By Mike Garofola – For the IWCOA

Hinsdale Central has become quite a nice stop on the wrestling tour for Joliet Catholic Academy.

The Rex Whitlatch Invitational, now in its 57th year, is one of the longest-running tournaments in the state, alongside Glenbrook South’s Rus Erb and the granddaddy of them all, Palatine’s Berman Holiday Classic.

This year’s Whitlatch saw the Hilltoppers lift the championship trophy Saturday afternoon inside the Hinsdale Bank Gymnasium.

For the second straight year, the Hilltoppers went out to an almost insurmountable lead over this impressive big field. JCA amassed 264.5 total points, 71 more than runner-up Warren Township (193.5), to claim the big trophy.

Coach Ryan Cumbee’s Hilltoppers celebrated a tournament-high four individual champions, plus nine top-four medal winners.

Winning titles for the champion Hilltoppers were Max Cumbee (113), Jason Hampton (120), Nico Ronchetti (190) and  Dillan Johnson (285) while Nolan Vogel (144) placed second, Luke Hamiti (157) and Max Corral (165) took third place while Lukas Foster (106) and Damien Flores (132) finished fourth. 

Aurelio Munoz (126), Elias Gonzalez (138) and Connor Cumbee (150) took seventh while Max Hrvatin (215) was eighth and Isaac Clauson (175) also won three matches for the Hilltoppers.

“With a bunch of young guys on our roster to go along with several who are back with a lot of experience, we’re starting to see things come together,” Ryan Cumbee said. “So to see us win here again is a good sign for us with the second half of the season coming upon us.”

Cumbee, who led JCA to an IHSA Class 2A championship in 2022 in their initial state appearance and placed second in 2A last season to Washington Community, is taking his club to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dual Classic in Stillwater, Oklahoma later this week.

“A lot of our individual records might look a little different after we come back from Oklahoma but going there is just another stop for these guys who will gain the type of experience needed in order for us to challenge later on in the year,” Ryan Cumbee said.

Just before the new year, the Hilltoppers will compete for two days in DeKalb at the Flavin Invite and then in 2024 at The Cheesehead in Wisconsin and the Geneseo Invite prior to an important home contest with state power Mount Carmel on January 18. 

Competing in Class 3A for the first time, JCA will be in the rugged Joliet Central Regional, which also includes Lockport Township, Joliet West, Normal Community, Minooka, Romeoville and Pekin.

“I really feel like we’ll be a solid dual team,” Ryan Cumbee said. “I’m not sure about tournaments but today we received some terrific results throughout the weight classes, including our four champions to help lead the way.

“All but one of our guys today were top eight and that’s how you compete for a tournament championship. So that’s something we’ll continue to build from going forward.”

After two terrific days of competition, Carl Sandburg (184), Lincoln-Way West (165) and DeKalb (149.5) rounded out the top five with Downers Grove South (124), Stevenson (117), Barrington (115), West Aurora (111.5) and Glenbard West (110) making up the top 10 in this high-profile tournament.

Winning titles for coach Brad Janecek’s runner-up Blues Devils were  Caleb Noble (106), Aaron Stewart (157) and Anthony Soto (215). Champions for coach Clinton Polz’s third-place Eagles were Madden Parker (126) and Ryan Hinger (138).

Other Rex Whitlatch Invitational champions were Stevenson’s Shawn Kogan (132), West Aurora’s Dominic Serio (150), Lyons Township’s Gunnar Garelli (165), Glenbard West’s Collin Carrigan (175) and Nennah, WI’s Jacob Herm (144).

From the 25 teams present, 14 were state-ranked at either Class 2A or 3A with over 100 wrestlers state-ranked in the latest polls.

The tournament is named in honor of Rex Whitlatch, a 1979 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee who was a longtime Red Devils coach that started the competition which now bears his name and the invitational has long been regarded as one of the state’s top competitions.

Here are Hinsdale Central’s Rex Whitlatch Invitational championship matches and their weight class breakdowns:

106 –Caleb Noble, Warren Township

The most recent exploits on the national scene by Caleb Noble and Rocco Hayes have seen each have success at Fargo, and subsequent spots in the top 10 of most national polls, which only added to the anticipation of both meeting in the early afternoon semifinal.

With all eyes laser-focused on the mats in one corner of the Hinsdale Bank Gymnasium, these two 106-pound stars did not disappoint, and with just nine seconds remaining in the first extra session, a Noble takedown effectively earned him a 3-1 victory.

The freshman from Warren Township would go on to win his first major tournament of his young career thanks to a 7-2 decision over Belleville West’s Rocky Seibel (16-1), who was dealt his first loss of the season.

Afterwards, Noble talked about his semifinal showdown against Hayes.

“Rocco is such a great wrestler, he’s so strong, smart, and has so much experience,” Noble said. “But fortunately for me, I’m really tall and long for this weight class. I feel like in the end worked to my advantage.”

Noble came in as the No. 4 seed despite his fourth-place finish recently at the Walsh Ironman and No. 3 spot in the state polls behind Hayes (17-1) and Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi, who’s top-rated and beat Noble 4-2 in the Ironman quarterfinals.

The first period of the Noble-Hayes match resembled a chess match. Noble escaped after starting down in the second period and would hold that lead until Hayes escaped with just two seconds before time.

There were a lot of oohs and aahs coming from the big crowd when Hayes got a hold of Noble’s left leg near the edge, but both went out of the circle at 42 seconds. Noble scored the match-winning takedown as the clock drew closer to zero.

“It was a good match, and I’m sure we’ll see each other maybe again, if not at state,” said Noble.

“I’m lucky to have Aaron Stewart as a teammate, and a real strong leader who has helped me adjust to being in high school and making sure I balance my academics with wrestling so that I can be my very best at both.”

Hayes came back from his semifinal overtime loss to win 7-1 over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Lukas Foster (12-5) for third place while Barrington freshman Kaleb Pratt (15-4) pinned Stevenson’s Evan Mishels (12-8) at 3:54 for fifth place.

113 – Max Cumbee, Joliet Catholic Academy

Joliet Catholic Academy freshman Max Cumbee claimed the first of three individual crowns for the tourney champions when he rolled to an 11-1 major decision victory over DeKalb senior Eduardo Castro.

“I lost most of my season last year with a torn knee and shoulder, so it was a long process to get back healthy,” said Cumbee (9-4), the nephew of JCA coach Ryan Cumbee. “I’m feeling really good right now and excited that I was able to win here at such a big tournament.”

“This win today was a real confidence booster for Max,” Ryan Cumbee said.

The Hilltoppers’ rookie did well to offset the length of Castro (11-5) by earning the first takedown of the match early on, then added a two-point near fall to take a 4-0 advantage into the second period.

“I just had to be careful about his length so I kept a low stance, and got that first takedown which is so important,” said Max Cumbee.

Warren Township’s top-seed Jonathan Marquez (15-3) took third place after his 8-2 decision over Lincoln-Way West’s Shane Stream (15-5) while Downers Grove North’s Tyler Tiangco (18-4) grabbed fifth following his 3-2 win over Geneseo’s Tim Sebastian (10-3).

120 – Jason Hampton, Joliet Catholic Academy

Jason Hampton made it two straight titles for the champion Hilltoppers after a 5-2 decision over Belleville West’s Tyson Seibel (14-4) in a final that saw both rivals hold their seeds to advance after two days of action.

“He (Seibel) was a very good opponent, so it was important to keep my pace high, which is something I learned from the room last year when I went with Gylon Sims, who taught me so much,” said Hampton, now 9-4 on the season.

Sims, a three-time state medalist and two-time Class 2A state champion who is now wrestling at The Citadel, provided plenty of veteran experience to Hampton, who was fourth at 113 a year ago at state and is currently ranked fourth at 120.

“I did a lot of work during the offseason with Jake Rundell (former OPRF star and 2018 state champion), competing at Fargo and other tournaments,” Hampton said, “so I feel the riding part of my game is so much better than last season. Today in my final, it was the difference,”

Hampton rode Seibel for the entire third period to ensure victory.

Stevenson’s Mikey Polyakov (17-5) majored Rockford East’s Joseph Young (17-5) to take home third place and Warren Township’s Carlos Ordonez (11-2) used a pin at 1:46 against OPRF’s Ruben Acevedo (12-6) to claim fifth place.

126 – Madden Parker, Carl Sandburg

Madden Parker left little doubt as to who was the best at 126 when the Carl Sandburg junior squashed the competition with a cutting-edge attack to easily win his second major title of the year and likely a higher spot in next week’s state polls.

Parker (18-0) began play on Friday afternoon with a 17-4 major, then was pushed to the brink during a 7-6 sudden death victory over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Aurelio Munoz before a rather quick fall in his semifinal to set up a final with Barrington sophomore Jimmy Whitaker (14-6), the fourth-seed, who stunned OPRF’s top-seed, Zev Koransky, with a 4:47 pin in his semifinal.

“I really believe all the hard work and extra time that I put in during the offseason has paid off thus far,” Parker said. “I am so much better on my feet and I can tell you losing in the blood round in sectionals right here in this gym made me more determined than ever.”

Parker went 35-12 at 113 last year and is now a two-time Whitlatch champion.

Parker, champion at Conant’s Hruska Invite on Thanksgiving weekend, was up 12-0 after a near fall late in the second period against Whitaker, who worked hard to earn three points in the third period before dropping a 14-3 decision.

“Jimmy is just a sophomore, but he’s already come a long way this season, and he always gives you six hard minutes, so this was a good tournament for him, regardless of the outcome of his final against a very good opponent,” Barrington coach Dan Keller said.

Ranked number seven in the state, Koransky (15-3) bounced back from his upset loss in the semifinals to earn third place after a 10-5 decision over West Aurora’s Aiden Massaro (12-5). Glenbard West’s Alejandro Aranda (10-5) took fifth when he pinned Stevenson’s Yash Jagtap.

132 – Shawn Kogan, Stevenson

Shawn Kogan sprung a surprise at 132 when the Stevenson sophomore upended Glenbard West’s Ulises Rosas, who was eighth-ranked, in a hard-fought 3-2 contest at 132 pounds.

Kogan (15-3), outside of the top four seeds, sent off Lincoln-Way West’s Jakob Siwinski, the number two seed, in thrilling fashion with a 8-6 sudden death victory before advancing into the final due to a forfeit.

“That was a real gritty effort from Shawn in his final, he’s a 365-day a year work out guy who never stops putting the work in,” Stevenson coach Shane Cook said.

“I am really excited to win my first tournament at a tournament as big as this one,” Kogan said. “I thought I wrestled well for the first two periods but didn’t keep my feet moving and my pace as high as it needs to be in that third period. But I’ll work to get that better.”

Kogan, a sectional qualifier a year ago with 25 victories, slipped free of a scrum midway through the second period to take a 3-0 lead but Rosas (17-2) responded quickly to earn an escape to make it 3-1 after four minutes.

Rosas started down in the third period and earned another escape and then watched Kogan defend with all his might at the edge when the Glenbard West junior attempted a takedown with 13 seconds from time.

Siwinski (16-6) came back to take home third place with a pin at 1:17 against Joliet Catholic Academy’s Damien Flores (13-5) and West Aurora’s Evan Matkovich (12-5) was awarded fifth place due to a medical forfeit by Rockford East’s Donald Cannon (12-0).

138 – Ryan Hinger, Carl Sandburg

This division featured nine state-ranked men in both the top 10 and honorable mention and when all was said and done, the final would have the top two seeds facing one another.

Carl Sandburg’s Ryan Hinger and Neenah, Wisconsin’s Declan Koch gave the big crowd plenty of exciting wrestling in a match that ended in Hinger’s favor in a tight and tense 4-2 victory for the Sandburg junior.

“It’s great to win for a second time here,” Hinger said. “It wasn’t easy.(Koch) is a very good wrestler but I could have been a little bit better in those first two periods also.” 

Hinger is now 18-0 after an impressive third period in which he rode Koch and nearly turned the No. 1 man in Wisconsin with 11 seconds remaining.

“I can tell you that loss in the quarterfinal wrestlebacks at state last year really fired me up, and there’s been a little voice in my head ever since that loss reminding me to continue to work as hard as I can in every area of my game, including in being as fit as I possibly can,” said Hinger, 39-10 last year at 132.

OPRF’s Joseph Knackstedt (15-2) beat Lincoln-Way West’s Luke Siwinski (12-7) by an 8-4 decision in the third-place match and Minooka’s Cale Stonisch (13-5) used a 5-2 victory to claim fifth place against DeKalb’s Hudson Ikens (12-6).

144 – Jacob Herm, Neenah, WI

As the other half of a dynamic duo from Neenah, Wisconsin, Jacob Herm proved far too much for the field at 144 pounds. Herm started strong and never looked back as he surged past a quartet of rivals, including Joliet Catholic Academy sophomore Nolan Vogel, who had no answer for the Rockets star in Herms’ 10-4 major decision on the title mat. Herm (17-0) recorded a pair of falls and a tech fall to advance.

“I really like coming to this tournament,” Herm said. “In Wisconsin, it’s a lot of hand-fighting type of competition but here in Illinois you see a different style of all-around wrestling that will help guys like me and Declan (Koch) when we go back to compete in the state tournament.”

Herm placed third last season at 126 at the Whitlatch. Herm, a two-time Wisconsin state runner-up, and 40-7 last season, recounts a 2022-23 campaign when too much of Kaukauna, Wisconsin’s Lucas Peters (45-4) would dash his hopes for success.

“I lost to Peters a total of five times last season, including regionals, sectionals, then at state in a 11-9 decision,” said Herm, who medaled at Fargo this past summer.

“This is a great tournament, with a lot of super nice guys to hang with for a couple of days, so  as I said, I am glad we come here every year,” said Herm.

DeKalb’s Mekhi Cave (14-3) beat Geneseo’s Malaki Jackson (17-3) by an 8-4 decision in the third-place match and Carl Sandburg’s Vince Gutierrez (12-8) pinned Rockford East’s Dana Wickson (17-5) in the fifth-place contest.

150 – Dominic Serio, West Aurora

West Aurora junior Dominic Serio sent a message to the rest of the field at 150 with a powerful performance in the opening rounds of action before rolling into the final where he outscored and outpaced Barrington senior Rhenzo Augusto during a 11-5 victory.

Serio, ranked second in the state behind Marist’s Will Denny, never allowed No. 7-seed  Augusto (16-2) to draw closer than four points after a takedown near the edge in the second period, and later, when in workmanlike fashion he increased his advantage to 9-4 with 90 seconds remaining in the contest.

“I put a lot of time in the room during the offseason – working on my set-ups, fitness, and just concentrating on just going out there and doing what I do best (and) if I stay healthy, I feel like I can be on the top of the podium down in Champaign later on in the season,” said Serio, who is now 17-0.

“I like the fact that I am ranked second in the state, but to be honest, it’s all about being No. 1 at the end of the year,” added Serio, a state qualifier last season with a record of 34-5.

Serio, who was named O.W. at the Antioch Invite early in the season, defeated the No. 2-seed, OPRF’s David Ogunsanya, in his semifinal, 16-9, while at the same time,  Augusto stunned the top-seed, Geneseo’s Zachary Montez (18-1), a two-time state medalist, in a 5-4 tiebreaker.

Augusto and Jimmy Whitaker have been key figures in a revival of sorts at Barrington, who earlier in the year won its own Moore-Prettyman and the Larry Gassen Duals over a solid field at Downers Grove South.

Montez came back to win 11-4 over Lemont’s Noah O’Connor (16-3) for third place while Lincoln-Way West’s Jase Salin (16-4) pinned Ogunsanya (12-4) to earn fifth place.

157 – Aaron Stewart, Warren Township

With all due respect to the field at 157,  there wasn’t anyone who would touch Aaron Stewart over the two days of play at Hinsdale Central.

The sensational sophomore from Warren Township dominated the competition to the tune of three super quick pins in just over four minutes before he registered a tech fall at 3:26 over West Aurora’s Noah Quintana to claim his second-straight Rex Whitlatch crown.

The No. 1 man in the state at 157 suffered his first loss of the season in the Walsh Ironman to Oklahoma-bound Landyn Sommer in a 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker match.

“I wasn’t all that happy with my result at the Ironman, nor my first state tournament last year when I finished third overall (at 150), but I was happy for the experience of going downstate both as an individual, and later at dual team state (but) I know my continue commitment to hard work will get me back downstate where I’ll look to win a state title this time around,” said Stewart, who takes academics as serious as his training.

“Being the best you can be as a student-athlete is the only way to go, and it’s something that I take a lot of pride (in) and something that I continue to impress on someone like Caleb Noble, who is starting out just as I did last year,” continued Stewart.

Quintana (14-3), who was second at 160 in the Whitlatch a year ago to Joliet Catholic Academy’s Mason Alessio, an eventual state champion, came in ranked No. 4 in the state.

Joliet Catholic Academy sophomore Luke Hamiti (9-6) recorded a tech fall at 5:49 over Carl Sandburg’s Zac Ritter (16-4) to claim third place while Rockford East’s Ty Smart (16-6) used a 5-3 decision over DeKalb’s Cam Matthews to take fifth place.

165 – Gunnar Garelli, Lyons Township

Make it two major titles this season for Lyons Township senior Gunnar Garelli, who outlasted DeKalb’s Jacob Luce 6-4 in the 165-pound final.

Garelli, No. 3 in the state, is now 18-0 after a hard-fought third period with Luce (14-2) who found himself chasing a 5-2 deficit after Garelli used an escape midway through the final period.

“Luce is a good, very defensive opponent who I’ve wrestled three to four times before, so we know each other really well which was reflected in the way this match went,” said Garelli, who won a title at Barrington’s Moore-Prettyman.

“(That’s) why it was important to get that first takedown to help set the tone and to stay ahead at (4-2) when we went to the third period,” added Garelli.

“In these types of matches, it’s important to trust in yourself, be smart, and to take what is given when the opportunity presents itself, so it was a good win (and) one that erases that seventh place finish here last year.”

Luce, who took fifth a year ago at state with an outstanding 39-13 overall record, stands as the No. 4-man in the polls behind Collin Carrigan, Owen Uppinghouse and Garelli.

Joliet Catholic Academy’s Max Corral (9-6) took third after his 6-4 victory over Warren Township’s Royce Lopez (12-4) while Brother Rice’s Gabino Perez (15-4) took home the fifth- place medal following his 9-2 decision over Stevenson’s Themba Sitshela. Perez, No. 4 in the most recent 2A polls, was a state qualifier last season as a sophomore.

175 – Collin Carrigan, Glenbard West

Collin Carrigan has enjoyed a sensational start to his senior year following his move from Marmion Academy to Glenbard West during the offseason.

The two-time state qualifier and 2022 state medalist improved his record to 19-0 after his technical fall victory at 3:32 over Downers Grove South senior RJ Samuels who came into the weekend as the No. 8 rated man in this weight. Samuels (15-2) was second at the Whitlatch a year ago at 152.

Carrigan, No. 1 at 165, went over, through and past a trio of his opponents with a pair of pins wrapped around another tech fall in the quarterfinals to face Samuels in a weight class which featured Hinsdale South’s Jovanni Piazza, who was a 2A state qualifier a year ago.

“I really enjoyed my time at Marmion Academy, but it made way too much sense to finish up with my senior year at Glenbard West, which is just a few short minutes from where we live,” said Carrigan, 23-8 last year and 27-5 in 2022 when he grabbed a fifth place state medal.

“I like the school, campus, my teammates and coaching staff, so this is a great place for me to finish up my final year of high school,” continued Carrigan, who two years ago committed to the University of Virginia, only to make the switch to the University of North Carolina when the Tar Heels named Rob Koll as its new head coach back in August.

“Everything about the program is great, and especially with coach Koll,” who coached Carrigan’s father, Ryan, while head coach at Cornell in the Ivy League.

“(This) will be the first time coach Koll will coach a son of a wrestler that he would coach at one time in his career while at Cornell (so) that is kind of amazing to me,” admitted Carrigan.

Piazza (15-3), who lost a tight match with Samuels (9-7) in the semifinals, came back to claim third place after his 18-8 major decision victory over DeKalb junior Sean Kolkebeck (13-4) while Warren Township’s Justice Humphreys (9-3) earned fifth overall after his 3-1 victory over Hinsdale Central’s Zachary Kruse (17-7).

190- Nico Ronchetti, Joliet Catholic Academy

Joliet Catholic Academy fans celebrated their third individual title when junior Nico Ronchetti turned in a strong performance to defeat Downers Grove South’s Matty Lapacek in a 5-3 sudden victory thriller.

Ronchetti, No. 4 in the state at 175, extended his advantage over Lapacek (6-1) to 3-1 late in the third period before the Mustangs senior drew back level at 3-3 with a reversal as time expired. Not to be denied victory, Ronchetti (11-3) recorded a neat finish on his takedown with 19 seconds left in the first extra session to secure his crown.

“(He) was a tough opponent, but I’ve got to trust my training, and coaches (more) because I should have shot more in that match, and the previous one also,” said Ronchetti, who in his semifinal with the No. 4-seed, Lincoln-Way West’s Nate Elstner, kept Hilltoppers fans on edge in a nervy overtime contest that saw the top-seed claim the winning takedown with five seconds left to go.

When back competing at 175, Ronchetti finds himself among plenty of star power beginning with Mount Carmel’s top-ranked Colin Kelly followed by Libertyville’s Matt Kubas, Yorkville’s Luke Zook and then himself at No. 4.

Ronchetti fell short in his bid for a 2A title at 182 to Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens last year.

“I feel like I am doing all the right things in my training as a build up to the end of the year, and to be honest, I wish that I could have another match with Matty, I really feel if that would happen, the result would be different,” offered Ronchetti, who was second at the Donnybrook at 190 pounds.

Elstner (17-2) would go on to earn third place honors following his 11-10 decision over Barrington’s Ayden Salley (16-7) while Warren Township senior Jeremija Hixson (9-2) nabbed fifth place with a pin of Brother Rice junior James Crane (15-6).

215- Anthony Soto, Warren Township

Anthony Soto made his varsity debut at Warren Township by bagging 21 wins during his 2022 rookie season and then saw his chances of booking a trip downstate end in a sectional blood round defeat to Casey Bending.

Soto enjoyed a terrific sophomore campaign which included a second place finish at the Grant Regional to help his club earn its first-ever appearance in the IHSA Class 3A Dual Team Finals.

However, a familiar rival sent him out of the state series when Bending recorded a 7-5 victory in the blood round.

On Saturday, Soto showed his intent for bigger and better things for the 2023-24 season when he pinned DeKalb’s Lamar Bradley to win the 215-pound title.

Soto (12-2), the No. 4-seed, went through and into the final following his pin at 4:09 of the top-Carl Sandburg’s Ahmad Jaffal (16-3) while on the other side of the bracket, the No. 3-seed Bradley (14-2) earned a 6-3 decision in his semifinal contest against the No. 2-seed, Downers Grove South’s Cael Brezina  (8-2).

Soto, who was one of five sophomores on the Warren Township varsity last season, finished 33-12, with one of those victories coming in an IHSA Dual Team quarterfinal loss to Lockport.

OPRF’s Eric Harris (11-4) won a 4-1 decision over Downers Grove South’s Mack Diehl (15-5)  for third place while Jaffal (16-3) took home a fifth-place medal on a medical forfeit against Brezina (8-2)

285- Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic Academy

After another four-pin explosion to bag his second-straight title at Hinsdale Central, No. 1 Dillan Johnson preferred to talk more about his team and teammates than his championship form.

Johnson, now with eight-straight pins over the past two Whitlatch visits, came in as the reigning two-time state champion at 285 and No. 3 man in the latest national polls, just behind of Penn State-bound Cole Mirasola of West Bend, Wisconsin, who edged Johnson 5-4 in the Dan Gable Donnybrook finals.

“We have a terrific core of veterans, with a nice addition of young guys into our room, so it’s important that I be the best leader that I can by setting a strong example both, in, and away from the room,” said Johnson.

Johnson (8-1) ended the hopes of Hinsdale Central’s Marko Ivanisevic at 3:49 after spending just 2:17 on the mats in his three previous bouts to advance.

Ivanisevic (14-2), champion at the Moore-Prettyman and a two-time fifth-place state medal winner with 44 wins last season, tore through his first two opponents on his home floor before going past Rockford East’s Lee Smith (16-3) in his semifinal with a 7-2 decision.

Smith is currently ranked No. 3 in 2A while Ivanisevic is No. 3 at 3A.

“We had a lot of success at 2A the past couple of years, and we’ve been able to move into 3A really well thus far, so if we continue to work hard together, and individually, there’s no reason why we cannot have the success over the last couple of seasons,” said Johnson before accepting Outstanding Wrestler honors.

Smith suffered an injury just six seconds into his match with Lincoln-Way West’s Nick Kavooras (6-5) in the third place bout while Neenah, WI’s Nate Cleveland (10-7) pinned Barrington sophomore Clarence Jackson (15-6) for fifth place.

Here’s the championship matches for Hinsdale Central’s Rex Whitlatch Invitational

106 – Caleb Noble (Warren Township) D 7-2 Rocky Seibel (Belleville West)

113 – Max Cumbee (Joliet Catholic Academy) MD 11-1 Eduardo Castro (DeKalb)

120 – Jason Hampton (Joliet Catholic Academy) D 5-2 Tyson Seibel (Belleville West)

126 – Madden Parker (Carl Sandburg) MD 14-3 Jimmy Whitaker (Barrington)

132 – Shawn Kogan (Stevenson) D 3-2 Ulises Rosas (Glenbard West)

138 – Ryan Hinger (Carl Sandburg) D 4-2 Declan Koch (Neenah, WI)

144 – Jacob Herm (Neenah, WI) MD 10-2 Nolan Vogel (Joliet Catholic Academy)

150 – Dominic Serio (West Aurora) D 11-5 Rhenzo Augusto (Barrington)

157 – Aaron Stewart (Warren Township) TF 3:26 Noah Quintana (West Aurora)

165 – Gunnar Garelli (Lyons Township) D 6-4 Jacob Luce (DeKalb)

175 – Collin Carrigan (Glenbard West) TF 3:32 RJ Samuels (Downers Grove South)

190 – Nico Ronchetti (Joliet Catholic Academy) SV 5-3 Matty Lapacek (Downers Grove South)

215 – Anthony Soto (Warren Township) F 2:55 Lamar Bradley (DeKalb)

285 – Dillan Johnson (Joliet Catholic Academy) F 3:49 Marko Ivanisevic (Hinsdale Central)

Team standings for Hinsdale Central’s Rex Whitlatch Invitational

1. Joliet Catholic Academy (264.5), 2. Warren Township (193.5), 3. Carl Sandburg (184), 4. Lincoln-Way West (165), 5. DeKalb (149.5), 6. Downers Grove South (124), 7. Stevenson (117), 8. Barrington (115), 9, West Aurora (111.5), 10. Glenbard West (110), 11. Oak Park and River Forest (107), 12. Neenah, WI (98.5), 13. Rockford East (96), 14. Geneseo (82), 15. Belleville West (73.5), 16. Hinsdale South (68), 17. Minooka (63,5), 18. Downers Grove North (62.5), 19. Hinsdale Central (61), 20. Brother Rice (59), 21. Lyons Township (53.5), 22. Lemont (45), 23. New Trier (31.5), 24. Neuqua Valley (18), 25. Willowbrook (15).

