By Gary Larsen

Here’s a recap of Tuesday’s Class 3A team dual sectionals. The team state finals will take place Friday and Saturday at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

At DeKalb

St. Charles East 66, Maine South 9
The Saints were dominant Tuesday, winning 12 of the 13 matches wrestled including nine pins against Maine South. St. Charles East will compete in the team state finals for the third time in program history, having placed third in 1997 for coach Mick Ruettiger, and advancing in 2001 for coach Steve Smerz.

“I felt our guys wrestled really well on Super Tuesday,” Saints coach Jason Potter said. “It is a hard turnaround for the guys who are coming off a long weekend at individual state and I was impressed by their ability to get focused on short notice and take care of a tough Maine South team.
“We wrestled hard from top to bottom and we were even in the two matches we lost.  We’re excited about the opportunity to compete for a state championship this weekend and the challenge of facing the returning champs (Mt. Carmel) on Friday night.  We feel if we wrestle our best, we can beat anyone.”

Dual results:

106: Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East) F 1:35 Brett Harman (Maine South)

113: Christos Vaselopulos (Maine South) SV-1 10-8 Liam Aye (St. Charles East)

120: Logan Tatar (St. Charles East) FF

126: AJ Marino (St. Charles East) F 2:42 Majid Alavi (Maine South)

132: Ben Davino (St. Charles East) F 0:58 Luke Morrison (Maine South)

138: Ethan Penzato (St. Charles East) F 1:30 Sean Hamilton (Maine South)

145: Tyler Guerra (St. Charles East) F 1:01 Nate Beltran (Maine South)

152: Gavin Connolly (St. Charles East) D 3-1 Danny Spandiary (Maine South)

160: Alex Eng (Maine South) F 2:29 Ryan McGovern (St. Charles East)

170: Lane Robinson (St. Charles East) F 0:55 Sam Bartell (Maine South)

182: Brody Murray (St. Charles East) F 3:00 Fillip Michniewicz (Maine South)

195: Brandon Swartz (St. Charles East) F 2:27 Tommy Porrello (Maine South)

220: Christian Wilson (St. Charles East) F 2:27 Leo McDonald (Maine South)

285: Austin Barrett (St. Charles East) D 3-2 Tyler Fortis (Maine South)

York 38, Schaumburg 32

The final two matches of the York-Schaumburg dual decided things, with Austin Bagdasarian (220) winning a 1-0 decision and then Dominic Begora (285) winning by fall to send York to the team state finals for its first time ever.

York won 8 of 14 matches wrestled and got bonus points in six of those wins. The Dukes and coach Nick Metcalf will wrestle against Yorkville in Friday’s state quarterfinal round.
Dual results:

106: Austin Phelps (Schaumburg) F 1:57 Tommy Olins (York)

113: Jake Kubycheck (York) F 2:41 Jair Cole (Schaumburg)

120: Brady Phelps (Schaumburg) TF 20-5 Bobby Berner (York)

126: Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg) F 5:05 Jackson Hanselman (York)

132: Sean VanSleet (York) MD 12-3 Rocco Fontela (Schaumburg)

138: Sean Berger (York) F 2:33 Aiden Ploski (Schaumburg)

145: Frankie Nitti (York) D 8-4 Kolin Little (Schaumburg)

152: Gavin Hinkle (Schaumburg) F 3:55 Michael Grazzini (York)

160: Caden Kirchner (Schaumburg) F 3:24 Alejandro Carreon (York)

170: Danny DeCristofaro (York) MD 10-2 Logan Meyer (Schaumburg)

182: Sean Christoffel (Schaumburg) D 10-4 Matt Barton (York)

195: Evan Grazzini (York) F 3:59 Jacob Acevedo (Schaumburg)

220: Austin Bagdasarian (York) D 1-0 Jimmy Zinchuck (Schaumburg)

285: Dominic Begora (York) F 3:59 Dilon Najjar (Schaumburg)

At Marmion Academy:

Marmion Academy 51, Downers Grove South 21

Marmion went 10-4 with one forfeit win in matches against Downers Grove South and got bonus points in eight of the nine matches wrestled. Marmion advances to the team state finals for the ninth time in program history. Marmion is seeking its first-ever team state championship, having placed second in state twice (2013, 2016) and third twice (2014, 2019).

“The boys wrestled hard,” Marmion coach Anthony Cirrincione said. “It has been a while (2019) for Marmion, but we have been wrestling hard all year. The excitement of having an opportunity to compete for a team state title is real amongst the team. We will continue to ask the boys what we have asked them to do this entire season and that is to wrestle really hard and listen to the coaches. They have yet to not answer that request and nothing will be different this weekend. I expect us to compete really hard and give it everything we have.”

Dual results:
195: Mateusz Nycz (Marmion) F 4:00 Keandre Miles (DG South)

220: Teddy Perry (Marmion) F 1:07 Jayden Contreras (DG South)

285: Sean Scheck (Marmion) F 1:28 Semaj Croswell (DG South)

106: Nicholas Garcia (Marmion) TF 17-2 Trevor DiNaso (DG South)

113: Donny Pigoni (Marmion) MD 10-0 Miguel Castaneda (DG South)

120: Donnie Fields (DG South) FF

126: Jameson Garcia (Marmion) F 3:37 Angel Negron (DG South)

132: Ashton Hobson (Marmion) F 0:41 Jordan Christin-Holley (DG South)

138: Tyler Aters (Marmion) D 8-4 Dom Piehl (DG South)

145: Brody Kelly (Marmion) TF 20-3 Hugo Contreras-Lozano (DG South)

152: Collin Carrigan (Marmion) FF

160: Luke Swan (DG South) FF

170: RJ Samuels (DG South) D 6-3 Michael Phillips (Marmion)

182: Matty Lapacek (DG South) FF

Mt. Carmel 63, Naperville Central 9

Defending team state champion Mt. Carmel went 12-2 in matches against Naperville Central to advance to the team state finals for the 14th time in program history, having won team state titles under Hall-of-Fame coach Bill Weick back in 1992, ‘93, and ‘94, and also placed second in state in 2020 for current coach Alex Tsirtsis.

Dual results:

195: William Jacobson (Mt. Carmel) MD 14-4 Jacob Smetters (Naperville Central)

220: Nicolas Besteiro (Naperville Central) F 1:28 Nick Naujokas (Mt. Carmel)

285: Alexander Poholik (Mt. Carmel) F 1:35 over Chase Enfield (Naperville Central)

106: Kavel Moore (Mt. Carmel) F 1:02 Jacob Cochran (Naperville Central)

113: Lukas Tsirtsis (Mt. Carmel) F 3:24 Austin Aguinaldo (Naperville Central)

120: Seth Mendoza (Mt. Carmel) F 3:36 Ty Martin (Naperville Central)

126: Caleb Drousias (Mt. Carmel) MD 14-5 Ethan Olson (Naperville Central)

132: Jairo Acuna (Mt. Carmel) F 1:55 Mitchell Kaszuba (Naperville Central)

138: Sergio Lemley (Mt. Carmel) F 4:22 Larry Stubitsch (Naperville Central)

145: Liam Kelly (Mt. Carmel) MD 10-2 Hagan Taylor (Naperville Central)

152: Edmund Enright (Mt. Carmel) F 0:29 Christopher Bern (Naperville Central)

160: Gavin Bohan (Naperville Central) D 9-2 Kevin Kalchbrenner (Mt. Carmel)

170: Colin Kelly (Mt. Carmel) TF 24-8 Henry Rydwelski (Naperville Central)

182: Rylan Breen (Mt. Carmel) MD 10-0 Nyree Dabney (Naperville Central)

At Huntley

Hersey 34, Prospect 21

In a closely-fought dual, Hersey went 9-5 in matches won over Prospect, including three one-point decision wins from Aaron Hernandez (160), Anthony Cambria (182) and James Shaffer (132), and a pair of two-point wins from Ben Erhabor (220) and Parker Sena (152).
Hersey will be making its third trip to the team state finals, having last competed downstate in 1993 and 1997. They’ll take on Marmion in their state quarterfinal dual on Friday.

160: Aaron Hernandez (Hersey) D 6-5 Damien Puma (Prospect)

170: Michael Matuszak (Prospect) D 7-4 Fortis Variano (Hersey)

182: Anthony Cambria (Hersey) D 10-9 Nathan Lopez (Prospect)

195: Jaxon Penovich (Prospect) TF 22-7 Leo Delgado ((Hersey)

220: Ben Erhabor (Hersey) D 9-7 Conor Mitchell (Prospect)

285: Oleg Simakov (Hersey) F 5:09 Tommy Johl (Prospect)

106: Dan Lehman (Hersey) TF 18-3 Adam Epperson (Prospect)

113: Abdullokh Khakimov (Hersey) MD 11-2 Elijah Garza (Prospect)

120: Joel Muehlenbeck (Prospect) D 11-6 Esteban Delgado (Hersey)

126: Max Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey) MD 13-4 Jimmy Mateos (Prospect)

132: James Shaffer (Hersey) D 8-7 Giorgio Difalco (Prospect)

138: Lennon Steinkuhler (Prospect) MD 14-1 Rodrigo Arceo (Hersey)

145: Will Baysingar (Prospect) F 1:37 Jake Hanson (Hersey)

152: Parker Sena (Hersey) D 5-3 Alex Bootz (Prospect)

Warren 60, Belvidere North 16

Warren won eight of the 11 matches wrestled against Belvidere North and got bonus points in six of those eight wins, in advancing to the program’s first-ever trip to the team state finals for coach Brad Janecek. Warren squares off with Lockport in a state quarterfinal dual on Friday.

Dual results:

160: Royce Lopez (Warren) SV-1 2-1 Antonio Alvarado (Belvidere North)

170: Colin Young (Belvidere North) F 1:59 Justice Humphreys (Warren)

182: Demetrius Lin (Warren) F 3: 26 Juan Cervantes (Belvidere North)

195: Jeremiah Hixson ((Warren) F 0:40 Christian Mendoza (Belvidere North)

220: Caleb VanLeer ((Warren) FF

285: Anthony Soto (Warren) F 0:38 Zander Martinez (Belvidere North)

106: Jonathan Marquez (Warren) F 4:00 Unknown (Unattached)

113: Brayden Teunissen (Belvidere North) MD 13-1 Carlos Ordonez (Warren)

120:Jose Ordonez (Warren) F 1:29 Bryson Teunissen (Belvidere North)

126: Jorge Valenzuela ((Warren) D 11-5 Geren Stapleton (Belvidere North)

132: Zack Piszkiewicz (Warren) FF

138: Evan Onstead (Warren) F 1:51 Andrew Bucci (Belvidere North)

145: Dominick Girardin (Belvidere North) F 2:21 Daniel Currea (Warren)

152: Aaron Stewart (Warren) FF

At Lincoln-Way West

Lockport 42, Lincoln-Way West 22

Lockport went 9-5 in matches won against Lincoln-Way West to secure its eighth trip to the dual team state finals, having won the state crown in 2017, placed third in 2016 and 2022, and finished fourth in 2015, all under former coach Josh Oster. In his first season at the helm, current coach Jameson Oster takes his squad into a state quarterfinal dual against Warren on Friday night.

“The team wrestled really well,” Oster said. “Being down three starters made the dual a lot more interesting, but our guys stepped up like they’ve been doing all season. We are looking to keep this momentum going and bring home another trophy this weekend.”

Dual results:

220: Nick Kavooras (Lincoln-Way West) MD 11-1 Malik Salah (Lockport)

285: Wojciech Chrobak (Lockport) TF 16-0 Michael Bylaitis (Lincoln-Way West)

106: Isaac Zimmerman (Lockport) F 1:43 Carter Dibenedetto (Lincoln-Way West)

113: Timmy O`Connor (Lockport) D 5-3 Haden Anderson (Lincoln-Way West)

120: Liam Zimmerman (Lockport) F 0:23 Caiden Selof (Lincoln-Way West)

126: Jad Alwawi (Lockport) MD 12-0 Jakob Siwinski (Lincoln-Way West)

132: Karter Guzman (Lincoln-Way West) F 2:43 Robert Vukobratovich (Lockport)

138: Logan Kaminski (Lockport) D 9-3 Jase Salin (Lincoln-Way West)

145: Luke Siwinski (Lincoln-Way West) D 11-7 Chris Miller (Lockport)

152: Durango Valles (Lockport) D 10-3 Tyler Mansker (Lincoln-Way West)

160: Jimmy Talley (Lincoln-Way West) D 7-3 Max Knezevich (Lockport)

170: Logan Swaw (Lockport) F 1:06 Devin Swidergal (Lincoln-Way West)

182: Aidan Nolting (Lockport) F 3:02 Nate Elstner (Lincoln-Way West)

195: Anthony Sherman (Lincoln-Way West) F 1:23 Chase Creed (Lockport)

Yorkville 35, Edwardsville 23

Yorkville won 8 of 13 matches wrestled including four of the final five matches to notch its 11th trip downstate. The Foxes most recent state titles came in 1993 and ‘94 under coach Bob Long and they finished second in state in their most recent trip downstate under coach Joe Fornell in 2012.
In his 7th year at the helm, current coach Jake Oster takes Yorkville downstate to face York in a state quarterfinal dual on Friday.

220: Ben Alvarez (Yorkville (H.S.)) F 1:28 Roman Janek (Edwardsville (H.S.))

285: Dawson Rull (Edwardsville (H.S.)) D 10-3 Logan Fenoglio (Yorkville (H.S.))

106: Liam Fenoglio (Yorkville (H.S.)) D 5-0 Bryson Nuttall (Edwardsville (H.S.))

113: Tyler Perry (Edwardsville (H.S.)) F 4:00 Ramsey Barton (Yorkville (H.S.))

120: Levi Wilkinson (Edwardsville (H.S.)) MD 14-6 Nathan Craft (Yorkville (H.S.))

126: Ryan Richie (Edwardsville (H.S.)) SV-1 9-7 Dominic Recchia (Yorkville (H.S.))

132: Jack Ferguson (Yorkville (H.S.)) D 4-1 Zeke Rhodes (Edwardsville (H.S.))

138: Dom Coronado (Yorkville (H.S.)) MD 9-1 Blake Mink (Edwardsville (H.S.))

145: Drew Landau (Edwardsville (H.S.))  MD 14-6 Caleb Viscogliosi (Yorkville (H.S.))

152: Ryder Janeczko (Yorkville (H.S.)) F 1:27 Brendan Landau (Edwardsville (H.S.))

160: Cam Peach (Yorkville (H.S.)) MD 11-0 Jack Cloud (Edwardsville (H.S.))

170: Luke Zook (Yorkville (H.S.)) FF

182: Hubey Thomas (Edwardsville (H.S.)) D 4-0 Colten Stevens (Yorkville (H.S.))

195: Ryan Stockl (Yorkville (H.S.)) D 5-2 Simon Schulte (Edwardsville (H.S.))

By Patrick Z. McGavin

CHAMPAIGN – Everything old proved new again—with some delirious twists and turns.

Redemption was the ruling metaphor of the Class 2A State Championships at State Farm Arena here Saturday night.

By one measure, the dominant teams took hold on Mat 2–Joliet Catholic with five finalists, Washington four, and Aurora Christian three.

The most satisfying story was the possibility of the comeback.

Four wrestlers had a year to imagine and ponder a different scenario than what befell them last year—the heartbreak of losing a state championship match.

If the best teams invariably produce the best wrestlers, success begets deeper levels of accomplishment. The best wrestlers tend to come back—again and again.

“Illinois is one of the best states in the country for wrestlers,” said Washington senior Kannon Webster, a three-time state champion. 

“It is not a shocker that kids are coming back year after year, and putting themselves in the finals, and putting themselves on the top of the podium.”

The rankings refer to Rob Sherill’s Illinois Matmen standings. Seeds refer to the IHSA points-based system.

Here is a closer look at how the state championship matches played out.

Class 2A state champions

106: Anthony Alanis, Grayslake Central, junior

The rivalry of Anthony Alanis and Gavin Rockey constitutes its own narrative.

Their paths have been inescapably intertwined throughout the state series—clashing in successive weeks in the regional, sectional and fittingly, the largest stage.

Alanis seized the early advantage with two first period takedowns and withstood the rally of Rockey for the tense and superbly contested 8-6 final.

Alanis (44-1) reached his dream of ascending one level higher at the state podium after he lost to Drew Davis of Glenwood in the 106-pound state championship match last year.

His only loss came against Antioch sophomore Gavin Hanrahan at 113 pounds.

“A big difference from last year is that I was definitely not as nervous,” Alanis said. “I have been in this environment before, and I have been on this mat before.

“I felt more comfortable.”

Scoring first is also a great psychological advantage.

“Compared with our other matches, I think personally what was different was that I already knew what I wanted at the beginning of the match,” Alanis said. “I knew I was going to go as hard as I could for six minutes, and I wasn’t going to let up at any point in the match.”

He was dominant through the early stages of the tournament, posting a first period fall and technical fall en route to the upper bracket championship.

As a runner-up in the regional and sectional, Rockey (29-6) had a more contested path. He also posted a first period fall and a decisive quarterfinal victory. 

Four of his defeats came against Alanis.

As riveting as the title match proved, it was eclipsed to some extent by the history making effort of Bremen freshman Morgan Turner.

She became the first female wrestler in state history to capture a medal by defeating Civic Memorial sophomore Bradley Ruckman 4-2 in the third-place match.

Turner (35-3) eschewed a chance to capture a girls state championship. She took Alanis to the brink in the semifinal before falling 3-0.

“It feels great,” Turner said. “Along the journey, I felt like I could have done better. I just wanted a bigger challenge of going up against the boys as a way of really raising the bar.”

Freshman Harrison Dea of Morton (Ill.) captured fifth place with the 10-4 decision over junior Ivan Munoz of Ottawa.

113: Drew Davis, Glenwood, junior

Any defending state champion has a natural aura. They also have a massive target on their back, the one everybody wants to take down. 

Drew Davis survived the odds, and punched his return ticket with the hard fought and deeply satisfying 3-2 victory over Wauconda freshman Nate Randle.

Davis is angular and rangy, and blessed with superb technique and explosive athleticism.

He posted back to back technical falls to begin his title defense. He ended the perfect run of Montini junior Ben Dunne with the 8-1 victory in the semifinals.

Randle (31-9) achieved something almost unprecedented—he finished higher at the individual state meet than the sectional, where he was third behind Dunne and Hanrahan.

Randle improved with each match, showing toughness, verve and natural instincts.

He gave Davis everything he wanted, using his power and speed to throw off the lightning forays of Davis.

Scoreless at the start of the second period, Davis finally created some breathing space with an escape and takedown.

Randle stayed tight and restless, showing burst and energy. 

Sophomore Deven Casey of Aurora Christian captured his second consecutive third place trophy with the 3-1 victory over Joliet Catholic freshman Jason Hampton.

Casey (40-8) seized control with a second period takedown. 

Hampton (39-10) edged Dunne 4-3 in the semifinal wrestleback. Rock Island junior Truth Vesey earned fifth place with the medical forfeit over Dunne (18-3)

120: Gylon Sims, Joliet Catholic, senior

As a freshman, Gylon Sims made a surprise run to the state championship at 106 pounds.

He made it a habit.

A four-time state finalist, Sims put the finishing touches on his stunning individual career with the 5-3 sudden victory over Aurora Christian sophomore Josh Vazquez.

Sims (41-6) created the high-wire drama with an escape with about 18 seconds remaining in regulation.

Vazquez (26-7) proved a skilled and creative adversary in his own right. 

The two wrestled earlier this year, with Sims pulling out the 3-2 victory. Vazquez had several benchmark wins, most significantly a victory over Class 3A state champion Massey Odiotti of Loyola.

Vazquez appeared in the driver’s seat after his takedown put him up 3-2 late in the third period.

“I think my biggest motivation was this was my last year, and I knew I could not go out like that,” Sims said. “He was fighting hard not to give up any points, and obviously I had the same mentality.”

Given new life with the late escape, Sims took control in the extra time, getting the jump on Vazquez.

“I lost in the finals as a freshman, but I wasn’t really expecting to make it,” Sims said. “Once I did, I remember telling myself I never wanted to miss out on that experience.

“I made sure I made that march every year.”

Bremen senior Nore’ Turner fell just short of matching the achievement of his younger sister.

Senior Tyler Evans of Prairie Ridge secured the 5-2 victory in the third-place match. Evans finished 42-5.

Nore’ Turner posted a final record of 33-5.

In the fifth-place match, Rock Island junior Daniel McGhee (27-7) pulled out the 7-6 decision over freshman Kameron Luif (36-12) of Montini.

126: Bobby Conway, Brother Rice, sophomore

Bobby Conway packed three or four different matches into one berserk and helter skelter action.

The results proved revealing, spectacular, and intensely dramatic.

Facing undefeated defending state champion Colby Crouch of Triad, Conway staged two amazing comebacks at the start of the first period and the second period, went up and then fell behind.

He nearly pinned Crouch twice only to lose his balance and get reversed. A stunning combined 28 points were scored until Crouch suffered an injury.

Conway was declared the winner by injury default when Crouch was unable to complete the match.

“I just kept pushing forward,” Conway said. “In that situation, the moment you stop it’s over. Confidence is everything.

“You come into any match just thinking you’re not losing. When I was in that tunnel, I didn’t see myself losing. I couldn’t see the possibility of losing. I had great energy, and I was confident. Even if he put me on my back, I was confident I would win.”

Crouch (31-1) led 4-0 early in the first period and 9-4 at the start of the second period.

Conway was unbowed, twice scoring back points, yielding three times and four lead changes.

Crouch had gone up 15-13 late in the second period at the time of the injury.

Conway (23-1) overcame a stained knee injury during the season, becoming the second Brother RIce state champion in consecutive years.

Wiry and long, Conway utilized his superior length to throw off Crouch to catch him twice on his back.

“When he got me right off the bat, if I had not been long enough, he might have put me on my back,” Conway said. “I might have gotten stuck.

“It’s a good thing I am long enough.”

Ranked No. 6, Conway suffered his only loss against Loyola state champion Massey Odiotti.

Conway edged No. 5 Jordan Rasof, the tournament second-seed, in the semifinals.

Crouch had two first period falls en route to the upper bracket title.

In the third-place match, Washington freshman Wyatt Medlin registered a 20-5 technical fall over junior Tyler Weidman (40-13) of Grayslake Central.

Medlin gave Crouch his toughest match in the lead up to the final before falling in the competitive 10-5 decision during the semifinals.

In the fifth-place match, Caleb Scott (39-12)  of Civic Memorial outlasted Rasof (44-8) with the 4-2 ultimate tie breaker decision. 

132: Santino Robinson, Mascoutah, senior

Santino Robinson played out the most satisfying outcome in his mind.

Then he realized it.

Robinson has crossed borders to arrive at this point. A two-time state finalist in Missouri, he completed his magic run.

Robinson (41-0) completed his perfect season with the 4-2 tiebreaker over Washington sophomore Peyton Cox.

The mesmerizing showdown felt preordained given the two were ranked 1-2 throughout the season.

Cox (44-3) suffered his second consecutive heartbreaking state finals loss, having dropped the 120-pound title against Crouch last year.

After a scoreless first period, the two alternated escapes, setting up the dramatic conclusion.

“I knew that if I was able to take him down, I was going to win the match,” Robinson said. “That was my whole thinking, I just had to get the takedown.”

The clash of styles made the match all the more bracing and illuminating, with Robinson holding the advantage in quickness and athleticism, Cox carrying out the edge in power and strength.

Robinson deployed his speed and quickness to maneuver out of potentially dangerous moments.

His superior quickness finally broke Cox down, his escape and takedown turning the tide.

“I got in on his legs a couple of times, but I was not able to finish it,” Robinson said. “I knew eventually I was going to be able to finish one if I kept firing.”

Sophomore Zachary Montez of Geneseo earned the impressive 8-6 victory over junior Edgar Albino of Antioch to capture third place. 

Montez (48-3) won four consecutive matches after a tough quarterfinal loss against Robinson. Albino (34-5) defeated Normal West junior Evan Willock in the semifinal wrestleback.

