Feature Stories

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA

Oak Forest had several noteworthy accomplishments during the first two years of girls wrestling that put the program right up there with the elite in the sport.

It is one of just five programs that had five or more qualifiers at each of the first two IHSA Finals, joining Hoffman Estates, Homewood-Flossmoor, Joliet Central/Township and Richwoods, and one of 11 schools that have sent five individuals to a state finals. Oak Forest also is one of the 23 schools that have had two or more medalists at an IHSA Finals, doing so last season.

But while the Bengals have had success getting individuals to state, they haven’t had much success in winning any tournament titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. In fact, as best as anyone can recall, they won just one tournament in the first two seasons the sport has been sanctioned.

That makes what it achieved at Saturday’s Hampshire Girls Tournament that much more impressive. Coach John Sebek’s Bengals won their third-consecutive title during the past four weeks, adding to firsts at Westosha Central, WI’s Stateline Scuffle and Larkin’s Royal Rumble with top honors at the 28-team competition with 196 points, which was 69 points better than runner-up Huntley, who had 127 points.

Oak Forest’s tournament streak began on December 2 when it took first place at the 18-team Larkin Girls Royal Rumble with 204 points, finishing ahead of Batavia (185), Joliet Township (182) and District 230 (174). Then on December 9, the Bengals won the title at the 29-team Westosha Central Stateline Scuffle in Salem, Wisconsin with 202 points, which was 72 points ahead of the hosts, who finished second.

Wheeling (108), Lakes Community (99), Dundee-Crown (97), Zion-Benton (94), Burlington Central (82), Lincoln-Way Central (77) and Richmond-Burton (71) were next in line in the event.

The Bengals had four champions and two second-place finishers to lead the way among their nine individuals who received medals for top-five finishes.

Winning titles for Oak Forest were Alexandra Sebek (110), Maya Coreas Funes (145), Ryann Reeves (155) and Jessica Komolafe (235) while Marjorie Rodriguez (115) and Camila O’Leary Salas (125) placed second. It was the third title of the season for Sebek and Reeves and the second for Coreas Funes and Komolafe.

Charlotte Pedroza (120) and Iyobosa Odiase (140) finished fourth, Isabel Peralta (190) took fifth and Adri Bille (170) was sixth. Hanan Abdallah (105), Bryanah Carrera (125) Cyniah Poindexter (130) and Riona Jean Jurik (130) were other competitors for the Bengals. Peralta had won titles in the team’s first three tournaments. Oak Forest took fourth place in its season opener at Lakes Community’s Sandy Gussarson Invitational and hopes to continue its run of titles when it competes in Palatine’s Sally Berman Holiday Classic on Friday.

“They do their thing and it’s just such a good group of girls,” said Sebek, who wrestled at Marist for Mark Gervais, a 1995 IWCOA Hall of Famer and 2015 recipient of a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter. “They’ve been together for a couple of years now and they’re a very coachable group that do what they’re supposed to do and they make my job very easy. They’re such a good group and they practice well together and they’re always at practice and that’s what helps to form that relationship. In wins and losses, they’re still cheering each other up or on during a match and off of a match, so that’s a good thing to have. 

“There was good representation, especially from up west, teams that we don’t really see. It wasn’t easy getting up this early in the morning to come all the way up here, but it was worth it for the competition. It’s good to see in different areas of the state of Illinois the growth that they’re having. And cheers to Hampshire for putting on a heck of a tournament like this. There were so many close matches today and the quality of them is that they just don’t stop, they keep going and going. There’s more fight in them than I’ve seen from them this year. They’re all hungry and it’s awesome to see that progression over the last three years.”

It’s not that surprising that girls wrestling has been a big hit at the youngest of the four schools in the south suburb’s Bremen High School District 228. Bucky Randolph led Oak Forest to its first IHSA Class 2A Dual Team Finals in 2009 and Shawn Forst, who still leads the program, took the Bengals to state in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018, placing third in both 2014 and 2015.

Leading the way for coach Gannon Kosowski’s second-place Huntley Red Raiders were champion Aubrie Rohrbacher (130) and runner-up Sara Willis (235). Addyson Wasielewski (105) took third, Taylor Casey (110) and Jessica Olson (140) finished fifth and Valeria Sanchez (115), Grecia Garcia (145) and Alyssa Aguilar (155) all took sixth place.

Top performers for coach Anthony Piltaver’s third-place Wheeling Wildcats were title winner Jasmine Rene (190) and third-place finishers Valeria Avalos (135) and Madeline Chicas (155). Sherlyn Ruiz (135), Stephanie Solano (155) and Nikol Orendarchuk (170) placed fourth, Isabella Gomez (115) finished fifth and Elise Burkut (130) took sixth.

Burlington Central had three competitors and they all won titles. Taking first place for coach Jeff Richart’s Rockets were Victoria Macias (115), Soraya Walikonis (135) and Ryann Miller (170).

Seven other schools had champions and 15 teams sent individuals to the title mat. Also winning championships were Dundee-Crown’s Diamond Rodriguez (100), Montini Catholic’s Kat Bell (105), Lincoln-Way Central’s Gracie Guarino (120), Lakes Community’s Ava Babbs (125) and Boylan Catholic’s Netavia Wickson (140).

Zion-Benton had three second-place finishers, Jay Thompson (135), Grace Johnson (145) and ILeen Castrejon (190).  Others taking second place were Dundee-Crown’s Ruby Gavina (130) and Helen Ruelas (155), Newman Central Catholic’s Blair Grennan (100), Jacobs’ Aaliyah Guichon (105), Crystal Lake South’s Annalee Aarseth (110), Grayslake Central’s Gianna Arzer (120), Richmond-Burton’s Jasmine McCaskel (140) and Cary-Grove’s Denver Gier (170).

Twelve of the title matches ended by fall. The closest championship match was 135 where Walikonis edged Thompson 4-2. One of the most-anticipated title matches was at 190, where Rene jumped out to an early advantage and captured a 12-7 decision over Castrejon.

Individuals with perfect records at the end of the tournament were Sebek (13-0), Guarino (10-0) and Reeves (12-0) while Rodriguez (17-1), Macias (19-1), Miller (23-1) and Rene (18-1) have one defeat and Wickson (13-2) has lost twice while Babbs’ overall record wasn’t available but this was also her third title of the season. Wickson won the 2023 IHSA title at 135 and is a two-time finalist, Guarino has placed second twice at state and Sebek also took second a year ago.

Babbs and Rohrbacher tied for the most team points with 30 while Macias, Miller, Reeves, Rene and Sebek tied for third with 28 points. Coreas Funes and Wickson both collected 27 points, Guarino, Rodriguez and Walikonis all finished with 26 points and Bell scored 25.5 points.

Others who took third were Richmond-Burton’s Isabella Nelson (110) and Sandra Teren Reyes (170), Lincoln-Way Central’s Monica Alvarez (100), Metea Valley’s Uliana Shevstova (115), Wheaton North’s Ryan Mark (120), Rock Falls’ Ryleigh Eriks (125), Zion-Benton’s Emily Ortiz (130), Dundee-Crown’s Perla Lomeli (140), Buffalo Grove’s Abigail Swanson (145), Lakes Community’s Josephine Larson (190) and Rockford East’s Sophie Bolanos (235).

Also finishing in fourth place were Hampshire’s Madison Minson (130) and Annilease Tavaria (190), Buffalo Grove’s Catalina Videlka (100), Plainfield East’s Angelina Nettey (105), Dundee-Crown’s Iris Torres (110), Lincoln-Way Central’s Liyah Owens (115), Sycamore’s Gretchyn Dunbar (125) and Saint Viator’s Avery Brooks (145).

Additional fifth-place finishers were Lake Community’s Zaryia Mouzon (105), Olivia Heft (120) and Christina Hasner (135), Plainfield East’s Ariella Delapena (100), Lincoln-Way Central’s 

Riley Cooney (125), Kaneland’s Dyani Torres (130), Zion-Benton’s Naomi Foote (145), Sycamore’s Ema Durst (155) and Metea Valley’s Sanskruti Sangalge (170).

The 190 weight class was arguably the toughest in the competition. Rene, who took fourth at 190 last year at state to become Wheeling’s first medalist, won a hard-fought 12-7 decision in the title match over Castrejon, who took third last year and second in 2022 at 170 in the IHSA Finals to become Zion-Benton’s first two-time medal winner. 

In addition, Larson, a two-time qualifier who took fifth at 190 at state last year to become one of Lakes Community’s three medalists, placed third at 190 in the competition, and Peralta, who fell a win shy of a medal at 190 at last year’s IHSA Finals, suffered her first loss in the quarterfinals to Castrejon, dashing her hopes of winning a fourth tournament title thus far this season. 

Durst had the most falls in the least time with four in 3:06 while Babbs, Olson and Rohrbacher also recorded four falls. Shevstova easily scored the most total match points with 60, thanks to two of the day’s three wins by technical fall, ranking her well ahead of Rene, who had 37 points.

With many teams in the field anxious to hit the road early due to the foggy conditions in northern Kane County, Whip-Purs coach Matthew Todd and his tournament team at Hampshire held an excellent competition that ran very smoothly and no doubt will be quite popular in the future.

Here’s a look at the champions and their weight classes at the Hampshire Girls Tournament:

100 – Diamond Rodriguez, Dundee-Crown

After going 24-9 last season but falling one win shy of a state trip at the rugged Schaumburg Sectional. Diamond Rodriguez hopes to take the next step and not only qualify for the IHSA Finals but also to become the first girl from Dundee-Crown to medal there. The Chargers junior is off to a great start after improving to 17-1 following her win by fall in 3:07 over Newman Central Catholic’s Blair Grennan in the 100 finals. One of five medalists, three finalists and the lone champion for coach Tim Hayes’ squad, Rodriguez reached the title mat with a fall in 0:29 over Buffalo Grove’s Catalina Videlka. This was her third tournament title, adding to Westosha Central, WI’s Stateline Scuffle and Lakes Community’s Sandy Gussarson Invitational. 

“I was really nervous,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been wrestling since last year, my sophomore year. One of my friends convinced me to join along with her and then she ended up leaving it, but I ended up falling in love with it and I hope to continue until my senior year and stick with it. I don’t know if I’ll do it continuously, but I really want to. It will be my main sport. I was involved in soccer but I had to leave it for wrestling. Something just interested me and then I liked it more. I like that it’s really mentally challenging and apart from the physical work that we have to do, it is a mental thing, to say that I’m not giving up and I have to give it my all. Really it’s challenging me and helping me to grow mentally. The coaches really support us and they make us work just as hard as the boys. It motivates me to try to be better, and so do my parents. I always hear them in the back of my head and I’m like, I have to keep going.”

Grennan (18-5), a freshman who was the lone competitor for Newman Central Catholic in the invite, recorded a fall in 0:43 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Monica Alvarez in the semifinals. Alvarez (6-4), a junior, took third place with a 4-3 decision over Videlka. And Plainfield East senior Ariella Delapena took fifth by medical forfeit over Wheaton North junior Isabel Paz.

105 – Kat Bell, Montini Catholic

Kat Bell definitely has earned one of the hard luck awards at the first two IHSA Finals after twice falling one win shy of medals at 100. She won 16 matches both years but lost in the consolation third round. But the Broncos junior, who improved to 10-3, is hopeful that the third time’s the charm and she can place high to become her school’s first medalist. She’s excited about getting guidance from coach Mike Bukovsky, a 2008 IWCOA Hall of Famer who recently received a Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter, who’s again leading the program. Bell won the 105 title with a fall in 1:43 over Jacobs’ Aaliyah Guichon after advancing to the finals with a win by technical fall in 4:17 over Plainfield East’s Angelina Nettey.

“I’m not happy with myself coming so short of my goals,” Bell said. “So definitely this year I’m doing anything that I can to make sure that there are no excuses. (Coach Mike Bukovsky) He’s so supportive so I’m definitely thankful. I’m really excited because now it feels like there’s some real competition. Girls wrestling is really kind of paving its way through Illinois. Even at Montini, it feels nice when you’re able to feel like you’re the first to be able to do something.”

Guichon was the lone medalist of the four Golden Eagles who took part in the tournament. The freshman reached the 105 title mat after winning by fall in 5:56 over Huntley’s Addyson Wasielewski in the semifinals. Wasielewski won by fall in 0:55 over Nettey to claim third place in a matchup of two freshmen. And in the fifth-place match, Lakes Community senior Zaryia 

Mouzon recorded a fall in 0:38 over Dundee-Crown junior Leslie Figueroa.

110 – Alexandra Sebek, Oak Forest

Alexandra Sebek set the tone for the champion Bengals in the finals by becoming their first of their four champions when she captured the 110 title with a fall in 3:40 over Crystal Lake South’s Annalee Aarseth. Sebek (13-0), a sophomore who also won titles at Lakes Community and Westosha Central, WI, earned her spot in the finals with a fall in 1:21 over Richmond-Burton’s Isabella Nelson to become one of six finalists for coach John Sebek’s champion Bengals, who had nine medal winners. A year ago, Sebek made history for Oak Forest at the IHSA Finals when she finished 41-7 after losing 4-0 to Bartlett’s Emma Engels in the 100 title match, joining Sabrina Sifuentez, who was sixth at 140, as her school’s first two medalists. 

“We’ve got a lot of girls back from last year,” Sebek said. “Seeing how many girls are taking their time to come out and try the sport that’s hard for girls in general, it’s super cool to see that because I like seeing other girls do the same thing that I do and they work their butts off. (Coach Shawn) Forst has helped me a lot because he’s the boys coach and I practice with the boys. So he’s always there supporting me and helping me to get better. We’re like a family and we do stuff together. We go out to eat after every single meet together and we’re always on the bus rides together and making each other laugh. So I just love my team because it’s like a family.”

Aarseth, a freshman, was the only medalist of the three Gators who took part in the event. She earned her spot on the 110 title mat after capturing a 7-0 decision over Dundee-Crown’s Iris Torres in the semifinals. Nelson (5-4) took third place when she recorded a fall in 5:15 over Torres (12-8) in a matchup of juniors. And Huntley senior Taylor Casey (9-3) won by fall in 1:14 over Lakes Community junior Haven Sylves to claim fifth place. Casey is the Red Raiders’ lone two-time IHSA Finals qualifier and she posted a 23-9 record last season.

115 – Victoria Macias, Burlington Central

Victoria Macias started something special for Burlington Central on Saturday when she won the title at 115 and then later saw teammates Soraya Walikonis at 135 and Ryann Miller at 170 give coach Jeff Richart’s Rockets three champions for the day, which was a pretty impressive feat considering that they only had three competitors in the event. Macias (19-1), a junior who went 31-9 a year ago and took fifth at 110 at the IHSA Finals and was 23-6 and placed fourth at 110 in 2022, won the 115 title by recording a fall in 1:35 over Oak Forest’s Marjorie Rodriguez. Macias, one of the 31 individuals competing this season who are two-time state placewinners, advanced to the title mat after recording a fall in 2:34 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Liyah Owens.

In recent weeks, Macias also won titles at Maine East and at Morris.

“I’m really excited,” Macias said of the sport. “I was hoping that it would grow, honestly. I started wrestling when I was in sixth grade and I would wrestle mostly boys because there was never another girl at my weight class, so I lost most of the time, and I’m really glad that it’s growing a lot. I like that the girls compared to the boys are so much more friendly with each other and it’s so close. We meet so many new people and it’s like everyone just becomes friends. It’s like,  ‘yeah, we’re opponents on the mat, but we’ll be friends at the end of the day.'”

Rodriguez (11-3), a junior who was one of six finalists and nine medal winners for the champion Bengals, earned her spot in the 115 finals by getting a pin in 2:27 over Metea Valley’s Uliana Shevstova in the semifinals. Shevstova (15-8), a senior who led all competitors with 60 total match points, was the top finisher and one of two medalists for Metea Valley, won by technical fall in 4:25 over junior Owens (7-4) to place third. Wheeling sophomore Isabella Gomez (15-5) took fifth place after winning 8-7 in overtime over Huntley senior Valeria Sanchez (8-5).

120 – Gracie Guarino, Lincoln-Way Central

Usually it’s a badge of honor when you’re one of only three individuals to have done something in the IHSA Finals, but few competitors would be pleased to lose one title match, let alone two. Lincoln-Way Central senior Gracie Guarino lost 2-0 by sudden victory to Grant’s Ayane Jasinski in the 110 finals to conclude a 13-1 season after taking second to Glenbard North’s Gabby Gomez at 105 in 2022. Guarino obviously wants to finish first this season and she’s 10-0 after recording a fall in 1:08 over Grayslake Central’s Gianna Arzer to be the lone champion and one of four medalists for the Knights, who are coached by Tyrone Byrd, a 2020 IWCOA Hall of Famer. Guarino, who opened the season with a first-place finish at Lake Community’s Gussarson Invite, won by fall in 2:50 over Oak Forest’s Charlotte Pedroza in the semifinals.

“It just fuels the fire to keep me going,” Guarino said of losing twice in the state finals. “In my first time at state, my opponent was Gabby Gomez and that gave me a lot of things to look at and to work on since at that time, it was only my third year of wrestling and I was able to see one of the best in the country. (Coach Tyrone Byrd) He really helped to support me and really helped to make the sport click for me. When I entered high school, in my freshman year, he told me that I was going to be on the boys varsity and that only pushed me harder, so I really appreciate his efforts. I love all of the new friends that I’m getting. In my freshman and sophomore years I’d go to tournaments and my other teammate would have so many friends, and I was like, ‘I want that.’ So coming to this tournament, everywhere I look, I’m saying hi to everyone I know and old teammates, and I love it.”

Arzer (17-3), a sophomore who was unable to qualify from the Evanston Township Sectional last year, was the lone competitor for Grayslake Central. She advanced to the title mat following a fall in 0:45 over Wheaton North’s Ryan Mark. In the third place match, senior Mark (6-2) got a pin in 5:18 over senior Pedroza (11-7). Lakes Community senior Olivia Heft, who went 14-1 in 2022 and was a state runner-up at 115 to Glenwood’s Maya Davis, claimed fifth place with a fall in 2:54 over Lincoln-Way Central junior Yasmin Ejaidi. 

