Boys State Tournament by the numbers, 2026
By Rob Sherrill
For the IWCOA
Top 10 individual team scores, by classification
Class 3A
- Marmion Academy, 187
- Montini, 119
- Joliet Catholic Academy, 108.5
- Warren, 92
- Oak Park-River Forest, 83.5
- Rockton Hononegah, 77
- Loyola Academy, 66.5
- Edwardsville, 61.5
- Grant, 52
- St. Charles East, 51.5
Class 2A
- IC Catholic, 213
- Providence, 177
- Washington, 90
- Marian Central Catholic, 74
- Grayslake Central, 60.5
- Chatham Glenwood, 60
- Civic Memorial, 57
- Deerfield, 52
- Geneseo, 50.5
- Antioch, 49
Class 1A
- Coal City, 125.5
- Hope Academy, 115
- Vandalia, 114.5
- Lena-Winslow/Stockton, 85.5
- Belleville Althoff, 77
- Olympia, 65
- Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher, 62.5
- Princeton, 59.5
- Roxana, 52.5
- Dixon and Oakwood/Salt Fork (tie), 50.5
State placewinners by sectional
Class 3A
Barrington 6 – 3 – 4 – 2 – 3 – 2 – 20
Conant 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 2 – 3 – 13
Edwardsville 1 – 2 – 6 – 5 – 3 – 5 – 22
Hinsdale Central 5 – 7 – 2 – 5 – 6 – 4 – 29
Class 2A
Antioch 7 – 1 – 5 – 5 – 2 – 7 – 27
Geneseo 4 – 5 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 4 – 24
Granite City 0 – 6 – 1 – 3 – 6 – 3 – 19
Hinsdale South 3 – 2 – 4 – 2 – 3 – 0 – 14
Class 1A
Byron 4 – 4 – 3 – 7 – 7 – 6 – 31
Coal City 2 – 6 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 2 – 15
Olympia 3 – 3 – 2 – 2 – 4 – 4 – 18
Vandalia 5 – 1 – 7 – 3 – 2 – 2 – 20
State placewinners by grade
Class 3A
Freshman 0 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 1 – 0 – 2
Sophomore 1 – 2 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 6 – 11
Junior 5 – 3 – 5 – 7 – 8 – 3 – 31
Senior 8 – 9 – 8 – 6 – 4 – 5 – 40
Class 2A
Freshman 0 – 0 – 3 – 0 – 3 – 1 – 7
Sophomore 5 – 5 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 18
Junior 4 – 2 – 5 – 6 – 5 – 2 – 24
Senior 5 – 7 – 4 – 6 – 5 – 8 – 35
Class 1A
Freshman 2 – 2 – 2 – 1 – 0 – 1 – 8
Sophomore 1 – 3 – 2 – 4 – 5 – 4 – 19
Junior 5 – 0 – 3 – 4 – 4 – 2 – 18
Senior 6 – 9 – 7 – 5 – 5 – 7 – 39
State placewinners by sectional placing
Class 3A
Champion 14 – 13 – 7 – 7 – 3 – 3 – 47
2nd 0 – 1 – 5 – 5 – 7 – 7 – 25
3rd 0 – 0 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 3 – 10
4th 0 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 2
Class 2A
Champion 13 – 11 – 7 – 8 – 5 – 2 – 46
2nd 0 – 2 – 2 – 3 – 6 – 3 – 16
3rd 0 – 1 – 5 – 2 – 2 – 7 – 17
4th 1 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 1 – 2 – 5
Class 1A
Champion 12 – 9 – 8 – 4 – 4 – 4 – 41
2nd 1 – 4 – 3 – 6 – 3 – 3 – 20
3rd 0 – 0 – 3 – 4 – 6 – 5 – 18
4th 1 – 1 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 2 – 5
Team breakthroughs
Four schools crowned their first state champion, three in 1A: Freeburg, Marquette Academy and Unity Christian. For the first two, it was also their first state placewinner. In their first year down a classification in 2A, Batavia also earned its first IHSA state champion. (Current Iowa standout Mikey Caliendo won a title for Batavia in the IWCOA state tournament in 2021.)
