By Mike Garofola

The 2022-2023 wrestling season has been one to remember for Mike LeVanti and his club from Schaumburg.

Dual-team victories over state-ranked Batavia, Fremd, Lemont, and McHenry; winning the Rex Lewis tournament; and entering the weekend as the No. 15-rated 3A team in the state per Rob Sherrill’s Illinois Matmen rankings; and an impressive 18-2-0 record in duals.

The Saxons also ended a long draught of regional success when LeVanti’s men lifted the championship trophy at Streamwood on Saturday afternoon – keeping the pressure on a valiant South Elgin side which was as close as 19 points away (171.5-152.5.) just ahead of finals.

In the end, the Saxons won their first regional crown since 2010, the same year the program celebrated a MSL title with a 19-2-0 overall record under then-head coach Matt Gruszka.

“It’s been a long time coming,” smiled LeVanti, who watched five of his men claim individual titles, and an even dozen headed to the Conant sectional next Friday afternoon.

“The overall effort was terrific today – we asked the team to go after bonus points when they could, and they all came through as needed all throughout the day, right up through the final session. Obviously, I am very proud of all of them,” LeVanti said.

Schaumburg senior Caden Kirchner was one of five that delivered individual championship performances.

“It feels great to be a part of history today,” Kirchner said. “We’ve been talking about this weekend for a long time, and we all felt like we had something to prove. Now we’ll get back in the room to prepare for sectionals, before turning our attention towards dual-team sectionals against York in a couple of weeks.”

It was in 2010 that the Saxons faithful were thrilled to a trio of men: Danny Malik, Joe LaManna, and future two-time state champion and Stanford University star Josh Marchok making it downstate, with Marchok earning a third place medal.

LaManna claimed sixth place overall in 2011, before Logan Gruzska and Tony Vezzetti each brought home state medals in 2016.

The Saxons finished with 214 points Saturday, South Elgin scored 175.5, and third-place Conant ended its day with 156 points.

South Elgin senior Nico Clinite won his second regional title for the second-place Storm.

“Our coaching staff has been key to turning our program around,” Clinite said. “Everyone has been working harder than ever to get better, and it has shown with the success we’ve had.”

Clinite was a key figure in South Elgin’s first ever UEC Conference Tournament win, as well as its UEC dual-meet crown with a perfect 9-0-0 record.

The Storm advanced seven into sectionals, followed closely by Conant and Lake Park with six apiece, while fourth-place Hoffman Estates earned five sectional spots.

Here now is a look at each weight class:

106: Demetrios Carrera, South Elgin

Demetrios Carrera continued his remarkable rookie season when he brushed off all those who stood in his way to win the big prize at 106 pounds, his fifth tournament win on the season, and third-straight following his second pin of the day in under two minutes.

The freshman phenom, who continues to move up the charts in the state polls, needed just 1:59 to put away Austin Phelps (Schaumburg, 19-15), one match after needing just 29 seconds to win his semifinal.

“It feels great to win a regional in my freshmen year,” Carrera said. “I never really expected to be in a position to do so. But I always felt with all of my offseason work in Freestyle and Greco, plus the extra time spent in our great room that it was possible to have the chance to have a lot of success.” 

Carrera’s 36-1 season record includes 16 pins, two of which he delivered en route to championship titles earned at the Berman Holiday Classic, and UEC Conference tournament.

“Sectionals will be tough,” Carrera said. “There will be a lot of really talented guys in our group, but winning here gives me a top four seed, and first-round bye, which I hope to use to my advantage.”
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South Elgin coach Jim Gloudeman appreciates what Carrera brings to the table.

“Demetrios is always dialed in – laser focused, and always ready to compete,” Gloudeman said. “He dominated in every position of all of his matches, and he just gets better and better every time out.”

In his final year at Elgin, Ruben Campuzano (18-17) will enjoy his first visit to sectionals after his third-place finish at 106.

113: Brady Phelps, Schaumburg

Brady Phelps struck gold as the first of five champions Schaumburg would claim on the day, helping to inspire a marvelous final session in which Phelps (34-0) and his mates garnered a tourney-high 12 spots in the Conant sectional next week.

“We have a really good mix of guys on the team this year, from returning state qualifiers and potential state medal winners,” said Phelps, a two-time regional champ and currently ranked No 4 in Illinois. “It’s an always-improving group of guys who have helped turn our room into an intense and hard-working group.”

Phelps went to work early on league rival Luis Flores (Conant, 17-10) whom he went on to defeat 6-0 by using a hard ride during nearly all of the second period to extend his advantage further after taking a 2-0 first-period lead.

“My number one goal is obviously winning a state title, but the focus right now is to win sectionals to get myself a top-four seed at state,” added Phelps, who now has five tournament titles to his credit thus far.

Lake Park freshman Nick Merola, now 25-9 on the season, also advanced to sectionals.

120: Callen Kirchner, Schaumburg

Callen Kirchner would make it two straight for the Saxons following his 10-3 decision over Sam Santangelo (Conant, 24-7) who was looking to earn his second consecutive regional crown.

Kirchner (33-5), ranked just outside the top 10 this week, is aiming for a second trip to Champaign after the Saxons’ sophomore added a pair of pins to give him 20 on the year en route to his climb atop the podium.

“I am a lot more aggressive this season, and have really worked on my game on top,” Kirchner said. “With both of those things better this year, I’ve been able to add points throughout the match to help me put my opponents away quicker.” 

Kirchner, who grew from 5-foot-8 to 6-foot tall since last year, used his long and lean frame to throw a spider web over his rivals all day.

Seregio Hernandez (23-18) from Lake Park became a first-time sectional qualifier following his third place finish at 120.

126: Rocco Fontela, Schaumburg

With nationally-ranked Ben Davino (St. Charles East) at the top of the weight class at sectionals, along with No. 10 Sean VanSleet (York) as the second highest-ranked wrestler there, the regional title Rocco Fontela (Schaumburg, 25-10) claimed Saturday is exactly what the Saxons’ sophomore needed to inspire hopes of wrestling on the final weekend of the season.

“I was a jayvee guy last year, and being around our top guys like Phelps and Callen Kirchner in the room has really helped pushed me this year, and given me the confidence that I can be better,” said Fontela after his pin at 3:33 over South Elgin senior Anthony Vasquez (17-8) gave him his first individual title of the year.

Saxons coach Mike Levanti has seen Fontela make great strides this season.

“Rocco has been a case study in trust and maturity,” Levanti said. “It’s not always easy for a guy with talent to accept that there might be a better way to do things. But once he began to read the sheet music instead of sort of blindly improvising, he immediately made a huge jump in the way he wrestles.

“If he can eliminate the few mistakes he is still making, I really like his shot next weekend at sectionals.”

With the customary first round bye awarded to the four regional champions at sectionals, Fontela will face the winner of the Christian Chavez (Glenbard North, 37-10) and Nicasio Acino (Elk Grove, 20-14) opener.

JR Leach (Lake Park, 14-17) defeated Matt Goolish (Conant, 19-12) via 14-11 in their third-place match thriller to advance.

132: Andre Rios, South Elgin

South Elgin senior Andre Rios (23-7,14 pins) left little doubt as to who was the best in this weight class, as the second of three Storm wrestlers to raise an individual championship trophy on Saturday. 

Rios wrapped a pair of pins around his hard-fought 11-8 victory in the semifinals to give the Storm its second title, and his second of the campaign after grabbing the UEC crown last weekend.

“It is real important in my senior year that I give it everything I have, especially in the postseason,” Rios said. “It began really well at conference and into regionals. This win gives me a lot of momentum heading into sectionals.

“Since just before the new year I’ve been working a lot on getting better on top, being more patient, and moving a lot more, so I feel real good right now and I’m really looking forward to sectionals next weekend.”

Rios used a three-point near fall as the first period ended to take a commanding 7-1 lead on Cam Whitworth (Conant) who earlier stunned top seed AJ Quevado (17-8) of Schaumburg in semifinal action.

“Andre was locked in and ready to go right from the start today, as he was at the conference tournament,” Gloudeman said of Rios, who used a pair of pins, and a tech-fall to win his first UEC title ever.

Quevado fought back to secure third place and his first trip to sectionals.

138: Leo Rosas, South Elgin

The other half of the remarkable rookie duo at South Elgin, Leo Rosas (32-4) had far too much firepower for the rest of this group as he cruised to victory, capped with a pin of Vince Merola (24-8) from Lake Park in the waning moments of his final at 138.

“I am really lucky to have guys like Andre (Rios) and Nico (Clinite) to go with every day in the room. Andre is a great scrambler, which has really helped that part of my game,” said Rosas, now with 20 pins on the season.

“I have to admit I was a little nervous before my final, but once I got that first take-down, I was able to finally settle in.

“Since the Berman I’ve been a lot more patient, and I’ve been so much better with my attack. I’m taking more control of the match and not letting my opponents rest by adding as many points as I can.”
 

“Leo wrestles with a lot of confidence,” Storm coach Jim Gloudeman said. “He never stops wrestling in all positions, and his scrambling ability has really gotten the job done for him.”

Aiden Ploski (Schaumburg, 20-10) is on his way to sectionals for the first time with his third-place finish at 138.

145: Nico Clinite, South Elgin

A great team always needs a great leader – someone with a strong spirit, high character, and the respect of the coaching staff and his teammates. In Nico Clinite, that is exactly what South Elgin and head coach Jim Gloudeman have.

“Nico is our silent warrior,” Gloudeman said. “He leads by example, on and off the mat, and he brings great energy and effort each day into the room, and when he competes.”  

Two-time regional champ Clinite recorded his team-high 24th pin of the season in his final with Gavin Hinkle (23-13) of Schaumburg.

“This is a good start to the postseason, but there’s some unfinished business that I have to take care of,” said Clinite, who lost in the blood round a year ago at Conant to finish his junior campaign at 26-3.

Clinite, now a sparkling 37-3 on the year after earning his fifth major of the season, is a four-year varsity starter for the Storm.

“That loss at sectionals last year really stung, and I haven’t really stopped training since then either,” said Clinite, who is looking at Luther College, Concordia in Wisconsin, and UW-Parkside, among others, with the plan of going into the field of nursing.

Chase Hofstetter (Lake Park, 15-15) finished third at 145 to earn sectional advancement.

152: Caden Kirchner, Schaumburg

There wasn’t anyone in the the 152-pound weight division able to match the dominance of Caden Kirchner, who put an exclamation point on his performance with with a tech fall win in his final with Julian Bonilla (Hoffman Estates, 29-10) to claim his second regional title.

The Saxons’ senior, ranked No. 7 in a high-profile weight class, ran his record to a sparkling 35-2 on the season. Both of his losses this season came to No. 1 Kaden Fetterfolf (Batavia, 41-0) who was state runner-up in 2022 at 138.

“Our weight class in the state is really deep and talented, but I feel that I can compete with anyone in front of me in the rankings,” Kirchner said. “Ever since the first tournament of the season I’ve worked hard to clean things up, and I’ve worked on my fitness to get myself ready for the two big weekends ahead of me.” said Kirchner, now with 17 pins and (9) major decisions in the scorebook.

Kirchner, now with 17 pins and nine major decisions, is a two-time state qualifier and sixth-place medal winner two years ago at the IWCOA state tourney. He opened in fine fashion against Bonilla with a 

strong first period, which rolled into an equally impressive second period in which he added to his 7-0 advantage with a late near fall to make it 12-0 when the middle period came to an end.

Lake Park freshman Joey Michilini escaped with a thrilling 11-10 decision over Justin Deaton (Conant) to earn his first visit to sectionals.

160: Ethan Stiles, Conant

In wrestling, talent means nothing without work ethic, rigor, and precision in what you do, and Ethan Stiles checks every box.

The Conant senior garnered yet another major title, his fifth in a season which has seen the two-time state champion collect individual titles at the prestigious Ironman and Dvorak. Conant coach Andrew Guilde had this to say about Stiles’ (25-0, 16 pins) road to another state title:

“Ethan doesn’t want to just win, he wants to be the best. “Right now he’s not just trying to win his third state championship, he’s trying to do everything he can to dominate each and every opponent he wrestles.

“This year is about legacy for Ethan. He wants to leave his mark on Illinois wrestling and in doing so, go down as one of the best ever.”

Schaumburg’s Logan Meyer (26-12) fell victim to the brilliance of Stiles, but Saxons head coach, Mike LeVanti had high praise for the senior Meyer.

“This might sound strange considering a couple of guys we have in our program, but Logan is as complete, and talented a wrestler as anyone in our room,” LeVanti said. “He’s an extremely bright young man (1400 SAT score) and sometimes it’s tough for guys who are that smart to just go with their gut, and let it rip.

“If we can find a way to get him to do that, then watch out.”

William Ball (Hoffman Estates, 22-13) also earned sectional qualification at 160.

170: Fabian Ramirez, Elgin

Fabian Ramirez was overcome with emotion after his magnificent day at this venue came to an end, when the Elgin sophomore recorded a pin at 1:11 over Gabe Inorio (Streamwood, 12-8) to win the first of two individual titles for the Maroons and head coach Gary Parciak.

“The feeling I’m having right now is just amazing,” said Ramirez (18-6), who was fourth a year ago at regionals to dash his hopes of joining his good friend and Maroons heavyweight Adam Lambaz at sectionals a year ago.

“I can’t tell you how mad I was last year when I finished fourth. To be honest, this year I was able to get myself into three finals and I finished second in all of them, and I found myself just ‘settling’ to be second.

“Last week at the UEC conference tournament, I made up my mind that I would not settle for second place, and I didn’t. So with that (UEC) title and this one, I feel like everything is kind of falling into place for me.”

Parciak likes what he’s seeing from Ramirez.

“The Motto of our program is ‘it’s a choice’, and you could tell that Fabian made the choice to get the pin in his final,” Parciak said. “He is relentless on top, always looking to add pins, and as soon as he got the take-down (vs Inorio) he just kept working for the pin.”

17 of the 18 wins on the season from Ramirez (18-6) have ended with a pin.

AJ Hernandez (Conant, 21-13) had to come all the way back in the consolation bracket to earn his second straight sectional appearance after the Conant senior was stunned in his semifinal by Inorio.

182: Jacob Acevedo, Schaumburg

There was not much to enjoy in 2022 for Schaumburg senior Jacob Acevedo, who endured a heart-breaking loss in the blood round of regionals. He and his mates also finished far behind regional champion and long-time division rival Conant.

One year later, Acevedo (31-8) has plenty to celebrate, with both he and the Saxons lifting the team trophy on Saturday. Acevedo won a hard fought 12-8 decision over Josh Taylor (South Elgin, 25-9, 19 pins) to give him his first ever regional crown.

“Last year did not end the way I would have wanted it to,” Acevedo said, “but this year, in my last season of high school wrestling, winning an individual regional title and being part of the first team championship in a long time feels real good right now.

“We have a great room that feeds off of each other, so I’m not surprised about our results today. Now I’m looking forward to heading to sectionals, and I’m super excited about my chances to get downstate.”

Schaumburg coach Mike LeVanti has seen Acevedo mature on the mat this season.

“Jacob’s evolution from an explosive athlete who could be dangerous to a savvy, calculated opponent has been very impressive,” LeVanti said. “He’s always going to error on the side of rough and ready, but the patience and situational awareness he showed in the final showed me his name should be in the conversation next week and beyond.”

Acevedo drew back level with Taylor at 5-5 with a slick, nifty move to record a take-down just moments into the second period. He took the lead for good (7-6) at three minutes before earning a three-point near fall as the buzzer sounded.

Acevedo ensured victory with a hard ride for the final 45 seconds before time.

Hector Flores (Larkin, 20-11) won a 7-5 decision over league rival Max Dominguez (Streamwood, 18-7) to finish third.

195: Josh Ellery, Hoffman Estates

Josh Ellery was almost speechless when approached to discuss his victory at 195 pounds, after a second straight pin in just under four minutes gave Hoffman Estates its lone title on the day. Ellery had also just earned his second-straight sectional appearance.

“Being a regional champion feels really good,” Ellery said. “As a senior it’s my last chance to do something in the postseason. I’m really happy about this – there’s not much more I can say.”

Ellery is now 30-6 on the year after going19-10 a year ago.

“Josh is a humble kid, who doesn’t really like talking about himself much,” Hoffman Estates coach Leo Clark said. “But I can tell you he’s a young man who works hard, committed himself to get better during the offseason, and was always lifting and attending offseason events. All of that hard work has come to pay off for him.

“His confidence and demeanor on the mat are those of a skilled wrestler, and regionals for him were all about showing everyone that he can hang with the top guys. He has lost close matches to top-ranked guys, so he wants to prove to himself that he can be a top wrestler as well at state.”

South Elgin senior Danny Viscuso (22-13) who lost to Ellery in the finals, is a first time sectional qualifier, as is third-place finisher Jimmy Zinchuk of Schaumburg.

220: Harley Stary, Conant

For someone who didn’t wrestle his freshman year, Harley Stary has tasted plenty of success during his short career at Conant. That success now includes a second straight sectional appearance after winning it all at 220 pounds, with a pin at 0:58 in the finals against Abdulhamid Olowu (Hoffman Estates, 15-15). 

“I guess I was a little lucky to make it downstate last year but that trip to state really inspired me to get to work on every part of my game,” Stary said. “I’m better now in neutral, in my attack, footwork, and hand fighting. I feel like my confidence has improved so much more and now I’m really ready to make a push to get back downstate and win a medal.”

Stary improved to 25-9 after spending less than three minutes on the mat to claim the top prize

“Harley took his freshman year off and didn’t wrestle, so last year coming into the season, he wasn’t sure of himself,” Conant coach Andrew Guilde said. “After qualifying last year, he’s been wrestling with confidence and you can see it by how he approaches everything, from practice to the way he competes.”

Stary (17 pins) who was one of four captains on the Cougars football team last fall, has found that wrestling may have taken over as his No. 1 sport this season. That’s thanks in part to the success he has enjoyed, and from just being in a room that is led by Guilde and state champion Ethan Stiles.

“We’ve got a great room, with a great coaching staff, and I really feel so much more comfortable. I’m happy to be a part of it,” said Stary, who plays middle linebacker and offensive guard during football season.

Streamwood’s Josiah Torres finished third at 220 to become a sectional qualifier.

285: Adam Lambaz, Elgin

Those in the heavyweight division know it’s either a pin or a push-and-pull decision that likely decides the match. On Saturday, senior Adam Lambaz provided a pin-happy day for Elgin wrestling fans.

Lambaz pinned his last two opponents, including Hoffman Estates’ Kehinde Akintunde (16-2) to win his first regional crown, and move one step closer to a second consecutive trip downstate.

“(Akintunde) is a big-time thrower,” Lambaz (27-2) said. “He always looks to throw guys. He’s tall, strong, and lean, but I stayed composed, kept my hips and body back, and then looked for my chance. When I had him on his back, I knew he was gassed, and all I had to do was finish him off.” 

Lambaz, who entered the weekend as the No. 6-rated big man in the state, now has three major titles to his credit, plus 20 pins for coach Gary Parciak.

“Adam just wrestled such a smart, tough match in his final,” Parciak said. He was doing his best to dominate the ties with an underhook, and two-on-ones, forcing the action, until he saw his opening. Then he capitalized on it.”

“Fabian and I are Academy nerds here at Elgin, so I’m really thrilled about his regional title,” Lambaz said. “He’s like a little brother to me and I’ve tried to be a mentor for him.”

Schaumburg junior Cesar Alvarez-Cuatepitizi became the final man from the Saxons to earn a spot at the Conant sectional following his third-place finish at 285.

Team Totals:

Schaumburg 214.0, South Elgin 174.5, Conant 156.0, Hoffman Estates 105.0, Lake Park 97.0, Elgin 73.0,

By Gary Larsen

ALTON

Team champion Edwardsville advanced eight wrestlers to sectional competition, including four individual regional champions, in out-pointing second-place Quincy 197-178 at Alton. Belleville East (133.5) placed third, followed by Belleville West (133).

Individual regional champions at Alton:

106: Rocky Seibel (Belleville West); 113: Ryan Richie (Edwardsville); 120: Nick Fetters (Belleville East); 126: Brenden Rayl (Granite City); 132: Zeke Rhodes (Edwardsville); 138: Warren Zeisset (Belleville East); 145: Drew Landau (Edwardsville); 152: Terence Willis (Belleville East); 160: Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy); 170: Hubey Thomas (Edwardsville); 182: Bryor Newbold (Quincy); 195: Dominic Thebeau (Belleville East); 220: Gavin Schumacher (Quincy); 285: Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Rocky Seibel (31-3) Belleville West; 2. Bryson Nuttall (23-11) Edwardsville; 3. Hugh Sharrow (34-9) Quincy

113: 1. Ryan Richie (26-7) Edwardsville; 2. Amir McCoy (24-7) Belleville West; 3. Wyatt Boeing (17-13) Quincy

120: 1. Nick Fetters (30-14) Belleville East; 2. Levi Wilkinson (16-11) Edwardsville; 3. Dom Deming (21-11) Quincy

126: 1. Brenden Rayl (35-9) Granite City; 2. William Harris (36-9) Alton; 3. Tyson Seibel (9-5) Belleville West)

132: 1. Zeke Rhodes (23-11) Edwardsville; 2. Aiden Colbert (27-8) Belleville West; 3. Eli Roberts (26-18) Quincy

138: 1. Warren Zeisset (36-8) Belleville East; 2. Blake Mink (23-14) Edwardsville; 3. Brody Baker (29-16) Quincy

145: 1. Drew Landau (29-5) Edwardsville; 2. Dylan Boyd (38-10) Granite City; 3. Yaveion Freeman (36-12) Alton

152: 1. Terence Willis (30-9) Belleville East; 2. Antoine Phillips (34-13) Alton; 3. Gunnar Derhake (28-14) Quincy

160: 1. Owen Uppinghouse (38-0) Quincy; 2. Zach Lusk (12-3) Belleville; 3. Manny Morrissette (19-8) Alton

170: 1. Hubey Thomas (27-8) Edwardsville; 2. Cody Lutz (27-13) Collinsville; 3. Max Miller (33-11) Quincy

182: 1. Bryor Newbold (36-4) Quincy; 2. Landen Schickedanz (19-15) Edwardsville; 3. Brody O`Donnell (23-10) Belleville West

195: 1. Dominic Thebeau (8-1) Belleville East; 2. Scott Snyder (33-11) Collinsville; 3. Shane Scott (31-7) Alton

220: 1. Gavin Schumacher (23-14) Quincy; 2. Devin Habermehl (18-18) Collinsville; 3. Shamontae Matthews (24-13) Belleville West

285: 1. Jonathan Rulo (28-1) Belleville East; 2. Todd Smith (35-11) Quincy; 3. Dawson Rull (24-10) Edwardsville

MARMION

Host Marmion Academy, ranked No. 1 in Illinois by Rob Sherrill at Illinois Matmen, cruised to a team regional title with 279 points over second-place Batavia (151), followed by third-place West Aurora (118). Marmion advanced all 14 of its wrestlers to next week’s sectional, including nine individual regional champions.

Individual regional champions at Marmion:

106: Nicholas Garcia (Marmion); 113: Ino Garcia (Batavia); 120: Zach Stewart (Marmion); 126: Jameson Garcia (Marmion); 132: Brody Kelly (Marmion); 138: Tyler Aters (Marmion); 145: Dom Serio (West Aurora); 152: Kaden Fetterolf (Batavia); 160: Noah Quintana (West Aurora); 170: Michael Phillips (Marmion); 182: Jack Lesher (Marmion); 195: Cruz Ibarra (Oswego); 220: Ed Perry (Marmion); 285: Sean Scheck (Marmion)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Nicholas Garcia (22-4) Marmion; 2. Jonny Theodor (29-16) Oswego; 3. Nico Harris (27-14) Oswego East

113: 1. Ino Garcia (19-5) Batavia; 2. Donny Pigoni (22-14) Marmion; 3. Vincent Manfre (24-16) Oswego

120: 1. Zach Stewart (27-4) Marmion; 2. Jack Duraski (19-8) Batavia; 3. Aiden Massaro (27-17) West Aurora

126: 1. Jameson Garcia (34-4) Marmion; 2. Aidan Huck (33-8) Batavia; 3. Brayden Swanson (35-10) Oswego

132: 1. Brody Kelly (22-12) Marmion; 2. Jesse Clayton (28-8) West Aurora; 3. Moses Yanez (17-18) Batavia

138: 1. Tyler Aters (10-5) Marmion; 2. Dayne Serio (27-16) West Aurora; 3. Ethan Brauer (17-22) Batavia

145: 1. Dom Serio (30-2) West Aurora; 2. Santino Scolaro (29-7) Marmion; 3. Cael Andrews (39-5) Batavia

152: 1. Kaden Fetterolf (41-0) Batavia; 2. Collin Carrigan (19-5) Marmion; 3. Noah Demarco (29-12) Oswego East
160: 1. Noah Quintana (36-4) West Aurora; 2. Tegan Chumbley (16-13) Marmion; 3. Joey Griffin (29-12) Oswego

170: 1. Michael Phillips (17-6) Marmion; 2. Dylan Crawford (26-16) Oswego E.; 3. Francisco Solis (32-11) W. Aurora

182: 1. Jack Lesher (27-6) Marmion; 2. Hiran Lopez (2-1) East Aurora; 3. Manny Howard (22-17) Oswego East

195: 1. Cruz Ibarra (33-5) Oswego; 2. Joey Favia (22-7) Marmion; 3. Ben Brown (23-10) Batavia

220: 1. Ed Perry (34-5) Marmion; 2. Asher Sheldon (30-11) Batavia; 3. Bryan Romero (27-4) East Aurora

285: 1. Sean Scheck (27-7) Marmion; 2. Arnold Walker (23-7) East Aurora; 3. Tyler Johnston (22-4) West Aurora

BELVIDERE NORTH

Host Belvidere North won a team regional title, posting a 210-175 scoring edge over second-place Hampshire, while Huntley (160) finished third. Belvidere North had four individual regional champions among its nine sectional qualifiers. Hampshire also had four regional champions and Huntley had three.

Individual regional champions at Belvidere North:

106: Brayden Teunissen (Belvidere N.); 113: Dominic Ducato (Jacobs); 120: Aiden Lira (Huntley); 126: Adam Pena (Huntley); 132: James Wright (Jacobs); 138: Dominick Girardin (Belvidere N.); 145: Antonio Alvarado (Belvidere N.); 152: Colin Young (Belvidere N.); 160: William Albrecht (Jacobs); 170: Niko Skoulikaris (Hampshire); 182: Dimitrios Skoulikaris (Hampshire); 195: Tyler Boyd (Hampshire); 220: Will Ardson (Hampshire); 285: Markos Mihalopoulos (Huntley)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Brayden Teunissen (42-2) Belvidere North; 2. Jackson Olson (32-10) Hononegah; 3. Lou Jensen (21-15) Hampshire)

113: 1. Dominic Ducato (28-2) Jacobs; 2. Bryson Teunissen (24-10) Belvidere N.; 3. Zack Hornickel (23-23) Huntley

120: 1. Aiden Lira (24-21) Huntley; 2. Ben Arbotante (10-11) Jacobs; 3. Geren Stapleton (19-15) Belvidere N.

126: 1. Adam Pena (30-12) Huntley; 2. Ethan Hagerman (23-11) Harlem; 3. Robert Darling (24-19) Hononegah

132: 1. James Wright (36-3) Jacobs; 2. Myles Babcock (23-11) Harlem; 3. Aric Abbott (15-10) Hampshire

138: 1. Dominick Girardin (32-15) Belvidere N.; 2. Rafael Sobrepena (27-18) Huntley; 3. Aiden Zacharuck (28-9) Harlem

145: 1. Antonio Alvarado (45-2) Belvidere N.; 2. Connor Diemel (29-13) Hononegah; 3. Shane McGuine (14-9) Huntley)

152: 1. Colin Young (42-4) Belvidere N.; 2. Max Haskins (22-20) Hononegah; 3. Wyatt Hoffman (18-14) Harlem

160: 1. William Albrecht (20-11) Jacobs; 2. Ben Larsen (24-11) Harlem; 3. Jorge Hernandez (23-18) Belvidere N.

170: 1. Niko Skoulikaris (34-5) Hampshire; 2. Elliot Diemel (36-8) Hononegah; 3. Kaden Christensen (18-6) Harlem

182: 1. Dimitrios Skoulikaris (18-1) Hampshire; 2. TJ Mitchell (18-6) Belvidere N.; 3. Andrew Redmon (22-12) Harlem

195: 1. Tyler Boyd (22-10) Hampshire; 2. Wyatt Theobald (13-14) Huntley; 3. Ayden Silva (13-19) Hononegah

220: 1. Will Ardson (20-2) Hampshire; 2. Isaak Smith (31-10) Hononegah; 3. Zander Martinez (24-18) Belvidere N.