In the fifth-place match, Oak Forest senior Caden Musselm (35-5) posted the second period fall of Willock (39-7). 

138: Gauge Shipp, Galesburg, junior

If ever the name fit the athlete, Gauge Shipp proved the moment prophetic.

He was the athlete everybody else in his field was ultimately measured against.

He proved himself a performer without peer.

Shipp hit multiple milestones as an undefeated champion who reached the 50-win threshold with his 15-0 technical fall of Joliet Catholic senior Jake Hamiti.

He made quite the leap, jumping up three weight classes after he finished sixth at 120 pounds last year.

Ranked No. 8, Shipp (50-0) overpowered Hamiti in the championship with his impressive command of speed, power, and technical prowess.

He punctuated one of the lopsided runs in the tournament with a fall, technical fall and major decision.

“I came in every day this season, and I worked on just getting better,” Shipp said. “I never plateaued. I am always working.

“There is a certain thing in my brain that I just unlocked this year. I just feel like every time I am out there, I am the best wrestler. I am completely confident in myself, and my abilities.”

Ranked No. 3, Hamiti edged Patrick Mullen of Aurora Christian in the quarterfinal and followed with a decisive victory over top-ranked Anthony Streib of Antioch in the semifinal.

Shipp was at a different level, ultimately untouchable.

Streib (27-4) recovered from his semifinal loss to Hamiti with the 8-2 decision over senior Sammy Schuit (33-10) of Lemont in earning third-place distinction.

In the fifth-place match, Dylan Watts (34-8) of Bloomington edged sophomore Ben Capitosti of Mattoon (43-10).

145: Kannon Webster, Washington, senior

The pound for pound question is a natural and highly entertaining one to ponder.

With the three state championship classes unfolding simultaneously, the kaleidoscopic view allows one to entertain all possibilities.

Kannon Webster certainly belongs at the top of any order, and very much in the discussion for the best wrestler in the state, regardless of class or weight.

Webster decimated the field for the third time in his career. He was the closest the class had to a fait accompli—meaning an outcome that was already decided.

Webster captured his second consecutive state title and the third of his illustrious career with the 18-8 major decision over Bryce Griffin of Civic Memorial.

Webster (50-0) won at 106 pounds as a freshman and defeated Santino Robinson last year at 132 pounds.

His breathless pace and relentless speed allowed Griffin little time to breathe.

He posted three falls during the preliminary bouts to capture the upper bracket.

“I am just going to go out there, and just compete the same every time and score as many points as possible,” Webster said.

“I like to be the one who sets an example with my leadership qualities, for the rest of the team and be the one that kids look up to. I hope they take something away from my wrestling.”

Ranked No. 2, Griffin (48-5) edged second-seeded and No. 3 Caleb Nobiling of Antioch 6-5 in the semifinals.

Nobiling (38-9) captured third place recognition with the 5-3 decision over junior Aidan Blackburn of Mattoon.

Blackburn (41-8) also qualified for the top bracket semifinal.

In the fifth-place match, Nolan Mrozowski (42-11) earned the major decision over senior Josyah Holland (25-8) of Crete-Monee.

152: Taythan Silva, Aurora Christian, senior

Taythan Silva had a different memory of a year ago.

After losing in the fifth-place consolation semifinal, he realized he had nothing tangible to show for his efforts.

“Every practice this year, I realized I didn’t really do anything last year, and I had to keep going,” he said.

Silva made a grand statement with his riveting 1-0 victory over Montini junior David Mayora in the championship match.

He secured his escape in the second period and then used his quickness, speed and power to subdue Mayora in the final period.

“We wrestled in freestyle last spring, and we have also wrestled before when we were younger,” Silva said. “We have known each other, and we know how each other wrestles.

“It was about trying to wear him down, and see who was going to score.”

Silva (39-7) gave Aurora Christian another state champion, a hallmark for the new powerhouse.

The top-seed and top-ranked Mayora (47-3) won by technical fall, decision and major decision in reaching the championship.

In the third-place match, Sycamore’s Gus Cambier posted the second period fall of Joliet Catholic’s Connor Cumbee.

Glenwood’s Aden Byal defeated Collin Reif of Jacksonville by major decision in finishing fifth.

160: Mason Alessio, Joliet Catholic, senior

Motivation takes on many forms and permutations.

Of the multiple state finalists who came up just short a year earlier, Mason Alessio of Joliet Catholic accomplished what nobody else could claim.

He eviscerated the sting of that memory.

Alessio punctuated a dominant run with a first period fall of Dunlap junior Nick Mueller.

Alessio (43-3) lost only once in state, against Lockport state finalist Logan Swaw.

He also wiped clean the memory of his loss against Jayden Colon in the 145-pound state championship last year.

Colon transferred from Montini to St. Charles East, and stunned previously unbeaten Noah Tapia of Moline to win the Class 3A 145-pound state championship.

In registering the only state finals fall in Class 2A, Alessio completed another extra piece of the equation.

He did not concede a point during the state series run, massing a 31-0 cumulative score in his preliminary results.

Mueller (43-8) was overpowered in the championship match. His tournament run was impressive, with a major decision in the quarterfinals and a sharp performance in the semifinals.

In the third-place match, Sycamore’s Zack Crawford stormed back from his quarterfinal defeat against Montini’s Will Prater to win four consecutive matches.

In the third-place match, Crawford (43-2) defeated Zane Hulet of Washington by major decision.

Hulet (29-15) defeated Prater (42-8) by medical forfeit in the wrestleback semifinal.

Ben Butler (38-13) of Crystal Lake Central also defeated Prater by medical forfeit in the fifth-place match.

170: Abe Wojcikiewicz, Civic Memorial, senior

Events come at you fast, no matter the circumstances.

A year ago, Abe Wojcikiewicz was sailing toward an apparent undefeated state run until he was stunned in the semifinals.

It was the ultimate wake up call. At state, anything is possible.

Wojcikiewicz removed any questions or doubt about his follow up action with a dominant 17-5 major over Washington senior Blake Hinrichsen.

Wojcikiewicz (47-2) registered two victories by technical fall and a first period fall in the semifinals.

“That is going to weigh on anybody who experiences that, and my whole mentality this year has just been to dominate people,” Wojcikiewicz said

Hinrichsen (41-7) was also masterful in the run up to the state final. In one of the best matches of the tournament, he edged Aiden Cohen of Deerfield 12-10 in the semifinals.

In the third-place match, Cohen (47-5) ended his remarkable individual career with the 10-2 major over Crystal Lake South sophomore Cayden Parks (40-8).

Amare Overton of Rock Island captured fifth place with the first period fall of Brenden Benz of Carbondale.

182: Matty Jens, Grayslake Central, junior

Second place was not an option.

Matty Jens had a year to mull over the circumstances of his 5-3 loss in the championship last year against rival Shane Moran of Crystal Lake South.

Funny enough, Moran saw the future a year ago, acknowledging that Jens was just a sophomore.

“He still has two more years.”

Jens actually led Moran 3-0 in that championship match. 

Cognizant of that, he never let up against Joliet Catholic sophomore Nico Ronchetti.

He posted two first period takedowns in the 9-1 major decision.

“I think the early takedowns were not a surprise,” he said. “They were just a part of the game plan. I think I was in control the whole time, and he was kind of broke early.”

Like his teammate Anthony Alanis, Jens had to work through the extreme disappointment of coming so close.

Jens did not have to worry about a long wait. The three state championship matches began at his weight.

He did not have to mull over his options.

“It was definitely weird being the first match up,” he said. “I have never had to do that before. I even asked Anthony what I should do.

“It definitely gave me less time to think, and I was just ready to wrestle.

Jens (32-0) is now 79-3 his last two years of wrestling.

He posted two falls and a 7-4 decision against Steven Marquez of Rock Island in the semifinals.

He had a private bond with Alanis through their shared experiences, and now joint state titles.

“We always brought up last year’s final with each other, and we would always push each other and use that as fuel in everything we did,” Jens said.

Ronchetti (32-17) was one of the wild cards of the finals, a literally out of nowhere sophomore who stunned top-seeded Brennan Houser of Mahomet-Seymour 7-6 in the semifinals.

His magic ran out against Jens.

Marquez edged Phil Shaw IV of Danville 7-5 in the third-place match.

In defeating Koen Rodebush of Triad by technical fall in the fifth-place match, Houser achieved a special distinction of a 50-win season

220: Justin Hoffer, Washington, senior

In the toughest, deepest draw in the class, Justin Hoffer was the last man standing.

Ranked No. 3, he took out top-ranked Connor Lorden of LaSalle-Peru 5-2 for the championship.

His speed and athleticism was the difference maker, yielding takedowns in the second and third period.

Justin Hoffer (43-1) won by technical fall in the quarterfinals, and edged No. 2 and top seed Jack Barnhart 6-4 in the semifinal.

The top-ranked Lorden edged previously unbeaten Alex Jackson (35-2) of Bremen in the quarterfinals, and beat Alex Hamrick of Glenwood in the semifinals.

In the third-place match, Hamrick (46-5) subdued Jackson 4-3. He previously had two top-five finishes at 285 pounds.

Leo Meyer (47-7) of Mattoon captured fifth place by medical forfeit of Barnhart.

285: Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic, junior

Watching the deep curved ceilings of the State Farm Arena is the typical fate of anybody who goes up against Dillan Johnson.

The defending state champion needed less than two and a half minutes of time to post two falls.

Aurora Christian senior Braden Hunter made Johnson work.

In the end, Johnson reigned supreme, staking his claim to being the best in the country.

Hunter used his explosive combination of power and speed to register four takedowns in the 8-2 victory.

Johnson (43-0) has not conceded a takedown. He posted falls of Class 3A finalists Ben Bielawski and Jonathan Rulo.

“I don’t really focus too much on the rankings or things like that,” Johnson said. “The one thing it does is motivate me to just keep working hard.

“It’s a difficult task sometimes, but my dad helps me out a lot with that.”

In the first period, Johnson got in tight on Hunter with a single leg. Hunter used his superior height and weight to offset the action.

Eventually Johnson was just too quick and powerful.

“I just focus on what I am going to do, and what my takedowns are,” he said.

Despite the loss, Hunter (12-1) made a remarkable recovery just to get to this point. He suffered a torn meniscus last fall playing football.

He also dealt with complications of the flu on Friday. He soldiered on.

“The final didn’t really go the way I wanted, but I will take what I can get with the month that I had,” Hunter said.

Third is the second charm for Notre Dame’s Karl Schmalz (34-3), who ended his standout career with his second consecutive third-place state finish with his 4-2 comeback victory over Andy Burburijia of Crystal Lake South.

“I didn’t wrestle well enough against Braden Hunter, and I wanted to come back strong,” Schmalz said.

The third-place match was a repeat of the title match of the Illini Classic that Schmalz won in sudden victory.

A junior Burburijia finished the season  33-5.

In the fifth-place match, Lincoln Cooley of Sycamore defeated Max Accettura  of Vernon Hills by ultimate tiebreaker 2-1.

Canton continued its historic season, following up on its third regional title and its first since 2009, by getting a school-record six state qualifiers, with half of those being champions, at the Class 1A Clinton Sectional.

Illini Bluffs also had three champions and eight other schools had one title winner. Unity also finished with six qualifiers for this weekend’s IHSA State Finals in Champaign while Illini Bluffs and Tremont each had four state qualifiers and El Paso-Gridley, Farmington, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher, LeRoy/Tri-Valley, Macomb and Peoria Notre Dame had three apiece.

Winning championships for coach Zach Crawford’s Canton Little Giants were Trevor Hedges (126), Joseph Norton (170) and Asa Reed (285) while John Davis (120) placed second and Maddux Steele (106) and Danny Murphy (160) both finished in fourth place.

“Joseph’s a three-year captain for our team, so his leadership in the room, and in the classroom and in the community, all of it has been excellent,” Crawford said. “It’s a group effort, it starts from our youth coaches all the way through our junior high and all the way to the high school. And it’s a family that’s needed to build it.We have a great group of seniors. We have a big senior class and they’ve been leaders in the room for four years. This is only the third time in program history that we’ve won regionals.”

Leading the way for coach Logan Patton’s Unity Rockets were champion Nick Nosler (195) and  runner-up Kyus Root (170). Third-place finishers were Kaden Inman (138) and Hunter Eastin (182) while Hunter Shike (126) and Ryan Rink (152) both finished in fourth place.

“We had nine guys qualify for sectional and only two seniors, who were both in the finals doing their thing,” Patton said. “We went 4-for-4 in the bloods with three sophomores and a freshman. They understood the game plan to get to the semis, since if you get to the semis you have two chances to get to the state tournament. We took some bad losses in the semis and some expected losses. But they all bounced back, they didn’t sulk, they didn’t pout. They all went out there and performed really well.”

Capturing first-place finishes for coach Shawn O’Connor’s Illini Bluffs Tigers were Hunter Robbins (106), Jackson Carroll (138) and Paul Ishikawa (145) while Ian O’Connor (132) took second place. State qualifiers for coach TJ Williams’ Tremont Turks were champion Payton Murphy (120), runner-up Bowden Delaney (126), third-place finisher Mason Mark (132) while TJ Conner (182) placed fourth.

Also winning sectional championships were Farmington’s Keygan Jennings (113), St. Joseph-Ogden’s Holden Brazelton (132), Kewanee’s Max Kelly (152), El Paso-Gridley’s Dax Gentes (160), PORTA’s Bryar Lane (182) and Beardstown’s Owen O’Hara (220).

Other second-place finishers were LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Brady Mouser (106), Lutheran Schools Association Decatur’s Clinton VerHeecke (113), Kewanee’s William Taylor (138), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Carson Maxey (145), Monmouth United’s Jake McElwee (152), Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Gage Sweckard (160), El Paso-Gridley’s Cody Langland (182), The High School of Saint Thomas More’s Brody Cuppernell (195), Macomb’s Ethan Ladd (220) and Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Hunter Wilson (285).

There were three rematches of regional titles with the sectional champion once again prevailing. Those were at 152, where Kelly and McElwee had met at Kewanee, at 195, where Nosler and Cuppernell faced off and at LeRoy, and at 220, where O’Hara and Ladd squared off at Macomb.

Nine of the sectional finals matches featured two top-10 individuals competing while four others involved at least one finalist who was in the top 10, and all four of those also won titles. 

Additional third-place finishers were Peoria Notre Dame’s Ian Akers (106), Chase Daugherty (145) and Mike McLaughlin (285), Farmington’s Bradlee Ellis (126) and Rese Shymansky (170), Macomb’s Carter Hoge (152) and Max Ryner (195), Warrensburg-Latham’s Logan Roberts (113), Lutheran School Association Decatur’s Garrett VerHeecke (120), Hoopeston Area’s Angel Zamora (160) and LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Jacob Bischoff (220).

And others who finished in fourth place were Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Shawn Schlickman (120) and Aiden Sancken (195), Clinton’s Cayden Poole (132) and Will Winter (145), LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Kobe Brent (113), El Paso-Gridley’s Tyler Roth (138), Mercer County’s Bodie Salmon (170), Eureka’s Landon Wierenga (220) and Knoxville’s William Stowe (285).

Nine of the sectional champions also won regional titles at the Macomb Regional. They were Robbins, Jennings, Hedges, Carroll, Ishikawa, Norton, Lane, O’Hara and Reed. Two Macomb Regional champions took second at the sectional, Davis and O’Connor, while Hoge and Ryner took third after winning titles at Macomb and Murphy, the other Macomb champ, took fourth. One of the sectional finals was a rematch of the regional finals, with O’Hara again beating Ladd.

Top records for state qualifiers from the Clinton Sectional include Ishikawa (47-0, 1.000), Gentes (48-1, .980), Norton (47-1, .979), Clinton VerHeecke (44-1, .978), O’Hara (35-1, .972), Jennings (32-1, .970), Robbins (31-1, .969), Nosler (48-2, .960), Brazelton (45-2, .957), Hedges (44-2, .957), Murphy (36-2, .947), Lane (48-3, .941), Ryner (48-3, .941), Wilson (47-3, .940), Mouser (42-3, .933), Delaney (41-4, .911), Taylor (41-4, .911), Garrett VerHeecke (40-4, .909), Akers (39-4, .907), Davis (38-4, .905), Eastin (46-5, .902), Shymansky (37-4, .902), Cuppernell (39-5, .886), Sancken (31-4, .886), Ladd (46-6, .885), Carroll (45-6, .882) and Root (45-6, .882).

In a testament to just how competitive the sectional was, the average record of the 28 finalists prior to their title matches was 40.68-3.5. The title match featuring the fewest losses by both participants was at 113 where once-beaten Jennings handed unbeaten Clinton VerHeecke his first defeat of the season by recording a fall in 1:52.

Individuals in the top 10 in Rob Sherrill’s Illinois Matmen rankings who failed to advance (with rankings listed) include Tremont’s Konnor Martin (7th at 113), Mercer County’s Ethan Monson (7th at 120), Pontiac’s Aidan Scholwin (10th at 106), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Nathanael Gnaden (10th at 220) and PORTA’s Issak Espenschied (10th at 285).

Seniors who fell one win shy of qualifying for state included Illini Bluff’s Avery Speck (120), Beardstown’s Jonny Marquez (132) and Bryan Gil (138), Ridgeview/Lexington’s Caeden Lopshire (152), LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Ethan Conaty (160), Kewanee’s Jaxson Hicks (160), Knoxville’s Jaxin Johnson (170), Mercer County’s Gavin Minteer (182), Warrensburg-Latham’s Walker Allen (195), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Nathanael Gnaden (220) and University High’s Isaiah Im (220).

Several individuals fell one win shy of state trips on twice after losing consecutive matches in the semifinals and consolation semifinals. They included LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Brock Owens (126), Connor Lyons (145) and Conaty (160), Mercer County’s Kale Stirn (113), Monson (120) and Minteer (182), Bismark-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Gnaden (220), Kewanee’s Hicks (160), Knoxville’s Johnson (170) and The High School of Saint Thomas More’s Robert Vavrick (285).

Before the finals, Sharron Jones of Decatur, a long-time scorer at local tournaments as well as at the IHSA Finals, was recognized for being one of the inductees of the Class of 2023 for the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association’s Hall of Fame for her service to the sport. 

Class 1A Clinton Sectional championship matches

106: Hunter Robbins (31-1), Illini Bluffs D 3-2 Brady Mouser (42-3), LeRoy/Tri-Valley

113: Keygan Jennings (32-1), Farmington F 1:52 Clinton VerHeecke (44-1), Lutheran School Association Decatur

120: Payton Murphy (36-2), Tremont D 4-1 John Davis (38-4), Canton

126: Trevor Hedges (44-2), Canton MD 11-3 Bowden Delaney (41-4), Tremont

132: Holden Brazelton (45-2), St. Joseph-Ogden D 7-0 Ian O’Connor (44-7), Illini Bluffs

138: Jackson Carroll (45-6), Illini Bluffs TF 3:46 William Taylor (41-4), Kewanee

145: Paul Ishikawa (47-0), Illini Bluffs D 14-7 Carson Maxey (35-5), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher

152: Max Kelly (40-8), Kewanee F 1:29 Jake McElwee (35-10), Monmouth United

160: Dax Gentes (48-1), El Paso-Gridley D 8-1 Gage Sweckard (40-11), Deer Creek-Mackinaw

170: Joseph Norton (47-1), Canton F 0:28 Kyus Root (45-6), Unity

182: Bryar Lane (48-3), PORTA MD 8-0 Cody Langland (39-7), El Paso-Gridley

195: Nick Nosler (48-2), Unity MD 13-2 Brody Cuppernell (39-5), The High School of Saint Thomas More

220: Owen O’Hara (35-1), Beardstown D 3-1 Ethan Ladd (46-6), Macomb

285: Asa Reed (31-6), Canton D 10-5 Hunter Wilson (47-3), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin

Class 1A Clinton Sectional third-place matches

106: Ian Akers (39-4), Peoria Notre Dame D 6-4 Maddux Steele (39-8), Canton

113: Logan Roberts (37-6), Warrensburg-Latham D 5-1 Kobe Brent (38-10), LeRoy/Tri-Valley

120: Garrett VerHeecke (40-4), Lutheran School Association Decatur F 1:03 Shawn Schlickman (30-10), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher

126: Bradlee Ellis (40-9), Farmington F 1:07 Hunter Shike (36-15), Unity

132: Mason Mark (43-6), Tremont D 3-2 Cayden Poole (41-8), Clinton

138: Kaden Inman (36-14), Unity MD 12-3 Tyler Roth (19-6), El Paso-Gridley

145: Chase Daugherty (31-6), Peoria Notre Dame M. For. Will Winter (27-5), Clinton

152: Carter Hoge (45-7), Macomb F 3:34 Ryan Rink (36-16), Unity

160: Angel Zamora (40-10), Hoopeston Area M. For. Danny Murphy (6-2), Canton

170: Rese Shymansky (37-4), Farmington F 3:19 Bodie Salmon (27-7), Mercer County

182: Hunter Eastin (46-5), Unity F 5:48 TJ Connor (41-8), Tremont

195: Max Ryner (48-3), Macomb F 2:00 Aiden Sancken (31-4), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher

220: Jacob Bischoff (40-8) LeRoy/Tri-Valley D 2-0 Landon Wierenga (35-11), Eureka

285: Mike McLaughlin (29-16), Peoria Notre Dame M. For. William Stowe (40-7), Knoxville 106 – Hunter Robbins, Illini Bluffs

After settling for second place a year ago at 106, Hunter Robbins has definitely been focused on getting to the top of the podium this weekend in Champaign.

But the Illini Bluffs junior had a major setback in the latter part of the season when he was sidelined by an injury. But he was able to return for the postseason and Robbins (31-1), who’s ranked second, hopes that he’s ready to go in his third trip to state. He looked to be in good form after opening with a win by technical before capturing a 2-0 decision over Peoria Notre Dame’s Ian Akers in the semifinals and then prevailing 3-2 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Brady Mouser in the 106 title match to become the first of his team’s three champions.

“My first time back was for regionals,” Robbins said. “It definitely was hard because I only got a week of training in, but I have to believe in my training is. If it was five weeks off or five weeks where I wasn’t off, I would still come in as the same person. I’m just happy it happened then and not now. My practice room definitely helps out a lot. They keep me up and keep me going. I almost got it last year but I didn’t and I don’t settle for that.”

Mouser (42-3), a sophomore who’s ranked sixth, also opened with a win by technical fall before earning his spot in the finals with a 14-2 victory over Canton’s Maddux Steele. After winning four titles this season, he hopes to find a spot on the awards stand in his second trip to state.

Akers (39-4), a sophomore and returning qualifier who’s ranked fourth, was going after his sixth tournament title of the season. He bounced back from loss to Robbins with a decision over Pontiac’s Aidan Scholwin, who was ranked tenth, and then beat freshman Steele (39-8) 6-4 in the third-place match.

113 – Keygan Jennings, Farmington

In a showdown between two competitors who had only one loss between them, Keygan Jennings made a major statement about what he intends to do on the big stage at the State Farm Center this weekend.

The Farmington junior improved to 32-1 after recording a fall in 1:52 in the 113 title match over Lutheran School Association Decatur freshman Clinton VerHeecke, who entered the matchup with a 44-0 record. Jennings, ranked third and a two-time state placewinner after taking sixth last year and fifth at the IWCOA in 2021, opened with a fall before capturing an 8-4 win in the semifinals over Warrensburg-Latham’s Logan Roberts.

“This year I decided that we’re just going to go all in and I didn’t play football this season,” Jennings said. “Some times you have say that I’m going to stick to this one sport and just go all in. I decided to hit double practices a lot and training with some of my good buddies at Young Guns and the Compound, guys like Brock Smith and Gauge Shipp. We’re small town boys coming out of nowhere and showing them what we have.”