125 – Ava Babbs, Lakes Community

On a day where there were 12 falls on the title mat, Ava Babbs spent the least time there when she got a pin in 0:25 over Oak Forest’s Camila O’Leary Salas in the 125 finals. The Lakes Community senior reached the finals with a fall in 0:53  over Sycamore’s Gretchyn Dunbar. She was the lone finalist and one of five medal winners for coach Devin Tortorice’s Eagles. Babbs tied with Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher for the most team points with 30. Last season she went 22-5 and took third place at 125 and joined Josephine Larson as medalists to make them the second and third Eagles to place in the IHSA Finals after Olivia Heft was a state runner-up in the inaugural Finals in 2022, when Babbs fell one win shy of earning a medal at 135. Babbs also won titles this year at Waukegan and Westosha Central, WI’s Stateline Scuffle.

“Having a lot of schools, compared to my first year when we didn’t have a lot of schools, and even to have bigger teams is cool,” Babbs said. “And to have different competition, like last weekend when we went to Wisconsin, which was cool. When I started my sophomore year, I started with a lot of girls around me, and we’ve all been able to see each other grow and get better. So seeing them this year is so fun. We started with five people and we have nine now, and it doesn’t sound like a lot, but having an actual team is fun. I like the community (of the sport) and that everybody is really nice. I think it’s funny that it’s such a physical and aggressive sport, but everybody is so nice to each other. I love that part.”

O’Leary Salas (9-2), a sophomore, was one of six finalists and nine medal winners for coach John Sebek’s champion Bengals, who captured their third-straight team title this season, She earned her spot on the 125 title mat after winning by fall in 1:19 over Rock Falls’ Ryleigh Eriks in the semifinals. Eriks claimed third place over Dunbar by getting a pin in 4:46 in a matchup of sophomores. And Lincoln-Way Central sophomore Riley Cooney (8-4) took fifth place after winning by fall in 5:32 over Montini Catholic sophomore Sofia Flores (8-7).

130 – Aubrie Rohrbacher, Huntley

After going 30-7 as a freshman and falling one win shy of a medal at 125 in last year’s IHSA Finals, Huntley’s Aubrie Rohrbacher is determined to reach the awards stand this season and see how high she can get on it. Rohrbacher improved to 11-3 and was the lone champion, one of two finalists and joined four of her teammates as medal winners for coach Gannon Kosowski’s runner-up Red Raiders. Rohrbacher, who tied Lakes Community’s Ava Babbs for the most team points with 30, won by fall in 0:50 over Dundee-Crown’s Ruby Gavina in the 130 finals, which she advanced to with a pin in 0:54 over Zion-Benton’s Emilty Ortiz. She also recently won a title at Maine East’s Mejoe Hernandez Invite.

“It’s very fun because you get to create a lot of bonds with everybody,” Rohrbacher said. “It’s different girls from different schools but it’s just one big wrestling community and it’s very fun. I think it’s new and it’s growing, and so many girls can relate to each other through a lot of things. Especially with all of the hard work that you put in, how hard it is and how aggressive you 

have to be, that people can relate to each other because of that. My thoughts on this sport is that it makes you better not just as an athlete, but it makes you better as a person. It’s mentally and physically tough and it requires a lot of hard work. I’m very happy (about Huntley), it’s like a big home and a big family.”

Gavina (19-4), a freshman who was one of three finalists and five medalists for the Chargers, advanced to the 130 title mat after recording a fall in 5:48 over Hampshire’s Madison Minson. Ortiz (16-2), a sophomore who won a title at Waukegan, claimed third place after getting a pin in 1:52 over freshman Minson. And in the fifth-place match, Kaneland junior Dyani Torres (16-5) captured a 9-6 decision over Wheeling sophomore Elise Burkut (19-5).

135 – Soraya Walikonis, Burlington Central

Soraya Walikonis and Victoria Macias made history for Burlington Central in 2022 when they both qualified for the inaugural IHSA Finals and Walikonis capped her freshman season with a 16-11 record while Macias claimed her first of two medals. On Saturday at the Hampshire Girls Tournament, Walikonis and Macias were joined by freshman Ryann Miller as champions, which was a big deal for coach Jeff Richart’s Rockets, since the trio were their only entrants in the event. Walikonis (15-5) won her first title of the season after prevailing in the closest title match of the day, taking first place at 135 with a 4-2 decision over Zion-Benton’s Jay Thompson after advancing to the finals with a pin in 1:22 over Wheeling’s Valeria Avalos. 

“The first year I joined was in middle school and I always wrestled guys because there weren’t enough girls,” Walikonis said. “Going into my freshman year, it was the first girls state tournament and it was a big ‘wow, this sport is really growing.’ Honestly, I love all of the new competition and the new girls, even if they are in their first year. And the first-year girls who are doing really well, that’s just pretty amazing to see. At my school, we really try to push girls wrestling. We’re just trying to get the girls out on the mat and show them that, ‘hey, this is a really fun sport. It’s not as bad as you think it is.’ And there’s a great community behind it.”

Thompson (18-3), a senior who fell one victory shy of qualifying at 145 from the Evanston Township Sectional last year, was one of three finalists and five medal winners for coach Hal Lunsford’s Zee-Bees. She reached the 135 title mat after winning a 6-0 decision over Wheeling’s Sherlyn Ruiz. Avalos, a sophomore, captured a wild 23-13 major decision over junior Ruiz to take third place. And Lake Community sophomore Christina Hasner took fifth place after recording a fall in 4:30 over Rock Falls sophomore Ashlyn Fargher.

140 – Netavia Wickson, Boylan Catholic

Just 12 individuals can say that they’ve achieved what Netavia Wickson has accomplished, and only 10 of those can make even more history this season as the girls who have competed in two title matches at the IHSA Finals. Wickson was a runner-up to Homewood-Flossmoor’s Attalia Watson-Castro, an eventual two-time champ, in 2022 at 135 and took first at 135 when she won a 9-1 over Canton’s Kinnley Smith to cap a 19-5 season in 2023. The Boylan Catholic senior, who’s coached by her father, Dathan Wickson, Sr. and brother, Dathan Wickson, Jr., improved to 13-2 by recording a fall in 1:12 over Richmond-Burton’s Jasmine McCaskel in the 140 title match after getting a pin in 2:52 over Oak Forest’s Iyobosa Odiase in the semifinals. She competes for her school’s boys team and took first at Rockford East’s Girls Tournament.

“It’s really amazing,” Wickson said. “I remember when I started wrestling, there were usually four or five girls in one tournament with no girls division and we were wrestling boys. Now to see that we have full tournaments with full brackets and girls that are willing to go out there and wrestle tough in this tough sport is really inspiring. You really see how much you inspire people when you make history. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me and just tell me, ‘you really inspire me and I really admire you’, and that shows the growth. I really think that wrestling has built so much confidence in me and built it to where I’m able to talk to other people and I’m not scared or I don’t doubt myself. I see myself as a strong individual and I can do anything that I put my mind to. So I think it’s really good for girls to feel strong and feel empowered and just have that confidence. Nobody’s really worried about who’s good or who’s not, you’re just worried about growing and getting better, and that’s what I really appreciate.”

McCaskel (10-1), who went 16-3 and placed fourth at 140 in 2023 to become Richmond-Burton’s first IHSA medal winner, was the lone finalist and one of three medalists for coach Tony Nelson’s Rockets. She advanced to the 140 finals with a fall in 3:28 over Dundee-Crown’s Perla Lomeli in the semifinals. Lomeli (10-3), a senior who went 24-11 last year and fell one win shy of a medal at 140 in the IHSA Finals, finished third with a fall in 1:28 over sophomore Odiase (14-5). And Huntley senior Jessica Olson (11-4) took fifth place after getting a pin in 5:03 over Zion-Benton senior Adrianna Ketchum (10-8), who also qualified for the IHSA Finals last season.

145 – Maya Coreas Funes, Oak Forest

Maya Coreas Funes joined Alexandra Sebek, Ryann Reaves and Jessica Komolafe as title winners for coach John Sebek’s Bengals, who claimed top honors by 69 points in the 28-team Hampshire Girls Tournament. Coreas Funes (12-3), a junior who also won a title at Westosha Central, WI, went 23-11 last season and qualified for the IHSA Finals and would no doubt like to join Sebek and the graduated Sabrina Sifuentez as Bengals state medalists. She won the 145 title with a fall in 3:55 over Zion-Benton’s Grace Johnson after winning a 13-4 major decision over Buffalo Grove’s Abigail Swanson in the semifinals. Coreas Funes was one of the six finalists and nine medalists for Oak Forest, which claimed its third-straight tournament title.

“It is actually really exciting and very great to win and it’s by a margin of points,” Coreas Funes said. “Our team puts in a lot of work, especially during practice to correct things that could be better. So we have to get in a better stance, we work on our stance. And we practice the things that we can be caught in very often, like headlocks, so we practice defense for headlocks because that is a move that a lot of girls like to do. Most of us are relatively new with either one to three years of experience, other than Alex. I can see the growth in every girl, it’s amazing. This is my second year wrestling. At first, it was challenging but I made a promise to never give up. So I kept going, and at first it was hard. The thing that I like most about wrestling is that it’s more about your mentality and skill than it is about anything else. It’s your work that gets you to where you want to go.”

Johnson (11-3), a junior who was one of three finalists and five medal winners for coach Hal Lunsford’s Zee-Bees, earned her spot on the 145 title mat with a pin in 0:52 over Saint Viator’s Avery Brooks in the semifinals. Swanson (5-1) claimed third place with a fall in 0:36 over junior Brooks. And Zion-Benton had another medal winner at the weight class as junior Naomi Foote (15-5) captured a 9-0 major decision over Huntley freshman Grecia Garcia to finish fifth.

155 – Ryan Reeves, Oak Forest

Ryan Reeves gave Oak Forest its third title of the day at 155 shortly after Maya Coreas Funes took first at 145 and in between Alexandra Sebek’s win at 110 to start the medal round and Jessica Komolafe’s first at 235 to put the final touches on the Bengal’s third-straight invitational title. Reeves (12-0), added to tournament titles at Larkin and Westosha Central, WI.  An IHSA qualifier in 2023 who finished with a 22-17 record, Reeves won the title at 155 with a fall in 0:50 over Dundee-Crown’s Helen Ruelas, which came after a pin in 3:02 in the semifinals over Wheeling’s Madeline Chicas. Reeves hopes to cap her Bengals career by adding her name to the list of two the program’s first two IHSA medalists in 2023, Sabrina Sifuentez and Sebek.

“It does feel very good,” Reeves said of her team winning three-straight titles. “I see it as an honor to work with my friends and the people that I’ve met on this team have really pushed me. I just started last year. At the beginning, it’s the hardest because you have nothing in your arsenal and you’re just kind of going to your matches blind, hoping for a chance for it to go in your favor. But you grow and stick with it, go through the losses and tough out the pain when you’re continuously losing. But once you build your arsenal, wrestling does evolve and change for you. I think that wrestling is actually more of a mental sport than it is a physical sport and some girls come into the sport and they can’t handle it. I’ve made some life-long friends on this team. I’ve connected with some people that I never considered myself to be friends with, and now I consider them as a sister to me and my best friend.”

Ruelas (6-3), one of three finalists and five medalists for coach Tim Hayes’ Chargers, earned her spot on the 155 title mat by medical forfeit over Wheeling’s Stephanie Solano. Freshman Chicas (13-6) took third as senior Solano (6-2) was unable to compete. And in the fifth-place match, Sycamore freshman Ema Durst (9-8) won by fall in 1:10 over Huntley sophomore Alyssa Aguilar to give her the most falls in the least time among all competitors with four in 3:06. 

170 – Ryann Miller, Burlington Central

Ryann Miller hasn’t attracted very much attention so far, but after the Burlington Central freshman claimed her third tournament title and fourth finals appearance to improve to 23-1 following a dominant performance at the Hampshire Girls Tournament, people should start taking notice. Miller won the 170 title with a fall in 0:38 over Cary-Grove’s Denver Gier, which followed a pin in 1:13 over Wheeling’s Nikol Orendarchuk in the semifinals. Her three falls only required 2:23 as she joined teammates Victoria Macias (115) and Soraya Walikonis (135) as title winners, which was quite a feat for coach Jeff Richart’s Rockets since that trio were their lone entrants in the event. She also has won titles at Lakes Community and at Maine East.

“This is really exciting,” Miller said. “We all work very hard during practice and we all try our absolute hardest. We’re all practice partners, even though there’s different weights. It shows us how to control our strength and shows us different moves that we can hit. I only wrestled guys when I was in middle school. We have a solid support system (at Burlington Central) and we wrestle with the guys and do the same things as the guys and there’s no difference between us, we work just as hard as they do.”

Gier, a junior, was unable to advance out of the rugged Schaumburg Sectional at 190 a year ago but she’s off to an 8-3 start this season after recording two falls in the tournament, including one in 2:24 over Richmond-Burton’s Sandra Teren Reyes in the semifinals to earn her spot in the 170 finals. Teren Reyes (5-2) won by fall in 3:53 over Orendarchuk (11-9) in a matchup of freshmen for third place and Metea Valley senior Sanskruti Sangalge (12-7) took fifth place with a pin in 3:40 over Oak Forest junior Adri Bille.

190 – Jasmine Rene, Wheeling

Jasmine Rene definitely made quite an impression in her freshman season at Wheeling, going 18-10 and taking fourth place in the IHSA Finals to become the first medalist for her program. She’s already won as many as she did in her debut as she improved to 18-1 after capturing a 12-7 decision over Zion-Benton’s ILeen Castrejon in a showdown between two returning state medalists. Rene jumped out to a big lead before Castrejon closed the gap a bit. Rene needed 1:56 to get a fall in the semifinals over Hampshire’s Annilease Tavaria to become the lone finalist and one of seven medal winners for coach Anthony Piltaver’s third-place Wildcats. Two weeks prior to this invite, she took first at the Westosha Central, WI Stateline Scuffle.

“I started in my freshman year, which was last year,” Rene said. “I decided to go to an offseason club at Gomez, especially coach Hector, he pushes you to the best of your abilities. We used to only have six girls on the team and now I think we have 20. I went to Fargo this summer and I got seventh. What I like about the sport is that this is an individual sport so you don’t really have to rely on your team, besides your partners that you train with. I feel like my school doesn’t really do too well in team sports. So I love the fact that you can win and rise with the school. After I became a state qualifier, everyone wanted to join wrestling. And it’s an honor to be the one to bring up the school.”

Castrejon, a senior, went 17-8 last season and took third place at 170 in the IHSA Finals and in 2022, she posted a 14-6 record and took second place at state to Hononegah’s Rose Cassioppi in the 170 finals to become her program’s first finalist and she joined Rachel Williams-Henry as their first medalists. Castrejon earned her spot in the 190 finals with a 15-9 decision over Lakes Community’s Josephine Larson in the semifinals. Larson, a two-time state qualifier, went 15-4 last season and took fifth at 190 in the IHSA Finals to join Ava Babbs as the program’s second and third medalists. She also won titles this season at her own tournament and at Waukegan, where she won 3-1 over Rene in the 190 title match. Larson took third place on Saturday after getting a pin in 0:35 over junior Tavaria. Oak Forest’s Isabel Peralta (18-1), who went 24-13 last season and fell one win shy of a medal at 190 in the IHSA Finals and won titles this year at Lakes, Larkin and Westosha Central, bounced back from her first loss to Castrejon in the quarterfinals by taking fifth place with a fall in 4:40 over Kaneland freshman Sadie Kinsella.

235 – Jessica Komolafe, Oak Forest 

Jessica Komolafe put the finishing touches on Oak Forest’s third-straight tournament title when she won the lone round-robin division in the Hampshire Girl Tournament, at 235, as the result of a win that she had earlier in the day when she recorded a fall over Huntley’s Sara Willis in 0:26. That title gave the champion Bengals their fourth of the invite, and she joined Alexandra Sebek (110), Maya Coreas Funes (145) and Ryann Reeves (155) as first-place finishers and coach John Sebek’s team had two other finalists as well as three others who got medals for taking fifth or better. Komolafe (14-3) also got a pin in 1:04 over Rockford East’s Sophie Bolanos. The senior, who also won a title at Larkin this year, qualified for the first IHSA Finals in 2022 at 235.

“I feel like being in this sport is a good thing for me because I feel like wrestling just makes me more confident about myself,” Komolafe said. “Every single thing I do, I feel confident when I’m wrestling. I understand that it’s a really tough sport but the hard work and everything that I put into it, I’m really grateful to be able to do that and not quit. I come from a background where ladies are not supposed to wrestle. But with me going through with this, I want other people to see that you can wrestle and do what you like. This is such a safe space and I feel so loved by my girls. If I have a problem, I can go to my girls. I feel like it’s family, the connection that’s built because of the hard work, the sweat, the cries. I would never trade that for anything. I’m grateful for every single girl on my team.”

Willis pinned Bolanos in 0:38 to assure herself of second place at 235 in the only non-bracket division in the competition. As a result of her win, she joined 130 champion Aubrie Rohrbacher as one of her team’s two finalists and the Red Raiders finished with five medalists who finished fifth or better as well as three individuals who took sixth to help coach Gannon Kosowski’s team to a second-place showing with 127 points, which was 19 more than third-place Wheeling. 

Championship matches for the Hampshire Girls Tournament

100 – Diamond Rodriguez (Dundee-Crown) F 3:07 Blair Grennan (Newman Central Catholic)

105 – Kat Bell (Montini Catholic) F 1:43 Aaliyah Guichon (Jacobs)

110 – Alexandra Sebek (Oak Forest) F 3:40 Annalee Aarseth (Crystal Lake South)

115 – Victoria Macias (Burlington Central) F 1:35 Marjorie Rodriguez (Oak Forest)

120 – Gracie Guarino (Lincoln-Way Central) F 1:08 Gianna Arzer (Grayslake Central)

125 – Ava Babbs (Lakes Community) F 0:25 Camila O’Leary Salas (Oak Forest)

130 – Aubrie Rohrbacher (Huntley) F 0:50 Ruby Gavina (Dundee-Crown)

135 – Soraya Walikonis (Burlington Central) D 4-2 Jay Thompson (Zion-Benton)

140 – Netavia Wickson (Boylan Catholic) F 1:12 Jasmine McCaskel (Richmond-Burton)

145 – Maya Coreas Funes (Oak Forest) F 3:55 Grace Johnson (Zion-Benton)

155 – Ryann Reeves (Oak Forest) F 0:50 Helen Ruelas (Dundee-Crown)

170 – Ryann Miller (Burlington Central) F 0:38 Denver Gier (Cary-Grove)

190 – Jasmine Rene (Wheeling) D 12-7 ILeen Castrejon (Zion-Benton)

235 – Jessica Komolafe (Oak Forest) F 0:26 Sara Willis (Huntley)Team standings for the Hampshire Girls Tournament

1. Oak Forest (196), 2. Huntley (127), 3. Wheeling (108), 4. Lakes Community (99), 5. Dundee-Crown (97), 6. Zion-Benton (94), 7. Burlington Central (82), 8. Lincoln-Way Central (77), 9. Richmond-Burton (71), 10. Montini Catholic (38.5), 11. Hampshire (38), 12. Metea Valley (35), 12. Rock Falls (35), 14. Buffalo Grove (34), 15. Sycamore (30), 16. Cary-Grove (29), 17. Boylan Catholic (27), 18. Crystal Lake South (26), 19. Plainfield East (25), 20. Wheaton North (24), 21. Grayslake Central (22), 21. Jacobs (22), 21. Newman Central Catholic (22), 24. Kaneland (21), 25. Rockford East (17), 26. Saint Viator (15), 27. Mundelein (13), 28. Crystal Lake Central (0).

