IC Catholic Prep denied another title at the Dvorak by Hickman, MO

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA

MACHESNEY PARK – Last year, IC Catholic Prep was a new entrant to Harlem’s Al Dvorak Invitational and snapped St. Charles East’s two-year run as champions by edging the Fighting Saints 204.5-202 for top honors.

The defending Knights saw a similar scenario play out at this season’s 37th-annual tournament that featured 46 teams as they were unable to defend their championship as another new entrant, Hickman of Columbia, Missouri, captured the title by 231-225 margin.

IC Catholic Prep, the defending IHSA Class 2A champions and top-ranked in 2A, was hoping to add to first-place finishes at Barrington’s Moore-Prettyman-Dunn and Washington Community but Hickman, which took second to Liberty in Class 4A at the 2025 Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships, was successful in its debut at the Dvorak, which it moved to after winning two-straight titles at Granite City’s William ‘Red’ Schmitt Tournament.

While coach Dan Pieper’s champion Kewpies only had one title winner, Jordan Fincher (165) and one runner-up, Beau Waldron (190), they had six other individuals who placed sixth or better, Brady McMurtry (3rd at 138), Taryn Nichols (3rd at 157), Luke Hayden (3rd at 175), Dominic Marchack (4th at 113), Hogan Benter (4th at 132) and Shane Oswald (6th at 150).

As was the case in decisive first-place finishes in its initial two tournaments at Fort Zumwalt North and the War in Wentzville, Hickman went with just 11 competitors. The Kewpies are the first out-of-state team to win the Dvorak since Detroit Catholic Central in 2021.

Leading the way for coach Danny Alcocer’s runner-up Knights were champion Brody Kelly (175) and runners-up Aiden Arnett (157), Foley Calcagno (215) and Anthony Sebastian (285). Other Knights who placed in the top-eight were Frank Nitti (3rd at 144), Jack Hanrahan (4th at 138), Mike Bird (5th at 106) and Jacob Alvarez (8th at 150).

And as was the case at both Barrington and Washington Community, IC Catholic Prep had 12 individuals who competed at the Dvorak. 

However, two key Knights who placed highly in the team’s first two tournaments, Max Cumbee and Sam Murante, didn’t participate in the Dvorak. Cumbee, who won the IHSA 2A 126 title last season and is a two-time medalist who’s ranked first at 132, placed first at the two invites while Sam Murante, who took third in 2A at 113 last season and is top-ranked at 126, took third place at both Barrington and Washington Community.

IC Catholic Prep took second place again earlier this week at DeKalb’s Flavin when it fell 33-28 to the defending Class 3A champions and top-ranked team in 3A, Marmion Academy. Next weekend, the Knights are among several Illinois teams who are scheduled to take part in one of the nation’s top tournaments, the Doc Buchanan Invitational in Clovis, California.

Montini Catholic, third-ranked in Class 3A, scored 206 points to finish third for the third-straight year. Top performers for the Broncos, who are led by Mike Bukovsky, the only coach in IHSA history who has won multiple state titles in three sports (wrestling, football and softball), were champions Erik Klichurov (113) and Bobby Ruscitti (126) and second-place finishers Allen Woo (120) and Mikey Malizzio (132). Others who placed in the top-eight were Gavin Ericson (4th at 285), AJ Tack (5th at 175) and Santino Tenuta (6th at 165).

Providence Catholic, which is ranked second in Class 2A, moved up from 30th place in 2023 to 11th place a year ago and finished in fourth place with 174 points. Leading the way for the Celtics, who are coached by 2022 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Donald Reynolds, were champions Tommy Banas (138) and Justus Heeg (157) while Jasper Harper (5th at 165), Griffin Heeney (6th at 120), Max Mandac (7th at 126), Luke Banas (7th at 144) and Lucas Forsythe (8th at 132) also placed in the top-eight.

Other teams who scored 100 points were St. Charles East (163.5, No. 4 in 3A), Hononegah (151, No. 14 in 3A), Tuttle, OK (148), Joliet Catholic Academy (145.5, No. 2 in 3A), Marist (131, No. 7 in 3A), Loyola Academy (127.5, HM in 3A), Yorkville (126, No. 8 in 3A), Edwardsville (122, No. 19 in 3A), Lincoln-Way Central (108.5, HM in 3A) and Lincoln-Way East (100, No. 13 in 3A).  

St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto (120), became a rare four-time champion at the Dvorak while  Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi (150) won his third-straight title in the invite. Others who were champions after taking firsts in 2024 were Marian Central Catholic’s Jimmy Mastny (190), Loyola Academy’s Kai Calcutt (215), Belleville East’s Jonathan Rulo (285) and Heeg.

Loyola Academy also had two title winners with Niko Odiotti (106) joining Calcutt. The other two Dvorak champions were Joliet Catholic Academy’s Jason Hampton (132) and St. Rita of Cascia’s Jack Hogan (144).

Hononegah had three individuals who claimed second place, Jackson Olson (126), Bruno Cassioppi (165) and Brody Sendele (175). Additional second-place finishers were Edwardsville’s Michael McNamara (106), Grayslake Central’s Vince DeMarco (113), Joliet Catholic Academy’s Adante Washington (138), Crystal Lake Central’s Nicolas Marchese (144) and Yorkville’s Donovan Rosauer (150).

In the closest title matches, Banas edged Washington 5-4 at 138, Fincher got past Bruno Cassioppi 3-1 at 165, Ruscitti beat Olson 4-1 at 126 and Hogan defeated Marchese 7-4 at 144.

Heeg had the most team points with 36.5 while Rulo ranked second with 36 points and Fincher, Kelly and Mastny tied for third with 35.5 points. Additional champions who scored 30 or more team points were Hogan (34), Banas (33), Cassioppi (32.5), Munaretto (32.5), Hampton (32), Odiotti (31.5), Calcutt (30.5) and Klichurov (30).

Individuals who were Dvorak finalists who had the top records following the tournament were Munaretto (17-0), Fincher (16-0), Klichurov (15-0), Ruscitti (14-0), Rulo (11-0), Kelly (22-1), Mastny (22-1), Rocco Cassioppi (20-1), Heeg (19-1), Hogan (18-1), Hampton (15-1), Rosauer (15-1), Calcutt (21-2), Odiotti (21-2), McNamara (16-2), Waldron (14-2), Marchese (19-3), Banas (16-3), Sendele (16-3) and Washington (15-3).