285: 1. Markos Mihalopoulos (33-9) Huntley; 2. Damarion Love (15-2) Auburn; 3. Joey Ochoa (22-15) Hampshire

REAVIS

A battle of highly-ranked teams saw No. 3 Mount Carmel earn a 278.5-250 edge over second-place No. 4 Marist to win the team regional title at Reavis. Carl Sandburg finished third with 167.5 team points. Mount Carmel had nine individual regional champions and 13 sectional qualifiers on the day.

Individual regional champions at Reavis:

106: Rocco Hayes (Sandburg); 113: Seth Mendoza (Mount Carmel); 120: Damian Resendez (Mount Carmel); 126: Jairo Acuna (Mount Carmel); 132: Sergio Lemley (Mount Carmel); 138: Liam Kelly (Mount Carmel); 145: Will Denny (Maris); 152: Edmund Enright (Mount Carmel); 160: Ricky Ericksen (Marist); 170: Colin Kelly (Mount Carmel); 182: Rylan Breen (Mount Carmel); 195: Peter Marinopoulos (Marist); 220: Mike Rydell (Sandburg); 285: Alexander Poholik (Mount Carmel)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Rocco Hayes (35-5) Sandburg; 2. George Marinopoulos (25-13) Marist; 3. Lukas Tsirtsis (19-12) Mount Carmel

113: 1. Seth Mendoza (30-2) Mount Carmel; 2. Madden Parker (32-10) Sandburg; 3. Tommy Fidler (26-16) Marist)

120: 1. Damian Resendez (17-9) Mount Carmel; 2. Michael Esteban (25-11) Marist; 3. Tyson Bruce (20-17) Sandburg

126: 1. Jairo Acuna (13-4) Mount Carmel; 2. Matthew Cornfield (14-12) Marist; 3. Vince Gutierrez (19-12) Sandburg 

132: 1. Sergio Lemley (28-1) Mount Carmel; 2. Donavon Allen (28-9) Marist; 3. Ryan Hinger (33-7) Sandburg

138: 1. Liam Kelly (20-11) Mount Carmel; 2. Tyrese Johnson (13-8) Marist; 3. Nick Gomez (25-12) Reavis

145: 1. Will Denny (21-6) Marist: 2. Moe Ashkar (12-20) Sandburg; 3. Luca De Rosa (3-3) Mount Carmel 

152: 1. Edmund Enright (13-3) Mount Carmel; 2. Andrew Dado (20-17) Marist; 3. Hunter Gray (23-14) Oak Lawn

160: 1. Ricky Ericksen (26-6) Marist; 2. Kevin Kalchbrenner (13-14) Mount Carmel; 3. Moe Askar (18-14) Sandburg

170: 1. Colin Kelly (20-2) Mount Carmel; 2. Jacob Liberatore (15-4) Marist; 3. Ayman Husien (20-9) Shepard

182: 1. Rylan Breen (18-8) Mount Carmel; 2. Conor Phelan (27-13) Marist; 3. Hani Odeh (30-4) Oak Lawn

195: 1. Peter Marinopoulos (14-0) Marist; 2. William Jacobson (20-14) Mount Carmel; 3. Ahmad Alomari (3-1) Sandburg

220: 1. Mike Rydell (29-15) Sandburg; 2. Luke Liberatore (28-9) Marist; 3. Salmeen Algahami (15-21) Stagg

285: 1. Alexander Poholik (8-1) Mount Carmel; 2. Isac Hernandez (11-8) Eisenhower; 3. Ryan Lanigan (10-11) Marist

DUNDEE-CROWN

Hersey took the team regional title at Dundee-Crown, advancing 13 wrestlers to the sectional meet, including six individual regional champions. Hersey posted a 241.5-192 edge over second-place Stevenson, with Barrington (158) placing third.

Individual regional champions at Dundee-Crown:

106: Danny Lehman (Hersey); 113: Abdullokh Khakomov (Hersey); 120: Esteban Delgado (Hersey); 126: Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey); 132: Nate Ferrari (Highland Park); 138: Lorenzo Frezza (Stevenso); 145: Scot Busse (Lake Zurich); 152: Dmitry Derbedyenyev (Highland Park); 160: Aaron Hernandez (Hersey); 170: Jonny Fier (Barrington); 182: Ayden Salley (Barrington); 195: Porter Leith (Dundee-Crown); 220: Blake Duvall (Stevenson); 285: Oeg Simakov (Hersey)

Sectional qualifiers:
106: 1. Danny Lehman (32-8) Hersey; 2. Neel Talpallikar (17-7) Barrington; 3. Xander Simmons (11-6) Buffalo Grove

113: 1. Abdullokh Khakomov (32-11) Hersey; 2. Luca Poeta (7-3) Lake Zurich; 3. Yash Jagtap (26-22) Stevenson

120: 1, Esteban Delgado (30-11) Hersey; 2. Shawn Kogan (24-23) Stevenson; 3. Chris Gerardo (23-15) Dundee-Crown

126: 1. Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (32-13) Hersey; 2. Andrew Chamkin (28-14) Stevenson; 3. David Rodriguez (23-15) Buffalo Grove

132: 1. Nate Ferrari (27-6) Highland Park; 2. James Shaffer (25-18) Hersey; 3. Brady Wright (21-17) Barrington

138: 1. Lorenzo Frezza (35-0) Stevenson; 2. Mark Martinez (30-2) Highland Park; 3. Rhenzo Augusto (26-13) Barrington

145: 1. Scott Busse (41-2) Lake Zurich; 2. Jake Hanson (29-16) Hersey; 3. Erick Wade (16-22) Stevenson

152: 1. Dmitry Derbedyenyev (37-3) Highland Park; 2. Parker Sena (24-18) Hersey; 3. Aidan Foley (33-15) Lake Zurich

160: 1. Aaron Hernandez (23-5) Hersey; 2. Thomas Schoolman (33-4) Stevenson; 3. Jose Gavina (21-18) Dundee-Crown

170: 1. Jonny Fier (33-6) Barrington; 2. Fortis Variano (22-21) Hersey; 3. Themba Sitshela (27-17) Stevenson

182: 1. Ayden Salley (29-6) Barrington; 2. Vlad Fedorchenko (26-10) Buffalo Grove; 3. Anthony Cambria (34-12) Hersey

195: 1. Porter Leith (35-1) Dundee-Crown; 2. Matt Luby (24-12) Lake Zurich; 3. Leo Delgado (22-22) Hersey

220: 1. Blake Duvall (21-9) Stevenson; 2. Ben Erhabor (24-22) Hersey; 3. Teigen Moreno (33-8) Dundee-Crown

285: 1. Oleg Simakov (35-8) Hersey; 2. Clarence Jackson (23-16) Barrington; 3. Andrew Timmons (10-21) Stevenson

GRANT

Warren’s four individual regional champions and 10 total sectional qualifiers earned the Blue Devils a team regional title, 195-178 over second-place Libertyville. McHenry finished third with 162 team points.

Individual regional champions at Grant:

106: Jonathan Marquez (Warren); 113: Alejandro Cordova (Round Lake); 120: Bryce Durlacher (Mundelein); 126: Benjamin Albavera (Mundelein); 132: Lucas Van Diepen (McHenry); 138: Evan Onstad (Warren); 145: Pedro Jimenez (McHenry); 152: Aaron Stewart (Warren); 160: Royce Lopez (Warren); 170: Chris Moore (McHenry); 182: Caleb Baczek (Libertyville); 195: Cole Matulenko (Libertyville); 220: Owen McGrory (Libertyville); 285: William Cole (Round Lake)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Jonathan Marquez (30-6) Warren; 2. Ryan Hanson (32-9) McHenry; 3. Vince Jasinski (29-12) Grant

113: 1. Alejandro Cordova (29-8) Round Lake; 2. Carlos Ordonez (23-11) Warren; 3. Jimmy Norris (25-15) McHenry

120: 1. Bryce Durlacher (30-2) Mundelein; 2. Ethan Tarvin (27-10) Grant; 3. Luke Berktold (36-10) Libertyville

126: 1. Benjamin Albavera (30-6) Mundelein; 2. Erik Rodriguez (35-10) Grant; 3. Orion Moran (21-17) Libertyville

132: 1. Lucas Van Diepen (23-19) McHenry; 2. Zack Piszkiewicz (21-14) Warren; 3. Hunter Hill (26-13) Libertyville

138: 1. Evan Onstad (25-5) Warren; 2. Clayton Honaker (20-12) Grant; 3. Ethan Thomas (31-13) Mundelein

145: 1. Pedro Jimenez (36-8) McHenry; 2. Kevin Hernandez (25-20) Mundelein; 3. Jack Lunardi (23-18) Grant

152: 1. Aaron Stewart (36-1) Warren; 2. Ruben Melgarejo (26-13) McHenry; 3. Will Carney (12-8) Libertyville

160: 1. Royce Lopez (33-9) Warren; 2. Charlie Clark (24-18) Libertyville; 3. Aiden Fischler (8-8) McHenry

170: 1. Chris Moore (36-0) McHenry; 2. Matt Kubas (35-6) Libertyville; 3. Justice Humphreys (29-14) Warren

182: 1. Caleb Baczek (16-7) Libertyville; 2. Lewis Daniels (22-16) Round Lake; 3. Demetrius Lin (10-17) Warren

195: 1. Cole Matulenko (37-4) Libertyville; 2. Jeremija Hixson (30-9) Warren; 3. Cameron Lattimore (33-11) Grant

220: 1. Owen McGrory (41-5) Libertyville; 2. Anthony Soto (28-10) Warren; 3. Abisai Hernandez (32-12) Mundelein

285: William Cole (29-8) Round Lake; 2. Jesse Saavedra (30-14) McHenry; 3. Caleb Christensen (33-12) Libertyville

GENEVA

Illinois’ No. 2-ranked St. Charles East won the team title in Geneva, with nine individual regional champions and 12 wrestlers advancing to the individual sectional next week. The Saints won 274.5-184.5 over second-place Glenbard North, with DeKalb (176) finishing third in the team standings.

106: Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East); 113: Kalani Khiev (Glenbard North); 120: AJ Marino (St. Charles East); 126: Ben Davino (St. Charles East); 132: Mikey Debenedetto (Glenbard North); 138: Tyler Guerra (St. Charles East); 145: Jaden Colon (St. Charles East); 152: Nolan Allen (West Chicago): 160: Anthony Gutierrez (St. Charles East); 170: Mikey Rosch (Wheaton North); 182: Brody Murray (St. Charles East); 195: Drew Surges (St. Charles North); 220: Blake Maday (Glenbard North); 285: Austin Barrett (St. Charles East)

Sectional qualifier:

106: 1. Dom Munaretto (43-0) St. Charles East; 2. Kaden Klapprodt (23-12) DeKalb; 3. Joey Sikorsky (34-6) Geneva

113: 1. Kalani Khiev (35-7) Glenbard North; 2. Eduardo Castro (26-11) DeKalb; 3. David Hyde (13-10) Wheaton North

120: 1. AJ Marino (34-7) St. Charles East; 2. Dominic Marre (36-8) Glenbard North; 3. Jalen Airhart (23-19) DeKalb

126: 1. Ben Davino (43-0) St. Charles E.; 2. Christian Chavez (37-10) Glenbard N.; 3. Ethan Schultz (26-16) DeKalb

132: 1. Mikey Dibenedetto (18-5) Glenbard N.; 2. Ethan Penzato (32-10) St. Charles E.; 3. Hudson Ikens (30-18) DeKalb

138: 1. Tyler Guerra (40-5) St. Charles E.; 2. Solomon Gilliam (34-9) Glenbard N.; 3. Samm Lemp (22-9) Wheaton North

145: 1. Jayden Colon (34-5) St. Charles East; 2. Austin Martin (30-14) DeKalb; 3. Rylan Kradle (29-15) Glenbard N.

152: 1. Nolan Allen (23-0) West Chicago; 2. Gavin Connolly (15-16) St. Charles E.; 3. Jacob Luce (34-9) DeKalb

160: 1. Anthony Gutierrez (24-8) St. Charles E.; 2. Devin Medina (19-7) Wheaton N.; Sean Kolkebeck (30-14) DeKalb

170: 1. Mikey Rosch (Wheaton N.); 2. Lane Robinson (29-14) St. Charles E.; 3. Johnnie Robertson (36-9) Glenbard N.

182: 1. Brody Murray (30-4) St. Charles E.; 2. Eli Cook (31-10) Wheaton N.; 3. Adam Makhlouf (3-1) Glenbard N.

195: 1. Drew Surges (6-0) St. Charles N.; 2. John Schmidt (32-7) Geneva; 3. Brandon Swartz (14-9) St. Charles E.

220: 1. Blake Maday (34-9) Glenbard N.; 2. Lamar Bradley (25-10) DeKalb; 3. Joe Pettit (29-13) Geneva

285: 1. Austin Barrett (St. Charles E.; 2. Octavio Morales (24-18) Glenbard N.; 3. Alexis Correa (30-18) West Chicago

LYONS TOWNSHIP

In one of closest finishes of any Illinois regional on Saturday, a hard-fought day on the mats at Lyons Township saw Downers Grove South edge out Lyons for the team regional title, 201-198.5. Hinsdale Central (172.5) placed third and Downers Grove North (157) finished fourth.

Downers Grove South had two individual regional champions on the day but had eight additional wrestlers earn sectional advancement, including seven second-place finishers. Lyons had four regional champions and matched DG South’s 10 sectional qualifiers, but the Lions only had five wrestlers reach the title mat to DG South’s nine.

Regional champions at Lyons Township:

106: Griff Powell (Lyons); 113: Sam Murante (Hinsdale Central); 120: Anthony Lopez (Morton); 126: Aidan Cummings (Downers Grove North); 132: Liam Ryan (Hinsdale Central); 138: Cody Tavoso (Hinsdale Central); 145: Calum Rogers (Lyons Township); 152: Harrison Konder (Downers Grove North); 160: Gunnar Garelli (Lyons Township); 170: RJ Samuels (Downers Grove South); 182: Matty Lapacek (Downers Grove South); 195: Cooper King (Lyons Township); 220: Marko Ivanisevic (Hinsdale Central); 285: Ben Bielawski (Downers Grove North)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Griff Powell (34-5) Lyons; 2. Tyler Tiancgo (24-12) DG North; 3. Fernando Chavez (21-16) Hinsdale Central

113: 1. Sam Murante (16-7) Hinsdale C.; 2. Miguel Castaneda (24-11) DG South; 3. Roger Martinez (20-14) Lyons

120: 1. Anthony Lopez (30-1) Morton; 2. Donnie Fields (28-13) DG South; 3. Steven Onofre (31-7) Kelly

126: 1. Aidan Cummings (24-18) DG North; 2. Drew Woolsey (13-15) DG South; 3. Aaron Rojas (27-13) Morton

132: 1. Liam Ryan (27-12) Hinsdale C.; 2. Noe Cintora (23-13) Morton; 3. Owen Kelly (20-18) DG North

138: 1. Cody Tavoso (40-2) Hinsdale C.; 2. Dom Piehl (9-12) DG South; 3. Roland Connelly (12-26) Lyons

145: 1. Calum Rogers (28-12) Lyons; 2. David Roa (18-3) Morton; 3. Aaron Perez (13-17) Hinsdale Central

152: 1. Harrison Konder (35-2) DG North; 2. Connor Kelly (26-15) DG South; 3. Charlie Campbell (15-17) Lyons 1
160: 1. Gunnar Garelli (35-8) Lyons; 2. Luke Swan (31-8) DG South; 3. Damond Butler (17-4) Curie

170: 1. RJ Samuels (28-10) DG South; 2. Josh Miller (24-14) DG North; 3. Eric Marquez (22-15) Lyons

182: 1. Matty Lapacek (30-8) DG South; 2. Julian Cervantes (14-8) Lyons; 3. Tyler Riggi (21-14) Hinsdale C.

195: 1. Cooper King (35-4) Lyons; 2. Griff Keown (26-16) DG North; 3. Keandre Miles (22-11) DG South

220: 1. Marko Ivanisevic (38-1) Hinsdale Central; 2. Cael Brezina (25-120 DG North; 3. Sam Costello (30-14) Lyons

285: 1. Ben Bielawski (38-1) DG North; 2. Semaj Croswell (24-11) DG South; 3. Brady Koschik (24-12) Hinsdale C.

LOCKPORT

A good battle in Lockport saw the host Porters win the team regional, out-pointing second-place Lincoln-Way East 224-214. Andrew finished third with 173.5 points.

Lockport had four individual regional champions and five runners-up among its 12 sectional qualifiers. Lincoln-Way East also had four individual champs, to go with four runners-up and 10 sectional qualifiers.

Regional champions at Lockport:

106: Nadeem Haleem (Andrew); 113: Deion Johnson (Homewood-Flossmoor); 120: Justin Wardlow (Lockport Township); 126: Jad Alwawi (Lockport Township); 132: Vincent Robinson (Rich Township); 138: Nasir Bailey (Rich Township); 145: Connor Koehler (Lincoln-Way East); 152: Jermaine Butler (Homewood-Flossmoor); 160: Logan Swaw (Lockport Township); 170: Ari Zaeske (Lincoln-Way East); 182: Aidan Nolting (Lockport Township); 195: Caden O’Rourke (Lincoln-Way East); 220: David Wuske (Lincoln-Way East); 285: Cortez Jones (Thornton Fractional South) 

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Nadeem Haleem (34-6) Andrew; 2. Isaac Zimmerman (28-12) Lockport Township; 3. Diondre Henry (22-7) Rich Township

113: 1. Deion Johnson (27-6) Homewood-Flossmoor; 2. Max Siegel (33-4) Andrew; 3. Anthony Sutton (10-9) Lockport Township

120: 1. Justin Wardlow (35-2) Lockport Township; 2. Trevor Silzer (36-3) Andrew; 3. Kaidreaus Richardson (33-9) Lincoln-Way East

126: 1. Jad Alwawi (21-12) Lockport Township; 2. Tyson Zvonar (22-5) Lincoln-Way East; 3. Robye Williams (18-12) Homewood-Flossmoor

132: 1. Vincent Robinson (26-2) Homewood-Flossmoor; 2. Carlos Munoz-Flores (10-4) Lockport Township; 3. Brayden Mortell (21-15) Lincoln-Way East

138: 1. Nasir Bailey (36-1) Rich Township; 2. Logan Kaminski (29-19) Lockport Township; 3. Jaylen Augustave (22-10) Homewood-Flossmoor

145: 1. Connor Koehler (28-7) Lincoln-Way East; 2. Chris Miller (21-22) Lockport Township; 3. Brian Ingram (10-11) Homewood-Flossmoor

152: 1. Jermaine Butler (29-8) Homewood-Flossmoor; 2. Domanic Abeja (15-8) Lincoln-Way East; 3. Angelo Jura (10-18) Andrew

160: 1. Logan Swaw (40-1) Lockport Township; 2. Zach LaMonto (33-6) Lincoln-Way East; 3. Jon Fulgencio (23-12) Homewood-Flossmoor

170: 1. Ari Zaeske (36-3) Lincoln-Way East; 2. Mike Barberi (21-19) Andrew; 3. Jeremy Thomas (22-13) Homewood-Flossmoor

182: 1. Aidan Nolting (32-8) Lockport Township; 2. Jackson Zaeske (20-5) Lincoln-Way East; 3. Hiawatha Owens (14-12) Thornton Fractional South

195: 1. Caden O`Rourke (27-6) Lincoln-Way East; 2. Payton Roberson (10-2) Lockport Township; 3. Joey Zimmer (29-15) Andrew

220: 1. David Wuske (22-9) Lincoln-Way East; 2. Danny Cushing (28-13) Andrew; 3. Malik Salah (18-15) Lockport Township

285: 1. Cortez Jones (8-1) Thornton Fractional South; 2. Mike McDonough (24-13) Andrew; 3. Wojciech Chrobak (27-16) Lockport Township

GLENBARD EAST

Naperville Central’s 213.5-144 edge in team points over second-place Naperville North was built on seven Redhawks who earned trips to the championship mat, resulting in five champions, two runners-up, and 10 sectional qualifiers at Glenbard East.

Regional champions at Glenbard East

106: Aarav Ledvora (WW South); 113: Ty Martin (Naperville Central); 120: Ismael Chaidez (Glenbard East); 126: Aaron Camacho (Bolingbrook); 132: Cooper Hollis (WW South); 138: Jacob Lachs (Glenbard West); 145: Hagan Taylor (Naperville Central); 152: Christopher Bern (Naperville Central); 160: Gavin Bohan (Naperville Central); 170: Sedeeq Al Obaidi (WW South); 182: Blake Salvino (Glenbard East); 195: Dominick Hargrove (Bolingbrook); 220: Nicholas Besteiro (Naperville Central); 285: Isaac Amoh (Bolingbrook)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Aarav Ledvora (26-6) WW South; 2. Sanath Benjamin (11-13) Naperville North; 3. Carson Prunty (32-8) Glenbard West

113: 1. Ty Martin (32-7) Naperville Central; 2. Ben Messier (Naperville North); 3. Waleed Binmahfooz (31-12) Glenbard East

120: 1. Ismael Chaidez (30-10) Glenbard East; 2. Alejandro Aranda (28-14) Glenbard West; 3. Vince Bern (16-14) Naperville Central

126: 1. Aaron Camacho (26-4) Bolingbrook; 2. Ethan Olson (27-10) Naperville Central; 3. Tyler Sternstein (28-9) Naperville North

132: 1. Cooper Hollis (26-12) WW South; 2. Isaiah Smith (24-12) Willowbrook; 3. Zach Mally (20-15) Naperville North

138: 1. Jacob Lachs (34-11) Glenbard West; 2. Tom McDermott (24-8) Bolingbrook; 3. Jaidyn Buziecki (24-8) WW South

145: 1. Hagan Taylor (27-11) Naperville Central; 2. Charlie Gross (29-14) WW South; 3. Marcus Poe (22-11) Bolingbrook

152: 1. Christopher Bern (25-14) Naperville Central; 2. Tim Francisco (20-16) WW South; 3. Nick Oblazny (12-13) Naperville North

160: 1. Gavin Bohan (16-8) Naperville Central; 2. Kai Goodrick (23-8) Naperville North; 3. Trevor Skoda (33-9) Glenbard West

170: 1. Sedeeq Al Obaidi (33-4) WW South; 2. Silvano Spatafora (29-7) Neuqua Valley; 3. Sasha Boulton (28-8) Glenbard West

182: 1. Blake Salvino (42-4) Glenbard East; 2. Kyle Gatlin (20-11) Naperville North; 3. Nyree Dabney (17-11) Naperville Central

195: 1. Dominick Hargrove (25-9) Bolingbrook; 2. Steve Harvey (19-12) Naperville North; 3. Jacob Smetters (26-16) Naperville Central

220: 1. Nicolas Besteiro (31-9) Naperville Central; 2. Billy Clayton (20-21) Glenbard East; 3. Alex Kushenbach (10-12) Naperville North

285: 1. Isaac Amoh (10-4) Bolingbrook; 2. Chase Enfield (25-16) Naperville Central; 3. Magomed Nurundinov (22-15) Neuqua Valley

MOLINE

Yorkville’s four regional champions, four second-place finishers, and three third-place finishers vaulted them to a team regional title in Moline. The Foxes posted a 213.5-150 edge over second-place Joliet West, with Minooka (140.5) finishing third.

Regional champions at Moline:

106: Caden Correll (Normal); 113: Ethan Spacht (Bradley-Bourbonnais); 120: Damien Flores (Minooka); 126: Carson Weber (Joliet West); 132: Jack Ferguson (Yorkville); 138: Dom Coronado (Yorkville); 145: Noah Tapia (Moline); 152: Elijah Munoz (Minooka); 160: Mitchell Mosbach (Normal); 170: Luke Zook (Yorkville); 182: Shamon Handegan (Pekin); 195: Hunter Janeczko (Yorkville); 220: Cooper Caraway (Normal); 285: Wyatt Schmitt (Joliet West)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Caden Correll (44-0) Normal; 2. Liam Fenoglio (24-17) Yorkville; 3. Tate McCord (30-13) B.-Bourbonnais

113: 1. Ethan Spacht (35-4) B.-Bourbonnais; 2. Cole Gentsch (43-3) Normal; 3. Liam Walsh (8-10) Joliet Central

120: 1. Damien Flores (24-9) Minooka; 2. Dominick Diaz (14-6) Moline; 3. Alex Fernandez (28-14) Joliet Central

126: 1. Carson Weber (35-2) Joliet West; 2. Dominic Recchia (27-13) Yorkville; 3. Cole Spivey (13-11) Minooka

132: 1. Jack Ferguson (36-8) Yorkville; 2. Cale Stonitsch (26-10) Minooka; 3. Marquell Godfrey (21-15) Joliet West

138: 1. Dom Coronado (23-4) Yorkville; 2. Dominic Schiavone (25-10) Minooka; 3. Jorge Robles (26-16) Joliet Central

145: 1. Noah Tapia (46-0) Moline; 2. Ryder Janeczko (32-9) Yorkville; 3. Marcus Godfrey Jr. (13-7) Joliet West

152: 1. Elijah Munoz (27-4) Minooka; 2. Austin Perella (22-8) Joliet West; 3. Cam Peach (12-17) Yorkville

160: 1. Mitchell Mosbach (35-11) Normal; 2. Zander Ealy (28-9) Moline; 3. Sebastian Westphal (17-19) Yorkville

170: 1. Luke Zook (37-7) Yorkville; 2. Cody Pelton (20-15) Minooka; 3. Aiden Plumley (11-6) B.-Bourbonnais

182: 1. Shamon Handegan (35-0) Pekin; 2. AJ Mancilla (40-4) B.-Bourbonnais; 3. James Soliz (38-6) Moline

195: 1. Hunter Janeczko (16-3) Yorkville; 2. Jovon Johnson (28-9) Joliet West; 3. Gunner Brophy (28-9) Pekin

220: 1. Cooper Caraway (41-6) Normal; 2. Charles Walker (32-10) Joliet Central; 3. Ben Alvarez (30-8) Yorkville

285: 1. Wyatt Schmitt (37-1) Joliet West; 2. Logan Fenoglio (16-21) Yorkville; 3. Zion Crawford (24-21) Normal

OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

York topped host Oak Park and River Forest 230.5-185 to take the regional team title, thanks to seven individual regional champions, two second-place finishers, and four third-place wrestlers. Lane (164) finished third in the team standings.

Regional champions at Oak Park and River Forest:

106: Evan Coles (Lane); 113: Zev Koransky (OPRF); 120: Zach Parisi (York); 126: David Ogunsanya (OPRF); 132: Sean Berger (York); 138: Finn Merrill (Lane); 145: Frank Nitti (York); 152: Fernando Lopez (Lane); 160: Martin Duarte (Addison Trail); 170: Danny Decristofaro (York); 182: Evan Grazzini (York); 195: Elmer Olascoaga (Addison Trail); 220: Austin Bagdasarian (York); 285: Dominic Begora (York)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Evan Coles (30-7) Lane; 2. Tej Menon (13-18) OPRF; 3. Tommy Olins (7-17) York

113: 1. Zev Koransky (31-7) OPRF; 2. Alex Valentin (39-6) Lane; 3. Jake Kubycheck (12-9) York

120: 1. Zach Parisi (40-2) York; 2. James Zavala (18-8) Lane; 3. Josh Amorn-Vichet (21-11) Addison Trail

126: 1. David Ogunsanya (22-7) OPRF; 2. Sean VanSleet (34-4) York; 3. Marcello Valle (17-10) Lane

132: 1. Sean Berger (33-2) York; 2. Joseph Knackstedt (31-10) OPRF; 3. Nasser Hammouche (27-13) Lane

138: 1. Finn Merrill (36-4) Lane; 2. Cooper Lacey (21-16) OPRF; 3. Fabian Serrano (31-14) York

145: 1. Frank Nitti (12-9) York; 2. Tyriq Thomas (5-1) Proviso East; 3. Will Kelly (14-13) OPRF

152: 1. Fernando Lopez (35-5) Lane; 2. Isaac Davies (9-23) OPRF; 3. Moses Garza (16-15) Leyden

160: 1. Martin Duarte (24-5) Addison Trail; 2. Brian Gonzalez (8-11) Leyden; 3. Alejandro Carreon (9-16) York

170: 1. Danny Decristofaro (38-6) York; 2. Clarence Wellington (21-8) Proviso E.; 3. Diego Mendoza (27-14) Leyden

182: 1. Evan Grazzini (18-0) York; 2. Vance Domenz (16-11) OPRF; 3. Joaqin Gigante (17-24) Lane

195: 1. Elmer Olascoaga (16-6) Addison Trail; 2. Anthony Mancini (6-6) York; 3. CJ Robinson (11-20) OPRF

220: 1. Austin Bagdasarian (28-13) York; 2. Edward Love (21-2) Proviso E.; 3. Kole Sneed (15-27) OPRF

285: 1. Dominic Begora (29-9) York; 2. Eric Harris (15-10) OPRF; 3. Julian Hutchinson (9-8) Lane

FREMD

Prospect advanced its entire starting lineup to the weekend’s individual sectional meet in posting a 268-181.5 edge over second-place Fremd to win a team regional title. The Knights sent 10 wrestlers to the championship mat and saw six of them win individual regional titles, to go with four third-place finishers.