Glenbard South Raider Varsity Invitational 23

The 8-team tournament in Glen Ellyn saw Westosha Central of Wisconsin take the team title over second-place Leyden, 188.5-159, sending seven wrestlers to the finals and getting individual titles from Ashton Scheele (120), Ronan Bacle (126), Chet Pelli (132) and Michael Wilemon (157). Westosha got seconds from Jonathan Sandrik (113), Gunnar Peterson (138) and Lucas Sandrik (165).

Westosha also got thirds from Ethan Veinot (126) and Asher Pauley (175).

Leyden got individual titles from Russell Klug (138) and Moses Garza (150), and seconds from Derrick Miranda (126), Brian Gonzalez (157), Dart Garner (175), and Hector Cisneros (190). Leyden coach John Kading also got thirds from Erik Worwa (215) and Aidan Jaffray (285).

Host Glenbard South (118) placed third followed by Northridge Prep (98.5), St. Francis (97), Goode STEM Academy (70.5), Westmont (61), Kelly (53), and Lindblom (44).

Other individuals winning titles were Lindblom’s Ithan Payne (106), Kelly’s Steven Onofre (113), St. Francis’ Chase Siguenza (144) and Jaylen Torres (285), Northridge Prep’s Jon Suter (165) and Adam Haddad (175),, Goode’s Dylan Wilborn (190), and Glenbard South’s Dan Langner (215).

Wrestlers placing second also included Northridge Prep’s Sky Shang (106) and George McShane (144), Kelly’s Roberto Vitela (120), Westmont’s Laneal Conley (132), Glenbard South’s Josh Tricroce (150) and Ben Helm (215), and Lindblom’s Josue Olivo (285).

Westosha Central’s Ronan Bacle’s four pins in 8:20 were the most pins in the least time of any wrestler in the tournament, and Leyden’s Erik Worwa had the fastest pin in 0:08. Northridge Prep’s Adam Haddad had the fastest tech fall time at 2:33. 

There was a four-way tie for the most team points scored by any wrestler with 26, by St. Francis’ Jaylen Torres and Chase Siguenza, Glenbard South’s Dan Langner, and Westosha’s Michael Wilemon. Goode’s Joel Samano had the most single match points with 19, and Kelly’s Adan Bucio had the most total match points scored with 42.

Glenbard South Raider Varsity Invite 23 championship match results:

106 – Ithan Payne (Lindblom) F 5:08 Sky Shang (Northridge Prep)

113 – Steven Onofre (Kelly) D 13-6 Jonathan Sandrik (Westosha Central)

120 – Ashton Scheele (Westosha Central) D 11-5 Roberto Vitela (Kelly)

126 – Ronan Bacle (Westosha Central) F 4:00 Derrick Miranda (Leyden)

132 – Chet Pelli (Westosha Central) F 3:38 Laneal Conley (Westmont)

138 – Russel Klug (Leyden) F 1:13 Gunnar Peterson (Westosha Central)

144 – Chase Siguenza (St. Francis) F 4:42 George McShane (Northridge Prep)

150 – Moses Garza (Leyden) F 3:50 Josh Tricroce (Glenbard South)

157 – Michael Wilemon (Westosha Central) F 0:48 Brian Gonzalez (Leyden)

165 – Jon Suter (Northridge Prep) F 4:40 Lucas Sandrik (Westosha Central)

175 – Adam Haddad (Northridge Prep) D 8-2 Dart Garner (Leyden)

190 – Dylan Wilborn (Goode STEM Academy) D 11-5 Hector Cisneros (Leyden)

215 – Dan Langner (Glenbard South) F 3:14 Ben Helm (Glenbard South)

285 – Jaylen Torres (St. Francis) F 5:02 Josue Olivo (Linblom)

Washington Holiday Invitational

Mt. Carmel cruised to the title of the 8-team Washington Holiday Invite, as coach Alex Tsirtsis’ boys earned 292.5 points to second-place Washington’s 217.

IC Catholic Prep (173) was third, followed by Oak Park and River Forest (150), Geneseo (147.5), Rock Island (130.5), Belleville East (89) and Mt. Vernon (78).

All 12 wrestlers present for Mt. Carmel finished in the top four of their weight classes, as the Caravan sent nine to the title mat and got seven individual titles on the day. 

Individual champions included Justin Williamson (113), Evan Stanley (132), Seth Mendoza (138), Liam Kelly (150), Edmund Enright (157), Colin Kelly (175), and Rylan Breen (190). Jairo Acuna (144) and Alex Poholik (285) placed second, Kavel Moore (106) and Kevin Kalchbrenner (165) placed third, and William Jacobson (215) placed fourth for the Caravan.

Second-place host Washington got individual titles from Noah Woods (120) and Peyton Cox (144) for Panthers coach Nick Miller, and seconds from Timmy Smith (132) and Wyatt Medlin (138). Zane Hulet (175) also placed third for Washington.

Third-place IC Prep was led by individual champions Joe Gilatta (165) and Michael Calcagno (215), and fourth-place OPRF got an individual title from Michael Rundell (106).

Other individual champions included Rock Island’s Daniel McGhee (126), and Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo (285).

Belleville East’s Rulo’s four pins in 4:15 were the most pins in the least time by any wrestler present, while Mt. Carmel’s Liam Kelly had the most tech falls in the least time, with two in 6:00.

Mt. Carmel’s Alex Poholik and OPRF’s Jeremiah Hernandez shared honors for the fastest fall recorded, in 0:17, and Washington’s Peyton Cox’s tech fall in 2:27 was the fastest in the tournament.

Mt. Carmel’s Colin Kelly and Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo tied for the most team points scored with 31, and Washington’s Wyatt Medlin had the most single match points with 25. OPRF’s David Ogunsanya had the most total match points scored with 54, and the largest seed-place difference went to Mt. Carmel’s Alex Poholik, who was seeded seventh and placed second at 285.

Washington Holiday Invitational individual championship results:

106 – Michael Rundell (OPRF) SV-1 9-7 Dominic Pasquale (IC Catholic Prep)

113 – Justin Williamson (Mt. Carmel) F 2:46 Tim Sebastian (Geneseo)

120 – Noah Woods (Washington) TF 4:58 Merrick Stockwell (Rock Island)

126 – Daniel McGhee (Rock Island) D 10-7 Zev Koransky (OPRF)

132 – Evan Stanley (Mt. Carmel) TF 3:21 Timmy Smith (Washington)

138 – Seth Mendoza (Mt. Carmel) D 3-0 Wyatt Medlin (Washington)

144 – Peyton Cox (Washington) F 1:00 Jairo Acuna (Mt. Carmel)

150 – Liam Kelly (Mt. Carmel) TB-1 6-5 Zachary Montez (Geneseo)

157 – Edmund Enright (Mt. Carmel) MD 12-3 Brody Kelly (IC Catholic Prep)

165 – Joe Gilatta (IC Catholic Prep) MD 12-2 Cael Miller (Washington)

175 – Colin Kelly (Mt. Carmel) F 1:28 Amare Overton (Rock Island)

190 – Rylan Breen (Mt. Carmel) D 4-1 Foley Calcagno (IC Catholic Prep)

215 – Michael Calcagno (IC Catholic Prep) D 2-0 Andrew Marquez (Rock Island)

285 – Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East) F 1:40 Alex Poholik (Mt. Carmel)

Grant’s 2023 Loffredo Duals

DeKalb topped the field at this year’s 8-team Loffredo Duals hosted by Grant, topping Homewood-Flossmoor (80-0) and Fremd (46-27) before winning 38-30 over host Grant in the title round.

Second-place Grant went 2-1 on the day, with wins over Crystal Lake South (61-6) and Lyons Township (46-29). Third-place Fremd also went 2-1, topping Glenbrook South (48-15) before losing to DeKalb. The Vikings then won 37-32 over Lyons for third place, on a fall in the dual’s final match by Trent Odachowski at 113 pounds.

Posting 3-0 records for DeKalb coach Sam Hiatt were Eduardo Castro (120), Alan Izaguirre (126), Ayden Shuey (138), Mekhi Cave (144), Sean Kolkebeck (175), and Lamar Bradley (285). Going 2-1 for DeKalb were Jaden Bradley (106), Cam Matthews (157), and Elvis Mora (190).

DeKalb earned an 8-5 edge in matches won before the first-place dual ended in a double forfeit at 113. 

Of all wrestlers present in Fox Lake, DeKalb’s Lamar Bradley had the most pins in the least time, pinning all three of his opponents in 5:02. Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli post the most tech falls in the least time, winning by tech fall twice in a total of 7:31. DeKalb’s Hudson Ikens had the fastest tech fall in 2:13.

Garelli also posted the most single match points with 28, and the most total match points with 76.

Conant and Glenbrook South tied for sixth, and Homewood-Flossmoor and Crystal Lake South tied for eighth place.

Title dual results: DeKalb 38, Grant 30

120 – Eduardo Castro (DeKalb) D 4-0 Ayane Jasinski (Grant)  3-0

126 – Alan Izaguirre (DeKalb) F 1:34 Kyran Gebert (Grant) 9-0

132 – Ayden Shuey (DeKalb) D 7-4 Sammy Mendez (Grant) 12-0

138 – Erik Rodriguez (Grant) F 4:45 Hudson Ikens (DeKalb) 12-6

144 – Mekhi Cave (DeKalb) TF 25-10 Ben Ramos (Grant) 17-6

150 – Michael Hodge (DeKalb) F 3:13 Adria Khi (Grant) 23-6

157 – Cam Matthews (DeKalb) D 9-2 Grayson Lennon (Grant) 26-6

165 – Christian Wittkamp (Grant) F 1:07 Jaden Allen (DeKalb) 26-12

175 – Sean Kolkebeck (DeKalb) F 1:21 Aaden Arroyo (Grant) 32-12

190 – Casey Gipson (Grant) F 1:32 Elvis Mora (DeKalb) 32-18

215 – Lamar Bradley (DeKalb) F 0:59 Matthew Longabaugh (Grant) 38-18

285 – Landon Jones (Grant) F 0:48 Josh Jones (DeKalb) 38-24

106 – Larry Quirk (Grant) F 3:28 Jaden Bradley (DeKalb) 38-30

Loffredo Duals top performers by weight class

Wrestlers with 3-0 records:

106: Grant’s Larry Quirk; 113: Fremd’s Trent Odachowski; 120: DeKalb’s Eduardo Castro, Lyons’ Griff Powell; 126: DeKalb’s Alan Izaguirre, Lyons’ Roger Martinez; 132: DeKalb’s Ayden Shuey; 138: Lyons’ Jack Kutchek; 144: Dekalb’s Mekhi Cave, Fremd’s Evan Gosz; 157: Fremd’s Ryan Muslimovic; 165: Lyons’ Gunnar Garelli, Fremd’s Peter Mondus; 175: Grant’s Christian Wittkamp, DeKalb’s Sean Kolkebeck; 190: Grant’s Casey Gibson; 215: DeKalb’s Lamar Bradley; 285: Crystal Lake South’s Andy Burburija, Fremd’s Owen Jakubczak.

Wrestlers with 2-0 records:

106: Conant’s Emmet Arens; 113: Conant’s Mike Goolish, Grant’s Vince Jasinski; 126: Glenbrook South’s Michael Schick; 132: Conant’s Matt Goolish; 138: Grant’s Erik Rodriguez; 190: Glenbrook South’s Nathan Crecan.

Wrestlers with 3-1 records: 144: Grant’s Adrian Khi

Wrestlers with 2-1 records:

106: DeKalb’s Jaden Bradley; 120: Homewood-Flossmoor’s Robert Williams; 132: Grant’s Sammy Mendez; 157: DeKalb’s Cam Matthews; 175: Crystal Lake South’s Caden Casimino; 190: DeKalb’s Elvis Mora, Lyons’ Matt Turek; 215: Homewood-Flossmoor’s Khamryn Beaver, Lyons’ Nick Arquilla, Fremd’s Jamie Vela.

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA

If you randomly tossed a rock inside the gym during the annual Dvorak tournament, there’s a good chance you might hit a state champion, a state placewinner, or some kid currently holding the number one spot in the state rankings.

So winning an individual title at Illinois’ toughest in-season tournament is a feather in any wrestler’s cap. 

“I was always here watching this tournament as a kid, seeing all the older guys winning it. It’s cool to finally wrestle in it myself and get the job done. It feels good,” said St. Charles East’s Tyler Guerra, who won the Dvorak title at 138 pounds.

The Dvorak tournament is named for former Glenbard East star wrestler Al Dvorak, who died in an automobile accident in 1988. Glenbard East launched the tournament 35 years ago and it quickly became the toughest regular-season tournament in Illinois.

Guerra’s Saints took the Dvorak team title for the second consecutive year, posting a 214-174.5 edge over second-place Marist. Montini (165.5), Hersey (137), and Hononegah (127.5) rounded out the top five team finishes in the 37-team tournament.

St. Charles East coach Jason Potter got individual titles from Guerra (138), Dom Munaretto (113), Ben Davino (132), and Anthony Gutierrez (165), thirds from Jayden Colon (144) and Gavin Connolly (150), and a fifth from Brody Murray (175).

Potter’s Saints won last year’s Class 3A team state title in Illinois, are currently ranked No. 1 in 3A, and Guerra believes the practice room at East this year is even more intense than it was last season. 

“It’s a high standard and we just have to meet it,” Guerra said.

His coach agrees.

“Every one of them has gotten better and that just elevates the room,” Potter said. “Everyone has bought in and even guys that weren’t at that level before are now training at that level, regardless of where they’re at because they know what the end goal is.

“But we’ve been talking about how we’re not defending anything — it’s a new year and a new goal. Everything is different.”

Potter was naturally pleased with his place-winners’ performances at Harlem. He also liked what he saw from a bevy of freshmen and sophomores that include Kaden Potter (106), Liam Aye (120), Gavin Woodmancy (126), Cooper Murray (190) and Matt Medina (285).

“(Woodmancy) is our freshman at 126 and he’s wrestling really hard,” Potter said. “It didn’t go their way for a couple of our younger guys, but they’re wrestling really, really hard when they’re outmatched.

“Our schedule isn’t built to get guys introduced to varsity. We’re wrestling national-level competition so it can be nerve-wracking as a coach to know you’re throwing young guys into that, but I’ve been really proud of the fight that’s in them. They’re out there grinding, moving forward, and wrestling in the style we’re asking them to.”

Second-place Marist and coach Brendan Heffernan got individual titles from George Marinopoulos (120) and Will Denny (157), seconds from Michael Esteban (126) and Conor Phelan (190), a fourth from Donavan Allen (138) and a seventh from Ricky Ericksen 175).

In a resurgent year for Montini with the return of long-time coach Mike Bukovsky, the Broncos’ third-place finish featured titles from Josh Vazquez (126) and David Mayora (150). Montini also got a second from Santino Tenuta (157), a fourth from Alex Marre (175), and a seventh from Michael Malizzio (113).

Other wrestlers winning individual titles were Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi (106), Joliet West’s Carson Weber (144) and Wyatt Schmitt (285), Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens (175), Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeodon Sinclair (190), and Dakota’s Noah Wenzel (285).

Second-place finishes also came from Proviso West’s Jamiel Castleberry (106), Marian Central Catholic’s Anthony Alanis (113) and Max Astacio (165), Glenbard North’s Kalani Khiev (120), Hersey’s Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (132), Lockport’s Justin Wardlow (138), Bolingbrook’s Aaron Camacho (144), McHenry’s Pedro Jimenez (150), Libertyville’s Matt Kubas (175), Loyola’s Kai Calcutt (215) and Round Lake’s William Cole (285).

Individual tournament leaders included: McHenry’s Jesse Saavedra’s five pins in 10:14; Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi’s three tech falls in 10:21 and his 79 total match points scored; Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeoden Sinclair’s 33.5 team points scored; and Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens’ 27 single-match points. The largest seed-place difference came when 29th-seeded Frankie Tagoe of Hersey placed 8th at 150.

St. Charles East had the most pins in the least time of any team present, garnering 20 falls in 37:35; Edwardsville was second with 20 falls in 38:05. St. Charles East scored the most total match points with 388, followed by Hersey (385), Marist (382), Wauconda (374), and Hononegah (369).

Dvorak individual champions:

106 – Rocco Cassioppi, Hononegah

After Proviso West’s Jamiel Castleberry upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Gavin Rockey of Wauconda in a semifinal match, he was set up to become the story of the tournament. The only hurdle left facing the talented Panthers freshman was a fellow 106-pounder wearing Hononegah purple and gold.

Rocco Cassioppi tore up the script.

Cassioppi proved he’s at another level as the top-ranked 106-pounder in Illinois. He won a 17-6 major decision over Castleberry to garner the first Dvorak title of his career.

“I knew (Castleberry) from kids’ club and I knew he was a really tough wrestler,” Cassioppi said. “He won state last year in kids’ club. I knew I had to watch out for his blast doubles and his ducks.

“Right away I just tried to get to my attacks and I felt like he was a little higher in his stance. He shot that double leg and I felt like ‘I think I can defend that’.”

Cassioppi’s older brother Tony was a dominant state champion, his sister Angelina has won two girls state titles and counting, and his brother Bruno is highly-ranked at 112 pounds.

The Dwyer brothers once set the standard for siblings at Hononegah, but the Cassioppi family has taken over as its family tree continues to produce state champions.