Additional third-place medalists were Hersey’s Oleksandr Havrylkiv (126) and Frank Tagoe (165), Normal Community’s Jackson Soney (106), Notre Dame College Prep’s Ray Long (120), Marist’s Tommy Fidler (150), Saint Viator’s Jaxon Penovich (190), St. Charles East’s Cooper Murray (215), Lincoln-Way Central’s Aiden Hennings (285), Milton, WI’s Kolten Mueller (113) and Tuttle, OK’s Chance Fisher (132).

Others who finished in fourth place were  Joliet Catholic Academy’s Lukas Foster (126) and Nolan Vogel (157), Edwardsville’s Ryan Richie (144) and Roman Janek (215), Tuttle, OK’s Maxwell Bradley (120) and Rylend Slover (150), Freeport’s Treyden Diduch (106), Lincoln-Way Central’s Jalen Byrd (175), Fremd’s Lucas Nance (190) and Milton, WI’s Gage Gross (165).

Lockport Township’s Isaac Zimmerman was the only individual who recorded five pins and did that in 4:45 while Hampton was the lone competitor to capture four wins by technical fall. Fremd’s Drew Fifield and Hampton tied for most total match points with 103 while Penovich was third with 95 points. And Hersey’s Nolan Variano was seeded 33rd and placed eighth at 144.

In team statistics, Hickman, MO recorded 25 falls while Yorkville was second with 17 and IC Catholic Prep and Tuttle, OK tied for third with 16 pins. Providence Catholic had the most wins by technical fall with 12 while Hononegah and IC Catholic Prep tied for second with 10. IC Catholic Prep led the way for the most total match points with 514, while Providence Catholic had 497 and St. Charles East was third with 489 points.

Note: All rankings in the following story are courtesy of Illinois Best Weekly

Here’s a look at the champions and their weights at Harlem’s Al Dvorak Invitational:

106 – Niko Odiotti, Loyola Academy

Niko Odiotti has already won titles in as many tournaments as some individuals will compete in during the regular season after capturing his fourth title in five tries by taking first place at 106 at the Dvorak with a 7-2 decision over Edwardsville sophomore Michael McNamara. Last season, he fell 4-1 to Oak Park and River Forest’s Michael Rundell in the IHSA Class 3A 106 title match. He  would not only like to get back to the 3A Grand March this season, but also to become his program’s third IHSA champion, joining his brother Massey (2023) and Kai Calcutt (2024). The Loyola Academy sophomore is top-ranked at 106 in 3A and has also won titles at Addison Trail, Barrington and Neuqua Valley while taking fifth at the Ironman in Ohio. Odiotti (21-2), who did not compete in last year’s Dvorak, earned his spot in the 106 finals with a win by technical fall in 2:44 over Freeport’s Treyden Diduch. He joined Kai Calcutt (215) as a champion and was one of five top-eight placewinners for the Ramblers, who are coached by 2023 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Matt Collum. He also tied for 11th place for the most team points with 31.5.

“I started off the year pretty strong,” Odiotti said. “I took two losses at the Ironman and the tournament’s tough. But it’s a good learning experience to come here and I worked on what I needed to this week, and I was prepared for this tournament. I think we have one of the best coaching staffs ever. Everybody has a good relationship with each other. Everyone wants everyone to get better, and we push each other hard and it shows on the mat. We have good leaders in our room that push us. After the state finals loss, I had to get right to work. I wrestled Freestyle and Greco and I went to Fargo and placed in both styles. I got back right to the room, always practicing. The goal is in February. I fell short last year. I’m trying to make sure it won’t happen again.”

McNamara (16-2) took second place at 106 in the Dvorak for the second year in a row and he also finished second at Francis Howell North, Missouri. A state qualifier last season, he is ranked fourth in 3A at 106. He advanced to the title match with a 3-0 decision over Normal Community’s Jackson Soney in the semifinals. He was the lone finalist and one of four top-five finishers for coach Eric Pretto’s Tigers. In the third-place match, Soney (15-1) won by fall in 0:50 over Diduch (20-2). For fifth place, IC Catholic Prep’s Mike Bird (13-6) won an 11-0 major decision over Bolingbrook’s Julian Medina (8-4). And in the seventh-place match, Milton, WI’s Brodey Lewis (15-2) won by technical fall in 4:19 over Tuttle, OK’s Cooper McElroy (11-9).

113 – Erik Klichurov, Montini Catholic

Erik Klichurov took seventh place in his first visit to the Dvorak last year and then capped his freshman season by placing third in Class 2A at 106. Ranked fourth in 3A at 113, he improved to 15-0 after winning a 7-1 decision over a defending champion in the event, Grayslake Central junior Vince DeMarco, in the 113 title match. He also won a championship at the Donnybrook in Iowa and assured himself of a second trip to a tourney finals when he won by fall in 5:08 over Marian Central Catholic’s Hogan Rice in the semifinals. He joined Bobby Ruscitti (126) as a champion and Allen Woo (120) and Mikey Malizzio (132) as a finalists in addition to three other top-six placers for the Broncos, who are coached by Mike Bukovsky, a 2023 recipient of the Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Illinois Chapter.

“It feels great,” Klichurov said. “It’s been a goal of mine to come here and win because last year I came here and I fell short of my goal and this year I had to prove myself. Practice, putting more hours in the gym. There’s always room for improvement, always places that you can work on. And I train with my partners and coaches, and they help me. (Montini Catholic) It’s a special place. Every guy in the room has a goal, and they’re always out there trying to fight with each other. That’s the environment they want to be in. You want to be in that winner-environment. “

DeMarco (17-4) was hoping to repeat as a champion at the Dvorak and add to titles that he’s won this season at Glenwood and Prospect after placing fourth at Barrington to kick off his junior season. He lost 15-12 in the IHSA 2A title match at 106 last season to Notre Dame College Prep’s Ray Long after taking fourth at 106 in 2024. The lone medal winner for coach Matthew Joseph’s Rams is ranked second in 2A at 113. He advanced to his third-straight tourney finals with a pin in 3:41 in the semifinals over Milton, WI’s Kolten Mueller (16-1), who took third place with a 12-6 decision over Hickman, MO’s Dominic Marchack (14-2). In the fifth-place match, Rice (13-4) claimed a 7-6 decision over Lockport Township’s Noe Hernandez (15-9). And for seventh place, Fremd’s Lucas Crandall (17-6) won 8-6 over Wheeling’s Frankie Katz (11-5).