By Patrick Z. McGavin for the IWCOA

The unknown shadowed Batavia in its quest to stand atop the highest podium at the 58th Rus Erb Invitational at Glenbrook South Saturday.

The Bulldogs were trying to overcome a serious manpower shortage with four missing weight classes at 106, 113, 175 and 285.

“We were missing some spots this year,” said Aidan Huck, the Bulldogs’ 138-pounder. “Coming in I am not sure if we had a lot of confidence, but we knew our guys were going to get it done. 

“We just had to get those bonus points.”

Huck mirrored the larger fortunes of the team.

He captured his third consecutive individual championship as the Bulldogs used elite quality to overcome their depth issues to win a third consecutive Erb team championship.

Huck previously won the tournament at 113 and 126 pounds.

Batavia’s four individual champions pushed the Bulldogs past Oswego, who had a five-point advantage in the team scores heading into the place matches. 

Batavia finished with 161.5 points, edging the 156.5 scored by Oswego.  Deerfield (143.5), St. Patrick (138.5) and Riverside-Brookfield (132.0) finished in the top five.

Lake Forest senior Seth Digby (157) earned the most outstanding wrestler award; Oswego’s Brodie Slou (285) had five pins in 11:20 to finish with the most pins in the least time; and Batavia’s Ino Garcia (120) and Oswego’s Ethan Essick (150) tied with 30 for the most team points scored in the tournament. 

Buffalo Grove’s Chris Chi (165) scored the most points in a single match with 25; Richmond-Burton’s Kyan Gunderson (126) scored the most total match points with 56; and the largest seed-place difference came from Riverside-Brookfield’s Jacob Godoy, as the 15th-seeded wrestler placed fourth at 132.

Rus Erb championship match breakdowns:

106 – Daniel Goodwin, St. Patrick

St. Patrick sophomore Daniel Goodwin came of age.

“I spent a lot of time this week working with my coaches on building my attack, working on my hand fighting and getting into my offense,” he said.

It paid off spectacularly with his 11-1 major decision over Lane’s Evan Coles in the championship match.

The same two wrestlers faced each other last year in the third-place bout at 106 pounds.

“My style is hard-nosed, and gritty, but sometimes there’s a little bit of flash and you saw that today,” he said.

Goodwin (16-2) was explosive on his feet, and he was dominant on the ground. Coles had no answer.

“I had a lot of confidence in myself,” Goodwin said. “I made the changes in my attack, and I was able to build off each other. I really wanted to win this tournament.”

St. Patrick’s Jack Koenig won a 13-11 sudden victory over Buffalo Grove’s Dawson Horvath for third place, and Glenbrook South’s Urmuun Urtnasan earned the 10-7 decision over Riverside-Brookfield’s Mateo Gonzalez on the fifth-place mat.

113 – Alex Valentin, Lane Tech

Lane Tech’s Alex Valentin never lost sight of the larger objective. 

Even when down in the second period, the Lane junior knew he could not depart from his larger strategy of being aggressive and dialed into the moment.

“I really wanted to push the pace,” he said. “I was confident in myself.

My style is hard to explain. I just go out there and wrestle to the best of my ability. I feel like I have a more dominant top-down style.”

Valentin recovered from a 6-4 second-period deficit to pull out a 10-8 decision over Grant’s Vince Jasinski in the championship match.

Valentin (17-2) finished fourth at 113 last year. Jasinski (16-4) was the runner up at 106 pounds.

The takedown and three-point near fall by Valentin at the start of the third period shifted the momentum decisively. He withstood a late takedown to pull out the victory.

“I really like a neutral style, but like I said, my best is working top to bottom,” Valentin said.

Jonathan Theodor of Oswego won a 4-2 decision over Riverside-Brookfield’s Edgar Mosquera for third place, and Lake Park’s Bryce Mensik defeated Lakes’ Braiden Beau by medical forfeit on the fifth-place mat.

120 – Ino Garcia, Batavia

Batavia’s Ino Garcia missed the first three weeks of the season recovering from an injury.

He made up for the lost time, and also punctured the bittersweet feeling of losing a 2-1 decision in the championship match at 113 pounds a year ago. Garcia won the 106-pound championship two years ago.

“After the break and everything, I was just hyped up, and ready to go,” he said. 

Garcia blitzed Deerfield’s Adrian Cohen with a fall at 0:49 in the championship match.

After making his debut in a dual last Thursday, Garcia was fresh, live wired, and ready to make a statement. His body was expressly attuned to the moment.

He used an early four-point action with a takedown and back points for the sharp start.

A freshman, Cohen (13-4) was unprepared for the scope, intensity and drive of Garcia.

Garcia (4-0) finished sixth in Class 3A last February at 113 pounds, losing the fifth-place state match to Schaumburg’s Brady Phelps, his opponent at Rus Erb last year.

“I was more ready than him, and I think I went after this as if it were a state finals match or something,” he said.

St. Patrick’s Calvin Stahl had the 1-0 decision over Niles North’s Trent Tono for third place, and Sycamore’s Tyler Lockhart had the 10-7 decision over Richmond-Burton’s Clay Madula on the fifth-place mat.

126 – Robert James Zavala, Lane Tech

Lane’s Robert James Zavala conceded the first takedown in his championship match with Carmel’s Matthew Lucansky.

He responded with a series of sharp actions that dovetailed into a convincing 16-7 major for the second individual title for the Public League power.

He never got down on himself after falling behind, reacting with a five-point reversal and near fall points.

Two more takedowns in the second period expanded his lead to 10-5. He rode the momentum brilliantly, working his superior quickness and power.

Zavala (19-2) punctuated the performance with a takedown and two-point near fall in the closing seconds.

Lake Park’s Sergio Hernandez captured the 13-8 decision over Richmond-Burton’s Kyan Gunderson’s for third place, and Batavia’s Kyle Pasco defeated Oswego’s Vincent Manfre on the fifth-place mat.

132 – Luke Reddy, Deerfield

Deerfield’s Luke Reddy knows regardless of form or function, the imperative is always the same.

Set the tone, create the dominant rhythm and never let up.

“I always focus on wrestling my style, and never let anybody else take it to me,” he said. 

Reddy smashed Glenbrook South’s Max Brown with the 13-1 major in the championship match.

Reddy (15-1) finished second to Huck at 126 pounds last year. He was one match away from placing in the Class 2A state finals.

“We talk about the hammer and the nail, and I always want to be the hammer,” Reddy said. 

“I want to make my opponent uncomfortable. I was always calm, and ready to wrestle. I’ve won a couple of tournaments now. With this being my senior year, it’s really important to come out and dominate.”

Evanston’s Marco Terrizzi earned the 12-0 major decision over Riverside-Brookfield’s Jacob Godoy for third place, and Batavia’s Jack Duraski won by forfeit over St. Patrick’s Olin Walker on the fifth-place mat.

138 – Aidan Huck, Batavia

The third time was not just the charm. It set the backdrop for the Bulldogs’ championship drive.

Huck (17-1) has pushed up a couple of weight classes from a year ago, where he captured the 126-pound championship. His technique, power, skill and flexibility translates to any weight class.

Huck registered two takedowns and back points for a 7-0 lead through two periods for the 11-2 major over Grant sophomore Erik Rodriguez in the championship match.

“I think getting that first takedown really sets me apart from the other opponents.” Huck said. 

His takedown was the only points of the first period. He quickly followed up with an escape, takedown and back points during his dominant second period.

He has gained strength without sacrificing his speed or explosiveness.

“My first couple of meets this year, I was even at 144,” he said. “I wasn’t really focused on cutting weight this season. With the tournament, I thought 138 was the best fit for me, and I got the job done.”

Rodriguez (18-5) showed off as one of the bright underclass talents in the field. He finished third at 126 pounds last year.

Deerfield’s Jordan Rasof captured the 11-1 major over Sycamore’s Jayden Dohogne for third place, and Lane’s Nasser Hammouche defeated by forfeit Oswego’s Brayden Swanson on the fifth-place mat.

144 – Emmett Nelson, Richmond-Burton

An unfortunate sequence at the end of the semifinal series deprived the day of its most anticipated final.

Deerfield’s previously undefeated Mark Martinez suffered an ankle injury in the final moments of his semifinal victory over Glenbrook South’s Andrew Haritos.

Richmond-Burton star Emmett Nelson captured the title by medical forfeit.

Nelson, who went 46-3 in finishing second in Class 1A at 126 pounds last year, is one of the most dynamic and electrifying wrestlers in the state.

Nelson (15-0) had two major decisions and a 8-4 decision over Riverside-Brookfield’s Josh Gonzalez in the semifinals. 

“I think scoring points and keeping a good pace up is really important for me,” Nelson said. “I like to do as much as I can in that match.”

Regardless of class, Nelson is one of the best wrestlers in the state.

“I think 1A is really underestimated,” he said. “People might naturally belittle you, or think you’re not that good, but we had two champions today.” Martinez is 13-1.

Gonzalez earned the 7-1 decision over Lake Park’s Vince Merola for third place, and Oswego’s Dillon Griffin won by forfeit over Haritos in the fifth-place bout.

150 – Ethan Essick, Oswego

Oswego’s Ethan Essick has a sure and intuitive idea of when to go for broke. His aggressive and no-holds barred style even operates from a seemingly disadvantaged position.

Trailing 2-1 at the start of the second period, Essick caught Deerfield’s Charlie Cross in a cradle for the fall at 2:35 for the Panthers’ only tournament championship.

Essick (15-4) completed one of the most dominant performances of the day with four falls.

“I started on the bottom, and I built out my base and I got my head out, and he ducked out under my body and I hooked his leg,” he said. “I kept my mind good, and these things always just work out.”

Even though Cross secured the first takedown, Essick never lost his confidence or drive. “It’s always about the next takedown,” he said.

Niles North’s Oliver Quiros pinned Batavia’s Dylan Wells to capture third place at 150, and Riverside-Brookfield’s Jacob Noe won the 7-1 decision over Palatine’s Alan Allende on the fifth-place mat.

157 – Seth Digby, Lake Forest

Seth Digby was a cut above, faster, tougher and better than everybody who stood in his path.

He punctuated a dominant run with the 16-4 major over Oswego’s Colin O’Grady in the championship.

His flip of O’Grady for a four-point take down and back points illustrated his elite combination of power, strength, quickness and superb technique. In the run up to the final, Digby (17-0) posted three falls. He earned the most outstanding wrestling award.

Digby finished fourth at 152 pounds last year, losing to Sycamore’s Gus Cambier in the third-place match. Cambier also ended his season with a decision in the state finals.

Digby has been a man on a mission.

“I just like to wrestle at a high pace, and just work on a lot of things we do in the practice room,” he said. 

St. Patrick’s Van Grasser won by medical forfeit over Riverside-Brookfield’s Ethan Rivas for third place, and Glenbrook South’s Henry Downing earned the 7-1 decision over Grant’s Grayson Lennon in the fifth-place bout.

165 – Christian Wittkamp, Grant

Grant’s Christian Wittkamp had the perfect combination, at once insurmountable and unstoppable.

He orchestrated a dazzling individual tournament with a 17-2 technical fall over Buffalo Grove’s Chris Chi in the championship match.

Wittkamp (17-5) was both steady and intense, methodically and masterfully building his lead, applying pressure and force and finally delivering the knockout with a series of back points in the third period

Oswego’s Joseph Griffin captured the 7-4 decision over Lake Park’s Max Mohapp for third place, and Riverside-Brookfield’s Cade Tompkins won by fall over Evanston’s Xavier Starks in the fifth-place bout.

175 – Devin Nichol, St. Patrick

In the most unaccountable outcome of the day, Devin Nichol went deep into his soul to stage a remarkable comeback.

The St. Patrick senior overcame a 7-1 deficit at the start of the third period for the thrilling and dramatic 12-10 decision over Sycamore’s Cooper Bode in the championship match.

He executed two separate four-point actions, the most significant a takedown and back points in the closing seconds that wiped out the 10-8 deficit.

“Honestly I have no idea how that happened,” he said. 

“This might sound kind of weird, but I was thinking about my family and how they have always fought through life, and the least I could do was continue to work hard and not gas out and keep trying.”

As the momentum shifted, Nichol (17-7) was reanimated and energized.

“I thought it was going to go to overtime, but I just thought I could take a shot there and get him on his back,” he said.

Rolling Meadows’ Jack Rappa had the 3-0 decision over Buffalo Grove’s JJ Garay for third place, and Niles North’s Dionisi Ballas pinned Riverside-Brookfield’s Max Strong on the fifth-place mat.

190 – Ben Brown, Batavia

Ben Brown had the hammerlock, in effect. He was not going to be denied his chance.

In the most competitive championship, Brown engineered the thrilling and intense 1-0 victory over Buffalo Grove’s Caden Watson. 

His second-period escape was the difference. After finishing second at 195 pounds last year, Brown (13-0) rode out Watson through a tense and thrilling final period.

“I’m a big tight-waisted guy, and if I can get off to that one side, and keep good hip pressure, I just react to what they’re doing,” he said.

Watson nearly got free in the final 25 seconds with a deft roll move. Brown maintained his composure.

“I wrestled a different guy a couple of weeks ago, and he was rolling on me, so I’ve tried to be more conscious of that,” he said. “You can feel the pressure slip when they try that.

“You just hold on there.”

Palatine’s Trey Widlowski defeated St. Patrick’s Jack Clancy 9-3 in the third-place match, and Sycamore’s Gable Carrick won by fall over  Lakes’ Julian Ramos on the fifth-place mat.

215 – Asher Sheldon, Batavia

The familiarity struck home for Asher Sheldon.

In the only championship rematch from last year, Sheldon dominated St. Patrick’s Aiden Gomez with the 16-4 major for his second consecutive individual title.

In the 220-pound championship last year, Sheldon (18-1) posted the first period fall of Gomez.

“I’ve been working on my mindset, and telling myself that losing is not an option,” Sheldon said. “I’m just getting into a zone before my matches.

“I’ve been working on my feet with my coaches, and also my bottom/top. I am most dominant on my feet. Being a little lighter than most guys here, it allows me to have more speed that is very useful at a heavier weight.”

Lake Forest’s Yaree Sandifer had the second period fall of Niles North’s Ahmad Musa for third place, and Deerfield’s Max Drumke earned the fall over Glenbrook South’s Sammy Kubba in the fifth-place bout.

285 – Colin Kraus, Richmond-Burton

Richmond-Burton’s Colin Krause saw his chance.

Locked in a 1-1 dual with Evanston’s Jeremy Marshall, he engineered a stunning throw for the third period fall in the championship match.

Throughout the match, Marshall appeared to have the more dangerous offensive actions and repeatedly got into Kruse’s body.

Kruse (7-2) skillfully deflected his actions.

“He was getting a lot of body locks on me, and I had to respond,” Kruse said. “We were right outside the ring, and I got my hands free and I saw the opportunity.

“I just took it, and ended up on top.”

Oswego’s Brodie Slou defeated by second period fall Buffalo Grove’s John Saracco for third place, and Grant’s Landon pinned Palatine’s Jaylen Maiden on the fifth-place mat.

Rus Erb championship match results:

106 – Daniel Goodwin (St. Patrick) MD 11-1 Evan Coles (Lane) 

113 – Alex Valentin (Lane) 10-8 D Vince Jasinski (Grant)

120 – Ino Garcia (Batavia) F 0:49 Adrian Cohen (Deerfield) 

126 – Robert James Zavala (Lane) MD 16-7 Matthew Lucansky (Carmel)

132 – Luke Reddy (Deerfield) MD 13-1 Max Brown (Glenbrook South)

138 – Aidan Huck (Batavia) MD 11-2 Erik Rodriguez (Grant) 

144 – Emmett Nelson MF Mark Martinez (Deerfield)

150 – Ethan Essick (Oswego) F 2:35 Charlie Cross (Deerfield) 

157 – Seth Digby (Lake Forest) MD 16-4 Colin O’Grady (Oswego) 

165 – Christian Wittkamp (Grant) TF 17-2 5:47 Chris Chi (Buffalo Grove)

175 – Devin Nichol (St. Patrick) D 12-10 Cooper Bode (Sycamore) 

190 – Ben Brown (Batavia) D 1-0 Caden Watson (Buffalo Grove)

215 – Asher Sheldon (Batavia) MD 16-4 Aiden Gomez (St. Patrick)

285 – Colin Kruse (Richmond-Burton) F 4:27 Jeremy Marshall (Evanston)

Final team scores: Batavia (161.5) 2. Oswego (156.5) 3. Deerfield (143.5) 4. St. Patrick (138.5) 5. Riverside-Brookfield (132.0) 6. Grant (113.5) 7. Buffalo Grove (109.5) 7. Richmond-Burton (109.5) 9. Lane (105.5) 10. Glenbrook South (91.5) 11. Sycamore (74.5) 12. Evanston (73.0) 12. Niles North (73.0) 14. Lake Park (70.0) 15. Lake Forest (57.0) 16. Palatine (39.0) 17. Rolling Meadows (34.0) 18. Carmel (32.0) 19. Lakes (27.0) 20. Marian Catholic (1.0)

By Bobby Narang – For the IWCOA

The sixth annual Robert E. Porter Invitational at Niles West turned out to be a memorable day with several champions spread across numerous schools. The meet, which took place in Skokie, included 26 teams from numerous regions of the state.

In the end, Notre Dame College Prep relied on a deep and talented squad to pull out the team title, finishing in first place with 370.5 points. DePaul Prep captured second place with 338.5 points, Elk Grove claimed third with 322 points, Normal West took fourth with 311 points and Wheaton Warrenville South snared fifth with 280 points.

The Dons notched the team title despite winning just two weight classes, as Ray Long won at 106 pounds and teammate John Sheeny claimed the 113-pound title.

Also for the champion Dons, Tim Bridges (144) claimed second place, John Greifelt (120) took fourth, Donovan Walsh (150), Sean Adams (175) and Jack Malenock (190) all finished fifth, Scott Cook (285) was sixth and Sean Cook (215) placed seventh.

“We really wanted to finish in a good spot,” Notre Dame coach Anthony Genovesi said. “We wanted to finish in the top five. That was the goal. We have set some high goals for the season, so it was good for the team to achieve it.

“Ray had a nice day. He has a big gas tank and wrestled really hard. He has big goals for this season. He just keeps coming on and doing really well. John was a state qualifier last year at 106 pounds. He’s a tough kid and also did very well. It was good to finish on top. We had a bunch of kids in the top seven. We only have three seniors. It’s been fun so far. We have some tough duals coming up, so it was good to see the team step up.”

Top performers for coach Patrick Heffernan’s runner-up Rams were title winners Johnny Cunningham (120) and Max Rosen (132) as well as runner-up Oliver Chapman (113).

Leading the way for coach Dan Vargas’ third-place Grenadiers were champions Grant Madl (126) and Mikey Milovich (285) in addition to second-place finishers Benny Schlosser (175) and Dylan Berkowitz (215).

Other Porter Invitational champions were Wheaton Warrenville South’s Cooper Hollis (138) and Sedeeq Al Obaidi (175), Normal West’s Evan Willock (157) and Gus Schreiber (190), Waubonsie Valley’s Ethan Wojtwich (144), Oswego East’s Noah DeMarco (150), Highland Park’s Dmitry Derbedyenyev (165) and Geneva’s Joseph Pettit (215).

Also claiming second-place finishes were Burlington Central’s Doug Phillips (132) and Henry Deering (138), Taft’s Bernardo Roque (106), Addison Trail’s Josh Amorn-Vichet (120), Bartlett’s Cameron Engels (126), Reavis’ Nicholas Gomez (150), Cary-Grove’s Noah Pechotta (157), Glenbrook North’s Shane Onixt (165), Normal West’s Matt Hanold (285) and Milwaukee Riverside University, WI’s Asr Clark (190).

Willock was the lone 2022 Porter Invitational champion that claimed first place on Saturday. Wojtwich had the most team points with 58 while Rosen was second with 57 and Al Obaidi and Schreiber tied for third with 56. Wojtwich had the most falls in the least time with five in 10:40 while Oswego East’s Josh Edwards had four in 3:26 and Al Obaidi led in match points with 76.

Host Niles West scored 108 points to finish in 22nd place, but coach Tony Petrusonis said his wrestlers took a step in the right direction in Saturday’s high-profile meet. The Wolves have yet to win their tournament, Petrusonis said.

“We’re trying to make this one of the best tournaments in the state,” Petrusonis said, while taking a break from the post-invite clean-up process. “We had a lot of good teams. Last year we had 22 teams, but this year we did 26 teams. Kids come in and everybody gets matches. It’s a great tournament. We have some great kids at Niles West. We just have to get better at wrestling all year long. We have some great kids that do all types of sports, which is great.”

Here’s a breakdown of the Porter Invitational champions and their weight classes

106 – Ray Long, Notre Dame College Prep

Notre Dame College Prep’s Ray Long is starting to make a name for himself. The freshman pulled out an impressive 11-9 decision over Taft sophomore Bernardo Roque to win the 106 title. Long (16-2) battled back from trailing in the first period to win his finals match.

“I just kept fighting and fighting until the end,” Long said. “It felt amazing to win. I would say that’s my best win of the year. I beat a pretty good kid. I’m going to see him multiple times. I’ve  been working hard and trying to stick to what I’m good at. I have the mindset that I’m going to win before every match.”

Jacobs’ Kristian Declercq won by fall over DePaul Prep’s Colin Bosak for third place while Geneva’s Sam Sikorsky pinned Normal West’s Jacob Payne for fifth place.

113 – John Sheehy, Notre Dame College Prep

The champion Dons continued their hot start behind a quality victory at 113 by John Sheehy. The junior pinned DePaul Prep’s Oliver Chapman in 1:24 to walk away with the championship.

“I feel pretty good about how I did,” Sheehy said. “I knew I would get a lot of matches going into it because I had a full bracket. I made sure to keep my timer on between matches because I could be wrestling every 30 minutes. I knew a couple of guys going into it. I knew I had to get to my offense and control the pace of every match. I was able to turn everyone on top pretty much.”

Sheehy, who is 15-2, said he’s been pleased with his progress this season.

“I feel my season is going good,” he said. “I had finished second in the last two tournaments, so it feels good to finish on top in this one.”

In the third-place match, Normal West junior Dylan McGrew notched a 12-2 major decision over Addison Trail’s Zion Martinez. Bartlett’s Emma Engels, who made history for her school in 2023 by winning the IHSA championship at 100, pinned Cary-Grove’s Peter Hayden for fifth place.

120 – Johnny Cunningham, DePaul Prep

DePaul Prep’s Johnny Cunningham took home the title in the 120-pound division with a forfeit victory over Addison Trail’s Josh Amorn-Vichet in the finals. “My season is going well because I have noticed my hard work is starting to pay off, even if I lose matches, I can walk away proud if I know I have given it 100 percent,” Cunningham said. “My goal for this season is to make it to state and hopefully perform well when I’m there.”

Normal West’s Abram Rader beat Notre Dame College Prep’s John Greifelt 6-3 for third place and Jacobs’ Ben Arbotante defeated Waubonsie Valley’s Nathan Duffield 11-1 for fifth.

126 – Grant Madl, Elk Grove

Elk Grove senior Grant Madl is racking up wins at a fast rate this season. Madl showed he’s attempting to make a run for the state podium with an impressive showing on Saturday, ending his long day with a victory by technical fall over Bartlett’s Cameron Engels in the 126 finals.

“The key for me was getting to my attacks,” Madl said. “The finals match was probably my toughest one. I was able to score a lot of points, but he was a stronger kid. It was difficult to get to my attack.”

Madl, who is 21-1, said he’s fueled by motivation, mainly due to losing in the blood rounds at sectionals in each of the last three seasons.

“Hopefully, this is the year I get over that hump,” Madl said. “I’m more confident, just knowing that I can compete with all these kids.”

Addison Trail senior Damian Valdez won a 14-3 major decision over DePaul Prep junior Nabiel Rosario for third place and Geneva’s Ben Deasy pinned Jacobs’ Carlos Aldaco for fifth.

132 – Max Rosen, DePaul Prep

Saturday’s meet was a big test for DePaul Prep’s Max Rosen, not just by the competition but also his new philosophy. The junior achieved his goal on both fronts, pinning Burlington Central’s Doug Phillips 3:56 to win the 132 finals.

“My finals match in this tourney was my best win this season,” Rosen said. “I kept pressure on him the whole match and worked him just the way I do in the practice room. The kid was good and I stuck to my game plan and worked my stuff.”

Rosen, who is 19-0, credited his solid start this season to a new attitude that’s helped him relax before and after matches.

“This season I’ve put way more focus into having fun, just with no pressure and going out and letting it fly,” Rosen said. “(Saturday) showed that. I went out and did what I trained to do. I’ve worked a ton with high-level guys in my room and in the offseason and that’s jumped my wrestling to a whole new level this year. I haven’t had many matches with top-level guys yet, but I’m looking forward to that in the next few weeks.

“This season is a whole different focus. The last few years I’ve put way too much pressure on results and I believe it’s hurt my wrestling. This year my goal for the season is to have fun every match and every practice and compete like I do in practice.”

Reavis senior Vladamir Vasquez won by fall over Geneva’s Andrew Wendt for third place and Jacobs senior Antuan Barfield took fifth by beating Grayslake Central’s Liam Halloran 14-2.

138 – Cooper Hollis, Wheaton Warrenville South

In a deep weight class full of quality competitors, Wheaton Warrenville South senior Cooper Hollis came out on top by pinning Burlington Central’s Henry Deering in 2:24 in the 138 finals.

“My goal for all of my matches was to go full-out and dominate every match that I wrestled,” Hollis said. “My toughest match was my semifinals against DePaul Prep (Drew Gerstung). Some of my key takeaways from that match were to never stop wrestling and always be active, try to score as many points as possible and be a smart wrestler in certain positions. I got into a dangerous position in the first period with a cradle and avoided that position throughout the rest of the match.”

Hollis, who is 14-5, said that Saturday’s meet was a big stepping-stone moment for him.

“I feel my season has definitely been my most dominant and successful so far,” he said. “I started off a little rough, losing my first couple of matches but corrected my mistakes in the wrestling room during practices and have since dominated almost every match. I’m feeling very confident about this season.”