Rocco hopes it’s his turn this season. As the top-ranked 106-pounder in Illinois, the freshman has a target on his back that he’s negotiating as the season moves forward. In learning how to handle such high expectations, Rocco gives an assist to older brother Tony, a two-time Illinois heavyweight state champion and four-time All-American at Iowa.

“I ask (Tony) for help all the time,” Cassioppi said. “He just says ‘it’s your freshman year and it’s all about getting better’. He said not to worry about it that much, it’s not like it’s the end of the world if you lose, but just try your hardest, every time. If you don’t try your hardest it’s a loss, no matter what the score is.”

Hersey’s Daniel Lehman placed third at 106, Lockport’s Morgan Turner finished fourth, Rockey took fifth, and Marian Central’s Austin Hagevold finished sixth.

113 – Dom Munaretto, St. Charles East

Last year’s state champion at 106 won his second Dvorak title and left no doubt about who Illinois’ top dog in 3A is at 113 pounds. A week after wrestling at less than a hundred percent at the prestigious Ironman Tournament, St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto was a buzz-saw in Harlem.

Munaretto had two pins and two major decisions over the tourney’s two days. He won an 11-3 major in his semifinal over Hononegah’s fourth-ranked Bruno Cassioppi of Hononegah, then earned his second Dvorak title with a 16-4 major on the title mat against Marian Central’s Anthony Alanis, the top-ranked 1A wrestler in 1A.

Munaretto placed seventh at 113 at the prestigious Ironman Tournament in Ohio one week earlier, which likely fueled the fire he displayed at Harlem.

“He wasn’t a hundred percent last week but that is what it is,” Saints coach Jason Potter said. “It’s in the past and it’s something he can use and focus on because when you lose, obviously something went wrong. So you fix all the little cracks to make it right.”

Potter also sees the light switching on above his sophomore’s head where his future is concerned.

“The goal is to make him the best wrestler we can, so when he goes off to the next level, he’s having success down the road,” Potter said. “It’s not about high school for that kid and he’s starting to understand that.”

Glenbard North’s Dominick Marre placed third at 113, Bruno Cassioppi was fourth, Plainfield North’s Maddox Garbis was fifth, and McHenry’s Ryan Hansen placed sixth.

120 – George Marinopoulos, Marist

Marist’s George Marinopoulos was dominant in his title match, winning a 15-6 major decision over Glenbard North’s Kalani Khiev. 

But it was his semifinal win that opened some eyes and gave Marinopoulos the biggest feather in his cap at Harlem.

Marinopoulos’ 8-6 semifinal over Marian Central Catholic’s Brayden Teunissen offered some cold revenge for the Marist junior. Teunissen is currently top-ranked in 2A, and the two squared off at 106 during last year’s Dvorak.

“I was excited for that match,” Marinopoulos said. “I was hyped before it and knew I could get it done. Last year I lost to him for third and I knew he’d come out hard with his hand-fighting and I just had to get rid of that first and second period.”

The two-time state qualifier is seeking a spot on the podium in Champaign, and the fifth-ranked Marinopoulos also knocked off 3A third-ranked Luke Berktold of Libertyville in his quarterfinals match to get to top-seeded Teunissen, who is ranked second at 120 in 1A.

Marinopoulos believes he has improved in the most important possible area.

“My mindset, honestly,” Marinopoulos said. “Over the summer I trained super-hard and my mindset got way better. I had a lot of confidence here coming into every match.

“If you’re not confident you can wrestle tight and scared, and wrestle not to lose. When you’re confident you’re going to look for your offense and keep shooting and doing your thing.”

Wauconda’s Nathan Randle finished third at 120, Edwardsville’s Ryan Richie placed fourth, Teunissen finished fifth, and Berktold placed sixth.

126 – Josh Vazquez, Montini

Montini junior Josh Vazquez is a two-time state placewinner and he went into the Dvorak ranked No. 1 in 2A as the tournament’s top seed. A tech fall, a major, and a pair of 3-1 decision wins later, he scaled the top step in Machesney Park.

And he did it under less than ideal conditions.

“Josh showed a lot of poise, as he was not a hundred percent (healthy) but he found a way to get the job done,” Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. “A Dvorak title was one of his goals this season, and he has really been pushing hard this year to earn it.  He’s a quiet leader and one of the hardest workers in the room”

Vazquez won 3-1 in his quarterfinal over Hersey’s Abdullokh Khakimov, who is ranked No. 4 in 3A. He followed that with another 3-1 decision on the title mat against the No. 2-ranked 3A wrestler, Marist’s Michael Esteban. Vazquez earned a second-period takedown to provide himself the win.

Esteban opened his tournament with a fall and a tech fall before winning 3-2 in his semifinal against Providence Catholic’s Tommy Banas, ranked No. 5 in 2A at 126. 

Glenbard North’s Christian Chavez finished third at 126, Banas placed fourth, Khakimov took fifth, and Wauconda’s Lucas Galdine placed sixth.

132 – Ben Davino, St. Charles East

There are wrestlers each year that the entire Illinois fan base views as unbeatable, and three-time state champion Davino is one of those. When someone burns through opponents the way Davino does, it sometimes becomes easy for fans to take what he does for granted.

But any fans viewing Davino’s matches as a chance to check their cell phones or hit the concession stand might want to pay attention; they might miss the chance to watch someone rare and special in the annals of Illinois high school wrestling.

“When it’s all said and done, I think he’ll go down as one of the best, if not the best,” St. Charles East coach Jason Potter said. “And he’s unique, too, because he’s challenging himself within a match. It’s not just about winning, it’s about trying different things. He’s also his own biggest critic and I think that shows.”

The top-ranked, top-seeded, unbeaten senior won his third Dvorak title, posting two falls and two tech falls along the way.

Davino pinned Montini’s Kam Luif in their quarterfinal before winning by tech fall at 4:27 on the title mat against Hersey’s Maksim Mukhamedaliyev, who is currently ranked third in 3A.

Davino won the title at 132 at this year’s Ironman tournament and last year he won a title at the Super 32 Challenge — both nationally prestigious tournaments. 

And there were aspects of competing in those tournaments that only the best of the best have to negotiate.

“When everyone in the room erupts when you get taken down, you either fight that and get upset by it, or you embrace it,” Potter said. “Ben felt that at Super 32s, Dom (Munaretto) felt that at the Ironman, and they had to stop being shocked by it. Take it as a compliment. You have to realize it’s a privilege to have the spotlight on you like that, and you have to own it.”

138 – Tyler Guerra, St. Charles East

Two years ago, St. Charles East’s Tyler Guerra lost in overtime in the Dvorak quarterfinals and went on to place third at 132. Last year, Guerra fell in the semifinals and again wrestled back to take third at 138.

The Saints’ senior has also placed second and third in Champaign the last two seasons.

This year, with the number one next to his name in the state rankings, Illinois’ top dog is a different animal.

“I haven’t seen this version of Tyler,” Saints coach Jason Potter said. “He’s wrestling very well.

“He now knows how good he is and instead of always being focused on being the best kid in Illinois, we flipped his goal to become one of the top guys in the country. He’s been able to really establish himself as that.”

Guerra placed sixth at this year’s Ironman tournament, one week before earning his first Dvorak title in a 10-3 decision over Lockport’s Justin Wardlow.

“I’m so much better on my feet,” Guerra said. “Just my movement, my control, my confidence — it’s all on a whole new level. And I’m putting it all into my wrestling so it’s been good.”

An even more fierce practice room for a team that won last year’s 3A team state title has helped Guerra reach new heights in the way he’s wrestling.

“It’s been dramatic. We changed up our training, it’s gotten a little more intense,” Guerra said. “It’s about constant change and not getting into old habits. We keep evolving.”

Guerra won 7-1 in his semifinal against previously unbeaten Tyson Peach of Milton, Wisconsin, before taking a 4-1 lead in the title match into the second period, then an 8-2 lead heading to the third en route to his 10-3 win.

Second-seeded and second-ranked Wardlow won 13-10 in his semifinal against Marian Central’s Vance Williams, Illinois’ top-ranked 132-pounder in Class 1A. Wardlow placed second in Champaign last year at 120 pounds.

Peach wrestled back for third place at 138 at Harlem, Allen was fourth, Williams took fifth, and Yorkville’s Donovan Rosauer finished  sixth.

144 – Carson Weber, Joliet West

The bracket at 144 featured the top three ranked wrestlers in 3A, so the bare bones structure of a potential OWA was there for taking for either No. 1 Jayden Colon, No. 2 Aaron Camacho, or No. 3 Carson Weber.

When the dust settled it was Joliet West’s Weber at the top of the podium with a Dvorak outstanding wrestler award to his name.

After fourth-seeded Weber won a 7-3 semifinal decision over top-seeded, two-time state champion Colon of St. Charles East, he won 7-5 on the title mat over second-seeded Camacho of Bolingbrook.

And then he leap-frogged both to a No. 1 ranking in Illinois.

Where wins and losses are concerned, a wrestler’s memory has to be short. But his long-term memory can be used as a shovelful of coal tossed into the blast furnace of motivation.

“I lost to Camacho in the blood round at state last year and I was looking forward to wrestling both of them in this tournament,” Weber said. “I wanted to get back at (Camacho) and take down the No. 1 guy.”

His title win kept Weber unbeaten at 18-0. And he sees room for improvement.

“I’m happy that for the most of the shots I got into, I was able to finish. But I need to improve my gas tank a little more. I was tired in both of those matches towards the end,” Weber said. “It wasn’t terrible but it’s definitely something I need to work on.

“And I have to come out stronger in the first period. I gave up a takedown in the beginning of that finals match and next time that’s not where I want to be. I haven’t had a lot of competition until now so it’s been hard to get a real feel for where I am.”

Colon went on the take third at 144, Schaumburg’s Callen Kirchner was fourth, Hersey’s Jake Hanson took fifth, and Dakota’s Jason Bowers placed sixth.

150 – David Mayora, Montini

Illinois’ top-ranked wrestler in Class 2A has placed second and third downstate, and this year Montini senior David Mayora feels situated and ready to finish the season atop the podium in Champaign.

For starters, Mayora cites the return of IWCOA hall-of-fame coach Mike Bukovsky to the program as a key element.

(“Bukovsky) is one of the best coaches you’ll ever meet,” Mayora said. “He’s a great motivator and he has so much that he can share.

“I finally have everything going for me with my coaches and my team — we’re starting to build something really, really cool at Montini. So being able to just focus on getting better every day in the room instead of worrying about other people, I can be a little bit more selfish this year, and use all my resources in my coaches and teammates.”

Mayora posted a pair of tech falls before winning a 9-3 decision in his semifinal match against Yorkville’s Jack Ferguson, setting up a second-period fall for a Dvorak title against McHenry’s previously unbeaten Pedro Jimenez. Second-seeded Jimenez reached the finals with a major decision win over Lincoln-Way Central’s Jalen Byrd.

It was Mayora’s second Dvorak title. He won the title at 152 last year.

“What changes over the years is just maturity,” Mayora said. “Last year I was looking to win, and this year I’m looking to dominate and show people who I am.

“I’m not content anymore with just getting a win. I want to show what I can do and what I’ve been training and pushed to do. And there’s no reason I can’t show that and at the same time have fun doing it.”

St. Charles East’s Gavin Connolly took third at 150, Byrd placed fourth, Ferguson took fifth, and Wauconda’s Cole Porten placed sixth.

157 – Will Denny, Marist

Top-ranked at 150, Marist’s Will Denny went into the Dvorak with an individual tournament title won at Joliet Central and a fifth-place finish at the prestigious national Ironman tournament in Ohio.

Denny held serve in dominant fashion. Wrestling up at 157, the top-seeded Marist junior opened with two tech falls to set up a 6-2 semifinal decision win over Hononegah’s Brody Sendele, currently ranked third at 157. 

A major decision win over Montini’s Santino Tenuta for the title gave Denny the first Dvorak title of his career. Denny placed fifth at 113 as a freshman and did not wrestle in last year’s Dvorak tournament. He left Harlem with an 18-2 record and his lone two losses came in tournaments outside of Illinois.

Third-seeded Tenuta reached the finals with a 5-4 semifinal decision win over Wauconda’s second-seeded Nicholas Cheshier.

Sendele wrestled back for third at 157, Chesier took fourth, Moline’s Zander Ealy was fifth, and Conant’s Tanner Cosgrove placed sixth.

165 – Anthony Gutierrez, St. Charles East

St. Charles East coach Jason Potter was happy with his wrestlers across the board as the Saints won their second straight Dvorak team title. None more so than junior Anthony Gutierrez.

“I’m proud of all of them but his performance this weekend — he had some really gritty matches,” Potter said. “He wrestled a kid in his quarterfinal that he lost to earlier in the year, so it’s about getting tough in those situations and embracing them.”

Gutierrez’s 7-5 quarterfinal win over Hononegah’s Connor Diemel avenged a 4-3 loss to Diemel earlier this year. Gutierrez followed that up with a first-period pin in his semifinal match against Bolingbrook’s Tommy McDermott.

In his title match, second-seeded Gutierrez took on Marian Central’s top-seeded Max Astacio, the No. 1-ranked 1A wrestler in Illinois. Astacio won by major decision over Plainfield South’s Colin Bickett in the quarterfinals, then topped McHenry’s Aiden Fischler in the semifinals by 8-5 decision.

Ranked No. 5 in 3A, Gutierrez gutted out a 4-2 decision to win his first Dvorak title.

“So much of this sport is mental and we’re working through how to handle that pressure because we don’t want it to be easy. We want it to be hard,” Potter said. “And if (Gutierrez) stays composed and wrestles his match — he’s super long and unorthodox, and he can attack from different angles — he’s going to be really, really good. And he’s starting to believe it.”

Diemel went on to place third at 165, McDermott took fourth, Bickett was fifth and Fischler took sixth.

175 – Matty Jens, Grayslake Central

Grayslake Central senior and returning state champion Matty Jens is the top-ranked 2A wrestler at 175 pounds. He had an important message for every wrestler in Illinois, after he stepped off the top step of the podium at Harlem.

“Have some fun because this is the best sport in the world,” Jens said.

The ongoing battles between Jens and Libertyville’s Matt Kubas saw another chapter take place on the title mat at 175. Jens won by 7-4 decision to claim his Dvorak title, adding it to titles won this year at Glenwood and Barrington.

Kubas, ranked second at 175 in 3A behind Mt. Carmel’s Colin Kelly, has only lost twice this season — both in finals matches to Jens, at Barrington and Harlem.

“We’ve been partners since we were four years old,” Jens said of Kubas. “He’s one of the best in the state and I hope he goes on (in 3A) and does well. I wish him the best.”

When wrestlers know each other as well as Kubas and Jens know each other, it can become increasingly difficult to gain separation. Jens went into his Dvorak title match without focusing too much on his familiarity with Kubas.

“Stay strict with how I wrestle and just don’t overthink it,” Jens said. “Just sticking to my game plan and just wrestling smart the whole time. I know with my technique and how I wrestle, good things will happen. And that comes with not going out of my way to do anything special.”

Jens posted a fall and a tech fall before winning a 7-2 semifinal decision over St. Charles East’s Brody Murray. Third-seeded Kubas won by fall and major decision before winning a 6-3 semifinal decision over Yorkville’s second-seeded Luke Zook.

Jens is chasing a second state title this season, devoid of concern for what the future might hold.

“A big thing is I don’t want to worry about college coaches and all that kind of stuff,” Jens said. “I just want to stay focused, and that other stuff will come.

“Last year it was my goal to win a state title but five minutes after I did it, I wanted to go work out and wrestle again. And while I want to win it again, there are also bigger goals in line. It’s not just this year, it’s my future.”

Zook wrestled back for third place at 175, Montini’s Alex Marre was fourth, Murray finished fifth, and Hononegah’s Kurt Smith took sixth.

190 – Aeoden Sinclair, Milton, WI

Nobody was any more dominant than Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeden Sinclair at this year’s Dvorak. The Milton senior was an unbeaten Wisconsin state champion at 220 pounds last year and nobody could touch the Missouri-bound, No. 1-ranked 190-pounder in the nation at Harlem.

Sinclair posted three pins before winning by tech fall on the title mat against Marist’s Conor Phelan, who is currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois at 190 pounds. Third-seeded Phelan had three falls to reach the finals, including a second-period semifinal fall against Plainfield North’s second-seeded Leo Tovar. Tovar went into the semifinal match with Phelan unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in 3A.

Tovar wrestled back for third at 190, Loyola’s Quinn Herbert was fourth, Libertyville’s Caleb Baczek took fifth, and Moline’s James Soliz placed sixth.

215 – Noah Wenzel, Dakota

One year after placing second on the Dvorak title mat at 220 pounds, Dakota’s Noah Wenzel was hoping to leave no doubt who the top wrestler at 215 was at this year’s tournament.

Top-ranked in 1A, as a two-time state champion and the tournament’s top seed, Wenzel set himself up for that goal with a pair of pins and then an 11-2 major decision win in his semifinal against Plainfield South’s fourth-seeded Matt Janiak.

Wenzel did, in fact, win his Dvorak title match against Loyola’s Kai Calcutt, but it didn’t happen the way anyone wanted; Calcutt suffered a leg injury in the first period and had to injury default in the final.

“You never want to see that happen,” Wenzel said.

The good news for the Dakota faithful is that Wenzel is back wrestling again after missing two months due to injury. His dominance leading up to the finals was never a sure bet, considering how much rust Wenzel is shaking off.

“I’ve only been wrestling for a week or two. I came in here with only five matches,” Wenzel said. “It feels good to come back from such a long break from the sport and still be able to perform at such a high level.

“I was able to maintain a decent gas tank throughout. I was able to keep running, and keep exercising. Sharpness has started coming back throughout the last week or so.”

Third-seeded sophomore Calcutt went into the tournament ranked No. 2 in 3A at 215 pounds. Calcutt cruised into the finals. He had a fall and a major decision win before winning by major decision in his semifinal against second-seeded Yorkville’s Ben Alvarez. Returning state champion Alvarez went into the Dvorak as the second seed.

Libertyville’s Owen McGrory placed third at 215, Janiak placed fourth, Alvarez took fifth, and Hononegah’s Isaak Smith finished sixth.

285 – Wyatt Schmitt, Joliet West

The Dvorak ended with the most epic finals match of the tournament with Joliet West’s Wyatt Schmitt and Round Lake’s William Cole taking their heavyweight match to overtime before Schmitt won 2-1 on an escape in the tiebreak period.