120 – Dom Munaretto, St. Charles East

Dom Munaretto joined the exclusive club of individuals who have won four Dvorak titles when he captured top honors at 120 with a 10-2 decision over Montini Catholic junior Allen Woo in a matchup of two-time IHSA champions. Munaretto claimed the Class 3A title at 120 last season after beating Schaumburg’s Brady Phelps. He lost 4-2 to Marmion Academy’s Nicholas Garcia in the 3A title match at 113 in 2024 and won the 3A title at 106 in 2023 over Belvidere North’s Brayden Teunissen. He hopes to join his former teammate Ben Davino as his school’s second three-time IHSA champion and also become their initial four-time IHSA medalist (Note: Davino also took first place in 3A at 113 at the IWCOA Open Championships in 2021). Top-ranked at 120 in 3A, Munaretto (17-0) won a title at the Ironman in Ohio in his only other tournament. He advanced to the 120 finals with a win by technical fall in 2:00 over Tuttle, OK’s Maxwell Bradley. Munaretto was the lone finalist and one of seven top-eight placewinners for the Fighting Saints, who took fifth place and are coached by 2025 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Jason Potter. He also tied three-time Dvorak champion Rocco Cassioppi for eighth in team points with 32.5.

“My thoughts going into the year is just doing better than I did last year,” Munaretto said. “It’s always just about improvement. So improving results on the mat and off the mat, just like technical results, stuff like that. I was looking to improve every aspect of my game. Ironman is an amazing tournament, the toughest in-season tournament in the country. (Competing at St. Charles East) It’s also having great partners and having coaches coming in and helping me out. They were getting on the staff because a lot of my teammates who are now in college are gone. I just have a lot of great coaches, partners, and a lot of people to look to for help and answers..”

Woo (14-4) captured the IHSA Class 2A title at 113 last season with a 4-1 win in sudden victory over St. Patrick’s Danny Goodwin and he also took first place in 2A at 106 in 2024 with a 7-4 decision over Wauconda’s Gavin Rockey. Ranked fourth in 3A at 120, he also placed second at the Donnybrook in Iowa in his only other tournament thus far. He advanced to the 120 title match with a 2-0 decision in the semifinals over Notre Dame College Prep’s Ray Long, who won the 2A title at 106 last season over Grayslake Central’s Vince DeMarco. Woo was one of four finalists and seven top-six placewinners for the third-place Broncos, who are coached by Mike Bukovsky, a 2008 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee who is the only coach in IHSA history to win state championships in three sports and he’s won 12 state titles overall. Long (19-2),who’s ranked fifth in 3A at 120, claimed third place with a 14-8 decision over Bradley (13-2). In the fifth-place match, Loyola Academy’s Daniel Myint (16-6) won an 8-0 major decision over Providence Catholic’s Griffin Heeney (12-8). And for seventh place, Buffalo Grove’s Mykola Shamray (14-3) was a winner by fall in 1:51 over Hononegah’s Kristian DeClercq (11-7).

126 – Bobby Ruscitti, Montini Catholic

Bobby Ruscitti made an impressive debut at the Dvorak by capturing the 126 title with a 4-1 decision over Hononegah senior Jackson Olson. The Montini Catholic junior, who is top-ranked at 126 in 3A and also won a title in his first tournament, the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa, joined Erik Klichurov (113) as a champion and runners-up Allen Woo (120) and Mikey Malizzio (132) as finalists to go along with three other top-six placewinners for the third-place Broncos, who are coached by Mike Bukovsky, who’s led the program to eight state titles and was a 2020 IWCOA Lifetime Service Award Recipient. Ruscitti (14-0) and Klichurov (15-0) were two of the five champions who left the competition with unbeaten records. He earned his spot in the 126 title match with a 9-2 decision over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Lukas Foster in the semifinals.

“I’m super excited,” Ruscitti said. “We have a one-, two-, three-punch in the finals and that’s always great and we have Michael Malizzio in the finals, as well. We all complement each other very well and we’re a super tough team. If we just do what we do best, we should be very good. This year, I’m really focusing on my diet, really dialing in at practice and making sure I’m working on the positions I really need to work on. (Competing for Mike Bukovsky). He’s a great coach and everything about him is great. He helps me with my wrestling and helps me really focus on what I really need to do. It’s a great group. Everyone’s just helping each other get better at wrestling, and that’s what our goal is at Montini, getting each of us better at wrestling for the state series.” 

Olson (12-5), who’s ranked second to Ruscitti in 3A at 126, also took second place in his first tournament, which was at Marmion Academy. A fourth-place finisher in 3A at 120 last season, he joined champion Rocco Cassioppi (150) and runners-up Bruno Cassioppi (165) and Brody Sendele (175) as finalists for coach Tyler DeMoss’ Indians, who finished in sixth place. Olson got to the 126 title match after claiming a win by technical fall in 5:42 in the semifinals over Hersey’s Oleksandr Havrylkiv (16-4), who bounced back to claim third place with a 3-2 decision over Foster (12-3). In the fifth-place match, Loyola Academy’s Gavin Pardilla (19-5) claimed a 7-1 decision over Tuttle, OK’s Cooper Jackson (9-5). And for seventh place, Providence Catholic’s Max Mandac (15-6) won by fall in 5:53 over St. Charles East’s Kaden Potter (9-5). 