Regional champions at Fremd:

106: Elijah Garza (Prospect); 113: Gavin Pardilla (Loyola Academy); 120: Massey Odiotti (Loyola Academy); 126: Evan Gosz (Fremd); 132: Will Baysingar (Prospect); 138: Maddox Khalimsky (Fremd); 145: Jake Crandall (Fremd); 152: Damien Puma (Prospect); 160: Connor Munn (Prospect); 170: Michael Matuszak (Prospect); 182: Quinn Herbert (Loyola); 195: Jaxon Penovich (Prospect); 220: Kai Calcutt (Loyola); 285: Drew Duffy (Glenbrook South)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Elijah Garza (25-12) Prospect; 2. James Hemmila (26-16) Loyola; 3. Trent Odachowski (18-19) Fremd)
113: 1. Gavin Pardilla (26-15) Loyola; 2. Ronin Umali (15-10) Prospect; 3. Michael Schick (20-14) Glenbrook South

120: 1. Massey Odiotti (33-6) Loyola; 2. Joel Muehlenbeck (26-9) Prospect; 3. Drew Fifield (29-20) Fremd

126: 1. Evan Gosz (36-1) Fremd; 2. Patrick Zimmer (27-15) Loyola; 3. James Mateos (8-3) Prospect

132: 1. Will Baysingar (44-1) Prospect; 2. Max Brown (31-10) Glenbrook South; 3. Chase McCluskey (21-18) Palatine

138: 1. Maddox Khalimsky (20-1) Fremd; 2. Lennon Steinkuhler (20-5) Prospect; 3. Zain Javan (19-17) Loyola

145: 1. Jake Crandall (27-11) Fremd; 2. Eli Polacek (31-14) New Trier; 3. Alex Bootz (26-19) Prospect

152: 1. Damien Puma (30-9) Prospect; 2. Matt Meehan (24-11) Fremd; 3. Tagg Miller (31-13) New Trier

160: 1. Connor Munn (25-6) Prospect; 2. Patrick Downing (32-5) Glenbrook S.; 3. Peter Mondus (26-13) Fremd

170: 1. Michael Matuszak (26-10) Prospect; 2. Skip Rozanski (15-7) Rolling Meadows; 3. Ilkin Badalov (27-14) Glenbrook South

182: 1. Quinn Herbert (21-9) Loyola; 2. Nathan Lopez (8-7) Prospect; 3. Ali Adel (28-7) Fremd

195: 1. Jaxon Penovich (39-4) Prospect; 2. Jared Werner (19-11) Fremd; 3. Tony Prieto (26-13) Glenbrook South

220: 1. Kai Calcutt (34-8) Loyola; 2. Casey Bending (32-11) Fremd; 3. Conor Mitchell (28-17) Prospect

285: 1. Drew Duffy (30-3) Glenbrook South; 2. Joey Herbert (18-14) Loyola; 3. Tommy Johl (25-13) Prospect

PLAINFIELD NORTH

Lincoln-Way West had one individual champion, five second-place medalists, and three third-place finishers to win the team regional title at Plainfield North, 189-167 over second-place Lincoln-Way Central. Host Plainfield North finished third with 152 points and led all teams with five individual champions.

Regional champions at Plainfield North:

106: Maddox Garbis (Plainfield North); 113: Lou DelPage (Plainfield North); 120: Brian Farley (Romeoville); 126: Nathan Knowlton (34-6); 132: Karter Guzman (Lincoln-Way West); 138: Kyle Lindsey (Providence Catholic); 145: Kristian Meloy (Lincoln-Way Central; 152: Niko Duggan (Plainfield East); 160: Anthony Gulino (Plainfield North); 170: Tim Key (Lincoln-Way Central); 182: Max Bowen (Plainfield Central); 195: Matthew Janiak (Plainfield South); 220: Leonardo Tovar (Plainfield North); 285: Bradley Etolue (Plainfield North)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Maddox Garbis (37-1) Plainfield N.; 2. Carter DiBenedetto (27-17) L-W West; 3. Michael Heimberg (21-14) L-W Central

113: 1. Lou DelPage (33-11) Plainfield N.; 2. Rudy Silva (29-12) Plainfield S.; 3. Haden Anderson (23-20) L-W West

120: 1. Brian Farley (20-3) Romeoville; 2. Rocco Silva (22-12) Plainfield S.; 3. Aidan Villar (32-12) Plainfield E.

126: 1. Nathan Knowlton (34-6) L-W Central; 2. Jase Salin (22-15) L-W West; 3. Camden McCloskey (18-16) Plainfield E.

132: 1. Karter Guzman (35-7) L-W West; 2. Jalen Byrd (36-12) L-W Central; 3. Luke Grindstaff (30-14) Plainfield N.

138: 1. Kyle Lindsey (17-7) Providence Catholic; 2. Ameer Alamawi (20-14) L-W Central; 3. Luke Siwinski (22-17) L-Way West

145: 1. Kristian Meloy (29-15) L-W Central; 2. Tyler Mansker (23-17) L-W West; 3. Matthias Hautzinger (18-16) Plainfield C.

152: 1. Niko Duggan (29-8) Plainfield E.; 2. Geno Papes (22-13) Providence Catholic; 3. Caden Harvey (31-14) (L-W Central

160: 1. Anthony Gulino (33-14) Plainfield N.; 2. Colin Bickett (27-11) Plainfield S.; 3. Max Becker (19-13) L-W Central

170: 1. Tim Key (37-10) L-W Central; 2. Mason Gougis (22-7) Romeoville; 3. Mike O`Connor (16-13) Providence

182: 1. Max Bowen (24-2) Plainfield C.; 2. Evan Welsh (30-14) L-W Central; 3. Nate Elstner (28-17) L-W West

195: 1. Matthew Janiak (31-5) Plainfield S.; 2. Anthony Sherman (31-11) L-W West; 3. Roderick Burnett (19-15) Plainfield East

220: 1. Leonardo Tovar (39-7) Plainfield N.; 2. Nick Kavooras (22-17) L-W West; 3. Johnathan Espinoza-Luna (20-11) Romeoville

285: 1. Bradley Etolue (11-5) Plainfield N.; 2. Tony Galloway (16-13) Romeoville; 3. Koda Miller (7-4) Providence Catholic

NILES WEST

A parade of 12 Maine South wrestlers marched to the individual championship mat and when they were done, 10 of them came away with regional titles to vault the Hawks to a 274-194.5 team regional win over second-place Elk Grove. Maine South advanced a total of 13 wrestlers to the sectional weekend. Taft finished third with 127.5 points.

Regional champions at Niles West:

106: Brett Harman (Maine South); 113: Christos Vaselopulos (Maine South); 120: Teddy Flores (Maine South); 126: Luke Morrison (Maine South); 132: Gavin Hoerr (Maine South); 138: Niko Thanopoulos (Elk Grove); 145: Nate Beltran (Maine South); 152: Danny Spandiary (Maine South); 160: Jacob Elsner (Elk Grove); 170: Sam Bartell (Maine South); 182: Benny Schlosser (Elk Grove); 195: Tommy Porrello (Maine South); 220: Dylan Berkowitz (Elk Grove); 285: Tyler Fortis (Maine South)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Brett Harman (32-8) Maine South; 2. Bernardo Roque (27-8) Taft; 3. Benjamin Malmberg (3-4) Maine West

113: 1. Christos Vaselopulos (19-8) Maine South; 2. Lance Rosales (22-11) Taft; 3. Tommy Lam (11-13) Mather

120: 1. Teddy Flores (34-3) Maine South; 2. Grant Madl (29-7) Elk Grove; 3. Josh Logsdon (15-11) Niles West

126: 1. Luke Morrison (21-7) Maine South; 2. Marco Terrizzi (27-7) Evanston; 3. Nicasio Acino (20-14) Elk Grove

132: 1. Gavin Hoerr (23-14) Maine South; 2. Eren Atac (27-14) Evanston; 3. Anthony Ochoa (13-21) Elk Grove

138: 1. Niko Thanopoulos (21-14) Elk Grove; 2. Jason McDermott (29-12) Evanston; 3. Austin Dempsey (24-15) Taft

145: 1. Nate Beltran (30-4) Maine South; 2. Tim Kato (13-15) Maine East; 3. Peter Greco (3-5) Maine West

152: 1. Danny Spandiary (28-4) Maine South; 2. Jason Hidan (17-6) Maine West; 3. Anthony Macina (23-14) Elk Grove

160: 1. Jacob Elsner (23-18) Elk Grove; 2. Alex Eng (23-15) Maine South; 3. Ali Mohammad (9-21) Maine East

170: 1. Sam Bartell (29-7) Maine South; 2. Alex De Los Reyes (12-11) Niles W.; 3. James Keigher (17-17) Elk Grove

182: 1. Benny Schlosser (28-9) Elk Grove; 2. Filip Michniewicz (14-10) Maine South; 3. Grant Hansen (25-13) Taft

195: 1. Tommy Porrello (21-9) Maine South; 2. Thomas Jackson (26-7) Evanston; 3. Mo Burt (18-13) Elk Grove

220: 1. Dylan Berkowitz (26-4) Elk Grove; 2, Braedon Manogura (17-7) Niles W.; 3. Leo McDonald (17-17) Maine South

285: 1. Tyler Fortis (27-8) Maine South; 2. Grzegorz Krupa (34-2) Taft; 3. Mike Milovich (22-9) Elk Grove

STREAMWOOD

Schaumburg’s five individual regional champions, three runners-up, and four third-placers earned the Saxons a 214-175.5 edge over second-place South Elgin for the team regional title. Conant finishe dthird with 156 points.

Regional champions at Streamwood:

106: Demetrios Carrera (South Elgin); 113: Brady Phelps (Schaumburg); 120: Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg); 126: Rocco Fontela (Schaumburg); 132: Andre Rios (South Elgin); 138: Leo Rosas (South Elgin); 145: Nico Clinite (South Elgin); 152: Caden Kirchner (Schaumburg); 160: Ethan Stiles (Conant); 170: Fabian Ramirez (Elgin); 182: Jacob Acevedo (Schaumburg); 195: Josh Ellery (Hoffman Estates); 220: Harley Stary (Conant); 285: Adam Lambaz (Elgin)

Sectional qualifiers:

106: 1. Demetrios Carrera (36-1) South Elgin; 2. Austin Phelps (19-15) Schaumburg; 3. Ruben Campuzano (18-17) Elgin

113: 1. Brady Phelps (34-0) Schaumburg; 2. Luis Flores (17-11) Conant; 3. Nick Merola (25-9) Lake Park

120: 1. Callen Kirchner (33-5) Schaumburg; 2. Sam Santangelo (24-7) Conant; 3. Sergio Hernandez (23-18) Lake Park

126: 1. Rocco Fontela (25-10) Schaumburg; 2. Anthony Vasquez (17-8) South Elgin; 3. JR Leach (14-17) Lake Park

132: 1. Andre Rios (23-7) South Elgin; 2. Cam Whitworth (5-7) Conant; 3. AJ Quevedo (19-8) Schaumburg

138: 1. Leo Rosas (32-4) South Elgin; 2. Vince Merola (24-8) Lake Park; 3. Aiden Ploski (20-10) Schaumburg

145: 1. Nico Clinite (37-3) South Elgin; 2. Gavin Hinkle (23-13) Schaumburg; 3. Chase Hofstetter (15-15) Lake Park

152: 1. Caden Kirchner (35-2) Schaumburg; 2. Julian Bonilla (29-10) Hoffman Estates; 3. Joey Michilini (5-5) Lake Park

160: 1. Ethan Stiles (25-0) Conant; 2. Logan Meyer (26-12) Schaumburg; 3. William Ball (22-13) Hoffman Estates

170: 1. Fabian Ramirez (18-6) Elgin; 2. Gabe Inorio (12-8) Streamwood; 3. AJ Hernandez (21-13) Hoffman Estates

182: 1. Jacob Acevedo (31-8) Schaumburg; 2. Josh Taylor (25-9) South Elgin; 3. Hector Flores (20-11) Larkin

195: 1. Josh Ellery (30-6) Hoffman Estates; 2. Danny Viscuso (22-13) South Elgin; 3. Jimmy Zinchuk (15-23) Schaumburg

220: 1. Harley Stary (25-9) Conant; 2. Abdulhamid Olowu (15-15) Hoffman Estates; 3. Josiah Torres (7-10) Streamwood

285: 1. Adam Lambaz (27-2) Elgin; 2. Kehinde Akintunde (16-2) Hoffman Estates; 3. Cesar Alvarez-Cuatepitizi (20-21) Schaumburg

By Patrick Z. McGavin

BURLINGTON – Randy Culton was always looking forward to having a complete team photo.

Sycamore’s semifinal run in the Class 5A state football playoffs proved an exhilarating moment for the school.

The only negative was the slow start to the wrestling team.

“We finished 16-12 in duals this year, but we started off so slowly,” Spartans coach Culton said.

“For the first half, we had third-stringers wrestling for us. We went to the Russ Erb Tournament at Glenbrook South with eight wrestlers and finished ninth.”

Those football players, now fully assimilated into the lineup, proved the difference Saturday in the Class 2A Burlington Central Regional.

Zack Crawford’s second-period pin to capture the championship at 160 pounds fueled the Spartans’ run.

Sycamore scored 176 points to glide past runner-up Kaneland (154) and third-place Aurora Christian (139) while Crystal Lake South (124.50) finished fourth.

The Spartans produced a tournament-best eight finalists and qualified nine wrestlers for this weekend’s Rochelle Sectional.

Sycamore’s high-quality individuals and power at the middle and upper weights sealed its second-consecutive regional championship.

The Spartans host the Dual Team sectionals on Tuesday, February 21. 

Sycamore advances to face Geneseo, which edged Rock Island at Sterling.

“Our group guys really came through for us today,” Culton said.

“Zack Crawford is the leader of the team. He is a solid kid, a leader who really pushes himself hard and the rest of the team. Everybody contributed points.”

Burlington Central proved a well-rounded and highly-representative regional.

Six of the seven teams Saturday yielded at least one regional champion. 

Crystal Lake South was the only program not to have an individual champion. 

Led by star heavyweight Andy Burburijia, one of six third-place finishers, the Gators compensated with a second-best eight sectional qualifiers.

Not even Sycamore could match the elite top-heavy power of Aurora Christian, who had five individual champions.

Injuries and depth reduced their lineup to just 10 wrestlers, likely costing the Eagles the championship. Aurora Christian qualified seven for the sectional.

Kaneland had six finalists, two winners and four second-place finishers. The Knights also qualified seven.

Cary-Grove qualified four wrestlers, including 182-pound regional champion Gabe Simpson.

Morris had two winners, Owen Sater at 106 and Tyler Semlar at 145. The team had three qualifiers.

Doug Phillips provided the highlight for the host school with his win by technical fall over Kaneland’s Alex Gochis at 126 pounds. Burlington Central had three qualifiers.

Champions and their weight classes at the Class 2A Burlington Central Regional

106 – Owen Sater, Morris

Morris freshman Owen Sater dominated the four-man field with two pins.

He captured the regional championship at 106 with a second period fall over Sycamore freshman Michael Olson. Sater (15-5) secured the early takedown and completed the action by registering a fall at 1:39.

He pinned Cary-Grove’s Peter Hayden at 2:50 in the semifinal. Olson (16-13) defeated Burlington Central’s David Wyruchowski 10-6 on a tiebreaker in the lower bracket semifinal.

“When I am out there, I mostly focus on just locking in for the matches,” Sater said.

“My style is not super aggressive. I like to slow the match down, and kind of just keep it at my own pace so that I can control the match.”

Wyruchowski (22-17) earned a 4-2 decision over Hayden in the third-place match.

113 – Deven Casey, Aurora Christian

Deven Casey took care of business with ruthless efficiency, power and technique.

The Aurora Christian sophomore, who is ranked No. 2 at 113, posted two falls in the second period to win his second-consecutive regional championship when he overpowered Sycamore’s Tyler Lockhart with a fall in 2:56.

Casey (33-7), who was third in the state at 106 pounds last year, has suffered just one in-state loss, to defending Class 3A champion Seth Mendoza of Mount Carmel.

In the championship match, Casey registered two takedowns in each of the first two periods, which he quickly worked into back points with the cradle. He was up 11-2 when he secured the fall at 2:55.

“I knew the regionals were not going to be too crazy,” Casey said. “My whole goal is just getting ready for state.

“I am just thinking about everything one match at a time, with my main goal of being a state champion.”

Casey also posted a second-period fall of Cary-Grove’s Hunter Lenz in the semifinals.

In the upper bracket semifinal, Lockhart (33-8) edged Morris’ Brandon Anderson 4-2.

In the third-place bracket, Lenz (16-11) earned a 7-1 win over Anderson. He defeated Crystal Lake South’s Yone Geinopolos in the wrestlebacks.

Anderson (14-9), an honorable mention performer, defeated Burlington Central’s Aiden Roll 14-3 to qualify for the third-place match.

120 – Josh Vazquez, Aurora Christian

In a high-profile championship at 120, Aurora Christian sophomore Josh Vazquez prevailed against Kaneland junior Kamron Scholl 16-8.

Vazquez (20-6) dominated on his feet, using three takedowns in each of the first two periods to secure a 12-5 lead through four minutes of action.

“I just want to push the pace, and work on the stuff that I am already really good at,” Vazquez said.

Scholl (39-7) showed excellent toughness and resilience of his own.

Like Casey, Vazquez has elite state level participation to draw on. He finished fourth at 132 pounds last year. Ranked No. 2, Vazquez reached the final with a fall in the second period over Morris’ Carter Skoff.

In the lower bracket semifinal, Scholl edged Burlington Central’s Austin Lee 3-2 on a tiebreaker.

Lee (28-11) fought back with a fall in the second period in the wrestlebacks over Cary-Grove’s Alex Demas.

He used a takedown in the second period to seize control in a 4-0 decision over Skoff in the third-place match.

126 – Doug Phillips, Burlington Central

Doug Phillips proved the local conquering hero and jolted the home audience with his standout performance.

He dominated Kaneland’s Alex Gochis with a win by technical fall in 3:37 in the 126 title match.

“I wrestled him earlier in the year, and I knew it was going to be a hard fight, especially with us tying up and everything,” Phillips said.

“I wasn’t sure if he would try to tie up, but it led to those roll-through tilts, which were very effective. That definitely worked on him.”

Showing explosiveness and power, Phillips earned an early takedown and converted that into a quick cradle action for two separate three-point nearfalls for an 8-1 lead after the first period.

The second period was more of the same, with his power and strength able to expose Gochis on his back, ending the match.

“This means a lot to the school,” Phillips said. “I also came in second last year, and it feels nice to take it this year, and get that first-round bye in the sectional.

Phillips (30-11) earned the finals with a first-period fall over Sycamore’s Jonathan Buckheister in the semifinals. Gochis (34-13) won the lower bracket with his own dominant win by technical fall over Cary-Grove’s Trenton Klapperich.

Morris freshman Kazden Klinker lost his opener but bounced back to post a fall in 1:42 over Crystal Lake South’s Devyn Carrillo for third place. Carrillo edged Klapperich 8-7 and Klinker got past Buckheister 6-4 to reach the third-place mat.

132 – Caden Grabowski, Kaneland

For sheer entertainment value, dramatic reversals and wild outcomes, Kaneland senior Caden Grabowski was in a class by himself.

In a topsy turvy final, Grabowski went from appearing to secure a fast pin to having to fight for his life.

Grabowski (42-4) pulled out the high-wire 13-12 victory over Crystal Lake South’s Zyon Schlee (8-9) in the 132 finals by the skin of his teeth.

“I came out firing like that because I came in with a lot of confidence,” Grabowski said. “I beat him in the second period three weeks ago.”

The amazing first period featured a 13-point swing as Grabowski went from a quick 5-0 lead to suddenly fighting for his life and nearly getting pinned as Schlee earned the reversal and back points for an 8-5 lead.

The second period was equally frenetic with Grabowski recovering for two takedowns to secure an 11-10 lead in the final second.

The closing moments were the most heart-rending of all as Grabowski again flirted with disaster. Up 13-10, he suffered a late reversal and Schlee nearly got him on his back when time ran out.

“I just had to keep doing what I was doing to beat this guy,” Grabowski said. “I have been dealing with some sickness, so fatigue and other stuff started to overwhelm me.”

An honorable mention performer, Grabowski had an easier time in the semifinals with a fall in 1:31 over Burlington Central’s Cole McGuire.

Schlee also made quick work of Sycamore’s Logan Sandfox in the lower bracket semifinal with a fall in 1:26.

McGuire captured a 15-5 major decision over Sandfox in the third-place match. 

138 – Patrick Mullen, Aurora Christian

Aurora Christian junior Patrick Mullen maintained his composure.

After falling behind early against Crystal Lake South’s Austin Laurie in the 138 title match, Mullen responded with an escape and takedown that he parlayed into a 6-2 victory.

Up 3-2 at the start of the second period, Mullen secured an escape and takedown for some necessary breathing room.

An honorable mention wrestler, Mullen (20-9) reached the finals with a 14-3 major decision over Cary-Grove’s Noah Pechotta.

Laurie (18-11) defeated Morris’ Andrew Peterson by fall in the first round and then secured a win by technical fall over Kaneland’s Kyle Rogers.

In the third-place match, Pechotta (20-14) got a fall in 2;29 over Rogers.

145 – Tyler Semlar, Morris

In a day of standout performances, Morris junior Tyler Semlar was second to none.

He pulverized the opposition with explosive athleticism, strength and power to decimate the field. Sycamore senior Jaden Cochran was no match in the 145 title match.

Semlar (31-8) secured the title with a fall in 0:19. In the blink of an eye, he converted a takedown into a cradle that Cochran could not overcome.

Semlar also defeated Kaneland’s Jack Gruber in a virtual flash, needing just 1:09 in the semifinal round.

The unseeded Cochran was the ultimate darkhorse who reached the final with his pin of Cary-Grove’s Adrian Magana and a 9-5 decision over Crystal Lake South’s Anthony Bradburn.

For third place, Bradburn posted a fall in 2:56 over Gruber to advance to the sectional.

 152 – Tay Silva, Aurora Christian

With the exception of the loaded heavyweight class, the showdown at 152 was likely the highlight of the regional. 

In a riveting confrontation of two highly-ranked opponents, Aurora Christian’s second-ranked Tay Silva secured an impressive 7-1 victory over Sycamore’s fifth-ranked Gus Cambier.

The dynamic conjured the remarkable clash of Aurora Christian’s Braden Stauffenberg and Sycamore’s Brayden Peet a year ago, where the two met in the final of the regional, sectional and state championship at 152.

After losing to Peet in the regional championship, Stauffenberg secured tight decisions over Peet in the sectional and state championship match.

Silva (32-7) secured control of the match with two takedowns in the first period, with the second pushing his lead to 4-1 in the closing seconds.

Seeded second, Silva dispatched of Kaneland’s Christian Duffing with a fall in the first period. Cambier (38-5) won by fall in the first period over Morris’ Ian Wills.

In the third-place match, Duffing (30-15) dominated with two falls to earn a berth in the sectional. He followed a fall over Cary-Groce’s Andres Rivera with one in 2:57 over Wills.

160 – Zack Crawford, Sycamore

Zack Crawford waited for his moment.

Using his power and strength to melt the resistance of Aurora Christian’s Adan Rocha, Sycamore senior Crawford secured a victory in the 160 title match with a fall at 3:29.

Ranked No. 2, Crawford (35-1) has been virtually untouchable this year.

“Things are a little different now because I know how good I am, and I am a senior,” Crawford said.

“I know the kids I am wrestling against, and I scout every single one of them. I know what they can do coming into a match.”

He also defeated Kaneland’s Apollo Gochis with a fall in 1:03 in the semifinal round.

Out for much of the season recovering from an injury, Rocha (5-2) proved a quality opponent.

He reached the final with a fall over Burlington Central’s Jonah Chavez and a 9-2 decision over Crystal Lake South’s Matt Gimenez.

Rocha stymied Crawford for much of the first period until the Sycamore star earned the first takedown at 1:50. Following up with a quick escape and takedown at the start of the second period, Crawford exerted his will.

“I knew he was going to just gas out,” Crawford said. “When we got into the second period, I felt him break, and I was able to get his head underneath his body.”

In the third-place match, Gimenez (18-10) stormed back from an 8-3 deficit to pull out a riveting 9-8 victory over Chavez. He also defeated Morris’ Andrew Paull 9-2 to reach the third-place match.

170 – Cooper Bode, Sycamore

If Zack Crawford marks the savvy veteran, Cooper Bode is the new wave insurgent for the Spartans.

The Sycamore freshman continued to impress with his fall in 2:57 over Kaneland’s Cole Olsen in the 170 title match.

An honorable mention wrestler, Cooper Bode (30-10) showed exceptional balance, speed and power at the point of attack. He earned a quick takedown and was also awarded two penalty points. His reversal in the second period set up the fall.

“I just worked my moves, and just came into the match ready to do my stuff,” Bode said. “My style is just to go all out, and leave everything out on the mat.”

He also overpowered Crystal Lake South’s KC Brichta Bachar with a fall in the first minute during the semifinal round.

Olsen won the upper bracket with his 7-4 decision over Burlington Central’s Christian Walikonis.

In the third-place match, Brichta Bachar defeated Walikonis 7-2. He defeated Cary-Grove’s Anthony Betancourt in the wrestleback while Walikonis defeated Morris’ Michael Cisneros in the same round.

182 – Gabe Simpson, Cary-Grove

Cary-Grove senior Gabe Simpson used a patented go-to move for his 9-4 victory over Aurora Christian’s Dominic Savini for the 182 regional championship.

Up 2-0 early in the second period, Simpson (21-7) utilized a cradle action brilliantly for three back points. He never looked back from there.

Simpson also had a fall in the second period over Kaneland’s Nolan Hosking in the semifinals.

In the lower bracket, Savini earned a major decision over Burlington Central’s Brandon Mancera and a 6-3 semifinals decision over Morris’ AJ Franzetti.

In the third-place bracket, Crystal Lake South’s Dominic Ariola (16-13) breezed to the sectional with two falls. After defeating Franzetti, he ousted Hoskin with a fall in 0:36. 

195 – Gable Carrick, Sycamore

Showmanship and flair have their place.

Sometimes control, perseverance and toughness get the job done.

Sycamore junior Gable Carrick relied on his fundamentals, power and force in meting out a tough and hard-fought 4-0 victory over Kaneland’s Max Pietak in the 195 finals.

“I just wanted to stay in my style, and take good, clean, almost money shots,” Carrick said.

“If it’s not there, I didn’t want to force a bad shot.”

The football run gave a great sense of empowerment. Wrestling is just the next step.

“This is a staple in our room that we have a lot of guys that can wrestle at all levels,” Carrick said.

“It’s just a statement to the room that we have, and the culture we have created over the years.”

Ranked No. 6, Carrick (30-7) reached the final with a fall in the first period over Cary-Grove’s Joe Burton in the semifinals.

Pietak (28-17) dispatched Aurora Christian’s Tyler Martinez in the lower bracket semifinal.

In the third-place match, Crystal Lake South’s Declan Egan prevailed with a 4-2 win by sudden victory over Burton. Egan also defeated Martinez by major decision in the wrestleback.

220 – Nate Diaz, Kaneland

Kaneland senior Nate Diaz proved a master of the counter.

In a match often marked by strength and power, Diaz withstood the pressure of Cary-Grove freshman Logan Abrams for a 3-1 victory at 220.

The result was not assured until the closing seconds. Diaz used a takedown in the first period for the early advantage.

Down 3-0 at the start of the third period, Abrams secured his escape. On multiple occasions in the final minute, he secured a single or double on Diaz, who negated his advantage with his power, strength and defensive maneuvers. It was just enough to secure the victory.

“Knowing this was my senior season, I just wanted to put my name up there,” Diaz said.

“At the end, I just had to kind of stall there. I had the shot right where I wanted it, so I just had to kind of get there.”

Diaz (30-13) beat Crystal Lake South’s Camden Moffet in the semifinal with a fall in 0:51. Abrams (13-7) used a fall in 5:59 over Sycamore’s Ethan Bode to win the lower bracket.

Ethan Bode responded with a late flurry to earn third place. He posted falls over Aurora Christian’s David Avitia and Burlington Central’s Sammy Winstrom to secure his place in the sectional. 

Bode joined the team two weeks ago. “He started the season 0-5, but we knew he just had to get his conditioning,” Culton said.

285 – Braden Hunter, Aurora Christian

They truly saved the best for last.

With three of the top six heavyweights grouped here, something had to give.