VerHeecke, who along with his brother Garrett (40-4), who also qualified by taking third place at 120, are members of the first-year program at the school that they decided to attend after being home-schooled. VerHeecke, who’s ranked second behind a returning state champion, Carlyle’s Tyson Waughtel, had won four tournament titles this season. He put himself into his fifth finals after capturing a quick fall in his opener and another in 2:38 over Mercer County’s Kale Stirn.

Roberts (37-6), a sophomore who’s ranked fourth, responded to his loss to Jennings with a fall over Canton’s Jack Jochums before winning 5-1 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Kobe Brent (38-10) for third place. Brent, a sophomore, who’s ranked sixth, got sent to the wrestlebacks after his

quarterfinals loss to Jennings, but he won his next three matches to earn his first state trip.

120 – Payton Murphy, Tremont

After experiencing a forgettable junior season, Payton Murphy was hoping to conclude his career with a bang in a new setting, competing for IWCOA Hall of Famer TJ Williams and his program at Tremont.

So far, so go for the Turks senior, who improved to 36-2 and led the way for his school’s four qualifiers after capturing a 4-1 victory over Canton’s John Davis in the 120 title match. Murphy, who’s ranked fourth and also qualified for state trips in 2021 at the IWCOA and in 2020 as a freshman, followed a quick fall in the quarterfinals with a wild 7-6 semifinals decision over Mercer County junior Ethan Monson, a two-time state qualifier who was ranked seventh, but missed out on a third trip after losing to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Shawn Schlickman.

“It’s been a fun year,” Murphy said. “I’ve had some matches where I’ve learned a lot. Coach Williams pushes us every day to get better and better. And just with the mentality that he gives us, it feels like you’re going to succeed before you walk onto the mat. He has such a big impact on the sport for what he’s doing and for what he’s going to do in the future in this sport. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach, he’s like a father figure. I got injured last season and unfortunately couldn’t finish it off.”

Davis (38-4), a senior who’s ranked ninth, was one of four Little Giants who reached the title mat and one of their six state qualifiers, which establishes a new record for Canton. After winning 2-0 in the quarterfinals over El Paso-Gridley’s Logan Gibson, Norton earned his  spot in the finals with a fall in 5:07 over Lutheran School Association Decatur’s Garrett VerHeecke.

VerHeecke (40-4), a freshman like his brother Clinton (44-1), who took second place at 113, helped to start up the first-year program at the Decatur school. Just missing out on being the only ranked freshman in his weight class, he can take solace that he’s won 40 matches and is headed to the state finals in his debut season after winning 12-4 over Illini Bluffs senior Avery Speck and then getting a fall in 1:03 over junior Schlickman (30-10) in the third-place match. 

126 – Trevor Hedges, Canton

It’s fun to be part of a day where your program accomplishes something for the first time, and that’s what Trevor Hedges got to be a part of as Canton qualified six individuals for state.

As a bonus, he joined Joseph Norton and Asa Reed as champions for the Little Giants, who  hope to also make more history in the dual team tournament. Hedges (44-2), a senior who’s ranked seventh, won his fourth tournament of the season and is headed back to state for a third time and hopes to improve upon a fourth at the IWCOA finals in 2021. Hedges followed a fall in the quarterfinals with a 13-0 major decision over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Brock Owens before winning an 11-3 major decision over Tremont’s Bowden Delaney in the 126 title match. 

“I just want to first say, give all glory to God,” Hedges said. “Everything that I am is because of Him. This is a record, this is the first time that we’ve taken this many kids to state. My freshman year, I was a match away from going to state, then I got fourth and that was exciting, but it wasn’t good enough.”

Delaney (41-4), a sophomore who also qualified for state last season, is one of four qualifiers for Tremont. He earned his spot on the title mat with a quick pin in the quarterfinals and then he followed that with a fall in 2:43 over Unity freshman Hunter Shike (36-15) in the semifinals.

Farmington freshman Bradlee Ellis (40-9) joined champion Keygan Jennings and third-place Rese Shymansky as qualifiers for the Farmers after winning four-straight matches following a quarterfinals loss to Shike. After recording two falls, Ellis won 9-7 by sudden victory over Owens to reach the third-place match, where he turned the tables on Shike and won by fall in 1:07.

132 – Holden Brazelton, St. Joseph-Ogden

After taking sixth place a year ago as a freshman, Holden Brazelton is excited about what he can achieve in his second visit to the IHSA Finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

The St. Joseph-Ogden sophomore, who’s ranked seventh and owns a 45-2 record, should be excited about the possibilities after emerging as the champion at 132 at the Clinton Sectional, which featured four of the top 10 in the state in the weight class. After winning by technical fall in the quarterfinals, he recorded a fall in 3:14 in the semifinals over Quincy Notre Dame’s Bradi Lahr and then captured the title with a 7-0 decision over Illini Bluffs’ Ian O’Connor.

“I have higher expectations from here,” Brazelton said. “Last year, it was just a goal to be there and quite an experience and an atmosphere. Last year, it was just nerves and I didn’t eat the right foods. But this year as a sophomore, I’ve been learning to eat better food. We have new coaches this year, and coach (Bill) Gallo has come in. It’s a really good coaching staff with a lot of experience behind them and I really like the coaches because they train me hard and have people come in.”

O’Connor (44-7), a junior who’s a three-time state qualifier that’s ranked ninth, was hoping to win his fifth tournament title of the season and join teammates Hunter Robbins, Jackson Carroll and Paul Ishikawa as Clinton Sectional champions. O’Connor opened with a 7-2 win over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Colton Prosser in the quarterfinals before claiming a 6-3 decision over Clinton’s Cayden Poole in the semifinals to earn his spot on the title mat.

The third-place match was a rematch of a quarterfinals meeting that featured the other two ranked individuals at the sectional, Tremont junior Mason Mark (43-6) and sophomore Poole (41-8), with Mark, a 2021 IWCOA qualifier, ranked sixth and Poole ranked eighth. Poole won a 7-3 decision over Mark in the first matchup and after Mark bounced back with three-straight wins and then was able to avenge the earlier loss by capturing a 3-2 decision over Poole.

138 – Jackson Carroll, Illini Bluffs

Any time an athlete can win a sectional title by technical fall, it’s an encouraging sign and being joined at state by three teammates who were also finalists, including two who were champions, it’s easy to see why Jackson Carroll should be excited about how he’ll fare at the state finals, 

where he hopes to enjoy the same type of success that some of his teammates have had.

Carroll (45-6), a sophomore who’s ranked ninth, joins Hunter Robbins and Paul Ishikawa as champions for Illini Bluffs while Ian O’Connor took second in the competition. Carroll won by technical fall in 3:46 over Kewanee’s William Taylor in the 138 finals. He won a pair of major decisions to reach the title match, beating El Paso-Gridley’s Tyler Roth in the semifinals.

“I have great practice partners and a great coaching staff,” Carroll said. “It’s great when your practice partners are a state runner-up and a state champ. Our room is awesome. They work hard and they push me, especially my teammate, Paul (Ishikawa), who coaches me every day, he’s awesome. We have really good wrestling down here and I’m right there with all of them. I’m feeling really confident.”

Taylor (41-4), a senior and one of two finalists and state qualifiers for the Boilermakers, hoped to win his fourth tournament title of the season. After winning his opener by fall, he prevailed 11-9 over Unity’s Kaden Inman in the semifinals.

Inman (36-14), a sophomore, was one of six qualifiers for Unity and one of four who’s just a sophomore or freshman. After losing the close decision to Taylor in the semifinals, he had few troubles in his next two matches as he followed a win by technical fall with a 12-3 major decision over Roth (19-6), a senior, to claim third place.

145 – Paul Ishikawa, Illini Bluffs

As the top-ranked individual at 145 and unbeaten with a 47-0 record after capturing a seventh tournament title, Paul Ishikawa has good reason to be upbeat about having a special weekend at the state finals, as he had in 2021 when the IWCOA held a state finals.

The four-time state qualifier who won a title in 2021 and then placed fourth last season, joins three of his teammates in Champaign who are all seeking to become the fourth individual to win a state for the school that’s located in Glasford. After opening with a win by technical fall, Ishikawa won 18-7 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Connor Lyons in the semifinals and then captured a 14-7 decision over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Carson Maxey in the 145 title match.

“Our team puts so much effort into the state tournament, because that’s where it counts,” Ishikawa said. “Our bottom half of the lineup is pretty stacked. Me, Ian and Jackson are all close to weight, we go at it, for sure. I came from one of the best coaches ever, TJ Williams, and now I’m with another great coach. The IWCOA was a state championship. Hopefully this year, I can prove to everyone that I am a state champ.”

Maxey (35-5), a junior who was an honorable mention selection and one of three state qualifiers for his team, won a 3-1 decision in the quarterfinals over Clinton’s Will Winter before claiming a 9-3 decision over Peoria Notre Dame’s Chase Daugherty in the semifinals. As a result, Maxey competed against each of the other three state qualifiers at his weight class.

Daugherty (31-6), a sophomore who is one of three Notre Dame qualifiers who also all took third place, bounced back from his semifinals loss to Maxey with an 8-5 decision over El Paso-Gridley’s Waylon Melick before winning third place by medical forfeit over senior Winter (27-5) who was one of two qualifiers for the host Maroons.

152 – Max Kelly, Kewanee

While the title matchup at 152 between Max Kelly and Jake McElwee was unique among finals in the event since it was the only one that didn’t feature a top-10 individual, considering who was involved, it was extremely important to the two programs that were involved.

Kelly (40-8), a senior who earned his first trip to state, was one of two qualifiers and the only champion for Kewanee while McElwee (35-10), a junior making his state debut, was the lone qualifier for Monmouth United. In a rematch of the Kewanee Regional finals, Kelly won by fall over McElwee for the second week in a row, this time in 1:29. Kelly won all three of his matches by fall, with the quickest coming in the semifinals in 0:40 over Unity sophomore Ryan Rink.

McElwee, who claimed a second-place finish for the third time this season, was the lone sectional qualifier for his program. After opening with a quick pin, McElwee captured a 6-4 decision over Eureka’s Derrick Wiles in the quarterfinals and then won another close decision, by an 11-8 margin, over Macomb’s Carter Hoge in the semifinals.

Hoge (45-7), a senior that was ranked 10th after winning three titles, including his own regional, became one of the Bombers’ three qualifiers after winning 11-7 over Ridgeview/Lexington’s Caeden Lopshire (27-11) in the consolation semifinals and then claimed third place with a fall in 3:34 over Rink (36-16). 

160 – Dax Gentes, El Paso-Gridley

After not being able to place in his first two trips to the state tournament, Dax Gentes was focused on finally getting on the awards stand and a 48-1 record with seven tournament titles suggests that he will likely achieve his goal in Champaign.

The El Paso-Gridley senior, who’s ranked fifth at 160 and was one of three qualifiers for his team, opened with a quick and then claimed a 16-6 major decision over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Ethan Conaty in the semifinals before capturing an 8-1 decision over Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Gage Sweckard in the title match.

“It’s been a good season,” Gentes said. “Obviously with it being my senior year, I’m working hard in the room and just trying to have fun, too. I just try to keep it as a positive experience all of the time and not let it get into my head too much. Coach (Zachary) Zvonar was an assistant my sophomore year and this year is his first year as head coach. It has definitely helped me to have some around who has wrestled at the college level. And just the energy that he brings and he’s always super excited. And coach (Joe) Cliffe always has input and it helps to have someone who’s been around the sport for so long.”

Sweckard (40-11), a senior who also qualified for state a year ago, was the lone representative of his program at the sectional. He won three-straight decisions to reach the title mat, capturing a 3-0 decision over Canton’s Danny Murphy in the quarterfinals and then prevailing 8-5 in the semifinals over Kewanee’s Jaxson Hicks.

In the third-place match, Hoopeston Area sophomore Angel Zamora (40-10) won by medical forfeit over Murphy, a junior who has competed in just eight matches, winning six of those. After falling in his first match, Zamora won four in a row, clinching his spot as the Cornjerkers’ lone qualifier with a fall in 4:54 over Hicks (39-9). Murphy, one of six qualifiers for the Little Giants, won three in a row following his loss to Sweckard and edged Conaty (34-15) with a 5-4 decision to secure his trip to state.

170 – Joseph Norton, Canton

After finishing third at 170 a year and also third at the IWCOA finals in 2021, Joseph Norton not only has been focused on reaching the title mat but also becoming just the third individual from Canton to win a state championship. 

The Little Giants senior, who was ranked second, assured his spot as one of the favorites to win the state title at 170 after claiming top honors at the Clinton Sectional for his fourth tournament this season. Norton (47-1) won the championship with a fall in 0:28 over Unity’s Kyus Root. After opening with a win by technical fall, he claimed a 16-3 win over Knoxville’s Jaxin Johnson. He was one of Canton’s three champions and helped lead the team to a record six qualifiers.

“I’m doing really good this year, and going to state this year just tops it off,” Norton said. “We had a record-setting number of qualifiers and the first time qualifying for the team sectional. I’ve mainly been working on perfecting what I do and do whatever I can do to the best that I can be. And I have good practice teammates and good coaches. Coach Crawford is basically a father to all of us. And we have three other assistants who help wrestle with the kids.”

Root (45-6), a senior who was ranked sixth and a two-time state qualifier, was one of six Unity athletes to advance to state. He followed up a fall in the quarterfinals with a pin in 3:41 over Farmington’s Rese Shymansky in the semifinals.

Shymansky (37-4), a junior honorable mention selection who had won three titles this season, bounced back from his semifinals defeat to Norton with a fall in 3:19 over Mercer County sophomore Bodie Salmon (27-7). Shymansky became one of the Farmers’ three qualifiers after recording a fall in 1:17 over Illini West’s Shawn Watkins (26-9) in the consolation semifinals.

182 – Bryar Lane, PORTA

The fascinating story of the emergence of Bryar Lane  as a state title contender at 182 one year after missing his junior season due to heart surgery got an extra chapter added to it when the second-ranked PORTA senior improved to 48-3 after capturing top honors at 182 in the Clinton Sectional after defeating the third-, fourth- and fifth-ranked individuals at his weight class.

Lane, ranked second and a sixth-place finisher in the IWCOA in 2021 who has committed to Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Kentucky to continue his education and career, won his fifth title of the season with an 8-0 major decision over El :Paso-Gridley’s Cody Langland in the 182 finals. After capturing a 3-1 decision over Tremont’s TJ Conner in the quarterfinals, he earned his spot on the title mat with a 5-0 victory over Unity’s Hunter Eastin.

“I’m so lucky that I’ve gotten all of these opportunities, it’s just everybody and everything,” Lane said. “It was a big blessing to be able to come out of the hospital happy and healthy. I think it was like the first big news of my life. It’s hard to be told that you should probably be dead, it’s crazy. You just have to be positive through it all and you have to do the things that make you happy. If you think you’re not going to make it, then you’re not going to do it. It’s 100 percent a mind game. Coach (Jeff) Hill has been great. We took six to the sectionals, but he made sure that there were people in the room for everybody. He has those connections that it seems like no one else does, so that’s nice.”

Langland (39-7), a senior who was ranked fourth and winner of three tournament titles, followed a quick fall with a 3-0 decision over Mercer County’s Gavin Minteer (22-12) in the semifinals to square off against Lane for the sectional championship.

Eastin (46-5), a sophomore who was ranked third, bounced back from his semifinals loss to Lane with a fall in 2:20 over Kewanee’s Alejandro Duarte (34-10) to assure that he would advance to state and then recorded another pin, this time in 5:48 over Conner (41-8), a senior who was a state qualifier a year ago who was ranked fifth, Following his quarterfinal loss to Lane, Conner got two pins before edging Minteer 6-5 to guarantee his state trip.

195 – Nick Nosler, Unity

Focused on being a state champion this season after just missing out on achieving that accomplishment a year ago, Nick Nosler didn’t have many difficulties in becoming Unity’s lone champion to lead the way among its six state qualifiers.

Nosler (48-2), a senior who was top-ranked at 195, won his fifth tournament of the season when he claimed a 13-2 major decision over The High School of Saint Thomas More’s Brody Cuppernell in the 195 finals. After opening with a fall, Nosler captured an 8-0 major decision over Macomb’s Max Ryner in the semifinals.

Cuppernell (39-5), a junior that was a state qualifier a year ago who was ranked fifth, was the only state qualifier for his team, who just missed getting another qualifier, Robert Vavrick at 285. After recording a nine-second fall in his opener, Cuppernell followed with two more pins, recording one in 4:21 in the semifinals over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Aiden Sancken.

Ryner (48-3), a senior ranked fourth who won four tournaments and qualified for state in 2022 and 2021, beat Warrensburg-Latham’s Walker Allen (33-12) by fall in 1:23 to reach the third-place match where he faced junior Sancken (31-4), who was ranked eighth, and Ryner claimed third place with a fall in 2:00.

220- Owen O’Hara, Beardstown

While two of his teammates, Jonny Marquez and Bryan Gill, fell one win shy of earning a state trip, Owen O’Hara assured Beardstown that it would get a state qualifier after he stayed out of the consolation bracket by pinning his way to the finals at 220 and then winning a decision.

O’Hara (35-1), a senior who was ranked fourth and an IWCOA qualifier in 2021 and an IHSA qualifier in 2020, used a pair of first-period falls, including one in 1:44 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Jacob Bischoff in the semifinals before capturing a 3-1 decision over Macomb’s Ethan Ladd in the 220 title match.

“It’s been really great back wrestling this year, O’Hara said. “Last year, I didn’t end up making it to regionals or anything since I was hurt. I had to put in a lot of hard work and a lot of time and a lot of dedication. I’m real happy with how I placed here, but there’s more hard work to be done.”

Ladd (46-6), a senior who was ranked sixth and a state qualifier in 2022 and 2021, followed a 3-0 quarterfinals win over University High’s Isaiah Im (36-13) with another 3-0 decision in the semifinals over Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Nathanael Gnaden (39-10).

Bischoff (40-8), a junior who was ranked ninth that had won four tournament titles, responded to his semifinals loss to O’Hara by claiming a 6-4 win by sudden victory over Im to secure a state trip and then beat Eureka senior Landon Wierenga 2-0 in the third-place match. Wierenga (35-11), who lost 4-2 to Bischoff in the quarterfinals, won 4-0 over Gnaden to assure his state trip.

285 – Asa Reed, Canton

Asa Reed capped a memorable sectional showing for Canton when he captured the championship at 285 to give the Little Giants three champions, joining Trevor Hedges and Joseph Norton, on a day where coach Zach Crawford’s team had a record six state qualifiers.

Reed (31-6), a senior who was ranked sixth, claimed a 10-5 decision over Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Hunter Wilson in the title match. Following a quick fall in his opener, Reed punched his ticket to the finals with a fall in 5:02 over The High School of Saint Thomas More’s Robert Vavrick in the semifinals.

“This is my first time that I’m going to state,” Reed said. “I’ve gone to sectionals and lost in blood rounds every time. Everyone on the team performed really well. All of them are pushing and they’re all supportive of everything. This has really put us on the map for a sport.”

Wilson (47-3), a senior who also qualified for state last year, collected an 8-1 win in his opening match before recording a fall in 2:26 in the semifinals over Knoxville senior William Stowe.

Peoria Notre Dame junior Mike McLaughlin (29-16) became the third member of his team to qualify, all placing third, when he won by medical forfeit over Stowe in the third-place match. McLaughlin had to take the long route to qualify after falling to Vavrick (28-8) in his first match. He won his next four matches, with the key one being in the consolation semifinals when he avenged his earlier defeat to Vavrik with a 3-1 win by sudden victory. Stowe (40-7), the lone qualifier for Knoxville, pinned Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Aydin Cornell (17-9) in 2:29 to assure himself of a state trip.

Glenwood, Civic Memorial lead the way at Highland Sectional

Glenwood qualified eight individuals for this weekend’s IHSA Class Finals while Civic Memorial led the way with three champions at the Class 2A Highland Sectional. 

Winning two titles apiece were Bloomington and Mahomet-Seymour, with the latter having the second-highest number of state qualifiers with six. Mattoon will send five to state while Bloomington, Centennial, Civic Memorial, Mt. Vernon and Normal have four state qualifiers.

Winning titles for coach Jeremy Christenson’s Civic Memorial Eagles were Bradley Ruckman (106), Bryce Griffin (145) and Abe Wojcikiewicz (170) while Caleb Scott (126) took second. 

Coach Jerod Bruner’s Glenwood Titans were led by champion Drew Davis (113) while Brandon Bray (195), Alex Hamrick (220) and Mark Helm (285) were second, John Ben Maduena (132) and Aden Byal (152) took third and Tyler Clarke (106) and Justin Hay (170) were fourth.

Other sectional title winners were Bloomington’s Dylan Watts (138) and Maddox Kirts (160), Mahomet-Seymour’s Brennan Houser (182) and Mateo Casillas (195), Mt. Vernon’s Dillon White (120), Triad’s Colby Crouch (126), Mascoutah’s Santino Robinson (132), Jacksonville’s Collin Reif (152), Centennial’s Jack Barnhart (220) and Southeast’s Robert Hull (285).

Also taking second-place were Normal West’s Evan Willock (132) and Brock Leenerman (170), Bloomington’s Tyler Barlow (106), Mahomet-Seymour’s Caden Hatton (113) Centennial’s Declan Pate (120), Mattoon’s Ben Capitosti (138), Mt. Vernon’s Rider Searcy (145) Triad’s Aiden Postma (152), Carbondale’s Isaiah Duckworth (160) and Danville’s Phil Shaw IV (182).

Additional third-place finishers were Mattoon’s Korbin Bateman (126), Aidan Blackburn (145) and Leo Meyer (220), Carbondale’s Brenden Banz (170) and Aiden Taylor (195), Rochester’s Conner Carroll (106), Urbana’s Cordero Sims (113), Normal West’s Froylan Racey (120), Mahomet-Seymour’s Donovan Lewis (138), Centennial’s Tyler Easter (160) and Triad’s Koen Rodebush (182).

Fourth-place finishes were also turned in by Mt. Vernon’s Ethan Rivera (182) and Mason Randall (195), Mahomet-Seymour’s Colton Caraway (220) and Camden Harms (285), Mattoon’s Tristan Porter (113), Bloomington’s Javier Enriquez-Lynd (120), Normal West’s Austin Johnston (126), Centennial’s Trevor Schoonover (132), Highland’s Tyson Rakers (138), Rochester’s Nolan Mrozowski (145), Lincoln’s Isaac Decker (152) and Jacksonville’s James Cotton (160).

Top records of state qualifiers featured Robinson (37-0, 1.000), Crouch (28-0, 1.000), Casillas (48-1, .980), Houser (47-2, .959), Bateman (45-2, .957), Davis (45-2, .957), Wojcikiewicz (43-2, .956), Searcy (39-2, .951), Barnhart (36-2, .947), Banz (44-3, .936), Busch (40-3, .930), Griffin (45-4, .918), Hamrick (42-4, .913), Taylor (42-4, .913), White (39-4, .907), Reif (45-5, .900), Willock (36-4, .900), Byal (43-5, .896) and Meyer (43-5, .896).

Seniors who fell one win shy of earning  a state trip included Mahomet-Seymour’s Reese Wilson (27-22 at 126), Carbondale’s Aiden Murphy (34-11 at 138), Normal West’s Xavier Edwards (26-15 at 145), Centennial’s Nick Pianfetti (40-4 at 152), Lanphier’s Connor Janssen (32-6 at 160), Riverton’s Colin Ripperda (18-5 at 170), Civic Memorial’s Logan Cooper (22-7 at 195), Champaign Central’s Zavier Neill (30-15) and Marion’s Kanye Gunn (32-9 at 285).