132 – Jason Hampton, Joliet Catholic Academy

Jason Hampton was able to compete in the Dvorak for the first time and the Joliet Catholic Academy senior made the most of the opportunity by claiming the title at 132 with a win by technical fall in 5:40 over Montini Catholic junior Mikey Malizzio. He improved to 15-1 by adding to a title win at Prospect and a second at the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa. Hampton, who’s ranked second at 132 in 3A, is looking to cap his career with his first state title and become JCA’s sixth IHSA champ after taking third last season at 126 in 3A, falling 6-5 to Maine South’s Teddy Flores in the 3A 120 title match in 2024 and finishing fourth at 113 in 2A in 2023. He reached the 132 title match with another win by technical fall, this time in 5:31 over Tuttle, OK’s Chance Fisher. He was the lone champion and joined runner-up Adante Washington (138) as a finalist for the eighth-place Hilltoppers, who are coached by 2025 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Cumbee. Hampton was the only competitor to capture four wins by technical fall, tied Fremd’s Drew Fifield for most match points with 103 and ranked tenth in team points with 32.

“I’m excited,” Hampton said. “There’s big things coming from this team this year. (Competing for JCA) It’s a lot to live up to. I’m going to exceed the coach’s expectations, but it’s pretty hard when one of the alumni is a national champion. I got fourth place freshman year, second sophomore, and third last year. Yeah, one more to go. I’ve really worked on my setups and just staying in a better position. And then when I do get to the leg, just finishing cleaner and keeping the pace up. A lot of kids can’t keep the pace up, so as long as I keep my pace going, I’m untouchable. Coach (Ryan) Cumbee, he’s a great coach. He’s a character and there’s never a dull moment with him. And then coach (Ben) Gerdes is a great technician and he helped me a lot this offseason and coach Cumbee helps me with my mentality.”

Malizzio (13-4) finished in fifth place at the Dan Gable Donnybrook in his first tourney. Ranked third at 132 in 3A, he lost 2-0 on a tiebreaker to Washington Community’s Noah Woods in the IHSA 2A 120 title match last season and took third at 113 in 2A in 2024. He joined champions Erik Klichurov (113) and Bobby Ruscitti (126) and runner-up Allen Woo (120) as finalists for the third-place Broncos, who are coached by Mike Bukovsky, who was a Grand Marshal at the 2017 IHSA Finals. He advanced to the 132 finals with a 7-2 decision over Hickman, MO’s Hogan Benter in the semifinals. For third place, Fisher (13-2) won a 4-2 decision over Benter (12-4). In the fifth-place match, Lockport Township’s Isaac Zimmerman (17-7) got his tournament-high fifth pin in 0:17 over St. Charles East’s Declan Sons (11-7). And for seventh place, Marist’s Te’Jon Beals (16-5) won a 12-1 major decision over Providence Catholic’s Lucas Forsythe (11-8).

138 – Tommy Banas, Providence Catholic

Tommy Banas took fifth at 132 in the IHSA 2A Finals last season after placing sixth at 126 in 2024. Now the Providence Catholic junior looks to finish much higher on the awards stand in Champaign and he definitely made a good statement by winning the Dvorak title at 138 when he claimed a 5-4 decision over Joliet Catholic Academy junior Adante Washington. Banas (16-3), who’s top-ranked at 138 in 2A, also won a title at Joliet Central and took third at Barrington. He earned his spot on the 138 title mat by winning a 7-1 decision over Hickman, MO’s Brady McMurtry in the semifinals. Banas, who took third place at last year’s Dvorak, joined Justus Heeg (157) as a title winner and finalist as well as five others from his team who placed eighth or better for the fourth-place Celtics, who finished with 174 points, and are coached by 2022 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Donald Reynolds. He also took seventh in team points with 33.

“We were down for a while, but we brought it back up and we’re here to stay,” Banas said. “Honestly, I think we have the best coaches in the state. We have everybody, so it pushes us. 

(Competing in the Ironman) Yeah, it’s tough down there, for sure. But getting the best looks, getting those tough matches, seeing where I’m at and seeing what I need to work on, it’s good.

I’m always pushing myself to practice the hardest. Always looking for extra work, seeing what I need to work on after my losses and even after my wins, what I need to work on. I’m always trying to look into the future.”

Washington (15-3), who’s ranked fourth at 138 in 3A, won a title at Prospect and took fifth at the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa in his other tournament competition. An IHSA qualifier in 2024, he joined champion Jason Hampton (132) as a finalist for the Hilltoppers, who finished eighth in their new tournament and are coached by 2025 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Cumbee. He earned his spot in the 138 finals with a 15-4 major decision over Marist’s Axel Rodriguez. For third, McMurtry (16-2) won a 14-1 major decision over IC Catholic Prep’s Jack Hanrahan (21-5). St. Charles East’s Liam Aye (15-5) claimed fifth place by medical forfeit over Rodriguez (19-4). And for seventh, Fremd’s Drew Fifield (19-5), who tied Jason Hampton for the most match points with 103, won a 17-4 major decision over Yorkville’s Nolan Chrisse (10-4).

144 – Jack Hogan, St. Rita of Cascia

Jack Hogan was disappointed with falling short of a medal at the IHSA 2A Finals last season after placing third at 106 in 2024 and an eighth-place finish at the Dvorak was also not what he had hoped for. As he heads into the 2026 portion of his senior season at St. Rita of Cascia as the top-ranked individual at 144 in 2A, he’s got his sights on not only winning a second state medal but also doing what his coach, Ryan Klinger, and eight others from the school have achieved, to be an IHSA champion. He improved to 18-1 after winning a 7-4 decision over Crystal Lake Central junior Nicholas Marchese in the 144 title match. This was his third title and fourth finals. He also took firsts at Addison Trail and Plano and a second at Joliet Central. The lone finalist for the Mustangs earned his spot in the 144 finals with a victory by technical fall in 4:22  over St. Charles East’s Gavin Woodmancy. He also ranked sixth in team points with 34.

“(Competing at St. Rita) It’s just a brotherhood,” Hogan said. “I mean, there’s so much culture within the school. It’s just once you’re in there and you’re bought in, you’re going to stay there all four years and you’re going to become a man. In the summer, I’m mostly focused on practice. I don’t compete too often. I competed probably more this summer, just one or two tournaments compared to zero last summer. I just worked on everything that I should have improved on during the season last year. And I feel like overall the biggest factor was jumping up weight classes. I was 120 last year and was cutting a bunch of weight. If you’re focused on that and not focused on getting better, then how are you supposed to improve? I’ve got a lot of good partners inside and outside of the school. A couple of my older brothers, college buddies, come in and practice with me, and that gets me better. I’ve got a lot of great partners inside the room, and Micah Spinazzola (both are from Peotone), I definitely feel like he should have placed higher. One of my goals I wanted to do was to be an undefeated state champ this year, but I took one loss in the (Joliet Central) McLaughlin Classic. You’ve just got to build from it.”