Aurora Christian senior Braden Hunter continued his remarkable comeback from a meniscus injury suffered during the football season.

“From the start, it was a blessing because I was supposed to be out for six months and instead I was only out for about two,” Hunter said.

After defeating Crystal Lake South’s Andy Burburijia 6-0 in the semifinals, Hunter pulled out a 6-2 comeback victory over Sycamore’s Lincoln Cooley.

The first period ended scoreless as the two circled and tied up each other. Down 2-0 late in the second period for using two illegal moves, Hunter caught Cooley on his back after a failed roll resulted in three back points.

“He tried earlier in the match multiple times to do that roll, and I caught on and knew it was coming,” Hunter said. “So I tried to lean back as much as I could, and keep my balance and stay over.”

His escape and late takedown in the third period completed the scoring.

Hunter (6-0) finished fourth in the state at 285 last year. Ranked No. 3, he beat No. 6 Burburijia and No. 5 Cooley just hours apart.

Cooley (28-3) posted a fall in the first period over Cary-Grove’s Lucas Burton in the upper bracket semifinals.

The top-heavy division featured just four wrestlers. Burburijia (26-2) won by fall in 2:17 over Burton to claim third place.

Burlington Central Regional championship matches

106 – Owen Sater (Morris) F 1:39 Michael Olson (Sycamore)

113 – Deven Casey (Aurora Christian) F 2:56 Tyler Lockhart (Sycamore)

120 – Josh Vazquez (Aurora Christian) MD 16-8 Kamron Scholl (Kaneland)

126 – Doug Phillips (Burlington Central) TF 3:37 Alex Gochis (Kaneland)

132 – Caden Grabowski (Kaneland) D 13-12 Zyon Schlee (Crystal Lake South)

138 – Pat Mullen (Aurora Christian) D 6-2 Austin Laurie (Crystal Lake South)

145 – Tyler Semlar (Morris) F 0:19 Jaden Cochran (Sycamore)

152 – Tay Silva (Aurora Christian) D 7-1 Gus Cambier (Sycamore)

160 – Zack Crawford (Sycamore) F 3:29 Adan Rocha (Aurora Christian)

170 – Cooper Bode (Sycamore) F 2:57 Cole Olsen (Kaneland)

182 – Gabe Simpson (Cary-Grove) D 9-4 Dominic Savini (Aurora Christian)

195 – Gable Carrick (Sycamore) D 4-0 Max Pietak (Kaneland)

220 – Nate Diaz (Kaneland) D 3-1 Logan Abrams (Cary-Grove)

285 – Braden Hunter (Aurora Christian) D 6-2 Lincoln Cooley (Sycamore)

Sectional qualifiers at Burlington Central Regional

106: 1. Owen Sater (15-5), Morris; 2. Michael Olson (16-13), Sycamore; 3. David Wyruchowski (22-17), Burlington Central.

113: 1. Deven Casey (33-7), Aurora Christian; 2. Tyler Lockhart (33-8), Sycamore; 3. Hunter Lenz (16-11), Cary-Grove.

120: 1. Josh Vazquez (20-6), Aurora Christian; 2. Kamron Scholl (39-7), Kaneland; 3. Austin Lee (28-11), Burlington Central.

126: 1. Doug Phillips (30-11), Burlington Central; 2. Alex Gochis (34-13), Kaneland; 3. Kazden Klinker (14-17), Morris.

132: 1. Caden Grabowski (42-4), Kaneland; 2. Zyon Schlee (8-9), Crystal Lake South; 3. Cole McGuire (8-19), Burlington Central.

138: 1. Pat Mullen (20-9), Aurora Christian; 2. Austin Laurie (18-11), Crystal Lake South; 3. Noah Pechotta (20-14), Cary-Grove.

145: 1. Tyler Semlar (31-8), Morris; 2. Jaden Cochran (13-25), Sycamore; 3. Anthony Bradburn (14-16), Crystal Lake South.

152: 1. Tay Silva (32-7), Aurora Christian; 2. Gus Cambier (38-5), Sycamore; 3. Christian Duffing (30-15), Kaneland.

160: 1. Zack Crawford (35-1), Sycamore; 2. Adan Rocha (5-2), Aurora Christian; 3. Matt Gimenez (18-10), Crystal Lake South.

170: 1. Cooper Bode (30-10), Sycamore; 2. Cole Olsen (22-21), Kaneland; 3. KC Brichta Bachar (11-11), Crystal Lake South.

182: 1. Gabe Simpson (21-7), Cary-Grove; 2. Dominic Savini (14-14), Aurora Christian; 3. Dominic Ariola (16-13), Crystal Lake South.

195: 1. Gable Carrick (30-7), Sycamore; 2. Max Pietak (28-17), Kaneland; 3. Declan Egan (3-6), Crystal Lake South.

220: 1. Nate Diaz (30-13), Kaneland; 2. Logan Abrams (13-7), Cary-Grove; 3. Ethan Bode (3-6), Sycamore.

285: 1. Braden Hunter (6-0), Aurora Christian; 2. Lincoln Cooley (28-3), Sycamore; 3. Andy Burburijia (26-2), Crystal Lake South.

The IWCOA Hall of Fame Selection Committee met on Sunday, November 27, 2022.  Listed below are selections for each category.

Class of 2023 Hall of Fame

Nicholas Baima

Mike Behnke

Matthew Collum

Todd Combes

Mike Garofola

Sharron L. Jones

Greg Langley

Ed Mears

Charles Merzian

Jon Murray

Cassio Pero

Michael Poeta

Jim Raabe

Tom Rossiano

Roy Seeger

Ross Truemper

Michael Urwin

Ron Vermillion

John Wise

2023 Lifetime Service Award Winners

Phil Chihoski

Carmelo Flores

Mike Hurckes

Rob Ledin

Mark Mestemacher

John Polz

Todd Rosenthal

Ray Winesburg

2023 Boys Grand Marshals

Mike Garland

Larry Kanke

Randy Konstans

Roy Snyder

2023 Girls Grand Marshal

Debbie Nason

By Curt Herron

After claiming top honors in the initial Southwest Prairie Conference Tournament for girls one week earlier, Minooka was focused on heading into the postseason with a similar strong showing at the Oak Park and River Forest Invitational.

And thanks to two titles, five second-place finishes, five thirds and three fourths, the Indians head into the Geneseo Sectional on February 10 feeling good about their chances of putting together another strong tournament performance after scoring 244 points, giving them a 39-point advantage over runner-up Andrew, which features athletes from the three District 230 schools, Carl Sandburg, Stagg and Andrew, who finished with 205 points.

J. Sterling Morton (174), Glenbard West (141), Grant (115), Huntley (111.5), Homewood-Flossmoor (104), West Aurora (93), Maine East (91), Unity (90), Oak Park and River Forest (88) and Evanston (85) rounded out the top-12 finishers in the 29-team competition. 

Coach Paige Schoolman’s champion Indians were led by title winners Sophia Rausa (126-130) and Lanie Cecala (144-153) and runners-up Sabina Charlebois (114-122), Kira Cailteaux (118-126), Hayla Hammer (135-141), Kourtni Rogers (143-145) and Sidney Ray (156-170). 

Taking third place for Minooka were Delaini Majetic (134-139), Bella Cyrkiel (140-150), Abbey Boersma (151-158), Jaiden Moody (162-171) and Peyton Kueltzo (189-204) while Brooklyn Doti (109-115), Eva Beck (124-134) and Alyson Nguyen (219-292) claimed fourth. Lexi Lakota (126-136) took fifth, Jocelyn Costilla (104-114) was seventh and Mia Lemburg (179-187) finished eighth.

Schoolman and assistant Jeff Charlebois coached under 2009  IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee Bernie Ruettiger, who took eight Minooka teams to the IHSA dual team finals, with the highlight being a Class 3A title in 2010 and second-place finishes in 2009 and 2011. Schoolman and Charlebois also led the Indians to state dual team finals appearances while they were the head coach of the program.

“Last year we had 16 girls and took second at the sectionals,” Schoolman said. “And those 16 girls did a heckuva job recruiting and finding other athletes and we started off with about 42 and probably have about 35  around, so we’re excited. We’ve got a lot of sisters of guys or dads who’ve wrestled. And Jeff Charlebois was a huge part of the staffs when made the runs, and his daughter is here and he has come and done a great job. And we also have Jon Calder and Joey Cecala. These girls are lucky to have these guys in the room and helping and a lot of these teams have just one person coaching.

“Kudos to the school district and the administration for giving us enough space to let our girls practice by ourselves and given us the resources of coaches and that’s huge. And the girls have bought in. A ton of these girls just started putting their shoes on in November, they had never even wrestled before. It’s so fun to see them start from scratch. Andrew has been beating everybody in everything all year, so to come in here and beat them by about 40 points is exciting. It’s good for the girls to show that their work is paying off.

“My big preach (before the year) was that if you had never wrestled, we could start you now and by February if you’re an athlete and you’re competitive and you want to listen and be coached, you can be at the state tournament, and there’s nothing else where you could do that. In a four-month span, you can’t take somebody who is a beginner and have them possibly pushing for state medals. If school districts do it right and give enough space and coaches, the girls want to compete. More districts need to jump on board and we’re going to buy in and let their coaches do what they do and coach to do it.”

Top performers for coach Demeri Pajic’s runner-up District 230 team were champions Nola Oben (143-145) and Emma Akpan (165-177) and second-place finisher Lana Shuaibi (126-130) while Lauren Garcia (104-114), Sophia Figueroa (109-115), Sophia Fontana (122-128), Saja Badar (126-136) and Janae Vargas (156-170) took third and Katherine Cygan (114-122), Emily Nieto (115-122), Hala Salem (118-126) and McKenna Patton (151-158) finished fourth. 

The tournament, which was held for the fifth time, has grown from 25 athletes on five teams to 190 individuals representing 29 schools and the interest in it was so great it could have featured even more teams, but OPRF officials turned away some prospective squads.

Twenty-five different weight brackets with as many as eight individuals in them were contested with 16 different schools having champions. Grant and Homewood-Flossmoor each had three title winners while District 230, Glenbard West, Minooka, Unity and West Aurora had two apiece.

Champions for Grant were Snow Khi (104-114), Ayane Jasinski (109-115) and Joanna Szelag (118-126) while Homewood-Flossmoor received first-place finishes from Nina Hamm (110-116), Alima Toheeb-Lawal (140-150) and Ini Odumosu (179-187).

Capturing titles for Glenbard West were Alycia Perez (93-101) and Khatija Ahmed (122-128), finishing first for Unity were Ava Vasey (134-139) and Lexi Ritchie (151-158) and taking top honors for West Aurora were Ionicca Rivera (162-171) and Brittney Moran (189-204).

Other Oak Park and River Forest Invite title winners were Loyola Academy’s Harlee Hiller (103-108), Glenbard North’s Gabriella Gomez (114-122), Westosha Central, WI’s Margaret Gillmore (115-122), Warren Township’s Justyce Sieber (124-134), Downers Grove South’s Allison Garcia (126-136), Niles West’s Al Ghala Mariam Al Radi (135-141), Crystal Lake Central’s Mailei Hudec (156-170), Oak Park and River Forest’s Sarah Epshtein (207-225) and Maine West’s Eliana Garrett (219-292).

There was a 13-way tie for most team points with 26 between Ahmed, Akpan, Al Radi, Garcia, Hamm, Hiller, Khi, Moran, Oben, Perez, Ritchie, Toheeb-Lawal and Vasey while Gillmore and Gomez each scored 25.5 points and Szelag collected 25 team points.

Others who finished in second place were Glenbard West’s Valentina Fantoni (110-116) and Sydney Nimsakont (115-122), Morton’s Leilany De Leon (124-134) and Vivian Varela (189-204), Grant’s Annabelle Melton (126-136) and Yaxaira Russildi (165-177), Unity’s Anna Vasey (140-150) and Phoenix Molina (207-225) and Larkin’s Maria Ferrer (151-158) and A’Ja Young (219-292). 

Also claiming second place were Montini Catholic’s Kat Bell (93-101), Glenbard North’s Nadia Shymkiv (103-108), Evanston’s Ariana Flores (104-114), Huntley’s Taylor Casey (109-115), Maine East’s Deepjwal Rai (122-128), Downers Grove South’s Camila Quiroz (134-139), Oak Park and River Forest’s Megan Barajas (144-153), Homewood-Flossmoor’s Basirat Sodiq (162-171) and Crystal Lake Central’s Denver Gier (179-187).

While 19 of the title matches or deciding matchups of round-robin competition were determined by falls and another was decided by a major decision, there were five dramatic finals. In the closest title matches, Cecala edged Barajas 3-2 by ultimate tiebreaker at 144-153, Sieber won 4-2 by sudden victory over De Leon at 124-134, Rausa got past Shuaibi 1-0 at 126-130, Rivera beat Sodiq 3-2 at 162-171 and Hudec won 2-0 over Ray at 156-170.

Oak Park and River Forest Invitational championship matches

93-101 – Alycia Perez (Glenbard West) F 1:31 Kat Bell (Montini Catholic)

103-108 – Harlee Hiller (Loyola Academy) F 1:52 Nadia Shymkiv (Glenbard North)

104-114 – Snow Khi (Grant) F 2:50 Ariana Flores (Evanston)

109-115 – Ayane Jasinski (Grant) F 3:54 Taylor Casey (Huntley)

110-116 – Nina Hamm (Homewood-Flossmoor) F 3:37 Valentina Fantoni (Glenbard West)

114-122 – Gabriella Gomez (Glenbard North) F 1:34 Sabina Charlebois (Minooka)

115-122 – Margaret Gillmore (Westosha Central, WI) F 3:14 Sydney Nimsakont (Glenbard West)

118 – 126 – Joanna Szelag (Grant) MD 12-4 Kira Cailteaux (Minooka)

122-128 – Khatija Ahmed (Glenbard West) F 0:53 Deepjwal Rai (Maine East)

124-134 – Justyce Sieber (Warren Township) SV 4-2 Leilany De Leon (Morton)

126-130 – Sophia Rausa (Minooka) D 1-0 Lana Shuaibi (District 230)

126-136 – Allison Garcia (Downers Grove South) F 0:48 Annabelle Melton (Grant)

134-139 – Ava Vasey (Unity) F 2:36 Camila Quiroz (Downers Grove South)

135-141 – Al Ghala Mariam Al Radi (Niles West) F 2:36 Hayla Hammer (Minooka)

140-150 – Alimatu Toheeb-Lawal (Homewood-Flossmoor) F 1:57 Anna Vasey (Unity)

143-145 – Nola Oben (District 230) F 0:45 Kourtni Rogers (Minooka)

144-153 – Lanie Cecala (Minooka) UTB 3-2 Megan Barajas (Oak Park and River Forest)

151-158 – Lexie Ritchie (Unity) F 3:07 Maria Ferrer (Larkin)

156-170 – Mailei Hudec (Crystal Lake Central) D 2-0 Sidney Ray (Minooka)

162-171 – Ionicca Rivera (West Aurora) D 3-2 Basirat Sodiq (Homewood-Flossmoor)

165-177 – Emma Akpan (District 230) F 4:10 Yaxaira Russildi (Grant)

179-187 – Ini Odumosu (Homewood-Flossmoor) F 3:51 Denver Gier (Crystal Lake Central)

189-204 – Brittney Moran (West Aurora) F 0:45 Vivian Varela (Morton)

207-225 – Sarah Epshtein (Oak Park and River Forest) F 4:43 Phoenix Molina (Unity) – RR

219-292 – Eliana Garrett (Maine West) F 1:39 A’Ja Young (Larkin) – Round Robin/RR

Here’s a look at the Oak Park and River Forest champions and their weight classes:

93-101 – Alycia Perez, Glenbard West

Alycia Perez made it 4-for-4 in tournament finals this season when she claimed top honors at 93-101 with a fall in 1:31 over Montini Catholic’s Kat Bell, her third fall of the day, to become one of two title winners for the Hilltoppers. Ranked fourth at 100, the junior who only started wrestling last season, followed up on a West Suburban Conference title and took firsts at Larkin and Hoffman Estates. Bell, ranked eighth at 100, fell a win shy of a medal at 100 last year.

“I am really happy with how I’m doing,” Perez said. “Mainly, it’s the coaches, they’ve been really helping me since I haven’t been wrestling that long. It’s really exciting because I didn’t think that I would be here. I did sports when I was younger, but this is the only sport that I do now.”

In the third-place match, Morton’s Paris Flores claimed a 5-3 decision over Wheaton Warrenville South’s Ainsley Hughes. And District 230’s Layan Saleh took fifth place with a fall in 1:24 over teammate Justina Nieves.

103-108 – Harlee Hiller, Loyola Academy

Although Harlee Hiller hasn’t had the opportunity to be in many tournaments since she has to compete and practice with the boys team, she certainly knows what she needs to do when the postseason begins next weekend. The Loyola Academy sophomore, who’s top-ranked at 110 and took third at 105 in the first IHSA finals, added to an earlier title at Maine East with a fall in 1:52, her third of the day, in the 103-108 finals over Glenbard North freshman Nadia Shymkiv, who’s ranked fourth at 105 and had won titles at Larkin, Ottawa and Batavia. 

“I am very excited and I’ve had a lot of fun,” Hiller said. “This is my first girls tournament in a little bit, I’ve been wrestling boys for awhile, so it was good to get these matches right before sectionals. Usually I wrestle against James Hemmila or Gavin Pardilla. I’ve only done three tournaments and everything else has been all boys. I think that this is really fun and it’s cool to see all of these girls here, I was surprised to see how many girls are here. I started wrestling freshman year and have done judo for all of my life.”

Morton’s Hope Donnamario won by forfeit over Huntley’s Janiah Slaughter to finish third while Naperville Central’s Annika Hull took fifth with a fall in 5:32 over Maine East’s Elianna Badeen. 

104-114 – Snow Khi, Grant

Snow Khi hopes to get back to the state finals where she came up one win shy of winning a medal at 105 and the senior looks like she might be able to do just that after being one of three Grant competitors who won titles after taking first at 104-114 with a fall in 2:50 over Evanston’s Arianna Flores, a senior also who was a state qualifier a year ago, to add to an earlier title win at Waukegan. Khi won all three of her matches by fall.

“I actually started in my junior year,” Khi said. “It’s been a lot of hard work. The two girls that I wrestle with, they both beat me every day in practice. I’ve been involved with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I love the team spirit.”

Claiming third place was District 230’s Lauren Garcia, who pinned Huntley’s Valeria Sanchez in 3:02. And Warren Township’s Alyssa Bentley took fifth place with a fall in 2:27 over Morton’s Emma Valenzuela.

109-115 – Ayane Jasinski, Grant

After placing fourth a year ago at 100, Ayane Jasinski is thinking about even bigger things this season as the regular season concludes. The Grant junior, who’s ranked fifth at 110, added to an earlier title win at Palatine by taking first place at 109-115 with a fall in 3:54 over Huntley’s Taylor Casey to help the Lady Bulldogs to be one of two teams that had three title winners, 

taking first along with Snow Khi and Joanna Szelag. Jasinski had two falls and a decision. Casey, who’s also a junior and ranked sixth at 110, also looks for a return trip to state.

“It’s really good to see people that you work with also being successful,” Jasinski said. “This is my third year wrestling. It’s really fun and I’ve always been around it since my brother (Vince) wrestled, and he’s younger than me, so he’s been wrestling since kid’s club. This is really cool.”

For third place, District 230’s Sophia Figueroa won by fall in 4:35 over Minooka’s Brooklyn Doti. And in the fifth-place match, Oak Park and River Forest’s Andrea Munoz got a pin in 0:29 over Morton’s Anahi Banuelos.

110-116 – Nina Hamm, Homewood-Flossmoor 

Nina Hamm won her first tournament title of the season and in the process helped Homewood-Flossmoor to tie Grant for most champions with three, joining teammates Alima Toheeb-Lawal and Ini Odumosu, three-time title winners, on top of the awards stand. And it helps being at a school like H-F, which has some of the best boys wrestlers in the state . A state qualifier a year ago, Hamm, a sophomore, got a forfeit in her opener and a fall in the semifinals before winning by fall in 3:37 over Glenbard West’s Valentina Fantoni in the 110-116 finals.

“We have such a big diversity, so it’s great,” Hamm said. “It’s a really good environment when the boys are doing well. They really help us a lot and cheer us on, and that’s great. This is super fun and I never thought that I would like it this much as a freshman. I only did it because my dad comes from a family of wrestlers and my brother is a wrestler, so I guess I just thought that I would try it.” 

Evanston’s Kyra Rivera won an 8-0 major decision over Morton’s Liliana Garcia to claim third place. And Wheaton Warrenville South’s Andrea Jaimes Alvarez took fifth place when she recorded a fall in 0:37 over District 230’s Kendel Richards.

114-122 – Gabriella Gomez, Glenbard North

Gabriella Gomez hoped to compete in a bigger tournament in anticipation of the upcoming IHSA postseason. But last year’s state champ at 105 who’s ranked among the nation’s best and top-ranked at 115, went out and took care of business to add to titles at Larkin, Ottawa and Batavia. The runner-up in U-17 World competition last summer, won by fall over Minooka’s Sabina Charlebois in 1:34 in the 114-122 finals, her second pin to go with a win by technical fall.

“I think this tournament had a good turnout and there were a lot of good girls here,” Gomez said. “But I really think that it should not have been blocked weights since we’re in season and these girls need to be disciplined. The only way to get to that next level is to know discipline about your weight. I weighed in at 117 because I want to wrestle the girls that I wrestle at state. But these girls that maybe weighed in at 105 and wrestled at 110, aren’t going to wrestle girls that they’ll see there. 

“It’s good seeing girls who are coming in and trying a new sport, that’s definitely not the easiest out of all of them. It’s really cool because I started when I was only eight, so seeing girls in high school come in and just want to try it is amazing and I think that this sport could go really far. It doesn’t just change you as a wrestler, it changes you as a person, and that’s another big thing that I like.”

Charlebois’ father is Jeff, who coached along with Bernie Ruettiger and Paige Schoolman on several Minoooka state teams, highlighted by a state title in 2010 and a second-place finish in 2009, led the Indians to state in 2013, a year after Schoolman led the program to the dual team finals. Charlebois and Schoolman are coaching together again this season.

Maine East’s Guadalupe Montesinos took third place with a forfeit win over District 230’s Katherine Cygan, who was a state qualifier a year ago. And in the fifth-place match, Huntley’s Addison Drews won by fall in 1:41 over Larkin’s Melanie Granda.

115-122 – Margaret Gillmore, Westosha Central, WI

Margaret Gillmore, who qualified for the inaugural WIAA girls tournament last season, was the lone champion from the only non-Illinois team in the field, Westosha Central. The junior took top honors at 115-122 after recording a fall in 3:14 over Glenbard West’s Sydney Nimsakont. She had two falls and a win by technical fall during the competition.

Morton’s Nayeli Rodriguez captured third place with a fall in 1:34 over District 230’s Emily Nieto. And in the fifth-place match, Evanston’s Elizabeth Parcedes-Torres recorded a pin in 2:49 over Oak Park and River Forest’s Mayan Alwaeli.

118-126 – Joanna Szelag, Grant

Joanna Szelag became one of her school’s three champions, joining Snow Khi and Ayane Jasinski, to tie Homewood-Flossmoor for the most first-place finishers. The senior took first place at 118-126 with a 12-4 major decision over Minooka’s Kira Cailteux. Szelag, who also won a title at Waukegan, opened the competition with two falls.

“It was pretty good,” Szelag said. “We’re not really used to an environment like this since I think we’ve only been to three tournaments. So this was very exciting. This is my second year in wrestling. All of my teammates and all of my coaches, they push me to work harder so hopefully I can get to state this year. I like our support. We have support from my coaches and support from my teammates. Last year, I didn’t qualify for state, but they still pushed me to work my hardest to get to state this year, hopefully.” 

Morton’s Monica Garcia captured third place after recording a fall in 2:13 over District 230’s Hala Salem. And Naperville Central’s Bianca Arredondo claimed fifth place in dramatic fashion after winning a 6-5 decision on a tiebreaker over Larkin’s Tina Ebrahimi.

122-128 – Khatija Ahmed, Glenbard West

Khatjia Ahmed hopes to cap an exciting two-year span with a second state trip and a first medal after falling one win shy a year ago. The Glenbard West senior, who’s ranked fifth at 125, added to her recent championship at the West Suburban Conference meet with a fall in 0:53 over Maine East’s Deepjwal Rai to claim top honors at 122-128. Ahmed, who previously competed in both soccer and golf as a Hilltopper, won all three of her matches with first-minute wins.

“We have a lot of newer people and a lot of them are freshmen and sophomores,” Ahmed said. “So it’s great to see that they’re going to be there in the next two years and bring in more people and work on the skills so that they can dominate in the coming years. This is insane. Last year was my first year and I have to admit that I got through the year head-locking, but I’m not a head-locker any more, I have more refined technique and I’m proud of myself for the progress. And I’m really proud of the whole team and their progress this year., especially considering that half of our team is brand new.”

In the third-place match, District 230’s Sophia Fontana won by fall in 1:46 over Maine West’s Ashley Mansell. And Morton’s Sofia Petronijevic claimed fifth place with a pin in 3:46 over Montini Catholic’s Sophia Flores.

124-134 – Justyce Sieber, Warren Township

Justyce Sieber was one of the few champions at OPRF who weren’t ranked or an honorable mention selection, but Warren Township’s top performer at the invite may finally get some recognition after taking first at 124-134  with a 4-2 win by sudden victory over Morton senior Leilany De Leon, who took sixth at 120 at state and was ranked eighth at 120. Sieber, who has competed in cross country and track and field, also won a two-point decision in the semifinals.

“I’ve met so many new people and everyone is so amazing and so supportive,” Sieber said. “I definitely couldn’t have done it without my coaches and my parents. We have a lot of new girls this year. It was just me and one other girl last year and now we have around 15 girls. I love that everyone can be friends and then go out on the mat and kick some butt and come back and be friends again. This is so much fun.”

Loyola Academy’s Alexia Vasilopoulos won by fall in 1:57 over Minooka’s Eva Beck to capture third place. And in the fifth-place match, Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher, a freshman who’s ranked eighth at 125, recorded a fall in 1:37 over Larkin’s Mia Reyes.

126-130 – Sophia Rausa, Minooka

Sophia Rausa and her team are getting hot at the right time as both she and her Minooka teammates have now won titles over the past two weekends.  The sophomore won the Southwest Prairie Conference title along with her team and now has a second title at Oak Park and River Forest and was one of two Indians to take first as Minooka won its second-straight team title. Rausa won a 1-0 decision in the 126-130 finals over District 230 junior Lana Shuaibi,  who was hoping to add to a recent first at Batavia. That win followed a pair of pins by Rausa.

“Our team has grown a lot since last season and you could see the improvement coming,” Rausa said. “We’re making a name for ourselves right now. All of the girls are always at each others’ matches and are always cheering and supporting each other and motivating and pushing each other. And it’s good to have a good team bond like that.”

Naperville Central’s Ellen Purl took third place with a fall in 1:30 over Lyons Township’s Sofia Turek. And in the fifth-place match, Maine West’s Ava Reyes recorded a fall in 2:17 over Morton’s Briana Carbajal.

126-136 – Allison Garcia, Downers Grove South

Allison Garcia provided the highlight of the day for Downers Grove South as she recorded a fall in 0:48 over Grant’s Annabelle Melton in the 126-136 title match to become her team’s lone champion and one of its two finalists. Garcia, a freshman who also intends to play tennis at her school, won all three of her matches by fall.

“My older brother wrestled and I wanted to be like him,” Garcia said. “I like this, it’s fun. Our boys are good, but there’s only around six girls, and it’s a new program for the girls this year. So as a freshman, I got lucky. I like winning, but everybody does. But I like winning because it makes my mom proud.” 

District 230’s Saja Badar recorded a fall in 5:21 over Maine East’s Soobin Chung to capture third place while Minooka’s Lexi Lakota won with a pin in 0:51 over Huntley’s Hanah Shaw to finish in fifth place.

134-139 – Ava Vasey, Unity

 After qualifying for the first IHSA finals a year ago, Ava Vasey is looking forward to capping her senior season with a medal in this year’s state finals. The Unity athlete just missed being ranked in the top-eight at 130 a week ago but may get more attention after adding to a title at Princeton after winning by fall in 2:36 over Downers Grove South’s Camila Quiroz in the 134-139 finals. It was the third pin of the day for Vasey.

“When I first started, I would have maybe two or three girls in a bracket,” Vasey said. “And being more down south in Illinois, we have a lot less girls wrestling. Wrestling with boys is much different than wrestling with girls. The girls get much more excited for you and other teammates, there’s a lot more support.”

In the third-place match, Minooka’s Delaini Majetic got a fall in 1:37 over Niles West’s Aaizah Khan. For fifth place, District 230 sophomore Alyssa Keane, a state qualifier last who’s ranked eighth at 130, needed just 0:47 to record a pin over Warren Township’s Paige Forbes.