The longest title droughts were snapped by St. Viator, which earned its first champion since 1986, and Sandwich, with its first champion since 2012. Vandalia crowned three state champions for the second year in a row, after not having had a state champion for 18 years prior to 2025. But all three classifications were loaded with familiar names and places, particularly 3A. Every 3A school that crowned a champion in 2026 also crowned a champion in 2025, except for Loyola Academy. And the Ramblers hadn’t been away for long – they had champions in 2023 and 2024 before missing out on both 2025 finalists.
The report card
To close out this review of last weekend’s excitement, we’ll take a look at how the state placewinners fared in comparison to their pre-state tournament ranking. Remember that I didn’t do state tournament predictions, and no longer do – I now let the rankings speak for themselves. This list includes the six placewinners at each weight class in each classification, along with the two blood round losers – every wrestler still alive to reach the podium at the start of Saturday’s matches. The number in parentheses is the wrestler’s ranking prior to the start of the state tournament.
Class 3A
106 pounds
1st – Niko Odiotti, Loyola Academy (1)
2nd – Colton Wyller, Marmion Academy (2)
3rd – Michael McNamara, Edwardsville (4)
4th – Aidan Ortega, Glenbard West (6)
5th – Sebastian Gracia, Chicago Mount Carmel (3)
6th – Kane Robles, Joliet Catholic (9)
BR – Noe Hernandez, Lockport (10)
BR – Elio Gil, Marist (7)
113 pounds
1st – Caleb Noble, Warren (1)
2nd – Erik Klichurov, Montini (3)
3rd – Michael Rundell, Oak Park-River Forest (2)
4th – Colton Schultz, Joliet Catholic (6)
5th – James Morrison, Marmion Academy (4)
6th – Jack Koenig, St. Patrick (5)
BR – Nathan Berdich, Stevenson (7)
BR – Gabriel Richmond, West Aurora (14)
120 pounds
1st – Dom Munaretto, St. Charles East (1)
2nd – Allen Woo, Montini (3)
3rd – Kaleb Pratt, Barrington (2)
4th – Ray Long, Niles Notre Dame (4)
5th – Brody Page, Marmion Academy (12)
6th – Jayce Glauser, Grant (7)
BR – Daniel Goodwin, St. Patrick (5)
BR – Nikolas Duarte, Addison Trail (6)
126 pounds
1st – Jamiel Castleberry, Oak Park-River Forest (4)
2nd – Oleksandr Havrylkiv, Hersey (2)
3rd – Lukas Foster, Joliet Catholic (8)
4th – Chazz Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor (3)
5th – Bobby Ruscitti, Montini (1)
6th – Aidan McClure, Marmion Academy (6)
BR – Gavin Pardilla, Loyola Academy (9)
BR – Saul Ramirez, Barrington (11)
132 pounds
1st – Nicholas Garcia, Marmion Academy (1)
2nd – Jason Hampton, Joliet Catholic (2)
3rd – Shawn Kogan, Stevenson (5)
4th – Mike Malizzio, Montini (4)
5th – Ryan Dorn, Barrington (3)
6th – Maddux Tindal, Minooka (6)
BR – Brady Glynn, Lincoln-Way West (7)
BR – Isaac Zimmerman, Lockport (8)
138 pounds
1st – Zach Stewart, Marmion Academy (1)
2nd – Griff Powell, Lyons Township (2)
3rd – Adante Washington, Joliet Catholic (3)
4th – Erik Rodriguez, Grant (4)
5th – Alejandro Aranda, Glenbard West (9)
6th – Nadeem Haleem, Andrew (6)
BR – Patrick Hulne, St. Patrick (7)
BR – Axel Rodriguez, Marist (5)
144 pounds
1st – Demetrios Carrera, Marmion Academy (2)
2nd – Vince Jasinski, Grant (1)
3rd – Oliver Davis, Brother Rice (5)