For third place, Glenbrook North junior Aiden Fladeland pinned DePaul Prep’s Drew Gerstung while Oswego East’s Braeden Grisham won with a pin over Larkin’s Damari Miller in the fifth-place match.

144 – Ethan Wojtwich, Waubonsie Valley

Waubonsie Valley senior Ethan Wojtwich walked away with a first-place medal thanks to a fall in 2:51 over Notre Dame College Prep’s Tim Bridges in the 144-pound championship match.

Wojtwich said his preparation was the one of the reasons behind winning his weight class, especially in the fast-moving meet.

“The biggest thing that helped me was my mindset and how I prepared in between my matches,” he said. “I knew that they were going to go through the weights fast, so I would always be ready, keeping myself warm and making sure I ate an adequate amount of good food in between my matches.”

At 20-1, Wojtwich said his season is right on track for achieving his goals.

“I feel my season is going well so far,” he said. “I definitely want to keep going in that direction.”

Glenbrook North junior Ebin Fladeland recorded a 10-7 decision over DePaul Prep’s Hugh Costello for third place and Waukegan’s David Brown pinned Burlington Central’s Cole McGuire for fifth.

150 – Noah DeMarco, Oswego East

Oswego East senior Noah DeMarco stuck to his plan by pushing the pace to win the 150 title, defeating Reavis senior Nicholas Gomez with a fall 5:37 in the championship.

“I think coming out aggressive as though it’s my match was the key,” DeMarco said. “My toughest match was probably my last one. My opponent was quick and technical. It was fought hard and we took it into the third period. I learned that even if I give up points in a match, that I can always find opportunities to recover.”

DeMarco, who is 20-3, said Saturday’s tournament was a good confidence builder for him.

“I’ve had some rough losses but I’ve also had some good wins,” DeMarco said. “Those losses were good matches and provided opportunities to improve. I’m excited for what the season holds.”

Grayslake Central sophomore Warren Nash pinned Glenbrook North junior Ilan Ruderman in the third-place bout and Notre Dame College Prep junior Donovan Walsh posted an 8-4 decision over Grayslake Central’s Quentin Conkle for fifth.

157 – Evan Willock, Normal West

Normal West senior Evan Willock capped a big day with a 7-0 decision over Cary-Grove junior Noah Pechotta in the 157-pound title bout. Willock (11-0), who was the only individual to repeat as a champion in the tournament, placed sixth at 132 pounds in Class 2A last season.

“I made sure to stay in good position,” Willock said of the key to winning his weight class. “Wrestling these strong guys makes it easy to get caught in a bad situation. The guy I wrestled in the finals was strong, making it difficult to score points. But I learned how to keep the pressure on my opponent on top to insure he could not score on me.

Willock said he’s rounded into top shape after missing several matches due to an elbow injury.

“I’m feeling strong and I’m excited for the rest of the season,” he said. “

Addison Trail’s Martin Duarte pinned Niles West’s Ivan Gonzalez for the third-place medal. DePaul Prep junior Matthew Brendel also won with a pin over Elk Grove’s Anthony Macina in the fifth-place match.

165 – Dmitry Derbedyenyev, Highland Park

Highland Park senior Dmitry Derbedyenyev had a weekend to remember. He pinned Glenbrook North junior Shane Onixt in 0:59 to capture the 165-pound title. On Sunday, he officially committed to New York University.

“I think I did pretty good,” he said. “I was making mistakes early in my matches, but scored enough points to make up for them. I need to work on my bottom and need to do a better job getting on time for my matches. I was warming up at the last minute for my matches. I always want to wrestle better and am trying to peak around the state tournament. Last year I made it to state, but I could’ve wrestled better.”

Genoa-Kingston senior Brady Brewick had another solid weekend after winning his weight class at Richmond-Burton the previous week. He pinned Geneva’s Cam McGoarty for the third-place medal. And Wheaton Warrenville South’s Corey Gul won by fall over Milwaukee Riverside University, WI’s Imran Clark for fifth place.

175 – Sedeeq Al Obaidi, Wheaton Warrenville South

Five matches. Five victories.

Mission accomplished for Wheaton Warrenville South’s Sedeeq Al Obaidi. The senior defeated Elk Grove’s Benny Schlosser with a 19-7 major decision in the 175-pound title match.

“I feel I did pretty good, with having a total of five matches and a goal to win all in a dominant way,” Al Obaidi said. “I also ended up achieving some small goals that I had.”

Al Obaidi, who is 19-1, said the Niles West tournament was “my best meet because of the outcome of all my matches shows I was dominant throughout the whole tournament.”

Al Obaidi said his coaching and teammates have pushed him to excel this season.

“Thus far, I’m pleased with our hard-working environment, our great coaching staff and the support from everyone,” he said. “To achieve my goals, I just have to keep working hard, trusting the process and improving the small things every day.”

For third place, Glenbrook North senior Kieran O’Sullivan posted an 8-3 win over Highland Park’s Eli Moore and Notre Dame College Prep’s Sean Adams won by fall over Taft’s Steven Tantchev for fifth.

190 – Gus Schreiber, Normal West

Normal West senior Gus Schreiber capped off a prolific meet, and a long day, with a 10-8 victory by overtime tiebreaker over Milwaukee Riverside University, WI’s Asr Clark in the 190-pound championship match. Schreiber improved to 17-2 on the season.

“Obviously, I feel pretty good about how I did, as most people would if they won a tournament,” Schreiber said. “However, there were still mistakes on my end that made my last match go on longer than it should have and that could have cost me the match.”

With the holiday break just around the corner, along with several big meets, Schreiber said he’s focused on finishing his season on a high note.

“I’m pleased with how many pins I have already acquired since I’m sitting at 14 pins right now, which is already half of what I had last year,” Schreiber said. “My goal this year is to place in state. If I’m going to be able to do that, I have to be able to outpace and outwork everyone else, so I can get to where I want to be.”

Meanwhile, Wheaton Warrenville South’s Phil Zelman pinned Bartlett’s Ryan Gura for the third-place medal and Notre Dame College Prep’s Jack Malenock won by fall over Bartlett’s James Smrha for fifth place.

215 – Joe Pettit, Geneva

Geneva junior Joe Pettit found himself staring at a familiar opponent in the finals of the 215-pound weight class. One week earlier, Pettit pinned Elk Grove’s Dylan Berkowitz to win the weight class at Buffalo Grove.

He claimed his second win over Berkowitz in an eight-day period, recording a pinfall in 2:28 to capture the 215 title.

“I wrestled (Dylan) for first place last week, so I knew he was a tough and strong opponent,” Pettit said. “I kind of had the same mindset as last week, trying to control the match. He’s good with his throws, so I was careful not to get launched. I just tried to use my strength advantage (all Saturday), getting to my underhooks and making them work with me. I tried to control my matches. I’m improving as the season goes on. I’m learning every match and just trying to reach my potential.”

Oswego East’s Josh Edwards earned the third-place medal by beating Taft’s Christopher Osta by fall and Reavis junior Terry Ferguson pinned Saint Viator’s Ryan Hutchens for fifth.

285 – Mikey Milovich, Elk Grove

Elk Grove senior Mikey Milovich entered Saturday’s invite with a spotless record. He left Niles West High School with a clean record to go with a first-place medal following a 7-6 decision over Normal West’s Matt Hanold in the 285-pound final.

“It’s the same thing for me every weekend, just want to get better and looking to improve,” Milovich said. “I knew I was going to get better competition (here), so this helped me improve my skill set. My round three match was tough. He was strong and athletic and took me a while to get used to that. He even had me on my back for a few seconds. It was good to be in that situation and learn from it and fight out of it.”

At 22-0, Milovich, a three-sport athlete, is setting his goals high after a solid season playing football for the Grenadiers, but noted one of the factors to his unbeaten start is becoming more relaxed before matches.

“Last year I didn’t do so good, even though I made it to sectionals,” he said. “I lost in the blood rounds. That’s motivated me going into every match. My coaches have told me to wrestle and have fun, not stress myself out with winning and to learn and get better and improve. Every match I’ve improved on my technique and conditioning and mindset a lot. I’ve had plenty of coaches help me with  my mentality. I’m looking to go as far as I can. I’m focusing on winning conference.”

For third place, Cary-Grove’s Lucas Burton defeated Wheaton Warrenville South’s Ashton Kibbe by fall while Jacobs’ Rocco Sauer pinned Notre Dame College Prep’s Scott Cook for fifth.

Championship matches for Niles West’s Robert E. Porter Invitational

106 – Ray Long (Notre Dame College Prep) D 11-9 Bernardo Roque (Taft)
113 – John Sheehy (Notre Dame College Prep) F 1:24 Oliver Chapman (DePaul Prep)
120 – Johnny Cunningham (DePaul Prep)  NC Josh Amorn-Vichet (Addison Trail)
126 – Grant Madl (Elk Grove) TF 3:59 Cameron Engels (Bartlett)
132 – Max Rosen (DePaul Prep) F 3:56 Doug Phillips (Burlington Central)
138 – Cooper Hollis (Wheaton Warrenville South) F 2:24 Henry Deering (Burlington Central)
144 – Ethan Wojtwich (Waubonsie Valley) F 2:51 Tim Bridges (Notre Dame College Prep)
150 – Noah DeMarco (Oswego East) F 5:37 Nicholas Gomez (Reavis)
157 – Evan Willock (Normal West) D 7-0 Noah Pechotta (Cary-Grove)
165 – Dmitry Derbedyenyev (Highland Park) F 0:59 Shane Onixt (Glenbrook North)
175 – Sedeeq Al Obaidi (Wheaton Warrenville South) MD 19-7 Benny Schlosser (Elk Grove)
190 – Gus Schreiber (Normal West) TB 10-8 Asr Clark (Milwaukee Riverside University, WI)
215 – Joseph Pettit (Geneva) F 2:28 Dylan Berkowitz (Elk Grove)
285 – Mikey Milovich (Elk Grove) D 7-6 Matt Hanold (Normal West)

Team standings for Niles West’s Robert E. Porter Invitational

1. Notre Dame College Prep (370.5), 2. DePaul Prep (338.5), 3. Elk Grove (322), 4. Normal West (311), 5. Wheaton Warrenville South (280), 6. Jacobs (270.5), 7. Geneva (265.5), 8. Burlington Central (248.5), 9. Glenbrook North (245.5), 10. Bartlett (226), 11. Addison Trail (223), 12. Cary-Grove (208), 13. Taft (206), 14. Reavis (194.5), 15. Oswego East (187.5), 16. Grayslake Central (180), 17. Milwaukee Riverside University, WI (165), 18. Waubonsie Valley (152), 19. Lake Zurich (120.5), 20. Saint Viator (115), 21. Highland Park (114), 22. Niles West (108), 23. Waukegan (106.5), 24. Larkin (86.5), 25. Maine West (76.5), 26. Genoa-Kingston (56.5).

• 

By Chris Walker For the IWCOA

Schaumburg won two championship matches and had three other wrestlers place second during Saturday’s inaugural Morris Girls Invite.

Those five wrestlers led a group of 13 Saxons scoring enough team points for Schaumburg to best runner-up Minooka, 171 to 163. 

“I think all of the finalists did a fantastic job in a tournament like this,” Schaumburg coach Matt Gruszka said. “It wasn’t our best tournament of the year. We left a lot of points on the board. I told the team this is where the horses have to pull you through with senior leadership.”

Chicago Phoenix Military Academy was third at 153, West Aurora was fourth at 135 while Plainfield South was a distant fifth at 75 among the 32-team field.

Schaumburg’s Madeline Hope Zerafa-Lazarevic (140) and Valeria Rodriguez (155) won titles while teammates Makenzi Aguilar (100), Madyson Meyer (125), Nadia Razzak (190) fell just short in their respective title matches. Olivia Furlan (135) and Anna Villarreal (120) also finished in fourth place for the Saxons.

“There were some tough individuals with a tournament like that,” Gruszka said, “The competition was great. Each bracket had some good wrestling in it and it’s what the girls need to see.”

Minooka matched the Saxons with five girls advancing to the finals, including sisters Addison and Kira Cailteux, with Addison taking the win at 130 for the Indians this time. Eva Beck (135), Palmer Calvey (140) and Bella Cyrkiel (145) each advanced to the finals.

“I thought our girls showed they’ve been improving in the room,” Indians coach Paige Schoolman said. “It was probably a first for us, getting five girls into the finals. That many girls is pretty exciting stuff for us.”

About a year ago, Calvey got injured at a Pontiac’s Munch Girls Invite. On Saturday, she was healthy and wrestling for a championship.

“She had a huge tear in a her hamstring and is just now finally getting back to form,” Schoolman said. “She wrestled really smart and put herself in position to get in the finals at 140.”

Schaumburg wouldn’t be celebrating a tournament victory and Minooka wouldn’t be talking about being runner-up if it weren’t for Morris coach Lenny Tryner convincing Morris Athletic Director Jeff Johnson to host such an event.

“We used to be in a boys tournament this weekend and we went to our AD and said this tournament was not for us so we’d like to host our own,” Tryner said. “I wanted to do a boys and girls tournament together but there just never was enough boys teams interested in it because so many have established tournaments. So we went with the girls and ended up with 32 teams. I even had two or three coaches contact me last week trying to get in and I had to cut them off.”

All told, there were 260 wrestlers with 12 different schools going home with at least one champion. West Aurora and Schaumburg were the only two programs to have a pair of winners.

“Girls wrestling is growing so we’d like to try to have a good girls tournament,” Tryner said. “We would like to host the premier girls tournament in the state.

Ella McDonnell won at 110 for the Redskins.

“I am proud to be Morris wrestler,” she said. “We have a lot of good people on the team that work hard to be where they are at today. The girls team has gone a long way from where they were at last year. The team has made huge improvements and we have become a family.”

She really wanted to win on her home mat.

“To win the first girls tournament at Morris means a lot,” McDonell said. “To be able to show the rest of the girls that you can achieve your goals in one of the toughest sports has a huge impact on me. The road to go to state will be difficult this year because all of the girls have only gotten better and a regional has been included so it will eliminate all of the first-year wrestlers. The competition will be tough and I am looking forward to seeing all of the girls compete. I am also looking forward to seeing how my hard work pays off at the end of the season.”

McDonnell got down from 115.

“She wanted to get down and wrestle at her weight because we were supposed to have a fair amount of good girls wrestling at her weight class,” Tryner. “I think she really wanted it with it being the first Morris girls tournament. She was motivated extra to win.”

Here’s a look at the champions and weight classes at the 2023 Morris Girls Invite:

100 – Daniela Santander, Romeoville

Santander improved to 12-3 with a win by fall against Schaumburg’s Mackenzie Aguilar in the 100 title match.

Plainfield South’s Amie Fuentes won by fall against Chicago Phoenix Military Academy’s Jitzel Aranda to win the third place match at 100.

Santander had defeated Aranda and Fuentes by fall in her previous matches en route to her title.

105 – Kameyah Young, West Aurora

Young finally was able to finish off Romeoville senior Josefina Orozco late in the third period by fall to improve to 18-1 and to win one of two titles for the Blackhawks.

Lincoln-Way West freshman Zoe Dempsey beat Minooka sophomore Holli Coughlen by fall on the third-place mat at 105.

110 – Ella McDonnell, Morris

McDonnell pinned DeKalb’s Alex Gregorio-Perez in 3:40 for her third pin in as many matches on Saturday to improve to 17-1.

“The first period was a little rough due to the fact that I arrived late to the mat so I had no time to warmup, but I learned to channel my nerves throughout the first period and focus on the match,” McDonnell said. “She is a good wrestler and it was a good match.”

McDonnell also won by fall against Lockport’s Veronica Skibicki in 0:55 and Reed Custer’s Judith Gamboa in 1:08.

“I believe that my performance this weekend overall was good,” she said. “All of the wrestlers that I faced were good. My teammates, coaches, and the parents played a big role in getting me to the finals by supporting me and cheering me on from the corner.”

115 – Tori Macias, Burlington Central

Macias had a pair of wins by fall to advance to the finals where she met Sandwich’s Ashlyn Strenz for one of the tighter matches in the finals, prevailing 2-1.

Lockport’s Elizabeth Ramirez won by fall over Rich Township’s Courben Session on the third place mat at 115.

120 – Grace Laird, Joliet Catholic Academy (JCA)

Laird earned pins against DeKalb’s RaeAnne Sciabaras, Minooka’s Aubry Smith and West Aurora’s Aiyanah Sylvester before scoring a major decision 8-0 win against Lincoln-Way West’s Alaine Hollendoner in the title match.

Earlier this season Laird, a junior, won by fall against Hollendoner.

“I wrestled her the first match of the season and I won by pin, but this match was a lot tougher,” she said. “I was in control the whole time and able to do some new things. I was able to work new turns on top that I normally don’t do.”

Laird, who became the first girls wrestler to compete in the girls state finals for JCA a year ago, continues to progress after converting to wrestling from gymnastics upon entering the school on the west side of Joliet.

“I had been doing gymnastics for 10 years and quit to start wrestling my freshman year,” she said. “I feel like gymnastics gave me some strength and mental toughness and I’ve been able to learn skills really fast.”

It certainly helps that coach Ryan Cumbee, who led the Hilltoppers to a Class 2A boys state championship a season ago, is her step dad.

“I’ve been around wrestling for a while now,” she said. “I just keep making small adjustments and working on new things in the room to compete for a state championship this year. It’s definitely tough wrestling the boys we have. We have such a talented room which makes me a lot better and tougher. It feels good to be a part of that in making each other better.”

125 – Kinnley Smith, Canton

Smith, who finished second in the state last season at 125, continues on her path to get back there again after a strong performance on Saturday that concluded with her pinning previously undefeated Schaumburg junior Madyson Meyer at 1:49.

“I worked on staying in good positions and having discipline during the match,” she said. “I had a lot of confidence going into the match so I just wrestled my match and let it fly.”

Smith didn’t waste much time taking care of her earlier opponents on Saturday. After opening with a bye, Smith won by fall over Morris’ Tessa Neikirk at 0:57 and then over Minooka’s Sabina Charlebois in 1:45 during the semifinals.

“I felt very good today,” she said. “I worked a lot with my underhook because I’ve truly grown to loving that underhook, and being able to dictate the match with it. I also focused on my top today rather than neutral today to get a feel for what I need to work on.”

She even made quick progress in between all the action.

“My biggest challenge was having trouble breaking down my opponents off top,” she explained. “During the break for the tournament I worked on a new move and then even used it multiple times during my finals match to end up getting the fall.”

Now, 12-2 on the year, Smith believes she’s much better than she was a season ago when she was already elite.

“I believe I have improved tremendously since last season,” she said. “I have changed stylistically as a wrestler in many ways. I never once would have thought that I would shoot multiple times in a match or the fact that I am constantly firing off the first move. I think the biggest improvement in my wrestling is my confidence in my ability! I also get to be a leader for my team which helps keep me motivated to give these girls someone to look up to.”

Minooka’s Sabina Charlebois won by fall against Chicago Phoenix Military Academy’s Mia Thomas to win the third place match at 125.

130 – Addison Cailteux, Minooka

Sophomore Addison “Addie” Cailteux prevailed against her older sister, Kira Cailteux in the 130 finals. While such a match-up sounds remarkable, the title match was anything but. The only real action was the ultimate decision in Minooka and Addie’s favor.

Since Addie was the only Cailteux who could add to the team score, it was logical for her to take the victory against a teammate. Plus, Kira is also in volleyball season away from high school, and needs to stay healthy, so chancing an injury would’ve been foolish.

“The plan was to just wrestle it out, but I’m in season for volleyball and my goal was don’t hurt me,” Kira Cailteux said. “Addie had dropped to 130 that day and I didn’t want to wrestle.”

Mom definitely was considering the potential showdown.

“I was getting nervous beforehand and I think mom was excited that both of us could wrestle,” Kira Cailteux said. “I think she was excited to see us both shaking hands for once.”

Addie Cailteux won by fall against West Aurora’s Alaina Williams and Ottawa’s Ava Weatherford to advance to the finals. She opened with a bye while Kira Cailteux started with a win by fall against Tolono Unity’s Claire Horns.

Kira Cailteux then prevailed in a couple tight matches to get to the finals, edging Schaumburg’s Sharon Olorunfemi, 7-3, in the quarterfinals, and DeKalb’s Lana Zimmerman, 4-2, in the semifinals.

West Aurora’s Allina Williams won in sudden victory, 10-8, over Kaneland’s Dyani Torres to capture third place.

135 – Katie Ramirez-Quintero, Bolingbrook

Ramirez-Quintero won by major decision over Serena’s Sammy Greisen in the semifinals before advancing to the finals where she won by fall over Minooka’s Eva Beck at 3:19. Ramirez-Quintero also won by fall in her first bout of the day against Chicago Phoenix Military Academy’s Jocelyn Quiroz.

Seneca’s Sammy Greisen won by fall against Schaumburg’s Olivia Furlan to take third place at 135.

140 – Madeline Hope Zerafa-Lazarevic, Schaumburg

Madeline Hope Zerafa-Lazarevic likes to go by her middle name “Hope.”

Her opponents could only hope to last a full match against the Schaumburg junior who took care of each of her three opponents in under 30 seconds apiece.

She needed 29 seconds to defeat Minooka’s Lexi Lakota, 30 seconds to beat Plainfield South’s Lexi Kachiroubas and only 25 seconds to pin Minooka’s Palmer Calvey to win the title.

“I knew this was a big team tournament and we have a lot of newer girls still figuring out the sport so as a leader I knew I had to step up,” she said. “I wanted to dominate and I really wanted it. We have a good coaching staff and the girls are supportive so I felt I could go all out and do what I needed to.”

It wasn’t that long ago that Zerafa-Lazarevic felt more like a goon on the hardwood.  Then she was introduced to wrestling. Last year, she took fifth in the state at 125, compiling a 25-4 record.

“My dad was a big basketball guy and I was there to be the thug, to mess up other girls,” she said about her basketball playing days. “(Coach Matt) Gruszka said to come out to an open mat and he just kept roping me in and the girls were super nice so I went to one tournament and then another. My interest kept growing and it’s become a completely life-changing experience. I can’t believe where I’d be without wrestling. My team is wonderful. Seriously, my life is very different being a part of this sport.”

As much as she loves wrestling, she only spent 1:24 in action on Saturday.

“There were a lot of good teams here,” she said. “Our team has been so solid. So many girls came out (for the team) and are trying it out and they’re really starting to get it. We have a really strong roster of girls, including those not in the championships. We go down south to see this state-level competition to get better. I’m so proud of my girls that I’m just gushing about them.”

A few years ago, Zerafa-Lazarevic simply hoped someone could help her figure out ankle bands. Now, she’s one of the best wrestlers in the state.

“Personally I’m so excited to see the sport grow,” she said. “Freshman year I was new and in one of my first matches they had to explain position and I didn’t know how to put ankle bands on. Now I’ve grown so much and have gotten so much better at it. It’s a lot of fun and I know much more about wrestling today.”

145 – AJ Grant, Chicago Phoenix Military Academy

Schaumburg’s Keara Micek (1:28). 

Canton’s Aubrianna Putman (1:25).

Canton’s Katelyn Marvel (0:38).

Minooka’s Bella Cyrkiel (1:33).

Grant took care of all four of them. The Chicago Phoenix Military Academy junior was busy, dominant and quick with four wins by pin, including over Cyrkiel in the 145 final. All told, Grant only needed about five minute to defeat her four opponents.

Canton’s Katelyn Marvel won by fall over Canton’s Aubrianna Putman. The two teammates both were pinned by Grant, but Marvel responded to finish her day by pinning her teammate in 1:24.

155 – Valeria Rodriguez, Schaumburg

Rodriguez used to run cross country. Now she’s running down opponents on the mats.

Rodriguez battled Plainfield South junior Teagan Aurich in the 155 final, earning a 3-2 decision. She pinned Peoria Notre Dame’s Martha Gardner and Chicago Phoenix Military Academy’s America Cabrera in her matches leading up to Aurich in the final. She’s now 15-1 on the year.

“Right now we’re all pretty solid,” she said. “We’ve got a strong team this year with some amazing freshmen and lots of potential from our seniors. I’ve been a team captain for two years which is pretty fun. You have to know your levels between yourself and teammates so you can help them grow and improve where they need to. We all want the same thing: to win and prosper.”

Before high school, running was Rodriguez’s thing. Now, she’s not only a girls high school wrestler, but has a third place state finish to her resume and will be taking her skills to Quincy University next season.

“I just kind of tried (wrestling) my freshman year and ended up liking it,” she said. “I was in cross country before and wrestling is very very different. At first I wasn’t successful but I enjoyed the sport and I continued to grow.”

On the third-place mat, Chicago Phoenix Military Academy’s America Cabrera won by fall against Minooka’s Abbey Boersma.

170 – Kiernan Farmer, Peotone

Farmer won by fall over Shepard’s Victoria Perez, Urbana’s Franciana Kalanga and Peoria Notre Dame’s Autumn Williams before handing Burlington Central Ryann Miller her first loss in 18 matches this season during a 11-4 championship bout.

“I have a friend (Joliet Catholic Academy’s Cheya Bishop) who wrestled her (Miller) in her first match and I saw what to look for and what to avoid,” Farmer said. “She was a good opponent. I didn’t recognize the name from Charlie’s Angels (of Morris Fitness Wrestling) so I didn’t know what to expect when wrestling her. She was really good.”

Farmer missed a couple of tournaments early on in the season due to a trip to South Carolina, but whatever rust may have remained, seemed to have dissipated behind her strong display on the mats. 

“I’m feeling pretty awesome,” she said. “I’ve slimmed down. My weight classes have gone up the last couple of years because I’ve been putting on so much muscle mass and also training my shoulders and forearms while hitting the gym with all the boys from when I first started. It’s definitely helped my hand fighting game. It’s the little things.”

Little things like a few words have gone a long way with Farmer’s quick rise.

“A teacher told me I couldn’t wrestle because it was a boys sport,” she said. “I thought it was boxing. I hard only heard of and seen MMA fights growing up. I joined it on a whim. When I stepped into the room I was a little confused but figured I’d give it a try.”

It certainly helped to have a soon-to-be state champion to train with as Marco Spinnazola won the boys 152 title last February.

“I was a semi decent wrestler starting off and I had great partner who was a state champion so early on I had a great partner,” she said. “I think the turning point for me was when I’d beat boys and fully grown adult men and the boys would start crying because at this point I was the only girl wrestler and they hadn’t ever seen another girls wrestler until my sophomore year in any division near me.”

Farmer won’t forget getting stared at by boys during weigh-in. Now they stare at a champion.

“My favorite part was when I’d come up for third place and it would be a dogfight or I’d whoop them,” she said. “They’d be throwing their head gear. I love it when people underestimate.”