Schmitt improved to 11-0 with the win, and is currently ranked No. 4 at 285 in 3A.

“Wyatt is having an exceptional career at Joliet West, and he’s writing quite the legacy for himself,” Joliet West coach Chuck Rumpf said. “Last weekend he earned his 100^th career win and he had a good weekend at the Dvorak. He had to defeat a very tough opponent in the finals.

“He placed fourth at last year’s state tournament and has worked relentlessly to improve upon that finish this season.”

Top-seeded senior Schmitt opened the Dvorak with a fall and a major decision before winning by fall in his semifinal match against Conant’s Harley Stary.

Cole was second-seeded and ranked fifth in 3A heading into the tournament. The Round Lake junior opened with a fall before winning a 6-0 quarterfinal decision over Loyola’s Joey Herbert. Cole then used a second-period semifinal pin over McHenry’s Jesse Saavedra to reach the finals.

Saavedra wrestled back for third place, Dakota’s Randy McPeek was fourth, Stary placed fifth, and Huntley’s Markos Mihalopoulos finished sixth.

Dvorak championship match results:

106 – Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah) MD 17-6 Jamiel Castleberry (Proviso West)

113 – Dom Munaretto (St. Charles E) MD 16-4 Anthony Alanis (Marian)

120 – George Marinopoulos (Marist) MD 15-6 Kalani Khiev (Glenbard N)

126 – Josh Vazquez of Lombard (Montini) D 3-2 Michael Esteban (Marist)

132 – Ben Davino (St. Charles E) TF 4:27 Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey)

138 – Tyler Guerra (St. Charles E) D 10-3 Justin Wardlow (Lockport)

144 – Carson Weber (Joliet West) D 7-5 Aaron Camacho (Bolingbrook)

150 – David Mayora (Montini) F 2:52 Pedro Jimenez (McHenry)

157 – Will Denny of Chicago (Marist) MD 20-7 Santino Tenuta (Montini)

165 – Anthony Gutierrez (St. Charles E) D 4-2 Max Astacio (Marian)

175 – Matty Jens (Grayslake C) D 7-4 Matt Kubas (Libertyville)

190 – Aeoden Sinclair (Milton WI) TF 2:40 Conor Phelan )Marist)

215 – Noah Wenzel (Dakota) Inj. 1:29 Kai Calcutt (Loyola)

285 – Wyatt Schmitt of Joliet West) TB-1 2-1 William Cole (Round Lake)

Dvorak 3rd-place match results:

106 – Daniel Lehman (Hersey) D 1-0 Morgan Turner (Lockport)

113 – Dominick Marre (Glenbard North) D 4-3 Bruno Cassioppi (Hononegah)

120 – Nathan Randle (Wauconda) D 2-0 Ryan Richie (Edwardsville)

126 – Christian Chavez (Glenbard N) D 7-4 Tommy Banas (Providence)

132 – Kam Luif (Montini) D 6-2 Liam Zimmerman (Lockport)

138 – Tyson Peach (Milton WI) SV-1 4-3 Dona, van Allen (Marist)

144 – Jayden Colon (St. Charles E) F 2:15 Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg)

150 – Gavin Connolly (St. Charles (E) D 6-0 Jalen Byrd (Lincoln-Way C)

157 – Brody Sendele of (Hononegah) D 5-3 Nicholas Cheshier (Wauconda)

165 – Connor Diemel (Hononegah) D 7-1 Tommy McDermott (Bolingbrook)

175 – Luke Zook (Yorkville) D 4-3 Alex Marre of Lombard (Montini)

190 – Leonardo Tovar (Plainfield N) D 3-2 Quinn Herbert (Loyola)

215 – Owen McGrory (Libertyville) M. For. Matt Janiak (Plainfield S)

285 – Jesse Saavedra (McHenry) F 1:07 Randy McPeek (Dakota)

Also placing fifth were Wauconda’s Gavin Rockey (106), Plainfield North’s Maddox Garbis (113), Marian’s Brayden Teunissen (120), Hersey’s Abdullokh Khakimov (126), Lincoln-Way East’s Tyson Zvonar (132), Marian’s Vance Williams (138), Hersey’s Jake Hanson (144), Yorkville’s Jack Ferguson (150),Moline’s Zander Ealy (157), Plainfield South’s Colin Bickett (165), St. Charles East’s Brody Murray (175), Libertyville’s Caleb Baczek (190), Yorkville’s Ben Alvarez (215), and Conant’s Harley Stary (285).

Sixth-placers included Marian’s Justin Hagevold (106), McHenry’s Ryan Hanson (113), Libertyville’s Luke Berktold (120), Libertyville’s Orion Moran (132), Yorkville’s Donovan Rosauer (138), Dakota’s Jason Bowers (144), Wauconda’s Cole Porten (150), Conant’s Tanner Cosgrove (157), McHenry’s Aiden Fischler (165), Hononegah’s Kurt Smith (175), Moline’s James Soliz (190), Hononegah’s Isaak Smith (215), and Huntley’s Markos Mihalopoulos (285).

Also placing seventh were Grayslake Central’s VInce DeMarco (106), Montini’s Michael Malizzio of Lombard (113), Round Lake’s Alejandro Cordova (120), Prairie Ridge’s Mikey Meade (126), Wauconda’s Brian Hart (132), Lincoln-Way East’s Brayden Mortell (138), Glenbard North’s Rylan Kradle (144), Lincoln-Way East’s Domanic Abeja (150), Wheaton North’s Thomas Fulton (157), Wauconda’s Zachary Johnson (165), Marist’s Ricky Ericksen (175), Hersey’s Anthony Cambria (190), Lincoln-Wa East’s Caden O’Rourke (215), and Lockport’s Wojciech Chrobak (285).

Eighth-placers included Edwardsville’s Bryson Nuttall (106), Prairie Ridge’s Jake Lowitzki (113), Conant’s Luis Flores (120), Lincoln-Way East’s Kaidge Richardson (126), St. Rita’s Nino Protti (132), Edwardsville’s Logan Hiller (138), Edwardsville’s Blake Mink (144), Hersey’s Frankie Tagoe (150), Huntley’s Radic Dvorak (157), Libertyville’s Charlie Clark (165), Lincoln-Way East’s Jackson Zaeske of Frankfort (175), Yorkville’s Luke Chrisse (190), Crystal Lake Central’s Tommy McNeil (215), and Bolingbrook’s Isaac Amoh (285).

Final team scores: 1. St. Charles East (214) 2. Marist (174.5) 3. Montini (165.5) 4. Hersey (137) 5. Hononegah’s (127.5) 6. Marian Central Catholic (119) 7. Wauconda (117.5) 8. Lockport (116) 9. Libertyville (105) 10. Glenbard North (104.5) 11. Yorkville (102.5) 12. Edwardsville (102) 13. Lincoln-Way East (99.5) 14. Joliet West (88) 15. McHenry (87.5) 16. Lincoln-Way Central (85.5) 17. Dakota (82) 18. Milton, WI (79.5) 19. Loyola Academy (78.5) 20. Bolingbrook (72) 21. Moline (69.5) 22. Plainfield North (62.5) 23. Plainfield South (55) 24. Huntley (53) 25. Schaumburg (51) 26. Crystal Lake Central (47) 27. Round Lake (47) 28. Wheaton North (45.5) 29. Conant (44) 30. Grayslake Central (40.5) 31. Providence Catholic (40.5) 32. Prairie Ridge (28) 33. Proviso West (25) 34. St. Rita (24.5) 35. Harlem (18) 36. Freeport (14)

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA

When there’s a three-team race heading into the medal round of an invitational and one team goes 7-3 with six falls and a win by technical fall, that performance likely be the difference.

And that’s what happened at the Unity Invitational on Saturday where Benton, Olympia and the host Rockets were all within a few points of each other heading into the final round of matches.

While Unity captured three titles and had the most finalists with six, it won two other matches besides the championships and just one of its victories was secured by a pin.

Olympia also won three titles but it recorded six falls and added a win by technical fall during that round and that helped it to claim top honors in the 14-team competition in Tolono with 199.5 points while defending champion Unity placed second with 190.5 points and Benton took third with 188 points. 

Rochester (146.5), Tremont (130.5), Hoopeston Area (120) and St. Joseph-Ogden (119) rounded out the top half of the field.

It was the second tournament title of the season for coach Josh Collins’ Spartans, who opened their season with a first-place showing at Illini Bluffs by nine points over Dixon. Olympia was well behind the hosts and took fourth at Civic Memorial’s Bradley Invite and then was third last week at Pontiac’s Munch Invitational, finishing 9.5 points behind champion Evergreen Park.

Winning championships for Olympia were Dylan Eimer (113), Austin Kisner (120) and Bentley Wise (150) while Cole Bauer (175) and Darian Holloway (190) both took second place.

The Spartans, who co-op with Delavan, got thirds from Mateo Martinez (126) and Cooper Phillips (138) while Kelton Graden (157) and Brayden Riblet (285) took fifth place and Noah Whiteside (106) was sixth. Jordan Bicknell (144) and Kayden Thomas (157) also competed.

Kisner, Wise, Martinez, Phillips, Graden and Riblet all recorded falls in the medal round while Eimer won by technical fall.

Olympia had a 26-22 advantage over Benton for the top total in pins and technical falls while Unity had 16. The Spartans owned a 232-222 edge for the most total match points over Rochester while Unity had 175 and Benton had 133.

Collins was a two-time IHSA Class A champion and three-time finalist from 1999-2001 for the Spartans. He also competed on three trophy winning teams from 1999-2001 for coach Mike Manahan, a 1997 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee who received the Lifetime Service Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Illinois Chapter in 2006.

“We’ve got a good group of kids that work hard and they want to improve and they’re buying into what we’re doing,” Collins said. “Hard work pays off, we like to score on our feet and be aggressive and always scoring points. They battled and wrestled for six minutes. We had several kids who were down by points and kept wrestling and they ended up winning the match. 

“My son is in the middle school and I wrestled at Olympia. My ultimate goal as a coach was always to get back to Olympia and in 2020, I was able to get the opportunity to come back and start coaching. They’re like a family. We work hard together and we win and lose together and we try to fix our problems as we go. And everything that I dish out to them, they just keep coming back for more.”

Winning championships for coach Logan Patton’s Rockets were Abram Davidson (157), Thayden Root (175) and Hunter Eastin (190) while Hunter Shike (132), Kaden Inman (144) and Hudson DeHart (215) took second place.

Also for Unity, Ryan Rink (165) took third, Travis McCarter (113) and Josh Heath (157) were fourth, Taylor Finley (138) finished fifth and Austin Winters (138) was sixth. 

“Hats off to Olympia, top to bottom they’re a super solid team,” said Patton, who led the Rockets to third place in Class 1A in 2020 at the IHSA Dual Team Finals. “I couldn’t have told you what the team score was, but I just kept seeing their kids winning. We only have one senior in the lineup and three juniors in the lineup and our lineup is not even set so I can’t be too upset.

“They’re trying to get in where they fit in kind of deal and trying to understand that there’s no Nick Nosler or Tavius Hosley to help them out. Those guys are gone and doing some great things in Division I, so it’s now, what do they have to do. After these last two days, we’re going to turn in the right direction.”

Benton coach Aaron Robinson, one of the school’s nine state medalists who took third at 140 in 1A in 2010, had one of the three repeat title winners in the invite, Mason Tieffel (144), an IHSA Class 1A champion at 138 in 2023 who took second place in 2022 and third in 2021 in the IWCOA. Second-place finishers were Anthony Hernandez (138) and Drake Spears (285).

Also for the Rangers, Zane Stanley (106) and Cohen Sweely (113) took third, Derek Wilkey (150), Tiffin Kouzoukas (165), Petyton Robinson (175) and Braxton Tittle (106) finished fourth,

Nathan Galant (215) placed fifth and Kaden Blades (126) and Briggs Miller (113) were sixth.

St. Joseph-Ogden and Tremont both had two champions. Winning titles for St. Joseph-Ogden were Emmitt Holt (106) and Holden Brazelton (132) while Tremont got championships from Mason Mark (138) and Bowden Delaney (165).

Other Unity Invitational champions were Unity Christian’s Garrett VerHeecke (126), Rochester’s Jared Lauwerens (215) and Carterville’s Zechariah Miller (285).

Eastin, Mark and Tieffel repeated as champions in the tournament. Delaney led all competitors with 30 team points. Eastin, Kisner, Lauwerens, Miller and VerHeecke tied for second place with 28 points, Brazelton and Wise tied for seventh with 27.5 points and Mark and Tieffel tied for ninth with 27 team points.

Others taking second place were Hoopeston Area’s Charlie Flores (106), Ayden Larkin (157) and Angel Zamora (165), Rochester’s Connor Carroll (113), Bishop McNamara’s Noah Pelleiter (120), Tremont’s Chase Stedman (126) and Peotone’s Conor Pasch (150).

Some of the closest title matches included Davidson edging Larkin 3-2 at 157, Holt over Flores 7-2 at 106 and Root winning 9-4 over Bauer at 175.

Prairie Central’s Wyatt Strait had the most falls in the least time with four in 6:16 while Hoopeston Area’s Talan Nelson had the most total match points with 53. 

Here’s a look at the Unity Invitational champions and their weight classes:100 – Emmitt Holt, St. Joseph-Ogden

After winning 33 matches and qualifying for the IHSA Finals in 2022, St. Joseph-Ogden’s Emmitt Holt got stuck in a tough regional at LeRoy and was unable to advance to the Clinton Sectional despite winning 30 matches last season. Now the St. Joseph-Ogden senior hopes to get back to state and he’s off to a good start after winning a 7-2 decision over Hoopeston Area’s Charlie Flores in the 100 title match. One of two champs for coach Bill Gallo’s Spartans, Holt (6-1) advanced to the finals with a fall in 0:47 over Benton’s Braxton Tittle in the semifinals.

“I had a big cut to 106, it’s a big transition from 113 last year,” Holt said. “I’m coming out and trying to bring a state title home to St. Joe’s. Our team started off slow but we’ve developed a lot and we’re a really good team now. It helps to have good competition and good people around you who are pushing you. I like everyones’ enthusiasm and how everyone wants to be here. Everyone goes out and tries their best and takes no days off.”

Flores (9-4), a sophomore who was a sectional qualifier and won 33 matches last season, got a fall in 4:13 over Benton’s Zane Stanley in the semifinals to advance to the title mat to become the first of the three finalists for coach Chris Kelnhofer’s Cornjerkers, who co-op with Milford. Benton’s Stanley took third over teammate Tittle as the result of a medical forfeit. And for fifth place, Rochester’s Pierce Bultmann won by fall in 5:48 over Olympia freshman Noah Whiteside.

113 – Dylan Eimer, Olympia

Olympia junior Dylan Eimer hopes to follow up on his 116-126 title at the Midwest Nationals Pre Season Open last month in Bloomington with a second state medal this season. A fourth-place finisher at 106 in 2022 who went 43-7 as a freshman, Eimer (2-0) looked impressive in his tournament debut after winning by technical fall in 3:49 over Rochester’s Connor Carroll in the 113 title match. Eimer, the first of three champions and five finalists for coach Josh Collins’ first-place Spartans, won by technical fall in 1:30 in the semifinals over Unity’s Travis McCarter.

“I’ve been doing good,” Eimer said. “I’ve been through a little bit, but I just keep open-minded and keep practicing. I’m excited to see where we’ll go. I just like the drive that everyone has and the commitment that everyone has on the team to bond. My big hope is that bracket board, that’s the goal that I’ve been wanting since I was a little kid.”

Carroll (11-1), a junior who went 34-7 and fell one win shy of a medal at 106 in the IHSA Class 2A Finals last season, became the first of two finalists for coach Brad Alewelt’s Rockets when he captured a 3-2 decision over Benton’s Cohen Sweely in the 113 semifinals. Carroll won a Unity title last season. Sweely (17-2), a freshman, bounced back from his close call in the semifinals by taking third place with a fall in 1:02 over sophomore McCarter. St. Joseph-Ogden junior Jackson Walsh won by fall in 2:42 over Benton freshman Briggs Miller to finish fifth.

120 – Austin Kisner, Olympia

On a day where there was a three-way battle going into the finals, any win by an unheralded performer would be critical. Olympia freshman Austin Kisner was able to provide such a big boost when he followed Dylan Eimer’s title win at 113 with a championship of his own at 120, the first of his prep career, with a fall in 0:25 over Bishop McNamara’s Noah Pelletier. Kisner (17-4) earned his spot as one of five finalists for coach Josh Collins’ title winners by recording the second of his three pins in 2:50 over St. Joseph-Ogden’s Camden Getty in the semifinals.

“I feel like we’re doing pretty good, but there’s a few things that we can work on,” Kisner said. “I’ve finished fifth, second and first. (Dylan Eimer) He’s a really good practice partner, he pushes you pretty good. I like the family. We’re pretty close-knit and we’re not too big of a team, so you get a good bond with everybody on the team.and it really pays off.”

Pelletier was the lone medalist of the four individuals that competed for Fightin’ Irish coach Jacob Kimberlin. The McNamara sophomore advanced to the 120 title mat with a wild 16-12 decision over Rochester’s Miles Carroll in the semifinals. Freshman Carroll (10-3) bounced back from his tough loss to Pelletier by winning an 18-9 major decision over sophomore Getty for third place. Prairie Central junior Wyatt Strait (9-7), who had the most falls in the least time with four in 6:16, took fifth with a pin in 3:16 over Carterville junior Brawnsen Bloodworth.

126 – Garrett VerHeecke, Unity Christian

One year after his brother Clinton won a Unity Invite title which was an early sign of what would be a great freshman season where he went 48-2 and took third place at 113 in 1A representing Lutheran School Association-Decatur, Garrett VerHeecke, who went 43-7 as a freshman and took sixth at 120, became the second VerHeecke to win a Unity title when he won by fall in 1:59 over Tremont’s Chase Stedman in the 126 finals. The brothers, who both won 9th & 10th grade titles at the Midwest Nationals Pre Season Open last month, again are competing for coach Zach Whitsel, but now for the renamed Unity Christian in Decatur. Garrett pinned Rochester’s Jack Zucco in 1:14 in the semifinals as Clinton, who was unable to participate, cheered him on.