4th – Justin Williamson, Chicago Mount Carmel (3)
5th – Zev Koransky, Oak Park-River Forest (12)
6th – Ryan Richie, Edwardsville (6)
BR – Nicholas Merola, Lake Park (13)
BR – Gavin Woodmancy, St. Charles East (10)
150 pounds
1st – Rocco Cassioppi, Hononegah (1)
2nd – Ashton Hobson, Marmion Academy (2)
3rd – Donovan Rosauer, Yorkville (3)
4th – Coehn Weber, Joliet West (5)
5th – Daniel Blanke, Barrington (6)
6th – Tommy Fidler, Marist (4)
BR – James Hemmila, Loyola Academy (7)
BR – Leo Rosas, West Chicago (9)
157 pounds
1st – Ethan Sonne, Marist (2)
2nd – Justin Wardlow, Lockport (1)
3rd – David Ogunsanya, Oak Park-River Forest (5)
4th – Nolan Vogel, Joliet Catholic (3)
5th – Brady Ritter, Sandburg (4)
6th – Will Konder, Montini (12)
BR – Max Mularz, Lincoln-Way East (8)
BR – Daniel Malan, Loyola Academy (7)
165 pounds
1st – Liam Kelly, Chicago Mount Carmel (1)
2nd – Bruno Cassioppi, Hononegah (2)
3rd – Royce Lopez, Warren (3)
4th – Frank Tagoe, Hersey (4)
5th – Max Herman, Lincoln-Way West (7)
6th – Santino Tenuta, Montini (5)
BR – Kaden Meyer, Minooka (6)
BR – Otis Davis, Brother Rice (13)
175 pounds
1st – Brody Sendele, Hononegah (1)
2nd – Dayne Serio, West Aurora (3)
3rd – AJ Tack, Montini (6)
4th – Jalen Byrd, Lincoln-Way Central (4)
5th – Ilia Dvoriannikov, Warren (2)
6th – Van Grasser, St. Patrick (5)
BR – Joseph Quirk, Prospect (12)
BR – Chris Miller, Lockport (7)
190 pounds
1st – Aaron Stewart, Warren (1)
2nd – Ryan Rosch, Wheaton North (3)
3rd – Lucas Nance, Fremd (2)
4th – Vincenzo Testa, Marmion Academy (5)
5th – Colton Zvonar, Lincoln-Way East (4)
6th – Joseph Fitak, Glenbard North (13)
BR – John Rappa, Rolling Meadows (7)
BR – Simon Schulte, Edwardsville (10)
215 pounds
1st – Kai Calcutt, Loyola Academy (1)
2nd – Cooper Murray, St. Charles East (2)
3rd – Roman Janek, Edwardsville (3)
4th – Tavkif Ibragimov, Naperville North (4)
5th – Dan Costello, Brother Rice (8)
6th – Ryker Czubak, Joliet Catholic (6)
BR – Jacob Tyderek, Joliet West (17)
BR – Samuel Swais, Montini (7)
285 pounds
1st – Jonathan Rulo, Belleville East (1)
2nd – Joseph Favia, Marmion Academy (2)
3rd – Aiden Hennings, Lincoln-Way Central (3)
4th – Gavin Ericson-Staton, Montini (4)
5th – Braylon Hill-Lomax, Edwardsville (6)
6th – Knox Homola, Hampshire (9)
BR – Pierre Nelson, Oak Park-River Forest (un)
BR – Sean Cook, Niles Notre Dame (8)
Class 2A
106 pounds
1st – Treyden Diduch, Freeport (1)
2nd – Cooper Clarke, Chatham Glenwood (8)
3rd – Dominic DeMarco, Grayslake Central (2)
4th – Symon Woods, Washington (4)
5th – Mike Bird, IC Catholic (3)
6th – Thomas Emery, St. Viator (5)
BR – Angelo Parker, Rock Island (13)
BR – Cole Lemberg, Providence (7)
113 pounds
1st – Vince DeMarco, Grayslake Central (1)
2nd – Christian Corcoran, Providence (3)
3rd – Hogan Rice, Marian Central Catholic (5)
4th – Drew Murante, IC Catholic (2)
5th – Liam Schroeder, Sycamore (4)
6th – Jayme Cohen, Deerfield (6)
BR – Jaxton Howell, Mattoon (un)
BR – Pierce Bultmann, Chatham Glenwood (11)
120 pounds
1st – Kai Enos, Batavia (2)
2nd – Paxton Valentine, Morris (3)
3rd – Jackson Marlett, Crystal Lake Central (4)
4th – Kannon Judycki, IC Catholic (1)
5th – Dalton St. Angelo, Mount Vernon (9)
6th – Jaxon Ferguson, Chatham Glenwood (5)
