Boys tournament roundups: Antioch, Richmond-Burton, Buffalo Grove

By Mike Garofola – for the IWCOA

Antioch’s Ted DeRousse Tournament

The annual Ted DeRousse Tournament recently moved from host Antioch to inside the gorgeous state-of-the-art field house at Lakes Community which features a giant-sized video screen and plenty of extra seating in the mezzanine to provide terrific viewing options for fans of this tournament to watch the 21-team field.

Class 2A power and reigning state champion IC Catholic Prep sent 10 from its starting lineup to compete at the prestigious Ironman in Ohio, but despite the missing star power of those on the road, the competition for top individual trophies, as well as the team trophy was fierce.

When it was over, North Suburban Conference power Stevenson collected 454.0 overall points to close out runner-up Carl Sandburg (427.5) as well as Deerfield (330.0) while Grant (325.0) and Freeport (318.5) rounded out the top five of the leader board.

Grant, without two of the best in the state (Vince Jasinski and Erik Rodriguez) also away at the Ironman, turned in a solid day of work to finish fourth, just five points from Deerfield.

“It was a long day of wrestling, with each guy getting six matches, but our guys dug deep, kept their focus, and took (it) one match at a time,” said Stevenson head coach Shane Cook, whose club garnered a tourney-high four individual champion medals, and seven top-five medals in addition to its first place success.

“We are extremely proud of how well the team performed, and it’s a testament to how hard our guys work.”

“(Our) four champions, Daniel Berdich, Marcelo Cantu, Mikey Polyakov and Philip Boyko are really competing at a high level right now, so we’re excited for what is ahead for us.”.

The climb to the podium for the Patriots was helped by the tourney-best 13 tech falls it recorded, as well as the massive difference in total team points (557) which was over 150-more than runner-up Carl Sandburg had with 402.

1st: Stevenson (454.0)

The Patriots would celebrate the efforts of their four champions, Daniel Berdich (113, 12-1), Marcelo Cantu (126, 9-2), Mikey Polyakov (138, 13-4) and Philip Boyko (175, 14-3), who led the tourney with five pins and and 52 team points. No. 7 Berdich, along with Cantu and Polyakov, were all state qualifiers a year ago.

Senior Shawn Kogan (14-2) was second at 132, Stefan (106) and Valentin Vihrov (144) both took third and the quartet of Evan Mishels (120), Will Guziec (157), Arthur Grechanyuk (190) and Jaxon James (215) all collected a fifth-place medal.

2nd: Carl Sandburg (427.5)

The Eagles were serious contenders all throughout the day, thanks in part to the

championship effort from No. 4 Brady Ritter (10-0) at 157 pounds, a second-place finish by junior Oscar Kalman (138, 8-1) plus another eight top-five medals on the day.

Ritter and Kalman would contribute plenty of extra points when they recorded pins along the way for coach Clinton Polz’ Eagles club that led the entire field with 24 pins.

In addition to the top two medals from the aforementioned Ritter-Kalman duo, 

Macarten Parker (132) and Wyatt Hochgraber (215) would both earn third place medals, Melsyon Vrapi (150) took fourth and the quartet of Zayne Salah (126), Obaida Hasan (165), Adnan Askar (175), and Rami Hindi (285) all coming in at fifth place.

3rd: Deerfield (330.0)

Deerfield (7-2-0), ranked No. 14 in Class 2A, would show that it belonged with the big boys following its terrific effort on the day as the Warriors, behind their lone individual champ, junior Adrian Cohen (132, 15-1), had enough to stay ahead of the Grant Bulldogs, who were chasing a top-three spot all throughout the afternoon.

Cohen’s second major of the season, the other at Addison Trail, would complement three second-place medals, that were won by Jake Pechter (106, 14-2), Danny Martinez (126, 12-5), and Alexander Shvartsman (144, 14-3).

