex Gregorio-Perez also finished in sixth place at 105. Falling one win shy of a medal at 115 were Wheaton Warrenville South senior Star Duncan (27-9) and District 230 (Andrew/Carl Sandburg/Stagg) junior Sophia Figueroa (28-4). Duncan was hoping to become Wheaton Warrenville South’s first medalist while Figueroa was seeking to become the fourth individual from her school district’s co-op team to medal at state.

Girls Wrestling Honor Roll for 2024 IHSA Individual State Finals

Individual Honors

First Three-Time State Champions

Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah; Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Gabby Gomez, Glenbard North; Sydney Perry, Batavia

First Three-Time State Finalists

Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah; Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Gabby Gomez, Glenbard North; Sydney Perry, Batavia; Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

First Three-Time State Medalists

Yamilet Aguirre, Yorkville; Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah; ILeen Castrejon, Zion-Benton; Taylor Dawson, Collinsville; Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Sarah Epshtein, Oak Park and River Forest; Gabby Gomez, Glenbard North; Aaliyah Grandberry, Curie Metropolitan; Gracie Guarino, Lincoln-Way Central; Savannah Hamilton, El Paso-Gridley; Harlee Hiller, Loyola Academy; Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez, West Chicago; Ayane Jasinski, Grant; Victoria Macias, Burlington Central; Alivia Ming, Goreville; Sydney Perry, Batavia; Eliana Paramo, Joliet Township; Valeria Rodriguez, Schaumburg; August Rottmann, Highland; Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

Team Honors

First State Champion

Lakes Community, coach Devin Tortorice

First Second-Place Finisher

Lockport Township, coach Nathaniel Roth

First Third-Place Finisher

Batavia, coach Scott Bayer

Career Records for Class of 2024 (includes 2021 IWCOA Finals)

Four-time State Champions

Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Sydney Perry, Batavia

Four-time State Finalists

Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Sydney Perry, Batavia; Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

Four-time State Medalists

Cadence Diduch, Freeport; Gracie Guarino, Lincoln-Way Central; Sydney Perry, Batavia; Valeria Rodriguez, Schaumburg; Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

Championship Matches

100 – Alycia Perez (Glenbard West) 35-0, Sr. over Kameyah Young (West Aurora) 32-4, Jr. (Dec 1-0)
105 – Angelina Gochis (Kaneland) 47-5, Fr. over Janiah Slaughter (Huntley) 29-3, So. (Dec 8-2)
110 – Morgan Turner (Lockport Township) 11-0, So. over Eliana Paramo (Joliet Township) 37-4, Sr. (Fall 2:40)
115 – Gabby Gomez (Glenbard North) 38-0, Jr. over Harlee Hiller (Loyola Academy) 24-9, Jr. (Dec 4-3)
120 – Angelina Cassioppi (Hononegah) 17-1, Jr. over Sophia Ball (Hoffman Estates) 27-1, Jr. (Dec 4-3)
125 – Sophie Bowers (Vandalia) 27-7, Jr. over Kinnley Smith (Canton) 27-4, Jr. (Dec 6-0)
130 – Claudia Heeney (Lockport Township) 21-1, So. over Taylor Dawson (Collinsville) 47-1, Jr. (Dec 4-2)
135 – Cadence Diduch (Freeport) 29-0, Sr. over Natalie Beaumont (Cumberland) 19-3, So. (MD 10-1)
140 – Netavia Wickson (Boylan Catholic) 23-2, Sr. over Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (Schaumburg) 37-3, Jr. (MD 19-5)
145 – Sydney Perry (Batavia) 41-0, Sr. over Alivia Ming (Goreville) 37-1, Sr. (TF-1.5 5:00 24-9
155 – Maryam Ndiaye (Moline) 31-0, Sr. over Jaida Johnson (Richwoods) 25-4, Sr. (MD 14-5)
170 – Kiernan Farmer (Peotone) 21-1, Sr. over Alicia Tucker (Plainfield Central) 36-2, Jr. (Dec 9-6)
190 – ILeen Castrejon (Zion-Benton) 25-1, Sr. over Josephine Larson (Lakes Community) 32-8, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
235 – Chloe Hoselton (Prairie Central) 19-3, Jr. over Phoenix Molina (Unity) 28-6, So. (UTB 2-1)