BR – Nathan Ortiz, Providence (6)
BR – Alex Schuetz, Hinsdale South (11)
126 pounds
1st – Max Mandac, Providence (1)
2nd – Sammy Murante, IC Catholic (2)
3rd – Tristan Porter, Mattoon (6)
4th – Tyler Lockhart, Sycamore (5)
5th – Gideon Hayter, Mahomet-Seymour (9)
6th – Krish Sahu, Grayslake Central (11)
BR – Rylan Poeta, Champaign Central (8)
BR – Jacob Sebek, Oak Forest (13)
132 pounds
1st – Max Cumbee, IC Catholic (1)
2nd – Harrison Dea, Morton (2)
3rd – Lucas Forsythe, Providence (4)
4th – Logan Makiney, Washington (8)
5th – Izaiah Gonzalez, Riverside-Brookfield (3)
6th – Parker Barry, Morris (10)
BR – Jeremy Powell, Agricultural Science (19)
BR – Victor Onofre, Rockford East (un)
138 pounds
1st – Tommy Banas, Providence (1)
2nd – Nathan Randle, Crystal Lake South (3)
3rd – Adrian Cohen, Deerfield (6)
4th – Colton Huff, St. Ignatius (7)
5th – Avery Jaime, Civic Memorial (4)
6th – Brock Claypool, Morris (2)
BR – Talin Baker, Champaign Central (5)
BR – Landen Vincent, Geneseo (9)
144 pounds
1st – Frank Nitti, IC Catholic (3)
2nd – Nicholas Marchese, Crystal Lake Central (2)
3rd – Jack Hogan, St. Rita (1)
4th – Luke Banas, Providence (7)
5th – Alexander Shvartsman, Deerfield (6)
6th – Chase Nobiling, Antioch (4)
BR – Jin Tai, Glenbard South (17)
BR – Landon Van Acker, Belvidere (8)
150 pounds
1st – Aiden Arnett, IC Catholic (1)
2nd – Knox Verbais, Civic Memorial (2)
3rd – Austin Perez, Oak Forest (3)
4th – Dana Wickson, Rockford East (6)
5th – Brendan Nardin, Marian Central Catholic (4)
6th – Dominic Garcia, Antioch (9)
BR – Nino Capuano, St. Ignatius (un)
BR – Carter Skoff, Morris (5)
157 pounds
1st – Justus Heeg, Providence (1)
2nd – Brock Ross, Mascoutah (3)
3rd – Grady Neal, Metamora (5)
4th – Brian Hart, Wauconda (4)
5th – Bryce Bryant, Springfield (9)
6th – Warren Nash, Grayslake Central (13)
BR – Nicholas Hartley, Jerseyville (8)
BR – Cruise Brolley, Washington (6)
165 pounds
1st – Wyatt Medlin, Washington (1)
2nd – Jasper Harper, Providence (3)
3rd – Izaac Gaines, Geneseo (2)
4th – James Wojcikiewicz, Civic Memorial (5)
5th – Micah Spinazzola, St. Rita (4)
6th – Cooper Bode, Sycamore (8)
BR – Talon Decker, Mahomet-Seymour (6)
BR – Nicholas Montesinos, Wheeling (11)
175 pounds
1st – Brody Kelly, IC Catholic (1)
2nd – Kye Weinzierl, Geneseo (2)
3rd – Ameer Khalil, Providence (4)
4th – Jordan Sonon-Hale, Mascoutah (6)
5th – Jason Janke, Oak Forest (10)
6th – Aiden Rodriguez, Prairie Ridge (5)
BR – Colton McKee, Morton (8)
BR – Elijah Smith, Chatham Glenwood (7)
190 pounds
1st – Jaxon Penovich, St. Viator (1)
2nd – Marco Casillas, Mahomet-Seymour (4)
3rd – Foley Calcagno, IC Catholic (2)
4th – Judah Heeg, Lemont (3)
5th – Dan French, Marian Central Catholic (5)
6th – Evan Francis, Marion (6)
BR – Wes Weatherford, Ottawa (7)
BR – Mark Aeschliman, Metamora (8)
215 pounds
1st – Jimmy Mastny, Marian Central Catholic (1)
2nd – Josh Hoffer, Washington (2)
3rd – Finn Loomis, Wauconda (13)
4th – Rowan Stockwell, Rock Island (5)
5th – Alec Del Toro, East Peoria (4)
6th – Benjamin Chaffer, Morton (8)
BR – Kevahn Flanagan, Civic Memorial (15)
BR – Yaree Sandifer, Lake Forest (12)
285 pounds
1st – Owen Shea, Antioch (5)
2nd – Cody Moss, Chatham Glenwood (1)
