Boys tournament recap: Grant, Granite City

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

Grant’s Loffredo Duals

The names of the participants here at the Loffredo Duals have changed during its short history – but no doubt, this year’s version inside Benedetti Fieldhouse at Grant drew its best field yet.

Class 3A super-powers Marmion Academy (10-1-0) and Joliet Catholic Academy (11-1-0) were on hand, as were the host No. 7 Grant Bulldogs, as well as No. 13 Oak Park and River Forest.

Warren Township with its returning state champions, the No. 1 duo of Caleb Noble and Aaron Stewart, along with teammates Ilya Dvoryannikov and Royce Lopez, both No. 2 in the state polls, along with Crystal Lake South, Glenbrook South and South Elgin made for an impressive lineup of star power.

True to form, reigning dual-team state champion No. 1 Marmion Academy, and No. 2 Joliet Catholic Academy, as well as Grant and OPRF, easily advanced into the semifinals.

Once there, Marmion sent off Grant, 39-27, using four tech-falls and a pair of pins to safely go through, while the Joliet Catholic claimed a 47-3 victory over OPRF with five pins and a tech fall.

The highly-anticipated final between the top two teams in class 3A remained close after major decision victories from Nicholas Garcia and Demetrios Carrera drew the Cadets within three (14-11) of Ryan Cumbee’s men.

However, it would be a 25-point unanswered explosion by Joliet Catholic that blew open this contest to an eventual 39-17 triumph.

A couple of days later, the Hilltoppers would supplant the Cadets atop the Rob Sherrill / IWCOA state polls.

“We have continued to improve as a team since the Dvorak, then The Flavin,” said Cumbee, whose club would finish eighth and fifth overall at those two high profile two-day tournaments.

“We have a very good team from top-to-bottom, but it is important that we continue to go into the room and work hard each and every day,” said Cadets senior Joey Favia, No. 2 in the state at 285-pounds, who lists the Air Force, Indiana, and Gardner-Webb among his top three college destinations next fall.

“Our four seniors, Garcia, Carrera, Zach Stewart, and myself have to provide strong leadership for the younger guys, and we have some really good ones, but it’s all about our work ethic, and being strong mentally,” continued Favia.

Zach Stewart was unavailable for the weekend.

Grant (14-4-0) would bounce back from its loss to Marmion to defeat OPRF, 38-31 to earn third place.

The Bulldogs big three of Vince Jasinski (144), Erik Rodriguez (150) and Casey Gipson (215) would collect 15 points to help the cause.

“We knew we would take some losses along the way with the upgrade in our non-conference and tournament schedule,” began Jasinski, now 21-2 on the season.

“All of our four losses are to teams in the top 10 in the state, and the competition we’ve had thus far will help better prepare all of us for what is ahead in the postseason,” added Jasinski, who threw high praise towards his teammate Rodriguez, who recently would commit to Central Michigan University.

Aforementioned Caleb Noble, champion at Barrington, Neuqua Valley and Hinsdale Central, and third at the Ironman, has made his college commitment one year prior to his senior year at Warren Township.

The two-time state champion has signed on to wrestle at Arizona State University during the fall of 2027.

“I am really excited about my decision to attend ASU – the vibe there was great, the staff, my future teammates, and the campus made me feel right at home, so I know I made the right choice for myself,” said Noble, whose only loss on the season came at the Ironman to No. 2 Justin Farnsworth (Pennsylvania) who is a Rutgers-commit.

Noble is currently No. 6 in the most current national poll.

Granite City’s Red Schmitt Holiday tournament

This long-running two-day tournament in Granite City would see yet another team from Missouri lift the championship trophy.

One year after Hickman out of Columbia, Missouri rolled to a 120-point victory, it would be Jackson High School taking home the silverware.

The Indians amassed 314.5 overall points, 69.5 more than second place Joliet West (245.0) whose tourney high 32 pins helped the Tigers outscore third-place Christian Brothers College, also from Missouri.