Marchese (19-3), who’s ranked second behind Hogan at 144 in 2A, was at Marian Central Catholic last season and was a 1A state qualifier. This was his second tournament of the season and he also took second at Barrington. He made quite an improvement from a year ago at the Dvorak, when he lost in the quarterfinals and failed to get a medal. He captured a 10-5 victory over IC Catholic Prep’s Frank Nitti in the 144 semifinals to become the lone finalist for coach Justen Lehr’s Tigers. Nitti (16-4) won 4-1 in sudden victory over Edwardsville’s Ryan Richie (19-2) to claim third place. Woodmancy (14-5) collected a win by technical fall in 1:50 over Yorkville’s Vincent Konecki (14-5) in the fifth-place match. For seventh place, Providence Catholic’s Luke Banas (15-7) recorded a fall in 1:04 over Hersey’s Nolan Variano (10-10), who had the largest seed-place difference in the event, placing eighth after being seeded 33rd.

150 – Rocco Cassioppi, Hononegah

Rocco Cassioppi made it three-for-three in Dvorak championship matches when the Hononegah junior captured the 150 title with a win by technical fall in 4:22 over Yorkville junior Donovan Rosauer. He also finished first at 126 in 2024 and won a title at 106 in 2023 in Harlem’s prestigious invite. Cassioppi (20-1), who is top-ranked at 150 in 3A, opened his season with a title win at Marmion Academy and then took third place at the Ironman in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, where he suffered his lone loss. He won a 5-4 decision over Marist’s George Marinopoulos in the IHSA 3A Finals at 132 last season after falling 6-5 to Warren Township’s Caleb Noble in the 3A 106 title match in 2024. He was the lone champion and was joined by runner-ups Jackson Olson (126), Bruno Cassioppi (165) and Brody Sendele (175) as finalists for coach Tyler DeMoss’ Indians, who finished in sixth place. He tied St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto, who won his fourth Dvorak championship, for eighth place for the most team points with 32.5.

“I feel pretty good but it’s hard seeing my teammates lose in the finals,” Cassioppi said. “It’s probably the saddest I’ve been after winning a tournament. There’s still a lot of work to be done, for sure, but I’m happy with the progress I’m making. I teched my way through the tournament here. It’s a lot about confidence in my own abilities and my attacks. That’s one thing that my brother’s struggling with right now, just being off the mat so long. Both Brody and Bruno, but once they get their confidence, they’re going to be just as good, probably better than me. I mean, they both whooped me in the room. I think it’s going to be more hard hand fighting, that’s the biggest thing I struggled with this weekend. I felt like I was getting popped, but now I realize that it’s just hard hand fighting and I’ve just got to get used to it. I’m used to 106 light hand fighting. Big difference. (Winning another Dvorak title) It’s really good for my confidence. Just reinforcing in my mind that I am the best, and I’ve just got to keep believing it.”

Rosauer (15-1), who’s ranked third at 150 in 3A, suffered his first loss of the season in the title match. This was also his initial tournament of the season and he hopes to improve upon a fourth-place finish at 150 at last season’s IHSA 3A Finals. He advanced to the 150 title match by claiming an 8-4 decision over Hickman, MO’s Shane Oswald in the semifinals. Rosauer was the lone finalist and one of three top-eight placewinners for coach Jake Oster’s Foxes, who took 11th place. Marist senior Tommy Fidler (21-3) finished in third place by winning a 7-2 decision over Tuttle, OK’s Rylend Slover (14-2). In the fifth-place match, Joliet West’s Coehn Weber (17-4) claimed a 14-5 major decision over Oswald (11-5). And St. Charles East’s Isaac Lenard (12-3) took seventh place by medical forfeit over IC Catholic Prep’s Jacob Alvarez (13-5). 

157 – Justus Heeg, Providence Catholic

Justus Heeg rolled to his third tournament title in four attempts by claiming top honors at 157 at the Dvorak with a 13-4 major decision over IC Catholic Prep sophomore Aiden Arnett.  He added to championships at Barrington and Joliet Central and advanced to a tourney finals for the fourth time, with his lone loss a 2-1 decision to Washington Community’s Wyatt Medlin in the 157 finals of the Ironman in Ohio. Heeg (19-1), who’s top-ranked at 157 in 2A, won the IHSA Class 2A title at 150 last season with a win by technical fall over Mascoutah’s Brock Ross after taking first place at 133 in Minnesota’s MSHSL Class 2A Finals in 2024 while competing for Simley as an eighth grader. One of the six champions who also won a Dvorak title in 2024, the sophomore earned his spot in the 157 title match with a victory by technical fall in 2:52 over Wauconda’s Brian Hart. Heeg led all competitors with 36.5 team points. He joined Tommy Banas (138) as a champion and finalist and was one of seven top-eight placewinners for the fourth-place Celtics, whose coach is Donald Reynolds, a 2022 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee.

“I’ve been feeling good, coming off a tough loss at Ironman, but got right back at it on Monday and came here and handled it,” Heeg said. “All of us guys in the room, we’re all pushing each other, so it’s good to see us all continue and do great in these tournaments. I’ve been spending time in the sauna, ice baths, keeping myself healthy, stretching, you know, going hard in practice when I need to and going light when I need to.” 

Arnett (16-4), who’s ranked second behind Heeg at 157, won a title at Washington Community and also took second at Barrington. He dropped a 1-0 decision to Washington Community’s Peyton Cox in the IHSA 2A Finals 144 title match last season. Arnett, who took third place in last year’s Dvorak, earned his spot in the 157 finals by capturing a 21-8 major decision over Marist’s Ethan Sonne. He joined champion Brody Kelly (175) and runners-up Foley Calcagno (215) and Anthony Sebastian (285) as one of four finalists and eight individuals who placed eighth or better for coach Danny Alcocer’s Knights, who were edged by Hickman, MO 231-225 for the title of the 46-team competition. For third place, Hickman, MO’s Taryn Nichols (16-2) prevailed 11-10 over Joliet Catholic Academy’s Nolan Vogel (17-3). Hart (20-5) claimed fifth place by medical forfeit over Sonne (13-2). And in the seventh-place match, Loyola Academy’s Daniel Malan (20-3) captured a 9-1 major decision over Lincoln-Way East’s Max Mularz (17-4).