“We have a co-op with another school now (Argenta-Oreana) and then our school changed their name,” VerHeecke said. “We plan on making it to the state tournament and hopefully placing higher this year. I just like that we have more people this year and we’ve had a lot of growth. We had eight kids last year and this year we have 23, so we’ve been able to compete a lot more in duals. I’m just trying to keep working hard and keep getting after it in practice. (Clinton) He’s definitely a great asset to have in the practice room. And I have another partner, Caleb Berg, at 150. Those are my two main guys that I practice with and they definitely help to push me and make me better.”

Stedman (10-1) became the first of three individuals to reach the title mat for the Turks, who are coached by 2006 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee TJ Williams. The Tremont junior won an 11-7 decision over Olympia junior Mateo Martinez in the semifinals. Martinez (13-7) helped his team’s cause to become invitational champions when he recorded a fall in 1:06 over freshman Zucco (11-3) to claim third place. And Hoopeston Area senior Talan Nelson (12-2) captured fifth place after defeating Benton sophomore Kaden Blades by sudden victory.

132 – Holden Brazelton, St. Joseph-Ogden

After going 49-3 and placing third at 132 in 1A  last season and 44-6 and taking sixth at 120 in 2022, Holden Brazelton definitely has his sights on the big prize as he looks to become the third individual from St. Joseph-Ogden to be an IHSA champion, joining Wesley Kibler and Griffin Meeker, and joining Kibler as a three-time medal winner. The junior is off to a great start after improving to 13-0 following his win by technical fall in 1:51 over Unity’s Hunter Shike in the 132 finals. One of two champions for coach Bill Gallo’s Spartans, Brazelton, who also took first place at PORTA, reached the title match with a fall in 1:55 over Hoopeston Area’s Aiden Bell.

“I just got off of the PORTA Invitational win,” Brazelton said. “At Unity last year, it didn’t go as planned and I always have a target on my back in these local tournaments since there’s a lot of these kids who know me here. I just have to stay sharp and do \what I do and get the job done. We have a lot of new guys out, freshman through senior. Me and my teammates and coach Gallo, we get to work in there. And we have a lot of the young guys who are stepping up. Coach Gallo is showing a lot of technique and I show some of mine to just try to get the young kids a little better. They definitely put me to work and they make me better, and I just want to make them better, as well.”

Shike (10-4), who went 36-17 and qualified for state last season, was one of six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s runner-up Rockets. Shike, a sophomore, advanced to the 132 finals after winning by technical fall in 5:43 over Prairie Central’s John Traub in the semifinals. Bell (10-4), also a sophomore, took third place with a 17-5 major decision over junior Traub (10-5). And Tremont sophomore Matthew Flowers (4-1) claimed a 6-4 decision over Charleston sophomore Jake Kuhn to finish in fifth place.

138 – Mason Mark, Tremont

After reaching state for the second time and the IHSA Finals for the first time in 2023, Mason Mark was disappointed that his 44-8 season ended without him reaching the awards stand. The Tremont senior hopes to go out with a bang and is 10-1 after winning his first title of the season after falling just short at PORTA. Mark repeated as a Unity champion and was the first of two title winners for coach TJ Williams’ Turks after he recorded a fall in 1:13 over Benton’s Anthony Hernandez in the 138 finals. Mark, an IWCOA qualifier in 2021, won his first two matches by technical fall, with the latter one in 4:17 against Olympia’s Cooper Phillips in the semifinals.

“We’re just worrying about progressing through the season, so that in February, we’re getting to the actual good matches,” Mark said. “We have a decent amount of good guys but we’re still building and trying to work on some things and just working hard in the room. (TJ Williams) He’s a great coach. He’s pushing us, getting us in shape and getting us ready for February. I just like the room’s chemistry. We’re all working hard in there and we have some new good coaches this year and there’s just like a new feel.”

Hernandez (17-3), a junior who was one of three finalists for coach Aaron Robinson’s third-place Rangers, opened with two falls, with his second pin coming in 2:30 over Urbana’s Malachi Hutchinson in the semifinals. Phillips (16-5), a junior, claimed third place with a fall in 4:24 over freshman Hutchinson (11-7). And in the fifth-place match, Unity freshman Taylor Finley (12-8) pulled out a 5-4 decision over his Rockets teammate, sophomore Austin Winters (11-8).

144 – Mason Tieffel, Benton

Following a 52-2 junior season where he won the Class 1A title at 138 to become Benton’s second IHSA champion and its third overall, Mason Tieffel has obviously been focused on doing whatever he must in order to be a two-time champion. The Rangers senior, who is off to a 21-0 start, hopes to also be a four-time state medalist, going 47-5 and placing second at 126 in 2022 and finishing 33-1 and taking third place at 120 in 2021 in the IWCOA Finals. Tieffel repeated as a Unity Invitational champion after capturing a 16-2 major decision over Unity’s Kaden Inman in the 144 title match. He was one of three finalists and the lone champion for coach Aaron Robinson’s Rangers and reached the finals with a fall in 1:28 over Rochester’s Drake Pfeiffer.

“It’s been exciting,” Tieffel said. “We co-op this year with another small school from around us, Sesser-Valier, so we got a couple of kids there so we’ve made a really good group this year. We have a lot of numbers this year so everybody has good partners and we have a lot of good new young guys this year. and they have a good future. And a lot of our team worked really hard over the summer, so it’s just cool seeing it all pay off for them. Over the fall, I ran cross country, just trying to keep my cardio where it needs to be. I’m in shape and I just keep pushing my pace in my matches and practicing right.”

Inman (8-4), a junior who went 37-16 last and qualified for the IHSA Finals, was one of six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s second-place Rockets. He captured a 5-1 decision over Peotone’s Micah Spinazzola in the semifinals to advance to the 144 title match. Spinazzola (10-4) is a sophomore who went 38-13 in 2023 and also qualified for the IHSA Finals, where his brother Marco closed his Blue Devils career by winning the 1A 152 title. Spinazzola took third with a fall in 4:44 over Rochester junior Drake Pfeiffer. Urbana junior Emiliano Bedello claimed fifth place after winning by technical fall in 3:53 over Carterville sophomore Spencer Crotser.

150 – Bentley Wise, Olympia

There was plenty of disappointment at the end of last season when Olympia advanced four individuals to the Clinton Sectional but was unable to qualify anyone for the IHSA Finals. Someone who likely was most upset was Bentley Wise, who went 42-9 but fell one win shy of a trip to Champaign. On Saturday, the senior improved to 16-3 and was one of his team’s three champions and five finalists to help coach Josh Collins’ Spartans win the title of the Unity Invite over the host team. Wise won with a fall in 1:49 over Peotone’s Conor Pasch in the 150 finals. He reached the title mat with a win by technical fall in 2:54 over Benton’s Derek Wilkey.

“It feels amazing, we’re doing awesome out there, honestly, it’s the best that we’ve been in awhile,” Wise said. “But they deserve it, they work hard. They like to have fun and they have no filter and they’re fun to be around. I usually practice on the weekends and do double practices every night. We’ve got Dylan Eimer back out here and I think he’s going to do great this year.”  

Pasch (9-4), a junior, reached the 150 title match after recording a fall in 3:44 over Rochester’s Ethan Fordham in the semifinals to become the lone finalist for coach Josh Kreske’s Blue Devils. In the third-place match, junior Fordham (11-3) won by fall in 2:58 over freshman Wilkey. And Prairie Central junior Ethan Ziller captured fifth place when he won a 7-0 decision over Unity Christian freshman Caleb Berg (9-7).

157 – Abram Davidson, Unity

In the tight battle that was unfolding during the medals round at the Unity Invite, the hosts Rockets received a big boost when sophomore Abram Davidson captured a 3-2 decision over Hoopeston Area’s Ayden Larkin in the 157 title match. Davidson (12-2), one of the six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s runner-up Rockets, became the first of their three champions. He earned his way to the title mat with a 10-2 major decision over St. Joseph-Ogden’s Coy Hayes.

“We’re a pretty young team and we’re just constantly improving,” Davidson said. “(Logan Patton) He pushes us real hard in the room every day and he’s probably the biggest reason why we’re improving like we are. (Recent Unity teams). They were really good two years ago and they had a great team and we’re just chasing what they did. We’re pretty close-knit, we’re all like family here and it really helps just being as close as we are. Last year didn’t go like I wanted it to, so this year I have a lot to prove and I’m looking forward to it.”

Larkin (9-4), who went 37-14 last year but was unable to advance out of the Clinton Sectional, was one of three finalists for coach Chris Kelnhofer’s Cornjerkers. The junior earned his way into the 157 finals by capturing a 5-3 decision in the semifinals over Unity’s Josh Heath.

Hayes claimed third place when he prevailed over Heath by a 6-5 decision in a matchup of sophomores. And in the fifth-place match, Olympia junior Kelton Graden (19-3), who went 33-19 in 2023  but failed to qualify from the Clinton Sectional, got a pin in 2:41 over Peotone senior Santino Izzi, who went 39-16 last season and qualified for the IHSA Finals.

165 – Bowden Delaney, Tremont

Bowden Delaney had a real fight on his hands in the 165 title match when he found himself trailing in the second period to Hoopeston Area’s Angel Zamora. But the Tremont junior turned things around with two nearfalls and was finally able to record a fall in 4:43 to repeat as a champion in the tournament and add to a title win that he had the previous week at PORTA. Delaney (12-0), who joined Mason Mark as one of two champions and three finalists for coach TJ Williams’ Turks, went 42-6 a year ago and qualified for the IHSA Finals after posting a 35-7 record in 2022 and advancing to state as a freshman. He earned his trip to the 165 title match with a fall in 1:13 over Benton’s Tiffin Kouzoukas in the semifinals.

“I knew that I had to push the pace because he was a tough opponent,” Delaney said. “And he wrestles a unique style so I knew that I wasn’t going to be able to  go out there and bang with him, so I had to work on outside shots. And I’m taller than him, so I had to use that to my advantage. In the second period, I just had to keep pushing because it was going to be a tough match, and once the third period hit, the same thing. We had a rough couple of weeks at the start, especially like last weekend was tough. Our coach did a good job of pushing us and making sure that we worked our hardest in the room to prepare us for these big tournaments. (TJ Williams) He notices the small stuff, whether it’s messing up technically or our gas tank is up. He just does a good job, especially since he’s been through all of this and put so much into the sport. He’s done a good job of doing his role and making sure that we’re doing our best out there.” 

Zamora (11-1), who went 41-12 last season and qualified for the IHSA Finals, became the third member of coach Chris Kelnhofer’s Cornjerkers who were able to reach the title mat. The junior was able to advance to the 165 finals by recording a fall in 3:11 over Unity junior Ryan Rink in the semifinals. Rink (8-5) claimed third place when he won an 8-0 decision over Rangers junior Kouzoukas (13-10). And Carterville senior Jacob Grob (17-5) took fifth place after recording a fall in 5:11 over Urbana sophomore Edwin Villagomez (8-7).

175 – Thayden Root, Unity

When you’re the lone senior on a team that also has only three juniors, there naturally will be a lot of expectations on the veterans. Thayden Root is in that position this season, but he doesn’t mind that he’ll have to take on a bigger leadership role for a Unity team that has high hopes and that has already been highly regarded. Root (15-3), who went 35-17 a year ago and fell short of qualifying for state, was one of the three champions and six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s Rockets at their invite, He took care of business in a head-to-head matchup of the two teams battling for top honors, winning a 9-4 decision over Olympia’s Cole Bauer in the 175 title match. Root earned his spot in the finals with a 12-1 major decision over Benton’s Peyton Robinson.

“I’m the only one on the varsity lineup that’s a senior,” Root said. “We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores this year and not a lot of juniors and seniors. I feel that one of the goals for the few juniors and seniors that we have is to get them ready and train them to kind of meet the expectations. There’s a lot of responsibility but as a senior, I should be keeping the team in line and supporting each one as much as I can. I’ve just been wrestling people in the room that I know that I can work to make better and they will also help to make me better. It’s very friendly and we joke around a lot. We try building each other up and just supporting each other.”

Despite falling short of winning a title, Bauer (10-7) was one of five finalists and 10 individuals out of 12 competitors who placed sixth or better to help coach Josh Collins’ Spartans get past Unity and win the team championship. The junior earned his spot on the 175 title mat by getting a fall in 2:23 over Peotone’s Laith Abunijmeh in the semifinals. Abunijmeh (8-2), a junior, won third place by capturing a 6-2 decision over Rangers sophomore Robinson. And Prairie Central senior Jack Rathbun claimed fifth place with an 8-3 decision over Tremont junior Ian Eatock.

190 – Hunter Eastin, Unity

With his team attempting to catch Olympia in the quest for the Unity Invite title, Hunter Eastin went out and accomplished his job in another head-to-head matchup between the Rockets and Spartans when he won by fall in 2:56 over Olympia’s Darian Holloway to capture the title at 190. Eastin (10-3), a junior who went 48-7 last season and fell one victory shy of a medal at 182 in the IHSA Class 1A Finals, was one of three champions and six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s second-place Rockets, and also repeated as a title winner in the competition. He advanced to the title mat with a pin in 0:39 over Tremont’s Blaine Williams in the semifinals. 

“One of the toughest parts is getting them to understand wrestling for your team and not just wrestling for yourself,” Eastin said. “My favorite part of this program is just winning. I haven’t just been relying on a firemen’s this year. I’ve just been diversifying the moves that I’ve been trying to hit. I like the lightheartedness of this team. We like goofing around.” 

Holloway (15-5), a sophomore who was one of five finalists and 10 Spartans who placed sixth or better to help coach Josh Collins’ team get past Unity and claim the championship in the competition, earned his spot on the 190 title mat with a fall in 2:00 over Rochester’s Conner Broughton in the semifinals. Tremont’s Williams, a junior, captured third place with a fall in 3:01 over Rochester sophomore Broughton. And for fifth place. Charleston sophomore Marcellx Boling recorded a fall in 1:28 over Urbana senior Dominic Mendez.

215 – Jared Lauwerens, Rochester 

After doing his part an offensive and defensive lineman to help Rochester win the IHSA Class 4A football championship with its 59-38 victory over St. Laurence to cap a perfect 14-0 campaign and give the Rockets their ninth state title for coach Derek Leonard, senior Jared Lauwerens is ready to add to his athletic success at the school by accomplishing more big things this winter on the mat. He’s off to an 11-1 start after capturing the title at 215 when he recorded a fall  in 1:52 over Unity’s Hudson DeHart. He was one of two finalists and the lone champion for coach Brad Alewelt’s Rockets that finished fourth in the invite. Lauwerens earned his spot on the title mat with a fall in 1:04 over Tremont’s Jacob Balsimo in the semifinals.

“It’s great and it’s a lot of fun,” Lauwerens said of competing for Rochester. “We all treat each other like family. We’re normally more of a football school and it’s been great fun. It helps out a lot, especially with tackling and takedowns. I’m excited because we have a lot of new kids coming in. They’re proving themselves and they’re doing a lot better.”

DeHart, one of the two freshmen who were able to reach the title mat, picked up a big win in the semifinals when he won a 2-0 decision over St. Joseph-Ogden’s Quincy Jones to become one of the six finalists for coach Logan Patton’s Rockets. Jones (8-5), a junior, claimed third place by recording a fall in 3:02 over Turks senior Balsimo. And for fifth place, Benton senior Nathan Galant won by fall in 3:23 over Charleston junior Elias Rodriguez.

285 – Zechariah Miller, Carterville

While Zechariah Miller had the chance to qualify for state at the Carterville Sectional in 2023, he also had the misfortune of having four others at his weight class who wound up on the awards stand at 285 in the IHSA Class 1A Finals. So Miller, a senior who went 37-10 a year ago, looks to improve upon that record and hopes to qualify at the Vandalia Sectional that will have only one of those four back, Cahokia’s Jason Dowell, as he aspires to get to Champaign this season. Miller (19-2) won the title at 285 by injury default at 0:27 after Benton sophomore Drake Spears was unable to go following a tough semifinal match. Miller became the lone finalist for coach Daniel Alderman’s Lions after pinning Hoopeston Area’s Tucker Deck in 0:46 in the semifinals.

“I’m just very blessed and all glory to God for my performance today,” Miller said. “All of the work that we’ve done in practice and all of the guys that I had to get beat up by the last couple of years have led to this moment, so I’m very blessed and thankful for this opportunity. We have a really good program. We have a lot of young guys in there and have a new young assistant coach who helps me in every practice and beats up me a little bit. We have a nice wrestling room and we come to work every day. We don’t take any day for granted. Coming in, I was expected to be pretty good since I was a sectional qualifier, but it’s just hype until you prove it. So coming in and being able to actually perform well and show what I can do makes me really happy. And it makes my coaches really happy just to show all of the hard work and dedication we’ve been putting in. This is only the beginning for the rest of the season.”

Spears (5-4), a sophomore, fell behind 10-0 to Charleston’s Stormy Hughes in the semifinals and it looked like the Trojans might get their first finalist. But Spears got a fall in 3:58 to end the semifinal matches and gave coach Aaron Robinson’s Rangers their third finalist and also put them near the top of the points standings heading into the final round. Spears wasn’t able to last long on the title mat, however, defaulting due to injury in 0:27. Hughes (10-3), a junior, bounced back to claim third place  with a fall  in 0:47 over freshman Deck to make him Charleston’s top medalist. In the fifth place, the champion Spartans added one final victory when sophomore Brayden Riblet won by fall in 1:09 over Charleston junior Yeshua O’Brien.

Championship matches for the Unity Invitational

106 – Emmitt Holt (St. Joseph-Ogden) D 7-2 Charlie Flores (Hoopeston Area)

113 – Dylan Eimer (Olympia) TF 3:49 Connor Carroll (Rochester)

120 – Austin Kinser (Olympia) F 0:25 Noah Pelletier (Bishop McNamara)

126 – Garrett VerHeecke (Unity Christian) F 1:59 Chase Stedman (Tremont)

132 – Holden Brazelton (St. Joseph-Ogden) TF 1:51 Hunter Shike (Unity)

138 – Mason Mark (Tremont) F 1:13 Anthony Hernandez (Benton)

144 – Mason Tieffel (Benton) MD 16-2 Kaden Inman (Unity)

150 – Bentley Wise (Olympia) F 1:49 Conor Pasch (Peotone)

157 – Abram Davidson (Unity) D 3-2 Ayden Larkin (Hoopeston Area)

165 – Bowden Delaney (Tremont) F 4:43 Angel Zamora (Hoopeston Area)

175 – Thayden Root (Unity) D 9-4 Cole Bauer (Olympia)

190 – Hunter Eastin (Unity) F 2:56 Darian Holloway (Olympia)

215 – Jared Lauwerens (Rochester) F 1:52 Hudson DeHart (Unity)

285 – Zechariah Miller (Carterville) INJ 0:27 Drake Spears (Benton)

Team standings for the Unity Invitational

1. Olympia (199.5), 2. Unity (190.5), 3. Benton (188), 4. Rochester (146.5), 5. Tremont (130.5), 6. Hoopeston Area (120), 7. St. Joseph-Ogden (119), 8. Carterville (80), 9. Peotone (68.5), 10. Charleston (56), 10. Urbana (56), 12. Prairie Central (55.5), 13. Unity Christian (44), 14. Bishop McNamara (26).