Championship matches of the Class 2A Highland Sectional

106: Bradley Ruckman (33-8), Civic Memorial M For Tyler Barlow (25-16), Bloomington

113: Drew Davis (45-2), Glenwood TF 5:40 Caden Hatton (37-11), Mahomet-Seymour

120: Dillon White (39-4) Mt. Vernon F 0:59 Declan Pate (29-10), Centennial

126: Colby Crouch (28-0), Triad F 0:27 Caleb Scott (35-10), Civic Memorial

132: Santino Robinson (37-0), Mascoutah F 2:00 Evan Willock (36-4), Normal West

138: Dylan Watts (31-6), Bloomington D 5-4 Ben Capitosti (40-7), Mattoon

145: Bryce Griffin (45-4), Civic Memorial MD 15-6 Rider Searcy (39-2), Mt. Vernon

152: Collin Reif (45-5), Jacksonville D 8-2 Aiden Postma (38-9), Triad

160: Maddox Kirts (35-6), Bloomington F 1:56 Isaiah Duckworth (35-9), Carbondale

170: Abe Wojcikiewicz (43-2), Civic Memorial M For Brock Leenerman (19-5), Normal West

182: Brennan Houser (47-2), Mahomet-Seymour F 2:37 Phil Shaw IV (29-5), Danville

195: Mateo Casillas (48-1), Mahomet-Seymour D 6-0 Branon Bray (35-15), Glenwood

220: Jack Barnhart (36-2), Centennial D 5-1 Alex Hamrick (42-4), Glenwood

285: Robert Hull (27-5), Southeast F 0:14 Mark Helm (27-9), Glenwood 

Washington qualifies 10 individuals from the 2A Rochelle Sectional

Washington, the second-ranked team in Class 2A, is tied with Marist and Mount Carmel for the fifth-largest number of state qualifiers after having five individuals win championships and five others place fourth or better at the Class 2A Rochelle Sectional to give it 10 individuals who will compete in this weekend’s IHSA Finals in Champaign.

Leading the way for coach Nick Miller’s Panthers at the sectional were champions Wyatt Medlin (126), Peyton Cox (132), Kannon Webster (145), Blake Hinrichsen (170) and Justin Hoffer (220) while Josh Hoffer (195) was second, Noah Woods (113), Eli Gonzalez (138) and Zane Hulet (160) placed third and Cael Miller (152) finished fourth.

Rock Island qualified seven individuals while Aurora Christian, Crystal Lake Central and Rochelle all will each be represented by five qualifiers in Champaign.

Coach Joel Stockwell’s Rock Island Rocks received title wins from Steven Marquez (182) and Andrew Marquez (195) while Sammy Niyonkuru (106), Truth Vesey (113) and Amare Overton (170) took second. Daniel McGhee (120) was third while Tristan Willoughby (145) placed fourth.

Aurora Christian had four champions, Deven Casey (113), Josh Vazquez (120), Taythan Silva (152) and Braden Hunter (285) while Pat Mullen took second place.

Other tournament champions were Morton’s Harrison Dea (106), Galesburg’s Gauge Shipp (138) and Sycamore’s Zack Crawford (160). 

Also claiming second-place finishes were Crystal Lake Central’s Greco Rendon (126) and Ben Butler (160), Sycamore’s Gus Cambier (152) and Lincoln Cooley (295), Prairie Ridge’s Tyler Evans (120), Freeport’s Jacob Redington (132), Morton’s Steven Marvin (145), Cary-Grove’s Gabe Simpson (182) and LaSalle-Peru’s Connor Lorden (220).

Additional third-place finishes were Rochelle’s Joseph Nadig (126), Brock Metzger (182) and Kaiden Morris (220), Geneseo’s Zachary Montez (132) and Kye Weinzierl (145), Crystal Lake Central’s Cayden Parks (170) and Joe Barrick (195), Ottawa Township’s Ivan Munoz (106),

Peoria High’s Kenny Rutherford (152) and Crystal Lake South’s Andy Burburijia (285).

Fourth-place finishes were also turned in by Rochelle’s Tommy Tourdot (113) and Zavier Villalobos (120), Galesburg’s Rocky Almendarez (132) and Emilio Torres (170), Prairie Ridge’s Jake Lowitzki (106), Richwoods’ Bernard Cox (126), Geneseo’s Malaki Jackson (138), Dunlap’s Nick Mueller (160), Woodstock’s Zachary Canaday (182), Peoria High’s Malachi Washington (195), Rockford East’s Lee Smith, Jr. (220) and Crystal Lake Central’s Leo Diaz (285).

Shipp and Webster both are unbeaten with 46-0 records as they head to Champaign. Other top records among the state qualifiers from the Rochelle Sectional include Hunter (9-0, 1.000), Justin Hoffer (39-1, .975), Crawford (38-1, .974), Zachary Montez (43-2, .956), Cox (41-2, .953), Lorden (35-2, .946), Vesey (38-3, .927), Redington (37-3, .925), Evans (42-4, .913), Burburijia (30-3, .909), Smith, Jr. (40-4, .909), Steven Marquez (36-4, .900), Munoz (32-4, .889) and Andrew Marquez (38-5, .884).

Class 2A Rochelle Sectional championship matches

106: Harrison Dea (33-9), Morton D 9-5 Sammy Niyonkuru (29-10), Rock Island

113: Deven Casey (36-7), Aurora Christian F 1:48 Truth Vesey (38-3), Rock Island

120: Josh Vazquez (23-6), Aurora Christian MD 15-6 Tyler Evans (42-4), Prairie Ridge

126: Wyatt Medlin (21-4), Washington MD 10-2 Greco Rendon (28-9), Crystal Lake Central

132: Peyton Cox (41-2), Washington TB 2-1 Jacob Redington (37-3), Freeport

138: Gauge Shipp (46-0), Galesburg TF 2:39 Pat Mullen (22-10), Aurora Christian

145: Kannon Webster (46-0), Washington F 1:12 Steven Marvin (15-9), Morton

152: Taythan Silva (35-7), Aurora Christian D 10-3 Gus Cambier (41-6), Sycamore

160: Zack Crawford (38-1), Sycamore D 2-0 Ben Butler (35-11), Crystal Lake Central

170: Blake Hinrichsen (38-6), Washington MD 13-5 Amare Overton (38-9), Rock Island

182: Steven Marquez (36-4), Rock Island F 0:44 Gabe Simpson (23-8), Cary-Grove

195: Andrew Marquez (38-5), Rock Island D 5-3 Josh Hoffer (30-18), Washington

220: Justin Hoffer (39-1), Washington F 3:56 Connor Lorden (35-2), LaSalle-Peru

285: Braden Hunter (9-0), Aurora Christian D 6-0 Lincoln Cooley (31-4), Sycamore

Joliet Catholic Academy qualifies 13 at Hinsdale South Sectional

Defending Class 2A champion Joliet Catholic Academy will be well represented at this weekend’s IHSA State Finals with 13 Hilltoppers on hand, the second-highest total of state qualifiers behind Coal City, which is sending all 14 of its competitors to Champaign.

Coach Ryan Cumbee’s Hilltoppers, who are top-ranked in Class 2A, had seven champions and six more qualifiers than the next-best total at the Hinsdale South Sectional in Darien, which was seven for Lemont, and that mark is tied for the tenth-best total for qualifiers in all classes.

The next-best total of sectional qualifiers at Hinsdale South were Oak Forest (6), the host Hornets (5) and  Bremen, Brother Rice, Evergreen Park and St. Rita of Cascia, who all qualified four individuals. Crete-Monee (3), Richards (2), Thornton (2), Kennedy (1) and Marian Catholic (1) are the only other teams in the 26-team competition who will be sending athletes to state.

Winning titles for JCA were Jason Hampton (113), Gylon Sims (120), Jake Hamiti (138), Connor Cumbee (152), Mason Alessio (160), Nico Ronchetti (182) and Dillan Johnson (285) while Noah Avina (106) claimed second place. Nolan Vogel (132) and Zach Pomatto (195) took third and George Hollendoner (126), Luke Hamiti (145) and Hunter Powell (220) finished fourth.

State qualifiers for coach Erik Murry’s Lemont squad were champion Johnny O’Connor (145), second-place finishers Cory Zator (113), Sammy Schuit (138), Noah O’Connor (152), Nathan Wrublik (195) and Alex Pasquale (285) and Carter Mikolajczak (126), who took third place.

Advancing to state for coach Shawn Forst’s Oak Forest Bengals are champion Caden Muselman (132) and third place finishers Hunter Daniel (145), Steve Strelow (152) and Max Corral (170) while Jack Castaneda (160) and Tim Marusarz (285) took fourth place. Qualifying for coach Steve Matozzi’s Hinsdale South Hornets were third-place finishers Mikey Wallace (106), Jovani Piazza (182) and Griffin Carr (220) as well as Toqir Mir (113) and Alec Miller (170), who both placed fourth.

Bremen and Brother Rice each had two champions. Top finishers from the Bremen Braves were title winners Morgan Turner (106) and Alex Jackson (220) while Nore’ Turner (120) took second and Eroc Perez-Nava (285) took third. Qualifiers for Brother Rice’s Crusaders were first-place finishers Bobby Conway (126) and Gambino Perez (195) while Chuck Connelly (182) placed second and John Fitzpatrick (152) took fourth

Advancing for St. Rita were runners-up Nino Protti (126) and Sean Larkin (132) and third-place finishers Austin Dangles (120) and Connor Pasch (138). Qualifying for state for Evergreen Park were champion Aseal Rubalcava (170 and second-place finisher Eduardo Antunez (220) while Johan Bonilla (106) and Chance Woods (120) both finished fourth.

Richards qualified runner-up Mike Taheny (160) and fourth-place finisher Luke Kawa (132) while Thornton did the same with second-place finisher Davion Adams (170) and Qilee Jackson (195) placing fourth. The other two state qualifiers were Kennedy’s Victor Alvarado (113), who took third, and Marian Catholic’s Joey Baranski (138), who finished fourth.

Top records of state qualifiers from the sectional are highlighted by unbeaten Johnson (39-0, 1.000) and  Jackson (31-0, 1.000). Others are Rubalcava (32-1, .970), Conway (19-1, .950), Morgan Turner (31-2, .939), Alessio (39-3, .929), Muselman (32-3, .914), Nore’ Turner (30-3, .909), Piazza (28-3, .903), Johnny O’Connor (41-5, .891) and Alvarado (32-4, .889).

Seniors who missed qualifying for state by one victory include Gary Comer College Prep’s 

Jadden Scott (106) and Faizol Salam (152), Richards’ Muath Jiliani (126) and Adnan Abuzir (220), Crete-Monee’s Jerome Brown (138), Solorio Academy’s Antonio Padilla (170), Morgan Park’s Jadden Shores (182), Marian Catholic’s Tanner Clasen (182), Lindblom’s Jakob Okonkwo (195), Kankakee’s Michael Bannerman-Blakston (195) and Oak Forest’s Adam Richter (220).

Class 2A Hinsdale South Sectional championship matches

106: Morgan Turner (31-2), Bremen D 6-2 Noah Avina (25-22), Joliet Catholic Academy

113: Jason Hampton (35-8), Joliet Catholic Academy D 7-3 Cory Zator (36-6), Lemont

120: Gylon Sims (37-6), Joliet Catholic Academy M. For. Nore’ Turner (30-3), Bremen

126: Bobby Conway (19-1), Brother Rice F 1:04 Nino Protti (23-12), St. Rita

132: Caden Muselman (32-3), Oak Forest D 6-2 Sean Larkin (26-4), St. Rita

138: Jake Hamiti (34-15), Joliet Catholic Academy OT 3-1 Sammy Schuit (29-8), Lemont

145: Johnny O’Connor (41-5), Lemont D 8-3 Josyah Holland (22-5), Crete-Monee

152: Connor Cumbee (28-16), Joliet Catholic Academy D 7-5 Noah O’Connor (35-10), Lemont

160: Mason Alessio (39-3), Joliet Catholic Academy F 1:44 Mike Taheny (38-7), Richards

170: Aseal Rubalcava (32-1), Evergreen Park MD 12-0 Davion Adams (25-12), Thornton

182: Nico Ronchetti (29-16), Joliet Catholic Academy D 5-3 Chuck Connelly (27-5), Brother Rice

195: Gambino Perez (16-5), Brother Rice D 7-2 Nathan Wrublik (26-4), Lemont

220: Alex Jackson (31-0), Bremen F 5:46 Eduardo Antunez (32-9), Evergreen Park

285: Dillan Johnson (39-0), Joliet Catholic Academy F 0:58 Alex Pasquale (34-8), Lemont

Full set of printable Class 1A Brackets

Full set of printable Class 2A Brackets

Full set of printable Class 3A Brackets

Complete Tournament Time Schedule

By Curt Herron

Eight of top nine Class 1A teams face off at Oregon Sectional

Defending Class 1A champion and No. 2 Yorkville Christian led the field at the Class 1A Oregon Sectional with six state qualifiers while No. 3 Riverdale, No. 4 Lena-Winslow/Stockton, No. 5 Dakota and No. 8 Marian Central Catholic had five qualifiers apiece. Dakota and Riverdale each had three sectional champions while Lena-Winslow/Stockton had two title winners. 

No. 9 Stillman Valley had three qualifiers, No. 6 Dixon qualified two and in an example of just how competitive things were, No. 7 Oregon was unable to qualify any individuals. A total of 25 teams at the sectional will send individuals to this weekend’s State Finals in Champaign.

Leading the way for coach Mike Vester’s Yorkville Christian Mustangs were champion Ty Edwards (120), third-place finishers Aiden Larsen (106), Drew Torza (145), Tyler Martinez (160) and Christopher Durbin (182) and fourth-place finisher Jackson Gillen (170).

Qualifiers for coach Matt Jacobs’ Dakota Indians were title winners TJ Silva (126), Phoenix Blakely (132) and Noah Wenzel (220) and third-place finishers Jason Bowers (138) and Case Rockey (170). 

Advancing to state for coach Kevin Milder’s Lena-Winslow/Stockton PantherHawks were champions Garrett Luke (152) and Griffin Luke (182), third-place finisher Mike Haas (220) and fourth-place finishers and Jared Dvorak (160) and Henry Engel (285).

State qualifiers for coach Myron Keppy’s Riverdale Rams were champions Dean Wainwright (106), Brock Smith (138) and Collin Altensey (160), runner-up Alex Watson (170) and fourth-place finisher Tharren Jacobs (113).

Earning state trips for co-coaches Jordan Blanton’s and Ryan Prater’s Marian Central Catholic Hurricanes were title winner Andrew Alvarado (113), runners-up Vance Williams (132), Ethan Struck (152) and Max Astacio (160) and fourth-place finisher Nick Davidson (138).

Other Oregon Sectional champions were Stillman Valley’s Aiden Livingston (145), Fulton’s Zane Pannell (170), Sherrard’s Walker Anderson (195) and St. Francis’ Jaylen Torres (285).

While top-ranked individuals such as Silva (126), Blakely (132), Smith (138), Altensey (160), and Griffin Luke (182) all won titles, two individuals who were top-ranked, Yorkville Christian’s returning state champion Jackson Gillen (170) and Erie/Prophetstown’s Jase Grunder (152), lost in the semifinals and settled for fourth place. Gillen lost to third-ranked Pannell, the champion at 170, while Grunder lost to Struck, who was second to Garrett Luke at 152.

Other second-place finishers were Polo/Milledgeville/Forreston/Eastland’s Josiah Perez (106), Amboy’s Landon Blanton (113), Wheaton Academy’s Lincoln Hoger (120), Rockridge’s Jude Finch (126), Newman Central Catholic’s Carter Rude (138), Richmond-Burton’s Brody Rudkin (145), Stillman Valley’s Andrew Forcier (182), Marengo’s Eddie Solis (195), Harvard’s Riley Vest (220) and Plano’s Alex Diaz (285).

Also claiming third-place finishes were Dixon’s Ayden Rowley (113) and Shaun DeVries (285), Rock Falls’ Aaron Meenen (120), Richmond-Burton’s Emmett Nelson (126), Polo/Milledgeville/Forreston/Eastland’s Wyatt Doty (132), Stillman Valley’s Jack Seacrist (152) and Genoa-Kingston’s Julian Torres (195).

Additional fourth-place finishers were Princeton’s Augustus Swanson (106) and Augie Christiansen (145), Orion’s Luke Moen (120) and Maddux Anderson (195), Byron’s Kyle Jones (182) and Jared Claunch (220), Newman Central Catholic’s Brady Grennan (126) and Harvard’s Marques Merida (132).

Altensey (50-1) collected his 50th victory in his 8-0 title win at 160 over Astacio while Smith (49-1) and Garrett Luke (49-2) claimed their 49th victories with Smith winning 8-4 over Rude at 138 and Garrett Luke claiming an 11-6 decision over Struck at 152.

State qualifiers with the top records include Altensey (50-1, .980), Smith (49-1, .980), Griffin Luke (47-1, .979), Pannell (47-1, .979), Wainwright (45-1, .978), Blakely (38-1, .974), Garrett Luke (49-2, .961), Nelson (43-2, .956), Walker Anderson (39-2, .951), Torres (19-1, .950), Silva (34-2, .944), Wenzel (38-3, .927), Grunder (46-4, .920), Doty (40-4, .909), Finch (40-4, .909), Watson (47-5, .904), Christiansen (45-5, .900), Rude (43-5, .896), Seacrist (33-4, .892), Martinez (40-5, .889), Perez (32-4, .889) and  Hoger (38-5, .884).

Due to the challenging competition in the sectional, 12 individuals who were ranked in the top 10 in Rob Sherrill’s rankings for Illinois Matmen saw their seasons conclude in Oregon, with five of those being at the same weight class, 145. 

The ranked individuals (with their rankings listed) whose seasons concluded in the sectional included Harman (4th at 126), Dial (4th at 132), Erie/Prophetstown’s Wyatt Goossens (5th at 120), Rockridge’s Reese Finch (5th at 145), Fitzgerald (5th at 145), Fulton’s Ben Fosdick (6th at 145), Oregon’s Seth Stevens (7th at 145), Yorkville Christian’s Grason Johnson (8th at 138), Riverdale’s Zac Bradley (9th at 182), Hinde (9th at 152), Lisle’s Joe Raineri (10th at 195) and Wheaton Academy’s Taggart Kazmierczak (10th at 145).

Seniors who fell one victory shy of advancing to state include Marian Central Catholic’s Kaden Harman (126), Yorkville Christian’s Noah Dial (132), Oregon’s Lane Halverson (138), Marian Central Catholic’s Charlie Fitzgerald (145), Wheaton Academy’s Taggart Kazmierczak (145), Riverdale’s Eli Hinde (152), Dakota’s Garrett Vincent (160), Oregon’s Gabe Eckerd (170), Sandwich’s Bryce Decker (170), Lisle’s Joe Raineri (195), Marengo’s Hunter Smith (220) and Fulton’s Braiden Damhoff (285).

Class 1A Oregon Sectional championship matches

106: Dean Wainwright (45-1), Riverdale D 9-4 Josiah Perez (32-4),  Polo/Milledgeville/Forreston/Eastland

113: Andrew Alvarado (18-8) Marian Central Catholic MD 14-3 Landon Blanton (40-9), Amboy

120: Ty Edwards (42-6), Yorkville Christian MD 11-2 Lincoln Hoger (38-5), Wheaton Academy

126: TJ Silva (34-2), Dakota D 1-0 Jude Finch (40-4), Rockridge

132: Phoenix Blakely (38-1), Dakota TF 5:52 Vance Williams (38-7), Marian Central Catholic

138: Brock Smith (49-1), Riverdale D 8-4 Cater Rude (43-5), Newman Central Catholic

145: Aiden Livingston (28-6), Stillman Valley D 4-3 Brody Rudkin (37-8), Richmond-Burton

152: Garrett Luke (49-2), Lena-Winslow/Stockton D 11-6 Ethan Struck (34-13), Marian Central Catholic

160: Collin Altensey (50-1), Riverdale MD 8-0 Max Astacio (39-8), Marian Central Catholic

170: Zane Pannell (47-1), Fulton D 10-5 Alex Watson (47-5), Riverdale

182: Griffin Luke (47-1) Lena-Winslow/Stockton MD 13-3 Andrew Forcier (38-7), Stillman Valley

195: Walker Anderson (39-2), Sherrard F 3:03 Eddie Solis (37-9), Marengo

220: Noah Wenzel (38-3), Dakota F 1:20 Riley Vest (30-10), Harvard

285: Jaylen Torres (19-1), St. Francis Inj. Alex Diaz (37-6), Plano

Auburn qualifies six, wins three titles at Carterville Sectional

Auburn led the way in both state qualifiers and individual champions at the Class 1A Carterville Sectional and will send six individuals to the IHSA Finals with half of those winning titles.

Oakwood/Salt Fork, Roxana and Vandalia each have five state qualifiers while Murphysboro and Shelbyville have four each. Roxana and Oakwood/Salt Fork also both have two champions. Athletes advanced to state from 26 schools and 10 teams had sectional title winners.

Leading the way for coach Matt Grimm’s Auburn Trojans are champions Joey Ruzic (120), Dresden Grimm (138) and Cole Edie (285) while Joey Barrow (170) and Skylar Fay (182) took third place and Drayven Hamm (106) finished fourth.

Coach Mike Glosser’s Oakwood/Salt Fork Comets got titles from Reef Pacot (145) and Bryson Capansky (152) while Tyler Huchel (113) and Pedro Rangel (126) placed second and Carter Chambliss (132) took fourth place.

Winning titles for coach Rob Milazzo’s Roxana Shells were Brandon Green, Jr. (126) and James Herring (220) while Logan Riggs (132) was second and Leyton Cobine (120) and Braden Johnson (152) took third place.

Top finishers for coach Jason Clay’s Vandalia Vandals were champion Dillon Hinton (132), runners-up Owen Miller (138), Logan Nance (152) and Eric McKinney (160) and fourth-place finisher Wyatt Dothager (195).

Other sectional champions were Anna-Jonesboro’s Drew Sadler (106), Carlyle’s Tyson Waughtel (113), Shelbyville’s Will Fox (160), Murphysboro’s Dayton Hoffman (170), Westville’s  Craig Johnson (182) and Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Cory West (195).

Other second-place finishers were Cahokia’s Nick Deloach, Jr. (170) and Jason Dowell (285),  Murphysboro’s Jackson Graff (106), Harrisburg’s Tony Keefe (120), Herrin’s Blue Bishop (145), Oblong’s Austin Hargrave (182), Taylorville’s William Blue (195) and East Alton-Wood River’s Drake Champlin (220).

Also taking third place were Litchfield’s Vinny Moore (106) and Alex Powell (113), Murphysboro’s Bryce Edwards (132) and Liam Fox (145), Shelbyville’s Calvin Miller (126), 

Benton’s Mason Tieffel (138), Carlinville’s Jake Schwartz (160), Lawrenceville’s Nathan Blackwell (195), Robinson’s Craig Markello (220) and Fairfield’s Payton Allen (285).

Additional fourth place finishers were Shelbyville’s Bodee Fathauer (120) and Kaz Fox (145), 

Cumberland’s Owen McGinnis (138) and Noah Carl (285), Murphysboro’s Kaiden Richards (113), Anna-Jonesboro’s Daniel Dover (126), Westville’s Houston Bryant (152), Lawrenceville’s Brian Reed (160), Robinson’s Jared Hermann (170), Red Bud’s Ty Carter (182) and Johnston City’s Jude Beers (220). 

Top records among state qualifers include Allen (47-1, .979), Waughtel (46-1, .979), Hoffman (37-1, .974), West (34-1, .971), Tieffel (48-2, .960), Ruzic (47-2, .959), Sadler (47-2, .959), Bishop (44-2, .957), Edie (44-2, .957), Pacot (44-2, .957), Keene (42-2, .955), Johnson (20-1, .952), Grimm (35-2, .946), McKinney (46-3, 939), Green Jr. (33-3, .917), Calvin Miller (43-4, .915), Schwartz (40-4, .909), Hermann (39-4, .907), Hinton (43-5, .896) and Powell (41-5, .891).

Seniors who fell one win shy of advancing to state include Goreville’s Briley Lehmen (113), Anna-Jonesboro’s Brett Smith (120), Cumberland’s Hank Warfel (120), Westville’s Hayden Weaver (132), Metro-East Lutheran’s Elijah Schlessinger (145), Frankfort Community’s Gavin Mann (145), Mt. Carmel’s Joey Farrar (160), Carterville’s Elijah Mohring (160), Robinson’s David Staller (182), Benton’s Gavin Hedger (195), Carterville’s Riley Bradford (220), Westville’s Tre Ramirez (220), Roxana’s Chase Allen (285) and Robinson’s Dalton Woods (285).