As physical as wrestling can be, it’s still a mental game, too.

“I guess my advice for anybody and I’ve done travel wrestling and never believed my coaches when they said wrestling is 99% mental and 1% physical,” she said. “I would think it’s 1% mental and 99% physical, but I’ve learned it’s totally a mental game.”

190 – Brittney Moran, West Aurora

Moran improved to 17-1 after winning by fall against Schaumburg’s Nadia Razzak in the 190 championship. 

Bolingbrook’s Aurelia Gil-Lane won by fall against Lockport’s Sophie Kelner in the third-place match. 

235 – Juliana Thrush, Ottawa

Thrush won a tiebreaker to defeat Tolono Unity’s Phoenix Molina in the 235 championship.

Robinson Rylee Hammon won by fall against Minooka’s Peyton Kuetizo on the third-place mat at 235.

Championship matches for the Morris Girls Invite

100 – Daniela Santander (Romeoville) F 3:25 Makenzi Aguilar (Schaumburg) 

105 – Kameyah Young (West Aurora) F 5:30 Josefina Orozco (Romeoville)

110 – Ella McDonnell (Morris) F 3:40 Alex Gregorio-Perez (DeKalb)

115 – Tori Macias (Burlington Central) D 2-1 Ashlyn Strenz (Sandwich)

120 – Grace Laird (Joliet Catholic Academy) MD 8-0 Alaine Hollendoner (Lincoln-Way West)

125 – Kinnley Smith (Canton) F 1:49 Madyson Meyer (Schaumburg)

130 – Addison Cailteux (Minooka) F 0:04 Kira Cailteux (Minooka)

135 – Katie Ramirez-Quintero (Bolingbrook) F 3:19 Eva Beck (Minooka)

140 – Madeline Zerafa-Lazarevic (Schaumburg) F 0:25 Palmer Calvey (Minooka)

145 – AJ Grant (Chicago Phoenix Military Academy) F 1:33 Bella Cyrkiel (Minooka)

155 – Valeria Rodriguez (Schaumburg ) D 3-2 Teagan Aurich (Plainfield South)

170 – Kiernan Farmer (Peotone) D 11-4 Ryann Miller (Burlington Central)

190 – Brittney Moran (West Aurora) F 0:30 Nadia Razzak (Schaumburg)

235 – Juliana Thrush (Ottawa) TB-1 3-1 Phoenix Molina (Tolono Unity)

B match final result places:

110B – 1st – Mikaela Busse (Oswego) 2nd – Carlee Rausa (Minooka); 3rd – Danica Martin (Morris) 4th – Jordan Rodriguez (Bolingbrook) 5th – Abaan Sheriff (Schaumburg); 6th – Nicole Augustine (West Aurora)

115B – 1st – Diana Lopez (Chicago Phoenix Military Academy); 2nd – Ava Staley (Minooka); 3rd – Diana Llanos (West Aurora); 4th – Val Munoz (Ottawa)

120B – 1st – Marisol Castro-Duran (Chicago Phoenix Military Academy); 2nd – Hayden Mannon (Minooka); 3rd – Sandra Franco (West Aurora); 4th – Allison Cisneros (Romeoville); 5th – Cassidy LaFan (Oswego); 6th – Ania Velazquez (West Aurora); 7th  – Kaylin Diazleal (Schaumburg)

125B – 1st – Mila Rocush (Shepard); 2nd – Rylie Donahue (Somonauk); 3rd – Charlotte Weiler (West Aurora); 4th – Elle Kinnard (Joliet Catholic Academy); 5th – Ellen Thumma (Kewanee); 6th – Savanna Kuykendall (West Aurora)

130B – 1st – Kailey Jefferson (Minooka)l 2nd – Alina Garcia (Schaumburg); 3rd – Adriane Tanguma (Chicago Phoenix Military Academy) 4th – Aryna Latushkina (Vernon Hills); 5th – Gabi Mardula (Plainfield South); 6th – Hayden Lewandowski (Minooka)

140B – 1st – Chloe Cervantes (Kaneland) 2nd – Leilani Arnold (Minooka); 3rd – Mackenzie Kapanowski (Minooka); 4th – Kennedy Smith (Canton); 5th – Destiny Garcia (Morris); 6th – Natalie Naab (Kaneland) 7th – Angelina Arreola (Shepard); 8th – Lauren Lauer (Oswego East)

155B – 1st – Macee Hammond (Robinson); 2nd – Addison Davis (Minooka); 3rd – Greer McCrimmon (Oswego); 4th – Dakota Obbish (Lockport);  5th – Joslynn Sheets (Oswego); 6th – Adriana Martinez (West Aurora)

170B -1st – Jessica Stover (Oswego East); 2nd – Madeline Borkowski (Vernon Hills); 3rd – Annika Lundgren (Plainfield South); 4th – Kira Lopez (Lockport);  5th – Lana Fay (Oswego East); 6th – Alejandra Morales (Schaumburg); 7th – Nalani Martinez (Minooka)

190B – 1st – Carly Duffing (Kaneland); 2nd – Kyra Wood (Seneca); 3rd – Breanna Robinson (Shepard); 4th – Avery Crocker (Robinson); 5th – Reyna Equivel (West Aurora)

By Dave Surico for the IWCOA

Clinton Holiday Classic

For the second straight year, Central (Clifton) took home the biggest gift — the championship trophy — at the 14-team Clinton Holiday Invitational. The host Maroons took second; El Paso-Gridley finished third.

Central, which scored 293.5 points, was led by champions Gianni Panozzo (undefeated at 144), Chris Andrade (157) and Brody O`Connor (215). Everett Bailey (126), Garrison Bailey (132) and Izzy Alvarez (165) secured second place team points. Blake Hemp (120) and Giona Panozzo (138) took third place medals. Beau Williams (113), Evan Cox (150), Gannon Schnurr (157) and Kyle Plante (175) recorded fourth place finishes.

Central also won this year’s team title at Seneca. Comets coach Travis Williams brought a short-handed team to Clinton, missing three starters in Noah Gomez, Hunter Hull, and Kayden Cody.

“We were excited to see so many young and new faces excel,” Williams said. “The team found a way to maintain energy and focus through the day. With the scramble format there’s no long breaks in wrestling and it was fun to see how the guys responded.

“The three champions competed flawlessly. Gianni Panozzo and Chris Andrade won their second tournaments of the year, and sophomore Brody O’Connor won his first high school tournament at 215.”

Clinton (250) saw top-step finishes from Briley Carter (106), and undefeated Cayden Poole (138) and undefeated Kristan Hibbard (175). Logan Thoms (157) fought to a second place finish. Justin Droke (144), R.J. Stamp (165), Kael Morlock (215) and Dawson Thayer (285) made third place runs. Carter Bostic (120) and Jacob Hubble (165) recorded fourth place finishes.

The heavies for El Paso-Gridley (206) took the team to a third place finish. Ryden Barker took the top spot at 190. Dominic Ricconi (175), Parker Duffy (215) and Christopher Blackmore (285) each recorded third place finishes. The Titans’ Nolan Whitman earned a runnerup finish at 120.

Ridgeview was represented by two champions: Danny Tay (126) and Payton Campbell (150). The meet’s remaining championship runs came from: Nicholas Pollett (113), Streator; Joshua Butler (120), University (Normal); Keygan Jennings (132), Farmington; undefeated Gabriel Kiddoo (165), Westville; and undefeated Logan Wachendorf (285), Lincoln.

Runnerup finishes were achieved from: Zack Eckhardt (106), Lincoln; Jesse Irelan (113), Westville; Bradlee Ellis (138), Farmington; Ethan Lowe (144), University (Normal); Darius Williams (150), Rantoul; and Jameson England (190), MacArthur.

Third place medal earners included: Parker Zerfass (106), Farmington; Ethan Maynard (113), Lincoln; and Westville’s Logan Mahaffey (157) and Ethan Miller (190). University (Normal) received third place finishes from Nolan Lowe (126), Hayden Washum (132), Joshua Caraballo (150) and Charles Karun (175).

The remaining fourth place point-earners were: Nicholas Waggoner, MacArthur; Caleb Showalter (126), Farmington; Riley Simpson (132), Lincoln; Judson Stover (138), Ridgeview; Trent McMasters (144), Westville; Jarrod Fulcher (190), Heyworth; Joseph Hunt (215), University (Normal); and Aiden Ferris (285), Streator.

Hibbard (Clinton), Gianni Panozzo (Central-Clifton) and Pollett (Streator) tied for the tournament lead with five pins apiece. Hibbard was the fastest to the quintet, accomplishing the feat in 4 minutes, 32 seconds. Wachendorf, of Lincoln, pulled off the biggest seeded upset of the day. Listed ninth, the junior won the 285-pound title.

Championship matches

106 – Briley Carter (Clinton) F (2:44) Zack Eckhardt (Lincoln)

113 – Nicholas Pollett (Streator) F (1:47) Jesse Irelan (Westville)

120 – Joshua Butler (University-Normal) F (3:15) Nolan Whitman (El Paso-Gridley)

126 – Danny Tay (Ridgeview) F (2:50) Everett Bailey (Central-Clifton) 17-3, Fr. (Fall 2:50)

132 – Keygan Jennings (Farmington) F (2:53) Garrison Bailey (Central-Clifton)

138 – Cayden Poole (Clinton) MD Bradlee Ellis (Farmington), 11-2

144 – Gianni Panozzo (Central-Clifton) D (1:12) Trent McMasters (Westville)

150 – Payton Campbell (Ridgeview) MD Darius Williams (Rantoul), 14-3

157 – Chris Andrade (Central-Clifton) TF (4:51) Logan Thoms (Clinton)

165 – Gabriel Kiddoo (Westville) F (4:00) Izzy Alvarez (Central-Clifton)

175 – Kristan Hibbard (Clinton) F (0:53) Dominic Ricconi (El Paso-Gridley)

190 – Ryden Barkeer (El Paso-Gridley) F (2:33) Jameson England (MacArthur)

215 – Brody O`Connor (Central-Clifton) D Parker Duffy (El Paso-Gridley), (TB-1, 3-2)

285 – Logan Wachendorf (Lincoln) D Christopher Blackmore (El Paso-Gridley) 12-5

Team standings

1. Central (Clifton), 293.5

2. Clinton, 250

3. El Paso-Gridley, 206

4. University (Normal), 183.5

5. Westville, 147

6. Lincoln, 136

7. Ridgeview, 123.5

7. Farmington, 123.5

9. MacArthur, 87

10. Streator, 68

11. Heyworth, 55

12. Taylorville, 46

13. Metro East Lutheran, 41

14. Rantoul, 32.5

Joe Bee Memorial (Girls)

Belleville West used pinning points to squeak past Paris 84-83 at the 22-team Joe Bee Memorial girls tournament.

The Maroons led the tournament with 13 pins. Paris and third place Mahomet-Seymour (79 points) tied for second with nine.

“The girls came into the tournament not really knowing what was going to happen (weigh-in, etc.),” said coach Demechico Spraggins, who is in his first season at the helm of the program. “I was initially concerned with the girls even getting up at 5 a.m. to make a 5:45 a.m. bus.

“Following weigh-ins we had a quick team meeting and a prayer led by Ju`Bri Edwards. I informed them to win their first match so they could at least medal. The girls went out and did just that with only pins.

“I started thinking hey we’ve got holes in the lineup, so the pins may make up for the holes a little. I emphasized more how important it was to pin. All of a sudden midway through the tournament I started getting texts from our boys head coach (Bob Daum) about possibly winning the tournament.

“We were spearheaded by Jala Singleton (110) & Ju’Bri Edwards (140) who both made the finals. We had great wrestleback efforts from Brooklyn Zeller (fifth, 120), Daijah Jackson (125) and Madeline Moreland (135), who earned her first two wins of the season by pin. Zoe Dozier (sixth, 145) had two pins. Andrea Kirkpatrick (fifth, 190) pinned her opponent in the last match of the day to give use the win 84-83 over Paris.

“I’ve been around some great teams/athletes, and I have to say this past weekend has to be one of my most memorable ones.”

Belleville West won without a champion. Singleton (110) and Edwards (140) led the way with second place finishes. Jackson (125) placed fourth.

Runnerup Paris was topped by weight-class winners Aubrey Wilson (190) and undefeated Gabbie Collins (155). Emerson Barrett (135) and Anna Shirley (235) returned home with second place medals. Anna Muchow (105) finished third.

Mahomet-Seymour finished a close-up third with 79 points. Champion Jaycee Fancher (125) paced the Bulldogs. Isabelle Leyhe (120) recorded a second place finish. Grace Ribbe (190) took third, and Gabriela Dawson (135) took fourth.

Eleven champions came from outside the top three finishers. Kadi Wilbern (100) and Jenna Tuxhorn (135), of Glenwood, left Springfield with their undefeated records intact. Auburn boasted winners Jasmine Brown (115) and Jadyn Perry (145). Undefeated Kiely Domyancich (105), LaSalle-Peru, Ashley Basmajian (110), of Metea Valley; Alexis Seymour (120), of Jacksonville; Violet Pennington (130), of Pekin; Alexia Glover (140), of (PORTA); undefeated Elanna Hickman (170), of Alton and undefeated Chloe Hoselton (235), of Prairie Central, rounded out the winners.

Second place finishers included: Abella Brown (100), East Peoria; Valerie Aliga (105), Glenbard South; Ella Miloncus (115), of Springfield; Isabella Resendez (125), of Glenwood; Isabel Rangel (130), of Metea Valley; Dezyrae Murray (145), of East Peoria; Samir Elliott (155); Alex Arquilla (170), of Glenbard South; and Chloe West (190), of Granite City.

Third place match winners included: Aryanna Jones (115) and Phuong Tran (145), of Alton; Claire Crouch (100), of Triad; Ma`Kayla Bonner (110), of Granite City; Ava Beldo (120), of Centennial; Janiya Moore (130), of Metea Valley; Delaney Griffin (135), of Civic Memorial; Danica Scoma (140), of LaSalle-Peru; Elsie Dozier (155), of Glenwood; Heaven Workman (170), of Auburn; and Anna Miloncus (125), of (Springfield).

Phoenix Criss (110), of Springfield; Allison Kroesch (115) and Keegan Naffziger (145), of University (Normal); Daisy Smith (120), of Triad; Nichole Castillo (130), of Glenbard South; Audrey Whipple (140), of (Civic Memorial); Logan Colwell-Pitts (155), of Jacksonville; Felicity Loftus (170), of East Peoria; and Sophia Elkins (190), of Highland, posted fourth place results.

Belleville West’s Zeller and Paris’ Collins tied for the tournament lead with four pins. Zeller recorded hers in 5 minutes, 55 seconds, 11 seconds faster than Collins.

Three wrestlers exceeded their seed by nine places. They were Tran and Jones from Alton, and Barrett from Paris.

The tournament is named for former Springfield High School wrestler Joe Bee, who placed sixth in Class AA in 1991-92 and second in 1992-93. He drowned in 1996 at age 21 while he was a member of the Eastern Illinois wrestling team.

Championship matches

100 – Kadi Wilbern (Glenwood) F (:29) Abella Brown (East Peoria)

105 – Kiely Domyancich (LaSalle-Peru) F (0:53) Valerie Aliga (Glenbard South)

110 – Ashley Basmajian (Metea Valley) F (1:26) Jala Singleton (Belleville West)

115 – Jasmine Brown (Auburn) D Ella Miloncus (Springfield), 11-3

120 – Alexis Seymour (Jacksonville) F (3:09) Isabelle Leyhe (Mahomet-Seymour)

125 – Jaycee Fancher (Mahomet-Seymour) F (1:56) Isabella Resendez (Glenwood)

130 – Violet Pennington (Pekin) F (2:41) Isabel Rangel (Metea Valley)

135 – Jenna Tuxhorn (Glenwood) D Emerson Barrett (Paris) (6-1)

140 – Alexia Glover (PORTA) F (4:53) Ju`Bri Edwards (Belleville West)

145 – Jadyn Perry (Auburn) F (1:26) Dezyrae Murray (East Peoria)

155 – Gabbie Collins (Paris) F (3:24) Samir Elliott (Granite City)

170 – Elanna Hickman (Alton) F (0:23) Alex Arquilla (Glenbard South)

190 – Aubrey Wilson (Paris) F (1:22) Chloe West (Granite City)

235 – Chloe Hoselton (Prairie Central) F (0:40) Anna Shirley (Paris)

NOTE: Two places were awarded at 235. Three places were awarded at 100 and 105. Five places were awarded at 125, 130 and 140.

Joe Bee Memorial (Boys)

Glenwood posted an impressive performance to take the 16-team tournament by 69.5 points.

“I would say we had a good showing, and it was nice to see the continued emergence of our young starters,” said coach Jerod Bruner. “This week Jaxon Ferguson, a sophomore, won his first varsity tournament of the season at 113. along with fellow sophomore Cody Moss, another tournament champion at 215 lbs. Having these two step up on the same day we got Kayle Blankenship back in the lineup helped propel us to a tournament team championship. He ended up finishing second at 120 lbs.    

“We also put some of our freshmen, who are going to future stars for us, out this weekend; it was fun to watch Eli Smith (3rd at 165), Jullian Rammelkamp (150) and Brody Commean (165) all compete for us … in their first varsity tournament action of the season.”

The Titans amassed 256 team points. They were led by six champions: Tyler Clarke (106); Ferguson (113); undefeated Drew Davis (126); Justin Hay (175); Max Wiezorek (190); and Cody Moss (215). Blankenship (120), Bradley Dollus (138) and Braxton Warren (150) recorded runnerup finishes. Smith (165) placed third and Braden Worley (157) fourth.

PORTA (186.5 points) competed to the runnerup spot behind titleists Cael Cotner (150), Justin Zimmerman (157) and Isaac Gunian (285). Brayden Barner (165) earned the lone second place finish. The Blue Jays received third place points from Logan Baker (138), Anthony Hull (106), Zach Bryant (120) and Hunter King (126). Jacob Vogel (144) and C.J. Welbourne (165) finished fourth.

Cahokia and Glenbard South tied for third with 129 points.

Cahokia received second place finishes from Nathan Fisher (106) and Jamarcus Agnew (113). Antonio Pollard (113), Demarious McGill (132) and Issac Phipps (190) claimed third place results. Quinterrous Jones took fourth at 215 lbs.

Glenbard South returned home led by champion Logan Price (165). Dan Langner (215) finished second. Reid Sebahar (157) won his third place match. Kyle Quaid-Bowman (126), Jordan Quaid-Bowman (132), Jin Tai (138) and Nicky Demeo (175) recorded fourth place finishes.

The roster of tournament champions included: Dawson Hawthorne (120), Granite City; undefeated Anthony Ruzic (132), Auburn; Nehemie Mbangi (138), Centennial; and RaMez Watson (144), Pekin.

Centennial’s Andon Beldo (126) and Trevor Schoonover (144), LaSalle-Peru’s Reegan Kellett (132), Springfield’s Bryce Bryant (157) and Keyshaun Harris (190), Lanphier’s Jaylen Crowder (175), and Auburn’s Cash Thomas took home second place honors.

Finishing in third place were: Quinten Chizmar (144), of Auburn; Jentz Watson (150), of LaSalle-Peru; Casen Lyons (175), of Sacred Heart-Griffin; Ettaveis Holmen (215), of Centennial; and Taylor Dixon (285), of Limestone.

Austin Herron (106), of LaSalle-Peru; Harrison Lott (113), of Riverton, Kameron Sklenka, (120), of Riverton, Jayden Brown (150) and Joey Barrow (190), of Auburn, and Lucas Oseland (285), of Sacred Heart-Griffin, claimed fourth place results.

Cotner (PORTA), Baity (Centennial) and Ottino (Glenwood) recorded the most pins at the tournament with four. Cotner achieved the feat in a event-best 7 minutes, 35 seconds.

Crowder, of Lanphier, outperformed his 16th-seed to finish second at 175.

The tournament is named for former Springfield High School wrestler Joe Bee, who placed sixth in Class AA in 1991-92 and second in 1992-93. He drowned at age 21 while he was a member of the Eastern Illinois wrestling team in 1996.

Championship matches

106 – Tyler Clarke (Glenwood) F (2:00) Nathan Fisher Cahokia

113 – Jaxon Ferguson (Glenwood) D Jamarcus Agnew Cahokia (Dec 11-4)

120 – Dawson Hawthorne (Granite City) F (4:14) Kayle Blankenship (Glenwood)

126 – Drew Davis (Glenwood) TF Andon Beldo (Centennial), (TF-1.5, 4:18, 21-5)

132 – Anthony Ruzic (Auburn) F (0:34) Reegan Kellett (LaSalle-Peru)

138 – Nehemie Mbangi (Centennial) F (0:31) Bradley Dollus (Glenwood)

144 – RaMez Watson (Pekin) D Trevor Schoonover (Centennial) (7-0)

150 – Cael Cotner (PORTA) F (3:26) Braxton Warren (Glenwood)

157 – Justin Zimmerman (PORTA) D Bryce Bryant (Springfield) (6-2)

165 – Logan Price (Glenbard South) INJ. (3:09) Brayden Barner (PORTA)

175 – Justin Hay (Glenwood) F (5:07) Jaylen Crowder (Lanphier)

190 – Max Wiezorek (Glenwood) D Keyshaun Harris (Springfield) (10-3)

215 – Cody Moss (Glenwood) D Dan Langner (Glenbard South) (Dec 8-2)

285 – Isaac Gunian (PORTA) F (0:44) Cash Thomas (Auburn)

Team results

1. Glenwood, 256

2. PORTA, 186.5

3. tie, Cahokia, Glenbard South, 129

5. Auburn, 107

6. Centennial, 105.5

7. LaSalle-Peru, 82

8. Springfield, 65

9. Pekin, 60.5

10. Sacred Heart-Griffin, 51

11. Mahomet-Seymour, 43

12. Granite City, 41.5

13. Lanphier, 31

14. Limestone, 30

15. Riverton, 29

16. Southeast, 27

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament

Oregon edged Dundee-Crown for the team title at this year’s Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament, with 12 wrestlers earning team points, led by individual champion Anthony Bauer (157).

Oregon took this year’s crown in the 16-team field by a mere three points, outpointing Dundee-Crown 181-178. Stillman Valley (162), The Classical Academy (149.5) from Colorado, and Wheaton Academy (121) rounded out the top five team finishes.

It was the Hawks’ second consecutive Stillman Valley title.

“We knew going in we had a chance to be in the running to win the team title if we wrestled well,” Oregon coach Justin Lahman said. “Our final round had some big matches that we had to have to stay in the lead.”

Heading into the final round, Oregon held a seven-point lead over Dundee-Crown and a 13-point lead over Stillman Valley, and the Hawks 

Lahman sent four wrestlers to the championship mat. In addition to Bauer’s title, Landon Ege (113), Jackson Glendenning (165), and Andrew Young (175) placed second. 

Nelson Benesh (120), Jayden Berry (138), Ethan Mowry (150), and Quentin Berry (190) also keyed the team victory, as all four reached the third-place mat and won their final matches of the day. Those third-place matches kept the tide turned in Oregon’s favor.

“Benesh had a big comeback win at 120 over Landon Blanton after bumping up for the team this tournament,” Lahman said. “Then we followed that up with a rematch at 138 with Jayden Berry that got revenge from a loss earlier to Dundee Crown. We had another head to head match up at 190 with Quentin Berry and he was able to secure a win.”

Set Rote (215) also finished fourth for the Hawks, while Colton Flaharty (126) and Preston LaBay (132) added sixth-place finishes. 

“It was a great team performance with everyone willing to do what it took for the title in back-to-back seasons,” Lahman said. “Hopefully this will help build our confidence that we can wrestle with most teams if we stay aggressive and believe in ourselves.”

Second-place Dundee-Crown got an individual title from Teigen Moreno (215), a second from Chris Gerardo (126), and thirds from Jesus Sanchez (113), Julio Ramos (157), and Jose Gavina (165). D-C coach Tim Hayes got team points from 13 wrestlers on the day.

Wheaton Academy led the field with four champions in Lincoln Hoger (126), Will Hupke (138), Tyler Jones (144) and Chasen Kazmierczak (150), while Johnsburg had three champs in Eric Bush (106), Landon Johnson (132) and Duke Mas (165). Stillman Valley had two champions in Mack Jones (113) and Blake Mollett (285).

Also winning titles were Kaneland’s Kamron Scholl (120), Amboy’s Lucas Blanton (175), and Marengo’s Maverick Quatroke (190).

The Classical Academy had three runners-up in Jacob Gaona (138),Will Schipfer (150) and Ridge Blackwood (157), and other second-placers included Aurora Central Catholic’s Vince Hefke (106), Lisle’s Alexander Ferari (120), Kaneland’s Alex Gochis (132) and Marengo’s Mason Lampe (144).

Individual third-placers included Stillman Valley’s Michael Pannarale (106) and Henry Hildreth (144), The Classical Academy’s Trenton Courtright (126), Luke Sorensen (132) and Caleb Shirin (175), St. Edward’s Dominic Savini (215), and Winnebago’s Josh Cowman (285).

Fourth-placers included Dundee-Crown’s Aiden Healey (106) Vinnie Velazquez (132) Caleb Yancoskie (138) Zach Anderson (190) and Darius Ford (285), Mendota’s Gavin Steveson (113), Amboy’s Landon Blanton (120), Lisle’s Adam Drake (126) and Johnny Consuegra-Lopez (144), Kaneland’s Kyle Rogers (150), Wheaton Academy’s Deonta Giles (157), Stillman Valley’s Braden Rogers (165), and Marengo’s Connor Sacco (175).

For the tournament, Wheaton Academy’s Hupke’s three pins in 2:56 were to most pins in the least time. Hupke also tied for the overall lead in team points scored (30 with Dundee-Crown’s Moreno.  Marengo’s Boley Hunter had the most single match points scored with 21, and his 48 total match points were the most by any wrestler in the tournament.