The freshman Pechter is the son of the longtime and highly-successful head coach, Marc Pechter, who during his brilliant career has led his program to four dual team state appearances, highlighted by a second-place finish to Joliet Catholic Academy in Class 2A in 2022, while also sending dozens of his men to college since taking over in 2000. Jayme Cohen (113, 11-3) and Jonathan Weissmueller (165, 10-1) were fourth.

Additional individual champions:

106: Treyden Didich (Freeport); 120: Jayce Glauser (Grant); 144: Chase Nobiling (Antioch);

150: Dominic Garcia (Antioch); 165: Joey Pontrelli (IC Catholic Prep); 190: John Rappa (Rolling Meadows); 215: Teigen Moreno (Dundee-Crown); 285: King Johnson (Quincy Senior)

Additional runners-up:

113: Larry Quirk (Grant); 120: Kannon Judycki (IC Catholic Prep); 150: Carter Skoff (Morris); 157: Bryce Bryant (Springfield High); 165: Dylan Hood (165, Kenosha St. Joseph); 175: Owen Olson (Morris)

Final team standings:

Stevenson 454.0, Carl Sandburg 427.5, Deerfield 330.0, Grant 325.00, Freeport 318.5, Quincy Senior 298.5, Andrew 293.0, Antioch 286.0, Morris 286.0, Plainfield East 193.5, Carmel Catholic 189.0, Shepard 177.5, Rolling Meadows 149.5, IC Catholic Prep 139.5, Dundee-Crown 139.0, Harvard 120.0, J. Sterling Morton 119.0, Northridge Prep 119.0, Springfield High 98.0, Kenosha St. Joseph, WI 95.5, Lakes Community 85.0

Championship match results:

106- Treyden Diduch (Freeport) d. Jake Pechter (Deerfield) (TF 2:53).

113- Daniel Berdich (Stevenson) d. Larry Quirk (Grant) (MD 12-4).

120- Jayce Glauser (Grant) d. Kannon Judycki (IC Catholic Prep) (SV-1, 4-1).

126- Marcelo Cantu (Stevenson) d. Danny Martinez (Deerfield) (D 11-6).

132- Adrian Cohen (Deerfield) d. Shawn Kogan (Stevenson) (F 3:19).

138- Mikey Polyakov (Stevenson) d. Oscar Kalman (Carl Sandburg) (D 7-0).

144- Chase Nobiling (Antioch) d. Alexander Shvartsman (Deerfield) (MD 15-2).

150- Dominic Garcia (Antioch) d. Carter Skoff (Morris) (M. FFT).

157- Brady Ritter (Carl Sandburg) d. Bryce Bryant (Springfield High) (D 7-1).

165- Joey Pontrelli (IC Catholic Prep) d. Dylan Hood (Kenosha St. Joseph) (D 11-8).

175- Philip Boyko (Stevenson) d. Owen Nelson (Morris) (F 0:40).

190- John Rappa (Rolling Meadows) d. Casey Gipson (Grant) (MD 10-2).

215- Teigen Moreno (Dundee-Crown) d. Israel Goodman (Freeport) (F 3:49).

285- King Johnson (Quincy Senior) d. Sabastian Murray (Freeport) (F 0:41).

Third-place match results:

106- Stefan Vihrov (Stevenson) d. Griffin Finch (Quincy Senior) (TF 1:41).

113- Clayton McClelland (Quincy Senior) d. Jayme Cohen (Deerfield) (MD 15-3).

120- Owen Sater (Morris) d. Brandon Kalman (Carl Sandburg) (F 3:46).

126- Breidyn Hoffman (Grant) d. Jaylen Lowe (Freeport) (TF 4:19).

132- Macarten Parker (Carl Sandburg) d. Josh Kubicki (Antioch) (F 1:34).

138- Brock Claypool (Morris) d. Nadeem Haleem (Andrew) (M. FFT).

144- Valentin Vihrov (Stevenson) d. George McShane (Northridge Prep) (D 3-1).

150- Antonio Hinojosa (Carmel Catholic) d. Melsyon Vrapi (Carl Sandburg) (MD 17-6).