Class 1A Carterville Sectional championship matches

106: Drew Sadler (47-2), Anna-Jonesboro MD 12-0 Jackson Graff (37-9), Murphysboro

113: Tyson Waughtel (46-1), Carlyle TF Tyler Huchel (34-9), Oakwood/Salt Fork

120: Joey Ruzic (47-2), Auburn MD 12-1 Tony Keene (42-2), Harrisburg

126: Brandon Green, Jr. (33-3), Roxana D 9-2 Pedro Rangel (30-7), Oakwood/Salt Fork

132: Dillon Hinton (43-5), Vandalia F 4:31 Logan Riggs (32-13), Roxana

138: Dresden Grimm (35-2), Auburn F 5:12 Owen Miller (40-9), Vandalia

145: Reef Pacot (44-2), Oakwood/Salt Fork 3-2 2OT Blue Bishop (44-2), Herrin

152: Bryson Capansky (40-8), Oakwood/Salt Fork D 8-4 Logan Nance (38-13), Vandalia

160: Will Fox (33-6), Shelbyville D 5-2 Eric McKinney (46-3), Vandalia

170: Dayton Hoffman (37-1), Murphysboro D 3-2 Nick Deloach. Jr. (39-8), Cahokia

182: Craig Johnson (20-1), Westville F Austin Hargrave (37-7), Oblong

195: Cory West (34-1), Sacred Heart-Griffin F 1:07 William Blue (40-7), Taylorville

220: James Herring (35-5), Roxana MD 11-3 Drake Champlin (44-6), East Alton-Wood River

285: Cole Edie (44-2), Auburn F 0:29 Jason Dowell (38-9), Cahokia

Host Coalers advance all 14 at Coal City Sectional

It’s not very often that a program can have six champions, 10 finalists and 14 state qualifiers at a sectional tournament, but that’s just what Coal City accomplished when it hosted a sectional this past weekend.

Coach Mark Masters’ top-ranked Coalers received title wins from Culan Lindemuth (106), Brody Widlowski (113), Brant Widlowski (138), Mataeo Blessing (145), Braiden Young (182) and Joey Breneman (195) while Aidan Kenney (120), Jake Piatek (132) Jack Poyner (160) and Derek Carlson (170) placed second. Drake Dearth (220) and Michael Gonzalez (285) took third while Brock Finch (126) and Landin Benson (152) finished fifth.

Nineteen teams qualified individuals to this weekend’s IHSA finals in Champaign while 11 of those have more than one qualifier. Others with the most state qualifiers are IC Catholic Prep (6), Peotone (5), Reed-Custer (5), Seneca (4) and DePaul College Prep (3).

The only other team with multiple champions was IC Catholic Prep, who had three of its six state qualifiers take top honors. Winning titles for coach Jason Renteria Knights were Saul Trejo (120), Omar Samayoa (126) and Isaiah Gonzalez (285) while Bryson Spaulding (138) took second and Joseph Gliatta (152) and Foley Calcagno (182) were third.

Other Coal City Sectional champions were Phoenix Military Academy’s Vin Moreno (132), Bishop McNamara’s Luke Christie (152), Manteno’s Carter Watkins (160), Reed-Custer’s Rex Pfeifer (170) and Nazareth Academy’s Gabriel Kaminski (220).

Also finishing in second place were Peotone’s Ian Kreske (145) and Marco Spinazzola (152), Reed-Custer’s Kody Marschner (220) and Gunnar Berg (285), Bishop McNamara’s Blake Arseneau (106), Wilmington’s Landon Dooley (113), DePaul College Prep’s Max Rosen (126),

Clifton Central’s Hunter Hull (182) and Seneca’s Chris Peura (195).

Others taking third place were Seneca’s Ethan Othon (113), Asher Hamby (160) and Collin Wright (170), Peotone’s Micah Spinazzola (126) and Santino Izzi (132), DePaul College Prep’s Oliver Chapman (106), Dwight’s Dylan Crouch (120), Reed-Custer’s Jeremy Eggleston (138), Clifton Central’s Gianni Paniozzo (145) and Wilmington’s Hunter Hayes (195).

Also finishing in fourth place were Nazareth Academy’s Charlie Dvorak (106) and Andrew Fowler (145), Northridge Prep’s Michael Kopecky (170) and Steven Kopecky (182),

Harlan’s Kingston Sawyers (113), Rickover Naval Academy’s Nathaniel Sales (120), Reed-Custer’s Sam Begler (132), DePaul College Prep’s Alex Johnson (138), St. Laurence’s Henry Coughlin (160), Chicago Military Academy-Bronzeville’s Sean Brown (195), Peotone’s Alex Cardenas (220) and Horizon Southwest Chicago’s Antoine Arnold (285).

State qualifiers from the sectional with the best records are Kaminski (27-0, 1.000), Samayoa (11-0, 1.000), Young (38-1, .974), Brody Widlowski (35-1, .972), Brant Widlowski (21-1, .955), Marschner (36-2, .947), Blessing (41-3, .932), Moreno (40-3, .930), Gonzalez (13-1, .929), Marco Spinazzola (36-3, .923) and Pfeifer (43-5, .896).

Seniors who came up one win shy of state trips included Bishop McNamara’s Jackson Jeck (126), Clifton Central’s Gage Poyner (138), Reed-Custer’s Landon Markle (160), Chicago Hope Academy’s Tristan Phipps (170), Hyde Park’s Wilhelm Lord (182), Sullivan’s Keshawn Walker (195) and Perspectives Leadership Academy’s Scott Thomas (220).

Class 1A Coal City Sectional championship matches

106: Culan Lindemuth (38-9), Coal City MD 14-4 Blake Arseneau (27-9), Bishop McNamara

113: Brody Widlowski (35-1), Coal City D 6-3 Landon Dooley (37-9), Wilmington

120: Saul Trejo (8-2), IC Catholic Prep F 2:42 Aidean Kenney (29-14), Coal City

126: Omar Samayoa (11-0), IC Catholic Prep MD 15-1 Max Rosen (39-10), DePaul College Prep

132: Vin Moreno (40-3), Phoenix Military Academy D 2-0 Jake Piatak (6-1), Coal City

138: Brant Widlowski (21-1), Coal City D 13-7 Bryson Spaulding (10-4), IC Catholic Prep

145: Mataeo Blessing (41-3), Coal City MD 11-2 Ian Kreske (36-16), Peotone

152: Luke Christie (32-4), Bishop McNamara D 13-6 Marco Spinazzola (36-3), Peotone

160: Carter Watkins (30-6), Manteno SV 6-4 Jack Poyner (35-12), Coal City

170: Rex Pfeifer (43-5), Reed-Custer D 5-0 Derek Carlson (34-6), Coal City

182: Braiden Young (38-1), Coal City MD 16-2 Hunter Hull (34-7), Clifton Central

195: Joey Breneman (39-5), Coal City MD 10-2 Chris Peura (44-7), Seneca

220: Gabriel Kaminski (27-0), Nazareth Academy F 3:00 Kody Marschner (36-2), Reed-Custer

285: Isaiah Gonzalez (13-1), IC Catholic Prep D 3-0 Gunnar Berg (38-5),  Reed-Custer 

Canton, Unity have six qualifiers at Class 1A Clinton Sectional

Canton continued its historic season, following up on its third regional title and its first since 2009, by getting a school-record six state qualifiers, with half of those being champions, at the Class 1A Clinton Sectional.

Illini Bluffs also had three champions and eight other schools had one title winner. Unity also finished with six qualifiers for this weekend’s IHSA State Finals in Champaign while Illini Bluffs and Tremont each had four state qualifiers and El Paso-Gridley, Farmington, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher, LeRoy/Tri-Valley, Macomb and Peoria Notre Dame had three apiece.

Winning championships for coach Zach Crawford’s Canton Little Giants were Trevor Hedges (126), Joseph Norton (170) and Asa Reed (285) while John Davis (120) placed second and Maddux Steele (106) and Danny Murphy (160) both finished in fourth place.

Leading the way for coach Logan Patton’s Unity Rockets were champion Nick Nosler (195) and  runner-up Kyus Root (170). Third-place finishers were Kaden Inman (138) and Hunter Eastin (182) while Hunter Shike (126) and Ryan Rink (152) both finished in fourth place.

Capturing first-place finishes for coach Shawn O’Connor’s Illini Bluffs Tigers were Hunter Robbins (106), Jackson Carroll (138) and Paul Ishikawa (145) while Ian O’Connor (132) took second place. State qualifiers for coach TJ Williams’ Tremont Turks were champion Payton Murphy (120), runner-up Bowden Delaney (126), third-place finisher Mason Mark (132) and TJ Conner (182), who placed fourth.

Also winning sectional championships were Farmington’s Keygan Jennings (113), St. Joseph-Ogden’s Holden Brazelton (132), Kewanee’s Max Kelly (152), El Paso-Gridley’s Dax Gentes (160), PORTA’s Bryar Lane (182) and Beardstown’s Owen O’Hara (220).

Other second-place finishers were LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Brady Mouser (106), Lutheran Schools Association Decatur’s Clinton VerHeecke (113), Kewanee’s William Taylor (138), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Carson Maxey (145), Monmouth United’s Jake McElwee (152), Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Gage Sweckard (160), El Paso-Gridley’s Cody Langland (182), The High School of Saint Thomas More’s Brody Cuppernell (195), Macomb’s Ethan Ladd (220) and Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Hunter Wilson (285).

Additional third-place finishers were Peoria Notre Dame’s Ian Akers (106), Chase Daugherty (145) and Mike McLaughlin (285), Farmington’s Bradlee Ellis (126) and Rese Shymansky (170), Macomb’s Carter Hoge (152) and Max Ryner (195), Warrensburg-Latham’s Logan Roberts (113), Lutheran School Association Decatur’s Garrett VerHeecke (120), Hoopeston Area’s Angel Zamora (160) and LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Jacob Bischoff (220).

And others who finished in fourth place were Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Shawn Schlickman (120) and Aiden Sancken (195), Clinton’s Cayden Poole (132) and Will Winter (145), LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Kobe Brent (113), El Paso-Gridley’s Tyler Roth (138), Mercer County’s Bodie Salmon (170), Eureka’s Landon Wierenga (220) and Knoxville’s William Stowe (285).

Top records for state qualifiers from the Clinton Sectional include Ishikawa (47-0, 1.000), Gentes (48-1, .980), Norton (47-1, .979), Clinton VerHeecke (44-1, .978), O’Hara (35-1, .972), Jennings (32-1, .970), Robbins (31-1, .969), Nosler (48-2, .960), Brazelton (45-2, .957), Hedges (44-2, .957), Murphy (36-2, .947), Lane (48-3, .941), Ryner (48-3, .941), Wilson (47-3, .940), Mouser (42-3, .933), Delaney (41-4, .911), Taylor (41-4, .911), Garrett VerHeecke (40-4, .909), Akers (39-4, .907), Davis (38-4, .905), Eastin (46-5, .902), Shymansky (37-4, .902), Cuppernell (39-5, .886), Sancken (31-4, .886), Ladd (46-6, .885), Carroll (45-6, .882) and Root (45-6, .882).

In a testament to just how competitive the sectional was, the average record of the 28 finalists prior to their title matches was 40.68-3.5. The title match featuring the fewest losses by both participants was at 113 where once-beaten Jennings handed unbeaten Clinton VerHeecke his first defeat of the season by recording a fall in 1:52.

Individuals in the top 10 in Rob Sherrill’s Illinois Matmen rankings who failed to advance (with rankings listed) include Tremont’s Konnor Martin (7th at 113), Mercer County’s Ethan Monson (7th at 120), Pontiac’s Aidan Scholwin (10th at 106), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Nathanael Gnaden (10th at 220) and PORTA’s Issak Espenschied (10th at 285).

Seniors who fell one win shy of qualifying for state included Illini Bluff’s Avery Speck (120), Beardstown’s Jonny Marquez (132) and Bryan Gil (138), Ridgeview/Lexington’s Caeden Lopshire (152), LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Ethan Conaty (160), Kewanee’s Jaxson Hicks (160), Knoxville’s Jaxin Johnson (170), Mercer County’s Gavin Minteer (182), Warrensburg-Latham’s Walker Allen (195), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Nathanael Gnaden (220) and University High’s Isaiah Im (220).

Note: For more on the Clinton Sectional, see Curt Herron’s story, which will be posted later.

Class 1A Clinton Sectional championship matches

106: Hunter Robbins (31-1), Illini Bluffs D 3-2 Brady Mouser (42-3), LeRoy/Tri-Valley

113: Keygan Jennings (32-1), Farmington F 1:52 Clinton VerHeecke (44-1), Lutheran School Association Decatur

120: Payton Murphy (36-2), Tremont D 4-1 John Davis (38-4), Canton

126: Trevor Hedges (44-2), Canton MD 11-3 Bowden Delaney (41-4), Tremont

132: Holden Brazelton (45-2), St. Joseph-Ogden D 7-0 Ian O’Connor (44-7), Illini Bluffs

138: Jackson Carroll (45-6), Illini Bluffs TF 3:46 William Taylor (41-4), Kewanee

145: Paul Ishikawa (47-0), Illini Bluffs D 14-7 Carson Maxey (35-5), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher

152: Max Kelly (40-8), Kewanee F 1:29 Jake McElwee (35-10), Monmouth United

160: Dax Gentes (48-1), El Paso-Gridley D 8-1 Gage Sweckard (40-11), Deer Creek-Mackinaw

170: Joseph Norton (47-1), Canton F 0:28 Kyus Root (45-6), Unity

182: Bryar Lane (48-3), PORTA MD 8-0 Cody Langland (39-7), El Paso-Gridley

195: Nick Nosler (48-2), Unity MD 13-2 Brody Cuppernell (39-5), The High School of Saint Thomas More

220: Owen O’Hara (35-1), Beardstown D 3-1 Ethan Ladd (46-6), Macomb

285: Asa Reed (31-6), Canton D 10-5 Hunter Wilson (47-3), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin

By Mike Garofola

BARRINGTON – This wrestling season has been one to marvel at, with several from the state to be found nationally-ranked, while others of tremendous talent themselves have continued to soldier on – giving fans of the sport plenty to cheer and celebrate.

Last year, Barrington’s sectional produced 18 state medal winners, three of which were state-runners up. Two others, Josh Knudten (Libertyville, 182) and Jack Cummings (New Trier, 195), lifted the much-desired state championship bracket.

There were a few wrestlers in Barrington for this year’s sectional that will be strong favorites to advance into the 2023 state title contest. Several others are quite capable of bringing home state medals come Saturday night at State Farm Center in Champaign.

When this tournament came to an end late Saturday afternoon inside the intimate surroundings of the Barrington field house, MSL champion Hersey and its fierce rival Prospect would each advance seven downstate, with NSC champ Libertyville, and Fremd from the MSL West next up with five each.

Where it all will end is anybody’s guess, but for now here’s a closer look at all 14 weight divisions:

106: Brayden Teunissen, Belvidere North

Barrington High School has been very good to Brayden Teunissen.

The Belvidere North sophomore, currently ranked No. 2 in Rob Sherrill’s Illinois Matmen rankings, won here in late November at the prestigious Moore-Prettyman tournament. That was the first of what is now his seventh major of the season. 

Saturday afternoon, Teunissen pinned his way to glory to book his second consecutive trip downstate.

Teunissen (45-2) needed just over seven minutes over the two days of action, including 90 seconds in his final with McHenry’s Ryan Hanson (35-10) to give his club its first of two championship belts.

It was Teunissen’s 27th pin of the season.

“It’s kind of crazy to think that way back at Thanksgiving I won my first tournament of the season,” Teunissen said. “Now it’s one week before state, and I’ve been able to win the most important tournament of the season to get back downstate.

Teunissen was runner-up at 106 here a year ago, to Saturday’s champion at 113, Jacobs’ Dominic Ducato.

“Since the Moore-Prettyman, I feel like my set-ups, footwork, and offense have improved,” Teunissen said. “After having the experience of being downstate last season, I feel like I have a very good chance to get into the state final.”

Hanson, who lost earlier in the year to Tenuissen, will be making his first appearance in Champaign, as will No. 8 Danny Lehman (Hersey, 35-9) who dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Hanson in their semifinal.

The Hersey sophomore later defeated Prospect sophomore Elijah Garza (28-14) for third-place honors.

113: Dominic Ducato, Jacobs

It was a fine field at 113 in Barrington, but Jacobs’ Dominic Ducato (31-2) was without equal.

The St. Cloud State-bound Ducato sent all three of his rivals away with ease, beginning with a pin just 33 seconds into his tourney opener. He followed that with back-to-back tech-falls, stepping out onto the mat and unleashing his attack with a fury that ended his semifinal in four minutes, and at 3: 40 in his title match against Round Lake’s Alejandro Cordova (31-9).

At last year’s state finals, Ducato majored his opening opponent before dropping two close matches to eventual state medal winners (Ethan Spacht, Brady Phelps), putting an abrupt end to his third visit downstate.

“Last year never worked out the way I had wanted it to,” Ducato said. “The way state ended really provided a ton of motivation for my offseason training. I tweaked my knee before the Batavia Invite, which slowed me down a little, but I feel really good right now and I’m ready to go next weekend at state.”

Ducato was a sectional champ at Barrington a year ago at 106.

“Dominic has been a man on a mission, and we were upset when he hurt his knee,” Jacobs coach Gary Conrad said. “The Batavia Invite would have been a great measuring stick for him, but that’s how it goes in this sport. I can tell you he’s a hundred percent ready for this weekend coming up.”

There will be eight state medal winners in Champaign’s high-profile field at 113 this year, including No. 7 Ducato, who has both Spacht and Phelps just ahead of him in the most recent IWCOA state poll.

Cordova will be making his second visit downstate, while Barrington’s third-place Abdullokh Khakimov (Hersey, 35-12) and fourth-placer Gavin Pardilla (Loyola Academy, 28-17) will be enjoying their first.

120: Massey Odiotti, Loyola Academy

With his technical fall defeat in his 120-pound state final at the hands of nationally-ranked Ben Davino (St. Charles East) a year ago behind him, Loyola Academy star Massey Odiotti has set out to dominate the field at 120 this year. 

The top-ranked Northwestern-bound Ramblers senior proved once more he’s the man to beat next weekend.

Odiotti (36-6) left all three of his opponents in his dust with a tech-fall to start things off on the first day of play, followed by a pair of impressive major decision victories, the last coming against Esteban Delgado (Hersey, 32-12) which ended at 17-4.

“Ben is a great wrestler, one of the best in the nation, but I learned a lot at state last year,” Odiotti said. “After that I never stopped training and working in order to get myself back there again to win it all.” 

Three of Odiotti’s losses this year have come to out-of-state opponents, and one came against reigning state champion Jameson Garcia (Marmion Academy) while competing at 126.

“My coaching staff here at Loyola is tremendous, plus the time I spend at Izzy Style has really helped round my game into shape. And my work in Freestyle and Greco has given me so much more during the offseason as well,” added Odiotti, who in 2022 was a Greco Junior runner-up.

Odiotti had the University of Illinois and Central Michigan University in his sights, but the staff, team, and academics at Northwestern led him to Evanston, where he will red shirt next fall and likely compete at 125 pounds.

Joel Muehlenbeck (Prospect, 31-10) returns to Champaign while Libertyville junior Luke Berktold (40-12) will be there for the first time. Muehlenbeck won 9-6 over Berktold on the third-place mat.

“This weight class had so many worthy potential state qualifiers,” Libertyville coach Dale Eggert said. “Luke had to win his blood-round match against Bryce (Durlacher, Mundelein, 30-2) who last year was fifth overall at state.

Berktold won 2-1 in overtime against Durlacher to reach the third-place mat.

“Going slow at Durlacher you won’t get anything, but eventually Luke put a hustling pace on him, which led to him breaking through in overtime for the winning take-down,” Eggert said.

126: Evan Gosz, Fremd

You can put Evan Gosz as yet another at this sectional who was unstoppable and unbeatable alongside names like Baysingar and Frezza, after the Fremd sophomore delivered a trio of knock-out punches en route to his second straight sectional title, and sixth major of this season.

“I threw (Loyola’s Patrick) Zimmer in my regional final last weekend, so I figured he would come out today and go for it,” Gosz said. “But I was able to launch him early on and take control of the match from the start.”

Gosz improved to 39-1 with 23 pins, including a thundering throw off the whistle in his title match against Zimmer, which drew a big response from the audience. Gosz won his title by fall at the 0:32 mark.

“I feel so much better heading into the state tournament than I did a year ago,” Gosz said. “My shots and positioning are sharper and cleaner, and I have that experience of being down on the floor in Champaign out of the way.  So I am mentally, and physically in a better place this year.”

Gosz placed third a year ago downstate. He’s currently No. 3 in the polls behind a nationally-ranked duo and reigning state champions in Ben Davino (St. Charles East, 46-0) and Jameson Garcia (Marmion Academy, 37-4).

Gosz has an impressive statistic on his resume this year, conceding just five take-downs on the season.

“There isn’t anybody that will beat Davino so the hope of winning here and getting a top four seed is that I’ll be on the opposite side of the bracket from him, and do all that I can to get into the state final on Saturday night,” Gosz said.

Zimmer, Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey, 35-14), and Adam Pena (Huntley, 32-14)

will celebrate their first appearances at state. Mukhamedaliyev posted a fall at 3:00 over Pena on the third-place mat.

132: Will Baysingar, Prospect

On Saturday afternoon in Barrington, Will Baysingar (47-1) reaffirmed his status as one of the best there is at 132 in the state.

It wasn’t just the dominating and gaudy victories he registered – all of which were bonus point wins – but instead it was the relentless way he goes about taking apart his opponents in stirring fashion.

“You have to understand that wrestling is not a hobby to Will – it’s 365 days, 24-7 in his training, cardio, nutrition – just everything,” said Prospect head coach Dan Keller of the No. 3-rated 132-pounder, who was state runner-up a year ago to Nasir Bailey of Rich Township at 132.

“I take my training very seriously: cardio, muscular, diet – everything from the physical, and mental side of the game to keep myself in peak form – with the goal of winning a state title,” Baysingar said.

Baysingar is now a dazzling 166-4 during his four-year career with the Knights, which includes an IWCOA state title wrapped around a pair of second, and third place IHSA state medals.

Jacobs’ No. 4 James Wright (38-4) – now a four-time state qualifier – cruised into his final but met a brick wall in Baysingar. Baysingar went from a 2-0 lead after one period to an 8-0 lead when he put Wright onto his back, on his way to a 10-0 major.

Glenbrook South’s Max Brown (35-11) won an 11-8 decision on the third-place mat over Harlem’s Myles Babcock (26-13). Both are first-time state qualifiers.

138: Lorenzo Frezza, Stevenson

As Prospect’s Will Baysingar goes, so goes the star 138-pounder from Stevenson, Lorenzo Frezza (38-0), as intense, focused, and dominating a wrestler as there is in the state.

Frezza is a four-time state qualifier and two-time third place medal winner. The senior wows with impeccable positioning, awareness, and the ability to strike with lethal accuracy early into his matches; Frezza has scored almost 200 points in the first periods of his matches, which sets the tone for the rest of the way.

“Lorenzo has been laser-focused from the first day he came into the room, and that focus has never changed,” Stevenson coach Shane Cook said. “With each week, his focus, work rate, and dedication to improving each time out continues to rise.

“His preparation is second to none, and everyone associated with Stevenson wrestling is excited for his chances next weekend in Champaign.”

Frezza, now with 20 pins on the season, has his eyes firmly on the top prize at state, and with victories over Baysingar, No. 3 Tyler Guerra (St. Charles East), and now No. 6, Maddox Khalimsky (Fremd, 22-2) in his final, it appears the expectation to do so is a reasonable expectation.