135-141 – Al Ghala Mariam Al Radi, Niles West

After falling for the first time in the finals this season at Batavia, Al Ghala Mariam Al Radi was back to her winning ways at OPRF. The Niles West senior, who’s ranked second at 135 and took third at 135 a year ago, added to title wins at Niles West, Larkin and Maine East when she recorded a fall in 2:36 over Minooka’s Hayla Hammer in the 135-141 finals. Al Radi recorded three falls during the competition.

In the third-place match, Grayslake North’s Quinna Sheets won by fall in 2:46 over Glenbard West’s Nydia Jotzat. And for fifth place, District 230’s Elysa Corcoran recorded a pin in 0:17 over Morton’s Natalia Perez.

140-150 – Alimatu Toheeb-Lawal, Homewood-Flossmoor

Three proved to be a special number for Alimatu Toheeb-Lawal and her Homewood-Flossmoor teammates at the OPRF Invitational when the senior added to title wins at Palatine and Hoffman Estates with a first-place finish at 140-150 with a fall in 1:57 over Unity freshman Anna Vasey to be one of H-F’s three champions, joining Grant as the only two teams to pull off that feat. Toheeb-Lawal, who’s a senior, recorded three falls. Vasey, ranked fifth at 140, looked to join her sister Ava as a champion and add to titles that she had won at Princeton and Pontiac.

“We’ve been having a really good season,” Toheeb-Lawal said. “Last year was a great season and this year is even better. We had a lot of girls come out this year and we’ve been dominating and it’s been a good season for all of us. Everyone has been placing first and this is the third time placing first this season. All of us have just been putting in the work in practice, and it’s been paying off. And I’ve seen the numbers growing at other schools and in all of the states, so that’s really exciting.”

Minooka’s Bella Cyrkiel, who won a Southwest Prairie Conference title last week, settled for third after prevailing for a 10-9 decision over Glenbard West’s Ani Navarro, who was a state qualifier last year and ranked seventh at 145. And for fifth place, District 230’s Emily Alvarez also won a tight match, edging West Aurora’s Izzee Nelson-Carillo 3-2 by sudden victory.

143-145 – Nola Oben, District 230

Nola Oben became the first of two District 230 champions when she recorded a fall over Minooka’s Kourtni Rogers in 0:45 in the 143-145 title match, the third pin of the day for the sophomore at Carl Sandburg who is competing in her first season in the sport and will once again participate in track and field. With Emma Akpan also taking first place, the co-op of athletes from Andrew, Carl Sandburg and Stagg took second place to Minooka, the team’s fourth top-two showing following first-place finishes at Schaumburg, Pontiac and Palatine.

“Our coach helps us a lot,” Oben said of coach Demeri Pajic. “She’s really motivational and helps to keep us up. I like how big the team is. And I have a lot of friends on the team and they’re all really supportive and I’ve met a lot of people from the different schools.”

Evanston’s Natalie Graettinger took third place with a forfeit win over Grayslake North’s Bekah Moncivaiz. And in the fifth-place match, West Aurora’s Kymber Hall won by fall in 1:21 over Morton’s Alyssa Torres.

144-153 – Lanie Cecala, Minooka

Lanie Cecala followed in her brother Joey’s footsteps to compete for Minooka and now her brother is coaching her and she captured the title at 144-153 following a 3-2 win on an ultimate tiebreaker over Oak Park and River Forest’s Megan Barajas. Cecala was one of two champions for the Indians, who won their second tournament in two weeks, claiming top honors at the Southwest Prairie Conference meet one week earlier. Cecala opened with a pair of falls.

“We’ve been working very hard the whole season but after we got first at conference, I think it boosted all of us,” Cecala said. “Since this is like our first full year as a girls team, And all of our coaches have really helped us to get to where we are right now. With the tradition we have, there’s also our community, which supports us a lot. They see how much we’re succeeding and they’re really proud of us. I like our workmanship and how we all support and cheer for each other. The base of a team is that you need to bond and work well together to succeed.”

Maine East’s Alena Oshana captured third place after winning by fall in 1:08 over Lake Park’s Nermina Rustemi. And in the fifth-place match, District 230’s Addy Gath recorded a fall in 3:18 over Crystal Lake Central’s Makayla Miranda.

151-158 – Lexi Ritchie, Unity

In a clash of returning state placewinners, Lexi Ritchie won by fall in 3:07 over Maria Ferrer in the 151-158 title match. Ritchie, a junior at Unity who took first at 155 a year ago and is top-ranked at 155, added to a title at Princeton. Ferrer, a senior at Larkin who took fourth at 170 last year, is ranked fourth at 170 and won a title at Maine East. All three of Ritchie’s wins were falls.

“This is super exciting,” Ritchie said. “One thing I noticed from last year is that I don’t remember seeing Minooka anywhere and now they have an entire lineup and they’re almost as big as a boys team. This season, I haven’t wrestled any boys yet, even though I still practice with the boys every day. I have a great group of guys to practice with and I’m lucky that we have some kids come back and get their coaching card, so they really know my style and they help me out a lot. The sport is growing and we’re helping boys wrestling by coming out and doing all of this.”

Minooka’s Abbey Boersma claimed third place with a fall in 1:02 over District 230’s McKenna Patton. And in the fifth-place match, Huntley’s Hannah Price recorded a pin in 2:36 over Lake Park’s Ava Burns.

156-170 – Mailei Hudec, Crystal Lake Central

Mailei Hudec feels fortunate that she has had the opportunity to compete with one of the state’s top Class 2A boys programs at Crystal Lake Central and the senior acknowledges that coach Justen Lehr and her Tigers teammates have helped to prepare her for big things this season. Hudec won an exciting title match at 156-170 when she edged Minooka’s Sidney Ray by a 2-0 score. Hudec opened the tournament with two falls.

“Coach Lehr has taught me a lot throughout the years,” Hudec said. “I’ve been one of the only females that was on the team for awhile. All of the boys at my school are very supportive and I practice with them and they treat me pretty much like I’m their sister. So just being a part of a program and a team like that is amazing in my eyes. Just seeing it grow from my freshman year to my senior year, it’s incredible how the numbers have changed and shifted. And just seeing all the girls who were wrestling today, with the grit and determination they’ve learned throughout the year is amazing.” 

District 230’s Janae Vargas captured third place with a fall in 3:18 over Lake Park’s Joscelin Ritthamel. In the fifth-place match, Grayslake North’s Julia Landmesser recorded a fall in 1:47 over Morton’s Isabella Sanchez.

162-171 – Ionicca Rivera, West Aurora

Ionicca Rivera is definitely enjoying a special season. The West Aurora junior, who fell one win shy of a medal at 170 last season and is ranked fifth at 170, won her fifth tournament of the season, adding to firsts at Niles West, Larkin, Batavia and the Southwest Prairie Conference after capturing a 3-2 decision over Homewood-Flossmoor’s Basirat Sodiq in the 162-171 finals. Rivera, who’s a junior, won her first two matches of the tournament by fall. Her teammate and training partner, Brittney Moran, also won a title in the competition.

“Brittney is mainly my wrestling partner for practice so we’re each pushing each other to get better and better,” Rivera said. “It’s nice seeing a lot more girls wanting to join wrestling. I really like how it’s becoming a girls sport, too, because typically it was always a boys sport. In the past few years it’s becoming a girls sport, so that’s just really nice.” 

Minooka’s Jaiden Moody claimed third place with a 6-0 decision over Lake Park’s Gianna Ortiz. And in the fifth-place match, District 230 senior Mickaela Keane, who was a state qualifier last year and is ranked sixth at 170, recorded a fall in 0:38 over Lyons Township’s  Maddy Pieroni.

165-177 – Emma Akpan, District 230 

After winning a second title this season, Emma Akpan is hoping that she will not only once again qualify for state but get on the awards stand at the IHSA finals in Bloomington. The District 230 sophomore was one of two champions for her team, with Nola Oben the other, to help them claim second place. In the 165-177 finals, Akpan won by fall in 4:10 over Grant’s Yaxaira Russildi to add to a title win at Pontiac, getting falls in all three of her matches.

“Last year we were the biggest team and now there’s teams that are comparable to ours,” Akpan said. “My team has been having a great year. A bunch of new girls joined and we are getting real good at things. Today was actually the first one where it was like, I’m going to do the things that I’ve learned at practice, instead of the stuff that I find easy. And doing the things that you find hard, just makes you better. With all of these girls, I was nervous, because I’ve never wrestled them before and I don’t know how good they are. But it felt really great.”

In the third-place match, Evanston’s Nadia Himrod won by fall in 0:24 over Morton’s Violet Mayo. And for fifth place, Crystal Lake Central’s Kayla Hadfield captured a 7-2 decision over Maine East’s Alexa Garcia.

179-187 – Ini Odumosu, Homewood-Flossmoor

Ini Odumosu won her first two tournaments of the season at Normal Community and Pontiac but has been waiting a while to get back on top of the awards stand. The Homewood-Flossmoor junior, who’s ranked fifth at 190 and placed fifth at 190 in last year’s IHSA finals, captured her third title when she won by fall in 3:51 over Crystal Lake Central’s Denver Gier in the 179-187 finals. Odumosu followed a major decision with a 3-1 decision in the semifinals over Oak Park and River Forest junior Trinity White, who’s ranked third at 190 and took fifth at 170 last year.

White bounced back from her tough semifinals loss to claim third place with a pin in 1:22 over West Aurora’s Aberdeen Rios. In the fifth-place match, Evanston’s Ashland Henson recorded a fall in 1:03 over District 230’s Maggie Bobak. 

189-204 – Brittney Moran, West Aurora

After placing second in her first tournament of the season, Brittney Moran has won her next three invites, claiming firsts at Niles West, Maine East and now at OPRF when she won by fall in 0:45 over Morton’s Vivian Varela in the 189-204 finals. Moran, a sophomore who’s ranked second at 190 and placed sixth at that weight at the first IHSA finals, won her final two matches by fall to join teammate Ionicca Rivera as champions in the event.

“I remember when I was in middle school and I was the only girl there and I would try to encourage other girls to do it as well,” Moran said. “I wanted not just me to feel like a strong, feminine person but I wanted  other girls to feel that as well. When you have a whole girls team behind and supporting you through everything, it’s actually a little bit different than having the guys.support you. I’m really proud that our school is supporting the girls wrestling team. It’s super exciting seeing more girls who play soccer or tennis actually compete in a more aggressive sport since they feel really proud of themselves after they win.”

Minooka’s Peyton Kueltzo, who’s ranked sixth at 235 and won a Southwest Prairie Conference title for her team that also won the league championship, took third place after winning by medical forfeit over Huntley’s Payton Turczyniak. And Evanston’s Jereni Marshall finished fifth after pulling out a 6-5 decision over Westosha Central’s McKenna Broadway.

207-225 – Sarah Epshtein, Oak Park and River Forest

With title wins in each of the last two weeks, Sarah Epshtein seems poised to make another run at an IHSA medal this season after taking fifth at 235 a year ago. The Oak Park and River Forest  junior recorded a fall in 4:43 over Unity’s Phoenix Molina, who’s ranked fifth at 235, to go 3-0 in the round-robin competition at 207-225 in which she had three pins. Epshtein, who’s ranked third at 235, also has title wins in the West Suburban Conference and at The Clash.

In the third-place match, Morton’s Michelle Navarrette won by fall in 2:49 over Lyons Township’s Siena Garcia-Rizzo. There were only four competitors in the weight class so they met each other in three rounds.

219-292 – Eliana Garrett, Maine West

Eliana Garrett is just happy that she’s in a position to win an invitational like the one at Oak Park and River Forest after missing much of the season due to an injury. The top performer for Maine West, who got points from all five of its competitors, Garrett, a junior who’s in her first year in the sport, defeated Larkin’s A’Ja Young by fall in 1:39 in the final round-robin round of competition.

“This is my first year, so I’ve honestly only been in wrestling for about a month,” Garrett said. “I had a concussion at the beginning of the season so I missed about a month of wrestling. This is the first athletics that I’ve ever done. It’s such a nice community to have with all of the girls, and girls are always so supportive. I feel like girls wrestling is up and coming. I’m excited to be on the team and to do offseason stuff with everybody.” 

Taking third place was Glenbard West’s Thanh Dinh, who pinned Minooka’s Alyson Nguyen in 4:54. Dinh actually pinned Garrett in 4:38 but she also went 2-1 after getting pinned by Young in 5:57. There were only four competitors at the weight so they met each other in three matches.

By Curt Herron

Auburn takes title at Litchfield’s Rich Lovellette Invite

Auburn had half of its 14-member team place fifth or better and that helped to to capture top honors at Litchfield’s Rich Lovellette Invitational with 192.5 points, placing it ahead of runner-up Lena-Winslow/Stockton, which finished with 180 points. Oakwood/Salt Fork (168), Vandalia (151), Roxana (145), Murphysboro (141.5), Richards (106), Peotone (96), Benton (89) and host Litchfield/Mt. Olive (87.5) were next-best in the 19-team competition. 

Auburn, which co-ops with Franklin and New Berlin, is ranked 11th in Class 1A and this is its first tournament title of the season, one week after posting its best tournament yet, second place at LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Randy Bowman Invitational. Other ranked Class 1A teams were Lena-Winslow/Stockton (fourth), Vandalia (12th), Roxana (14th) and Oakwood/Salt Fork (20th). 

Top performers for coach Matt Grimm’s first-place Trojans were champions Joey Ruzic (120) and Cole Edie (285) and runners-up Dresden Grimm (138) and Skylar Fay (182). Joey Barrow (170) took fourth while Colby Willhite (160) and Grant Dobson (195) finished fifth while Drayven Hamm (106) and Clinton Lovens (220) were seventh and Quinten Chizmar (145) and Dominic Pecoraro (152) placed eighth

“This was a true team effort in a great battle with Lena, Vandalia, Oakwood, Roxana and Murphysboro,” Grimm said. “Our kids stepped up and did what we have been asking them to do all season.  We have to go out and get bonus points when the opportunity arises.  We competed on the back side which we haven’t done so well at this year and upset people we have lost to. The team is peaking at the right time and we hope to keep this momentum going into the postseason.”

Lena-Winslow/Stockton, coached by 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee Kevin Milder, was led by title winners Garrett Luke (152) and Griffin Luke (182) and third-place finishers Jared Dvorak (160), Jace Phillips (195) and Mike Haas (220). Arrison Bauer (120) and Eli Larson (170) took fifth while Reece Demeter (106), David Prater (113) and Mauricio Glass (126) placed sixth.

Other champions were Roxana’s Brandon Green, Jr. (126) and James Herring (220), Vandalia’s Dillon Hinton (132) and Eric McKinney (160), Rochester’s Conner Carroll (106), Litchfield’s Alex Powell (113), Benton’s Mason Tieffel (138), Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Reef Pacot (145), Murphysboro’s Dayton Hoffman (170) and Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Cory West (195).

Also claiming second-place finishes were Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Tyler Huchel (113), Pedro Rangel (126) and Dalton Brown (170), Peotone’s Marco Spinazzola (152) and Alex Cardenas (220), Litchfield’s Vinny Moore (106), Harrisburg’s Tony Keene (120), Murphysboro’s Bryce Edwards (132), Rochester’s Nolan Mrozowski (145), Carlinville’s Jake Schwartz (160), Vandalia’s Wyatt Dothager (195) and Roxana’s Chase Allen (285).

Closest titles matches involved Powell edging Huchel 9-8 at 113, McKinney winning 5-3 over Schwartz at 160, Tieffel beating Grimm 7-4 at 138, Hoffman capturing 4-1 win over Brown at 170 and Hinton prevailing over Edwards 7-2 at 132, 

Winning titles by fall were Garrett Luke (152), West (195), Herring (220) and Edie (285). Claiming wins by technical fall in the finals were Pacot (145) and Griffin Luke (182) while 

Carroll (106), Ruzic (120) and Green, Jr. (126) captured titles with major decisions. 

Several top competitors picked up their first or second losses in title matches. At 120, Ruzic (41-2) captured a 14-4 major decision over Keene (38-1); at 138, Tieffel (42-1) defeated Grimm (30-2) by a 7-4 score; at 152, Garrett Luke (43-2) won by fall in 4:38 over Spinazzola (29-2); and at 160, McKinney (41-2) beat Schwartz (29-2) by a 5-3 score.

Champions who also won 2022 Lovellette Innvitational titles were Garrett Luke, Griffin Luke, Edie, McKinney, Ruzic, Tieffel and West while Powell and Pacot both took second last season and won titles this year.

Top records of Lovellette Invitational finalists are Tieffel (42-1, .977), Griffin Luke (41-1, .976), Keene (38-1, .974), Hoffman (31-1, .969), West (29-1, .967), Garrett Luke (43-2, .956), McKinney (41-2, .953), Ruzic (41-2, .953), Edie (39-2, .951), Pacot (36-2, .947), Green, Jr. (30-2, .938), Grimm (30-2, .938), Schwartz (29-2, .935), Spinazzola (29-2, .935), Powell (34-4, .895) and Hinton (38-5, .884).

Hinton led all competitors in the field with 30 team points while Pacot was second with 29.5 points and Carroll took third with 29 team points. Garrett Luke and West scored 28 points, Griffin Luke had 27.5 points, Green, Jr. collected 27 points, Ruzic had 26.5 points and Edie, Herring, Hoffman, McKinney and Powell all scored 26 team points.

Also claiming third-place finishes were Cumberland’s Hank Warfel (113) and Noah Carl (285), Roxana’s Lleyton Cobine (120) and Braden Johnson (152), Richards’ Muath Jilani (126) and Jeremiah Gill (170), Harrisburg’s Rocko Neal (106), Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Carter Chambliss (132), Vandalia’s Owen Miller (138), Murphysboro’s Liam Fox (145) and Prairie Central’s Connor Steidinger (182).

Others who finished in fourth place were Frankfort Community’s Hayeden Hughes (106), Gavin Mann (145), Brandon Turner (195) and Braxton Chance (285), Richards’ Rami Mused (113), Michael Taheny (160) and Adnan Abuzir (220), Vandalia’s Pierson Wilkerson (120) and Logan Nance (152), Benton’s Kobe Cali (126), Harrisburg’s Kahmari Terry (132), Cumberland’s Owen McGinnis (138) and Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Harley Grimm (182).

The tournament is named for Rich Lovellette, a 1999 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee who had a 30-year career at Litchfield where he coached wrestling, football and track and field. His Purple Panthers wrestling teams won 347 dual meets and he also served as an official for 28 years at the time of his induction.

Litchfield Rich Lovellette Invitational championship matches

106 – Conner Carroll (Rochester) MD 9-0 Vinny Moore (Litchfield)

113 – Alex Powell (Litchfield) D 9-8 Tyler Huchel (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

120 – Joey Ruzic (Auburn) MD 14-4 Tony Keene (Harrisburg)

126 – Brandon Green, Jr. (Roxana) MD 9-1 Pedro Rangel (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

132 – Dillon Hinton (Vandalia) D 7-2 Bryce Edwards (Murphysboro)

138 – Mason Tieffel (Benton) D 7-4 Dresden Grimm (Auburn)

145 – Reed Pacot (Oakwood/Salt Fork) TF 6:00 Nolan Mrozowski (Rochester)

152 – Garrett Luke (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) F 4:38 Marco Spinazzola (Peotone)

160 – Eric McKinney (Vandalia) D 5-3 Jake Schwartz (Carlinville)

170 – Dayton Hoffman (Murphysboro) D 4-1 Dalton Brown (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

182 – Griffin Luke (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) TF 4:56 Skylar Fay (Auburn)

195 – Cory West (Sacred Heart-Griffin) F 1:58 Wyatt Dothager (Vandalia)

220 – James Herring (Roxana) F 1:07 Alex Cardenas (Peotone)

285 – Cole Edie (Auburn) F 0:12 Chase Allen (Roxana)

Litchfield Rich Lovellette Invitational third-place matches

106 – Rocko Neal (Harrisburg) F 3:03 Hayeden Hughes (Frankfort Community)

113 – Hank Warfel (Cumberland) D 9-2 Rami Mused (Richards) 

120 – Lleyton Cobine (Roxana) MD 19-11 Pierson Wilkerson (Vandalia)

126 – Muath Jilani (Richards) F 4:59 Kobe Cali (Benton)

132 – Carter Chambliss (Oakwood/Salt Fork) D 6-3 Kahmari Terry (Harrisburg)

138 – Owen Miller (Vandalia) D 6-0 Owen McGinnis (Cumberland)

145 – Liam Fox (Murphysboro) UTB 3-2 Gavin Mann (Frankfort Community)

152 – Braden Johnson (Roxana) MD 17-9 Logan Nance (Vandalia)

160 – Jared Dvorak (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) F 0:46 Michael Taheny (Richards)

170 – Jeremiah Gill (Richards) F 0:16 Joey Barrow (Auburn)

182 – Connor Steidinger (Prairie Central) F 1:13 Harley Grimm (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

195 – Jace Phillips (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) D 6-5 Brandon Turner (Frankfort Community)

220 – Mike Haas (Lena-Winslow/Stockton) SV 4-2 Adnan Abuzir (Richards)

285 – Noah Carl (Cumberland) F 0:50 Braxton Chance (Frankfort Community)

Hoopeston Area captures Eastern Illinois Tournament title

Four champions and four other individuals placing in the top four proved to be a winning combination for Hoopeston Area to help it capture the title of the Eastern Illinois Tournament, a 14-team competition that took place at Richland County in Olney.

Hoopeston Area, which co-ops with Milford, scored 190.5 points while Robinson took second with 184 points. Lawrenceville/Red Hill (149), Carterville (135.5), Mt. Carmel (109), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin/Armstrong (105) and Champaign Central (104) were next in line.

Winning titles for coach Chris Kelnhofer’s Cornjerkers were Charlie Flores (106), Rasiah Jones (132), Ceaser Espinoza (138) and Ayden Larkin (152) while Talan Nelson (120) took second, Aiden Bell (126) was third and Owen Garrett (113) and Angel Zamora (160) placed fourth. Taking sixth place were David Bell (145), Landon Mills (220) and Nick Brown (285) while Bryson Brewer (182) also competed.

“We had 12 wrestlers compete and 11 placed,” Kelnhofer said. “It was a great day to be a Cornjerker!”

Leading the way for coach Tanner Keeler’s runner-up Maroons were champions Jared Hermann (170), David Staller (182) and Craig Markello (220) while Broady Kelly (113), Lenox Parker (138), Kahne Hyre (152) and Dalton Woods (285) took second place. Draegon Johnson (145) took third place and Landon Cornwell (106) finished fourth.

Other Eastern Illinois Tournament title winners were Lawrenceville’s Isaac Foster (120) and Brian Seed (160), Champaign Central’s Ronald Baker (126) and Brock VanDeveer (195), Goreville/Vienna’s Briley Lehmen (113), Herrin’s Blue Bishop (145) and Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Hunter Wilson (285).

Also finishing in second place were Oblong/Palestine/Hutsonville’s Ian Rosborough (126), Austin Hargrave (182) and Brandon Thacker (195), Lawrenceville’s Marcus Hyre (132) and Kasen Ochs (170), Carterville’s Merrick Orendoff (145) and Riley Bradford (220), Champaign Central’s Elliott Tanner (106) and Mt. Carmel’s Joey Farrar (160).

The closest title matches saw Markello edging Bradford 6-5 at 220, Staller beating Hargrave 3-1 at 182, Lehmen over Kelly 6-2 at 113 and Espinoza prevailing 19-14 over Robinson at 138.

Winning titles by fall were Flores (106), Baker (126), Jones (132), VanDeveer (195) and Wilson (285) while Bishop (145) took first place with a win by technical fall. Capturing titles with major decisions were Foster (120), Larkin (152) and Seed (160) while Hermann (170) took first place due to a medical forfeit.

Top records for finalists are Bishop (39-1, .975), Wilson (39-2, .951), Bradford (41-4, .911), Seed (37-5, ,881), Hargrave (31-5, .861), Farrar (36-6, .857) and Hermann (30-5, .857). 

Jones led all competitors with 25 team points while Baker, Hermann and Wilson scored 24 points, Flores had 23.5 points, Bishop, Foster and Seed each scored 23 points and Espinoza, Markello, Parker, Staller and VanDeveer each scored 22 points.

Others who claimed third-place finishes were Carterville’s Elijah Mohring (160), Chris Bates (182), Jonathon Weiderman (195) and Zechariah Miller (285), Charleston’s Kenny Merrill (138) and Alec Sellers (152), Richland County’s Levi Ochs (106), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Landen Toellner (113), Mt. Carmel’s Jordon Wood (120), Effingham’s Baker Moon (132), Paris’ Robert Wells (170) and Lawrenceville’s Dylan Camden (220).

Also finishing in fourth place were Mt. Carmel’s Evan Hedge (132) and Matt Edwards (138), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Christian Walton (170) and Gavin Golden (182), Charleston’s Marcellx Boling (195) and Stormy Hughes (285), Effingham’s Kaiden Stewart (120), Carterville’s Landyn Flood (126), Richland County’s Cooper Fehrenbacher (145), Herrin’s Aaron Ragsdale (152) and Champaign Central’s Zavier Neill (220).

Eastern Illinois Tournament championship matches

106 – Charlie Flores (Hoopeston Area) F 0:44 Elliott Tanner (Champaign Central)

113 – Briley Lehmen (Goreville) D 6-2 Broady Kelly (Robinson)

120 – Isaac Foster (Lawrenceville) MD 14-5 Talan Nelson (Hoopeston Area)

126 – Ronald Baker (Champaign Central) F 3:40 Ian Rosborough (Oblong)

132 – Rasiah Jones (Hoopeston Area) F 3:40 Marcus Hyre (Lawrenceville)

138 – Ceaser Espinoza (Hoopeston Area) D 19-14 Lenox Parker (Robinson)

145 – Blue Bishop (Herrin) TF 2:52 Merrick Orendoff (Carterville)

152 – Ayden Larkin (Hoopeston Area) MD 13-3 Kahne Hyre (Robinson)

160 – Brian Seed (Lawrenceville) MD 10-2 Joey Farrar (Mt. Carmel)

170 – Jared Hermann (Robinson) M For Kasen Ochs (Lawrenceville)

182 – David Staller (Robinson) D 3-1 Austin Hargrave (Oblong)

195 – Brock VanDeveer (Champaign Central) F 3:49 Brandon Thacker (Oblong)

220 – Craig Markello (Robinson) D 6-5 Riley Bradford (Carterville)

285 – Hunter Wilson (Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) F 3:26 Dalton Woods (Robinson)

Eastern Illinois Tournament third-place matches

106 – Levi Ochs (Richland County) F 1:48 Landon Cornwell (Robinson)

113 – Landon Toellner (Bismarck-Henning-Roossville-Alvin) M For Owen Garrett (Hoopeston Area)

120 – Jordan Wood (Mt. Carmel) F 1:40 Kaiden Stewart (Effingham)

126 – Aiden Bell (Hoopeston Area) D 14-10 Landyn Flood (Carterville)

132 – Baker Moon (Effingham) F 1:13 Evan Hedge (Mt. Carmel)

138 – Kenny Merrill (Charleston) Inj 0:28 Matt Edwards (Mt. Carmel)

145 – Draegon Johnson (Robinson) F 3:10 Cooper Fehrenbacher (Richland County)

152 – Alec Sellers (Charleston) F 0:44 Aaron Ragsdale (Herrin) 

160 – Elijah Mohring (Carterville) D 6-5 Angel Zamora (Hoopeston Area)

170 – Robert Wells (Paris) F 2:39 Christian Walton (Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin)

182 – Chris Bates (Carterville) D 8-1 Gavin Golden (Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin)

195 – Jonathon Weiderman (Carterville) F 0:53 Marcellx Boling (Charleston)

220 – Dylan Camden (Lawrenceville) F 3:00 Zavier Neill (Champaign Central)

285 – Zechariah Miller (Carterville) F 4:46 Stormy Hughes (Charleston)

Glenwood takes top honors at Quincy Notre Dame InvitationalGlenwood sent eight individuals to the title mat and won five titles to help it capture the team championship at the Quincy Notre Dame Invitational with 227 points, which placed it 42.5 points ahead of second-place Jacksonville, which totalled 184.5 points.

Kirkwood, MO (161.5), Illini Bluffs (148.5), St. Joseph-Ogden (147), Edwardsville (140), Quincy Notre Dame (127), Camp Point Central/Southeastern/Brown County (119) and Lanphier (98.5) made up the top half of the field in the 18-team competition.

Glenwood, which is ranked fifth in Class 2A, won its second title, adding to a first-place showing at its own invite and it has four top-three finishes at invitationals to its credit, opening the season with a runner-up finish at Conant’s Hruska and a week ago it took third place at Stagg’s Lahey.