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA

Normal Community edges Roxana for Mascoutah’s Dale Breckel Invitational titleThere was a three-way battle for the championship of Mascoutah’s Dale Breckel Invitational involving Normal Community, Roxana and Morton.

When the 33-team competition that ran two days was complete, six points separated the three teams with Normal Community capturing the championship with 201.5 points while Romana took second with 198 points and Morton placed third with 195.5 points.

Next in line were Quincy Senior (177.5), Mattoon (138.5), Bloomington (135), Fort Zumwalt North, MO (130.5), Jacksonville (130), Triad (129) and Waterloo (126) to complete the top 10.

Coach Trevor Kaufman’s first-place Ironmen were led by their four champions, Jackson Soney (106), Caden Correll (113), Cole Gentsch (120) and Cooper Caraway (215). Carter Mayes (138) took third while Ethan Cavallo (126) and Jayden Campbell (144) both placed eighth.

Although they didn’t place, Luke Eganhouse (132), Gavin Capodice (150), Jaren Frankowiak (157), Victor Reyes (165), Cole Kretsinger (175) and Mason Caraway (190) all scored key points to put Normal Community over the top in the tight team race.

“A good couple days of wrestling for us,” Kaufman said. ‘Our go-to guys were able to get it done, going four for four in the finals over some good competition.  

“Besides our three returning qualifiers, Jackson Soney remains undefeated at 106 with all bonus point victories and Carter Mayes wrestled tough getting third. We have a great group of kids with only one senior in the starting lineup.”

Leading coach Rob Milazzo’s runner-up Shells were three second-place finishers, Brandon Green, Jr. (132), Lyndon Thies (157) and James Herring (285). In addition, Logan Riggs (126) took third, Lleyton Cobine (120) and Robert Watt (190) finished fourth, Trevor Gihring (138) placed fifth and Braden Johnson (150) claimed sixth. 

Top performers for coach Edward Henderson’s third-place Potters were Harrison Dea (113) and Caleb Lenning (126), who finished second, as well as Noah Harris (106), Caiden Robison (132) and Steve Marvin (150), who took third. Clayton McKee (157) and Tyus Almasy (175) placed fourth and Colton McKee (165) was seventh.

Other Dale Breckel Invitational champs were Quincy Senior’s Owen Uppinghouse (165) and Bryor Newbold (175), Triad’s Colby Crouch (126), Carbondale’s Isaac Smith (132), Mt. Vernon’s Dillon White (138), Mattoon’s Korbin Bateman (144), Murphysboro’s Liam Fox (157), Waterloo’s Jaxson Mathenia (190), Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo (285) and Fort Zumwalt North, MO’s Cole Aguirre (150).

Nine of the title winners also took first place in the event in 2022. They were Bateman, Caraway, Correll, Crouch, Gentsch, Newbold, Rulo, Uppinghouse and White. Two of those repeat winners also took second place at the IHSA Finals last season, Crouch (2A-126) and Rulo (3A-285), while Uppinghouse (3A-160) finished third, Correll (3A-106) placed fifth and Caraway (3A-220) was sixth.

And nine of the champs left Mascoutah with perfect records. Those unbeaten title winners are, from lowest to highest weight: Soney (19-0), Crouch (13-0), Smith (19-0), Bateman (18-0), Aguirre (14-0), Fox (14-0), Uppinghouse (20-0), Mathenia (16-0) and Rulo (10-0).

Also finishing second were Mt. Vernon’s Maddux Randall (175) and Mason Randall (190), Triad’s Will Kelly (106), Mattoon’s Ben Capitosti (138), Murphysboro’s Bryce Edwards (144), Highland’s Tyson Rakers (150), Bloomington’s Maddox Kirts (165), O’Fallon’s Gavin Gentille (215) and Fort Zumwalt North’s Nathaniel Provost (120). 

Some of the closest title matches included Mathenia prevailing over Mason Randall 4-3 at 190, Aguirre edging Rakers 6-4 at 150, Newbold getting past Maddux Randall 4-1 at 175, Fox prevailing over Thies 10-6 at 157 and Smith beating Green, Jr. at 11-6 at 132. 

There was a three-way tie for the most team points with 34 between Bateman, Crouch and Rulo while Caraway, Soney, Uppinghouse and White had 33 points, Correll scored 32.5 points, Smith collected 32 points, Fox had 30.5 points and Gentsch finished with 30 points.

Others claiming third-place finishes were Civic Memorial’s Avery Jamie (113), Anna-Jonesboro’s Drew Sadler (120), Mascoutah’s Brock Ross (144), Quincy Senior’s Gunnar Derhake (157), Lincoln’s Dawson McConnell (165), Waterloo’s Jackson Deutch (175), Mahomet-Seymour’s Brock VanDeveer (190), East Alton-Wood River’s Drake Champlin (215) and Jacksonville’s Aiden Surratt (285).

Additional fourth-place finishers were Jacksonville’s Jordan Kholian (126), James Cotton (165) and Oliver Cooley (215), Quincy Senior’s Brody Baker (144) and Todd Smith (285), Bloomington’s Jaylen Sandy (106), Champaign Central’s Talin Baker (113), Triad’s Braden Rowe (132), Mascotah’s Jordan Sonon-Hale (138) and Marion’s Caleb Ohnesorge (150).

Also finishing fifth were Mattoon’s Tristan Porter (120) and Aidan Blackburn (150), Civic Memorial’s Kale Hawk (215) and Jake Herrin (285), Mahomet-Seymour’s Gideon Hayter (106), Collinsville’s Camron Minner (132), Lincoln’s Jake Lawrence (144), Marion’s Justin Murphy (157), Carbondale’s Thomas Imboden (165), Red Bud’s Ty Carter (175), Bloomington’s Kenner Bye (190) and Fort Zumwalt North, MO’s Patrick Provost (113) and Carsten Burkemper (126).

Sixth-place finishes were also turned in by Bloomington’s Javier Enriquez-Lynd (132), Chet Swank (215) and Stephen Carr (285), Murphysboro’s Kanton Richards (106), Quincy Senior’s Hugh Sharrow (113), Mahomet-Seymour’s Colton McClure (120), Waterloo’s Ty Kinzinger (126), Frankfort’s Lucas Parker (144), O’Fallon’s Logan Thomas (157), Mattoon’s Ean Freeman (165), Civic Memorial’s Luke McCoy (175), Highland’s Ashton Zobrist (190) and Fort Zumwalt North’s Drake Weston (138).

Other seventh-place finishers were Belleville East’s Jackson Shadegg (106) and Carlos Padilla (175), Jacksonville’s Deshawn Armstrong (120) and Joe Reif (150), Frankfort’s Conner Henson (190) and Brandon Turner (215), Murphysboro’s Paxton Pyatt (113), Mahomet-Seymour’s Justus Vrona (126), Sparta’s Gavin Watson (138), Marion’s Caden Frey (144), Waterloo’s Bladen Sease (157), Freeburg’s Drew Olmstead (285) and Fort Zumwalt North, MO’s Nick Rebstock (132).

The remainder of the eighth-place finishers are Marion’s Riddick Cook (120) and Bryan Madinger (215), Belleville East’s Killian Rauch (157) and Eliot Dahm (165), Frankfort’s Hayeden Hughes (113), Mt. Vernon’s Gavin Pedigo (132), Lincoln’s Lakin Adams (138), Mahomet-Seymour’s DeAndre Hughey (150), Highland’s Thomas Mitchell (175), Collinsville’s Scott Snyder (190), Murphysboro’s Julien Tanner (285) and Fort Zumwalt North, MO’s Jack Bals (106).

Champaign Central’s Talin Baker had the most total match points with 54, which was seven more than Morton’s Caiden Robison had for second. Civic Memorial’s Kale Hawk, Waterloo’s Jackson Deutch and Quincy Senior’s Gunnar Derhake all had six falls with Hawk needing 7:46 to collect his pins. Lincoln’s Jake Lawrence was the lone competitor to capture two wins by technical fall in the tournament. And Mt. Vernon’s Gavin Pedigo was seeded 28th and placed eighth.

The tournament is named for Dale Breckel, a Mascoutah teacher from 1967 to 1993 that coached three sports and started the wrestling program and the tournament, which was renamed for him last year at the request of former wrestlers. This was the 54th year of the invite and it has doubled the schools in its field throughout the years.

Mascoutah coach Chris Lindsay, who wrestled at the school from 1982-1986, has coached in the community since 1991. This is his 30th year as head coach of the program for which he took third in 1985 and fourth in 1986 in Class AA at 167 to become his school’s first state medalist. Lindsay was in the corner the past two years at the IHSA Class 2A Finals with Santino Robinson, who won the title at 132 in 2023 to become Mascoutah’s first two-time finalist and also its second champion, joining Lavion Mayes, who won at 145 in 2012.

Based on the results that follow, the much larger competition not only enjoys a rich history like Harlem’s Dvorak and Hinsdale Central’s Whitlatch which are on the same weekend, it also is recognized as one of the state’s top showcases, especially in southern Illinois.  

Championship matches for Mascoutah’s Dale Breckel Invitational

106 – Jackson Soney (Normal Community) MD 10-0 Will Kelly (Triad)

113 – Caden Correll (Normal Community) MD 17-3 Harrison Dea (Morton)

120 – Cole Gentsch (Normal Community) D 8-1 Nathaniel Provost (Fort Zumwalt North, MO)

126 – Colby Crouch (Triad) F 0:14 Caleb Lenning (Morton)

132 – Isaac Smith (Carbondale) D 11-6 Brandon Green, Jr. (Roxana)

138 – Dillon White (Mt. Vernon) MD 12-2 Ben Capitosti (Mattoon)

144 – Korbin Bateman (Mattoon) F 1:12 Bryce Edwards (Murphysboro)

150 – Cole Aguirre (Fort Zumwalt North, MO) D 6-4 Tyson Rakers (Highland)

157 – Liam Fox (Murphysboro) D 10-6 Lyndon Thies (Roxana)

165 – Owen Uppinghouse (Quincy Senior) F 3:25 Maddox Kirts (Bloomington)

175 – Bryor Newbold (Quincy Senior) D 4-1 Maddux Randall (Mt. Vernon)

190 – Jaxson Mathenia (Waterloo) D 4-3 Mason Randall (Mt. Vernon)

215 – Cooper Caraway (Normal Community) MD 11-0 Gavin Gentille (O’Fallon)

285 – Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East) F 3:21 James Herring (Roxana)

Team standings for Mascoutah’s Dale Breckel Invitational

1. Normal Community (201.5), 2. Roxana (198), 3. Morton (195.5), 4. Quincy Senior (177.5), 5. Mattoon (138.5), 6. Bloomington (135), 7. Fort Zumwalt North, MO (130.5), 8. Jacksonville (130), 9. Triad (129), 10. Waterloo (126), 11, Mt. Vernon (119.5), 12. Murphysboro (114.5), 13. Belleville East (109.5), 14. Civic Memorial (107), 15. Marion (105), 16. Mahomet-Seymour (96.5), 17. Lincoln (92), 18. Frankfort (70), 19. Mascoutah (66.5), 20. Collinsville (62.5), 21. Highland (61), 22. O’Fallon (60), 23. Red Bud (54.5), 24. Carbondale (53), 25. Anna-Jonesboro (48), 26. Champaign Central (38), 27. Freeburg (33.5), 28 East Alton-Wood River (29.5), 29. Centralia (24), 29. East St. Louis (24), 29. Trico (24), 32. Alton (22.5), 33. Sparta (16), 34. Mascoutah JV (12).

Oakwood/Salt Fork wins Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones title

Oakwood/Salt Fork only had one champion but placed 11 individuals in the top five to help it score 232 points which allowed it to easily capture top honors at Cumberland’s 21-team Skull & Crossbones tournament in Toledo.

Lawrenceville/Red Hill took second place with 144.5 points and Shelbyville edged Harrisburg 133-131.5 for third. Monticello (129), Althoff Catholic (118.5), Cumberland (116), Fairfield (110.5), Robinson (110), Warrensburg-Latham (104) and Litchfield (103.5) were next-best.

Bryson Capansky (157) was the lone title winner for coach Mike Glosser’s champion Comets. Steven Uden (106), Brayden Edwards (113), Pedro Rangel (132), Grant Brewer (150) and Dalton Brown (175) all took second place for the school located in Fithian that co-ops with Salt Fork, which is in Catlin. 

Also for Oakwood/Salt Fork, Jack Ajster (138) and Jamison Chambliss (190) placed third, Tyler Huchel (120) and Thomas Wells (126) finished fourth and Carter Chambliss (144) was fifth. Reid Dazey (165) and Kade Fleming (285) didn’t place but contributed points for the champs.

Glosser, who’s in his 13th season of leading Oakwood/Salt Fork’s program and collected his 200th dual meet victory to start the year, received the News-Gazette’s All-Area Coach of the Year award after leading the Comets not only to their initial IHSA Class 1A Dual Team Finals but also claiming their first trophy with a fourth place finish, which they assured by defeating IC Catholic Prep 39-31 in the quarterfinals. 

The Comets went 22-12 last season and only had three seniors, including Reef Pacot, a four-time state medalist who was the program’s career- and single-season wins leader after taking second at 145 following a 3-1 overtime loss to Illini Bluffs’ Paul Ishikawa in the IHSA Finals. 

The team had five state qualifiers and four return. Huchel and Rangel both fell one win shy of claiming medals while Capansky won his first match and Carter Chambliss also competed in Champaign. The program had another first as Taylor Owens was the first girl to qualify for the IHSA Finals and she won a match in Bloomington.

Top performers for coach Samuel Hyre’s Lawrenceville/Red Hill Indians were champion Kasen Ochs (175) and fourth-place finishers Dylan Aten (138), Hudson Meek (144) and Dylan Camden (285). Drew Seitzinger (106) finished fifth and Trevor Loy (150) and Nick Morehead (165) both claimed sixth place.

Leading the way for coach Caleb Duckett’s third-place Rams were second-place finishers Ryne Peavler (157) and Andre Townsend (285) as well as Kaz Fox (150), who took third. Bodee Fathauer (132) placed fourth while Colin Wells (113) and Aydan Fisher (190) took fifth.

The rest of the Skull & Crossbones champions were Carlyle’s Preston Waughtel (113) and Tyson Waughtel (120), Althoff Catholic’s Brenden Rayl (132) and Jason Dowell (285), Monticello’s Ezekiel Young (106), Harrisburg’s Tony Keene (126), Richland County’s Carson Bissey (138), Cumberland’s Owen McGinnis (144), Herrin’s Blue  Bishop (150), Fairfield’s Talan Keoughan (165), Litchfield’s Tristan Staggs (190) and Johnston City’s Jude Beers (215).

Tyson Waughtel, a junior, is a two-time defending Class 1A champion, taking first at 113 last season and first at 106 in 2022. 

Eight champs are still unbeaten and they are Preston Waughtel (18-0), Tyson Waughtel (20-0), Keene (13-0), Rayl (10-0), Bissey (16-0), McGinnis (17-0), Bishop (21-0) and Dowell (8-0).

Other second-place finishers were Warrensburg-Latham’s Logan Roberts (120) and Kaden Roberts (126), Fairfield’s Scotty Cuff (144) and Keegan Bare (215), Cumberland’s Brayden Olmstead (138), Robinson’s Kahne Hyre (165) and Althoff Catholic’s Antwan Strong (190).

Some of the closest title matches included Ochs edging Brown 6-5 at 175, Rayl getting past Rangel 4-2 at 132 and Keoughan prevailing over Hyre 6-2 at 165.

Bissey led in team points with 30 while Capansky, Keene, Keoughan, Ochs and Staggs scored 28.5 team points, Bishop collected 28 points and Tyson Waughtel and Rayl scored 27 points.

Also placing third were Litchfield’s Rilynn Younker (106) and Vincent Moore (113), Robinson’s Broady Kelly (126) and Draegon Johnson (157), Herrin’s Aaron Ragsdale (175) and Logan Dirden (215), Oblong’s Ian Rosborough (120), Harrisburg’s Kahmari Terry (132), Salem’s Keyton King (144), Cumberland’s Grant Keyser (165) and Monticello’s Brandon Peters (285).

Additional fourth-place finishers were Harrisburg’s Avery Henderson (113) and Briar Butler (157), Monticello’s Tristan Slade (150) and Hunter Romano (190), Richland County’s Logan McDonald (175) and Jashun McKinley (215), Cumberland’s Peyton Groves (106) and Althoff Catholic’s John Mize (165).

Others claiming fifth place were Effingham’s Kaiden Stewart (126) and Jeremiah Lorton (215), Litchfield’s Braxton Kieffer (150) and Keaton Morgan (165), Robinson’s Keaton Ault (120), Warrensburg-Latham’s Charlie Wittmer (132), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin’s Ayden Golden (138), Fairfield’s Nicholas Masterson (157), Johnston City’s Randy Fuqua (175) and Harrisburg’s Javier Horton (285).

Also placing sixth were Warrensburg-Latham’s Taygan Gossard (106) and Carter Johnson (175), Cumberland’s Logan Aaron (126) and Harley Pierce (132), Althoff Catholic’s Liam Bundt (113), Harrisburg’s Rocko Neal (120), Effingham’s Baker Moon (138), Robinson’s Lenox Parker (144), Monticello’s Gavin Ridings (157), Richland County’s Zander Schrader (190), Litchfield’s Devin Hansel (215) and Johnston City’s Riley Randolph (285).