Khalimsky, now a three-time state qualifier, is thrilled to be back to compete after missing the early part of the season.

“It’s exciting to be back in the room,” Khalimsky said. “I cannot tell you how much I missed wrestling, and how appreciative that I am back with my teammates and coaching staff.” 

The Fremd senior beat eventual fourth-place medalist Rhenzo Augusto (29-15) of Barrington in their semifinal, and Augusto upset a returning state qualifier in Prospect’s Lennon Steinkuehler in their state-qualifying bout.

Evan Onstad (Warren, 29-5) came all the way back in the back-draw and won 10-3 on the third-place mat over Augusto to earn his first trip to Champaign.

145: Antonio Alvarado, Belvidere North

Belvidere North’s Antonio Alvarado and Lake Zurich’s Scott Busse have plenty of history at this sectional venue, so no doubt camps from both programs likely circled this weekend as soon as the IHSA announced its 3A assignments.

Alvarado (48-2) and Busse (43-3) each advanced into the 2022 sectional final at different weights, and both finished second.

These two superb 145-pounders met in the Moore-Prettyman final over Thanksgiving weekend, with Alvarado winning a 6-5 decision over Busse.

With both men on the opposite sides of the sectional brackets, it was clear that if they were able to get past quality opponents, the rematch for No. 5 Busse against No. 3  Alvarado was in play.

That rematch took form when Alvarado topped Fremd’s Jake Crandall (30-12) by 11-2 major in their semifinal, and Busse won a 16-6 major in his semifinal against McHenry’s Pedro Jimenez (38-10).

Once in the final, Alvarado took a lead he would hold throughout, extending to a 5-0 advantage with a nicely-played angled shot 30 seconds into the second period, and a late take-down from Busse ended the final at 7-3.

“I think we were both looking forward to seeing each other again,” Alvarado said. “For me, getting that first take-down was a hundred percent what I wanted to do in order to help me dictate the pace of the match in my favor.”

Alvarado finished fifth in Illinois last year.

“Antonio had championship aspirations last year, so it was tough for him to work his way back through wrestle-backs in order to medal,” Belvidere North coach Danny Martinez said. “But he’s a young man who is the ultimate competitor and he’ll never give up.”

With one more pin added this weekend, Alvarado now has a team high 32 while his counterpart is at 25 pins, with over 220 take-downs.

“We were hoping for a rematch, and thinking it would be an exciting high scoring match, but things didn’t go our way today,” Lake Zurich coach Jake Jobst said.

Crandall is on his way to his first state tournament after securing a third-place finish over Jimenez, now a two-time qualifier.

“It was now or never for me with it being my senior year, but lately I feel like everything has come together for me at the right time, so I feel real good about getting downstate,” Crandall said.

152: Aaron Stewart, Warren

Of all the marvelous freshmen in Barrington, the one that stood out was Warren’s No. 2 Aaron Stewart (39-1) who continues to smash the competition at 152 pounds in such a comprehensive fashion that continues to amaze the Warren coaching staff.

Stewart pinned his way into his final with No. 8 Colin Young (Belvidere North, 44-5) where in workmanlike order he slowly built and added to his lead throughout, finishing with an 18-6 major decision victory.

“Aaron shows so much poise as a freshman,” Warren coach Brad Janisek said. “He’s composed and under control at all times, and the thing that impresses me so much is how hard he works to improve every single thing about his game. Now he’s thinking one, two, and three moves ahead, which makes him all the more special of a wrestler.

“However, none of his success goes to his head. He remains level-headed about all of it and he’s also a terrific student-athlete. His academic success is very important to him as well.

“You have to be impressed with the way Aaron goes about his business,” Warren assistant coach Curt Onstad said. “He’s mature beyond his years and it’s his work ethic and desire that really helps set him apart.”

Young, sitting just outside the top 6 in the rankings, went into the weekend with four major titles to his name, the most recent a regional crown at his home mats to give Belvidere North its first team title since 2004.

With his two pins in advance of the finals, Young stands just behind team leader Antonio Alvarado with 23, while he’s first in near-falls with 80.

Prospect’s Damien Puma won an 11-4 decision on the third-place mat over Highland Park’s Dmitry Derbedyenyev.

160, Aaron Hernandez, Hersey

After No. 6 Aaron Hernandez finished his customary post-match sprints in the back of the Barrington fieldhouse, the Hersey senior gathered himself nicely before pouring on the praise to his coaching staff and teammates for all of the success they have achieved thus far.

Eventually, Hernandez turned his attention to the sectional title he just claimed.

“It’s been a very good year for us – actually the last two years,” Hernandez said. “We won the conference and regional championship, and now I’ve won a sectional title. My teammates, Anthony Cambria, and Oleg (Simakov) have the chance to do the same.

“Beating a very good opponent (Warren’s Royce Lopez) felt real good. I really worked my tail off during the offseason to get here. But there’s still some business ahead of me to finish.”

Hernandez improved to 26-5 with his 3-1 sudden victory over Lopez, which came by virtue of a take-down with six seconds remaining in the first extra session.

Prospect junior Connor Munn (27-7) travels to Champaign for a second consecutive time, while Stevenson senior  and No. 8 Thomas Schoolman (37-5) heads downstate once again with a third-place sectional medal in hand.

“I was 4-0 against Royce heading into my semifinal, but couldn’t make it five straight, which made it that much harder to advance,” Schoolman said. “But I had a lot to prove to myself after falling short here last year, and with a lot of help from my teammates and coaching staff, I made it one more time downstate.”

170: Chris Moore, McHenry

The hits just keep coming for McHenry senior Chris Moore, who produced yet another championship effort – his sixth of the season –  to solidify a top four seed in Champaign, giving the No. 2 man in the state a terrific opportunity to earn a second straight spot in the finals come Saturday night.

Should Moore (39-0) do so, it could set up a rematch of the 2022 160-pound state final with current No. 1, Colin Kelly (Mt. Carmel, 23-2) who, like Moore, would be looking to claim a second state championship.

Moore earned his first as a freshman at 113 pounds while at 2A Aurora Christian, before coming back to his hometown to finish off an extraordinary career.

“It’s all about getting better each time out to prepare for state. That’s my lone focus right now, and has been from last offseason to now,” Moore said.

Moore won his sectional title Saturday with a 16-7 decision in the finals against Libertyville’s Matt Kubas (38-7).

“Moore is just rolling – great pace, great technique, great feel, and defense. He really is something else,” Libertyville coach Dale Eggert said.

“Matt did his best to hang in there with him, but he really could not get any offense going and it’s hard to keep Moore off the scoreboard. There wasn’t much Matt could have done differently, but to try to match his pace as much as he could, which should help him at state.”

No. 3 Kubas produced a quality six minutes in his semifinal with Jonny Fier (Barrington, 36-7) to advance, and later, Fier recorded a 9-4 decision in his third-place match with Prospect’s Michael Matuszak (29-12) to grab his first trip downstate.

“I went 0-2 here last year, so to come back and get downstate in my senior year, and at home, is exciting,” said Fiers, who told his coaches after he won his 100th career victory last weekend at regionals that he would change his first name from Jon to Jonny the rest of the way.

“We all had a great laugh when Fiers told us what he was doing. He’s a great kid and we’re all very happy for him right now,” said Barrington coach Ken Hoving.

182: Anthony Cambria, Hersey

The big smile on the face of Anthony Cambria said it all for the Hersey senior, who had just won the biggest tournament title of his career after he edged league rival Ali Adel (Fremd, 31-8) with a 3-2 decision.

Cambria (38-12) first had to grind out another hard fought contest in his semifinal bout, winning 4-3 over Quinn Herbert (Loyola, 24-10). 

“This just feels so amazing right now,” Cambria said. “You always set a goal to get downstate at the start of the year, but to win a sectional championship and a top four seed at state is still something that is just unbelievable to me right now.”

Adel wasn’t anywhere near the guest list here a year ago, but he opened up Friday with a pin to get his tournament headed forward, Adel then used an 8-2 decision over Libertyville sophomore Caleb Baczek (18-9) to advance into his final.

“It’s all about the hard work, and extra time (Adel) has put in that has resulted in him getting downstate,” Fremd coach Jeff Keske said.

Baczek recently took over for the injured Austin Gomez, who was third a year ago in Champaign, and his coach was impressed with his fourth-place finish.

“For a guy that only wrestled spot moments with us on the varsity this season, what an accomplishment for him to get downstate,” Libertyville coach Dale Eggert said.

“He was prepared to go into the jayvee conference tournament the week before regionals, when he heard the night before that Austin was out with an injury. He is a blue chip athlete, who needs a lot of varsity seasoning, and he fixed his mistakes for his consolation semifinal match, and could not have wrestled better to get himself downstate.”

No. 9 Herbert will be making his third straight appearance in Champaign following his 8-1 decision win over Baczek on the third-place mat.

195: Cole Matulenko, Libertyville

Despite his first two losses to Prospect phenom Jaxon Penovich, Libertyville’s Cole Matulenko welcomed yet another contest with the No. 4 rated Penovich (41-5), who also knew the two could meet again in what would be the biggest of their three bouts thus far.

“You don’t want to put too much into a rematch,” No. 5 Matulenko said. “But to be honest, the way I’ve been feeling and competing of late, it was something I was hoping for to be sure.

“I had begun to taper my training of late – cutting back from my 4:30 a.m. workouts four days a week, and I feel like it has made me feel my absolute best. I’m peaking at the right time of the season.”

Looking sharper, and quicker than ever, Matulenko (40-4) struck for the all important first take-down. He added to it to earn a 4-0 advantage after one period.

“That take-down was huge,” Matulenko said. His coach liked what he saw.

“The key was actually his single leg take-down counter early on,” Libertyville coach Dale Eggert said. “(Penovich) had him in the air for a while, and Cole was able to fight him off. Then he came right back to get that first take-down, and then (earn back points) make it 4-0.

“(Cole) did not have that on him in his first two matches, he sort of rolled from there on, and yes, he is definitely peaking at the right time. He was doing a lot of lifting in the early morning, which I believe was wearing him down a bit. But he’s taken his foot off the gas of late, and it has really sharpened him up.”

“Last year at state did not go well,” Matulenko said. “So it’s something that has stayed with me. To win here and get a top four seed in a super tough weight class is exactly what I wanted to have heading into the state tournament.”

Dundee-Crown star and senior Porter Leith (38-2) – who had his hopes dashed in the blood at last year’s Barrington sectional – made amends with a well-deserved 3-1 victory for third place over Grant’s Cameron Lattimore (36-13).

“That loss here last season has never gone away,” Leith said. “It has been the inspiration for me throughout the offseason and in my senior year. I’ve never stopped working to get back here, and get downstate.” 

Leith has trained diligently with Jim Brunner, the father of former Dundee-Crown and Purdue University star Christian Brunner, who was a state champion in 2016.

220: Kai Calcutt, Loyola Academy

Barrington was a coming-out party for a quartet of freshmen who all advanced into their first ever sectional championship match, with two of them coming away with the big trophy.

Warren’s Aaron Stewart dominated at 152 and another rookie wrestler, Loyola’s Kai Calcutt (37-8) did the same at 220. The Ramblers’ freshman beat Libertyville’s No. 5 Owen McGrory (43-6) of Libertyville by a score of 9-5 to win a sectional crown.

“To be honest, this is a fantastic feeling,” No. 5 Calcutt said. “To be a sectional champion along with my teammate Massey (Odiotti) is something I feel very proud of.

“This has been a great tournament for freshmen wrestlers, most of whom I train with like Royce (Lopez) at Warren, Jaxon Penovich (Prospect), Aaron Stewart, and a lot of guys from Prospect, and Hersey. They’ve all helped in my development, along with a great coaching staff here at Loyola, especially our head coach, coach (Matt) Collum.”

Collum was a three-time All-American at Oklahoma State and Old Dominion, and a Junior College National champ while at Iowa Central. Collum will lead a contingent of seven to Champaign.

Libertyville coach Dale Eggert assessed the title match between Calcutt and No. 6 McGrory:

“Owen had a great match against a very strong opponent in Calcutt,” Eggert said. “He had a sharp late-second period takedown that put him up 4-2, and in a position to win. But credit (Calcutt) for creating a late third period scramble for a five-pointer, and the eventual win.”

Fremd senior Casey Bending (36-12) rebounded nicely from his loss in the semifinals to McGrory, grabbing a third-place medal and earning a second trip downstate. Bending won 7-4 over Mundelein sophomore Abisai Hernandez (35-14) for third.

285: Oleg Simakov, Hersey

Hersey big man Oleg Simakov (38-8) will tell it like it is and in his opinion, his 285-pound opponent in the finals might have deserved the crown over himself.

Nonetheless, the always affable Simakov did claim top honors in a 6-5 thriller that saw the super-soph from Round Lake, William Cole (31-9) nearly pull off an upset over No. 7 Simakov, who is now on his way to a second trip to Champaign.

“(Cole) is a great young talent and to be honest, I didn’t wrestle the best that I could and he should have won the match,” Simakov said. “But in the end it was my mat experience that likely was the difference.

“I missed that slide-by and he took advantage in the first period, and I had to just try to stay with my game plan to get back in the match in order to give me a chance to win.” 

The sectional title win gave Simakov four tournament titles this year and he leads the Huskies with 27 pins on the year.

Simakov drew back level at 2-2 after an illegal locking of hands penalty point was issued by the referee, much to the angst of the Round Lake corner just before the end of the first period.

Simakov went ahead for good with 48 seconds from time (6-4) and would concede a late escape before the whistle drew this final to a close.

“When you consider William didn’t get into our room for nearly the first month after the debate season was over, he has really come a long way fast,” Round Lake coach Mike Hruska said. “So we’re looking forward to him heading downstate for the first time where he’s capable of surprising the field.”

Cole won the Lake County Invite, then followed up with a regional title one week later.

Glenbrook South senior and No. 9 Drew Duffy (33-4) earned his second trip downstate, winning a 5-2 sudden victory decision over Hampshire junior Joey Ochoa (26-17) in the third-place match.

By Patrick Z. McGavin

DEERFIELD—

Grayslake Central junior Matty Jens stood on the mat with an unfurled and specialized photo, after earning his 100th career victory in his second-round sectional victory Friday night.

The milestone was great. He has larger objectives.

“I am now 102-10 in my career,” he said. “To be honest, I kind of forgot about it, and it was in the moment. It’s a great achievement, and it’s the moment. I have bigger things.”

Jens finished 47-3 last year—the final match stung, a devastating 5-3 loss against rival Shane Moran of Crystal Lake South in the 182-state final of the Class 2A state championship.

“Just thinking about it, I get goosebumps,” Jens said. “The medal hangs on my door, and I watch the match almost every week.

“I never want to feel that way again.” 

At the Class 2A Deerfield Sectional Saturday, Jens took a crucial step—symbolically, and otherwise – towards a return trip to the University of Illinois.

Ranked No. 1 at 182 pounds by Rob Sherrill’s rankings at Illinois Matmen, Jens was back at work.

Montini produced a tournament-best seven finalists, with three individual champions; Deerfield and Antioch each had three champions; Grayslake Central featured two; and Vernon Hills, Riverside-Brookfield, and Notre Dame had one apiece.

Wauconda led all teams with nine state qualifiers followed by Montini’s seven, Antioch with five, and four by Deerfield.

Here is an expanded look at how each weight class played out.

106: Anthony Alanis, Grayslake Central

The sectional started off with a bang with a star-crossed confrontation of the state’s top two wrestlers.

Grayslake Central’s top-ranked Anthony Alanis edged Wauconda’s No. 2 Gavin Rockey 6-4 in the championship.

The No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown gave it an extra jolt.

“I think it definitely added a kick to the match because we are both looking for the top spot,” Alanis said. “Having him in my regional and then wrestling him in the sectionals definitely created a good rivalry.”

Alanis previously defeated Rockey by an 11-4 decision.

“I think the difference between the first time we wrestled and now is just knowing how we both know what to expect,” Alanis said. “That made the match more interesting because it’s going to be a dogfight to see who wants it more.”

Alanis (40-1) secured his standing as the one to beat at state. His quickness, power and speed proved too much.

“I think my style is aggressive, and I want to try and score as many points as possible to break my opponent,” he said.

En route to the final, he posted first-period falls of Deerfield’s Vincent Serwan and Jeremiah Lawrence of De La Salle in the semifinals.

Rockey (26-5) was equally dominant with a technical fall, fall and decision to capture the lower bracket.

The third-place match was also electrifying as De La Salle’s Jeremiah Lawrence (43-5) pulled out the 13-11 sudden victory over Notre Dam’es Johnny Sheehy (34-15).

113: Ben Dunne, Montini

Montini junior Ben Dunne maintained his perfect season by blitzing the opposition; long and lanky, he used his agility, power and speed to overwhelming effect. 

Difficult to take down and virtually impossible to score on, he made a singular impression with the 10-4 victory over Antioch’s No. 7 Gavin Hanrahan in the championship match.

Coming out of the lower bracket, Dunne (18-0) posted two falls during the preliminary rounds. The sophomore Hanrahan (26-5) was equally commanding, coming out of the upper bracket with two first period falls.

After suffering a lopsided first-minute pin against Dunne, Wauconda freshman Nate Randle recovered for three consecutive victories in finishing third.

He punctuated his strong comeback with the technical fall over St. Patrick freshman Calvin Stahl in the third-place match.

120: Luke Reddy, Deerfield

Deerfield and Antioch combined to win the next five weight classes.

In another riveting showdown, Deerfield junior Luke Reddy captured the sectional title by defeating Montini’s No. 10 Kameron Luif, who was forced to withdraw due to injury at the 5:07 mark.

Reddy (32-9) emerged from the top bracket with a fall and major decision over Antioch freshman Chase Nobiling in the semifinals.

Despite the injury, Luif had a superb showing with a second period fall, and a riveting 5-3 decision over No. 7 Olin Walker of St. Patrick in the semifinals.

Walker (43-6) claimed third place with a second period fall of Wauconda junior Lucas Galdine (18-11). 

126: Jordan Rasof, Deerfield

Deerfield sophomore Jordan Rasof had to go up the escalator – he had to slow down and learn to love the moment.

After pulling off a stunning 14-second fall in the semifinals, No. 5 Rasof had to work more tactically and patiently in subduing No. 7 Tyler Weidman of Grayslake Central, 6-5 in the championship.

Rasof (42-5) blends speed, quickness, power and technical prowess into an imposing and virtually unbeatable package.

The junior Weidman (36-11) was equally spectacular operating out of the upper bracket, posting a first period fall and a 14-1 major during his own semifinal. The two were clearly the cream of the crop at their weight class.

Part of the beauty of the sectional format is the chance to make a second impression.

After suffering the quick fall against Rasof, St. Ignatius sophomore Nate Sanchez made a spectacular recovery of his own.

The highest-rated honorable mention wrestler at his weight, Sanchez (34-11) posted a major decision and victory by disqualification over Lake Forest’s Julian Olenick to finish in third.

132: Edgar Albino, Antioch

Antioch junior Edgar Albino began a run of three consecutive championships by the Sequoits.

The No. 7 Albino put on a clinic with his trademark quickness, tenacity, technique and athleticism.

In a showdown with No. 5 Renzo Morgan of Deerfield, Albino won by injury default in the first period. Albino posted a first-period fall and technical fall in coming out of the upper bracket.

Morgan (32-4) had a :58 second fall and medical forfeit over Cooper Daun of Wauconda in the semifinals. In the third-place match, Daun recovered with a second period fall and 15-0 technical fall over Tony Hinojosa of Carmel.

138: Anthony Streib, Antioch

Senior Anthony Streib continued the Sequoits’ run, staking his claim to being the most dominant wrestler of the sectional.

Top-ranked Streib required just 2:43 in posting consecutive falls for the individual championship. Combining great technique and power, Streib then completed his impressive performance with the fall of junior Logan Andrews Wauconda at 1:47.

Despite the loss, Andrews (27-15) also impressive. He had two falls during the preliminaries, and secured the lower bracket with a riveting 6-5 decision over junior Patrick Tinsley of Wheeling.

An honorable mention wrestler, Tinsley (27-11) regrouped with a third-period fall in the wrestlebacks, and claimed third place with the 8-0 major over Riverside-Brookfield’s Josh Gonzalez.

145: Caleb Nobiling, Antioch

Styles make the match, as does the contrast of age and meaning.

Senior Caleb Nobiling completed the Antioch run with a fascinating and highly compelling 5-3 decision over precocious Montini freshman Santino Tenuta in the championship.

No. 3 Nobiling was virtually untouchable through the preliminary rounds with a stunning :25 second fall in the semifinals. His quarterfinal match lasted just 1:17.

Ranked No. 10, Tenuta was his near equal with his quickness, unorthodox style and ability to thwart or deny Nobiling.

Tenuta (21-6) had a first period fall and edged Wauconda’s No. 4 Cole Porten 3-1 in the lower bracket semifinal. Porten (28-10) showed his mettle with a second-period fall in the blood round, and a 4-0 victory over Carmel senior Nicholas Asilani in the third-place match.

152: David Mayora, Montini

Montini junior David Mayora is in a class by himself.

Undefeated against Illinois competition, Mayora continued his torrid act by putting on a show with a 15-3 major over Wauconda’s No. 6 Nick Cheshire in the championship match.

“My wrestling style is more of a free flow, and I try to loosen up so I can see it more as practice than as a match,” Mayora said.

Mayora (44-2) posted a technical fall and achieved a tough 5-1 semifinal victory over Lake Forest junior Seth Digby.

“Going into the sectional, I knew I needed to dominate,” Mayora said. “I felt it was all practice for the state tournament,and that was a good opportunity to be on the mat and get comfortable.”

A junior, Cheshier (28-7) posted a major decision and first period fall in capturing the upper bracket. No. 7 Digby (33-10) fought back with a dominant blood-round decision and a first -period fall of Fenwick sophomore Aiden Burns in the third-place match.

160: Ilya Dvoryannikov, Vernon Hills

The state series is a platform for young and emerging talents to stake their claim.

Vernon Hills’ freshman Ilya Dvoryannikov made a staggering personal statement with his second period fall of Montini’s No. 4 Will Prater in the championship.

Dvoryannikov (29-9) showed he is ready to compete against anybody with his blend of power, speed and athleticism.

He foreshadowed his dominant title performance with a 10-7 decision over Antionch’s No. 7 Ben Vazquez, and a fall at :48 in the semifinals.

Vazquez (34-13) responded sharply with a technical fall in the wrestlebacks, and a third period fall of Fenwick’s Vincent Fiorovanti in the third-place match. 

170: Aiden Cohen, Deerfield

Deerfield senior Aiden Cohen rocked the home crowd, showcasing his terrific brand with quickness, speed, and a work rate that never let up.

Cohen secured the sectional title with a hard-fought 5-2 decision over Gio Hernandez of St. Patrick.

“Wrestling on the big stage is what I live for,” Cohen said. “I have been doing it my whole life.”

No. 5 Cohen, who was fifth in the state last year at the same weight class, reached the championship round by registering two falls.

“I know if I am on my offense and pushing the pace that nobody can hang with me, and that is exactly what I did, ” he said.

In one of the best matches of the tournament, Gio Hernandez (35-11) pulled out a 4-2 sudden victory over De La Salle’s Josue Hernandez in the quarterfinals.

He captured the upper bracket with a major over Grayslake Central’s Carter Vincent. Fenwick senior Finn McGee (32-4) defeated Vincent by second period fall in the third-place match.

182: Matty Jens, Grayslake Central

Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens is ready to break loose.

“My gas tank is 100 percent full,” he said.

The top-ranked junior was out of action for about three weeks but the silver lining—and dark horizon for his opponents—is his body is fresh and healthy.

Jens (28-0) existed at his own tier with a dominant run to the championship. His fall of Wauconda’s No. 6 Sean Christensen at 1:06 underscored his separation from the rest of the pack.

“As much as it sucked missing that time off, not having my body beat up as much was definitely a plus,” Jens said. “The intensity picks up at the end of the season anyways. My body is ready for that.”