Leading the way for coach Jerod Bruner’s first-place Titans were champions Tyler Clarke (106), Drew Davis (120), John Ben Maduena (132), Braden Bray (195) and Alex Hamrick (220) while Kayle Blankenship (113), Larson Nester (126) and Aden Byal (152) took second place. Jaxon Ferguson (106) and Braxton Warren (145) took third while Daulton Nunes (126) was fourth.

Top performers for coach Dustin Secrist’s second-place Crimsons were title winners Deshawn Armstrong (126), Keaton Wilhelm (170) and Luca Thies (182) and runners-up Joe Reif (145) and Oliver Cooley (220) while James Cotton (152) finished in fourth place.

Other QND Invitational champions were Illini Bluffs’ Jackson Carroll (138) and Paul Ishikawa (145), St. Joseph-Ogden’s Emmitt Holt (113), Lanphier’s Connor Janssen (160), Palmyra, MO’s Collin Arch (152) and Kirkwood’s Lorenzo Brinkley (285).

Also finishing in second place were Illini Bluffs’ Avery Speck (120) and Ian O’Connor (132), Warsaw/Hamilton’s Evan Carel (138), Edwardsville’s Simon Schulte (182), Notre Dame’s Ryan Darnell (195), St. Joseph Ogden’s Kyle Meccoli (285), Kirkwood’s Nick Hibbard (160) and Alex Osorio (170) and Palmyra’s Luke Lawson (106).

Some of the closest title matches featured Wilhem edging Osorio 9-7 at 170, Janssen capturing a 6-3 decision over Hibbard at 160, Clarke winning 10-6 over Lawson at 106 and Armstrong claiming a 10-3 victory over Nester at 126.

Winning titles by fall were Holt (113), Davis (120), Maduena (132), Carroll (138), Arch (152), Thies (182), Bray (195), Hamrick (220) and Brinkley (285) while Ishikawa (145) took first place with a win by major decision.

Repeating as Quincy Notre Dame Invite champions were Davis, Maduena, Hamrick and Arch while Holt and Thies placed second last year but took first place in this tournament.

Ishikawa (41-0, 1.000) is the lone individual that is unbeaten following the competition. Other top records for invitational finalists from this state are Davis (40-2, .952), Schulte (16-1, .941), Janssen (28-2, .933), Maduena (39-3, .929), Hamrick (36-3, .923), Byal (37-4, .902), Reif (33-4, .892) and Armstrong (39-5, .886).

Thies and Arch tied for first in most team points with 32 while Holt had 31.5, Bray and Maduena each had 31, Ishikawa recorded 30.5 team points, Davis and Hamrick finished with 30 points, Carroll had 29, Clarke scored 28.5 points, Armstrong collected 28, Wilhelm had 27 points and Janssen finished with 26.5 team points.

Additional third-place finishers were St. Joseph-Ogden’s Holden Brazelton (132), Peyton Sarver (195) and Owen Birt (220), Camp Point Central’s Paul Schenk (113) and Conner Griffin (160), Notre Dame’s Ryan Scheuermann (126), Edwardsville’s Nathan Hollis (138), Monmouth United’s Jake McElwee (152), Quincy Senior’s Payton Eddy (170), Pittsfield/Pleasant Hill’s Tucker Cook (182) and Lanphier’s Jeremy Wright (285).

Others who placed fourth were Edwardsville’s Jack Cloud (160), Evan McCormick (195) and Riley Steinkuehler (220), Camp Point Central’s Dylan Mowen (120) and Joseph Friday (145), Notre Dame’s Bradi Lahr (132) and Luke Bliven (138), Illinois School for the Visually Impaired/Illinois School for the Deaf’s LT Spears (106), Illini Bluff’s Wyatt Knowles (113), Lanphier’s Jaylen Crowder (170), Herscher’s Quintin Strahan (182) and Monmouth United’s Carter Rothzen (285).

Quincy Notre Dame Invitational championship matches

106 – Tyler Clarke (Glenwood) D 10-6 Luke Lawson (Palmyra, MO)

113 – Emmitt Holt (St. Joseph-Ogden) F 3:05 Kayle Blankenship (Glenwood)

120 – Drew Davis (Glenwood) F 1:52 Avery Speck (Illini Bluffs)

126 – Deshawn Armstrong (Jacksonville) D 10-3 Larson Nester (Glenwood)

132 – John Ben Maduena (Glenwood) F 4:44 Ian O’Connor (Illini Bluffs)

138 – Jackson Carroll (Illini Bluffs) F 5:10 Evan Carel (Warsaw)

145 – Paul Ishikawa (Illini Bluffs) MD 22-10 Joe Reif (Jacksonville)

152 – Collin Arch (Palmyra, MO) F 3:19 Aden Byal (Glenwood)

160 – Connor Janssen (Lanphier) D 6-3 Nick Hibbard (Kirkwood, MO)

170 – Keaton Wilhelm (Jacksonville) D 9-7 Alex Osorio (Kirkwood, MO)

182 – Luca Thies (Jacksonville) F 2:12 Simon Schulte (Edwardsville)

195 – Braden Bray (Glenwood) F 1:33 Ryan Darnell (Quincy Notre Dame)

220 – Alex Hamrick (Glenwood) F 5:55 Oliver Cooley (Jacksonville)

285 – Lorenzo Brinkley (Kirkwood, MO) F 0:23 Kyle Meccoli (St. Joseph-Ogden)

Quincy Notre Dame Invitational third-place matches

106 – Jaxson Ferguson (Glenwood) F 4:40 LT Spears (Illinois School for the Visually Impaired)

113 – Paul Schenk (Camp Point Central) F 4:36 Wyatt Knowles (Illini Bluffs)

120 – Luke Schanz (Kirkwood, MO) D 5-4 Dylan Mowen (Camp Point Central)

126 – Ryan Scheuermann (Quincy Notre Dame) Inj. Daulton Nunes (Glenwood)

132 – Holden Brazelton (St. Joseph-Odgen) F 2:18 Bradi Lahr (Quincy Notre Dame)

138 – Nathan Hollis (Edwardsville) D 6-1 Luke Bliven (Quincy Notre Dame)

145 – Braxton Warren (Glenwood) D 9-8 Joseph Friday (Camp Point Central)

152 – Jake McElwee (Monmouth United) Inj. James Cotton (Jacksonville)

160 – Conner Griffin (Camp Point Central) MD 11-1 Jack Cloud (Edwardsville)

170 – Payton Eddy (Quincy Senior) F 3:50 Jaylen Crowder (Lanphier)

182 – Tucker Cook (Pittsfield) F 1:44 Quintin Strahan (Herscher)

195 – Peyton Sarver (St. Joseph-Ogden) F 0:46 Evan Mccormick (Edwardsville)

220 – Owen Birt (St. Joseph-Ogden) MD 13-5 Riley Steinkuehler (Edwardsville)

285 – Jeremy Wright (Lanphier) F 0:53 Carter Rothzen (Monmouth United)

Illinois athletes fare well at Seckman Women’s Tournament in Missouri

Collinsville, Belleville East and Edwardsville competed in the 34-team Seckman Women’s Tournament in Imperial, Missouri and all three teams had four individuals who competed for titles with the Kahoks claiming three first-place finishes while the Lancers and Tigers had two title winners apiece.

Finishing first for Collinsville in the A division was Taylor Dawson (130) while Hannah Jones (145) and Tashieya Taylor (155) won titles in the C division. Also for the Kahoks, Emma Ford (115) took second in the B division and Alanni Torres (140) was fourth in the A-B division.

Dawson (26-4) went 4-0 with three falls while Jones recorded four falls to go 4-0 and Taylor got pins in all five of her matches, one of only two individuals to do that in the competition and had the least amount of time for her five falls, needing just 4:00.

Belleville East got a title from Kiara Ganey (235) and a third-place finish from Alexcia Hardin (105) in the A division, a first-place finish from Kami Ratcliff (170) and second-place efforts from Alexis Bernal (100) and Keely Rulo (190) in the A-B division and fourths from Alonna Rehmer (235) in the B-C division and from Briannah Reed (135) in the C division.

Ratcliff (15-1) won four matches, with the first three being falls while Ganey (11-1) won all three of her matches with falls and Rulo (16-6) recorded three-straight pins before falling in the finals. 

Edwardsville got titles from Tayla Phillips (235) in the B-C division and from Alison Kirk (100) in the C division while Mackenzie Pratt (135) in the A division and Alie Chong (115) placed second in the C division. Gil Raisner (155) was third in C while Gigi Linhorst (110) was fourth in A-B and Parker LeVassuer (140) finished fourth in C division.

Pratt (22-1) won by fall and got a win by medical forfeit before suffering her first loss of the season when she dropped an 11-8 decision to Washington, MO’s Annelise Obermark.  Phillips recorded four-straight falls while Kirk had three-consecutive pins.

Title matches involving Illinois athletes at the Seckman Women’s Tournament 

100 A-B – Mya Hairston (Festus, MO) F 1:07 Alexis Bernal (Belleville East)

100 C – Alison Kirk (Edwardsville) F 3:40 McKenzie Liles (Seckman, MO) -RR  (Round Robin)

115 B – Taylor Sharp (Park Hills Central, MO) F 4:19 Emma Ford (Collinsville – RR

115 C – Adlee Roth (Festus, MO) F 2:38 Alie Chong (Edwardsville)

130 A – Taylor Dawson (Collinsville) D 7-1 Eddyson Reeves (Herculaneum, MO) – RR

135 A – Annelise Obermark (Washington, MO) D 11-8 Mackenzie Pratt (Edwardsville) – RR

145 C – Hannah Jones (Collinsville) F 1:07 Katherine Shaw (Westminster Christian, MO)

155 C – Tashieya Yaylor (Collinsville) F 1:17 Caitlyn McCoy (St. Charles, MO)

170 A-B – Kami Ratcliff (Belleville East) D 8-5 Caelyn Hanff (Wright City, MO) – RR

190 A-B – Shyla Reid (Webster Groves, MO) F 3:42 Keely Rulo (Belleville East) – RR

235 A – Kiara Ganey (Belleville East) F 2:56 Faith Spicer (Fox, MO) – RR (Round Robin)

235 B-C – Tayla Phillips (Edwardsville) F 5:34 Alexus Johns (Mexico, MO)

By Curt Herron

Triad takes first place in Mississippi Valley Conference duals

Triad went 5-0 and won 41-33 over runner-up and host Civic Memorial, who went 4-1, to capture top honors in the Mississippi Valley Conference Duals competition that took place in Bethalto. Waterloo posted a 3-2 record to take third place, Jersey Community had a 2-3 effort to finish fourth and Highland defeated Mascoutah to claim fifth place.

The first-place Knights, who are coached by 2022 IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee Russ Witzig, also beat Waterloo 75-0, Jersey 64-18, Highland 66-8 and Mascoutah 73-3. Triad only lost six matches against the third- through sixth-place teams, falling three times to Jersey, twice to Highland and once to Mascoutah and lost no marches to Waterloo.

Turning in 5-0 performances for Triad were Will Kelly (106), Brody Smith (120), Colby Crouch (126), Braden Rowe (138), Aiden Postma (160) and Nate Engler (220). Recording 4-1 efforts for the Knights were Glen Henry (113), Braden Carlson (152), Bobby Patterson (182), Koen Rodebush (195) and Matthew Hobbs (285).

Coach Jeremy Christeson’s runner-up Eagles beat Waterloo 71-12, Jersey 63-18, Highland 69-9 and Mascoutah 71-11, dropping just nine matches against those four teams.

Posting 5-0 marks for Civic Memorial were Bradley Ruckman (113), Bryce Griffin (145), Brock Barrows (152) and Abe Wojcikiewicz (182) while Ethan Skiff (106), Caleb Scott (126), Nathen Harrin (132), Mason Walker (160) and Luke McCoy (170) all had 4-1 showings.

Triad had an 8-6 advantage in wins in its dual meet with Civic Memorial, The Knights got falls from Postma, Engler, Smith, Crouch and Rowe and major decisions from Rodebush and Kelly while the Eagles received pins from McCoy, Wojcikiewicz, Ruckman, Harrin and Griffin. 

Waterloo beat Jersey 48-36, Highland 42-33 and Mascoutah 48-29. The third-place Bulldogs were led by Bladen Sease (138), who went 4-1. Jersey won its two duals by the same score, defeating Highland 42-36 and Mascoutah 42-36. Panthers who went 5-0 were Connor Chin (170) and Jaydon Busch (285) while James Busch (220) went 4-1 on the day.

Posting 5-0 records for Highland were Tyson Rakers (132) and Ashton Zorbist (195) while Jayden Wilkinson (120) and Preston Reber (145) both went 4-1 for Mascoutah.

Six individuals tied for the most team points with 30. They were Jaydon Busch, Chin, Crouch, Engler, Griffin and Postma while Ruckman and Wojcikiewicz both had 29 points, Smith scored 28 points, Rakers had 27 points and Barrows and Rowe both scored 26 team points.

Geneseo claims top honors in Western Big 6 Tournament

Geneseo had four champions and two second-place finishers to help it claim the championship of the Western Big 6 Conference Tournament with 197 points, which was 37 points ahead of tournament runner-up and host school Quincy Senior, which had 160 points. Rock Island (144), Galesburg (107), Moline (101.5) and Sterling (100.5) were next-best in the eight-team field.

Leading the way for coach Jon Murray’s champion Maple Leafs were title winners Tim Sebastian (106), Zachary Montez (132), Josh Hock (152) and Tim Stohl (220) while Landon Shoemaker (195) and Levi Neumann (285) placed second. Claiming third place were Grady Hull (113), Kye Weinzierl (138) and Malaki Jackson (145) while Devan Hornback (120), Bryce Bealer (126) and Aiden Damewood (160) all finished fourth. 

 It was the second tournament title of the season for Geneseo, which is ranked fourth in Class 2A, with the other being Morton’s Schnarr Invite. The Maple Leafs also won the WB6 last year. 

Top performers for coach Phill Neally’s second-place Blue Devils were champions Owen Uppinghouse (160), Bryor Newbold (182) and Todd Smith (285) and runners-up Brody Baker (138), Eric McClelland (145) and Gunnar Derhake (152). Placing third were Hugh Sharrow (106), Max Miller (170) and Ty Moore (195) while Eli Roberts (132) took fourth place.

Rock Island, which is ranked eighth in 2A, had four champions, Truth Vesey (113), Daniel McGhee (120), Amare Overton (170) and Andrew Marquez (195). Other title winners were Galesburg’s Gauge Shipp (126), Sterling’s Dylan Ottens (138) and Moline’s Noah Tapia (145).

Other second-place finishers were Galesburg’s Josh Larkin (106), Rocky Almendarez (132), Emilio Torres (170) and Dishon Nolen (220), Moline’s Dominick Diaz (120), Kayden Serrano (126) and James Soliz (182) and Sterling’s Zyan Westbrook (113) and Thomas Tate (160).

In some of the closest title matches, Ottens edged Baker 7-5 at 138, Montez won 6-0 over Almendarez at 132 and Andrew Marquez claimed a 9-2 decision over Shoemaker at 195

Individuals who recorded falls in title matches were Sebastian (106), Vesey (113), McGhee (120), Tapia (145), Hock (152), Overton (170), Stohl (220) and Smith (285) while Shipp (126) and Uppinghouse (160) took firsts with wins by technical fall and Newbold (182) won his title with a major decision.

Five individuals who won WB6 titles last year took first again. They were Anthony Marquez, Montez, Shipp, Tapia and Vesey. Two others who placed second in 2022 but won titles were McGhee and Stohl.

Tapia (43-0, 1.000), Shipp (40-0, 1.000) and Uppinghouse (36-0, 1.000) remained unbeaten. Other top records of finalists are Montez (38-1, .974), Vesey (34-2, .944), Newbold (34-4, .895),  and Almendarez (30-4, .882). There was a five-way tie for the most team points with 24 between Hock, Sebastian, Stohl, Tapia and Vesey while Overton, Shipp and Uppinghouse had 23.5 points and McGhee, Ottens and Smith all recorded 22 team points and Andrew Marquez and Newbold tied with 21 team points.

Western Big 6 Conference Tournament championship matches

106 – Tim Sebastian (Geneseo) F 0:30 Josh Larkin (Galesburg)

113 – Truth Vesey (Rock Island) F 2:29 Zyan Westbrook (Sterling)

120 – Daniel McGhee (Rock Island) F 1:01 Dominick Diaz (Moline)

126 – Gauge Shipp (Galesburg) TF 2:42 Kayden Serrano (Moline)

132 – Zachary Montez (Geneseo) D 6-0 Rocky Almendarez (Galesburg)

138 – Dylan Ottens (Sterling) D 7-5 Brody Baker (Quincy Senior)

145 – Noah Tapia (Moline) F 1:32 Eric McClelland (Quincy Senior)

152 – Josh Hock (Geneseo) F 1:36 Gunnar Derhake (Quincy Senior)

160 – Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy Senior) TF 4:10 Thomas Tate (Sterling)

170 – Amare Overton (Rock Island) F 1:46 Emilio Torres (Galesburg)

182 – Bryor Newbold (Quincy Senior) MD 11-2 James Soliz (Moline)

195 – Andrew Marquez (Rock Island) D 9-2 Landon Shoemaker (Geneseo)

220 – Tim Stohl (Geneseo) F 4:49 Dishon Nolen (Galesburg)

285 – Todd Smith (Quincy Senior) F 4:35 Levi Neumann (Geneseo)

Western Big 6 Conference Tournament third-place matches

106 – Hugh Sharrow (Quincy Senior) TF 4:00 Cael Lyons (Sterling)

113 – Grady Hull (Geneseo) F 1:53 Jordan Pauwels-Whitmarsh (United Township)

120 – Xavier Marolf (United Township) D 9-7 Devan Hornback (Geneseo)

126 – Antonio Parker (Rock Island) D 10-3 Bryce Bealer (Geneseo)

132 – Adam Jacks (Alleman) D 7-3 Eli Roberts (Quincy Senior)

138 – Kye Weinzierl (Geneseo) F 3:58 Jaxson Soliz (Moline)

145 – Malakai Jackson (Geneseo) F 3:16 Austin Clemens (Sterling)

152 – Tatum Allen (Sterling) D 4-3 Anthony Makwala (Galesburg)

160 – Zander Ealy (Moline) F 4:59 Aiden Damewood (Geneseo)

170 – Max Miller (Quincy Senior) F 4:55 Gage Tate (Sterling)

182 – Steven Marquez (Rock Island) MD 13-4 Nick Makwala (Galesburg)

195 – Ty Moore (Quincy Senior) MD 9-1 Peyton Pirog (Alleman)

220 – Israel McGowan (Rock Island) For. Oswaldo Navarro (Sterling)

285 – Eli Gustafson (Rock Island) F 1:17 Javier Luna (Sterling)

Belvidere closes strong to capture NIC-10 championship 

Belvidere co-op, featuring athletes from Belvidere and Belvidere North, faced an uphill climb in its quest to repeat as champions of the Northern Illinois Conference-10 (NIC-10). Despite being down by 21 points heading into the final round, the team won all six of its title matches to take first place over Hononegah by a 212.5-202 margin. Host Harlem (192.5) took third place while Rockford East (109) and Freeport (95) were next in the nine-team event in Machesney Park.

Winning titles for coach Danny Martinez’ championship squad were Brayden Teunissen (106), Bryson Teunissen (113), Dominic Girardin (138), Antonio Alvarado (145), Colin Young (152) and TJ Mitchell (182). Placing third were Geren Stapleton (120), Andrew Bucci (126) and Zander Martinez (220) while Juan Cervantes (170) was fourth while Anthony Vrlac (132), Jorge Hernandez (160) and Emmanuel Pizano (285) all finished fifth

“Going into the final round of wrestling, we were down by 21 points,” Martinez said. “I told the team we still had a chance to win, but would need the round of our lives to get it. Next thing I know, we started rattling off wins with bonus points and then went perfect in the finals. These kids earned this one. Back-to-back champs feels good.”

Leading the way for coach Tyler DeMoss’ runner-up Indians were champions Javier Escobedo (120), Robert Darling (126), Elliot Diemel (170) and Isaak Smith (220) and second-place finishers Jackson Olson (106), Angelina Cassioppi (113), Connor Diemel (145) and Max Haskins (152). David Fambro (182) took third while Harrison Kinney (160) and Ayden Silva (195) were fourth and Jack Ginter (138) placed fifth.

Other NIC-10 champions were Freeport’s Jacob Redington (132), Harlem’s Ben Larsen (160), Jefferson’s Karlondo Duboise (195) and Guilford’s Gannon Buckner (285).

Also claiming second-place finishes were Harlem’s Ethan Hagerman (126), Aiden Zacharuk (138), Andrew Redmon (182), Caleb Eklund (195) and Joe Holloway-Rockwell (220), Rockford East’s Peter Young (120), Malik Ali (132) and Orion Losiniecki (170) and Freeport’s Donavyn Fernandez (160) and Sami Odeh (285).

Repeating as NIC-10 champions were Alvarado, Redington, Brayden Teuissen and Colin Young while Diemel, Duboise and Mitchell took second last year and finished first in this competition.

Closest title matches involved Bryson Teunissen edging Cassioppi 3-2 at 113, Darling got past Hagerman 8-7 at 126, Smith pulled out a 6-5 victory over Holloway-Rockwell at 220, Alvarado prevailed over Connor Diemel 12-10 at 145, Larsen was a 6-4 victor over Fernandez at 160, Duboise won 5-3 over Eklund at 195 and Girardin got a 7-0 triumph over Zacharuk at 138.

Winning championships by fall were Brayden Teunissen (106), Elliot Diemel (170) and Mitchell (182) while Colin Young (152) captured a title with a win by technical fall. Redington (132) took first with a major decision and Escobedo (120) won by medical forfeit in his title match.

Best records among NIC-10 finalists are Alvarado (43-2, .956), Brayden Teunissen (41-2, .953), Redington (34-2, .944), Colin Young (41-4, .911) and Duboise (18-2, .900). Buckner, Elliot Diemel and Brayden Teunissen led all competitors with 24 team points while Colin Young had 23.5 and Redington scored 23 points. Alvarado, Duboise, Escobedo, Girardin, Larsen, Mitchell, Smith and Bryson Teunissen all recorded 22 team points.

Northern Illinois Conference-10 (NIC-10) championship matches

106 – Brayden Teunissen (Belvidere) F 3:19 Jackson Olson (Hononegah)

113 – Bryson Teunissen (Belvidere) D 3-2 Angelina Cassioppi (Hononegah)

120 – Javier Escobedo (Hononegah) M. For. Peter Young (Rockford East)

126 – Robert Darling (Hononegah) D 8-7 Ethan Hagerman (Harlem)

132 – Jacob Redington (Freeport) MD 17-7 Malik Ali (Rockford East)

138 – Dominic Girardin (Belvidere) D 7-0 Aiden Zacharuk (Harlem)

145 – Antonio Alvarado (Belvidere) D 12-10 Connor Diemel (Hononegah)

152 – Colin Young (Belvidere) TF 2:50 Max Haskins (Hononegah)

160 – Ben Larsen (Harlem) D 6-4 Donavyn Fernandez (Freeport)

170 – Elliot Diemel (Hononegah) F 3:52 Orion Losiniecki (Rockford East)

182 – TJ Mitchell (Belvidere) F 1:53 Andrew Redmon (Harlem)

195 – Karlondo Duboise (Jefferson) D 5-3 Caleb Eklund (Harlem)

220 – Isaak Smith (Hononegah) D 6-5 Joe Holloway-Rockwell (Harlem)

285 – Gannon Buckner (Guilford) F 3:11 Sami Odeh (Freeport)

Northern Illinois Conference-10 (NIC-10) third-place matches

106 – Ntahuyamana Pacifique (Auburn) F 1:15 Donovan Kowalski (Guilford)

113 – Dylan Goodall (Harlem) F 0:52 Aurielle Calmese (Freeport)

120 – Geren Stapleton (Belvidere) F 3:52 Izayah Olejniczak (Harlem)

126 – Andrew Bucci (Belvidere) F 3:33 Ty’quavion Smart (Rockford East)

132 – Myles Babcock (Harlem) F 3:37 Jayvier Trujilo (Auburn)

138 – Dana Wickson (Rockford East) D 5-4 Dayvion Fernandez (Freeport)

145 – Maddux Olson (Freeport) MD 20-11 Xzavier Lindhe (Guilford)

152 – Wyatt Huffman (Harlem) F 3:01 Arshoun Island (Auburn)

160 – Malachi Cannon (Rockford East) F 1:50 Harrison Kinney (Hononegah)

170 – Kaden Christensen (Harlem) MD 14-6 Juan Cervantes (Belvidere)

182 – David Fambro (Hononegah) F 3:56 Carmine Mashinter (Boylan Catholic)

195 – Saidi Ishmail (Rockford East) F 2:00 Ayden Silva (Hononegah)

220 – Zander Martinez (Belvidere) F Reggie Pinedo (Rockford East)

285 – Damarion Love (Auburn) D 13-7 Dylan Hogan (Harlem)

LeRoy/Tri-Valley wins title in Heart of Illinois Conference title

LeRoy/Tri-Valley had five champions and four second-place finishers to help it capture top honors at The Heart of Illinois Conference with 191 points, which was 10 points better than runner-up El Paso-Gridley. Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher was third with 135 points while Eureka (88.5) and Tremont (70) were next in line in the seven-team event in El Paso.

Top performers for coach Brady Sant Amour’s champion Panthers were Brady Mouser (106), Kobe Brent (113),Tyson Brent (170), Jacob Bischoff (220) and Tate Sigler (285) while Brock Owens (126), Colton Prosser (132), Jack Green (138) and Connor Lyons (145) were second.Taking third place were Bo Zeleznik (152) and Drendon Stickling (195) while Jaelyn Brumfield (120) and Ethan Conaty (160) finished fourth.

This was the fourth tournament title won this season by the Panthers, who moved up to tenth in the Class 1A rankings. They also took firsts at Metamora, High School of Saint Thomas More’s New Year’s Challenge and their own Randy Bowman Invitational, which they won last week.

Leading the way for coach Zachary Zvonar’s second-place Titans, who are ranked 18th, were champions Logan Gibson (120), Tyler Roth (138), Dax Gentes (160) and Cody Langland (182) while Nolan Whitman (106), Caleb Graham (113), Ethan Whitman (170) and Parker Duffy (195) placed second. Parker Key (132) and Waylon Melick (145) took third while Savannah Hamilton (126) and Jesse Gerber (285) finished fourth.

Other Heart of Illinois champions were Tremont’s Bowden Delaney (126) and Mason Mark (132), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher’s Carson Maxey (145) and Aiden Sancken (195) and Eureka’s Derrick Wiles (152). 

Also finishing in second place were Eureka’s Landon Wierenga (220) and Zach King (285), Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Shawn Schlickman (120), Ridgeview/Lexington’s Caeden Lopshire (152), Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Gage Sweckard (160) and Tremont’s TJ Connor (182).

Half of the championship matches were decided by four points or less. The closest title matches featured Maxey edging Lyons 5-4 at 145, Bischoff prevailing 1-0 over Wierenga at 220, Sigler getting past King 1-0 at 285, Wiles beating Lopshire 7-5 at 152, Mark picking up a 6-2 decision over Prosser at 132, Roth winning 9-5 over Green at 138, Langland claiming an 8-4 win over Connor at 182 and Gibson capturing a 12-6 decision over Schlickman at 120.

Winning titles by fall were Mouser (106), Kobe Brent, (113), Delaney (126) and Sancken (195)  while taking first place with major decisions were Gentes (160) and Tyson Brent (170).

Finalists with the best records are Gentes (42-1, .977), Mouser (36-2, .947), Sancken (27-2, .931), Delaney (36-3, .923), Tyson Brent (32-3, .914), Mark (37-4, .902) and Maxey (30-4, .882). Delaney, Mouser and Sancken tied for the most team points with 22, Gentes had 21 points and Bischoff, Kobe Brent, Langland, Mark, Maxey, Roth, Sigler and Wiles all had 20 team points. 