157- Danny Mandujano (Carmel Catholic) d. Grayson Lennon (Grant) SV-1, 9-6).

165- Angelo Jura (Andrew) d. Jonathan Weissmueller (Deerfield) (MD 13-0).

175- Josh Rappa (Rolling Meadows) d. Aiden Hill (Shepard) (TF 3:28).

190- Colin Arguilla (Antioch) d. Bo Branum (Harvard) (F 1:09).

215- Wyatt Hochgraber (Carl Sandburg) d. Malachi Congo (Morris) (D 7-4).

285- Eli Zanger (Quincy Senior) d. Noah Breckenridge (Carmel Catholic) (F 1:44).

Richmond-Burton’s Tom Dubois Tournament

Joliet West was a late addition to the 16th Tom Dubois Tournament at Richmond-Burton, and the Tigers made the most of the invitation.

Awais Arain’s men led the field with 422 total match points, claimed 16 pins along with third-place Johnsburg, and parlayed a pair of first place trophies, along with nine top-five medals to outscore its nearest challenger, the home side Rockets 225.0-176.0 for first place.

“Overall, the team had a lot of fun competing (here) and we are thankful for Tony Nelson (Richmond-Burton head coach) for adding us at the last second after our quad on the same day was cancelled,” said Arain.

“Joliet (West) was a great addition to our tournament, they were a real solid team, with some terrific guys throughout the weight classes, and I am glad that we were able to get them here with us,” added Nelson.

1st: Joliet West (225.0)

Coehn Weber (13-2) was too much for his rivals on his way to the 150-pound title

while his teammate Jacob Tyderek (13-5) pinned his way to the 215-pound crown with his four pins in just over nine minutes. Weber registered a pair of falls, and a tech-fall in his final.

Casey Koerner (106), Nick Murdock-Schey (113) and Tristan Radeke (175) added valuable wins and points with their second-place medals, as did the third place trio of Jakob Crandall (126), Israel Booth (157) and Aiden Brown at 165.

Francisco Oliva (106) and Giovanni Baker (138) were fourth overall, with James Koulis earning a fifth place finish at 190.

“Coehn Weber wrestled a great tournament, all three of his matches ended in the first period by technical superiority, or with a fall,” began Arain. “(His) offense in all three phases was sharp, and we’re looking forward to building on his performance here.”

“(Jacob) Tyderek wrestled great for us as well, he concluded all four of his matches with a fall prior to the third period, and he is continuing to improve as the season progresses, and we’re excited about the direction he is taking. Koerner, Murdock-Schey and Radeke wrestled a well-rounded tournament, and just fell short of their goals.”

2nd: Richmond-Burton (176.0)

The host Rockets led the field with five individual champions: Lelan Nelson (126), Wyatt Franckowiak (132), Max Martin (157), Blake Livdahl (190) and Breckin Campbell (285).

“Lelan is up a weight, but his 1-0 win in the final was against a state qualifier,” began head coach Tony Nelson, whose son (Emmett) was a 1A state champion a year ago, and four-time state medal winner, now wrestling at UW-Parkside.

“Franckowiak is just a freshman and is coming along nicely, while Max (Martin) won his first varsity tournament of his career here at home,” continued Nelson.

“Breckin is not one of the biggest heavyweights, but he has a big frame, and is a great athlete, and Blake Livdahl, who won at (190) today, and is the No. 2 guy at (175) was the upper weight O.W. and very deserving.”

Livdahl was a class 1A state runner-up last season at 175. Dylan (175) and Shane (215) Falasca both took third.

Nelson was quick to point out the brilliant performance turned in by Union Grove, Wisconsin junior Camden Rugg (9-0), who won easily at 113 pounds, and has already committed to wrestle at the University of Michigan.

Rugg became the first-ever wrestling state champion at Union Grove last season when he went a perfect 49-0 in dominating fashion, with all but two ending with a pin.

3rd: Johnsburg (148.0)

While coach James Sylvanus’ Skyhawks were unable to send any of their men to the top of the podium, they were able to collect seven top-five medals on the day.