Oakwood/Salt Fork’s Bryson Capansky had the most total match points with 56 while Warrensburg-Latham’s Charlie Wittmer was second with 53. Althoff Catholic’s Liam Bundt collected the most points in one match with 24. And Shelbyville’s Kaz Fox had the most falls in the least amount of time with four in 4:48. 

While four schools were within four of Oakwood’s tournament-high total of 24 pins/technical falls, the champions piled up 339 total match points, which were 148 more than the second-best team in that category, the host Pirates, collected.

Championship matches for Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones

106 – Ezekiel Young (Monticello) MD 12-3 Steven Uden (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

113 – Preston Waughtel (Carlyle) TF 4:28 Brayden Edwards (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

120 – Tyson Waughtel (Carlyle) F 1:59 Logan Roberts (Warrensburg-Latham)

126 – Tony Keene (Harrisburg) D 11-4 Kaden Roberts (Warrensburg-Latham)

132 – Brenden Rayl (Althoff Catholic) D 4-2 Pedro Rangel (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

138 – Carson Bissey (Richland County) F 5:08 Brayden Olmstead (Cumberland)

144 – Owen McGinnis (Cumberland) MD 12-1 Scotty Cuff (Fairfield)

150 – Blue Bishop (Herrin) D 8-2 Grant Brewer (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

157 – Bryson Capansky (Oakwood/Salt Fork) MD 16-8 Ryne Peavler (Shelbyville)

165 – Talan Keoughan (Fairfield) D 6-2 over Kahne Hyre (Robinson)

175 – Kasen Ochs (Lawrenceville/Red Hill) D 6-5 Dalton Brown (Oakwood/Salt Fork)

190 – Tristan Staggs (Litchfield) F 4:29 Antwan Strong (Althoff Catholic)

215 – Jude Beers (Johnston City) F 2:18 Keegan Bare (Fairfield)

285 – Jason Dowell (Althoff Catholic) F 1:27 Andre Townsend (Shelbyville)

Team standings for Cumberland’s Skull & Crossbones

1. Oakwood/Salt Fork (232), 2. Lawrenceville/Red Hill (144.5), 3. Shelbyville (133), 4. Harrisburg (131.5), 5. Monticello (129), 6. Althoff Catholic (118.5), 7. Cumberland (116), 8. Fairfield (110.5), 9. Robinson (110), 10. Warrensburg-Latham (104), 11. Litchfield (103.5), 12. Richland County (88.5), 13. Carlyle (75.5), 14. Herrin (69.5), 15. Johnston City (67.5), 16. Salem (59), 17. Effingham (46.5), 17. Oblong (46.5), 19. Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (34), 20. Mt. Carmel (22.5), 21. Pinckneyville (5).

LeRoy/Tri-Valley captures Metamora Holiday Classic title

One week after losing the title of PORTA’s Rex Avery to Canton by two points, LeRoy/Tri-Valley was understandably motivated to take care of business at the Metamora Holiday Classic and did just that by taking first with 212.5 points, 20.5 points ahead of runner-up Galesburg. The Panthers also took first place in last year’s tournament while Galesburg moved up one spot.

Byron (173) beat out the host Redbirds (165.5) for third place while Peoria Notre Dame (144), Ottawa Township (104) and Richwoods (99) were next in the line in the 13-team competition.

Top performers for coach Brady Sant Amour’s champion Panthers were title winners Brady Mouser (106) and Kobe Brent (132) while Jim Chaon (126), Jacob Bischoff (215) and Tate Sigler (285) placed second. 

Taking third place for LeRoy/Tri-Valley were EJ Chaon (120), Colton Prosser (138), Connor McLaughlin (144) and Bo Zeleznik (165) while Connor Lyons (157) finished fourth and Gannon Pinkerton (175) and Adam Moore (190) both claimed sixth place.

Leading the way for coach Greg Leibach’s runner-up Silver Streaks were champions Rocky Almendarez (126) and Gauge Shipp (138) and second-place finishers Caleb Johnson (144),  Nathan Maloy (165) and Nick Makwala (175). Angelo Abdallah (113) and Anthony Makwala (157) took third while Christian DeLaCruz (120) and John Willis (190) finished fourth.

Coach Mike Elsbury’s third-place Tigers got titles from Kyle Jones (190) and Jared Claunch (285) while Damien Palacios (113), Jackson Norris (120), Brody Stien (150) and Carsen Behn (157) took second place and Hunter King (126) and Jarett Ross (215) claimed fourth place.

Other Metamora Holiday Classic champions were Metamora’s Grady Neal (144), Karson Hale (150) and Seth Shaw (165), Notre Dame’s Ian Akers (120) and Chase Daugherty (157), High School of Saint Thomas More’s August Christhilf (175) and Brody Cuppernell (215) and Ottawa Township’s Ivan Munoz (113). 

Also finishing in second place were Pontiac’s Aidan Scholwin (106), Richwoods’ Rikyis Doss (132), Metamora’s Conner Graham (138) and Ottawa Township’s Ryan Wilson (190).

In the day’ only title matches that were determined by decisions, Brent edged Doss 8-7 at 132 and Christhilf got past Nick Makwala 6-4 at 175. The four champions who also won titles in last year’s competition were Akers, Brent, Daugherty and Shipp.

Clauch led all competitors with 30 team points while Akers, Cuppernell, Hale, Jones and Shaw all scored 28 points, Shipp collected 27.5 points, Daugherty had 27, Brent scored 26 points and Almendarez finished with 25.5 points. 

Third-place finishes were also turned in by Richwoods’ Wensley Rahn (106), Joshua Bousek (126) and Gabe Martinez (175), Notre Dame’s Andrew Elward (132) and Joe Culp (190), 

Metamora’s Jayden Lambert (215) and Ty Dykes (285) and Eureka’s Sam Hoffman (150).

Additional fourth-place finishers were Notre Dame’s Josh Stedwill (106), Andy Plaskon (113) and Michael McLaughlin (285), Metamora’s Paul Reason (132), Peoria High’s Chris Walker (138), Ottawa Township’s Malachi Snyder (144), Pontiac’s Boden Brooks (150), Richwoods’ Phoenix Wombacher (165) and Eureka’s Wyatt Zacha (175).

For the most total match points, Galesburg’s Anthony Makwala edged LeRoy/Tri-Valley’s Connor Lyons 35-34 while Galesburg’s Gauge Shipp had the most single match points with 23. Metamora’s Ty Dykes had the most falls with five and he secured those in 8:02.

Girls also competed in a tournament but many of the weight classes had four or fewer entrants. Pontiac and Richwoods both had five first-place finishers while Galesburg had three.

The girls title winners were Richwoods’ Christian Johnson (110), Brianna Johnson (115), Isabella Motteler (130), Kaila Williams (135) and Marley Clark (235), Pontiac’s Samantha Fellers (120), Halle Opperman (125), Carley Schneeman (145), Jennyfor Melchor (155) and Alix Robinson (170), Galesburg’s Hannah Almendarez (100), Emylee Miller (105) and Annalisa Gibbons (140) and Putnam County’s Bailey Herr (190).

Championship matches for the Metamora Holiday Classic

106 – Brady Mouser (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) F 5:21 Aidan Scholwin (Pontiac)

113 – Ivan Munoz (Ottawa Township) F 5:35 Damien Palacios (Byron)

120 – Ian Akers (Notre Dame) F 3:10 Jackson Norris (Byron)

126 – Rocky Almendarez (Galesburg) TF 16-0 Jim Chaon (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

132 – Kobe Brent (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) D 8-7 Rikyis Doss (Richwoods)

138 – Gauge Shipp (Galesburg) TF 23-5 Conner Graham (Metamora)

144 – Grady Neal (Metamora) MD 14-4 Caleb Johnson (Galesburg)

150 – Karson Hale (Metamora) F 1:00 Brody Stien (Byron)

157 – Chase Daugherty (Notre Dame) MFF Carsen Behn (Byron)

165 – Seth Shaw (Metamora) F 0:55 Nathan Maloy (Galesburg)

175 – August Christhilf (High School of Saint Thomas More) D 6-4 Nick Makwala (Galesburg)

190 – Kyle Jones (Byron) F 0:36 Ryan Wilson (Ottawa Township)

215 – Brody Cuppernell (High School of Saint Thomas More) F 0:55 Jacob Bischoff (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

285 – Jared Claunch (Byron) F 4:32 Tate Sigler (LeRoy/Tri-Valley)

Team standings for the Metamora Holiday Classic

1. LeRoy/Tri-Valley (212.5), 2. Galesburg (192), 3. Byron (173), 4. Metamora (165.5), 5. Peoria Notre Dame (144), 6. Ottawa Township (104), 7. Richwoods (99), 8 High School of Saint Thomas More (67), 9. Pontiac (50), 10. Eureka (41), 11. Peoria High (30), 12. Manual (24), 13. Putnam County (3).

Out of state tournament roundup

Round Lake finishes second in Badger State Girls Invite

Round Lake scored 91 points to claim second place at the 48-team Badger State Invitational-Girls Division, which was held at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. 

Milton, WI took first place in the 48-team competition with 118 points. The Panthers finished three points ahead of third-place Hickman, MO, and the second- and third-place finishers were the lone non-Wisconsin teams in the event.

The Panthers got a championship from Riley Kongkaeow (100) while Ireland McCain (114) and Raven Burnett (145) both finished in third place after advancing to the semifinals in the competition. 

“It was a great tournament for us with everyone contributing their part,” coach Noah Schusteff said  “We had three girls place top three, and even though no one else placed, the individual contributions we got from the girls up and down our roster helped guarantee second place.  

“As a coach, I’ve had the privilege of seeing our brand new girls progress and even our top girls have shown significant improvement since the start of the season. I’m really excited to see how far the girls can go this season.”

Kongkaeow won the 100 title by fall in 1:50 over New Berlin West, WI’s Camila Garay.

“The team and I had such a fun experience at this tournament,” Kongkaeow said. “It was good bonding time and being able to see the progress they are making in such short time makes me so proud of them. The team coming in at second made all of us very happy. For me every time I go on the mat I’m just looking to improve and at this tournament I felt I had good competition in every match I wrestled.”

While they didn’t win medals, Valeria Gonzalez (114), Karolina Jaramillo-Garcia (120), Korrie Levandoski (126), Jocelyn Cortes (126), Brianna Perez (138) and Jessica Sanchez (138) all provided critical points to help the Panthers to their second-place finish .

Kongkaeow had 28 team points, which ranked her 11th in that category. Perez tied for fifth for total match points with 28 and also tied for third for single match points with 16. And Jaramillo-Garcia ranked 11th in the most pins in the least time with three in 2:18.

The Panthers also had the second-highest total of falls with 18. 

Mount Carmel takes third at Crown Point, IN’s Carnahan Invite

Mount Carmel placed third in the Carnahan Memorial Invitational, a 16-team tournament that took place in Crown Point, Indiana, after scoring 171.5 points, which was four points more than host Crown Point, who took fourth. Brownsburg, IN edged Bishop McCort, PA 201-198 to win the championship in the competition. Marmion Academy took tenth place with 55.5 points.

Leading the way for coach Alex Tsirtsis’ Caravan were title winner Colin Kelly (175) and second-place finishers Seth Mendoza (126) and Edmund Enright (157). Evan Stanley (132) and William Jacobson (215) took third, Rylan Breen (190) finished fourth, Justin Williamson (113), Liam Kelly (150) and Alex Poholik (285) placed fifth and Jaxon Jorgenson (120) took sixth.

Colin Kelly won a 16-8 major decision over St. Paris Graham, OH’s Gunner Cramblett in the 175 title match. Mendoza lost an 8-5 decision to Bishop McCort, PA’s Jax Forrest in the 126 finals and Enright fell 6-3 to Bishop McCort, PA’s Devon Magro in the 157 finals.

Williamson, Stanley, Liam Kelly, Jacobson and Poholik also advanced to the semifinals.

The top finishers for the Cadets were Zach Stewart (138) and Joseph Favia (215), who both took fourth place, while Nicholas Garcia (120) placed fifth and Mateusz Nycz (285) finished sixth. Favia was the Marmion competitor to advance to the semifinals

Colin Kelly ranked first in total match points with 63, first in single match points with 25 and fourth in team points with 28.5 while Breen tied for sixth in single match points with 19. Mount Carmel ranked second to Bishop McCort, PA in total match points with 328.

Princeton takes third at Central DeWitt, IA Saber Invite

Princeton placed third and United Township was 11th at the 14-team Saber Invitational that took place at Central DeWitt in DeWitt, Iowa. The Tigers scored 135 points while the Panthers had 56.5 points. They were the only non-Iowa schools in the tournament, which was won by Creston with 235 points while the hosts were next with 158.

Princeton, whose coach, Steve Amy, is a 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, had three champions, Augustus Swanson (106), Ace Christiansen (138) and Cade Odell (285) and got third-place finishes from Kaydin Gibson (126) and Casey Etheridge (165), who both advanced to the semifinals.

Swanson won by fall in 0:59 over Central, DeWitt, IA’s Cale Johnson in the 106 finals. Christiansen took first place at 138 with an 8-2 decision over Creston, IA’s Brandon Briley. And Odell won a 5-0 decision over Clinton, IA’s Ben Brown in the 285 title match.

United Township was led by Xavier Marolf (132), who took second place, as well as Kayden Marolf (157) and Alex Long (175), who both took third place and advanced to the semifinals. Xavier Marolf lost a 5-3 decision to Mid-Prairie, IA’s Max Howe in the 132 finals.

Swanson had the most team points with 30 and also recorded the most falls in the least time with four in 2:03. Christiansen ranked fourth in total match points with 36 while Gibson tied for fifth in that category with 32. And Kayden Marolf and Christansen tied for seventh for single match points with 17.

Jersey Community finishes third at Chaminade, MO Invite

Jersey Community scored 127.5 points to take third place in the Chaminade Invite, hosted by Chaminade College Prep in St. Louis, Missouri. Vianney, MO won the 16-team event with 159.5 points while Parkway South was second with 148.5 points.

Coach Frank Speidel’s third-place Panthers were led by Connor Chin, who won a title at 175. Hunter Hodge (106), Nicholas Hartley (150) and James Busch (285) took second, Huck Wegierski (126) was third while Jace Marshall (165) and Ethan Daniels (215) took fourth.

Chin won by fall in 1:25 over St. Mary’s, MO Kyan Clymer to capture the 175 title. Hodge lost by fall in 3:39 to Parkway West, MO’s Liam O’Brien in the 100 finals, Hartley lost a 10-2 major decision to Hazelwood East, MO’s Trevor Epps in the 150 title match and Busch got pinned in 5:07 by Vianney, MO’s Sam Berger in the 285 finals.

Chin had the third-most team points with 26.5, which was just one point behind first place. Chin also ranked second in the most pins in the least time with four in 4:08, just six seconds behind the leader while Daniels ranked seventh in that category with three in 3:37. 

The Panthers had the second-most falls with 17 in 30:36.

Fenton girls take third place at Girls Jeff, IN Classic

Fenton only brought seven competitors but still claimed third place honors with 143 points at the Girls Jeff Classic, a 21-team tournament that was held in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Mooresville, IN won the title with 214 points while Rolla, MO claimed second with 196 points

The Bison, who captured top honors at the Niles West Invite title on November 25, had four champions and one runner-up. Finishing in first place were Giselle Castillo (125), Yamile Penaloza (155), Sophia Sosa (170) and Cailyn Platta (190) while Yannel Perez (140) took second and Ariana Solideo (235) placed fifth. Lucia Sosa (155) also won a match for the third-place team in the competition. 

Castillo won by fall in 3:02 over Mooresville, IN’s Mattie Hutchison in the 125 finals while Penazola recorded a fall in 3:45 over Moore, KY’s Andrea Zunun to take first at 155. Sosa won by fall in 3:29 over Borden, IN’s Mackenzie Weatherford in the 170 finals and Platta got a pin in 1:02 over Columbus East, IN’s Grace McMahon to take first at 190. Also, Perez lost by fall in 0:50 to Silver Creek, IN’s Ava Allen in the 140 finals.

Platta and Penaloza tied with five others for second in most team points with 28, which was two points behind first place while Sosa tied for ninth with 26 team points. Penaloza also ranked fourth in the most pins in the least time with three in 6:09. 

Joliet Central sixth at West Allis Central, WI’s Stech Invite

Joliet Centralwas led by a first-place finish from Charles Walker (285) and it had five others who placed in the top six to help it claim a sixth-place finish at the E.H. Stech Invitational, a 24-team tournament that was hosted by West Allis Central, WI. 

The Steelmen, the only team that wasn’t from Wisconsin, was edged 137-136 by Germantown for fifth place in the competition.

Walker captured the title at 215 with a 6-2 decision over Germantown, WI’s Nathan Stiebs.

Alex Fernandez (132) finished fourth, Liam Walsh (113), Isaiah Kan (120), Aleck Allende (126) and Amelio Gonzalez (175) all took fifth place and Mark Bew (157) captured sixth place.

The Steelmen ranked second in total match points with 336, which was just 16 behind West Salem/Bangor, WI.

Gonzalez was the only individual in the tournament to record five falls and he did that in 9:13. Jowel Maldonado had the second-highest total match points with 51, which was one behind the leader. Fernandez and Kan tied for fourth in that category with 47 match points and Gonzalez tied for seventh with 45.

Goreville seventh at Cape Central, MO Girls Tiger Classic

Goreville got a title from Alivia Ming (145) and a third-place finish from Ariel Board (125) to help it to a sixth-place finish with 149 points at the Cape Central Girls Tiger Classic, an 11-team tournament which was held in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Ming claimed first place at 145 after recording a fall in 4:57 over Cedar Hill Northwest, Mo’s Yuridia Fajardo. Ming tied with nine others for the most total team points with 44 and also tied for seventh for the most total match points with 23.

Collinsville girls eighth at Ft. Zumwalt East, MO Invite

Collinsville received a title from Taylor Dawson (130) while Leann Cory (140) took third place at the Ft. Zumwalt East Invitational, which took place in St. Peters, Missouri. 

The Kahoks, who tied for eighth place in the 37-team competition with 92 points, also got a fifth-place finish from Hannah Jones (170) and sixth-place efforts from Emma Ford (125) and Tashieya Taylor (155).

Dawson captured first place at 130 with a fall in 1:49 over Wright City, MO’s Sadie Sehnert. Cory also advanced to the semifinals.

Dawson had the most total match points of any competitor with 54, which was 16 more than second place. She also had the second-most single match points with 22 and tied for second place with one other individual for the most team points with 32.

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