Heart of Illinois Conference championship matches

106 – Brady Mouser (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) F 2:35 Nolan Whitman (El Paso-Gridley)

113 – Kobe Brent (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) F 1:08 Caleb Graham (El Paso-Gridley)

120 – Logan Gibson (El Paso-Gridley) D 12-6 Shawn Schlickman (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley)

126 – Bowden Delaney (Tremont) F 2:56 Brock Owens (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

132 – Mason Mark (Tremont) D 6-2 Colton Prosser (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

138 – Tyler Roth (El Paso-Gridley) D 9-5 Jack Green (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

145 – Carson Maxey (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) D 5-4 Connor Lyons (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

152 – Derrick Wiles (Eureka) D 7-5 Caeden Lopshire (Ridgeview/Lexington) 

160 – Dax Gentes (El Paso-Gridley) MD 14-4 Gage Sweckard (Deer Creek-Mackinaw)

170 – Tyson Brent (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) MD 14-3 Ethan Whitman (El Paso-Gridley)

182 – Cody Langland (El Paso-Gridley) D 8-4 TJ Connor (Tremont)

195 – Aiden Sancken (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) F 3:46 Parker Duffy (El Paso-Gridley)

220 – Jacob Bischoff (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 1-0 Landon Wierenga (Eureka)

285 – Tate Sigler (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 1-0 Zach King (Eureka)

Heart of Illinois Conference third-place matches

106 – Gage Martin (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) F 0:29 Jackson Phillips (Eureka)

113 – Samantha Lauer (Deer Creek-Mackinaw) Bye

120 – Josie Barham (Deer Creek-Mackinaw) D 13-7 Jaelyn Brumfield (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

126 – Clay Wiegand (Deer Creek-Mackinaw) D 6-2 Savannah Hamilton (El Paso-Gridley)

132 – Parker Key (El Paso-Gridley) D 7-4 Avery Schlickman (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley)

138 – Judson Stover (Ridgeview/Lexington) F 2:48 Peyton Hixon (Deer Creek-Mackinaw)

145 – Waylon Melick (El Paso-Gridley) F 4:53 Aaron Eastman (Eureka)

152 – Bo Zeleznik (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) F 3:10 Carter Kallal (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley)

160 – Dillon Wiles (Eureka) D 8-3 Ethan Conaty (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

170 – Sam Manson (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) SV 15-13 Ian Eatock (Tremont)

182 – Lincoln Eastin (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) F 3:36 Zach Bork (Ridgeview/Lexington)

195 – Drendon Stickling (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) F 4:59 Gray McCue (Ridgeview/Lexington)

220 – Cohen Kean (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) F 2:18 Jacob Balsimo (Tremont)

285 – Aydin Cornell (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley) F 5:02 Jesse Gerber (El Paso-Gridley)

By Gary Larsen

Five Chicago-area conference and league tournaments took place over the weekend and the following team champions emerged:

Chicago Public League boys’ tournament: Lane Tech
Chicago Public League girls’ tournament: Rickover Naval Academy
East Suburban Catholic Conference tournament: Joliet Catholic

Upstate Eight Conference girls’ tournament: East Aurora
Southland Athletic Conference boys’ tournament: Rich Township

Here is a roundup of those five tournaments:

Upstate Eight Conference girls’ tournament team champion: East Aurora

East Aurora posted a 277.5-223 edge over second-place Bartlett to win this year’s Upstate Eight Conference tournament, hosted by Glenbard East.
Fenton (203.5) finished third, followed by West Chicago (198.5), Glenbard East (159.5), Elgin (146), South Elgin (127), Glenbard South (114.5), Larkin (98), and Streamwood (77).
East Aurora coach Ryan Mick sent nine wrestlers to the championship finals and got individual  titles from Kameyah Young (100), Dahlia Lagos (140/145), and Jordan Smith (170), and second-place finishes from Monica De La Cruz (100), Ixzayana Cruz (105), Liliana Hernandez (125), Yoheadi Contreras (130), Brenda Excobedo (135), and Anjanne Haywood (190).

Second-place Bartlett got an individual title from Angie Carpintero (110), while third-place Fenton got titles from Roxy Patino (125) and Sophia Sosa (135).

West Chicago led all teams with four individual champs in Summer Silks (115), Kaitlynn Pilon (120), Jenny Espinal (130), and Jayden Rodriguez (190).

Upstate Eight Conference championship matches:

100: Kameyah Young (East Aurora) TF Monica De La Cruz (East Aurora)
105: Mali Patino (Elgin) D 8-3 Ixzayana Cruz (East Aurora)

110: Angie Carpinrtero (Bartlett) F Alyssa Elizondo (West Chicago)

115: Summer Silks (West Chicago) F Susana Correa (West Chicago)

120: Kaitlynn Pilon (West Chicago) F Salome Patino (Elgin)

125: Roxy Patino (Fenton) F Liliana Hernandez (East Aurora)

130: Jenny Espinal (West Chicago) D 7-3 Yoheadi Contreras (East Aurora)
135: Sophia Sosa (Fenton) F Brenda Excobedo (East Aurora)

140/45: Daliah Lagos (East Aurora) BYE

155: Maria Ferrer (Larkin) D 10-8 Yamile Penaloza (Fenton)

170: Jordan Smith (East Aurora) F Alex Arquilla (Glenbard South)

190: Jayden Rodriguez (West Chicago) TF Anjanne Haywood (East Aurora)

235: Kaleigha Johnson (Glenbard East) D 3-2 2OT Andrea Gordillo (Elgin)

Upstate Eight Conference 3rd-place matches:

100: Kezziah Depaz (West Chicago) F Melissa Viveros (Elgin)

105: Kandace Dang (Glenbard East) F Lucy Nguyen (Bartlett)

110: Melanie Granda (Larkin) D 10-6  Luz Avilez (East Aurora)

115: Haven Colagrossi (Glenbard South) F  Alexandra Avila (Larkin)

120: Giselle Castillo (Fenton) F Tina Ebrahimi (Larkin)

125: Emily Pizano (Elgin) F Norah Huggins (Bartlett)

130: Briana Anselmo (Elgin) F Autumn Piepenbrink (Glenbard East)

135: Jazmin Vera (East Aurora) BYE
140/145: Daliah Lagos (East Aurora) BYE

155: Ingrio Guillen (East Aurora) F Jennifer Pena (Bartlett)

170: Danarria McClay (Glenbard East) D 3-2 Asia Lacey (Glenbard East)

190: Valerie Serna (Bartlett) BYE

235: A`ja Young (Larkin) BYE

Southland Athletic Conference boys’ tournament team champion: Rich Township

Host Rich Township sent eight wrestlers to the finals at this year’s Southland Athletic Conference tournament, and won four individual titles in out-pointing second-place Crete Monee 201-163 in Richton Park.

Thornton (128.5) placed third, followed by Kankakee (126), Thornwood (34), and Bloom Township (32).
Coach Alex Pell’s Raptors got titles from Davion Henry (106), Diondre Henry (113), Deyonte Drake (120) and Nasir Bailey (145), and second-place finishes from Jason Carey (132), Greg Sauls Sanders (160), Kenny Clark (182), and Dylaan Richmond (285).

The Raptors also got thirds from Cornelious Darden (126), Tristin King (138), Isaac Dunbar (152), Jace Franklin (195), and Chris Walton (220), and a fourth from LC Harris (170).

Second-place Crete Monee also sent eight to the finals and matched Rich Township with four individual champions in Jerome Brown (138), Jaylene Johnson (152), Elijah Grayer (160), and Brandon Alexander (182), and four runners-up in Jordan Kirkpatrick (120), Josyah Holland (145), Michael Smith (170), and Justin Lawton (220).

Southland Athletic Conference boys’ tournament championship matches:

106: Davion Henry (Rich Township) F 1:43 Taniyah Sherman (Kankakee)
113:Diondre Henry (Rich Township) F 2:51 Aidan Fields (Kankakee)

120:Deyonte Drake (Rich Township) D 9-2 Jordan Kirkpatrick (Crete Monee)

126:Jeremiah Jones (Thornwood) F 3:47 Destiny Bright (Thornton)

132: Fred Osborne (Thornton) D 5-4 Jason Carey (Rich Township)

138: Jerome Brown (Crete Monee) F 3:14 Kahlil Craig (Bloom Township)

145: Nasir Bailey (Rich Township) F 3:11 Josyah Holland (Crete Monee)
152: Jaylene Johnson (Crete Monee) F 3:53 Kyler Barker (Thornton)

160: Elijah Grayer (Crete Monee) F 0:24 Greg Sauls Sanders (Rich Township)

170: Davion Adams (Thornton) F 1:40 Michael Smith (Crete Monee)

182: Brandon Alexander (Crete Monee) F 1:29 Kenny Clark (Rich Township)

195: Micheal Bannerman-Blankston (Kankakee) F 1:20 Qilee Jackson (Thornton)

220: Lionel Senior (Thornton) F 2:50 Justin Lawton (Crete Monee)

285: Rogelio Cornejo (Kankakee) F 0:52 Dylaan Richmond (Rich Township)

Southland Athletic Conference boys’ tournament 3rd-place matches:

106: None

113: David Jones (Crete Monee) BYE

120: Jakil Whalum (Kankakee) F 3:05 Arick Lathem (Thornwood)

126: Cornelious Darden (Rich Township) TF 2:57 Cam Walter (Bloom Township)

132: Alejandra Cornejo (Kankakee ) F 1:37 Shawn Johnson (Crete Monee)

138: Tristin King (Rich Township) F 2:43 Ryan Jackson (Thornton)

145: Caleb Dickens (Kankakee ) D 5-3 Clarence Allen (Thornwood)

152: Isaac Dunbar (Rich Township) F 0:49 Dale Hebert (Kankakee)

160: None

170: Travon Jordan (Kankakee ) F 3:20 LC Harris (Rich Township)

182: Kuntrell Rogers (Thornton) D 16-12 Erick Valdez-Cruz (Kankakee)

195: Jace Franklin (Rich Township) D 9-2 Xavier Lloyd (Crete Monee)

220: Chris Walton (Rich Township) F 3:55 Eliasar Rosales (Bloom Township)

285: Dominic Rodriguez (Bloom Township) BYE

East Suburban Catholic Conference tournament champion: Joliet Catholic Academy

The East Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament was expected to be a battle between two of the state’s best teams, Joliet Catholic Academy and Marist, and that’s just what happened when the eight-team event took place at Marist in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood.

JCA, the top-ranked team and defending 2A state champion, got past Marist, ranked fourth in 3A and a dual team qualifier a year ago, by a 226-221.5 margin as the Hilltoppers captured their first championship and denied the defending champion RedHawks of their 38th title in 42 years. St. Patrick (72.5), Notre Dame College Prep (63) and Nazareth Academy (44.5) were next best.

Coach Ryan Cumbee’s champion Hilltoppers featured title winners Jason Hampton (113), Gylon Sims (120), Jake Hamiti (138), Mason Alessio (160), Nico Ronchetti (182) and Dillan Johnson (285) while Noah Avina (106), George Hollendoner (126), Nolan Vogel (132), Luke Hamiti (145), Connor Cumbee (152) and Zach Pomatto (195) were second and Isaac Clawson (170) and Hunter Powell (220) placed third.

‘It was a total team effort with strong individual performances by many,” Ryan Cumbee said. “Winning this conference title is a great way to close the regular season and head into the state series with confidence.”

Leading coach Brendan Heffernan’s second-place RedHawks were champions George Marinopoulos (106), Matthew Cornfield (126), Donavon Allen (132), Will Denny (145), Andrew Dado (152), Jacob Liberatore (170) and Peter Marinopoulos (195), runners-up Tommy Fidler (113), Michael Esteban (120), Ricky Ericksen (160), Conor Phelan (182) and Luke Liberatore (220) while Tyrese Johnson (138) and Ryan Lanigan (285) finished third.

There were 10 head-to-head title matches between the Hilltoppers and RedHawks and the hosts won six of them. Marist had seven champions and JCA had six. The ESCC’s other title winner was Nazareth Academy’s Gabe Kaminski (220). Individuals who repeated as champions were Marist’s Dado, Denny, Liberatore, George Marinopoulos and Peter Marinopoulos and JCA’s Alessio, Johnson and Sims.

Other second-place finishers were St. Patrick’s Niko Karamaniolas (138), Marian Catholic’s Lloyd Mills (170) and Nazareth Academy’s Sam Stec (285).

In some of the closest title matches, Dado edged Cumbee 3-2 at 152, Hampton won 4-0 over Fidler at 113, Denny captured a 12-6 decision over Luke Hamiti at 145 and Kaminski won 9-2 over Luke Liberatore at 220. 

Capturing titles by fall were Jake Hamiti (138), Alessio (160), Liberatore (170), Ronchetti (182) and Johnson (285). Claiming title with wins by technical fall were Allen (132) and Peter Marinopoulos (195). And winning titles by major decision were George Marinopoulos (106), Sims (120) and Cornfield (126).

Other third-place finishers were Notre Dame’s Johnny Sheehy (106), Quinn Mahoney (160), Jim Amatore (182) and Aiden Rice (195), St. Patrick’s Calvin Stahl (113), Olin Walker (120) and Van Grasser (145), Carmel’s Alex Asllani (126) and Tony Hinojosa (132) and Saint Viator’s John Whelan (152).

Also placing fourth were St. Patrick’s Daniel Goodwin (106), Ben Kusar (132), Devin Nichol (160), Gio Hernandez (170) and Aiden Gomez (220), Notre Dame’s John Greifelt (113), Brady Krueger (120), James Frugoli (126), Michael McCarthy (138) and Tony Pena (152), Marian Catholic’s Evan Fitzgerald (145) and Nazareth Academy’s Scott Creviston (182).

Jacob Liberatore led all competitors with 22 team points, Ronchetti and Sims had 21 points, Alessio, Denny and Hampton each had 20 team points, Allen, Jake Hamiti and Kaminski had 19.5 points, Cornfield scored 19 points and Johnson and George Marinopoulos had 18 points.

East Suburban Catholic Conference championship matches

106 – George Marinopoulos (Marist) MD 9-1 Noah Avina (Joliet Catholic Academy)

113 – Jason Hampton (Joliet Catholic Academy) D 4-0 Tommy Fidler (Marist)

120 – Gylon Sims (Joliet Catholic Academy) MD 10-1 Michael Esteban (Marist)

126 – Matthew Cornfield (Marist) MD 11-2 George Hollendoner (Joliet Catholic Academy)

132 – Donavon Allen (Marist) TF 4:19 Nolan Vogel (Joliet Catholic Academy)

138 – Jake Hamiti (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 2:53 Niko Karamaniolas (St. Patrick)

145 – Will Denny (Marist) D 12-6 Luke Hamiti (Joliet Catholic Academy)

152 – Andrew Dado (Marist) D 3-2 Connor Cumbee (Joliet Catholic Academy)

160 – Mason Alessio (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 1:53 Ricky Ericksen (Marist)

170 – Jacob Liberatore (Marist) F 0:14 Lloyd Mills (Marian Catholic)

182 – Nico Ronchetti (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 3:07 Conor Phelan (Marist)

195 – Peter Marinopoulos (Marist) TF 5:47 Zach Pomatto (Joliet Catholic Academy)

220 – Gabe Kaminski (Nazareth Academy) D 9-2 Luke Liberatore (Marist)

285 – Dillan Johnson (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 1:02 Sam Stec (Nazareth Academy)

East Suburban Catholic Conference third-place matches

 106 – Johnny Sheehy (Notre Dame) MD 12-3 Daniel Goodwin (St. Patrick)

113 – Calvin Stahl (St. Patrick) D 6-4 John Greifelt (Notre Dame)

120 – Olin Walker (St. Patrick) TF 2:56 Brady Krueger (Notre Dame)

126 – Alex Asllani (Carmel) F 2:38 James Frugoli (Notre Dame)

132 – Tony Hinojosa (Carmel) D 9-6 Ben Kusar (St. Patrick)

138 – Tyrese Johnson (Marist) TF 6:00 Michael McCarthy (Notre Dame)

145 – Van Grasser (St. Patrick) F 3:29 Evan Fitzgerald (Marian Catholic)

152 – John Whelan (Saint Viator) D 2-1 Tony Pena (Notre Dame)

160 – Quinn Mahoney (Notre Dame) F 4:00 Devin Nichol (St. Patrick)

170 – Isaac Clawson (Joliet Catholic Academy) D 1-0 Gio Hernandez (St. Patrick)

182 – Jim Amatore (Notre Dame) D 3-1 Scott Creviston (Nazareth Academy)

195 – Aiden Rice (Notre Dame) Bye

220 – Hunter Powell (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 1:28 Aiden Gomez (St. Patrick)

285 – Ryan Lanigan (Marist) Bye

Chicago Public League boys’ tournament team champion: Lane Tech

The Chicago Public League boys’ tournament took place Sunday, hosted by De La Salle, and when the dust settled it was Lane Tech earning the team title with 253 points. Taft (225) placed second, followed by Phoenix Military Academy (183.5), Rickover Naval Academy (133.5), Gary Comer (114), Little Village (110), Kelly (99), Sarah Goode (94), Kenwood (89.5), and Lindblom (86) to round out the top 10 team finishes.

Lane Tech coach Matthew Yan got five individual titles on the day, from Evan Coles (106), Alex Valentin (113), Finn Merrill (138), Felix Zavala (145), and Fernando Lopez (152). Finishing second for Lane was Nasser Hammouche (132), while Marcello Valle (126) and Julian Hutchinson (285) placed third.

Chicago Public League tournament championship matches:

106: Evan Coles (Lane Tech) MD 15-3 Bernardo Roque (Taft)

113: Alex Valentin (Lane Tech) MD 10-2 Victor Alvarado (Kennedy)

120: Jose Lua (Phoenix Military) F 3:58 Nathaniel Sales (Rickover)

126: Cameron Griffin (Kenwood) D 7-5 Mauricio Cisneros (Phoenix Military)
132: Vin Moreno (Phoenix Military) F 5:43 Nasser Hammouche (Lane Tech)

138: Finn Merrill (Lane Tech) F 1:14 Xavier Woods (Sarah Goode)

145: Felix Zavala (Lane Tech) F 2:45 James Odulaja (Kenwood)

152: Fernando Lopez (Lane Tech) F 2:59 Faizol Salam (Gary Comer)

160: Jimmy Lua (Phoenix Military) D 9-8 Damond Butler (Curie)

170: Antonio Padilla (Solorio) D 6-1 Arlo Johnston (Mather)

182: Wilhelm Lord (Hyde Park) F 5:39 Frankie Cruz (Kelly)

195: Sean Brown (CMA-Bronzeville) D 12-8 Kaleb Abney (Phoenix Military)

220: Elijah Edwards (Sarah Goode) F 0:11 Demonte Smallwood (Bowen)

285: Grzegorz Krupa (Taft) F 1:59 Fernando Gomez (Back of the Yards)

Chicago Public League 3rd-place matches:

106: Brian Bahena (Little Village) F 1:26 Josuè Tankson (Kennedy)

113: Lance Rosales (Taft) TF 2:24 Adan Bucio (Phoenix Military)

120: Lawrence Rosales (Taft) D 6-0 O`Ryan Sandifer (Gary Comer)

126: Marcello Valle (Lane Tech) F 3:59 Jacob Pizarro (Rickover)

132: Justin Hernandez (Rickover) D 4-0 Awwal Ogunsolu (Kelly)

138: Maxwell Nevinger (Senn) D 8-6 Austin Dempsey (Taft)

145: Alejandro Olvera (Rickover) D 11-9 Sergio Ramirez (Lindblom)

152: Kendall Martin (Sarah Goode) F 1:39 Adonai Zora-Awini (Rickover)

160: Michaelangelo Scalera (Taft) F 4:27 Ameir Alexander (Schurz)

170: Larnzell McNeal (Gary Comer) D 7-6 Nehemiah Pinder (Kenwood)

182: Jaden Shores (Morgan Park) F 2:31 Emmanuel Ellis (Westinghouse)

195: Grant Hansen (Taft) F 2:20 Jakob Okonkwo (Lindblom)

220: Arturo Gonzalez (Kelly) SV-1 2-1 Josue Olivo (Lindblom)

285: Julian Hutchinson (Lane Tech) F 0:47 Adrian Chavez (Little 

Village)

Chicago Public League girls’ tournament team champion: Rickover Naval Academy

With three individual champions and two second-place finishers, the girls from Rickover Naval Academy walked away with this year’s CPL team title at De La Salle.

Rickover posted a 192-105 edge over second-place Back of the Yards. Curie (100) finished third, followed by Phoenix Military Academy (83), Lane Tech (75), Kelly (72), Lindblom (62), South Shore (60), Washington (57.5), and Kenwood (51) to round out the top-10 team finishes.

Rickover coach Andrew Holden got individual titles from Mia Vazquez (100), Annabella Guzman (130), and Clara Biela (170), and seconds from Litzy Guaman (110), and Camila Martinez-Gonzalez (155). Rickover also got thirds from Shayla Trujillo (135) and Jannine Flores (190), a fourth from Rubi Bandera (105), fifths from Maritza Ponce (115), Nattalio Ribero-Alanis (140), and Alisa Burk (145), and a sixth from Kimmely Trujillo (120).

Chicago Public League girls’ tournament championship matches:

100: Mia Vazquez (Rickover) F 0:20 Evelin Martinez (Curie)

105: Diana Lopez (Phoenix) F 3:11 Kimani Glaspe (Westinghouse)

110: Hida Thomas (Back of the Yards) F 2:55 Litzy Guaman (Rickover)

115: Jaqueline Dimas (Kelly) D 6-5 Michaela Yu (Taft)

120: Monica Griffin (Bowen) F 1:13 Nyah Lovis (Lane Tech)
125: Nykya Scott (Lindblom) F 1:56 Tyhesia Goss (CMA Bronzeville)

130: Anabella Guzman (Rickover) F 1:35 Yesenia Depaz (Back of the Yards)

135: Vanessa Torres (Curie) F 0:27 Leslie Ruiz (Lake View)

140: Itzel Jimenez (Washington) F 4:39 Zoe Gonzalez (Curie)

145: Gisell Patino (Back of the Yards) F 0:34 Beverly Thompson (Kenwood)

155: AJ Grant (Phoenix) F 0:43 Camila Martinez-Gonzalez (Rickover)

170: Clara Biela (Rickover) F 0:36 Nicole Chmelar (Lane Tech)

190: Krystal Thomas (South Shore) F 0:21 Liana Andrade (Kelly)

235: Aaliyah Grandberry (Curie) D 2-0 Jasmine Mejia (Rickover)

Chicago Public League girls’ tournament 3rd-place matches:

100: Yazmin Mendoza (Kelly) F 0:44 Giselle Arabula (Curie)

105: Chloe Arana (Washington) TF 4:18 Rubi Bandera (Rickover)

110: Mia Thomas (Phoenix) F 3:17 Melany Corona (CMA Bronzeville)

115: Marisol Castro Duran (Phoenix) F 3:45 Ellie Frost (Lane Tech)

120: Raynisha Sims (Lake View) F 5:13 Xel Yanez (Lindblom)

125: Gabriela Romero (Lane Tech) INJ Joselyn Rodriguez (Back of the Yards)

130: Ava Woods (South Shore) F 0:56 Carolina Deldago (Lindblom)

135: Shayla Trujillo (Rickover) F 1:55 Krishna Garfias (Mather)

140: Leah Morris (Kenwood) D 14-8 Vanessa Alejandro (Lindblom)

145: Ayanna Mathis (Curie) F 1:15 Laniya Fields (Curie)

155: Keyla Morales Sauceda (Crane) F 4:29 Karina Melgaza-King (Westinghouse)

170: Ganiyat Hamzat (Senn) D 3-0 Sophia Monroy (C. Academy)

190: Jannine Flores (Rickover) F 3:09 MariCarmen Arce (Phoenix)

235: Destiny Thomas (South Shore) F 1:54 N`Dyia Mahon-Godfrey (Kelly)

By Curt Herron

PALOS HILLS  – Things were looking good for defending Class 1A champion Yorkville Christian after the first day of the Tom Lahey Tournament at Amos Alonzo Stagg in Palos Hills with coach Mike Vester’s second-ranked team in Class 1A leading second-place Lockport Township, which is ranked eighth in Class 3A, by a 90.5-76.5 margin.

But coach Jameson Oster’s Porters stepped up in a big way on the second day by turning in strong performances in both the semifinals as well as in the subsequent consolation round to establish control and went on to capture top honors of the 19-team tournament that features the programs from the SouthWest Suburban Conference with 199 points, which was 39.5 points better than runner-up Yorkville Christian. Lockport Township also won the title last season.

In a tournament that featured eight ranked teams, five of which were in Class 3A, two of the top teams were from smaller classes. Glenwood, ranked fifth in Class 2A, took third place with 140 points, which was 1.5 points ahead of Lincoln-Way East, which is ranked tenth in Class 3A.

Homewood-Flossmoor, honorable mention in 3A, took fifth with 137.5 points, which was three points better than Mahomet-Seymour, which is fifth-ranked in Class 2A. Carl Sandburg was next with 121 points while Andrew edged No. 11 Lincoln-Way West 115-114 for eighth place. No. 24 Hinsdale Central (102) took tenth and Bradley-Bourbonnais (100.5) finished ahead of No. 19 Lincoln-Way Central (94.5).

In a sign of the balance among the top four teams, they only had two champions, one apiece for Lockport Township and Yorkville Christian. Homewood-Flossmoor had three title winners while Mahomet-Seymour, Carl Sandburg and Hinsdale Central each had two champions.

Leading the way for the champion Porters were title winner Logan Swaw (160), runners-up Justin Wardlow (120) and Carlos Munoz-Flores (132) and third-place finishers Isaac Zimmerman (106), Logan Kaminski (138), Durango Valles (152), Payton Roberson (182) and Wojciech Chrobak (285). Jad Alwawi (126) finished fourth while Chris Miller (145) was sixth.

Lockport Township alumni Jameson Oster took over this season for his brother Josh, who had led the program since 2011. That’s when he succeeded his coach, who he also worked for as an assistant, Joe Williams, who was honored for laying the foundation of one of the state’s top programs during his 21-year career with induction in the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 2015. 

In Josh’s 11 seasons, the Porters went 220-48 and made seven appearances in the IHSA dual team finals, with six of those coming during the last seven years that the tournament has been held. They captured four trophies, including three in a row from 2015 through 2017 and took third place a year ago, with the highlight being their Class 3A championship in 2017.

“The semifinal round is always a big round at these tournaments,” Oster said. “In that round and the blood round, we ended up winning 10 out of 11 matches. We brought 13 guys and placed 10 of them in the top six. This tournament is getting better and it’s good to have full brackets. And it’s good to see the guys wrestling well going into our last competition before regionals.

“They’re coming together and are behind each other and wrestling as a team. It’s a good team to be a part of and now we just need to get a little healthier and we have these two weeks to get ready for the end.  They’re all competitors and they go out there and compete and they’re always looking to score points and that’s the most important thing in wrestling. 

“This program has been built up to one of the best in the state, so we’re just kind of staying the course. I bring in my little different changes but in the end, it’s doing a lot of the same things and the kids know that what we do works and they believe in it, and the results show.”

Top performers for the runner-up Mustangs were champion Jackson Gillen (170), runner-up Tyler Martinez (160) and third-place finishers Ty Edwards (120) and Jeremy Loomis (195). Aiden Larsen (106) placed fourth while Noah Dial (132) and Drew Torza (152) both took fifth.

Other Lahey Tournament champions were Homewood-Flossmoor’s Deion Johnson (113), Jaydon Robinson (145) and Jermaine Butler (152), Carl Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (106) and Ryan Hinger (132), Hinsdale Central’s Cody Tavoso (138) and Marko Ivanisevic (220), Mahomet-Seymour’s Brennan Houser (182) and Mateo Casillas (195), Andrew’s Trevor Silzer (120), Bolingbrook’s Aaron Camacho (126) and Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo (285).

Also claiming second-place finishes were Andrew’s Nadeem Haleem (106) and Max Siegel (113), Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Levi Greenlee (138) and AJ Mancilla (182), Lincoln-Way East’s Connor Koehler (145) and Ari Zaeske (170), Glenwood’s Aden Byal (152) and Alex Hamrick (220), Lincoln-Way Central’s Nathan Knowlton (126), Lincoln-Way West’s Anthony Sherman (195) and Mahomet-Seymour’s Camden Harms (285).

In some of the closest title matches, Silzer edged Wardlow 2-1 in a tiebreaker, Camacho got past Knowlton 7-5 at 126, Swaw was a 3-1 winner over Martinez at 160, Rulo prevailed over Harms 6-4 at 285, Johnson beat Siegel 7-4 at 113, Houser claimed a 5-2 victory over Mancilla at 1882, Butler won 7-1 over Byal at 152, Ivanisevic beat Hamrick 7-1 at 220 and Hinger was a 7-2 winner over Munoz-Flores at 132. Winning titles by fall were Tavoso (138) and Robinson (145) while claiming major decisions for titles were Hayes (106) and Gillen (170).

Top records of individuals reaching title matches are Casillas (39-1, .975), Swaw (37-1, .974), Ivanisevic (35-1, .972), Rulo (24-1, .960), Houser (39-2, .951), Tavoso (36-2, .947), Silzer (34-12, .944), Mancilla (36-3, .923), Zaeske (33-3, .917), Siegel (31-3, .912), Byal (29-3, .906), Hamrick (27-3, .900). Harms (36-4, .900), Martinez (33-4, .892) and Gillen (32-4, .889).

Tavoso led all competitors with 30 team points while Gillen and Robinson tied for second with 29 points and Hayes had 28.5 team points. Casillas recorded 27.5 points, Hinger and Houser each had 26.5 points and Camacho, Johnson, Rulo and Swaw all had 26 team points.