Illinois clubs Mascoutah, Quincy and Yorkville Christian would finish in the top ten of the leader board at six, seven and eight.

This tournament has not been kind to those from Illinois when it comes to individual championships claimed of late, however this season the state would fare better.

Wheaton-Warrenville South sophomore Rocco Valvano kept his record without a blemish when his tech-fall victory in the 106-pound moved his record to 26-0 after earning his third major of the season.

With his high-profile teammates Niko Odiotti and Kai Calcutt away for the weekend, Loyola Academy senior Gavin Pardilla (26-5) impressed all throughout to win the 126-pound crown.

Mascoutah senior Brock Ross (19-0) grabbed his third major of the season, and second straight here following his major decision victory at 157 pounds.

Ross is currently the No. 5 man in the most recent state poll.

Alton senior Brayden Drew (18-2) won his first title of the campaign after his major decision victory over Colin Peyton (Batavia, 14-3) in the 165-pound final.

And last but certainly not least, No. 1 Jonathan Rulo (17-0) continues on his quest for a second consecutive state title at 285 pounds.

The Belleville East senior now has three major titles on the season: Barrington, Dvorak and now Granite City.

1st: Jackson, MO (314.5)

The Jackson Indians were one of three clubs from Missouri who were chasing eventual team champion Hickman a year ago, but this year would be different. Their tourney-best 564 total match points were enough to give them the big trophy after two days of action.

The Indians were unable to send any of their men to the top of the podium, however Kade King (138, 16-3), Jayden Eddy (144, 21-4), Joah Moore (190, 20-3) and Brysen Wessell (285, 17-4) all claimed second-place medals.

Wessell won here last season at 285.

Mitchel Baker (132), and Gannon West (150) added points to the cause with their third-place medals, with teammates Grady Rice (126) and Sawyer Goodwin (165) both fourth overall.

The tourney champs were tops in combined pins and near falls with 38.

2nd: Joliet West (245.5)

The Tigers traveled downstate hoping to add a second team title to their trophy case after a win at Richmond-Burton a couple of weeks ago, but despite its 32 pins, and seven top-five medal winners, it wasn’t enough to topple the eventual champion from Jackson.

No. 6 Coehn Weber (24-5) finished best among his teammates with his second place medal at 150, while teammates Casey Koerner (106), Jakob Crandall (126, 23-8) and Aiden Brown (165) were all third respectively.

The trio of Nick Murdock-Schey (113), Tristan Radeke (175) and Andrew Klobnak (285) all would earn fifth-place medals.

Next up for the Tigers is a SW Prairie Conference match at Plainfield Central on Friday evening, before taking part in the Morris Quad one day later.

3rd: Christian Brothers College, MO (203.5)

The Cadets received a trio of individual championships Kosta Hatzigeorgiou (120, 12-3), Tanner Faulkner (175, 16-3) and another from Trey Craig (190, 12-1), who was third a year ago at the Missouri state tournament, and runner-up in 2024.

Craig, a two-time champion here, claimed the three fastest tech-fall times for the tournament. He finished with a sparkling 43-6 record last season.

Waylon Burress was second at 126, while teammate and heavyweight Joe Kopp was third.

Additional individual champions:

Rocco Valvano (106, Wheaton-Warrenville South, 26-0), Jameson Young (113, North Point, MO., 23-5), Gavin Pardilla (126, Loyola Academy, 26-5), Riley Summer (132, Lafayette, MO., 20-3), Caleb Frankenberger (138, Lafayette, MO., 12-1), Brody Kell (144, North Point, 23-1), Jayson Bellamy (150, Paducah Tilghman, KY., 17-1), Brock Ross (157, Mascoutah, 19-0), 165- Brayden Drew (165, Alton, 18-2), Carter Brown (215, Lafayette, MO., 22-2), Jonathan Rulo (285, Belleville East, 17-0).