Sillman Valley Holiday Tournament championship match results:

106 – Eric Bush (Johnsburg) F 2:36 Vince Hefke (Aurora Central Catholic)

113 – Mack Jones (Stillman Valley) D 5-0 Landon Ege (Oregon)

120 – Kamron Scholl (Kaneland) D 9-3 Alexander Ferari (Lisle)

126 – Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Academy) D 8-1 Chris Gerardo (Dundee-Crown)

132 – Landon Johnson (Johnsburg) D 4-2 Alex Gochis (Kaneland)

138 – Will Hupke (Wheaton Academy) F 0:47 Jacob Gaona (Classical Academy, CO)

144 – Tyler Jones (Wheaton Academy) D 6-3 Mason Lampe (Marengo)

150 – Chasen Kazmierczak (Wheaton Academy) D 9-6 Will Schipfer (Classical Academy, CO)

157 – Anthony Bauer (Oregon) D 9-3 Ridge Blackwood (Classical Academy, CO)

165 – Duke Mays (Johnsburg) MD 10-0 Jackson Glendenning (Oregon)

175 – Lucas Blanton (Amboy) D 11-4 Andrew Young (Oregon)

190 – Maverick Quatroke (Marengo) D 7-1 Brock Needs (Stillman Valley)

215 – Teigen Moreno (Dundee-Crown) F 1:39 Braxton Jennings (Stillman Valley)

285 – Blake Mollett (Stillman Valley) F 2:35 Angil Serrano (Mendota)

Final team scores: 1. Oregon (181) 2. Dundee-Crown (178) 3. Stillman Valley (162) 4. The Classical Academy, CO (149.5) 5. Wheaton Academy (121) 6. Kanelend (93) 7. Marengo (92) 8. Johnsburg (87) 9. Lisle (66) 10. Amboy (48) 11. Durand (39) 12. Mendota (38) 13. Aurora Central Catholic (22) 13. St. Edward (22) 13. Winnebago (22) 16. Mooseheart (0)

Erie-Prophetstown Holiday Tournament

Lena-Winslow/Stockton used an individual title from Eli Larson (175) and scoring from 13 wrestlers to top the 18-team field in Erie. The Panthers won 206.5-176.5 over second-place Seneca.

Newman Central Catholic (132), Morrison (129), and Rockridge (125) rounded out the top five team finishes.

Panthers coach Kevin Milder also got team points from second-placers Jared Dvorak (157) and Jeremiah Luke (215); thirds from Reece Demeter (120), Brady Haas (165) and Michael Haas (285); fourths from David Prater (113), Arrison Bauer (132) and Oliver McPeek (190); and fifths from Teegan Arnold (126), Mauricio Glass (138), Karl Hubb (144), and Oliver McPeek (190).

“Erie was a very competitive tournament with multiple ranked wrestlers,” Milder said. “We only had one champion, but our team depth carried us to the team title with twelve of our thirteen wrestlers placing in the top five.”

Second-place Seneca and coach Todd Yegge got individual titles from Ethan Othon (120) and Chris Peura (215), and seconds from Raiden Terry (106), Asher Hamby (175) and Landen Venecia (190).

Third-place Newman Central Catholic got a pair of individual titles for coach Brian Bahrs, from Brady Grennan (132) and Carter Rude (144), and seconds from Zhyler Hansen (120) and Daniel Kelly (165).

Also winning titles in Erie were East Peoria’s Cooper Chester (106) and Jose Del Toro (285), Illini Bluffs’ Hunter Robbins (113) and Ian O’Connor (138), Rockridge’s Thomas Soward (126) and Ryan Lower (165), Orion’s Mason Anderson (150) and Maddux Anderson (190), and Morrison’s Karder White (157).

Other second-placers included Illinis Bluffs’ Wyatt Knowles (113) and Jackson Carroll (144), Sherrard’s Blake Pender (126), Rockridge’s Jude Finch (132), Mercer County’s Ethan Monson (138) and Zeke Arnold (150), and East Peoria’s Keegan Barnes (285).

Third-place finishers included Sherrard’s Luke Werner (106) and Braiden Khral (113), Rock Falls’ Logan Thome (126), West Carroll’s Connor Knopp (132), New Central Catholic’s Briar Ivey (138), Erie-Prophetstown’s Wyatt Goossens (144) and Tristan Hovey (150), Seneca’s Nate Othon (157), Mercer County’s Bodie Salmon (175), Fulton’s Mason Kuebel (190), and Peoria Heights’ Isaac Coleman (215).

Also placing fourth were Fulton’s Zander Ketelsen (106), Rock Falls’ Josiah Tarbill (120) and Korbin Oligney (150), Morrison’s Kamden White (126), Camden Pruis (138) and Brady Anderson (165), Alleman’s Adam Jacks (144), Newman Central Catholic’s Caleb Donna (175), East Peoria’s Chase Bancroft (215), and Jeremy Gagnon (285).

Rock Falls’ Jacob Hosler’s four pins in 3:04 were the most falls in the least time of any wrestler in the tournament, and East Peoria’s Jose Del Toro posted the fastest fall in 0:05.

Del Toro also also tied for the most team points scored (28) with Morrison’s Karder White, Orion’s Mason Anderson, and Rockridge’s Ryan Lower. Seneca’s Wyatt Cooper and Morrison’s Camden Pruis tied for the most single match points with 20, Lena-Winslow/Stockton’s Tegan Arnold led the field with 35 total match points, and the largest seed-place difference went to East Peoria’s Cole Brooks when he placed sixth as the No. 15 seed at 138.

Erie-Prophetstown Holiday Tournament championship matches:

106 – Cooper Chester (E. Peoria) D 5-2 Raiden Terry (Seneca)

113 – Hunter Robbins (Illini Bluffs) D 3-1 Wyatt Knowles (Illini Bluffs)

120 – Ethan Othon (Seneca) MD 16-5 Zhyler Hansen (Newman Central)

126 – Thomas Soward (Rockridge) F 1:23 Blake Pender (Sherrard)

132 – Brady Grennan (Newman Central) OT 3-1 Jude Finch (Rockridge)

138 – Ian O’Connor (Illini Bluffs) D 6-4 Ethan Monson (Mercer County)

144 – Carter Rude (Newman Central) D 5-2 Jackson Carroll (Illini Bluffs)

150 – Mason Anderson (Orion) D 6-3 Zeke Arnold (Mercer County)

157 – Karder White (Morrison) F 0:54 Jared Dvorak (L-W/Stockton)

165 – Ryan Lower (Rockridge) D 12-6 Daniel Kelly (Newman Central)

175 – Eli Larson (L-W/Stockton) D 5-2 Asher Hamby (Seneca)

190 – Maddux Anderson (Orion) F 2:30 Landen Venecia (Seneca)

215 – Chris Peura (Seneca) D 11-7 Jeremiah Luke (L-W/Stockton)

285 – Jose Del Toro (E. Peoria) D 2-1 Keegan Barnes (E. Peoria)

Final team scores: 1. Lena-Winslow/Stockton (206.5) 2. Seneca (176.5) 3. Newman Central Catholic (132) 4. Morrison (129) 5. Rockridge (125) 6. East Peoria (103) 7. Orion (95) 7. Rock Falls (95) 9. Illini Bluffs (79) 10. Sherrard (77) 11. Mercer County (66) 12. Fulton (63) 13. Erie-Prophetstown (60) 14. Polo (39) 15. Alleman (31) 16. West Carroll (27.5) 17. Peoria Heights (26) 18. Galena (0).

Harvard’s Sciacca/Holtfreter Tournament

Wheeling got the job done in Harvard, winning the team title 214.5-186.5 over second-place Hampshire at this year’s Sciacca/Holtfreter Tournament. Host Harvard (166) was third, followed by Woodstock (121) and Vernon Hills (102) to round out the top five team finishes.

Wheeling got an individual title from David Perez (106), runner-up finishes from Nicholas Montesios (150) and John Scanlon (157), and thirds from Frankie Katz (113), Max Katz (126), Jonathan Dominguez (190), and Marco Mercado (215).

Alex Nesterenko (132) and Gabriel Serrano (144) placed fourth for coach Charlie Curran, who also got fifths from Austin Berger (138), Miguel Guerrero (165), Jonathan Martinez (175), and Pablo Morales (285).

“We had a true team effort at Harvard this weekend,” Curran said. “We had all fourteen wrestlers place in the top five, which gave us a huge bump in team points. 

“Our guys were putting opponents to their backs and getting pins. In the last two rounds we had fourteen wins, thirteen of them with bonus points, and eleven of those were by fall. We had a great day and I couldn’t be prouder of how our team performed and responded throughout the day.”

Curran applauded Perez for his championship effort, along with the hard-fought wins that Montesinos, Lopez, and Scanlon earned to reach the finals.

The Wheeling coach didn’t stop there.

“Alex Nesterenko gave incredible effort in all of his matches, and has really shown huge improvement since the beginning of the season,” Curran said. “Max Katz, Frankie Katz, and Jonny Dominguez all took tough losses in the semis, but each of them pinned their way back to third place.”

Hampshire coach Matthew Todd got individual titles from Logan Campbell (138) and Joey Ochoa (285), seconds from Lou Jensen (113), Sam Beamon (138), Aidan Rowells (175) and Carter Hintz (190), and thirds from Andrew Salmieri (120), Aric Abbot (150), and Mike Brannigan (165).

Harvard got titles from Rey Romo (113), Owen Vail (120), Daniel Rosas (150), and Christian Mercado (157), a second-place finish from Riley Vest (285), and a third from Logan Nulle (144) for coach David Schultz.

Other wrestlers winning titles in Harvard were North Boone’s Gavin Ekberg (126), Walther Christian’s Caleb Peterson (132), Vernon Hills’ Jack McGowan (138) and Ilya Dvoriannikov (165), Woodstock North’s Kaden Combs (175), and Woodstock’s Zach Canaday (190) and Andrew Ryan (215).

Second-place winners also included Alden-Hebron’s George Longfield-Lofti (106), Woodstock’s Taqi Baker (126) and Daniel Bychowski (144), Bremen’s Izaiah Gonzalez (132), and North Boone’s Maysen Smith (165) and Jimmy Elsworth (215).

Also finishing third were Alden-Hebron’s Riley Krumsee (106), Streamwood’s Uli Rojas (132), Boylan’s Netavia Wickson (138), Vernon Hills’ Dylan Moncayo (157),  Bremen’s Adrian Esparza (175), and Bremen’s Marco Olvera (285).

Placing fourth were Walther Christian’s Mia Herrera (106), Boylan’s Ricardo Perez (113), Bremen’s Sean Unzueta (120) and Dionte’ Jones (138), Harvard’s Brennan Peters (126) and Charley Tolentino (165), Streamwood’s Juan Cortez (150), Hampshire’s Uriah Beamon (157), Woodstock’s Edgar Arana (175), Streamwood’s Jace Wolf (190) and Josh Burton (215), and Woodstock’s Everett Flannery (285).

The Sciacca/Holtfreter is named for two pivotal figures in Harvard history; John Sciacca, who founded the wrestling program at Harvard and was head coach for 15 years, retiring in 1978; and Richard Holtfreter, head coach for nine years who guided Harvard to a team state title in 1983.

Sciacca/Holtfreter championship matches:

106 – David Perez (Wheeling) F 0:50 George Longfield-Lofti (Alden Hebron)

113 – Rey Romo (Harvard) MD 18-6 Lou Jensen (Hampshire)

120 – Owen Vail (Harvard) F 3:55 Miguel Lopez (Wheeling)

126 – Gavin Ekberg (North Boone) D 4-2 Taqi Baker (Woodstock)

132 – Caleb Peterson (Walther Christian) Inj. Def. Izaiah Gonzalez (Bremen)

138 – Logan Campbell (Hampshire) D 9-2 Sam Beamon (Hampshire)

144 – Jack McGowan (Vernon Hills) D 10-3 Daniel Bychowski (Woodstock)

150 – Daniel Rosas (Harvard) MD 13-0 Nicholas Montesino (Wheeling)

157 – Christian Mercado (Harvard) F 2:32 John Scanlon (Wheeling)

165 – Ilya Dvoriannikov (Vernon Hills) F 2:47 Maysen Smith (North Boone)

175 – Kaden Combs (Woodstock North) TF 5:59 Aidan Rowells (Hampshire)

190 – Zach Canaday (Woodstock) F 1:35 Carter Hintz (Hampshire)

215 – Andrew Ryan (Woodstock) F 3:52 Jimmy Elsworth (North Boone)

285 – Joey Ochoa (Hampshire) F 2:33 Riley Vest (Harvard)

Final team scores: 1. Wheeling (214.5) 2. Hampshire (186.5) 3. Harvard (166) 4. Woodstock (121) 5. Vernon Hills (102) 6. Bremen (91) 7. Streamwood (74) 8. North Boone (53) 9. Walther Christian (42) 10. Rockford Boylan (41) 11. Woodstock North (40) 12. Elmwood Park (20) 13. Alden-Hebron (16) 14. Harvard 2 (1).

Rich Township’s Raptor Varsity Invite

The team from Merrillville, Indiana dominated the 15-team field at this year’s Raptor Invite, posting a 281-183.5 edge over second-place Evergreen Park. Romeoville (177) finished third followed by Hope Academy (161) and Hillcrest (143.5) to round out the top five team finishes.

Merrillville was led by individual champions Joy Cantu (106), Marlone Kirksy (144), and Cameron Crisp (175), and second-placers Matthew Maldonado (126), Tyler Knight (157) and Josiah Edmonds (190). Merrillville also got thirds from Warren Brown (132), Anthony Bustamante (165), Terrelle Elmore (215) and Raymond James (285).

Second-place Evergreen Park got individual titles for coach Ron Zimmerman from Johan Bonilla (113), Chance Woods (126), and and Genesis Ward (190), and a second-place finish from Ashton Gray (138).

Third-place Romeoville got an individual title from Brian Farley (120) and runner-up finishes from Savion Essiot (113), Mason Gougis (175) and Jamir Thomas (285).

Other tournament champions included Hillcrest’s Jovan Williams (132) and Klaven Sullivan (138), Hope Academy’s Santiago Chaparro (150) and Tony Jones-Blakely (165), Tinley Park’s Sebastian Sanderson (215), and Hope Academy’s Roy Phelps (285).

Also placing second at Rich Township were JS Morton’s Tristan Rodriguez (106) and David Roa (150), Rich Township’s Kyrin King (120), Saint Ignatius’ Colton Huff (132), Nate Sanchez (144) and Melson Ngassa (215), Hope Academy’s Arkail Griffin (157), and Romeoville’s Jamir Thomas (285).

Other third-placers included Rich Township’s Keyshawn Pittman (106), T-F South’s Jayden Scott (113), Evergreen Park’s Angel Ramirez (120) and David Johnson (144), Hope’s Josiah Willis (126) and Dylan Galvez (138), Hillcrest’s Trevon Williams (150), T-F North’s Joseph Merritt (157) and Damari Dogan (175),  Romeoville’s Isiah Escobar (190), and Merrillville’s Terrelle Elmore (215).

Also finishing fourth were Hillcrest’s Amari Brown (106) and Eric Pike (190), Morton’s David Roldan (113) and Rafael Lopez Granados (157), Saint Ignatius’ Alex Villenueva (120), Hillcrest’s Elijah Wofford (126), T-F North’s Deshawn Jones (132), Merrillville’s Isaiah Price (138) and Angel Bustamante (150), Rich Township’s Tristin King (144), T-F South’s Titus Woodring (165), Hope Academy’s Ismael Martinez (175), Romeoville’s Mohammad Almadani (215), and Eisenhower’s Isac Hernandez (285).

Merrillville’s Marquell Shelton’s four pins at 144 in 3:28 were the most pins in the least time by any wrestler present in the tournament, while Saint Ignatius’ Alex Villenueva had the most tech falls in the least time, earning two techs in 6:26.

Tinley Park’s Sebastian Sanderson’s 30 team points earned were the most by any wrestler; the most single match points (22) were scored by Evergreen Park’s Adrian Cervantes; the most total match points (50) came from Saint Ignatius’ Villenueva; and the largest seed-place difference came from Saint Ignatius’ Melton Ngassa, who was seeded 12th and placed second at 215.

Rich Township Raptor Varsity Invite championship matches:

106 – Joy Cantu (Merrillville) D 6-4 Tristan Rodriguez (Morton)

113 – Johan Bonilla (Evergreen Park) F 2:46 Savion Essiot (Romeoville)

120 – Brian Farley (Romeoville) F 1:07 Kyrin King (Rich Township)

126 – Chance Woods (Evergreen Park) D 5-0 Matthew Maldonado (Merrillville)

132 – Jovan Williams (Hillcrest) F 4:58 Colton Huff (Saint Ignatius)

138 – Klaven Sullivan (Hillcrest) MD 13-1 Ashton Gray (Evergreen Park)

144 – Marlone Kirksy (Merrillville) F 1:12 Nate Sanchez (Saint Ignatius)

150 – Santiago Chaparro (Hope Academy) D 6-4 David Roa (Morton)

157 – Adrian Pellot (Merrillville) TF 4:00 Arkail Griffin (Hope Academy)

165 – Tony Jones-Blakely (Hope Academy) MD 14-6 Tyler Knight (Merrillville)

175 – Cameron Crisp (Merrillville) F 1:28 Mason Gougis (Romeoville)

190 – Genesis Ward (Evergreen Park) F 1:00 Josiah Edmonds (Merrillville)

215 – Sebastian Sanderson (Tinley Park) F 3:32 Melson Ngassa (Saint Ignatius)

285 – Roy Phelps (Hope Academy) D 5-0 Jamir Thomas (Romeoville)

Final team scores: 1. Merrillville, IN (281) 2. Evergreen Park (183.5) 3. Romeoville (177) 4. Hope Academy (161) 5. Hillcrest (143.5) 6. Saint Ignatius (137) 7. JS Morton (133) 8. Rich Township (78.5) 9. T-F North (63) 10. T-F South (61) 10. Tinley Park (61) 12. Crete-Monee (33) 13. Eisenhower (21) 14. Bloom Township (13) 15. Intrinsic Charter (3).

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA

There’s nothing quite like seeing a quality tournament featuring some of the state’s top teams and individuals that has its outcome determined in the late stages of the competition.

But when the tournament title isn’t settled until the final moments of the last match, it’s definitely tremendous excitement for the winning team and bitter disappointment for the losers.

That was the scenario that unfolded at PORTA’s Rex Avery Invitational where Canton and  LeRoy/Tri-Valley were going toe-to-toe with one another throughout the place matches and the final outcome wound up being settled in the 285 championship match.

After Canton’s Connor Williams won 2-1 in an overtime tiebreaker over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Tate Sigler in the 285 title match, Canton had 211.5 points while LeRoy/Tri-Valley had 209.5 points in the 32-team competition, which was held in Petersburg.

Leading the way for coach Zach Crawford’s champion Little Giants were title winners Jacob Hardesty (106), Danny Murphy (190) and Connor Williams (285) while Maddux Steele (113) took second, Grant Kessler (215) placed third, Jack Jochums (132) finished fifth, Aden Greene (157) was sixth and Mason Bilbrey (126) took eighth place.

“After going back and forth with LeRoy, which is a great program and they have been for years, and then coming down to the heavyweight match and ending it in that fashion, it’s awesome,” Crawford said. “We graduated a huge class with a lot of leadership and a lot of good wrestlers. But this young group of kids has really stepped it up and filled the shoes of the people before them and that’s what we ask for, is for them to just do their job and wrestle hard and outcomes will come into your favor eventually.

“Last February in Bloomington, it was a little uneasy like, where are we going to be next year. But the kids put in work in the weight room and in the offseason. In preseason, we kind of knew what we were going to be, and they just continue to show. It’s like every team that we’ve had in the last five to 10 years in Canton, it’s family. They have each others’ backs at all times, no matter what. They’re in each others’ corners cheering and words of encouragement at all times. It’s just a culture that they’ve really perpetuated in Canton. It’s a family and we’re going to do it for each other.”

Top performers for coach Brady Sant Amour’s runner-up Panthers were champions Brady Mouser (113), Colton Prosser (138) and Jacob Bischoff (215) and second-place finisher Tate Sigler (285). Kobe Brent (132) and Connor Lyons (165) took third, EJ Chaon (120) finished fourth, Jim Chaon (126) and Bo Zeleznik (157) placed seventh and Connor McLaughlin (144) took eighth place.

PORTA (156) took third place, Mt. Zion (141) was fourth, Shelbyville (137.5) finished fifth and Orion (129.5) placed sixth. Monticello (121.5), Cumberland (113.5), Litchfield (109.5) and Auburn (105.5) rounded out the top 10 teams in the invite.

PORTA coach Jeff Hill, a 2011 inductee into the IWCOA Hall of Fame and the state’s all-time leader in dual meet wins, was proud to once again host the Avery Invite, which has long been one of Illinois’ top early-season tournaments for Class 1A teams.

“We added a couple of teams,” Hill said. “Tremont got back in and Lawrenceville wanted in, so we let them in. We had 31 teams and I figured that Canton and LeRoy would be right up there. We were hoping to be in the mix, but we have a little work to do. We’re right in the middle of the state so we try to get as many teams from down south and up north. And we’ve been doing it for a long time so we think it’s a fairly decent tournament. We added a couple of teams and still got done at 7:30 in a one-day tournament.”

Mt. Zion coach Dave Klemm, recipient of a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter in 2012 and an IWCOA Hall of Famer, was pleased with his team’s strong showing.

“I’m excited for these kids,” Klemm said. “I’ve got a bunch of young kids that are working really hard and this is a great tournament to let us know early on where we are and where we have to go. Our kids stepped up and did a nice job. We like to think that we’re on the rise but every other team is fighting for the same thing. Now we’ll go home and watch video and find out what they did wrong and fix it so we’ll do even better next time.”

Shelbyville had two champions, Kaz Fox (150) and Ryne Peavler (157). Other title winners were Warrensburg-Latham’s Logan Roberts (120), Auburn’s Joey Ruzic (126), St. Joseph-Ogden’s Holden Brazelton (132), Cumberland’s Owen McGinnis (144), Tremont’s Bowden Delaney (165)

and Mt. Zion’s Vincent Fiore (175).

PORTA had three second-place finishers, Zach Bryant (120), Jacob Vogel (144) and Justin Zimmerman (157). Orion also had three individuals who placed second, Mason Anderson (150), Nolan Loete (165) and Maddux Anderson (190).

Also taking second place were Monticello’s Ezekiel Young (106), Ridgeview/Lexington’s Danny Tay (126), Farmington’s Keygan Jennings (132), Tremont’s Mason Mark (138), Lawrence County’s Kasen Ochs (175) and Kewanee’s Alejandro Duarte (215).

Beside the 285 finals, some of the other closest title matches were Hardesty edging Young 4-3 at 106, Brazelton getting past Jennings 1-0 at 132, Prosser prevailing over Mark 3-2 at 138, Mouser winning 4-2 over Steele at 113 and Murphy beating Maddux Anderson 7-5 at 190.

Individuals who also won Avery Invite championships last year were Bischoff, Brazelton, Fox, Mouser, Roberts and Ruzic. 

Roberts had the most team points with 32 while Delaney, Fox and Ruzic were next with 31.5 points. Peavler collected 31 points, Murphy scored 30, Brazelton and McGinnis had 29.5 points apiece, Hardesty and Mouser both scored 29 points and Fiore finished with 28.5 points while Bischoff, Prosser and Williams all had 28 points. Ruzic had the most total match points with 54. 

Here’s a breakdown of the champions and weight classes at PORTA’s Rex Avery Invite106 – Jacob Hardesty, Canton

PORTA’s Rex Avery Invite finals began on a good note for eventual champion Canton and the individual who was kicking off that start was a newcomer to the team, freshman Jacob Hardesty, who captured a 4-3 decision over Monticello’s Ezekiel Young in the 106 title match. One of three title winners for coach Zach Crawford’s champion Little Giants, Hardesty (14-2) opened the competition with a fall, followed with an 11-0 major decision and then won with a fall in 3:18 over Litchfield’s Rilynn Younker in the semifinals.

“It’s a really big deal, especially knocking off one of the best kids in the finals, it’s a big win for me,” Hardesty said. “This was my first meet and there’s a lot of great wrestlers here. I hope we can win this meet. We have really good wrestlers that are pushing you in practice every day and making you better. I like the grit that we have on our team, wanting to push to do better and the coaches pushing us and wanting to win and to be better than we were last year. I want to make it to the state tournament.”

The only finalist for coach Andy Moore’s Sages, Young (8-1), recorded three falls to earn his spot on the 106 title mat, which was assured by a pin in 1:13 over Lawrence County’s Drew Seitzinger in the semifinals. Younker won by fall in 3:28 over Seitzinger to claim third place, Monmouth-Roseville’s Bawi Thang got a pin in 1:27 over Mt. Zion’s Vincent Baker to claim fifth and Cumberland’s Peyton Groves won by fall in 5:41 over Orion’s Tyler Olson to take seventh.

113 – Brady Mouser, LeRoy/Tri-Valley

Realizing that every head-to-head matchup between LeRoy/Tri-Valley and Canton would be very important, Brady Mouser gave coach Brady Sant Amour’s Panthers a big boost when he captured a 4-2 decision over Canton’s Maddux Steele in the 113 championship match. Mouser (7-1), a junior who went 44-5 last season and fell one win shy of a medal at 106 at the IHSA Finals, was the first of three champions for coach Brady Sant Amour’s second-place finishers. Mouser recorded two falls before claiming a 12-1 major decision in the semifinals over Litchfield’s Vincent Moore.

“We’re working really hard and I feel like we’re one of the hardest working programs in the whole state,” Mouser said. “It’s all from hard work in the mat room every day and running in the mornings together. I feel like we’ve got a real camaraderie built and it’s just good to see us come out and compete like this. I’m cutting a little bit of weight and hopefully I’ll be wrestling at 106 later in the year. It’s a tough cut but I know that it’s going to be worth it. I have goals and I’m going to set my mind to it. It’s about improving every year, Last year, I was in the blood round, and I don’t want to be back there. That’s the goal, to put yourself in a place to be successful. We have some good leaders and it’s not all about how you wrestle, it’s about if you can build each other up and I think we do a great job of that.”

Steele (12-4), a sophomore for coach Zach Crawford’s Little Giants who went 43-10 last year and placed fifth at 106, opened with a win by technical fall and got a fall in the quarterfinals before advancing to the113 title mat after Riverton’s Harrison Lott was unable to go and had to forfeit. Moore won by medical forfeit over Lott to take third. Kewanee’s Kingston Peterson won by fall in 5:21 over Shelbyville’s Colin Wells to finish fifth and Monmouth-Roseville’s Caleb Dillard took seventh with a fall in 1:45 over Hillsboro’s Landon Bandy.

120 – Logan Roberts, Warrensburg-Latham

After making his state debut and winning a match there to cap a 38-8 season a year ago, Logan Roberts looks to take the next step and do something that’s been done just five times by five different individuals at Warrensburg-Latham, and that’s getting a state medal. The lone finalist for coach Garrett Knock’s Cardinals is off to a good start with a 9-0 record after recording a fall in 3:07 over PORTA sophomore Zach Bryant in the 120 finals. The junior won all four of his matches by fall, which included a pin in 1:41 in the semifinals over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s EJ Chaon. As the only champion to record four falls, he led all competitors with 32 team points.