165 – Jordan Fincher, Hickman, MO

Jordan Fincher was one of two individuals who won a Dvorak title as a member of a team that was new to the field this year. The senior from Hickman, which is in Columbia, Missouri, moved to 16-0 on the season after capturing a 3-1 decision over Hononegah junior Bruno Cassioppi in the 165 title match. He was the lone champion and joined runner-up Beau Waldron (190) as finalists and six others who placed eighth or better for coach Dan Pieper’s champion Kewpies, who took second in Class 4A behind perennial champion Liberty in the Missouri State High School Activities Association State Championships in Columbia last season. In the state finals, Fincher took fourth at 150 in 2025 and also placed third at 144 in 2024. He reached the 165 title match after getting a win by technical fall in 3:11 over Providence Catholic’s Jasper Harper. Fincher tied IC Catholic Prep’s Brody Kelly for third place for the most team points with 35.5.

“It does feel good,” Pieper said. “We didn’t know what to expect but we knew that this was going to be a grinder. It’s well recognized across the midwest as one of the toughest tournaments to get into and that’s why we wanted to get in here and see where we competed. Illinois wrestling is one of the toughest to compete against, so to come in here and do what these kids did today I can’t say enough about how much these kids love to compete and just want to get after the best kids that they can find at their weights. For us, we’re in mid-Missouri, and we’re a big school in mid-Missouri, so we have to travel, either to Kansas City or St. Louis. So if we’re going to get out, let’s get after some of these nationally-ranked schools and see how we can compete and see where we kind of hit. It helps us because we’re trying to chase Liberty in Missouri right now. They’re six-time.state champs at this point and we’re trying to knock them off if we can at any point but you know this is helping us to get battle-tested right here. I think that the culture that we build with this group and they’re competitors, they don’t care who you are and they don’t care where you’re ranked nationally. They want to test themselves against you. If we lose, we’re going to get right back at it and we’re going to try it again. They have short memories. We have some young kids and we’re still working on that. But most of them have short memories, and most of them just love to compete. As a coach, when you find a group of kids that just loves to compete, it makes life a lot of fun and a little bit easier sometimes.”

Cassioppi (15-4) fell just short of joining his brother Rocco (150) as a Dvorak champion. He was one one of four finalists for coach Tyler DeMoss’ Indians with Jackson Olson (126) and Brody Sendele (175) joining him as runners-up. Ranked third at 165 in 3A, this was his best tourney finish following a third at Marmion Academy and a fourth at the Ironman. He qualified for the IHSA 3A Finals last season but didn’t get a medal after placing third at 113 in 2024. He earned his spot in the 165 finals due to a forfeit by Montini Catholic’s Santino Tenuta. In the third-place match, Hersey’s Frank Tagoe (16-3) won a 12-3 major decision over Milton, WI’s Gage Gross (17-2). Harper (11-4) claimed fifth place by medical forfeit over Tenuta (7-2). For seventh, St. Rita of Cascia’s Micah Spinazzola (17-4) got a pin in 1:29 over Marist’’s Ronin Haran (17-6).

175 – Brody Kelly, IC Catholic Prep

Brody Kelly did all that he could to try to help his IC Catholic team get past newcomer Hickman, MO for the team championship at the Dvorak. He became his team’s lone title winner when he won a 10-3 decision over Hononegah junior Brody Sendele in the 175 finals. Kelly (22-1) finished tied for the third-best total of team points with 35.5, which was the same total as  Hickman’s only champion, Jordan Fincher (165). He joined runners-up Aiden Arnett (157), Foley Calcagno (215) and Anthony Sebastian (285) as finalists and four others who were top-eight finishers for coach Danny Alcocer’s Knights, who lost the title to the Kewpies, 231-225. Top-ranked at 175 in 2A, he added to title wins at Barrington and Washington Community and he suffered his lone defeat at the Ironman in Ohio where he took third. A three-time IHSA qualifier, he won the 2025 2A 175 title by technical fall over Geneseo’s Kye Weinzierl after falling 3-2 to Montini Catholic’s David Mayora in the 2024 2A 150 title match. He earned his spot in the 175 finals with a win by technical fall in 5:02 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Jalen Byrd.

“I think that we wrestled not the best as a team today or yesterday,” Kelly said, “I think a couple of us could have done better on the back side and we could have wrestled a little harder even on the front side not giving up easy scores and just kind of like fighting harder. I’ve been doing pretty good. I kind of have been proving myself and I think it was more like a mental thing. Actually, it was wrestling better and not getting in my head before matches, especially, like, big matches with good, ranked kids. So I kind of just changed my mentality and kind of just focused more on my offense instead of what they’re going to do and focused more on how I can score instead of stopping how they’re going to score. The team, we’re very close. We all hang out outside of wrestling, and we have a really good bond together. And I think that kind of helps us while we’re wrestling to be more supportive for each other and actually care about how other people are doing. And I think that’s really important on the team because if your teammates aren’t supporting you, you might wrestle worse. And if they’re there, you get more energy out of them, like cheering you on, and you’ll wrestle harder and probably better.”

Sendele (16-3) joined champion Rocco Cassioppi (150) and second-place finishers Jackson Olson (126) and Bruno Cassioppi (165) as finalists for coach Tyler DeMoss’ Indians, who took sixth place. Top-ranked in Class 3A at 175, he took first place at Marmion Academy in his only other tournament. He lost by technical fall to Marist’s Will Denny in the 3A 165 title match last season after finishing third in 3A at 157 in 2024. He advanced to the 175 title match with a 3-1 decision over Hickman, MO’s Luke Hayden, who won a Missouri Class 4 championship at 165 last season. Hayden (16-1) bounced back from that loss to capture third place with a fall in 1:06 over Byrd (18-3). For fifth place, Montini Catholic’s AJ Tack (9-3) claimed a 16-2 major decision over Lockport Township’s Chris Miller (12-6). And for seventh place, Moline’s DeAnthony Simpson (17-4) was a winner by fall in 3:10 over Wauconda’s Brody McKenna (21-5).