Repeating as champions in the Lahey Tournament were Johnson, Silzer and Swaw. Butler, Robinson and Tavoso won titles after taking second last season. And Hamrick, Mancilla and Sherman were runners-up after also taking second place last year.

The tournament is named in honor of longtime Andrew coach Tom Lahey, who got his start in the sport while a student at Stagg. When inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 2001, he had won 270 dual meets, seven SICA titles and six regionals. He had coached five state champions, including Joey Gilbert, who was the IHSA’s first four-time Class AA title winner. He served in every leadership position in the SICA Wrestling Coaches Association and also was an official.

Championship matches of the Tom Lahey Tournament held at Stagg

106 – Rocco Hayes (Carl Sandburg) MD 20-7 Nadeem Haleem (Andrew)

113 – Deion Johnson (Homewood-Flossmoor) D 7-4 Max Siegel (Andrew)

120 – Trevor Silzer (Andrew) TB 2-1 Justin Wardlow (Lockport Township)

126 – Aaron Camacho (Bolingbrook) D 7-5 Nathan Knowlton (Lincoln-Way Central)

132 – Ryan Hinger (Carl Sandburg) D 7-2 Carlos Munoz-Flores (Lockport Township)

138 – Cody Tavoso (Hinsdale Central) F 5:34 Levi Greenlee (Bradley-Bourbonnais)

145 – Jaydon Robinson (Homewood-Flossmoor) F 4:17 Connor Koehler (Lincoln-Way East)

152 – Jermaine Butler (Homewood-Flossmoor) D 7-1 Aden Byal (Glenwood)

160 – Logan Swaw (Lockport Township) D 3-1 Tyler Martinez (Yorkville Christian)

170 – Jackson Gillen (Yorkville Christian) MD 11-2 Ari Zaeske (Lincoln-Way East)

182 – Brennan Houser (Mahomet-Seymour) D 5-2 AJ Mancilla (Bradley-Bourbonnais)

195 – Mateo Casillas (Mahomet-Seymour) MD 8-0 Anthony Sherman (Lincoln-Way West)

220 – Marko Ivanisevic (Hinsdale Central) D 7-1 Alex Hamrick (Glenwood)

285 – Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East) D 6-4 Camden Harms (Mahomet-Seymour)

Here’s a breakdown of the Lahey Tournament champions and their weight classes:106 – Rocco Hayes, Carl Sandburg

When you have a brother who was a state runner-up and three-time All-Stater who’s now at the University of Illinois and an older brother who was a two-time finalist and IHSA champion and an All-American at the University of Virginia, it’s easy to be motivated to accomplish big things. And that certainly is the case for Carl Sandburg sophomore Rocco Hayes, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of his brothers, Sammie and Louie. Add to that competing for one of the state’s most successful programs, Carl Sandburg, and for the Polz family, and you certainly have a great formula for success.

Hayes (32-5), a state qualifier last year who’s ranked third in 3A, added to firsts at Conant and Hinsdale Central when he captured a 20-7 victory over Andrew freshman Nadeem Haleem in the 106 title match. After opening with two falls, Hayes won by technical fall in the semifinals over Lockport Township’s Isaac Zimmerman, who’s ranked tenth in 3A.

“Just getting on top of the podium gives me motivation for February and hopefully I can wrestle for a title,” Hayes said. “I’m very grateful for my coaches at Sandburg since they help me every single day by training really well. And I’m very thankful for the Polz family, especially, because I wouldn’t be where I’m at without them. 

“And I’ve always wanted to follow in my brothers’ footsteps. I’m very thankful for both of them also, because without them, I also wouldn’t be here. With them training with me, it just gets me a lot better every single day. They’re awesome and I don’t think that I could have any brothers who are better than that.”

Haleem (31-5) followed a pair of wins by technical fall with an 8-6 decision over Yorkville Christian’s Aiden Larsen, who’s ranked second in Class 1A and was a fifth-place state medalist last season, in the semifinals.

Zimmerman (28-11), who’s a freshman, beat Larsen (9-6) to claim third place. Glenwood sophomore Tyler Clarke (22-14) took fifth place after winning by fall in 3:56 over Lincoln-Way West freshman Carter Dibenedetto (26-14).

113 – Deion Johnson, Homewood-Flossmoor

Despite being unbeaten against Illinois competitors, Deion Johnson knew that winning a Lahey Tournament title at 113 would be difficult considering that there were three other ranked individuals at the weight class, including a defending state champion, and that trio had each won at least two tournament titles this season.

But the Homewood-Flossmoor senior, who’s ranked second in 3A and took third at state a year ago, has been motivated by those losses to quality competition and looked to add to title wins at Joliet Central and Crown Point and did just that by capturing a 7-4 decision over Andrew junior Max Siegel in the 113 finals. Johnson (25-6) set the table for becoming the first of three champs for coach Jim Sokoloski’s Vikings when he followed two pins with a 4-3 victory in the semifinals over Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Ethan Spacht. 

“I was in a little slump back then and was taking a lot of L’s at the national tournaments and it hurt me because I knew what I could do against them,” Johnson said. “But that definitely got me prepared for this and it’s fired me up to win a state title. I’ve come back stronger because I have a little chip on my shoulder. I was making a lot of mistakes, but we fixed that in practice. 

“(His teammates) They fire me up when I see them performing, and that just makes me want to perform better. I want to see how well all of us are going to perform this year, we have a lot to show and that’s why we’re going to shake a lot of heads at state.”

Siegel (31-3), ranked third in Class 3A and a state qualifier last year who won titles at Granite City and Batavia, followed a pin and major decision with a 4-2 victory in the semifinals over Glenwood junior Drew Davis.

Davis (29-2), a 2A state champion at 106 last season who had title wins at Conant, Glenwood and Mahomet-Seymour to his credit, settled for third place with a 6-0 decision over Spacht (30-4), who took fifth at state last year and was hoping to add to title wins at Reed-Custer and Mahomet-Seymour. In the fifth-place match, Carl Sandburg sophomore Madden Parker (31-8) won by fall in 3:00 over Stagg junior Jamie Corral (25-8).

120 – Trevor Silzer, Andrew

After seeing two of his teammates settle for second place in the first two Lahey Tournament title matches, Trevor Silzer was determined that he would not suffer that same fate, but that certainly proved to be a lot easier said than done.

That’s because the Andrew senior had a battle on his hands in the 120 finals against Lockport Township freshman Justin Wardlow. But Silzer (34-2), ranked sixth in 3A and a fourth-place medalist last season who has only lost to one competitor from Iowa, was able to add to title wins at Granite City and  Batavia by claiming a 2-1 victory on a tiebreaker. Silzer followed a fall with a 3-1 semifinals win over Yorkville Christian’s Ty Edwards.

“We’ve been in the finals for the past three tourneys,” Silzer said of his team’s success at the lower weights. “It’s really good to see this team coming together and supporting each other, and especially seeing three guys in the finals was awesome. We’re hoping to get down to Champaign and hopefully win some medals there, too.

“Coach K (Andrew coach Peter Kowalczuk) is not only pushing us, the coaches are pushing everybody in practice and in school. They also want us to be better people outside of wrestling. We’re all super close and we’re all like family. We like hanging out and having a good time at these tournaments. It’s business, but it’s also good times with the guys.”

Wardlow (32-12)  became the first of three individuals for the champion Porters to reach the title mat after recording three-consecutive falls, with the last of those coming in 4:00 in the semifinals over Belleville East senior Nick Fetters.

Edwards (33-6), a junior ranked second in 1A who was a state runner-up in the IWCOA finals in 2021, captured third place with a 4-2 decision over Fetters (27-13). And in the fifth-place match, Lincoln-Way East freshman Kaidge Richardson (29-8) won by forfeit over Lincoln-Way West freshman Jakob Siwinski (25-15).

126 – Aaron Camacho, Bolingbrook

Despite being a bit of an unknown in the rankings heading into the Lahey Tournament, it’s safe to say that Aaron Camacho is no longer a mystery man after capturing the title at 126, a weight class that featured two individuals ranked in the top-10 in 3A and another in the top 10 in 2A.

The Bolingbrook freshman, who has experienced success in folkstyle and freestyle at both the state and national levels, improved to 22-4 and added to title wins at Neuqua Valley and J. Sterling Morton after beating Lincoln-Way Central senior Nathan Knowlton, who’s ranked eighth in 3A, by a 7-5 score in the championship match. Camacho followed a fall with a 13-6 decision in the semifinals over Lincoln-Way West’s Jase Salin. And getting a title from a freshman against quality competition is a big boost for new Raiders coach AJ Knoll and his staff.

“This feels good coming out here as a freshman,” Camacho said. “My brother, Gonzalo, is my biggest supporter and he always helps me and pushes me.  This year we have a pretty loaded team that’s full of freshmen and sophomores and the coaches are great, since they always push us and they’re so supportive. It’s a really good program and you can see some progress.

“This is way different than IKWF since you see a lot of kids with more skill and there’s better challenges. But it’s been a good journey so far and I look forward to wrestling these next four years with my new coaches. My biggest accomplishment right now is being a freshman and competing against these older guys and doing good against them.”

Knowlton (31-6), a 2021 IWCOA qualifier who is four-time tournament finalist this season with a title in his initial competition at Joliet Central, earned his spot on the title mat with a pin and then decisions over two ranked individuals who also are two-time state qualifiers, Glenwood’s John Ben Maduena in the quarterfinals and Lockport’s Jad Alwawi by a 10-4 score in the semifinals.

Junior Maduena (28-4), who’s ranked seventh in Class 2A, captured a 6-0 decision over senior Alwawi (19-11), who’s ninth in 3A, to claim third place honors. And in the fifth-place match, Homewood-Flossmoor freshman Robye Williams (15-11) claimed a 19-11 major decision over Salin (26-10), a junior who qualified for state last year.

132 – Ryan Hinger, Carl Sandburg

It took a few calls by the announcer to get Ryan Hinger to the awards stand to complete the handing out of medals at 132, but after showing off his first bracket board of the season, the Carl Sandburg sophomore intends to be in that position many more times in the future.

Hinger (29-6), who’s ranked sixth in Class 3A, joined teammate Rocco Hayes as a Lahey Tournament champion after capturing a 7-2 decision over Lockport Township senior Carlos Munoz-Flores in the finals. After opening with a quick fall,  he captured a major decision in the quarterfinals and won by technical fall in 3:03 in the semifinals over Willowbrook’s Isaiah Smith.

“It’s finally nice to get a bracket board,” Hinger said. “I kind of wanted to relax a little bit until the state series and just go out there and wrestle smart and compete hard. It was about not getting scared and freaking out in those scrambles and just keep wrestling through all positions.

“Definitely having coaches like Clinton and Mike Polz helps a lot in getting me prepared for the state series. Rocco Hayes is probably one of the toughest kids in our room right now and me and him have recently kind of started drilling a little, even though I’m a little bit bigger. I’m looking forward to the state series and see how I’ll do. Last year, unfortunately, I didn’t make iit but this year, I’m hoping that I’ll do well.”

Munoz-Flores (8-3), who’s ranked eighth in 3A, was the second of three finalists for the Porters. After getting a pin in his opener, he won a 4-3 decision in the quarterfinals over Lincoln-Way West’s Karter Guzman before winning 5-1 over Yorkville Christian’s Noah Dial in the semifinals.

Guzman (31-7), a senior, claimed third place with a 2-0 decision over Lincoln-Way Central freshman Jalen Byrd (33-11), who’s the son of Knights head coach Tyrone Byrd, who’s a 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee for his career at Clinton and the University of Illinois. In the fifth-place match, Dial (26-7), a senior who’s ranked fourth in 1A and is a two-time state qualifier, won by fall in 3:18 over Smith (22-10), who’s also a senior.

138 – Cody Tavoso, Hinsdale Central

A lot of competitors would be thrilled to have one third-place finish as well as two six-place showings during their career and Cody Tavoso is proud to have accomplished that feat through his junior season. Understandably, the Hinsdale Central senior aspires to move up on the awards stand in a fourth-state appearance, but knows that will be challenging considering the quality competitors who he expects to meet up with in Champaign.

Thus far, Tavoso has been taking care of business, improving to 36-2 after recording a fall in 5:34 over Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Levi Greenlee in the 138 title match, his second first-place finish of the season to go along with a title at his school’s Whitlatch. He recorded three falls to reach the title mat, getting a pin in 1:45 over Belleville East’s Warren Zeisset in the semifinals. Thanks to his four falls, Tavoso recorded the most team points of anyone in the field with 30. The Red Devils were one of four teams that had two or more champions as his teammate Marko Ivanisevic, another individual with hopes of being a state champion, also won a title.

“I want that state championship and it’s been my goal ever since I got to high school, ” said Tavoso, who will continue his career and education at Princeton University. “I had some cousins who won a state title in New Jersey, so I have to live up to those expectations. The Allen brothers have been the only ones with state titles at our school and they’ve given me their words of wisdom. 

“I’m happy for my season so far and it’s great having Marko with me. We’re the two captains on the team and we feed off of each others’ energy and push each other. We’re fighting for our first conference championship in school history (which they won on Thursday with a 35-31 victory over Glenbard West). I’ve put a lot of time in along with coach (Jason) Hayes, to make sure that the whole team was getting better and it starts from the kids’ club up.”

Greenlee (30-10), who joined teammate AJ Mancilla as one of two Boilermakers to reach the title mat, opened with a fall before capturing a 4-2 decision over Mahomet-Seymour’s Donovan Lewis in the quarterfinals and then advanced to the finals when Bolingbrook’s Tom McDermott had to injury default in the semifinals.

Lockport Township senior Logan Kaminski (28-18) took third place after capturing a 10-1 major decision over Homewood-Flossmoor senior Jaylen Augustave (19-9). And for fifth place, Zeisset (33-7), a senior, won by injury default over freshman McDermott (22-9).

145 – Jaydon Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor

While obviously motivated about getting a third-place finish at 145 in the IHSA finals a year ago for his first state medal, when Jaydon Robinson claimed a third-place medal at a tournament in Crown Point, Indiana earlier this season, it definitely lit a fire under him for different reasons.

The Homewood-Flossmoor junior has certainly been on a roll since that disappointment as is evidenced by a championship at the Powerade and a fourth-place finish at the Doc Buchanan Invite, which were both among the best showings for the Illinois athletes at those rugged events. Ranked second in 3A, Robinson improved to 33-5 and won his third title of the season with a fall in 4:17 over Lincoln-Way East’s Connor Koehler in the 145 title match. He followed two pins with a 15-4 major decision over Belleville East’s Braden Kelly in the semifinals.

“I talked to a reporter at Crown Point after I got third and I told him that I’m going to go home and put back on my shoes, and that’s what I did and I’m more determined now,” said Robinson, whose brother Vincent didn’t compete in the tournament. “As soon as I did that, I went to the Powerade and won it and then went to the Doc B and lost two matches but still placed fourth. 

“My brother really helps me through all of my journeys. (The Vikings) We’ve been working hard and even though practice is two hours, I stay for another 30 minutes or an hour. Now wrestling is the talk of the school, and it wasn’t this big when I got there.”

Koehler (25-6), a senior who along with classmate Ari Zaeske were the Griffins’ representatives on the title mat, earned a spot in the finals with three-consecutive falls, pinning Bolingbrook’s Marcus Poe in 1:03 in the semifinals to advance to his second tournament finals this season.

Granite City senior Dylan Boyd (32-9), a two-time state qualifier who won two tournament titles this season, took third-place with a fall in 0:37 over Poe (20-11), who’s a sophomore. In the fifth-place match, sophomore Kelly (27-12) captured a 6-5 win over Lockport freshman Chris Miller.

152 – Jermaine Butler, Homewood-Flossmoor

With teammates Deion Johnson and Jaydon Robinson claiming their third invite titles of the season, Jermaine Butler hoped to give Homewood-Flossmoor a 3-0 day on the title mat, and that’s just what he did to collect his first championship of the season when he captured a 7-1 decision over Glenwood’s Aden Byal in the 152 finals.

Butler (27-8), a senior whose previous-best tournament showing was a third-place finish early in the season at Joliet Central, followed a decision with a fall in the quarterfinals and then won a 5-2 decision in the semifinals over Yorkville Christian’s Drew Torza. After being unable to compete late in the postseason last year due to an injury in the regional, Butler hopes that he can join some of teammates in Champaign this season.

“We have good partners in the room,” Butler said. “(H-F’s schedule) “It gets you ready for the big tournaments. Being in the room with big tournament champions it’s motivating. We all come in as a team, watch each others’ matches and we support each other, win or lose.”

Byal (29-3), a senior who’s a two-time state qualifier, was hoping to win his third title of the season. He joined teammate Alex Hamrick as one of two finalists for the Titans, who are ranked fifth in 2A, after getting a fall and then winning two major decisions, with the last of those being by a 15-4 score over Bradley-Bourbonnais’ Tyler Starr in the semifinals.

Lockport Township sophomore Durango Valles (31-13) took third after winning a 6-5 decision over Starr (33-7), a senior who was a state qualifier last year. In the fifth-place match, Torza (28-12), a senior who’s a two-time state qualifier who took fourth in 2021 IWCOA finals and is ranked sixth in Class 1A. won 15-3 over Mahomet-Seymour junior Gage Decker (20-10).

160 – Logan Swaw, Lockport Township

After seeing his team open the second day of competition with a great semifinals round and then the subsequent consolation round to put them in the lead for the team title for good, Logan Swaw got the opportunity to have some fun in the finals when he became Lockport Township’s lone champion in the Lahey Tournament.

That’s where the Porters senior got the chance to match up with a longtime friend, Yorkville Christian’s Tyler Martinez. In a meeting where both sides knew what to expect, Swaw (37-1), who’s ranked second in Class 3A and was sixth at 152 last season, won a 3-1 decision for his third invite title, adding to firsts at the Dan Gable Donnybrook and the Cheesehead. After opening with two first-period falls, Swaw captured a 3-0 victory over Lincoln-Way East’s Zach LaMonto in the semifinals. Swaw’s one loss is to Conant’s Ethan Stiles, a three-time state medalist who won a title at 152 last and at the IWCOA in 2021 and is top-ranked at 160.

“I’ve been friends with Tyler for six or eight years,” Swaw said. “I think it’s awesome, it’s a great experience, because at the end of the day, we’re still friends. There’s six minutes where we’re wrestling and we’re not friends on the mat, but when we come off, we’re friends again, and I feel like that’s true friendship.

“As a team, I feel like we haven’t reached our full potential yet. We’ll see how we turn out at state but I think we haven’t shown everything that we have, so I’m excited. We’ve had a lot of stuff going on. But our coaches are all very calm and they know how to handle the situation, so it’s great. We handled Brayden (Thompson) leaving very well. We kind of just stick together.” 

Martinez (33-4), a senior who’s placed the last two years and is ranked second in Class 1A was hoping to add to titles that he had won at Antioch and Plano. He earned his spot in the finals with three first-period falls, with the last of those coming in 1:46 in the semifinals over Hinsdale Central’s Zach Kruse.

LaMonto (30-5), a senior who is ranked tenth in 3A, won a 12-6 decision over sophomore Kruse (27-12) to claim third place. And in the fifth-place match, Carl Sandburg junior Moe Askar (14-13) claimed a 7-3 decision over Lincoln-Way Central senior Max Becker (16-11).170 – Jackson Gillen, Yorkville Christian

Yorkville Christian showed that it could hang with the big boys after grabbing the lead after the first day of the Lahey Tournament and then claiming second place behind Lockport in an event that featured eight ranked teams with five in 3A and the Mustangs the lone 1A team in the field.

The defending Class 1A champions, who are ranked second, had seven individuals who placed fifth or better, which included two finalists, one of whom was a champion, Jackson Gillen. The senior improved to 32-4 and is unbeaten against Illinois competition. He won the 1A title at 170 last year and is top-ranked at that weight after winning his third title this season by recording an 11-2 major decision over Lincoln-Way East’s Ari Zaeske in the 170 finals. He also had three first-period falls, including one in 1:47 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Tim Key in the semifinals.

“After our Coal City match, we kind of turned it up,” Gillen said. “We said, ‘oh man, we’re not the best any more, we have to step it up and become the best.’ Losing is winning some times. And I know by the end of the year that we’ll all be ready. We know that we can hang with almost any team in the state.

“In the room, we don’t care about weight or anything, we just go out and try to make each other better by wrestling different styles and finding each others’ flaws and strengths. We believe in them (his coaches), and they believe in us. We all just want to win and have fun together. You can see us on the bench when we’re laughing and joking around.”

Zaeske (33-3), a senior who’s ranked sixth in 3A and a state qualifier a year ago, was looking to add to a title that he won at Wheaton Warrenville South. After opening with a win by technical fall, Zaeske had two falls, with one in 2:16 in the semifinals over Homewood-Flossmoor’s Jon Fulgencio. He was one of two individuals that advanced to the mat for the Griffins, who are ranked tenth in Class 3A and took fourth in the tournament, 1.5 points behind Glenwood.

Key (34-10), a junior, claimed a 1-0 decision over Fulgencio (22-11), a senior, for third place. And Hinsdale Central senior Taylor Riggi (24-14) was a 6-1 winner over Carl Sandburg junior Noah Cruz in the fifth-place match.

182 – Brennan Houser, Mahomet-Seymour

Mahomet-Seymour came to the Lahey Tournament with impressive credentials, ranked third in Class 2A, and coach Rob Ledin’s squad claimed sixth place, finishing ahead of ranked Class 3A teams such as Lincoln-Way West, Hinsdale Central and Lincoln-Way Central. The Bulldogs were one of four teams in the field that had multiple champions, with Brennan Houser taking first at 182 and Mateo Casillas following with a title at 195.

Houser (39-2), a senior who’s ranked second, won his fourth title of the season, adding to firsts at Neuqua Valley, Granite City and at his school’s tournament after capturing a 5-2 decision over Bradley-Bourbonnais’ AJ Mancilla in the 182 title match. Houser placed sixth at 170 a year ago and took fifth at 182 in 2021 at the IWCOA finals. He won his first three matches by technical fall, going 3:23 to win his semifinals match with Lincoln-Way West’s Nate Elstner.

“Me and Mateo push each other every day,” Houser said. “And Camden (Harms) is with Colton Crowley, our 220, every day pushing each other. We’ve always kind of had a culture of going downstate and doing well. We kind of got robbed Covid year because we had a solid team. And in our junior year, we got third. And this year I think we’re going to do big things again. We just have a lot of winners in the room.

“My favorite part about the team is the kind of bond that we have. After wrestling tournaments, probably five or six of us hang out, we’re just kind of a family. That’s why we’re successful.”

Mancilla (36-3), a junior who’s ranked sixth in 3A, had title wins at Barrington and Reed-Custer to his credit. After recording a pair of first-period falls, he prevailed 3-1 in sudden victory over Lincoln-Way Central’s Evan Welsh in the semifinals to earn his spot opposite of Houser. 

Two sophomores battled for third place as Lockport Township’s Payton Roberson (8-1) was a winner by technical fall in 5:16 over Glenwood’s Maximus Wiezorek (24-10). In the fifth-place match, sophomore Elstner (26-14) captured a 7-5 decision over senior Welsh (27-13).

195 – Mateo Casillas, Mahomet-Seymour

When you’ve been in a state title match and come close to being in another, the desire to finish on top of the awards is magnified, especially for a senior. That’s how Mateo Casillas sees things as he is top-ranked at 195 and hopes to add to a resume that features third place at 195 a year ago and second place in the IWCOA at the same weight in 2021.

Casillas (39-1) joined Brennan Houser as one of two champions for Mahomet-Seymour, giving  it the same number of title winners as the first four teams in the standings combined. An 8-0 major decision over Lincoln-Way West’s Anthony Sherman in the 195 finals gave him his fourth title of the season, adding to firsts at Neuqua Valley, Granite City and his own school’s invite, The Bulldogs senior, who’s unbeaten against Illinois competitors, opened with a fall and a major decision and beat Yorkville Christian’s Jeremy Loomis by technical fall in 4:20 in the semifinals.

“Our upperweights are definitely stepping it up and we have some underclassmen and freshmen in the lighter weights so it’s definitely huge and it needs to happen that the upper weights step up,” Casilas said. “They call us the Four or Five Horsemen, so we have to put things in line and set things right.

“Mahomet has always had a winning culture so to just continue that culture is definitely a blessing. It’s a gift to be able to wear the Mahomet singlet and continue that history. I’ve been performing pretty well and it definitely helps having a great practice partner like Brennan Houser and we definitely push each other. I know that these tournaments and winning them is just one more step in winning a state title, which is where I want to be.”

Sherman (29-8), who’s ranked tenth in 3A and was the lone finalist for his team, reached the title mat with a 5-2 decision in the semifinals over Lincoln-Way East’s Caden O’Rourke, which came after he opened with a fall and then won a major decision. This was the third-straight tournament finals that he’s appeared in.

Loomis (27-9), a senior, won a 10-5 decision over sophomore O’Rourke (23-6) to claim third place. In the fifth-place match, Glenwood senior Brandon Bray (22-13) won an 8-0 major decision over Bradley-Bourbonnais senior Cayden Ghere (20-17).

220 – Marko Ivanisevic, Hinsdale Central

Marko Ivanisevic has numerous examples of what it takes to earn a spot on the state title mat. The Hinsdale Central junior’s brother Niko was a state runner-up at 285 in 2017. Then there’s Red Devils assistant coach Conrad Polz, who won three-straight titles while competing at Carl Sandburg. And there’s the legacy of the Allen brothers, Jack, Brian and Matt, who combined for seven state finals appearances and each won a title to make them the school’s only champions.

Top-ranked at 220 in 3A and a fifth-place finisher at that weight a year ago at state, Ivanisevic looked to bounce back from his first loss of the season at Batavia’s Arlis Invite when he faced Glenwood’s Alex Hamrick, who also suffered his first defeats at Batavia, in the Lahey Tournament’s 220 finals. Ivanisevic (35-1) went on to capture a 7-1 decision over Hamrick to add to title wins at Barrrington and his school’s Whitlatch. He also won decisions in his first two matches, earning a 3-1 victory over Mahomet-Seymour’s Colton Crowley in the semifinals.

“I had a really tough tournament at Batavia and didn’t wrestle my best in the finals,” Ivanisevic said. “I came in here today saying to myself, ‘just wrestle’. I look forward to this all year and it’s my favorite time of the year wrestling. I wrestled a lot of good kids here and I’m excited to keep the pace going. 

“And I’ve got to give a lot of thanks to my coaches, Conrad Polz, Ernest Battaglia and Jason Hayes. I really appreciate Matt (Allen) coming into the room because he wrestles at that high level, he wrestles at the level that I want to get to one of these days.”

Hamrick (27-3), a senior ranked fourth in Class 2A who took fifth at 285 a year ago and third in 2021 in the IWCOA, earned his trip to the title mat with a major decision, a decision in the quarterfinals and a fall in 1:46 in the semifinals over Lincoln-Way West’s Nick Kavaroos.

Crowley (31-9), a senior ranked fifth in 2A and an IWCOA qualifier in 2021, bounced back from his close semifinals loss with a fall in 3:20 over Lincoln-Way East junior David Wuske (17-9) in the third-place match. And Carl Sandburg senior Mike Rydell (26-15) claimed fifth place with a pin in 1:50 over junior Kavaroos (21-15). 

285 – Jonathan Rulo, Belleville East

Jonathan Rulo is ranked down the list of 3A competitors at 285 at ninth, but that’s okay with the Belleville East freshman, who knows what he’s been accomplishing thus far in his debut season with tournament titles at Mascoutah and Granite City and his only loss in 25 matches came against Joliet Catholic Academy’s Dillan Johnson at Geneseo. 

Rulo (24-1) denied Mahomet-Seymour of closing out the finals with titles at the last three weights when he captured a 6-4 decision over Camden Harms. After opening the tournament with a pair of first-period falls, Rulo advanced to the title mat following a hard-fought 10-7 decision over Andrew’s Mike McDonough in the semifinals.

“It’s good to get possibilities like this where I get to wrestle better kids,” Rulo said. “It’s definitely helped a lot with me being able to show how capable I am and what putting in the work does when I go against older kids and kids with more technique than me.

“The coaches do a lot to help us practice. They really go through it step by step of what to do and show us moves that will help us. It gives me a lot of humbleness to be able to show how I can wrestle with these kids and say that I’m on the same level with them.”

Harms (36-4), who has lost twice to Rulo, advanced to a tournament finals for the fourth time and was seeking his second title. The Bulldogs senior opened with two first-period falls before recording a pin in 3:09 over Lockport Township’s Wojciech Chrobak in the semifinals.

In the third-place match, junior Chrobak (23-15) recorded a fall in 1:25 over sophomore McDonough (20-12). And Bolingbrook junior Isaac Amoah (9-3) was a winner by fall in 5:03 over Hinsdale Central junior Brady Koshik (21-10) in the fifth-place match.