Tanner Hansen (150), Kainoa Ancog (157) and Duke Mays (190) were all second while teammate Chase Vogel (120) was third. Chase Davis (132), Jordan Sylvanus (165) and Jackson Hjorth (215) were fifth overall.

Additional individual champions:

106: Cam Whitehead (Winnebago); 113: Camden Rugg (Union Grove): 120: Josiah Perez (Oregon); 138: Nathan Randle (Crystal Lake South); 144: Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Academy); 

165: Aiden Marrello (Crystal Lake South); 175: Tyler Jones (Wheaton Academy)

Additional runners-up:

120: Gabe Marella (North Boone); 126: Isaiah Perez (Oregon); 132: Carson Benesh (Oregon), 138: Nelson Benesh (Oregon); 144: Michael Barndt (Lake Forest); 150: Tanner Hansen (Johnsburg); 157: Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg); 165: Ethan Waugh (Stillman Valley); 190: Duke Mays (Johnsburg); 215: Yaree Sandifer (Lake Forest); 285: Antonio Osorio-Pasillas (Jefferson)

Final team standings:

Joliet West 225.0, Richmond-Burton 176.0, Johnsburg 148.0, Wheaton Academy 143.0, Crystal Lake South 141.0, Oregon 134.0, Marengo 106.0, Lake Forest 86.0, Winnebago 85.5, Union Grove, WI 75.0, Stillman Valley 66.0, Jefferson 49.5, North Boone 47.0, Grayslake North 35.0, Alden-Hebron 16.0, Woodstock North 16.0, Durand 11.0, Genoa-Kingston 3.0.

Championship match results:

106- Cam Whitehead (Winnebago) d. Casey Koerner (Joliet West) (TF 5:07).

113- Camden Rugg (Union Grove) d. Nick Murdock-Schey (Joliet West) (TF 1:04).

120- Josiah Perez (Oregon) d. Gabe Marella (North Boone) (D 6-5).

126- Lelan Nelson (Richmond-Burton) d. Isaiah Perez (Oregon) (D 1-0).

132- Wyatt Franckowiak (Richmond-Burton) d. Carson Benesh (Oregon) (TB-1, 2-1).

138- Nathan Randle (Crystal Lake South) d. Nelson Benesh (Oregon) (MD 26-12).

144- Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Academy) d. Michael Barndt (Lake Forest) (F 1:57).

150- Coehn Weber (Joliet West) d. Tanner Hansen (Johnsburg) (TF 1:34).

157- Max Martin (Richmond-Burton) d. Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg) ( D 5-3).

165- Aiden Marrello (Crystal Lake South) d. Ethan Waugh (Stillman Valley) (D 4-3).

175- Tyler Jones (Wheaton Academy) d. Tristan Radeke (Joliet West) (D 7-2).

190- Blake Livdahl (Richmond-Burton) d. Duke Mays (Johnsburg) (D 4-2).

215- Jacob Tyderek (Joliet West) d. Yaree Sandifer (Lake Forest) (F 2:53).

285- Breckin Campbell (Richmond-Burton) d. Antonio Osario-Pasillas (Jefferson) (F 1:30).

Third-place match results:

106- Carter Paulson (Stillman Valley) d. Francisco Oliva (Joliet West) (D 9-5).

113- Logan Aarseth (Crystal Lake South) d. Jordan Lowe (Oregon) (F 3:48).

120- Chase Vogel (Johnsburg) d. Charlie Biddle (Lake Forest) (D 8-3).

126- Jakob Crandall (Joliet West) d. Jackson Hopkins (Winnebago) (TF 3:25).

132- Hayden Beebe (Marengo) d. Paul Keeku (Union Grove) (D 9-2).

138- Mitchell Aukes (Marengo) d. Giovanni Baker (Joliet West) (TF 3:35).

144- Hunter Boley (Marengo) d. Brodie Watterson (Stillman Valley) (F 1:28)

150- Paul Halak (Lake Forest) d. Joey Guidi (Wheaton Academy) (MD 18-8).