190 – Jimmy Mastny, Marian Central Catholic

Jimmy Mastny was used to being joined by many of his teammates both before and after he made his usual trip to the top of the awards stands at tournaments, as was evidenced by the fact that Marian Central Catholic won the IHSA 1A Dual Team title when he was a freshman and then fell to eventual champion Coal City and settled for third in 1A when he was a sophomore last season. But of the 19 team members that helped lead the Hurricanes to their only state title in 2023-2024, only three remain and the program now is in 2A. Mastny (22-1) was one of six individuals who won Dvorak titles in both 2024 and 2025 after he got a victory by technical fall in 3:38 over Hickman, MO junior Beau Waldron in the 190 finals. Top-ranked at 190 in 2A, the junior added to title wins at Marmion Academy and the Dan Gable Donnybrook in Iowa and his lone setback came in overtime in the semifinals of the Ironman in Ohio. He won by fall over Orion’s Maddux Anderson to take first in 1A at 190 last season and pinned Oakwood/ Salt Fork’s Bryson Capansky to claim first in 1A at 157 in 2024. He was the lone finalist for the Hurricanes, who are co-coached by Jordan Blanton and Ryan Prater. He earned his spot in the 190 finals with a 13-1 major decision over Fremd’s Lucas Nance following a 1-0 decision over Saint Viator’s Jaxon Penovich in the quarterfinals. He ranked fifth in most team points with 34.5. 

“I felt pretty good, “ Mastny said. “At the finals match, I got to my offense a lot more than most of the other matches, so I felt pretty good. (Competing in the Ironman) It was a good tournament. Obviously, the semifinals didn’t go the way I wanted to, but it’s nice to bounce back and take third. We’re still one of the top programs in the state, so it’s always nice to scrap with them.” 

Waldron (14-2) joined champion Jordan Fincher (165) as the two finalists for coach Dan Pieper’s Kewpies, who beat out IC Catholic Prep 231-225 to win the Dvorak in their first appearance, thanks in large part to having eight individuals who placed sixth or better. Waldron, who was a state runner-up at 175 last season, earned his spot in the 190 finals with a fall in 2:54 over Lincoln-Way Central’s Justin Langford. Penovich (19-3) is ranked second to Mastny at 190 in 2A and has won titles at Vernon Hills and Fenton and he beat Loyola Academy’s Quinn Herbert 13-5 for the 2024 IHSA 3A 190 title after placing fifth at 195 in 3A in 2023 while at Prospect. Penovich wrestled back to take third place after getting a win by technical fall in 5:49 over Nance (19-4). For fifth place, Notre Dame College Prep’s Jeramy Hamm (23-5) won by fall  in 1:33 over Langford (16-7). And in the seventh-place match, Lincoln-Way East’s Colton Zvonar (15-3) captured a victory by technical fall in 1:46 over Tuttle, OK’s Wyatt Whitener (12-6).

215 – Kai Calcutt, Loyola Academy

Kai Calcutt not only was one of six individuals who won Dvorak titles in both 2025 and 2024 after taking top honors at 215 but the senior also was one of two Loyola Academy competitors who claimed first-place in the competition, with sophomore Niko Odiotti kicking off the finals with a title win at 106. Calcutt improved to 21-2 after capturing a 19-6 major decision over IC Catholic Prep senior Foley Calcagno in the 215 title match. The two champions joined three others who placed in the top eight for the Ramblers, who are coached by Matt Collum, a 2023 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee. He is top-ranked at 215 in 3A and this was his fourth title in four attempts in Illinois tournaments, with his other championships at Addison Trail, Barrington and Neuqua Valley. He earned his spot in the finals by claiming an 8-2 decision over St. Charles East’s Cooper Murray. He’s his school’s only three-time IHSA medalist and its second state champion, with Massey Odiotti being the program’s first title winner in 2023. He’s appeared in three-straight dramatic IHSA 3A title matches, winning 3-1 by sudden victory over Marmion Academy’s Joseph Favia at 215 in 2024, falling 7-5 to Joliet Central’s Charles Walker at 215 last season and losing 3-2 on an ultimate tiebreaker to Yorkville’s Ben Alvarez at 220 in 2023.  

“A little adversity, especially coming from football,” Calcutt said. “A couple bangs on my body, but nothing I can’t fight through. It’s a mentality at the end of the day. I only get one time of this in my life, so I’ve got to make the best of it. It’s a great chapter for my season, it’s kind of the place where I’m at. Definitely room to get better, but I’m excited. (Coach Matt Collum) He’s a really laid-back coach, which I love. It’s kind of how I learn the best. He knows us inside out. He’s a great coach and he does good in the room. The last four years have been awesome. Great, different bonds and brotherhood, especially in wrestling, it’s fun.” 

Calcagno (16-4) joined champion Brody Kelly (175) and runners-up Aiden Arnett (157) and Anthony Sebastian (285) as finalists for coach Danny Alcocer’s Knights, who took second place to Hickman, MO by a 231-225 margin. Ranked third in 2A at 215, he earned his spot in the finals with a 4-0 decision over Saint Viator’s Wynn Philippi. He won a title at Washington Community and also took second at Barrington. He’s a three-time IHSA medalist, taking third at 215 last season, third at 190 in 2024 and sixth at 182 in 1A in 2023. For third place, Murray (15-3) captured a 4-0 decision over Edwardsville’s Roman Janek (14-3). In the fifth-place match, Lincoln-Way East’s Justin Powers (17-4) won by fall in 1:50 over Marist’s Tom O’Brien (15-7). And for seventh, Wheeling’s Eddie Juarez (16-3) pinned Harlem’s Chandler Jack (17-7) in 3:25.   