Jens’ unorthodox and versatile style is virtually impossible to replicate.

“I don’t wrestle like other people,” he said. “I want to push the pace at all times. I feel very confident, there is nobody else in the state at 182 who is as good as I am on their feet.”

Fenwick sophomore Jack Paris edged Notre Dame junior Jim Amatore 7-6 to finish third.

195: Evan Jocic, Montini

One of the prevailing narratives of the day was that youth was no barrier to ultimate success.

Montini sophomore Evan Jocic confirmed the point, literally and figuratively.

Jocic was unscored upon with shutout decisions in the preliminary rounds that culminated with his victory by injury default of Wauconda sophomore Michael Merevick in the championship.

“I think what worked well for me was being tough on top, and being able to ride out my opponents and turn them for points,” Jocic said.

Jocic (28-13) defeated Vernon Hills’ senior Kevin Halley with an 8-0 major in capturing the lower bracket.

“I think I am a smart wrestler who is always trying to be one step ahead,” he said. “I shoot, sprawl, and ride when I have to.”

Merevick (15-6) suffered an undisclosed injury in his 12-10 semifinal victory over De La Salle’s Evan Smith. He also posted a first period fall in the quarterfinals.

In a matchup of seniors, Halley (26-10) registered a first period fall of Smith in the third-place match.

220: Joe Midona, Riverside-Brookfield

The end was somewhat anticlimactic for Riverside-Brookfield senior Joe Midona, as Montini junior Mick Ranquist was forced by injury to forfeit medically in their championship match.

But Midona (31-6) was a man on a mission, and he earned the title with his tough 8-6 quarterfinal decision over Antioch senior Donald Carson.

Midona followed with a second-period fall of Fenwick’s Conor Stetz in winning the lower bracket.

The injury put a damper on an otherwise superb showing by Ranquist (26-10), who posted dominant first-period falls in the quarterfinals and semifinals. He earned the championship with a 15-6 major over De La Salle’s Zion Nix.

Lake Forest freshman Yaree Sandifer posted a most improbable result with a first-period fall of St. Patrick junior Aiden Gomez in the third-place match.

285: Karl Schmalz, Notre Dame

There was no asterisk this time.

Notre Dame senior Karl Schmalz earned a 9-3 decision over rival Max Accettura of Vernon Hills for the championship.

One week prior, No. 2 Schmalz (30-2) was unable to wrestle due to illness in the regional championship, and conceded a medical forfeit against Accettura.

“I have wrestled Max three times in my career,” Schmalz said. “I wouldn’t say I changed my strategy too much, other than the fact that I have been working on new moves to further expand my game.”

Schmalz needed just 2:02 of match time to post three convincing falls in winning the upper bracket.

No. 8 Accettura (37-4) was equally imposing with two dominant performances leading up to the showdown.

De La Salle sophomore David McCarthy, who was pinned by Accettura in the semifinals, rebounded with a first-period fall of Riverside-Brookfield’s Devontae Givens for the third-place medal.

Led by undefeated defending champion Dillan Johnson of Joliet Catholic, the Class 2A heavyweight field is stacked.

The state tournament marks the crucible.

“Winning sectionals, getting the bye first round at state, and hopefully getting the opposite side of the bracket is exactly what I wanted,” Schmalz said.

“Everyone who made it down has earned the right to compete there.”

By Bobby Narang

SCHAUMBURG — The Schaumburg Girls Wrestling Sectional featured a number of interesting storylines.

First and foremost, the power-packed sectional was one of the best in the state, full of talented wrestlers across a wide region of Chicagoland.

After the Illinois High School Association’s inaugural season of individual wrestling in 2021-2022, the second season of the growing sport among girls confirmed the tremendous potential of growth capable in wrestling.

In the two-day sectional, at the home of two-time boys state wrestling champion Josh Marchok, the all-girls event showcased wrestlers vying to earn their own place in family history, wrestlers aiming to move forward toward a repeat state individual title, and countless success stories for first-time wrestlers.

And the event was an outlet for girls who had been wrestlers for years but couldn’t wrestle for their schools in an IHSA-sanctioned event.

All that has changed, making girls wrestling a rousing success. Saturday’s Schaumburg Sectional was another example of that, with the top four place finishers from each weight class advancing to the state tournament at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington from Feb. 24-25.

Athletes from 35 schools qualified for the second IHSA finals and Hoffman Estates had the most state qualifiers with five while District 230 co-op (Andrew/Carl Sandburg/Stagg), Huntley and host Schaumburg were tied for second with three individuals who are advancing.

Glenbard North sophomore Gabriella Gomez (29-0 at 115), Lockport Township freshman Claudia Heeney (39-0 at 125), Batavia junior Sydney Perry (30-0 at 145) and West Chicago junior Jayden Huesca-Rodriquez (15-0 at 190) take perfect records  to the state finals.

Bartlett sophomore Emma Engels (14-1 at 100), Glenbard North freshman Nadiia Shymkiv (26-1 at 105), Schaumburg junior Valeria Rodriguez (33-1 at 140) and Palatine senior Jasmine Hernandez (32-1 at 155) have lost just once thus far. 

The other sectional champions were Addison Trail sophomore Nina Matthews (21-3 at 110), Hoffman Estates sophomore Sophia Ball (39-4 at 120), Glenbard West senior Khatija Ahmed (22-8 at 130), Conant senior Mannie Anderson (32-4 at 135), Palatine sophomore Sabrina Cargill (26-3 at 170) and Batavia senior SueSue Paw (26-14 at 235). 

Here are the Schaumburg Sectional champions and the other State Finals qualifiers

100 – Emma Engels, Bartlett

Bartlett sophomore Emma Engels stuck to a serious and focused approach throughout Saturday’s final day of sectionals. Engels closed out a strong weekend by pinning Huntley freshman Janiah Slaughter (23-4) in 4:52 in the 100 title match to win the first weight class of the day, punching her ticket to state.

“I just tried to stay focused,” said Engels, who is 14-1 this season. “Last year I got second at sectionals and finished top eight at state, so my goal is to get a medal. I feel so much better this year. I got a lot stronger in the offseason.”

After winning her match, Engels (14-1) stayed on the mat to make sure Slaughter was not suffering from a serious injury. Slaughter laid on the mat for several minutes before one of her coaches carried her away.

“I think she was just exhausted,” Engels said.

Engels said she started wrestling when she was nine years old and noted she was happy to top last season’s second-place finish at sectionals. She fell short of earning a medal last season, but Bartlett coach Matt Pancamo said Engels is determined to finish in the top four, noting her overall record is 31-12 wrestling against boys and girls this season.

“She puts in overtime and goes to two practices a day,” he said. “She comes into the kids’ club practices, and also helps coach it. She spent the entire summer lifting weights and playing softball. She earned what she got today. She’s a very intense wrestler. She’s amazing. She’s really a team leader. We consider her one of our best wrestlers at Bartlett.”

Batavia freshman Lily Enos (40-11) won her 40th match with an 11-7 decision over Montini Catholic sophomore Kat Bell (14-8) to claim third place.

105 – Nadiia Shymkiv, Glenbard North

Glenbard North freshman Nadiia Shymkiv continues to make a big splash in her new country. After moving to the Carol Stream area this season from Ukraine, Shymkiv has dealt with a number of obstacles adapting to her new school and country.

Her biggest challenge is learning English. She can only speak a few words, but Shymkiv is proving to be adept at shining in wrestling. She continued her upward ascent by pinning Addison Trail junior Veronica Cosio (25-8) in 3:41 in the 105-pound final. Shymkiv (26-1) dominated in all three of her matches to seal a trip to state.

Speaking on her behalf, Glenbard North coach Chris Edwards said Shymkiv is a joy to coach.

“Nadiia doesn’t speak much English, so that’s been a little barrier for us,” he said. “She came in being all freestyle and Greco. The biggest thing we had to teach her was not to lock her hands. She smiles all the time and is a hard worker. She’s a lot of fun to watch, an explosive wrestler with great throws. She’s got 17 pins on the year right now.

“I’ve had only one minor conversation with her dad. She’s told me her mom isn’t really happy that she’s wrestling. I saw a picture of her in the Ukraine with medals all over her. She started coming to our preseason club.”

Glenbard North sophomore Gabriella Gomez, who won the 115-pound sectional title, said Shymkiv is a natural in the sport.

“Nadiia is a sweetheart,” Gomez said. “You have to do words with her, not long sentences. I used Google translate with her, and she dominated one of her matches.”

Argo senior Michelle Kioltyka (11-4), the lone state qualifier for the Argonauts, won an 18-6 major decision over Elgin sophomore Mali Patino (18-10) to claim third place. 

110 – Nina Matthews, Addison Trail

Addison Trail sophomore Nina Matthews is on the right path.

But Matthews admitted she has a long road ahead of her to match the athletic success in her family. Matthews (21-3) took a major leap on Saturday by pinning Huntley junior Taylor Casey (22-7) in 1:30 in the 110 championship match.

Her older brother, Jake Matthews, finished in sixth place in the 2021 Class 3A state championships in the 145-pound division. A four-time state qualifier, Jake Matthews, a 2021 graduate, wrapped up his storied career with 121 varsity victories to go with West Suburban Conference Gold Division All-Conference honors. He’s currently wrestling at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His sixth-place state finish marked the first all-state wrestler at Addison Trail since 2002.

Her older sister, Brianna, is a standout senior softball player at Addison Trail.

“I’m trying to do what my brother did in wrestling,” Matthews said. “I’m surprised definitely making state. I just kept my head in the game and avoided mistakes.”

Matthews joked that her recent success in wrestling is starting to challenge softball.

“I have equal success in both sports, but probably am better at softball,” she said.

Addison Trail coach Steve Holland said Matthews, a second-year wrestler, is just scratching the surface of her vast potential.

“Nina comes from a wrestling family,” Holland said. “Her brother was the first all-state wrestler at Addison Trail in over two decades. She grew up with the sport watching her older brother wrestle. We were hoping when she got older that she would be interested in wrestling.

“She’s a tremendous softball player. Her sister just got a softball scholarship. We convinced Nina to go out for wrestling in her freshman year. She’s extremely talented and just one of the bright spots in our program. She’s the type of wrestler who you show a move to and she’s able to translate immediately on the mat. Her success is a tribute to all of the hard work she’s put into the sport.”

Wheaton North senior Marya Mondavi (22-8), the lone state qualifier for the Falcons, won the third-place match with a fall in 5:05 over Bartlett junior Angelina Carpintero (13-4).

115 – Gabriella Gomez, Glenbard North

Name recognition is not a problem for Gabriella Gomez. The Glenbard North sophomore is fully entrenched in the wrestling world. She’s a star in girls wrestling, and now becoming a bigger name with the sport gaining more attention in the last two years.

Gomez (29-0) took care of business at sectionals, closing out a memorable weekend with an 8-1 decision over Maine South senior Angela Lee (24-2) to capture the 115-pound title.

“It feels great to win at 115 after growing some,” Gomez said. “I knew I could dominate at any weight class I went to, so I feel this is the right choice I made. I try not to overthink. I take what I do in the practice room and try and dominate out here. My coaches and teammates helped me put that puzzle together, so I can get closer to that state title.”

Nine years ago, Gomez said she was introduced to wrestling. Her older brother, Austin Gomez, was one of the most highly recruited wrestlers in the country, earning the No. 11 overall recruit for the Class of 2017. A two-time Pan American champion, Austin Gomez wrestled at Iowa State and Wisconsin. A redshirt senior at Wisconsin, Austin Gomez was named the 2022 Big Ten Conference Co-Outstanding Wrestler of the Championships and was a 2022 All-American and Big Ten Champion. Her older sister, Alexis, is a senior wrestler at Grand View University.

So, yes, Gabriella Gomez has big aspirations due to her family’s deep history in the sport.

“I grew up with the sport, since my dad ran a wrestling club, and just knowing my dad and brother were so successful and my sister, it brought the momentum that I wanted to try wrestling,” Gomez said. “Alexis started just wanting to try out wrestling, so I just started from there. Seeing my brother being an entertainer made me want to wrestle even more.

“It was a great tournament, and I’m happy to see how everything turned out,” Gomez said.

Edwards said Gomez is a dedicated wrestler with aspirations beyond high school due to her family background.

“Gabriella is one of those wrestlers who is self-motivated and comes in,” Edwards said. “She’s definitely focused on her goals and success, but always right there to help the other girls on the team.”

Lockport Township junior Liz Ramirez (32-8), one of the two state qualifiers for the Porters, took third place with a win by medical forfeit over Hoffman Estates junior Emmylina O’Brien (29-7).

120 – Sophia Ball, Hoffman Estates

Hoffman Estates sophomore Sophia Ball rolled to the sectional title at 120 by pinning Riverside-Brookfield junior Eleanor Aphay in 2:19 in the championship match. Ball notched three victories by fall to push her record to a sterling 39-4.

“I thought I wrestled pretty good, just a few things I need to fix but I’m excited for state to see what I can do,” said Ball, who was the lone sectional champion for the Hawks, who had a sectional-best five state qualifiers..

In a matchup between lone state qualifiers for their teams, Fremd senior Zuri Sarmiento (22-9) captured a 1-0 decision over Lake Park sophomore Valeria Malinowski (17-12) to place third.

125 – Claudia Heeney, Lockport Township

Lockport Township freshman Claudia Heeney needed a few extra minutes to decompress after her final match on Saturday. After pinning Schaumburg sophomore Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (28-5) in 3:26 in the 125 finals, Heeney (39-0) stormed away from the mat and headed up the stairs.

Lockport Township coach Nate Roth joked he fully understands Heeney’s personality.

“She’s in the zone,” Roth said. “I generally don’t talk to her before or after the match because she’s in the zone and totally devoid of emotions 10 minutes before or after her match, but then she becomes a total goofball. She’s super experienced and trains all offseason. She eats and sleeps wrestling, and I’m lucky enough to have her on the team.”

Heeney admitted she’s a focused wrestler with some unique methods. For Saturday’s final, Heeney said she stayed in the moment by singing “Runaway” by Kanye West in her head.

“I just stayed focused and I like to pace before all my matches for 30 minutes, but for me, I have to focus,” Heeney said. “I sang ‘Runaway’ over and over in my head and it calmed me down and helped me focus. I know most of the words. I played that over and over in my head. The whole thing about me is I like to be calm and focused on the mat because if I don’t, then I get sloppy and can’t think and do what I want out there.”

Heeney said she maintains her game-face after matches for a reason.

“I smile a lot, but not during and after matches, I don’t do a lot of celebrations,” she said. “I don’t like how it looks. I’m ready for state. I still have a lot to do in training.”

At the only weight class where freshmen were able to win both place matches, Huntley freshman Aubrie Rohrbacher (28-5) recorded a fall in 3:26 over Hoffman Estates senior Eunice Ji (37-8) to claim third-place honors.

130 – Khatija Ahmed, Glenbard West

Glenbard West’s Khatija Ahmed didn’t spend much time in the spotlight on Saturday. In front of a large crowd, Ahmed pinned Maine East senior Miriam Lupu (15-3) in 2:42 to capture the sectional title at 130.

Ahmed, a senior with a 22-8 record, credited her state trip to spending a full season training in wrestling.

“I relied on my instincts because I haven’t wrestled a long time,” Ahmed said. “I’ve done a lot of other sports but started training specifically for wrestling. The girls on the team all helped me, and we all did amazing.

“In my final match, it wasn’t perfect. I went over things in my head, but took what I was given. I knew I had an opportunity to win it. I didn’t give up. It feels amazing going back to state after last year at state at 130. It was fun, but last year was more of a learning experience to see how much I love wrestling. This year it’s the real thing. I’m excited to go down with a lot more technique and skill and just knowing this is the best overall version of me.”

Bolingbrook junior Katie Ramirez-Quintero (16-1), the only state qualifier for the Raiders, claimed third place with a 6-0 decision over Hoffman Estates sophomore Abigail Ji (31-6)

135 – Mannie Anderson, Conant

Conant senior Mannie Anderson made school history last season by becoming the first girls wrestler to advance to state.

A year later, Anderson (32-4) is on track for a bigger prize. She notched a 14-2 major-decision victory over District 230 sophomore Alyssa Keane (28-4) to win the 135-pound title. Anderson finished in sixth place at state last season.

“It feels amazing because (Keane) actually beat me before,” Anderson said. “It felt good to redeem myself and finally set the tone for a state championship. I’m really excited for that journey and hopefully I will be getting that title. Last year was amazing at state.

“I can always get better and am strong enough to lose but persistent enough to win.”

Conant coach Brad Bessemer said Anderson is a building-block wrestler for his young program.

“Mannie is all heart and grit,” Bessemer said. “She’s amazingly tough. She got a little payback in the finals. Beyond wrestling, we’re really a first-year program. This is the first time we really made a push. She’s the face of Conant wrestling and the absolute leader of our team. I couldn’t ask for a better kid to start this program up for us. She got kids out, got our numbers up and taught them to train and wrestle with courage. She’s a program kid and so special.”

In a matchup of freshmen in the third-place match, Riverside-Brookfield’s Danely Villagomez (24-7) won by fall in 2:15 over Downers Grove South’s Allison Garcia (22-12), who was the Mustangs’ lone state qualifier.

140 – Valeria Rodriguez, Schaumburg

Schaumburg junior Valeria Rodriguez decided a special occasion warranted a special hair color. Rodriguez changed her hair color from brown to blond for the two-day sectional.

More importantly, Rodriguez (33-1) accomplished her goal of winning the 140-pound title by notching an 11-7 decision over Richmond-Burton junior Jasmine McCaskel (13-1) in the championship match.

“I colored (my hair) because it’s fun, adds character and is unique,” Rodriguez said.

On the mat, Rodriguez said she’s motivated to top last season’s third-place finish at 155 pounds.

Rodriguez, a full-time wrestler, said her success is partly due to dropping a few weight classes during the middle of the season.

“I was confident and had faith in myself, especially after getting third place at state last year at 155 pounds,” Rodriguez said. “I feel a lot more springy and confident. I hate the thought of losing, so that’s motivated me. I had fun and enjoyed my day and am proud of myself. I was more confident because it was my home base, and really wanted to get first place.”

Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said Rodriguez showed her toughness in the hard-fought final.

“She had a big-time match and dominated,” he said. “She stayed in her match, fought her way back into it. That’s a great thing going down to state. She’s been working so hard every day, just nonstop work. She does all the little things right that all add up to the big things. It’s been a great day watching her wrestle.”

Lemont and Dundee-Crown each had one state qualifier and they met for third place at 140. Lemont senior Suzie Knutte (26-3), a first-year performer in the sport who also is an all-state soccer player, won with a fall in 5:58 over Dundee-Crown junior Perla Lomeli (22-9).

145 – Sydney Perry, Batavia

Batavia junior Sydney Perry showed little emotion throughout Saturday’s matches. She capped a stellar day with a sectional title at 145 by recording a 14-4 major decision over Barrington senior Kaia Fernandez (14-3).

Perry (30-0) has yet to lose a match in her varsity career over the last two seasons after winning a state title at 145 in the IHSA’s inaugural individual girls state meet last season. An accomplished wrestler who has traveled the world, Perry maintained a stoic expression following her sectional championship victory.

“I feel like I did very good this weekend, but I wished I would’ve pushed the pace more and had cleaner takedowns but did overall pretty good,” Perry said. “It’s a lot more exciting this year because the sport is growing so fast. I’ve had a lot more competition in my bracket. I’ve just been working, working and working in the practice room.”

Batavia assistant coach Edgar Alvarado said Perry is the consummate team wrestler.

“Sydney was consistent and grinded,” he said. “She’s been consistent and not had many surprises this year. She’s had her mind set on winning another state title. She does a lot of offseason wrestling and training, and now focused more on a team environment and helped coach her teammates.”

McHenry’s lone state qualifier, freshman Natalie Corona (29-11) captured third place at 145 with a fall in 0:50 over Glenbard West senior Anika Navarro (31-6).

155 – Jasmine Hernandez, Palatine

Like Batavia and Glenbard North, Palatine also had a pair of sectional champions. Senior Jasmine Hernandez (32-1) led the way by winning the 155 sectional title to stay on track for another state medal. Her teammate, Sabrina Cargill, won the 170 title.

Hernandez, who pinned Larkin senior Maria Ferrer (27-5) in 0:39 in the title match, pushed herself to finish the sectional on a high note to build toward a second state medal in her career after placing sixth a year ago at 145. Hernandez plans on wrestling next season at Lakeland University in Wisconsin.

“I felt great today and just tried to win and get first place,” Hernandez said. “I just tried to finish every (match) strong. It feels great to redeem myself after not winning state last year and winning state my sophomore year. My coaches really helped me.”

In another matchup involving individuals who are the lone state qualifiers for their programs, Hinsdale South freshman Callie Carr (12-1) captured a 3-0 decision over Fenton junior Yamile Penaloza (17-5).

170 – Sabrina Cargill, Palatine

Palatine sophomore Sabrina Cargill was exhausted following her final match on Saturday. After watching Hernandez dominate her sectional title match, Cargill (26-3) notched a grueling 11-6 decision over District 230 senior Mickaela Keane (29-5) in the 170 finals.

Palatine coach Krista Semkiv said Cargill showed tremendous heart to pull out the sectional championship.

“Sabrina has a fight and drive in her that’s hard to match,” she said. “Last year she made it to the blood round but lost. I think that gave her motivation to push herself even more this year because she really wanted to win. She suffers from severe asthma, so in her mind, the faster she can get a takedown, the easier the rest of the match will go.”

Semkiv said Cargill gained experience and confidence wrestling Hernandez numerous times throughout the season.

“It’s been really great seeing both of the girls evolve this season, especially Sabrina,” she said. She’s a light 170-pounder, and has wrestled Jasmine in nearly every tournament. It’s always been those two girls getting first and second in the 155-pound weight class, so it was really awesome to watch Sabrina bump up a weight class and claim her own first-place medal at the MSL Conference and at sectionals.”

Proviso East junior Haley Arechiga (12-3) and Crystal Lake Central senior Mailei Hudec (12-3) are the lone state qualifiers for their schools and the pair met up in the third-place match at 170 with Arechiga winning with a fall in 1:27. 

190 – Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez, West Chicago 

West Chicago’s Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez is putting her school on the map for girls wrestling. The junior is headed to state for the second year in a row, looking to make it 2-for-2 with first-place state medals.

Huesca-Rodriguez (15-0) started out the sectional with a bye, then recorded four victories by fall to notch a sectional title. She pinned Wheeling freshman Jasmine Rene (14-8) in 1:25 to win the sectional championship.

“I’m excited to be going to state again, and want to get another (title),” Huesca-Rodriguez said. “I hope winning gets more girls at my school to try out wrestling. I just trusted myself today. I didn’t get in my mind too much, and stuck to it and finished it.”

West Chicago coach Mason Day said Huesca-Rodriguez is striving to win a second straight 190-pound state title.

“Jayden really emphasizes and embodies what we do at West Chicago in that we’re grinders,” Day said. “We’re going to push every opponent we have to the limit. We’re going to be faster and stronger and I don’t think there’s a girl in the state who wants to wrestle Jayden. We brought several girls to sectionals, but Jayden is the only one going to state. Overall, she did a great job.”

In the third-place match at 190, Schaumburg freshman Nadia Razzak (27-11) won over Hoffman Estates sophomore Anjali Gonzalez (25-9) with a fall in 3:24.

235 – SueSue Paw, Batavia

Batavia senior SueSue Paw closed out a long day of wrestling with a smile and a big hug.

Unlike most of Saturday’s sectional winners, Paw was full of emotion. She wanted hugs and smiled nonstop in the immediate aftermath of pinning District 230 sophomore Emma Akpan (18-5) in the 235 final.

A first-year wrestler, Paw (26-14) said she relied on her track background to become a fast-riser in wrestling.

“Heart and determination were the keys for me,” Paw said. “This is my first year wrestling. I have amazing coaches. I’m so happy.”