157- Israel Booth (Joliet West) d. Logan Boley (Marengo) (SV-1, 9-6).

165- Aiden Brown (Joliet West) d. Ryan Hess (Marengo) (F 0:21).

175- Dylan Falasca (Richmond-Burton) d. Gavin Baros (Marengo) (INJ 4:00).

190- Johnny Strauss (Winnebago) d. Frankie Solis (Marengo) (F 5:50).

215- Shane Falasca (Richmond-Burton) d. Jacksyn Windham (Oregon) (TF 5:00).

285- Hezzy Garcia (Wheaton Academy) d. Christian Allen (North Boone) (D 2-1).

Buffalo Grove’s Rex Lewis Tournament

It was too much star power that would lead to a decisive win by tournament champion St. Patrick, who came to the Rex Lewis in Buffalo Grove with five returning state qualifiers and made their mark on this annual event by scoring 213.5 points while Schaumburg took second place with 171.5 points.

“Last weekend we finished second at Rockford East, and it felt like a colossal failure despite having the same expectations for this tournament,” began Shamrocks head coach Dominic Angelo, who took the program over at the start of the 2015-2016 season.

“We fully expected our five state qualifiers to win their weight classes to help lead us to a tournament championship, so to see us finish the job, and secure our first in-season team title in quite awhile was a great feeling.

“Our top (five) are big-time wrestlers, who can compete with anyone in the state, regardless of class, but with that said, this program demands that every athlete in the lineup holds high expectations for their own effort every time they step out onto the mat.”

“It was exciting to watch guys like Dean Angelo, Tim Golden, Andrew Rieger and Tony Reyes progressing and rapidly closing the gap against elite competition.”

1st: St. Patrick (213.5)

It was a proud head coach Dominic Angelo who cheered the championship efforts of No. 8 Jack Koenig (113, 17-2), No. 6 Danny Goodwin (120, 19-0), Calvin Stahl (126, 14-1), No. 10 Pat Hulne (138, 15-5) and No. 4 Van Grasser (175, 18-2), who together collected eight pins, a pair of tech falls and one major.

“Our two-time place winners Goodwin and Grasser, are firing on all-cylinders, with Grasser winning here for the second time with three first period pins,” Angelo said. “Koenig, Stahl and Hull bounced back strong after an off day last week, so, again, our expectations for these guys is to see them all stand on the podium in February.”

Tony Reyes (144, third), Dean Angelo (132, fourth), Andrew Rieger (165, fourth) and Timothy Golden (215, fourth) all would contribute toward a total team victory.

2nd: Schaumburg (171.5)

Schaumburg said goodbye to a pair of marvelous four-year stars, Brady Phelps, a four-time state medalist and 2025 state runner-up, and Callen Kirchner, sixth a year ago at state, but the Saxons still have enough in their lineup to take home a solid second place trophy.

Heavyweight Chris Arciniega-Sanchez was the lone individual champion for Mike Levanti’s club, but a trio of second-place finishes would be of great help to the Saxons’ point total.

Austin Phelps (113), Aiden Quevedo (138) and Dom Augustyniak (215) all were runners-up, with John Gough (150), Daniel Duran (165) and Matt Carver (190) each earning third place medals while Brody Hinkl (144) took fifth place.

3rd: Lake Park (146.5)

The Lancers would ride the superb efforts from senior Nicholas Merola (7-0) who squashed his competition on the way to the 144-pound crown and a second championship effort by Antonin Svoboda (215) to earn the third place team trophy.

Luca Rutili (132) and Alexander Gavrylyuk (190) were second, Liam Lovelace (120) third and Anthony Vargas (138) fourth on the day for coach Mark Cameron’s Lancers.