3rd – Anthony Sebastian, IC Catholic (3)
4th – Hunter Wahtola, DePaul (2)
5th – Mitchell Clapp, Mattoon (7)
6th – Wynn Philippi, St. Viator (8)
BR – Brady Mullens, Peoria Notre Dame (9)
BR – Sean Thornton, Washington (4)
Class 1A
106 pounds
1st – Connor Collins, Olympia (2)
2nd – Bentley Fields, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher (10)
3rd – Isaac Showalter, Farmington (1)
4th – Cam Whitehead, Winnebago (3)
5th – Coyt Rademaker, Petersburg PORTA (7)
6th – Nate Lower, Rockridge (5)
BR – Riley Paredes, Dixon (4)
BR – Jake Munsterman, Coal City (6)
113 pounds
1st – Landon Near, Sterling Newman (1)
2nd – Augustus Swanson, Princeton (2)
3rd – Drevan Bramlett, Murphysboro (6)
4th – Jacobi Cobbs, Belleville Althoff (4)
5th – Brandon Gaither, Olympia (5)
6th – Boston Morford, Mercer County (9)
BR – Colton Drinkwine, Reed-Custer (8)
BR – Steven Uden, Oakwood/Salt Fork (3)
120 pounds
1st – Wesley Janick, Marquette Academy (6)
2nd – Weston Frazier, Oakwood/Salt Fork (10)
3rd – Cael Wright, Morrison (5)
4th – Dyllan Steele, Canton (2)
5th – Nolan Callahan, Hope Academy (12)
6th – Chase Vogel, Johnsburg (4)
BR – Kainin Fillbright, Petersburg PORTA (11)
BR – Paxton Pyatt, Murphysboro (9)
126 pounds
1st – Preston Waughtel, Vandalia (1)
2nd – Obadiah Willis, Hope Academy (2)
3rd – Owen Petersen, Coal City (4)
4th – Alexander Ferari, Lisle (5)
5th – Aiden Bell, Hoopeston Area (3)
6th – Isaiah Perez, Oregon (12)
BR – Eli Modglin, Morrison (7)
BR – Lelan Nelson, Richmond-Burton (8)
132 pounds
1st – Max Philpot, Vandalia (1)
2nd – Jeremiah Lawrence, Hope Academy (3)
3rd – Dawson Hawthorne, Belleville Althoff (4)
4th – Wyatt Franckowiak, Richmond-Burton (10)
5th – Landon Blanton, Sterling Newman (6)
6th – Dean Wainwright, Port Byron Riverdale (2)
BR – Mason Swartz, Oakwood/Salt Fork (5)
BR – Barret Speck, Illini Bluffs (7)
138 pounds
1st – Chance Woods, Hope Academy (1)
2nd – Landen Lage, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher (3)
3rd – Devin Ehler, Oakwood/Salt Fork (2)
4th – Kane Dauber, Princeton (6)
5th – Nelson Benesh, Oregon (5)
6th – Luke Munsterman, Coal City (4)
BR – A.J. Daly, Tolono Unity (9)
BR – Brody Matthews, Vandalia (11)
144 pounds
1st – Garrett VerHeecke, Unity Christian (1)
2nd – Charlie Connors, Dixon (2)
3rd – Brandon Green, Roxana (4)
4th – Lincoln Hoger, Wheaton Academy (7)
5th – Arrison Bauer, Lena-Winslow/Stockton (3)
6th – Zach Bryant, Petersburg PORTA (9)
BR – Tyler Huchel, Oakwood/Salt Fork (6)
BR – Kaden Blades, Benton (14)
150 pounds
1st – Cooper Corder, Sandwich (3)
2nd – Clinton VerHeecke, Unity Christian (2)
3rd – Brody Widlowski, Coal City (1)
4th – Preston Richards, Dixon (6)
5th – Logan Riggs, Roxana (7)
6th – Dade Kleinik, Vandalia (4)
BR – Caleb Modglin, Morrison (5)
BR – Austin Kisner, Olympia (10)
157 pounds
1st – Dillon Hinton, Vandalia (1)
2nd – Aidan Kenney, Coal City (3)
3rd – Owen McGinnis, Toledo Cumberland (12)
4th – Landon Weidler, Belleville Althoff (7)
5th – Hudson Babb, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/Fisher (2)
6th – Charlie Wittmer, Warrensburg-Latham (6)
BR – Dylan Galvez, Hope Academy (11)
BR – Connor Knop, West Carroll (5)
165 pounds
1st – Pierre Walton, Belleville Althoff (1)
2nd – Casey Etheridge, Princeton (4)