“I eventually want to be a state champion, but I’ve got to place first,” Roberts said. “I really do think that I’m in the top three this year. It’s the extra things out of the room. You always have to do extra training by yourself, working out and keeping your conditioning all the way up. Our 126-pounder, my twin brother Kaden, and our 132-pounder, Charlie Wittmer, they both push me. You have to be confident. You always have to go in there wanting to win and you can never be hesitant. You always have to work through everything, one match at a time.”

Bryant (14-4), one of three of coach Jeff Hill’s Bluejays who reached the title mat, won two of his first three matches by fall, including a pin over Mt. Zion’s Mason Gray in 2:35 in the semifinals. Gray won a 12-2 major decision over Chaon to claim third place. Cumberland’s Sawyer Welbaum took fifth after getting a pin in 2:37 over Auburn’s Drayven Hamm, who was a state qualifier in 2023. And Monticello’s Luke Andruczyk placed seventh with a fall in 0:53 over Litchfield’s Creed Robinson.

126 – Joey Ruzic, Auburn

After going 53-2 a year ago and capturing a Class 1A title at 120 and posting a 26-0 record enroute to a championship at 113 in 2022, Joey Ruzic is focused on being a three-time title winner as well as Auburn’s first three-time IHSA medalist. As a freshman, he went 32-3 and took third at 106 in the IWCOA Finals, giving him a 111-5 career record entering this season. The lone finalist for coach Matt Grimm’s Trojans took top honors at 126 with a fall in 4:46 over Ridgeview/Lexington’s Danny Tay. Ruzic (10-0) got falls in his first two matches and then won by technical fall in 4:41 over Warrensburg-Latham’s Kaden Roberts in the semifinals. He had the most total match points with 54 and tied three others for second in team points with 31.5.

“It’s a process, Ruzic said. “They can come at me all they want, I’m ready,” Without them (his coaches and teammates), I could do none of this. They help me out along the way, for sure. I just have to keep staying consistent and I’m doing the right things. I just have to keep doing it and get the end result that we want.”

Tay (7-1), a senior, was the lone finalist for coach Jeremy Lopshire’s Ridgeview/Lexington co-op Mustangs. After recording opening-period falls in his first two matches, Tay won a 12-0 major decision over Tremont’s Chase Stedman in the semifinals. Roberts won a 6-2 decision over Stedman for third place. Orion’s Cole Perkins took fifth with a 14-7 decision over Cumberland’s Logan Aaron. And LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Jim Chaon won by medical forfeit in 2:00 over Canton’s Mason Bilbrey to finish seventh.

132 – Holden Brazelton, St. Joseph-Ogden

Holden Brazelton definitely experienced a special sophomore season a year ago when he went 49-3 and took third place at 132 in the IHSA Finals after going 44-6 and placing sixth at 120 in his debut campaign. Now the junior sets his sights on not only joining Wesley Kibler as the second Spartan to win three state medals but also to join Griffin Meeker and Kibler as the school’s only state champions. Brazelton won a thriller in the 132 finals, edging Farmington’s Keygan Jennings 1-0 in a clash of two-time IHSA medalists. Brazelton (9-0), the lone finalist for coach Bill Gallo’s Spartans, opened with a win by technical fall and then won two falls, with the last one coming in 1:16 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Kobe Brent in the semifinals.

“I didn’t know in the tournament that I’d meet him, but I’d meet him at some point,” Brazelton said. “He’s a good kid, a returning state finalist and I beat him 1-0. I was trying to hide some of my tricks a little bit and almost got into trouble toward the end of the match, but I got the job done, and that’s all that matters. We have a lot of young kids on our team and they’ve learned a lot. We had a lot of placers today and I’m super proud of them. They put me to work in the wrestling room, and I’m putting them to work and you could tell that it’s paying off in this tournament.”

Jennings (9-1), a senior who went 35-2 last season and was state runner-up to Carlyle’s Tyson Waughtel at 113, posted a 44-4 record and placed sixth at 113 in 2022 and went 27-5 and finished fifth at 106 in 2021 at the IWCOA Finals. Jennings, the lone finalist for coach Jacob Durbin’s Farmers, won his first two matches by fall and then captured an 11-1 major decision over Shelbyville’s Bodee Fathauer in the semifinals. Brent, who was a state qualifier last season, took third by medical forfeit over Fathauer, who also qualified for state a year ago. Canton’s Jack Jochums took fifth place with a 9-4 decision over Warrensburg-Latham’s Charlie Wittmer. Monmouth-Roseville’s Alejandro Morales placed seventh with a fall in 3:14 over Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Kenneth Lockhart.

138 – Colton Prosser, LeRoy/Tri-Valley

As the tight race between the top two teams in PORTA’s Rex Avery Invite reached the middle of the final round, Colton Prosser’s dramatic 3-2 decision on a late reversal against Tremont’s Mason Mark looked like it might have a big impact on which ultimately prevailed. Prosser, who saw a 31-win season end with a 9-2 loss to Mark at the Clinton Sectional, got a measure of revenge when he prevailed in the final seconds to become one of the three title winners for coach Brady Sant Amour’s Panthers. Prosser (7-0), a senior, won his first two matches by fall before winning 8-6 over Cumberland’s Brayden Olmstead in the semifinals.

“The end of the match reversals are the best ones,” Prosser said. “And the last-second takedowns are the best ones. And to help put our team in first place, that’s even better. It was a tough bracket and both of our semifinal matches were close. I knew I couldn’t let him get the legs in, I had to go right then, that was my only chance, so I just scrambled and put the switch and got the reversal. It’s all of the guys getting along really good and coach pushes us real hard and we’ve all been wrestling together since we were young. It’s the same guys that I grew up with, so it makes it even better when we win.”

Mark (10-2), who went 44-8 last season but failed to place during his first trip to state, won his first two matches by fall before capturing an 8-7 decision over Farmington’s Bradie Ellis in the semifinals to become one of two finalists for the Turks, who are coached by IWCOA Hall of Famer TJ Williams. Olmstead claimed third place with a fall in 3:25 over Ellis. Kewanee’s Benjamin Taylor took fifth after pinning Hillsboro’s Gaven Vollintine in 0:59 and PORTA’s Logan Baker took seventh with a win by technical fall in 4:56 over Pittsfield’s Hunter Harrison.

144 – Owen McGinnis, Cumberland

Owen McGinnis capped a successful freshman season by going 42-9 and qualifying for the IHSA Finals last year but he went 0-2 there. The Cumberland sophomore obviously wants to accomplish more this season and is off to a good start after improving to 12-0 after winning by technical fall in 2:55 over PORTA’s Jacob Vogel in the 144 finals to become the lone champion for coach Ash Edmonds’ Pirates. McGinnis won his first two matches by fall before winning a 9-2 decision over Havana/PORTA’s Mike Minor in the semifinals.

“I think we should have another good season,” McGinnis said. “We get in there and we put in the work. I’d like to get a medal this year.”

Vogel (14-3), was one of the three members of coach Jeff Hill’s Blujays to reach the finals. The senior advanced with three pins, with the last of those in 1:26 over Shelbyville’s Nate Sanders in the semifinals. Minor took third with a fall in 2:41 over Sanders, Lawrence County’s Trevor Loy pinned Beardstown’s Luis De La Cruz in 2:35 to take fifth and Hillsboro’s Treyton Kuhl won by fall in 3:06 over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Connor McLaughlin to place seventh.

150 – Kaz Fox, Shelbyville

Kaz Fox gave Shelbyville the first of the consecutive titles that it won at 150 and 157 when he won by technical fall in 5:36 over Orion’s Mason Anderson in the 150 title match. Fox (10-2), a senior who went 39-12 last year and qualified for state, followed two first-period falls with a pin in 3:13 over Ridgeview/Lexington’s Payton Campbell in the semifinals. His teammate, Ryne Peavler, also won by technical fall to capture the 157 championship, giving coach Caleb Duckett’s Rams two champions.

“We work hard at every practice and it pays off when you win tournaments like this,” Fox said. “You just have to keep going, you can’t stop. I’ve been lifting a lot and working on my conditioning outside of practice. Everyone is good at state, so it matters who shows up.”

Anderson (10-3), a senior who went 38-10 a year ago but was unable to advance from the rugged Oregon Sectional, was one of three second-place finishers for coach Zach Nelson’s Chargers. He won three falls and then got a win by technical fall in 4:34 in the semifinals over Litchfield’s Braxton Kieffer. Campbell won a 7-3 decision over Kieffer to take third place, PORTA’s Cael Cotner won by fall in 3:54 over West Hancock’s Evan Carel for fifth and Mt. Zion’s Jordan Weter took seventh with a pin in 0:53 over Havana/PORTA’s William Cook.

157 – Ryne Peavler, Shelbyville

Ryne Peavler combined two wins by technical along with two pins to help him dominate the field at 157 and join teammate Kaz Fox, who took first at 150 just before him, as one of two champs for coach Caleb Duckett’s Rams. Peavler (12-0), a sophomore, defeated PORTA’s Justin Zimmerman by technical fall in 4:25 in the finals. After an opening pin, he won by technical fall in the quarterfinals and then advanced to the 157 finals with a fall in 3:24 over Monmouth-Roseville’s Gabe Ortiz-Mora. Peavler went 35-12 in his freshman season but was unable to advance from the Carterville Sectional.

“There’s a lot of potential on our team this year,” Peavler said. “We had a few other people place outside of first. Last year in my freshman year, I came out here seventh, so for me to go first in my sophomore year is pretty great. Some people say that if you put all of this time in the summer, it makes it all so good, but in some ways, it kills me, too. So I just did what I wanted to do and do what I love and work when I really wanted to work. Plus, I’m a runner, I do cross country, too, so I kept working in the offseason. It’s one of the amazing things you can do because it keeps up your endurance.”

Zimmerman (11-4), who also is a sophomore, was one of three of coach Jeff Hill’s Bluejays who reached the title mat. After opening with a fall, he won two close decisions, including winning 6-4 over Monticello’s Gavin Ridings in the semifinals. Ridings won a 10-3 decision over Ortiz-Mora to finish third, St. Joseph-Ogden’s Coy Hayes won by fall in 4:14 over Canton’s Aden Greene for fifth and LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Bo Zeleznik took seventh by forfeit over Havana/PORTA’s Jamarion Thomas.

165 – Bowden Delaney, Tremont

Bowden Delaney has definitely built an impressive resume in his first two seasons at Tremont, going 42-6 last season and 35-7 in 2022 and qualified for state appearances each year. Now the Turks junior looks to follow in the footsteps of graduated teammates Cooper and Lucas Wendling and Payton Murphy to become the 11th individual from his program to win a medal at the IHSA Finals. Delaney is off to a 12-0 start this season after capturing top honors at the Avery Invite at 165 by recording a fall in 1:58 over Orion’s Nolan Loete. The lone champion for the Turks, who are coached by IWCOA Hall of Famer TJ Williams, he earned his spot in the finals by recording two pins and then getting a win by technical fall over LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Connor Lyons in the semifinals.

“I’ve put in a lot of offseason work and I have great partners in the room, waking up every morning at 5:30 and getting there and going to workouts after school, so there’s a lot of effort that’s going into it.,” Delaney said. (Having TJ Williams as a coach) It’s great. Not only does he help you because he knows everything about the sport, but he’s also there to work with you and he pushes you. I know a lot, but he’s there perfecting it. We have great teammates, great coaches and great partners. I think we have a good year ahead of us, it’s just knocking off the rust. It’s the beginning of the year but we’ve big tournaments coming up like ABE’s Rumble and PIT, it’s going to be great. It’s the relationships. We’re all in there grinding and making sure that we’ll get better. And outside the wrestling room, we’re all hanging together, so everything works out well.”

Loete (12-3), one of three individuals from coach Zach Nelson’s Chargers to reach the title mat, fell short of a state trip a year ago at the rugged Oregon Sectional. He recorded three pins to advance to the 165 title mat, winning by fall in 3:37 in the semifinals over Havana/PORTA’s CJ Welbourne. Lyons won by technical fall in 3:36 over Welbourne to take third, Hillsboro’s Zander Wells got a fall in 1:01 over Cumberland’s Grant Keyser to finish fifth and Monticello’s Russ Brown placed seventh after winning by fall in 3:02 over Shelbyville’s Jaden Miester.

175 – Vincent Fiore, Mt. Zion

Vincent Fiore admits that he doesn’t have a great resume to date, but the Mt. Zion senior is excited about this season’s possibilities under the guidance of his coach, Dave Klemm, a 2012 recipient of the Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Illinois Chapter and IWCOA Hall of Famer. Fiore improved to 11-0 after winning the title at 175 with a 9-4 decision over Lawrence County’s Kasen Ochs. Fiore opened with a pin, got a win by technical fall and then won an 11-2 major decision over PORTA’s Cam McCoy in the semifinals.

“I had never even won a high school tournament before this,” Fiore said. (Dave Klemm) “He’s probably one of the best coaches out there in 1A and coach TJ (Williams) at Tremont is great. Coach Klemm, I’m very thankful for him, he’s one of the reasons that I’ve had some success the last couple of years. It feels great. I feel like I’ve always been the hardest worker in the room. In every tournament and every goal the past three years, I’ve come up just short. I lost in the blood round at sectionals twice. It’s all finally starting to come together and the hard work is starting to pay off.”

Ochs (6-1), a senior who was the only champion and finalist for coach Samuel Hyre’s Lawrence County team, which consists of athletes from Lawrenceville and Red Hill, used three-straight falls to reach the 175 title mat, which was capped by his pin in 3:58 over Sacred Heart-Griffin’s Cason Lyons in the semifinals. McCoy captured an 8-6 decision over Lyons to claim third place, Canton’s Gus Lidwell won with a fall in 1:09 over Litchfield’s Jayden Ellinger to finish fifth and Monmouth-Roseville’s Landon Montroy took seventh place by medical forfeit over Tremont’s Ty Fuller.

190 – Danny Murphy, Canton

As Canton was battling with LeRoy/Tri-Valley to determine which team would take top honors at the Avery Invite, the Little Giants received a huge boost when Danny Murphy captured a 7-5 decision over Orion’s Maddux Anderson in the 190 title match. Murphy (15-1), a senior who qualified for the IHSA Finals last season, was one of three title winners for coach Zach Crawford’s Little Giants, which included two in the final three weight classes. Murphy got pins in his first three matches, winning by fall in 0:40 over Pittsfield’s Tucker Cook in the semifinals.

“I think why I did good today was because of coach (Zach) Crawford and our other coaches,” Murphy said. “This is not a team, it’s a family.”

Anderson (15-1), a junior who went 40-14 and was a state qualifier a year ago, was one of three second-place finishers for coach Zach Nelson’s Chargers. Anderson won each of his first three matches with pins, recording a fall in 0:48 over Mt. Zion’s Keller Stocks in the semifinals. Cook took third place after getting a fall in 5:50 over Stocks, Auburn’s Joey Barrow got a pin in 1:05 over PORTA’s Russell Mattson to claim fifth place and Heyworth’s Jarrod Fulcher won with a fall in 0:32 over Williamsville’s Anthony Beckman to finish in seventh place.

215 – Jacob Bischoff, LeRoy/Tri-Valley

Jacob Bischoff enters his senior season at LeRoy/Tri-Valley with the opportunity to do something that only six others from the program have accomplished, being a two-time medalist. Bischoff went 42-11 and took sixth at 220 and now looks to move up on the awards stand and possibly compete for a title, something that only three Panthers have done. One of three champions for coach Brady Sant Amour’s team that fell just short of taking first at the Avery Invite, Bischoff (8-0) won the 215 title with a 14-7 decision over Kewanee’s Alejandro Duarte. He opened with two falls and then won 7-2 over Canton’s Grant Kessler in the semifinals.

“We worked hard,” Bischoff said. “All of the morning runs and the extra practices that we put in. We’re a very close team so that’s a good thing. It’s just a lot of hard work and determination. The coaches really want it for the team and they show us how to be good teammates and how to care for each other and to be better men. I just have to work hard and don’t give up and give it all, that’s really just it.”

Duarte (9-2), a junior who went 34-10 last year and fell one win shy of earning a trip to the state finals, got three-straight pins, which included a fall in 2:49 over Orion’s Aiden Fisher in the semifinals. Duarte was the lone finalist for coach Charley Eads’ Boilermakers. Kessler took third after pinning Fisher in 4:00, Ridgeview/Lexington’s Hunter Tillotson won by fall over Litchfield’s Tristan Staggs to finish fifth and Mt. Zion’s Carson Thornton won by fall in 3:32 over Warrensburg-Latham’s Jack Kerley to take seventh place.

285 – Connor Williams, Canton

It doesn’t get any better than seeing two competitors meeting for a title with their teams also battling for top honors in a tournament, but that’s just what played out in the Avery Invite’s 285 finals between Canton’s Connor Williams and LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Tate Sigler. Not surprisingly, the clash exceeded six minutes and Williams won 2-1 on a tiebreaker to give coach Zach Crawford’s Little Giants the title. Williams (15-0), a sophomore, collected two falls before capturing a 1-0 decision over Beardstown’s Chunk Dailey in the semifinals.

“I was nervous because it came down to me,” Williams said. “I was amazed because I’ve never been congratulated like this before. Credits to my coach because he was like, ‘you’ve still got a full gas tank.’ I’ve got to thank Asa Reed for getting me into the position that I’m in. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be as successful as I am right now. He’s the one that pushed me in practice. I like the respect that we have for each other and the family-type of bonding.”

Sigler (6-2), a junior, was one of four finalists and just missed being a fourth champion for coach Brady Sant Amour’s runner-up Panthers. He opened with a fall and then won two decisions, including a 7-3 win over Mt. Zion’s Remington Hiser in the semifinals. Hiser pinned Dailey in 1:30 to claim third place, Shelbyville’s Andre Townsend won by fall in 1:17 over Monticello’s Brandon Peters to finish fifth and Williamsville’s Matthew Crouch got a pin in 1:57 over Monmouth-Roseville’s Gavin Bell to take seventh place.

Championship matches for PORTA’s Rex Avery Invite 

106 – Jacob Hardesty (Canton) D 4-3 Ezekiel Young (Monticello)

113 – Brady Mouser (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 4-2 Maddux Steele (Canton)

120 – Logan Roberts (Warrensburg-Latham) F 3:07 Zach Bryant (PORTA)

126 – Joey Ruzic (Auburn) F 4:46 Danny Tay (Ridgeview/Lexington)

132 – Holden Brazelton (St. Joseph-Ogden) D 1-0 Keygan Jennings (Farmington)

138 – Colton Prosser (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 3-2 Mason Mark (Tremont)

144 – Owen McGinnis (Cumberland) TF 2:55 Jacob Vogel (PORTA)

150 – Kaz Fox (Shelbyville) TF 5:36 Mason Anderson (Orion)

157 – Ryne Peavler (Shelbyville) TF 4:25 Justin Zimmerman (PORTA)

165 – Bowden Delaney (Tremont) F 1:58 Nolan Loete (Orion)

175 – Vincent Fiore (Mt. Zion) D 9-4 Kasen Ochs (Lawrence County)

190 – Danny Murphy (Canton) D 7-5 Maddux Anderson (Orion)

215 – Jacob Bischoff (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 14-7 Alejandro Duarte (Kewanee)

285 – Connor Williams (Canton) TB 2-1 Tate Sigler (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

Team standings for PORTA’s Rex Avery Invite

1. Canton (211.5), 2. LeRoy/Tri-Valley (209.5), 3. PORTA (156), 4. Mt. Zion (141), 5. Shelbyville (137.5), 6. Orion (129.5), 7. Monticello (121.5), 8. Cumberland (113.5), 9. Litchfield (109.5), 10. Auburn (105.5), 11. Lawrence County (96), 12. Warrensburg-Latham (92.5), 13. Tremont (90.5), 14. St. Joseph-Ogden (86.5), 15. Monmouth-Roseville (81), 16. Kewanee (80), 17. Ridgeview/Lexington (78), 18. Sacred Heart-Griffin (55), 19. Havana/PORTA (51.5), 20. Farmington (51), 21. Beardstown (50.5), 22. Hillsboro (47), 23. Knoxville (45), 23. Pittsfield (45), 25. West Hancock (43), 26. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (42), 27. Riverton (33), 28. Williamsville (28), 29. Heyworth (26), 30. Monmouth United (15), 31. Carlinville (11), 31. Peoria Heights (11).

NOTE: If you are enjoying these wrestling feature stories, please consider joining the IWCOA or making a one time donation so that we can continue to support these writers. Donations can be made here: https://iwcoa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/iwcoa/donation.jsp

By Patrick Z. McGavin for the IWCOA

Silas Oberholtzer has a keen sense of where he is on the mat, and a sharp feel for his own standards.

Success has its own reward. Getting there is just part of the equation. 

The Barrington 157-pound wrestler was happy though circumspect about his pursuit of individual perfection.

The purity and drive animate his every action.

“Personally I don’t think that was one of my better matches, but maybe it looked better from the outside,” he said. “I thought I could do a bit better.”

Falling behind at the start against Jonah Broughman of Glenwood, Oberholtzer eventually seized control with his excellent work in neutral, and his relentless style.

The up and down nature of the match was a memory by the third period after Oberholtzer caught Broughman on his back for the fall at 4:59.

The swing match proved decisive in the Broncos’ 35-26 victory in the championship match of the Larry Gassen Team Dual Championship at Downers Grove South on Saturday, December 9.

“I like these dual tournaments a lot,” Barrington coach Dan Keller said. 

“They teach you how to win duals. Your hammers have to get those bonus points. Every team has their role players. As much as you want to go in believing you are going to win, if the match starts to not go our way, we have to find a way to save points.”

The Broncos’ power packed middleweight triumvirate of Oberholtzer, Rhenzo Augusto and Brady Wright created a mathematical advantage teams could not overcome.

Wrestling at 144 pounds, Wright joined Oberholtzer with a perfect 5-0 run Saturday. 

A defending state qualifier, Augusto went 4-0. Wright overcame a 4-0 deficit for the exhilarating 6-5 decision over Glenwood’s Anny Williams. Augusto followed with a technical fall over Braxton Warren.

The third period fall by Oberholtzer provided the early 20-6 cushion by the Broncos. The Titans were left to chase. Barrington proved too deep and versatile to overcome.

“Our team did a great job of staying on task,” Oberholtzer said. “We got everything we needed to get the job done.

“This tournament proved the endurance of this team. It’s late in the day, and people don’t want to wrestle. They want to go home.”

Like any sport, confidence and momentum jam together. The traditional bracketed tournament is a wholly different test, of contrasting styles and quick recovery time.

Barrington has mastered both forms.

The Broncos captured their second major tournament of the first month of the season, following their first-place title of their own Moore/Prettyman Invitational on November 25.

“The biggest difference with the dual tournament meet is just wrestling as a team,” Wright said.

“Individually it’s just a different game. You just depend on yourself. As a team, you learn how to be tough. Our role guys know what to do, and our hammers know how to get falls, techs or major decisions.”

In the 16-team tournament featuring a versatile and geographically-balanced field, Barrington, Glenwood, defending champion Lincoln-Way East and Downers South reached the Final Four.

Barrington defeated Oak Forest, Maine South and Plainfield North in pool play.

The Broncos defeated Downers South 39-31 in the championship bracket semifinals.

Behind two-time defending state champion Drew Davis, Glenwood overcame a 29-10 deficit to stun Lincoln-Way East 37-35 in the other semifinal bracket.

One of the most significant actions of any dual is the starting weight class. The semifinal series began at 126 pounds, where Davis posted a technical fall and put the Titans out to the quick 5-0 lead.

In addition to Davis, the Titans featured three other state qualifiers with John Ben Maduena (5-0 at 138), Tyler Clarke (113) and Justin Hay (4-1 at 175).

The championship match began at 132 pounds, pushing Davis to the final match. He posted another technical fall in finishing 5-0.

Barrington mitigated the bonus points by creating a significant lead.

Daniel Blanke started things off spectacularly for the Broncos with a fall at 1:41 over John Vallar.

Barrington captured eight of the 14 matches. The Broncos had three falls and a technical fall. Glenwood countered with two falls and the technical fall by Davis.

The “hammers,” ostensibly canceled each other out.

Barrington won the swing matches. The unsung hero was Ayden Salley at 190 pounds, who prevailed 3-2 over Maximus Wiezorek in an ultimate tiebreaker. 

Salley secured an escape in the furious closing seconds of the second overtime that set up the closing rush.

Salley went 3-2, with both losses coming against elite state qualifiers in Downers South’s Matty Lapacek and Plainfield North’s Leonardo Tovar.

Wiezorek went 4-1, with two falls and a major decision. His second period fall in the semifinals sparked the Titans’ comeback.

The Broncos effectively put the match away with three consecutive wins at 285 (Clarence Jackson with the fall at 1:00), 106 (Kaleb Pratt with the riveting 11-8 victory over Clarke at 106) and 113 (Neel Talpallikar’s 10-6 decision over Jaxon Ferguson).

Clarence Jackson won four out of his five matches, with his only defeat against Maine South’s Tyler Fortis, who finished one match from placing at state last season.

“Our seniors really know how to lead the team, and they know what their role is,” Wright said. 

“I think our young guys are the future of the program, and they are learning. We always keep our feet on the gas.”

Success begets ever greater achievement.

“Everybody’s looking good, everybody’s putting in the hard work,” Augusto said.

The one invaluable difference of the dual championship format and the bracket individual tournament is the experimentation and versatility of the lineup.

Wrestlers have the freedom of movement not possible in a traditional format.

Pratt, for instance, went 3-0 at 106 pounds. TJ Foley replaced him in the lineup against Maine South, and he picked up a forfeit against Oak Forest.

Pratt was the fresher wrestler in the crucial championship match.

Blanke, who started the run with the fall at 132 pounds, wrestled his first four matches at 138 pounds, winning three out of four matches.

Placement matters, and the order takes on a deeper meaning.

The third-place match between Lincoln-Way East and Downers Grove South was the wildest of the day.

The Griffins exploded out of the gate with five consecutive falls and a 9-4 decision by Christian Darnell at 165 pounds for the seemingly insurmountable 33-0 lead.

The Griffins are thinned out a bit at the bottom of the lineup through inexperience and several football players not joining the team after Lincoln-Way East played Loyola in the Class 8A state football championship game.

The Mustangs responded with four consecutive falls, a forfeit and two exhilarating back and forth matches, where Miguel Castaneda clipped JT Theis 6-3 and Jadon Dinwiddie took down Nick Williams 7-2.

Suddenly Downers South held a 36-33 lead.

Kaidge Richardson was the difference maker with a 0:44 second fall over Jordan Holley.

Lincoln-Way East junior Alex Lizak was one of the revelations of the tournament.

After missing his entire sophomore season from complications of his shoulder surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum, he posted four falls and a decision in going 5-0 at 157 pounds.

He improved his record to 17-0.

“I like the pool play format because I feel like it singles out the better teams,” he said. “You get to see the best teams go at each other. That’s the best way rather than have two really good teams wrestle each other early on.”