Addition runners-up:

Braxton McCall (106, Mascoutah), Matthew Deutch (113, Waterloo), Daniel Myint (120, Loyola Academy), Will Kelly (132, Triad), Grady Neal (157, Metamora), Colin Peyton (165, Batavia), Ben Hall (Paducah Tilghman, KY.), Rage Henderson (215, Paducah Tilghman).

Final Team Scores

Jackson, MO. 314.5, Joliet West 245.5, CBC, MO. 203.5, Paducah Tilghman, KY. 199.0, Lafayette, MO. 196.0, Mascoutah 194.5, Quincy, 193.5, Yorkville Christian 183.5, North Point, MO. 183.0, Batavia 180.5, Waterloo 177.0, Wheaton-Warrenville South 170.5, Belleville East 151.5, Triad 133.0, Metamora123.0, Granite City 116.0, Andrew 111.5, Loyola Academy 108.0, Alton 104.5, Joliet Central 101.5, Collinsville 93.5, Whitfield, MO. 73.5, Normal Community West 66.5, Holt Wentzville, MO. 63.0, Hazelwood West, 57.5, Mt. Vernon 50.0, O’Fallon 34.5.

Championship match results

106- Rocco Valvano (WW South) d. Braxton McCall (Mascoutah) (TF 17-1)

113- Jameson Young (North Point) d. Matthew Deutch (Waterloo) (F 0:49)

120- Kosta Hatzigeorgiou (CBC) d. Daniel Myint (Loyola Academy) (D 3-2)

126- Gavin Pardilla (Loyola Academy) d. Waylon Burress (CBC) (TF 15-0)

132- Riley Sumner (Lafayette) d. Will Kelly (Triad) (D 1-0)

138- Caleb Frankenberger (Lafayette) d. Kade King (Jackson) (F 3:59)

144- Brody Kell (North Point) d Jayden Eddy (Jackson) (MD 15-3)

150- Jaylin Bellamy (Paducah Tilghman) d. Coehn Weber (Joliet W) (D 4-2)

157- Brock Ross (Mascoutah) d. Grady Neal (Metamora) (MD 17-3)

165- Brayden Drew (Alton) d. Colin Peyton (Batavia) (MD 12-1)

175- Tanner Faulkner (CBC ) d. Ben Hall (Paducah Tilghman) (D 4-2)

190- Trey Craig (CBC) d. Joah Moore (Jackson) (MD 10-2)

215- Carter Brown (Lafayette) d. Rage Henderson (Paducah Tilghman) (TF 15-0)

285- Jonathan Rulo (Belleville West) d. Brysen Wessell (Jackson) (D 4-0)

Third-place match results

106- Casey Koerner (Joliet W) d. Christian Prietto-Bottoms (Paducah Tilghman) (D 5-0)

113- Clayton McClelland (Quincy) d. Phoenix Senodenos (Yorkville Christian) (M.FFT)

120- Nolan Winde (Whitfield) d. Colin Crouch (Triad) (D 6-0)

126- Jakob Crandall (Joliet West) d. Grady Rice (Jackson) (D 8-6)

132- Mitchel Baker (Jackson) d. Derik Lohmeyer (Quincy) (MD 12-4)

138- Mason Wood (Normal Community West) d. Jacob Sutphin (Alton) (D 5-3)

144- Connor Graham (Metamora) d. Adrian Wadas-Luis (Yorkville Christian) ( MD 21-9)

150- Gannon Rice (Jackson) d. Brody Baker (Quincy) (SV 4-1)

157- Tyson Forbes (Hazelwood West) d. Carter Stritzel (Lafayette) (SV 9-6)

165- Aiden Brown (Joliet West) d. Sawyer Goodwin (Jackson) (F 1:35)

175- Jordan Sonon-Hale (Mascoutah) d. Tyler Gleason (Yorkville Christian) (F 1:38)

190- Killian Rauch (Belleville East) d. Eli Miller (Granite City) (F 1:30)

215- Jackson Allen (Yorkville Christian) d. Jayden Lambert (Metamora) (SV 9-6)

285- Joe Kopp (BBC) d. Andrew Klobnak (Joliet West) (D 1-0)