3rd – Justin Zimmerman, Petersburg PORTA (2)
4th – Mason Garner, Coal City (10)
5th – Tyler Jones, Wheaton Academy (3)
6th – Abram Davidson, Tolono Unity (6)
BR – James Escobar, Rochester (11)
BR – Eli Burns, Mercer County (7)
175 pounds
1st – Arkail Griffin-Edwards, Hope Academy (2)
2nd – Brock Finch, Coal City (3)
3rd – Lyndon Thies, Roxana (1)
4th – Brody Stien, Byron (4)
5th – Duke Mays, Johnsburg (6)
6th – Joshua Kotalik, Sandwich (8)
BR – Lucas Maier, Pontiac (5)
BR – Jonathan Ramaker, Pinckneyville (18)
190 pounds
1st – Eli Larson, Lena-Winslow/Stockton (1)
2nd – Logan VanDuyne, Wilmington (5)
3rd – Ross Miller, Vandalia (2)
4th – Will Julian, Byron (4)
5th – Daniel Jackson, Red Bud (3)
6th – Casen Lyons, Sacred Heart-Griffin (8)
BR – Landon Venecia, Seneca (9)
BR – Ethan Miller, Westville (6)
215 pounds
1st – Dane Olmstead, Freeburg (8)
2nd – Cade Poyner, Coal City (2)
3rd – Oliver McPeek, Lena-Winslow/Stockton (1)
4th – Caybren Hubbard, Murphysboro (13)
5th – Alex Schaefer, Marquette Academy (5)
6th – Jackson Allen, Yorkville Christian (4)
BR – Shane Falasca, Richmond-Burton (7)
BR – Keller Stocks, Mount Zion (3)
285 pounds
1st – Connor Williams, Canton (3)
2nd – Jeremiah Luke, Lena-Winslow/Stockton (1)
3rd – Caleb Reymer, Erie/Prophetstown (6)
4th – Darian Holloway, Olympia (4)
5th – Breckin Campbell, Richmond-Burton (8)
6th – Julien Tanner, Murphysboro (2)
BR – Dylan Bopes, Dixon (7)
BR – Jeremiah Lorton, Effingham (17)
A total of 672 wrestlers qualify for the state tournament across the three classifications. In 2026, 594 (88.4%) were already in the rankings prior to the start of the sectionals; 78 previously unranked wrestlers qualified for state by finishing in the top four at their sectional. That total does not include alternates who were added to the brackets on Thursday morning at the State Farm Center, since they did not finish in the top four.
All new state qualifiers, and their records (plus alternates who competed in the state tournament), will be added to the final rankings. A wrestler who competes in the state tournament remains in the rankings for the rest of his high school career.
Here’s how the 78 previously unranked state qualifiers shook out, by classification, sectional and sectional placing.
Class 3A – 29 (15 from Conant, 6 from Edwardsville, 5 from Barrington, 3 from Hinsdale Central); 17 finished fourth, 9 finished third, 3 finished second
Class 2A – 31 (10 from Granite City, 10 from Hinsdale South, 8 from Antioch, 3 from Geneseo); 19 finished fourth, 7 finished third, 5 finished second
Class 1A – 18 (9 from Coal City, 4 from Olympia, 3 from Vandalia, 2 from Byron); 11 finished fourth, 4 finished third, 3 finished second
Total – 78 (47 finished fourth, 20 finished third, 11 finished second)
All 168 sectional champions were already in the rankings before the sectionals began, as were all 252 of the state placewinners. Four previously unranked wrestlers, one in 3A and three in 2A, remained alive for medal contention as the Saturday morning matches began, but all four lost in the blood round.
Nevertheless, they beat the odds and punched their tickets to the brand-new mats at the State Farm Center. Congratulations to all who competed!