The Griffins are going to be formidable in the stacked South Suburbs the remainder of the season.

Lincoln-Way East had seven wrestlers post at least four victories, with Lizak, Tyson Zvonar (5-0 at 132), returning state qualifier Domanic Abeja (5-0 at 150) and Darnell (5-0) going undefeated.

Richardson, Brayden Mortell (138) and Kevin Byrne (144) each finished 4-1.

“The format of this field is very exciting because you never know who you are going against,” Abeja said. “I was able to get into my offense today, and not let other people score against me.”

Everything broke right, and the Mustangs ran a superb tournament, competitive, involving and marked by excitement and unpredictable finishes.

“Fourteen of the 16 teams were in the Illinois Matmen rankings, either currently or previously ranked,” Mustangs’ coach Sean Lovelace said.

“We have all three classes represented, and Coal City was the 1A state dual champion last season.”

The tournament was founded by original coach and namesake Larry Gassen just a couple of years after the school opened in 1964.

It has been a mainstay of the early December wrestling calendar.

Downers South was also involved in the most significant pool play result during the third round.

In a riveting back and forth, the Mustangs edged Coal City 39-34.

The teams each won seven matches, with one crucial difference, the forfeit Downers South earned at 215 with Coal City not fielding a wrestler there.

The match was more like a basketball game, with each side mourning massive runs. Coal City won five consecutive matches between 132 and 157 pounds.

Downers South answered with four consecutive falls and the forfeit victory for the insurmountable 39-25 advantage with two remaining matches.

By far the smallest school in the field, Coal City showed why it remains the favorite in Class 1A.

After nine top-four finishes without capturing a state championship, the Coalers broke through with their riveting match against defending state champion Yorkville Christian.

Coal City had a tournament-best five wrestlers go 5-0. Sophomore Mason Garner was arguably the most impressive.

He posted five pins, with all three of his matches not lasting into the second period. Only TJ Johnson of Downers South took him to the third period.

Garner was awarded a special award for the most falls in the fewest minutes of wrestling.

“I just went out there, took my time and wrestled my match,” he said. “We actually lost a lot of seniors from the state championship team.

“We are pretty young, but we just have to keep wrestling and not get over our heads.”

Owen Petersen (106), Aidan Kenney (132), Brock Finch (150) and Brant Widlowski also went 5-0.

“We love the competition, and we love the target on our backs,” Widlowski said. “We have a banner in our room from the championship, with everybody’s name, the bracket and the trophy.

“Every break we’re always looking up, and saying if we want to be up there, we have to put in the work now.”

 Even if the team success was not at the heightened level of some of the other individual standouts, the day was an ideal platform to test their skill, power and strength against a deep and impressive field.

Some teams, most significantly Warren, were missing their top athletes, like sophomore Aaron Stewart, who was third at 152 pounds in Class 3A last season.

Stewart was at the Ironman in Ohio.

Plainfield North featured two of the top performers in Maddox Garbis, who finished sixth at 106 pounds in 3A last season.

Garbis finished 4-0. Tovar went 5-0.

Leonardo Tovar was third at 220 pounds.

“I like both the individual and now the dual team format,” Tovar said. “Individual duals against other teams give you a good look in tournaments like this.

“Today was just like the state tournament. You’re wrestling back to back, so this gets you ready for that environment.”

Here is the list of the other undefeated wrestlers, with a minimum three matches:

5-0

Nadeem Haleem, Andrew (113/120)

Tyler Tiancgo, Downers Grove North, (113)

Rocky Seibel, Belleville West (113)

Aidan Durrell, Plainfield North (120)

Carlos Ordonez, Warren (120)

Max Siegel, Andrew (126) 

Teddy Flores, Maine South (126)

Talon Decker, Mahoney-Seymour (138, 144)

Malaki Jackson, Geneseo (144)

Shane McGuine, Huntley (150)

Zachary Montez, Geneseo (150/157)

Jackson Castaneda, Oak Forest (165)

Kyle Weinzierl, Geneseo (165)

Cayden Parks, Crystal Lake Central (190)

Tommy McNeil, Crystal Lake Central (215)

Tyler Fortis, Maine South (285)

Markos Mihalopoulos, Huntley (285)

4-0

Maddox Garbis, Plainfield North (113)

Owen Ottino, Glenwood (120)

Luke Grindstaff, Plainfield North (138)

Connor Kelly, Downers Grove South (165/175)

RJ Samuels, Downers Grove South (175)

Jeremija Hixson, Warren (190)

Anthony Soto, Warren (215)

3-0

Luke Morrison, Maine South (132)

Matty Lapacek, Downers Grove South (190)

Cael Brezina, Downers Grove North (215)

Results of the championship match between Barrington and Glenwood

Barrington 35, Glenwood 26

132 – Daniel Blanke (Barrington) F 1:41 John Vallar (Glenwood)

138 – John Ben Maduena (Glenwood) F 3:24 Brennan O’Donnell (Barrington)

144 – Brady Wright (Barrington) D 6-5 Anny Williams (Glenwood)

150 – Rhenzo Augusto (Barrington) TF 18-2 Braxton Warren (Glenwood)

157 – Silas Oberholtzer (Barrington) F 4:59 Jonah Broughman (Glenwood)

165 – Maizone Milestone (Glenwood) D 3-2 Liam Tierney (Barrington)

175 – Justin Hay (Glenwood) D 7-0 Marino Benardi (Barrington)

190 – Ayden Salley (Barrington) UTB 3-2 Maximus Wiezorek (Glenwood)

215 – Cody Moss (Glenwood) D 7-3 Peter Kazaglis (Barrington) 

285 – Clarence Jackson (Barrington) F 1:00 Eli Moss (Glenwood)

106 – Kaleb Pratt (Barrington) D 11-8 Tyler Clarke (Glenwood)

113 – Neel Talpallikar (Barrington) D 10-6 Jaxon Ferguson (Glenwood)

120 – Owen Ottino (Glenwood) F 3:38 Saul Ramirez (Barrington)

126 – Drew Davis TF 17-2 Jacob Llames (Barrington)

Final results

3rd place

Lincoln-Way East 39, Downers Grove South 36

5th place

Coal City 51. Mahomet-Seymour 24

7th place

Downers Grove North 43, Plainfield North 26

9th place

Andrew 34, Huntley 30

11th place

Oak Forest and Warren did not wrestle

13th place

Crystal Lake Central 42, Geneseo 35

15th place

Belleville West and Maine South did not wrestle

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA

After leading Edwardsville’s program since 1997, Jon Wagner, a 2019 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, decided to step down at the end of last season after collecting more than 500 dual meet wins, as well as advancing four teams to the IHSA Dual Team Finals with the highlight being fourth place finishes in 2006 and 2009.

Carl Sandburg graduate and former Tigers assistant coach Eric Pretto is now the head coach of the Edwardsville boys program. Pretto won over 120 matches as a member of the Eagles’ 2005, 2006 and 2007 teams that captured Class AA championships for coach Mike Polz, a 1999 IWCOA Hall of Famer and recipient of a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter in 2017.

But Wagner certainly hasn’t stepped away from the sport. He’s taken over head coaching duties for the school’s girls program and if first results indicate anything, the future looks very bright for the Tigers.

One week after winning the title at the Granite City Girls Tournament by a 205-141 margin over Bartlett, TN, Edwardsville captured top honors at Pontiac’s Munch Girls Invitational, which featured 32 teams. The Tigers took first place with 207.5 points while Batavia was second with 166 points and Minooka placed third with 139 points.

Geneseo (134), Macomb (113), DeKalb (107), Morton co-op (88), Canton (84), Romeoville (76) and Urbana (63) rounded out the top 10 teams in the field.

Pontiac is well known nationally for hosting the oldest boys basketball holiday tournament in the United States, the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, which began in 1926.

The Munch Invitational, named for former coach Russ Munch, was the first all-girls competition in the state. Corey Christenson began the competition nine years ago and this year there were 210 individuals competing and the event didn’t conclude until 11:30 p.m. on Friday.

The school also once again hosted a Munch Boys Invite on Saturday, in which Evergreen Park edged Morton 226-225 for the title.

The Tigers had two champions, and both are newcomers. Senior Norah Swaim (120) was a three-time state qualifier in boys competition in Rhode Island and also was the first girl from that state to win All-American honors in a national tournament. And sophomore Abbrey Dewerff (170) was the first state qualifier for Roxana.

Edwardsville had four others who claimed second place, Olivia Coll (105), Gianna Linhorst (110), Holly Zugmaier (125) and Olive Linhorst (130). Genevieve Dykstra (100) and Tayla Phillips (235) both took third, Alison Kirk (100) and Abigail Hayes (190) were fourth and Maddy Allen (105) placed fifth.

“It’s early in the season, but it’s nice to see the excitement out of the girls,” Wagner said. “I think the gift that we had today was their enjoyment and wanting to be here. It was 11:30 at night and they still wanted to be here and they wanted to compete and not one person complained. We have some new girls and we have some experienced girls and it all came together. I think the inexperienced ones got a little better and our experienced girls did well.”

Coach Scott Bayer’s runner-up Bulldog had the most champions with three and two of those won the Outstanding Wrestler Awards. Lily Enos (100) got the award for the lower weights and two-time IHSA title winner Sydney Perry (155) received the honor for the upper weights. Caoimhe Mitchell (190) also claimed first place.

“This is my 19th year at Batavia and I was the boys head coach for 10 years,” Bayer said. “Last year was my first year as the girls head coach and it’s been a blast. I can’t say enough about (Sydney) her leadership. She’s just a rare and special kid who is a great mentor to the girls and is an assistant coach. She’s an elite athlete and she wants to be the best in the world. She’s 10 years ahead of the sport and I think that she knows that she’s been very responsible for the growth of wrestling and the image of wrestling in Batavia. 

“Our head coach, Ryan Farwell, is very supportive of girls wrestling. We have 30 girls in our room right now and they’re just part of the group. They’re working hard and getting better every year. It’s a great environment. This is a long day but there’s great competition. and what I like about it is that you have a lot of first-year kids who come in here and get good matches and elite kids who can come here and get good matches. It’s a well-run tournament and we’re happy with it.”

DeKalb also had two champions, Alex Gregorio-Perez (110) and Reese Zimmer (115). Others who captured Munch titles were Streator’s Lily Gwaltney (105), Canton’s Kinnley Smith (125), Morton’s Karen Canchola (130), Morton co-op’s Faith Comas (135), Olympia’s Jordan Bicknell (140), Macomb’s Kelly Ladd (145) and Prairie Central’s Chloe Hoselton (235). Canchola, Enos and Perry all repeated as champions in the event.

Also finishing in second place were Geneseo’s Molly Snyder (100) and Gia Ritter (140), Macomb’s Seefa Feruzi (170) and Avery Lundgren (190), Springfield co-op’s Ella Miloncus (115), Jacksonville’s Alexis Seymour (120), Unity Christian’s Lillien Roughton (135), Unity’s Anna Vasey (145), Minooka’s Abbey Boersma (155) and Urbana’s Jurdan Tyler (235).

The closest title matches featured Zimmer edging Miloncus 7-4 at 115, Bicknell prevailing 5-2 over Ritter at 140, Smith defeating Zugmaier 6-1 at 125 and Swaim beating Seymour 6-0 at 120.

Canchola, Dewerff, Ladd and Perry tied for the most team points with 32 while Comas, Smith, Swaim and Zimmer were next with 30 points and Bicknell, Hoselton and Mitchell all scored 28 points.

Perry had the most total match points with 60, which was 29 more than the next-best individual for that total. Geneseo’s Lauren Piquard recorded five falls while Unity’s Phoenix Molina had four falls in 2:23.

Here’s a look at the champions and their weight classes at Pontiac’s Munch Girls Invitational

100 – Lily Enos, Batavia

Lily Enos turned in a performance worthy of receiving the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the lower weights at the Munch Invite, with teammate Sydney Perry receiving the OWA for the upper weights, after she followed a major decision with a fall in 2:20 in the semifinals over Edwardsville’s Genevieve Dykstra and then got a pin in 2:27 in the 100 finals over Geneseo’s Molly Snyder. That helped her to become the first of three champions for the runner-up Bulldogs and also win a Munch Invite title for the second year in a row. Enos (11-1), a sophomore, went 44-13 last season and took fifth place at 100 in the HSA Finals.

“I felt really good today,” Enos said, “I was trying a lot of things that I don’t do. I wrestled  the girl in the finals before and I pinned her, but she’s strong, so I can see a bright future for her so I was definitely warming up a lot more. I tried to have fun since it’s a long tournament. Last week we had four in the finals and I think our team is seeing a lot of improvement, especially in the past year with a lot of those girls in their first year and now it’s their second year. (Sydney Perry) She’s such a great role model and I look up to her like she’s my sister since I’ve known her for so long. It’s awesome having her on the team, she’s such a big benefit for us.”

Snyder, a freshman, became the first of two finalists for the Maple Leafs after recording two first-period falls, including one in 1:07 over Edwardsville’s Alison Kirk in the semifinals. Edwardsville teammates met for third place with Dykstra (7-2) winning a 5-0 decision over Kirk. And in the fifth-place match, Romeoville’s Daniela Santander (8-3) won by fall in 5:02 over Olympia’s Mya Downs (6-5).

105 – Lily Gwaltney, Streator

When you’re a freshman and you beat a senior who’s a two-time state qualifier and a 2022 IHSA medal winner, it’s a big deal. And that’s just what Streator’s Lily Gwaltney accomplished in the 105 title match when she won by fall in 3:08 over Edwardsville’s Olivia Coll. Gwaltney (11-3) opened with a major decision and then got a pin in 4:50 over Romeoville senior Josefina Orozco in the semifinals. She hopes to not only become the Bulldogs’ first state qualifier but also their initial state medalist.

“It feels good,” Gwaltney said. “I’m 11-3 now. I’ve been wrestling since I was four, so about 10 years. It feels good to know that I can place high against girls that I don’t think that I could beat.”

Coll (6-2), who took sixth at 100 in the first IHSA Finals and also qualified for state last year, was one of six finalists for the champion Tigers. She opened with a fall and then won an 8-0 major decision over DeKalb sophomore Frieda Hernandez in the semifinals. Orozco (7-2) won 7-3 in sudden victory over Hernandez to claim third place. Sophomore Maddy Edwards (6-4) gave Edwardsville another medal at that weight class when she won by fall in 5:14 over Canton freshman LT Diephuis to claim fifth place.

110 – Alex Gregorio-Perez, DeKalb

Alex Gregorio-Perez fell one win shy of a medal at 105 at last year’s IHSA Finals, so the DeKalb sophomore is definitely focused on getting to the awards stand at state this season. She’s off to a 12-1 start after claiming the title at 110 with a fall in 3:48 over Edwardsville’s Gianna Linhorst in the finals. After opening with a fall in 1:04, she recorded a pin in 1:54 over Canton’s Shayla Schielein in the semifinals to earn her spot in the title mat. Teammate Reese Zimmer won at 115 right after her to give the Barbs two champions.

“It was my second year competing in the Donnybrook and I had really high expectations, but I didn’t place like I intended to, I did last year, but not this year,” Gregorio-Perez said. “I love wrestling with them (her teammates), they push me to my hardest. I love the program, they help a lot, and especially during Freestyle, a lot of the coaches were really great. There weren’t a lot of girls on our team last year. But this year, I see other teams and they’ve doubled in size and that’s amazing. And you can tell that it’s genuine and you get close to all of these people.”

Linhorst (9-1), a junior, recorded two first-minute falls to advance to the finals. After getting a pin in 0:50 in the quarterfinals, she needed just 15 seconds to pin Prairie Central’s Yuri Vilchis to become one of the six Tigers who advanced to the title mat. Freshman Schielein won by fall in 2:51 over sophomore Vilchis to capture third place and Springfield co-op freshman Phoenix Criss recorded a pin in 0:53 over Batavia sophomore Sarah Zuziak in the fifth-place match.

115 – Reese Zimmer, DeKalb

Reese Zimmer followed teammate Alex Gregorio-Perez to the title mat and she joined the 110-pound title winner as the champion at 115 after capturing a 7-4 decision over Springfield co-op’s Ella Miloncus. Zimmer (10-4) also joined Gregorio-Perez as the Barbs’ first two state qualifiers last season. The DeKalb junior used three falls of 1:00 or less to reach the title mat, needing just 32 seconds in the semifinals against Reaghan Madura, who also competes for the Springfield co-op team, which includes athletes from Springfield High, Lanphier and Southeast.

“Last week, I didn’t do my best at Donnybrook so I came here wanting to redeem myself, and that’s what I did,” Zimmer said. “I’ve known Alex for two years and she really pushes me in practice. There are a lot of opportunities coming from DeKalb. I started wrestling in fifth grade. I made state last year and I want to go further this year and want to place at state. Coming back was pretty hard, but I’m glad that I made it to where I am and I want to make more goals for myself. I love to see how much it grows each year and we have more girls than we had last year so I’m happy to see that happening.”

Miloncus (8-2) qualified for state last season representing Lanphier. The junior opened with a decision and then got two falls, including one in 4:42 in the semifinals over Mahomet-Seymour sophomore Kalista Granadino (7-2), who bounced back from that loss to finish third with a pin in 1:58 over junior Madura. University High senior Allison Kroesch (8-3), who also qualified for state last season, captured a 6-2 decision over Pontiac freshman Sophia Mussari to take fifth.

120 – Norah Swaim, Edwardsville

Norah Swaim is a new name to Illinois wrestling, but she definitely made a name for herself in Rhode Island, where she qualified for the boys state finals for North Kingstown three times. Last year, she became the first girl in Rhode Island history to earn All-American honors when she took fourth at 114 in the girls bracket at the National High School Coaches Association High School Nationals in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In the finals at 120, the senior won a 6-0 decision over Jacksonville’s Alexis Setymour. Swaim (6-0) advanced with three pins, including one in 3:15 over Mahomet-Seymour’s Isabelle Leyhe in the semifinals.

“I just moved here over the summer,” Swaim said. “I was in Rhode Island and I’m a military kid, so I’ve moved around a lot. In Rhode Island it was not sanctioned, so I was the only girl to make it to state three years in a row in the boys tournament. I was so excited to come here since this is my first time at a full girls high school tournament. I’ve been to bigger tournaments, like Nationals, but this was my first tournament, so I just wanted to place, but then I made it to the finals and then I wanted to win it. I have been so blessed to be put into this situation. I love all of the girls on the team, they’re all amazing, and it’s been great. (Jon) Wagner is a great coach and he and our new coach are doing a great job with our team. A lot of the girls in Rhode Island were new to wrestling, so coming here and wrestling girls who are at a higher caliber is great.”

Seymour (10-1), a junior who went 32-18 last season and took fourth place at 120 at state and fell one win shy of a medal at 115 in the first IHSA Finals, won her first three matchers by fall, winning with a pin in 2:16 over Geneseo freshman Lydia King in the semifinals. Seymour won a Munch title last  season. Leyhe (7-1), a senior, won by fall over King in 3:50 to claim third place while Charleston sophomore Morgan Krone-Smallhorn (5-1) finished fifth after getting a pin in 57 seconds over Batavia sophomore Natalie Lenart (10-5).

125 – Kinnley Smith, Canton

After advancing to the IHSA Finals and placing second at 135 to Boylan  Catholic’s Netavia Wickson last season, Kinnley Smith hopes to not only get back on the awards but also be on the title mat again and hopefully claim top honors this time. The Canton junior improved to 8-1 after capturing a 6-1 decision over Edwardsville’s Holly Zugmaier in the 125 finals. Smith recorded three falls to reach the title mat, with the last of those in 29 seconds over Minooka’s Sabina Charlebois in the semifinals.

“This is a big change from the weight class that I was in before,” Smith said. “Last year I wrestled at 135, and they were strong, that’s for sure, but the speed is not the same at all, these girls have so much more speed, and it’s just great. When I was in first grade, I knew that I needed to do something different and so I was the only girl in the program. From first to fourth grade I wrestled a lot of boys, and I was really hard on myself and that didn’t help much. So I took a long break through middle school and I came back my freshman year. I got so lucky to get blessed with such an amazing coach (Zach Crawford). In my freshman year I lost in the blood round at sectionals and he helped me in the offseason, and any time I ask, he will come and help me and he’s just an amazing coach to have.”

Zugmaier (10-1), who went 21-12 and qualified for state last season, was one of six finalists for the first-place Tigers. She opened with two falls before claiming a 13-3 major decision over Normal West’s Amelia McClure in the semifinals. In the third-place match, sophomore McClure (10-4) won by fall in 5:01 over sophomore Charlebois (7-3). Naperville Central freshman Dezi Azar (9-2) took fifth with a 5-1 decision over Jacksonville freshman Jaycee Fancher (6-4).

130 – Karen Canchola, Morton

Karen Canchola went 26-7 and placed fifth at 130 at state a year ago to become Morton’s first state medalist and the junior is looking to move higher up on the awards stand this season. Canchola improved to 9-0 after winning by fall in 1:20 in the 130 title match over Edwardsville’s Olive Linhorst to repeat as a Munch Invite champion. She ended all four of her matches in the first period with falls, including in 1:21 in the semifinals over Minooka’s Kira Cailteux.

Linhorst (9-2), one of six finalists for the champion Tigers, opened with a win by technical fall and a quick pin before claiming a 6-0 decision over St. Joseph-Ogden’s Maddie Wells in the semifinals. Sophomore Wells claimed third place after recording a fall in 1:42 over junior Cailteux. Monica Garcia (5-1), a junior on the Morton co-op team featuring individuals from Morton East and Morton West, took fifth place after getting a pin in 1:34 over Naperville Central junior Bianca Arredondo (6-4).

135 – Faith Comas, Morton co-op

Prior to winning a title at Waukegan on December 2, senior Faith Comas only remembered winning one other tournament while competing for Morton’s co-op, which includes athletes from Morton West and Morton East. Two weeks later, Comas is on a roll after winning her second-straight tournament title, claiming top honors at 135 after recording a fall in 1:19 over Unity Christian’s Lillien Roughton. After opening with two pins, Comas prevailed in a 13-11 decision over Kankakee’s Makayla Jones in the semifinals.

“I’ve been doing this sport for a long time but I haven’t really been seeing any results until recently,” Comas said. “I hadn’t placed in my whole five years of wrestling. And I wasn’t really expecting to win since I got a little bit hurt in my last match, so I wasn’t really confident. It feels nice (to win two straight tournaments) and I feel like all of my work has paid off. It’s really surreal. In my freshman year, my partner was Hilda (Gonzalez), who took second at state, and then I had Karla (Topete), who took fifth at state, and junior year, I wrestled with Leilany (De Leon), and she placed sixth the previous year. So I can attribute a lot of my success now to them and also to my drive to keep going.”

Roughton, a sophomore competing for a Decatur school that had been known as Lutheran School Association-Decatur and only has competed in the sport for the past few years, followed up on two quick falls with a pin in 2:58 over Minooka’s Eva Beck in the semifinals. Jones, a senior who fell one shy of a medal at 135 in the 2023 IHSA Finals, bounced back from her tough semifinal setback to capture a 12-8 decision over Beck (8-3) to claim third place. Ottawa Township sophomore Ava Weatherford (10-2) recorded a fall in 5:21 over Macomb junior Raegen Hansen (7-3) to claim fifth place.

140 – Jordan Bicknell, Olympia

Jordan Bicknell fell one win shy of a medal at 145 at the 2023 IHSA Finals, which was her second state appearance. The Olympia senior is hoping that the third time’s the charm for her as she seeks to become the first medalist for the school in Stanford that co-ops with Delavan. Bicknell (7-1) won a 5-2 decision over Geneseo’s Gia Ritter to win the title at 140. She recorded three falls, with the last of those coming in 1:04 in the semifinals over Batavia’s Norah Stoodley.

“It’s nice having a lot more competition,” Bicknell said. “I’m very excited for the state series since girls have regionals now. So I feel like the sectionals will be a lot more focused and competitive. I love seeing more girls get into the program, and just kind of the empowerment of females in general and trying to get equality with mens sports. We’re making history.”

Ritter, a senior who became one of Geneseo’s first two state qualifiers last season, hopes to close her Maple Leafs’ career as its initial medalist. She reached the 140 title mat after claiming two decisions and a fall, with a 4-1 win over Charleston senior Mackensie Williams coming in the semifinals. Williams responded to that loss with a fall in 3:20 over sophomore Stoodley to take third. Urbana freshman Rickasia Ivy won a 13-3 major decision over Minooka’s Palmer Calvey to finish fifth.

145 – Kelly Ladd, Macomb

Kelly Ladd made history for Macomb last season when she went 32-8 and took sixth at 135 in the IHSA Finals to become her program’s first state medalist. Now the Bombers’ junior aspires to move higher up the awards stand, and she’s off to a great start with a 10-1 record after taking first at 145 with a fall in 2:14 over Unity’s Anna Vasey. Ladd, one of three Macomb finalists, won all four of her matches by fall, including in 1:16 over Minooka’s Beth Castro in the semifinals.

“This is very exciting and I’m very proud of my team,” Ladd said. “We’ve built the girls team from the ground up and we have seven now and we practice our hearts out every day. I think it’s the dream that you can do anything that you want. I grew up watching wrestling and my dad always told me I couldn’t, but he’s coaching me now. I can definitely see improvements every year. Last year I got sixth so this year I’m just pushing to see how high I can get.”

Vasey (6-3), who won a Munch title last year, hopes that her sophomore season concludes with a first visit to the state finals. She opened her tournament with two falls and then won an 11-3 major decision over Minooka’s Bella Cyrkiel in the semifinals. Cyrkiel (12-2), a senior who qualified for state in 2023, claimed third place with a fall in 3:42 over her junior teammate, Castro (5-3). And in the fifth-place match, Geneseo freshman Lauren Piquard (5-1) won by fall in 3:33 over Bloomington sophomore Alicia Swank (8-6).

155 – Sydney Perry, Batavia

As one of the six two-time IHSA champions and one of four who are seeking their third titles this season, Sydney Perry has set a very high standard for the sport. Her 7-4 victory over El Paso-Gridley’s Valerie Hamilton in last year’s 145 title match was a real classic. After going 21-0 to take first at 145 in the inaugural IHSA Finals and then 34-0 last season, Perry is one of the nation’s best in the sport. The Batavia senior repeated as a Munch champion and received the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the upper weights after collecting four falls to improve to 11-0 after recording a fall in 2:15 over Minooka’s Abbey Boersma to win the 155 title.