Additional individual champions:

106: Maurizio Castro (Elk Grove); 132: Cory Zator (Lemont); 150: Isaac Johnson (Glenbrook North); 157: Daniel Malan (Loyola Academy); 165: Jacob Becker (Vernon Hills); 190: Judah Heeg (Lemont)

Additional runners-up:

106: Aiden Noe (Palatine); 120: Mykola Shamray (Buffalo Grove); 126: Taqiuldin Baker (Woodstock); 144: Jordan Mokhtarian (Glenbrook North); 150: Connor Calvin-Garcia (Woodstock); 157: Anthony Klikas (Buffalo Grove); 165: Henry Hafner (Glenbrook North); 175: Sonny Tugs (Buffalo Grove); 285: Emmanuel Ramirez (Romeoville).

Final team scores:

St. Patrick 213.5, Schaumburg 171.5, Lake Park 146.5, Palatine 127.0, Buffalo Grove 125.5, Glenbrook North 119.5, Lemont 113.0, Loyola Academy 109.5, Vernon Hills 95.5, Romeoville 94.5, Woodstock 74.5, Maine East 53.5, Elk Grove 45.5, Argo 35.0

Championship match results:

106- Maurizio Castro (Elk Grove) d. Aiden Noe (Palatine) (D 8-4).

113- Jack Koenig (St. Patrick) d. Austin Phelps (Schaumburg) (MD 15-5).

120- Danny Goodwin (St. Patrick) d. Mykola Shamray (Buffalo Grove) (D 5-3).

126- Calvin Stahl (St. Patrick) d. Taqiuldin Baker (Woodstock) (D 8-1).

132- Cory Zator (Lemont) d. Luca Rutili (Lake Park) (F 3:41).

138- Pat Hulne (St. Patrick) d. Aiden Quevado (Schaumburg) (D 7-1).

144- Nicholas Merola (Lake Park) d. Jordan Mokhtarian (Glenbrook North) (MD 15-5).

150- Isaac Johnson (Glenbrook North) d. Connor Calvin-Garcia (Woodstock) (MD 13-5).

157- Daniel Malan (Loyola Academy) d. Anthony Klikas (Buffalo Grove) (D 7-0).

165- Jacob Becker (Vernon Hills) d. Henry Hafner (Glenbrook North) (SV-1, 15-12).

175- Van Grasser (St. Patrick) d. Sonny Tugs (Buffalo Grove) (F 1:31).

190- Judah Heeg (Lemont) d. Alexander Gavrylyuk (Lake Park) (TF 1:14).

215- Antonin Svoboda (Lake Park) d. Dom Augustyniak (Schaumburg) (D 7-0).

285- Chris Arciniega-Sanchez (Schaumburg) d. Emmanuel Ramirez (Romeoville) (F 1:36).

Third place match results:

106- Mateo Odiotti (Loyola Academy) d. Sam Ejnik (Buffalo Grove) (MD 8-0).

113- Charles Dominguez (Vernon Hills) d. Quentin Williams (Loyola Academy) (MD 13-0).

120- Liam Lovelace (Lake Park) d. Pedro Hernandez (Romeoville) (TF 5:38).

126- Austin Czerwiec (Lemont) d. AJ Metallo (Glenbrook North) (F 3:32).

132- Gavin Padilla (Loyola Academy) d. Dean Angelo (St. Patrick) (TF 1:52).

138- Dino Klikas (Buffalo Grove) d. Anthony Vargas (Lake Park) (F 3:36).

144- Tony Reyes (St. Patrick) d. Landyn White (Woodstock) (F 5:12).

150- John Gough (Schaumburg) d. Sean Smylie (Loyola Academy) (F 5:12).

157- Daniel Deredlyak (Palatine) d. Logan Wisner (Woodstock) (TF 3:18).

165- Daniel Duran (Schaumburg) d. Andrew Rieger (St. Patrick) (F 3:30).

175- Hector Villagrana (Romeoville) d. Steve Blumberg (Vernon Hills) (DQ).

190- Matt Carver (Schaumburg) d. Andrew Somenek (Elk Grove) (D 8-7).

215- Ilya Pilshchikov (Palatine) d. Timothy Golden (St. Patrick) (F1:41).

285- Dilan Bustillos (Argo) d. Adrian Davila (Vernon Hills) (FFT).