A four-year varsity track athlete who competes in shot put and discus, Paw said wrestling was a surprise addition to her athletic portfolio.

“My coach was following me around school, so I decided to join wrestling this year for the first time, “Paw said.

Elgin sophomore Andrea Gordillo (18-6) won a 7-0 decision over Conant senior Rye Reyes (22-13) in the third-place match.

Schaumburg Sectional championship matches

100: Emma Engels (14-1) Bartlett F 4:52 Janiah Slaughter (23-4) Huntley
105: Nadiia Shymkiv (26-1) Glenbard North F 3:41 Veronica Cosio (25-8) Addison Trail
110: Nina Matthews (21-3) Addison Trail F 1:30 Taylor Casey (22-7) Huntley
115: Gabriella Gomez (29-0) Glenbard North D 8-1 Angela Lee (24-2) Maine South
120: Sophia Ball (39-4) Hoffman Estates F 2:19 Eleanor Aphay (20-5) Riverside-Brookfield
125: Claudia Heeney (39-0) Lockport Township F 3:26 Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (28-5) Schaumburg
130: Khatija Ahmed (22-8) Glenbard West F 2:42 Miriam Lupu (15-3) Maine East
135: Mannie Anderson (32-4) Conant MD 14-2 Alyssa Keane (28-4) District 230
140: Valeria Rodriguez (33-1) Schaumburg D 11-7 Jasmine McCaskel (13-1) Richmond-Burton
145: Sydney Perry (30-0) Batavia MD 14-4 Kaia Fernandez (14-3) Barrington
155: Jasmine Hernandez (32-1) Palatine F 0:39 Maria Ferrer (27-5) Larkin
170: Sabrina Cargill (26-3) Palatine D 11-6 Mickaela Keane (29-5) District 230
190: Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (15-0) West Chicago F 1:25 Jasmine Rene (14-8) Wheeling
235: SueSue Paw (26-14) Batavia F 5:13 Emma Akpan (18-5) District 230

Schaumburg Sectional third-place matches

100: Lily Enos (40-11) Batavia D 11-7 Kat Bell (14-8) Montini Catholic
105: Michelle Kioltyka (11-4) Argo MD 18-6 Mali Patino (18-10) Elgin
110: Marya Mondavi (22-8) Wheaton North F 5:05 Angela Carpintero (13-4) Bartlett
115: Liz Ramirez (32-8) Lockport Township M. For. Emmylina O’Brien (29-7) Hoffman Estates
120: Zuri Sarmiento (22-9) Fremd D 1-0 Valeria Malinowski (17-12) Lake Park
125: Aubrie Rohrbacher (28-5) Huntley F 3:26 Eunice Ji (37-8) Hoffman Estates
130: Katie Ramirez-Quintero (16-1) Bolingbrook D 6-0 Abigail Ji (31-6) Hoffman Estates
135: Danely Villagomez (24-7) Riverside-Brookfield F 2:15 Allison Garcia (22-12) Downers Grove South
140: Suzie Knutte (26-3) Lemont F 5:58 Perla Lomeli (22-9) Dundee-Crown
145: Natalie Corona (29-11) McHenry F 0:50 Anika Navarro (31-6) Glenbard West
155: Callie Carr (12-1) Hinsdale South D 3-0 Yamile Penaloza (17-5) Fenton
170: Haley Arechiga (12-3) Proviso East F 1:27 Mailei Hudec (12-3) Crystal Lake Central
190: Nadia Razzak (27-11) Schaumburg F 3:24 Anjali Gonzalez (25-9) Hoffman Estates
235: Andrea Gordillo (18-6) Elgin D 7-0 Rye Reyes (22-13) Conant

By Gary Larsen

Nine returning state champions will return to the individual state finals in Bloomington this year to chase two-time IHSA glory, but there is no shortage of competition ready to de-throne them. Four Illinois girls’ sectionals took place Saturday, towards advancement to the girls’ state finals, to be held Feb. 24-25 at Bloomington’s Grossinger Motors Arena.

Here are roundups of Saturday’s girls’ sectionals from Geneseo, Evanston, Richwoods, and Schaumburg:

GENESEO

The Joliet Co-op team led all programs with five state qualifiers in sectional champions Eliana Paramo (115) and Nydia Martinez (170) from Joliet Central, a pair of sectional runners-up in Joliet Central’s Chloe Wong (100) and Fernana Miranda (235), and a fourth-place finisher in Joliet Central’s Alexa Latham (190).
Sectional champions at Geneseo were East Aurora’s Kameyah Young (100), Lincoln-Way West’s Zoe Dempsey (105), Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino (110), Joliet Central’s Eliana Paramo (115) and Nydia Martinez (170), Hononegah’s Angelina Cassioppi (120), Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (125), El Paso-Gridley’s Savannah Hamilton (130) and Valerie Hamilton (145), Boylan’s Netavia Wickson (135), Erie’s Jayda Rosenow (140), Plainfield Central’s Alicia Tucker (155), West Aurora’s Brittney Moran (190), and Ottawa’s Juliana Thrush.

Emerging from the Geneseo sectional with unbeaten records were Lincoln-Way West’s Zoe Dempsey (9-0 at 105), Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino (10-0 at 110),Freeport’s Cadence Diduch (7-0 at 125), and El Paso-Gridley’s Valerie Hamilton (3-0 at 145).

Freeport’s Diduch and Hononegah’s Cassioppi are both returning Illinois state champions.

Joliet Central’s Fernanda Miranda (5-1 at 235) is the only once-beaten wrestler from Geneseo, and wrestlers with only two losses on their records are East Aurora’s Kemeyah Young (29-2 at 100), Lincoln-Way Central’s Emily Peyton (12-2 at 100), Plainfield Central’s Alicia Tucker (155), West Aurora’s Brittney Moran (26-2 at 190), and G.C.-Melvin-Sibley’s Avery Schlickman (14-2 at 130).

Sectional championship matches at Geneseo:

100: Kameyah Young (29-2) East Aurora D 8-3 Chloe Wong (29-5) Joliet Central

105: Zoe Dempsey (9-0) Lincoln-Way West F 0:29 Alex Gregorio-Perez (14-6) DeKalb

110: Gracie Guarino (10-0) Lincoln-Way Central F 5:28 Ella McDonnell (30-11) Morris

115: Eliana Paramo (34-4) Joliet Central D 4-2 Ashlyn Strenz (22-14) Sandwich

120: Angelina Cassioppi (23-6) Hononegah F 1:15 Yamilet Aguirre (34-3) Yorkville

125: Cadence Diduch (7-0) Freeport F 1:53 Bri Bynum (21-18) Sherrard

130: Savannah Hamilton (18-10) E.P-Gridley MD 10-0 Avery Schlickman (14-2) 

135: Netavia Wickson (15-5) Boylan F 0:12 Kinnley Smith (21-4) Canton

140: Jayda Rosenow (16-15) Erie SV-1 9-7 Bella Cyrkiel (28-7) Minooka

145: Valerie Hamilton (3-0) E.P.-Gridley 4:13 Dempsey Atkinson (17-11) Rochelle

155: Alicia Tucker (30-2) Plainfield Central D 3-0 Teagan Aurich (7-4) Plainfield South

170: Nydia Martinez (28-4) Joliet Central D 5-4 Ionicca Rivera (24-4) West Aurora

190: Brittney Moran (26-2) West Aurora F 1:52 Keira Enright (7-3) Plainfield South

235: Juliana Thrush (18-10) Ottawa F 1:20 Fernanda Miranda (5-1) Joliet Central

3rd-place matches at Geneseo:

100: Emily Peyton (12-2) Lincoln-Way Central D 9-3 Kiely Domyancich (10-4) LaSalle-Peru

105: Judith Gamboa (23-15) Reed-Custer F 2:57 Ixzayana Cruz (25-6) East Aurora

110: Tori Macias (27-7) Burlington Central Inj. Courtni Chuway (14-7) Plainfield Central

115: Daisy Gil (28-19) Beardstown D 6-4 Reese Zimmer (16-11) DeKalb

120: Brooklyn Sheaffer (32-9) Kaneland D 8-2 Michelle Naftzger (25-16) Erie

125: Amber Louderback (26-24) Central MD 9-0 Ashley Villa (9-4) Lincoln-Way Central

130: Alejandra Cornejo (15-13) Kankakee F 1:49 Sammie Greisen (22-13) Seneca

135: Kelly Ladd (29-5) Macomb MD 12-3 Makayla Jones (9-8) Kankakee

140: Annalisa Gibbons (14-14) Galesburg F 6:00 Gia Ritter (7-7) Geneseo

145: Katelyn Marvel (20-5) Canton F 4:13 Taylor Krueger (9-6) Geneseo

155: Maryam Ndiaye (16-4) Moline F 5:58 Kiernan Farmer (14-9) Peotone

170: Bailey Herr (14-15) Putnam County F 4:25 Sidney Ray (23-14) Minooka

190: Jaiden Moody (19-12) Minooka F 5:08 Alexa Latham (18-11) Joliet Central

235: Peyton Kueltzo (25-11 Minooka F 0:45 Patience Riggs (9-14) ROWVA

EVANSTON

Homewood-Flossmoor led all teams with six state qualifiers on the day, followed by Oak Forest with five. Homewood-Flossmoor got individual sectional titles from Attalia Watson-Castro (130) and Ini Odumosu (190), seconds from Alima Toheeb-Lawal (145) and Jocelyn Williams (235), a third from Basirat Sodiq (170), and a fourth-place finish from Nina Hamm (110).

Winning sectional titles were Oak Forest’s Alex Sebek (100), Loyola Academy’s Harlee Hiller (105), Grant’s Ayanne Jasinski (110) and Joanna Szelag (115), Bowen’s Monica Griffin (120), Lakes’ Ava Babbs (125), Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro (130) and Ini Odumosu (190), Thornton’s Jalah Wilson (135), Niles West’s Al Ghala Radi (140), Stevenson’s Sajra Sulejmani (145), Phoenix Military Academy’s AJ Grant (155), Zion-Benton’s Ileen Castrejon (170), and Curie’s Aaliyah Grandberry (235).
Watson-Castro is a returning Illinois state champion.

Returning state runner-up Aaliyah Grandberry of Curie (21-0 at 235) left Evanston as the lone undefeated state qualifier from the sectional. Niles West’s Al Ghala Al Radi (27-1 at 140) qualified with a single loss on her season record, and there were three wrestlers at 130 who head downstate with one loss in Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro (34-1), Rich Township’s Amaria Ridgner (22-1), and Mother McAuley’s Maggie Zuber (3-1).

Heading to the state finals with only two losses are Stevenson’s Sajra Sulejmani (20-2 at 145), Phoenix Military Academy’s AJ Grant (31-2 at 155), Evergreen Park’s Elliana Balderrama (13-2 at 155), Lakes’ Josie Larson (12-2 at 190), Curie’s Vanessa Torres (7-2 at 135), and Rich Township’s Courben Session (20-2 at 110).

Sectional championship matches at Evanston:

100: Alexandra Sebek (38-6) Oak Forest D 5-0 Riley Kongkaeow (19-5) Round Lake

105: Harlee Hiller (28-5) Loyola Academy F 1:02 Snow Khi (18-5) Grant

110: Ayane Jasinski (17-3) Grant D 5-0 Courben Session (20-2) Rich Township

115: Joanna Szelag (18-3) Grant D 4-3 Ireland McCain (20-7) Round Lake

120: Monica Griffin (22-3) Bowen F 0:51 Alexia Vasilopoulos (11-3) Loyola Academy

125: Ava Babbs (18-4) Lakes F 4:48 Noelani Rodriguez (26-5) Waukegan

130: Attalia Watson-Castro (34-1) Homewood-F. F 2:49 Maggie Zuber (3-1) Mother McAuley

135: Jalah Wilson (11-5) Thornton D 4-2 Clara Ugaz (17-9) Highland Park

140: Al Ghala Al Radi (27-1) Niles West F 1:22 Faith Comas (20-7) Morton

145: Sajra Sulejmani (20-2) Stevenson F 1:04 Alima Toheeb-Lawal (26-11) Homewood-F.

155: AJ Grant (31-2) Phoenix Military Academy F 0:33 Julia Landmesser (12-9) Grayslake N.

170: ILeen Castrejon (13-7) Zion-Benton F 4:50 Trinity White (24-5) OPRF

190: Ini Odumosu (32-4) Homewood-F. F 3:51 Isabel Peralta (22-11) Oak Forest

235: Aaliyah Grandberry (21-0) Curie Inj. Jocelyn Williams (28-3) Homewood-F.

3rd-place matches at Evanston:

100: Mia Vazquez (15-3) Rickover Naval Academy F 2:18 Paris Flores (16-7) Morton

105: Annika Cottam (16-5) Lake Forest F 0:47 Diana Lopez (29-5) Phoenix Military Academy

110: Ariana Flores (20-9) Evanston D 8-4 Nina Hamm (28-11) Homewood-F.
115: Marisol Castro-Duran (20-11) Phoenix F 2:42 Carmela Woods (12-7) Evergreen Park

120: Quincy Onyiaorah (20-3) Thornton Fractional South F 4:32 Nyah Lovis (29-11) Lane

125: Destiny Bright (17-5) Thornton D 3-2 Justyce Sieber (13-4) Warren

130: Amaria Ridgner (22-1) Rich Township D 11-6 Rose Craig (16-5) Elmwood Park

135: Adrianna Ketchum (10-8) Zion-Benton F 4:36 Vanessa Torres (7-2) Curie

140: Sabrina Sifuentez (27-7) Oak Forest F 1:23 Jillian Giller (24-7) New Trier

145: Bekah Monciviaz (21-8) Grayslake North F 4:57 Maya Corea- Funes (23-9) Oak Forest

155: Elliana Balderrama (13-2) Evergreen Park F 2:54 Ryann Reeves (22-15) Oak Forest

170: Basirat Sodiq (16-14) Homewood-F. F 3:49 Yaxaira Russildi (12-8) Grant

190: Josie Larson (12-2) Lakes D 7-0 Ashland Henson (23-9) Evanston

235: Sarah Epshtein (30-4) OPRF D 4-2 Jasmine Mejia (11-3) Rickover Naval Academy

RICHWOODS

Host Richwoods led all programs with six state qualifiers, followed by Belleville East and Edwardsville with five each. Richwoods got sectional titles from Isabella Motteler (120) and Kalia Williams (135), second-place finishes from Kyley Bair (110) and Jadia Johnson (170), and fourths from Indhira Moore (125) and Nakiza Williams (140).

Individual sectional champions were Edwardsville’s Olivia Coll (100), Anna-Jonesboro’s Zoee Sadler (105), Mt. Zion’s Sydney Cannon (110), Red Bud’s Avery Smith (115), Richwoods’ Isabella Motteler (120), Charleston’s Alaynia Bryant (125), Collinsville’s Taylor Dawson (130), Richwoods’ Kalia Williams (135), Edwardsville’s Mackenzie Pratt (140), Alton’s Antonia Phillips (145), Unity’s Lexi Ritchie (155), Highland’s August Rottman (170), Belleville East’s Keely Rulo (190), and Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey (235).

Belleville East’s Ganey is a returning Illinois state champion. Alton’s Phillips and Unity’s Ritchie are returning Illinois state champions.

Four state qualifiers from the Richwoods sectional will enter the state finals with a single loss on their records, in Edwardsville’s Mackenzie Pratt (26-1 at 140), Unity’s Lexi Ritchie (18-1 at 155), Highland’s August Rottmann (17-1 at 170), and Belleville East’s Kiara Ganey (14-1 at 235). Pratt is a returning Illinois state runner-up.

Another four wrestlers advanced downstate with only two losses on their season records, in Mt. Zion’s Sydney Cannon (41-2 at 110), Normal West’s Angel Bateson (18-2 at 105), Paris’ Gabbie Collins (4-2 at 155), and RIchwoods’ Jadia Johnson (25-2 at 170).

Sectional championship matches at Richwoods:

100: Olivia Coll (18-9) Edwardsville D 4-2 Sammy Lehr (13-4) Normal West

105: Zoee Sadler (38-5) Anna-Jonesboro F 2:35 Alexcia Hardin (18-11) Belleville East

110: Sydney Cannon (41-2) Mt. Zion F 0:50 Kyley Bair (29-6) Richwoods

115: Avery Smith (17-7) Red Bud F 1:30 Jasmine Brown (23-20) Auburn

120: Isabella Motteler (29-5) Richwoods F 2:31 Alexis Seymour (28-16) Jacksonville

125: Alaynia Bryant (11-9) Charleston F 5:06 Holly Zugmaier (20-10) Edwardsville

130: Taylor Dawson (30-4) Collinsville D 5-4 Karen Canchola (22-5) Morton

135: Kalia Williams (30-5) Richwoods D 4-3 Lauren Dothager (11-6) Vandalia

140: Mackenzie Pratt (26-1) Edwardsville F 2:57 Alivia Ming (33-12) Goreville

145: Antonia Phillips (30-6) Alton MD 9-1 Mikah Merrill (30-15) Goreville 

155: Lexi Ritchie (18-1) Unity F 3:02 Haylie Nappier-Feth (13-6) Marion 

170: August Rottmann (17-1) Highland F 4:11 Jadia Johnson (25-2) Richwoods

190: Keely Rulo (19-6) Belleville East F 5:02 Alexandria Godinez (10-6) Washington

235: Kiara Ganey (14-1) Belleville East Inj. Tayla Phillips (10-4) Edwardsville

3rd-place matches at Richwoods:

100: Alexis Bernal (11-9) Belleville East MD 15-3 Hannah Younger (9-4) Mt. Vernon

105: Bailey Lusch (13-4) East Peoria F 5:20 Angel Bateson (18-2) Normal West

110: Gigi Linhorst (17-9) Edwardsville F 1:55 Ella Miloncus (20-19) Lanphier

115: Jaelyn Brumfield (11-9) LeRoy D 11-4 Allison Kroesch (11-5) University

120: Oregan Dover (22-7) Anna-Jonesboro F 3:57 Mia Balota (28-10) Benton

125: Faith Loyd (17-4) Carbondale D 7-0 Indhira Moore (14-6) Richwoods

130: Natalie Beaumont (13-12) Cumberland D 6-0 Jaylah Dalton (19-15) Pekin

135: Taylor Owens (17-16) Oakwood F 4:47 Jadyn Perry (13-13) Auburn

140: Ava Vasey (17-5) Unity D 6-1 Nakiza Williams (23-8) Richwoods

145: Jordan Bicknell (14-12) Olympia F 0:53 Mackensie Williams (11-22) Charleston

155: Elanna Hickman (14-11) Alton D 2-0 Gabbie Collins (4-2) Paris

170: Faith Barrett (15-5) Mt. Vernon D 8-4 Kami Ratcliff (18-3) Belleville East

190: Abbrey Dewerff (4-3) Roxana F 1:54 Krista McBride (16-14) Goreville

235: Phoenix Molina (16-3) Unity D 2-0 Jurdan Tyler (10-7) Urbana

SCHAUMBURG

Hoffman Estates led all teams with five individual state qualifiers, led by sectional champion Sophia Ball (120) and four fourth-place finishers in Emmylina O’Brien (115), Eunice Ji (125), Abby Ji (130), and Anjali Gonzalez (190).

Individual sectional champions in Schaumburg were Bartlett’s Emma Engels (100), Glenbard North’s Nadia Shymkiv (105) and Gabriella Gomez (115), Addison Trail’s Nina Matthews (110), Hoffman Estates’ Sophia Ball (120), Lockport’s Claudia Heeney (125), Glenbard West’s Khatija Ahmed (130), Conant’s Mannie Anderson (135), Schaumburg’s Valeria Rodriguez (140), Batavia’s Sydney Perry (145) and Sue Sue Paw (235), Palatine’s Jasmine Hernandez (155) and Sabrina Cargill (170), and West Chicago’s Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (190). 

Four wrestlers advanced through the Schaumburg sectional with their unbeaten records intact, in Glenbard North’s Gabriella Gomez (29-0 at 115), Lockport’s Claudia Heeney (39-0 at 125), Batavia’s Sydney Perry (30-0 at 145), and West Chicago’s Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (15-0 at 190). Heeney is a freshman, while Gomez, Perry, and Huesca-Rodriguez are all returning state champions.

Another seven wrestlers head downstate with a single loss on their season records in Bartlett’s Emma Engels (14-1 at 100), Glenbard North’s Nadia Shymkiv (26-1 at 105), Bolingbrook’s Katie Ramirez-Quintero (16-1 at 130), Schaumburg’s Valeria Rodriguez (33-1 at 140), Palatine’s Jasmine Hernandez (32-1 at 155), Hinsdale South’s Callie Carr (12-1 at 155), and Richmond-Burton’s Jasmine McCaskel (13-1 at 140). Headed downstate from the Schaumburg sectional with only two losses is Maine South’s Angela Lee (24-2 at 115).

Sectional championship matches at Schaumburg:
100: Emma Engels (14-1) Bartlett F 4:52 Janiah Slaughter (23-4) Huntley

105: Nadiia Shymkiv (26-1) Glenbard North F 3:41 Veronica Cosio (25-8) Addison Trail

110: Nina Matthews (21-3) Addison Trail F 1:30 Taylor Casey (22-7) Huntley

115: Gabriella Gomez (29-0) Glenbard North D 8-1 Angela Lee (24-2) Maine South

120: Sophia Ball (39-4) Hoffman Estates F 2:19 Eleanor Aphay (20-5) Riverside-Brookfield

125: Claudia Heeney (39-0) Lockport F 3:26 Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (28-5) Schaumburg

130: Khatija Ahmed (22-8) Glenbard West F 2:42 Miriam Lupu (15-3) Maine East

135: Mannie Anderson (32-4) Conant MD 14-2 Alyssa Keane (28-4) Andrew

140: Valeria Rodriguez (33-1) Schaumburg D 11-7 Jasmine McCaskel (13-1) Richmond-Burton

145: Sydney Perry (30-0) Batavia MD 14-4 Kaia Fernandez (14-3) Barrington

155: Jasmine Hernandez (32-1) Palatine F 0:39 Maria Ferrer (27-5) Larkin

170: Sabrina Cargill (26-3) Palatine D 11-6 Mickaela Keane (29-5) Andrew

190: Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (15-0) West Chicago F 1:25 Jasmine Rene (14-8) Wheeling

235: Sue Sue Paw (26-14) Batavia F 5:13 Emma Akpan (18-5) Andrew

3rd-place matches at Schaumburg:

100: Lily Enos (40-11) Batavia D 11-7 Kat Bell (14-8) Lombard Montini

105: Michelle Kioltyka (11-4) Argo MD 18-6 Mali Patino (18-10) Elgin

110: Marya Mondavi (22-8) Wheaton North F 5:05 Angela Carpintero (13-4) Bartlett

115: Liz Ramirez (32-8) Lockport M. For. Emmylina O`Brien (29-7) Hoffman Estates

120: Zuri Sarmiento (22-9) Fremd D 1-0 Valeria Malinowski (17-12) Lake Park

125: Aubrie Rohrbacher (28-5) Huntley F 3:26 Eunice Ji (37-8) Hoffman Estates

130: Katie Ramirez-Quintero (16-1) Bolingbrook D 6-0 Abigail Ji (31-6) Hoffman Estates

135: Danely Villagomez (24-7) Riverside-Brookfield F 2:15 Allison Garcia (22-12) DG South

140: Suzie Knutte (26-3) Lemont F 5:58 Perla Lomeli (22-9) Dundee-Crown

145: Natalie Corona (29-11) McHenry F 0:50 Anika Navarro (31-6) Glenbard West

155: Callie Carr (12-1) Hinsdale South D 3-0 Yamile Penaloza (17-5) Fenton

170: Haley Arechiga (12-3) Proviso East F 1:27 Mailei Hudec (12-3) Crystal Lake Central

190: Nadia Razzak (27-11) Schaumburg F 3:24 Anjali Gonzalez (25-9) Hoffman Estates

235: Andrea Gordillo (18-6) Elgin D 7-0 Rye Reyes (22-13) Conant