“Being a team captain and kind of leading the girls has been amazing, especially for me to continue my character development,” Perry said. “But it’s just crazy to see that when I was growing up, I wrestled with all the boys and I was the lone girl standing out. So it’s just amazing to see how many girls are coming out for tournaments like this. Batavia has an awesome support system, we have a lot of opportunities and coaches in the room. I’m trying to be a mentor for the girls on the team and taking practice super seriously with the guys and getting as much of that as I can. Also lifting, running and eating well and staying hydrated. And focusing on the parts of wrestling that you don’t necessarily think that you have to focus on. I love the sport, I’ve grown up doing it. I like helping the girls and showing them a different perspective. I’ve been with a lot of great athletes, so I kind of grab some of their wisdom and share it.”

Boersma (11-2), a senior who is seeking her first state appearance, was the only finalist for Minooka, who took third place behind champion Edwardsville and runner-up Batavia. Boersma opened with two falls before capturing a 7-6 decision over Canton’s Katelyn Marvel in the semifinals. Marvel (8-2), a junior who’s the Little Giants’ first two-time state qualifier, responded to her semifinal loss with a 4-2 decision over Geneseo junior Mady Mooney to place third. Macomb junior Mikeala Mwangong and Romeoville freshman Deivina Samalionyte reached the fifth-place match.

170 – Abbrey Dewerff, Edwardsville

After making history a year ago as Roxana’s initial state qualifier, Abbrey Dewerff hopes that a change of scenery will help her to be a force on the high school stage in the same way that she was at the youth level. The sophomore was one of two champions and six finalists for coach Jon Wagner’s first-place Edwardsville squad. Dewerff (8-3) recorded first-period falls in all four of her matches, needing 1:22 to win in the semifinals over Urbana’s Franciana Kalanga and in 1:37 in the 170 title match against Macomb’s Seefa Feruzi.

“I was at Roxana last year and I went to state,” Dewerff said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was five and I’ve been wrestling boys. I think it’s the support that we all have. We’re all like sisters, we’re more a family than just a team. And I’m proud of every single one of them and I cheer every single one of them on and I love them all. It’s crazy how much it has grown. I was like the only girl out there and now there’s so many girls.”

Feruzi (6-2), a senior who was one of three finalists for the fifth-place Bombers, won her first three matches with falls in the opening period, which was capped by a pin in 0:49 over Batavia’s Emma Abbate in the semifinals. In a matchup of juniors for third place, Kalanga (8-2) recorded a fall in 2:47 over Abbate (10-3). And for fifth place, Morton co-op junior Violet Mayo got a pin in 3:15 over Deer Creek-Mackinaw freshman Kaleigh Merkens.

190 – Caoimhe Mitchell, Batavia

On a day where Batavia had the most champions with three and coach Scott Bayer’s Bulldogs took second place, it may have not come as a surprise that eventual Outstanding Wrestler Award winners Sydney Perry and Lily Enos would win titles. In an event where many veterans with past state success emerged as champions, only two freshmen won titles, one of which was the Bulldogs’ other champ, Caoimhe Mitchell. She took first place at 190 with a fall in 5:30 over Macomb’s Avery Lundgren. Mitchell (8-2) also won two other matches with pins, including in 2:53 over DeKalb’s Molly Kraft in the semifinals.

“It feels good, since I’m a freshman and I’m wrestling up,” Mitchell said. “This is only my second year. I practice with good clubs and I have a really good team.”

Lundgren (6-1), a sophomore who was one of three finalists for the Bombers, won two matches with quick falls, needing just 32 seconds to prevail in the semifinals over Edwardsville’s Abigail Hayes. In the third-place match, junior Kraft (9-4) recorded a pin in 3:09 over freshman Hayes. For fifth place, Pontiac junior Alix Robinson (5-2) turned in the host’s best finish when she won by fall in 2:38 over Geneseo’s Abby Erickerson.

235 – Chloe Hoselton, Prairie Central

When a veteran of Team Illinois who has enjoyed national success meets a competitor who placed third at state last season, it figures to make for an interesting matchup. And that’s what unfolded in the 235 finals as Prairie Central’s Chloe Hoselton faced Urbana’s Jurdan Tyler and the Hawks’ junior captured the title with a fall in 2:17 over Tyler, who took third at 235 in last year’s IHSA Finals. Hoselton needed less than a minute to record pins in her other two matches, including a fall in 19 seconds over Edwardsville’s Tayla Phillips in the semifinals.

“Our school has four girls and I was the only one coming into the season with experience,” Hoselton said. “I’m one of the captains for the girls and I’m glad to be able to lead them and kind of show them what wrestling is about. As a little kid, I was the only girl wrestling at club and at practice and I was a little upset. But recently, the sport has just been branching out and everyone is getting involved. I’m not surprised, I just think it needed some more attention, and as it got more attention, more people liked it. I have high hopes. The rankings don’t mean much but it has me winning and I hope to live up to it.”

Tyler (7-1), a senior who became the Tigers’ first state qualifier and medalist last season, opened with a 7-1 decision in the quarterfinals before winning by fall in 2:46 over Minooka’s Peyton Kueltzo in the semifinals. Phillips (10-1), a senior who was a state qualifier for the Tigers last year, took third place with a pin in 3:30 over Kueltzo (9-4), a senior who is one of two individuals who have been two-time state qualifiers for Minooka. In the fifth-place match, Unity’s Phoenix Molina (10-2), a sophomore who was a state qualifier a year ago, took fifth place with a fall in 0:46 over DeKalb sophomore Aarrianna Bloyd.

Championship matches of Pontiac’s Munch Girls Invitational

100 – Lily Enos (Batavia) F 2:27 Molly Snyder (Geneseo)

105 – Lily Gwaltney (Streator) F 3:08 Olivia Coll (Edwardsville)

110 – Alex Gregorio-Perez (DeKalb) F 3:48 Gianna Linhorst (Edwardsville)

115 – Reese Zimmer (DeKalb) D 7-4 Ella Miloncus (Springfield co-op)

120 – Norah Swaim (Edwardsville) D 6-0 Alexis Seymour (Jacksonville)

125 – Kinnley Smith (Canton) D 6-1 Holly Zugmaier (Edwardsville)

130 – Karen Canchola (Morton) F 1:20 Olive Linhorst (Edwardsville)

135 – Faith Comas (Morton co-op) F 1:19 Lillien Roughton (Unity Christian)

140 – Jordan Bicknell (Olympia) D 5-2 Gia Ritter (Geneseo)

145 – Kelly Ladd (Macomb) F 2:14 Anna Vasey (Unity)
155 – Sydney Perry (Batavia) F 2:15 Abbey Boersma (Minooka)

170 – Abbrey Dewerff (Edwardsville) F 1:37 Seefa Feruzi (Macomb)

190 – Caoimhe Mitchell (Batavia) F 5:30 Avery Lundgren (Macomb)

235 – Chloe Hoselton (Prairie Central) F 2:17 Jurdan Tyler (Urbana)

Team standings for Pontiac’s Munch Girls Invitational

1. Edwardsville (207.5), 2. Batavia (166), 3. Minooka (139), 4. Geneseo (134), 5. Macomb (113), 6. DeKalb (107), 7. Morton co-op (88), 8. Canton (84), 9. Romeoville (76), 10. Urbana (63), 11. Mahomet-Seymour (61), 12. Unity (56), 13. Naperville Central (50), 14. Pontiac (47), 15. Springfield (co-op) 44, 16. Jacksonville (42), 17. Prairie Central 39, 18. Charleston (38), 19. Olympia (38), 20. Kankakee (36), 21. Streator (34), 22. Morton (32), 22. Unity Christian (32), 24. Normal West (30), 25. Ottawa Township (23), 26. st. Joseph-Ogden (21), 27. Bloomington (13), 27. University High (13), 29. Herscher (6), 29. Deer Creek-Mackinaw (6), 31. Wilmington (5), 32. Heyworth (0), 32. Rantoul (0).

By Dave Surico for the IWCOA

DuPage Girls Championship at Glenbard South

Glenbard East will go down in history as the winner of the inaugural DuPage Girls Championship tournament.

The Rams were represented by just one champion but took the title with 82.5 points. Hinsdale Central (70 points) finished second. Reavis (65) took third in the nine-team event.

Nadiia Shymkiv recorded the 105-pound title for Glenbard East. Runner-up finishes came from Andrea Jones (115), Leah Montez (125) and Kaleigha Johnson (EXH235). Dakota Rosner (120), Maria Green (135) and Elizabeth Moreno (140) earned third-place awards. Asia Lacey (170) and Nadine Spandiary (190) finished fourth in their brackets.

Hinsdale Central received titles from Lauren Pang (140) and Chloe Black (235). Seana Gavin took runner-up honors at 120. Makenzie Ford (170) and Clara Rogers (235) took home third-place honors.

Third-place Reavis received its title from Estrella Ramirez (170). Lilly Fish (155) and Reyna Padilla (190) and Gina Drum (135) posted second place finishes. Kenzie Welsh (125) took fourth.

The list of champions was rounded out by: Kahlynn Spurgeon (100) and Lilly White (135), of Bartlett; Natalia Cruz (155), Kayleigh Loo (190) and Megan O’Toole (EXH235), of Downers Grove North; Haven Cologrossi (115), of Glenbard South; and Delaney Cunningham (120), of Geneva.

Additional runner-up finishes were posted by Kayla Hassell (100), Geneva; Valerie Aligia (105) and Alex Arquilla (170), of Glenbard South; Ava Amato (140), Lemont; and Gianna Cahill (235), Downers Grove North.

Third-place medals were earned by: Valeria Gonzalez (100) and Alyssa Andreen (155), Downers Grove North; Lauren Stevens (115), Lemont; Sofia Parranto (125) and Catherine Schultz (190), Waubonsie Valley.

Fourth-place points were recorded from: Jayden Thornton (120), Lemont; Lorelai Escobar, Waubonsie Valley (135); and Sophia Assaf (140), Glenbard South.

DuPage Girls Championship title match results:

100 – Kahlynn Spurgeon (Bartlett) F 2:52 Kayla Hassell (Geneva)

105 – Nadiia Shymkiv (Glenbard East) TF 2:54 Valerie Aligia (Glenbard South)

110 – Angelina Carpentiro (Bartlett) F 1:48 Adeleine Rafacz (DG North)

115 – Haven Cologrossi (Glenbard South) F 1:14 Andrea Jones (Glenbard East)

120 – Delaney Cunningham (Geneva) F 2:18 Seana Gavin (Hinsdale Central)

125 – Molly O`Connor (Lemont) P 1:52 Leah Montez (Glenbard East)

130 – Nichole Castillo (Glenbard South) F 1:11 Valentina Gonzalez (DG North)

135 – Lilly White (Bartlett) F 0:18 Gina Drum (Burbank)

140 – Lauren Pang (Hinsdale Central) on round-robin criteria

145 – Sophi Arain (Hinsdale Central) F 1:08 Jasmine Abarca (Glenbard East)

155 – Natalia Cruz (DG North) F 5:33 Lilly Fish (Burbank)

170 – Estrella Ramirez (Burbank) F 0:26 Alex Arquilla (Glenbard South)

190 – Kayleigh Loo (DG North) F 0:25 Reyna Padilla (Burbank)

235 – Chloe Black (Hinsdale C) F 0:44 Gianna Cahill (DG North)

Ex235 – Megan O’Toole (DG North) F 3:48 Kaleigha Johnson (Glenbard East)

Final team scores: 

1. Glenbard East (82.5) 2. Hinsdale Central (70) 3. Reavis (65) 4. Lemont (56) 5. Downers Grove North (51) 6. Bartlett (37) 7. Glenbard South (35) 8. Waubonsie Valley (30) 9. Geneva (26)

Additional notes: There were only first and second place points awarded at 105 and EXH235. Only fifth place points were awarded at 110 and 145. Only three places earned points at 115, 155 and 235. Only sixth place points were awarded at 130.

Maine East’s Mejoe Hernandez Invitational

After winning the title of the Minooka Thanksgiving Throwdown by 80 points over the hosts in this season’s first invite, West Aurora had a fight on its hands with Hoffman Estates as the two battled for top honors at Maine East’s Mejoe Hernandez Invitational in Park Ridge.

Coach Charlie Graves’ Blackhawks only had one champion but had eight individuals who finished fifth or better and that helped to claim top honors in the 24-team competition in Park Ridge by a 190-187 margin over Hoffman Estates while Huntley was third with 158 points.

Burlington Central (108), Round Lake (106), Rickover Naval Academy (98.5), New Trier (97), Addison Trail (95), Conant (86) and Maine West (86) rounded out the top 10 teams.

Medalists for West Aurora were champion Brittney Moran (190) and second-place finishers Aiyanah Sylvester (125) and Ionicca Rivera (170). In addition, Kameyah Young (105) and Lailonie Molina (120) took third place, Giselle Marin-Carrasco (140) finished fourth and Allina Williams (130) and Kymber Hall (145) both claimed fifth place.

Leading the way for coach Leo Clark’s runner-up Hawks were champions Sophia Ball (125) and Emmylina O’Brien (135), second-place finisher Abby Ji (130) and third-place finisher Anjali Gonzalez (235). Essenze Reid (170) and Isabella Chiovari (190) took fourth place, Olivia Pelayo (115) finished fifth and Judy Soto (100) placed sixth.

Coach Gannon Kosowski’s third-place Red Raiders got title wins from Janiah Slaughter (105), Taylor Casey (110) and Aubrie Rohrbacher (130) while Jessica Olson (140) took second, 

Valeria Sanchez (115) finished fourth and Grecia Garcia (145) claimed sixth place.

Other Hernandez Invite champions were Round Lake’s Riley Kongkaeow (100) and Raven Burnett (145), Burlington Central’s Tori Macias (115) and Ryann Miller (170), New Trier’s Jillian Giller (140) and Nina Aceves (155), Lane Tech’s Nyah Lovis (120) and Rickover Naval Academy’s Jasmine Mejia (235).

Also claiming second-place finishes were Burlington Central’s Ruby Vences (110) and Soraya Walikonis (135), Rickover Naval Academy’s Mia Vazquez (100), Addison Trail’s Veronica Cosio (105), Taft’s Micaela Yu (120), Harvard’s Ithandehui Rosas (145), West Chicago’s Annette Huesca (155), Waukegan’s Jennifer Perez (190) and Oak Park and River Forest’s Sarah Epshtein (235).

All but two of the title matches featured falls. The two championship matches that were determined by decisions were Kongkaeow over Vazquez at 100 and Novis over Yu at 120.

Additional third-place finishers were Elgin’s Lourdes Hernandez (100), Niles West’s Zoe Pomeranets (110), Round Lake’s Ireland McCain (115), Waukegan’s Noelani Rodriguez (125), Addison Trail’s Brithany Mondragon (130), Conant’s Jasmine Zavaleta (135), Downers Grove South’s Allison Garcia (140), Evanston Township’s Kennedy Murray (145), Maine South’s Angelina Guanajuato (155), Maine West’s Lillian Garrett (170) and Oak Park and River Forest’s Trinity White (190).

Also finishing in fourth place were Maine West’s Ava Reyes (130) and Eliana Garrett (235), Niles West’s Briana Regules (100), Larkin’s Ashley Hammond (105), Harvard’s Alexa Herrera (110), Conant’s Beth Ciavarella (120), Maine East’s Deepjwal Rai (125), Addison Trail’s Ruthless Castillo (135), Oak Park and River Forest’s Lyra Schaafsma (145) and Rickover Naval Academy’s Carmilla Martinez (155).

Others who took fifth place were Maine East’s Eliana Badeen (105) and Heba Kiloul (120), New Trier’s Sunny Aitzemkour (100), West Chicago’s Sophia Newell (110), Elgin’s Emily Pizano (125), Maine West’s Jessica Perez (135), Round Lake’s Jessica Sanchez (140), Evanston Township’s Natalie Graettinger (155), Rickover Naval Academy’s Clara Biela (170), Addison Trail’s JD Quijano Perez (190) and Taft’s Rim Ayouchi (235).

Additional sixth-place finishers were Vernon Hills’ Hanna Lee (110) and Lora Kashidova (115), Lane Tech’s Zabby Badru (135) and Arianna Marin (140), Conant’s Susan Bilyal (155) and Lana Ton (170), Elgin’s Mali Patino (105), Oak Park and River Forest’s Sofia Hinojosa (120), Addison Trail’s Rebekah Castillo (125), Maine South’s Alyssa Gianola (130), Maine East’s Angie Wszolek (190) and Downers Grove South’s Zuzia Cybulski (235).

Championship matches for Maine East’s Mejoe Hernandez Invite

100 – Riley Kongkaeow (Round Lake) D Mia Vazquez (Rickover Naval Academy)

105 – Janiah Slaughter (Huntley) F Veronica Cosio (Addison Trail)

110 – Taylor Casey (Huntley) F Ruby Vences (Burlington Central)

115 – Tori Macias (Burlington Central) F Zoe Lee (New Trier)

120 – Nyah Lovis (Lane Tech) D Micaela Yu (Taft)

125 – Sophia Bell (Hoffman Estates) F Aiyanah Sylvester (West Aurora)

130 – Aubrie Rohrbacher (Huntley) F Abbi Ji (Hoffman Estates)

135 – Emmylina O’Brien (Hoffman Estates) F Soraya Walikonis (Burlington Central)

140 – Jillian Giller (New Trier) F Jessica Olson (Huntley)

145 – Raven Burnett (Round Lake) F Ithandehui Rosas (Harvard)

155 – Nina Aceves (New Trier) F Annette Huesca (West Chicago)

170 – Ryann Miller (Burlington Central) F Ionicca Rivera (West Aurora)

190 – Brittney Moran (West Aurora) F Jennifer Perez (Waukegan)

235 – Jasmine Mejia (Rickover Naval Academy) F Sarah Epshtein (Oak Park and River Forest)

Team standings for Maine East’s Mejoe Hernandez Invite

1. West Aurora (190), 2. Hoffman Estates (187), 3, Huntley (158), 4. Burlington Central (108), 5. Round Lake (106), 6. Rickover Naval Academy (98.5), 7. New Trier (97), 8. Addison Trail (95), 9. Conant (86), 9. Maine West (86), 11. Oak Park and River Forest (71), 12. Lane Tech (62.5), 13. Niles West (61), 14. Maine East (60), 15. Downers Grove South (57), 16. Evanston Township (56), 17. Elgin (54), 18. West Chicago (53), 19. Taft (50), 19. Waukegan (50), 21. Maine South (47), 22. Harvard (41), 23. Larkin (33), 24. Vernon Hills (24).

Thornton Girls Tournament

Host Thornton captured the team title in the 11-team field, edging Thornton-Fractional South by a score of 106-101.

Championships from Ariel Woofin (105), Gymaria Brown (110), Jalah Wilson (130) and Sionna Stampley (235) led Thornton to the tournament title for coach Philip Rembert. Tashari Wooten added crucial points with a second place finish at 155.

Runner-up Thornton Fractional South saw Quincy Onyiaorah rise to the top of the medal stand at 135. Anyla Leigh finished second at 130. Third-place points came from Abibatu Mogaji (115), Summer Rice (120) and Jermia Moore (135). Jessica Rubio (155) and Lucia Terrazas (170) finished fourth.

De La Salle missed second place by a single point. The Meteors boasted champions Anapaula Cerna (100), Iliana Heredia (120) and Ana Perez (155). Second place finishes came from Genesis De La Garza (125) and Abigail Trendle (135).

Championships outside the top three teams came from: Courben Session (115) and Hailey Zamot (145), of Rich; Taylor Poole (125), Thornton Fractional South; Haley Achiga (170), Proviso East; and Kinnidi Riley (190), Bloom.

Second place finishes were earned by: Saryia Maddox (100), Rich; Lillyanna Cardenas (105), Riley Osborn (115) and Victoria Cruz (170), of Evergreen Park; Mia Coffey (110), Bloom; Beatrice Quintana (120) and Isabella Mayfield (145), of Marian Catholic; and Jamyala Hill (190) and Daisy El-Simmons (235), of Hillcrest.

Wins in the third-place match were accomplished by: Lilly O`Brian (100), Angel Lewis (125) and Mya Coffey (155), of Bloom; Melanie Mundo (130), Proviso East; Danny Sommerio (145) and Octavia Miller, (235), of Evergreen Park; Angel Pearson (170), Rich; and Sydney West (190), Hillcrest.

Fourth place points were gathered by: Lidia Basave (100) and Regina Jones (120), of Proviso East; India Long (115), Hillcrest; Mya Gray (125) and Madison Beachum (145), of Marian Catholic; and Nina White (135), Nyla Coleman (190) and Amaya McClain (235), of Rich.

Thornton Girls tournament title match results:

100 – Anapaula Cerna (De La Salle) F 0:36 Saryia Maddox (Rich)

105 – Ariel Woofin (Thornton) F 3:41 Lillyanna Cardenas (Evergreen Park)

110 – Gymaria Brown (Thornton) F 0:22 Mia Coffey (Bloom)

115 – Courben Session (Rich) F 0:56 Riley Osborn (Evergreen Park)

120 – Iliana Heredia (De La Salle) F 0:33 Beatrice Quintana (Marian Catholic)

125 – Taylor Poole (Thornton Fractional South) F 5:14 Genesis De La Garza (De La Salle)

130 – Jalah Wilson (Thornton) F 5:46 Anyla Leigh (Thornton Fractional South)

135 – Quincy Onyiaorah (Thornton Fractional South) F 1:52 Abigail Trendle (De La Salle)

145 – Hailey Zamot (Rich) F 1:56 Isabella Mayfield (Marian Catholic)

155 – Ana Perez (De La Salle) F 3:48 Tashari Wooten (Thornton)

170 – Haley Achiga (Proviso East) F 3:06 Victoria Cruz (Evergreen Park)

190 – Kinnidi Riley (Bloom) F 0:33 Jamyala Hill (Hillcrest)

235 – Sionna Stampley (Thornton) F 2:37 Daisy El-Simmons (Hillcrest)

Note: Points were assigned to the first four places at 100, 115, 120, 125, 135, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235 The team standings were only affected by the first three finishers at 130. Only first and second place points were awarded at the 105 and 110 weight classes,

Final team Scores:

1. Thornton (106) 2. Thornton Fractional South (101) 3. De La Salle (100) 4. Rich (94) 5. Evergreen Park (68) 6. Bloom (63) 7. Proviso East (54.5) 8. Marian Catholic (40) 9. Hillcrest (39) 10. (tie), Illiana Christian, Joliet Central, Universal (0)

Marion Wildcats Girls Invitational

The Fort Campbell girls from Kentucky rumbled to the top trophy with a commanding 100 points, 38 more than runnerup Caldwell County in the 19-team competition. Caldwell County’s team also hails from Kentucky.

Kayla Maslonka (115), Cassidy Harrington (130) and Elizabeth Allen (155) took crowns for Fort Campbell. Delaney Perry (100), Elyanna Zamora (110) and Brooke Arbic (170) recorded runnerup finishes. Third-place points were earned by Aria Welsh (115) and Jennifer Velazquez (155). Tristin Caldwell took fourth place at 110.

Caldwell County got an individual title from T.J. Goodwin (110). Third-place points were claimed by Alyvia Barnwell (120) and Virginia Stewart (235). Rylie Bruce (130), Cali Traylor (155) and Emma Ward (190) claimed fourths.

Goreville (47) was 15 points back in third. Alivia Ming (145) and Liberty McBride (190) earned champion’s laurels. Madalynn Lapatas finished second at 130.

The invitational’s other top-step performances came from: Lily Davis (110) and Dayton Phillips (140), Mt. Vernon; Mia Balota (120), Benton; Lakelynn Janssen (125). McCracken County; Natalie Beaumont (135) and Summer Nichols (170), Cumberland and Olivia McDermott (235), Marion.

Second-place medals were claimed by Ayda Brown (115), Waterloo; Isabell Giloman (120), Carlyle; Heather Jones (125), Kennett; Joelene Nappier-Feth (135), Brooklyn Phemister (155) and Ronisha Sharkey (235), Marion; Lillie Henry (140) and Abby Ellis (145), McCracken County; and Izabell McBride (190), Waterloo.

Third-place finishers included: Jillian Conn (100), McCracken County; Delaney Measimer (110), Carbondale; Halle Smith (125), Benton; Neveah Gentelin (130), Waterloo; Muskan Ghotra (135), Jariyah Young (145) and Derika Gradford (170), Mt. Vernon; Daisjha Cooper (140), Marion; and Jaidan Glispie (190), Tilghman.

Delaney Melvin (120), Marion, Ella Snow (125), Carlyle, and Ahnisti Long (170), Kennett, rounded out the fourth place finishers.

Goodwin, of Caldwell County, led the tournament with three pins in a combined 1 minute, 54 seconds. Allen, Fort Campbell, Smith, Benton, and Janssen, McCracken County, also recorded three falls. Janssen and Goodwin each earned a meet-high 24 points for their teams. Goodwin also posted the biggest seed-placing differential with her title as a five-seed.

Championships matches

100 – Lily Davis (Mt. Vernon) F 1:35 Delaney Perry (Fort Campbell)

110 – T.J. Goodwin (Caldwell County) F 0:33 Elyanna Zamora (Fort Campbell)

115 – Kayla Maslonka (Fort Campbell) F 2:28 Ayda Brown (Waterloo)

120 – Mia Balota (Benton) F 0:00 Isabell Giloman (Carlyle)

125 – Lakelynn Janssen (McCracken County) F 3:21 Heather Jones (Kennett)

130 – Cassidy Harrington (Fort Campbell) F 0:39 Madalynn Lapatas (Goreville)

135 – Natalie Neaumont (Cumberland) F 0:55 Joelene Nappier-Feth (Marion)

140 – Dayton Phillips (Mt. Vernon) F 1:14 Lillie Henry (McCracken County)

145 – Alivia Ming (Goreville) F 3:53 Abby Ellis (McCracken County)

155 – Elizabeth Allen (Fort Campbell) F 2:41 Brooklyn Phemister (Marion)

170 – Summer Nichols (Cumberland) F 3:16 Brooke Arbic (Fort Campbell)

190 – Liberty McBride (Goreville) F 1:18 Izabell McBride (Waterloo)

235 – Olivia McDermott (Marion) F 0:41 Ronisha Sharkey (Marion)

Note: Only three places were awarded points at the 100-, 115-, 135-, 140-, 145- and 235-pound weight classes. Team points were awarded for four finishers at 110, 120, 125, 130, 155, 170, 190.

Final team scores:

1. Fort Campbell (100) 2. Caldwell County (62) 3. Goreville (47) 4. Marion (43) 5. Benton (38) 6. Mt. Vernon (34) 7. McCracken County (32) 8. Cumberland (31) 9. Waterloo (30) 10. (tie), Carlyle; Kennett (26) 12. Tilghman (13.5) 13. Carbondale (13) 14. Centralia (3) 15. (tie), Carmi, Carterville, Johnston City, Red Bud, Sparta (0)