Third-Place Matches
100 – Lily Enos (Batavia) 42-11, So. over Blair Grennan (Newman Central Catholic) 17-3, Fr. (Fall 3:24)
105 – Nadiia Shymkiv (Glenbard East) 22-1, So. over Zoee Sadler (Anna-Jonesboro) 39-12, Jr. (Fall 3:14)
110 – Ayane Jasinski (Grant) 22-4, Sr. over Rilynn Younker (Litchfield) 29-11, Fr. (Dec 13-7)
115 – Gracie Guarino (New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)) 27-1, Sr. over Sydney Cannon (Mt. Zion) 24-5, So. (Fall 0:51)
120 – Norah Swaim (Edwardsville) 21-2, Sr. over Ariella Dobin (Glenbrook North) 33-5, Fr. (Dec 6-5)
125 – Ava Babbs (Lakes Community) 32-1, Sr. over Yamilet Aguirre (Yorkville) 28-3, Sr. (Fall 1:51)
130 – Aubrie Rohrbacher (Huntley) 45-5, So. over Addison Cailteux (Minooka) 27-6, So. (MD 12-0)
135 – Katie Ramirez-Quintero (Bolingbrook) 34-4, Sr. over Jenna Tuxhorn (Glenwood) 23-4, So. (Dec 8-1)
140 – Kaila Williams (Richwoods) 27-2, Sr. over Jasmine McCaskel (Richmond-Burton) 23-5, Sr. (Dec 7-4)
145 – AJ Grant (Phoenix Military Academy) 29-2, So. over Katelyn Marvel (Canton) 27-6, Jr. (Fall 1:47)
155 – Elanna Hickman (Alton) 33-6, Sr. over Savannah Hamilton (El Paso-Gridley) 14-4, Jr. (Dec 8-2)
170 – Autumne Williams (Peoria Notre Dame) 23-5, Jr. over Kayleigh Loo (Downers Grove North) 25-2, Sr. (Fall 0:22)
190 – Jasmine Rene (Wheeling) 38-2, So. over Emma Akpan (District 230) 34-8, Jr. (TB-1 7-6)
235 – Aaliyah Grandberry (Curie Metropolitan) 24-1, Sr. over Sarah Epshtein (Oak Park and River Forest) 27-5, Sr. (Fall 1:41)

Fifth-place Matches
100 – Hannah Almendarez (Galesburg) 23-5, Sr. over Kat Bell (Montini Catholic) 25-9, Jr. (Inj. 0:00)
105 – Zoe Dempsey (Lincoln-Way West) 20-7, So. over Alex Gregorio-Perez (DeKalb) 33-9, So. (Dec 8-6)
110 – Ashlyn Strenz (Sandwich) 18-6, Sr. over Emma Engels (Bartlett) 32-16, Jr. (Dec 4-1)
115 – Victoria Macias (Burlington Central) 36-6, Jr. over Reese Zimmer (DeKalb) 35-13, Jr. (Fall 3:30)
120 – Olivia Heft (Lakes Community) 33-4, Sr. over Alexis Seymour (Jacksonville) 30-6, Jr. (Fall 4:32)
125 – Lilly White (Bartlett) 31-5, So. over Holly Zugmaier (Edwardsville) 34-8, Jr. (M. For.)
130 – Amber Louderback (Camp Point Central) 23-11, So. over Sammie Greisen (Seneca) 31-11, So. (Fall 5:40)
135 – Jordan Bicknell (Olympia) 16-4, Sr. over Rose Craig (Elmwood Park) 19-6, Sr. (Dec 15-11)
140 – Natalie Corona (McHenry) 24-5, So. over Annalisa Gibbons (Galesburg) 22-7, Jr. (Fall 0:38)
145 – Dempsey Atkinson (Rochelle) 21-7, Jr. over Naomi Foote (Zion-Benton) 39-11, Jr. (Fall 1:10)
155 – Valeria Rodriguez (Schaumburg) 40-3, Sr. over Payton Temple (Clifton Central) 8-7, Fr. (Fall 0:14)
170 – Ryann Miller (Burlington Central) 36-5, Fr. over August Rottmann (Highland) 28-5, Jr. (M. For.)
190 – Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (West Chicago) 21-6, Sr. over Karmen Cody (Clifton Central) 15-5, Sr. (Fall 0:29)
235 – Anjali Gonzalez (Hoffman Estates) 32-7, Jr. over Juliana Thrush (Ottawa Township) 30-6, So. (Fall 3:34)

Final Team Standings

1. Lakes Community 61, 2. Lockport Township 58, 3. Batavia 46.5, 4. Hoffman Estates 43, 4. Schaumburg 43, 6. Huntley 39, 7. Richwoods 38, 8. Burlington Central 34, 9. Canton 33, 9. Zion-Benton 33, 11. Edwardsville 32, 12. Kaneland 31, 13. District 230 (Andrew, Carl Sandburg/Stagg) 30, 14. Galesburg 29, 14. Moline 29, 14. Phoenix Military Academy 29, 17. Boylan Catholic 28, 17. Freeport 28, 19. Glenbard North 26, 20. Glenbard West 25.5, 21. Prairie Central 25, 22. Collinsville 24, 22. Cumberland 24, 22. Goreville 24, 22. Joliet Township 24, 22. Loyola Academy 24, 27. Hononegah 23.5, 27. Peotone 23.5, 27. Vandalia 23.5, 30. DeKalb 23, 31. Clifton Central 22, 31. West Aurora 22, 33. Bartlett 21, 33. Downers Grove North 21, 33. Peoria Notre Dame 21, 33. Plainfield Central 21, 37. Curie Metropolitan 20, 37. El Paso-Gridley 20, 37. Glenwood 20, 37. Lincoln-Way Central 20, 37. Newman Central Catholic 20, 37. Yorkville 20, 43. Bolingbrook 19, 43. Minooka 19, 43. Oak Park and River Forest 19, 46. Glenbrook North 18, 46. Mt. Zion 18, 46. Unity 18, 49. Alton Senior 17, 49. Glenbard East 17, 51. Grant 16, 51. Richmond-Burton 16, 51. Rochelle 16, 51. Wheeling 16, 55. Olympia 15, 55. West Chicago 15, 57. Anna-Jonesboro 14, 57. Lincoln-Way West 14, 59. Camp Point Central 13, 59. Jacksonville 13, 59. Ottawa Township 13.