285 – Jonathan Rulo, Belleville East       

Jonathan Rulo made history for Belleville East last season when he became his program’s first IHSA champion, as well as its initial three-time medalist and two-time state finalist after winning the 3A title at 285 with a 7-2 decision over Round Lake’s William Cole. The senior hopes to repeat as a champion and become a four-time all-stater as he wraps up his wrestling career. He’s also been an all-stater and one of the state’s top prospects in football and the defensive lineman has committed to play at the University of Cincinnati. Rulo, who is 11-0, also lost 5-3 to Downers Grove North’s Ben Bielawski in the 2023 3A Finals at 285 and took third at 285 in 2024. Top-ranked at 285 in 3A, he’s now won three tournaments, taking first at Barrington to open the season and won the title at Granite City on Tuesday. He became one of six individuals who won a Dvorak title in both 2025 and 2024 after recording a fall in 0:43 over IC Catholic Prep junior Anthony Sebastian in the finals. Recipient of the Dvorak’s Outstanding Wrestler Award, he reached the 285 finals with a 7-2 decision over Montini Catholic’s Gavin Ericson. He ranked second in team points with 36 and was the lone medalist for coach Rashad Riley’s Lancers.

“Jonathan was quite ecstatic to wrestle in the Dvorak because it was a chance to build on his Barrington performance, which wasn’t great in his mind,” Lancers coach Rashad Riley said. “He was really hoping to wrestle (Jaylen) Torres of St. Francis but unfortunately he’s out with an injury. Tournament wise the plan was to make guys open up and score points which he did a good job of although, he’s a little upset he didn’t do more in that semifinal match against Montini’s Erikson, but now we got something to work towards. We got to see some ranked wrestlers and it was a great test for him coming into the second half of the season.”

Sebastian (14-4) joined champion Brody Kelly (175) and second-place finishers Aiden Arnett (157) and Foley Calcagno (215) as one of the four finalists for coach Danny Alcocer’s Knights, who took second after being outscored 231-225 by Hickman, MO to miss out on winning a second-straight Dvorak title. He earned his spot in the 285 title match by claiming a 4-0 decision over Saint Viator’s Wynn Philippi. Ranked third in 2A at 285, he took first place at Washington Community and also finished second to Rulo at Barrington. He earned his first all-state medal last season when he took fourth at 285. For third place, Lincoln-Way Central’s Aiden Hennings (22-2) won a 4-1 decision over Ericson (9-2). In the fifth-place match, Edwardsville’s Braylon Hill-Lomax (17-4) claimed a 4-3 decision over Philippi (19-7). And for seventh place, Notre Dame College Prep’s Sean Cook (18-4) won by fall in 1:34 over Moline’s Alijah Martin (14-9).

Final standings of Harlem’s Dvorak Wrestling Tournament

Hickman, MO 231, IC Catholic Prep 225, Montini Catholic 206, Providence Catholic 174, St. Charles East 163.5, Hononegah 151, Tuttle, OK 148, Joliet Catholic Academy 145.5, Marist 131, Loyola Academy 127.5, Yorkville 126, Edwardsville 122, Lincoln-Way Central 108.5, Lincoln-Way East 100, Lockport Township 87.5, Marian Central Catholic 85, St. Rita of Cascia 84.5, Joliet West 78.5, Normal Community 77, Glenbard North 75, Hersey 71.5, Notre Dame College Prep 71, Milton, WI 71, Belleville East 65, Fremd 63.5, Wauconda 63.5, Crystal Lake Central 61.5, Wheeling 60.5, Moline 60, Grayslake Central 53.5, Plainfield North 49.5, Bolingbrook 46.5, Buffalo Grove 45.5, Saint Viator 45.5, Freeport 44, Libertyville 44, Conant 39, Harlem 36, Huntley 35, Schaumburg 28, St. Francis 14, Jacobs 12, Belvidere 9, Dakota 6, Hoffman Estates 3.5, Belvidere North 0

Championship matches of Harlem’s Dvorak Wrestling Tournament

106 – Niko Odiotti (Loyola Academy) over Michael McNamara (Edwardsville), D 7-2

113 – Erik Klichurov (Montini Catholic) over Vince DeMarco (Grayslake Central), D 7-1

120 – Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East) over Allen Woo (Montini Catholic), MD 10-2

126 – Bobby Ruscitti (Montini Catholic) over Jackson Olson (Hononegah), D 4-1

132 – Jason Hampton (Joliet Catholic Academy) over Mikey Malizzio (Montini Catholic), TF 5:40

138 – Tommy Banas (Providence Catholic) over Adante Washington (Joliet Catholic Academy), D 5-4

144 – Jack Hogan (St. Rita of Cascia) over Nicholas Marchese (Crystal Lake Central), D 7-4

150 – Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah) over Donovan Rosauer (Yorkville), TF 4:22

157 – Justus Heeg (Providence Catholic) over Aiden Arnett (IC Catholic Prep), MD 13-4

165 – Jordan Fincher (Hickman, MO) over Bruno Cassioppi (Hononegah), D 3-1

175 – Brody Kelly (IC Catholic Prep) over Brody Sendele (Hononegah), D 10-3

190 – Jimmy Mastny (Marian Central Catholic) over Beau Waldron (Hickman, MO), TF 3:38

215 – Kai Calcutt (Loyola Academy) over Foley Calcagno (IC Catholic Prep), MD 19-6

285 – Jonathan Rulo (Belleville East) over Anthony Sebastian (IC Catholic Prep), F 0:43

Third-place matches of Harlem’s Dvorak Wrestling Tournament

106 – Jackson Soney (Normal Community) over Treyden Diduch (Freeport), F 0:50

113 – Kolten Mueller (Milton, WI) over Dominic Marchack (Hickman, MO), D 12-6

120 – Ray Long (Notre Dame College Prep) over Maxwell Bradley (Tuttle, OK), D 14-8

126 – Oleksandr Havrylkiv (Hersey) over Lukas Foster (Joliet Catholic Academy), D 3-2

132 – Chance Fisher (Tuttle, OK) over Hogan Benter (Hickman, MO), D 4-2

138 – Brady McMurtry (Hickman, MO) over Jack Hanrahan (IC Catholic Prep), MD 14-1

144 – Frank Nitti (IC Catholic Prep) over Ryan Richie (Edwardsville), SV 4-1

150 – Tommy Fidler (Marist) over Rylend Slover (Tuttle, OK), D 7-2

157 – Taryn Nichols (Hickman, MO) over Nolan Vogel (Joliet Catholic Academy), D 11-10

165 – Frank Tagoe (Hersey) over Gage Gross (Milton, WI), MD 12-3

175 – Luke Hayden (Hickman, MO) over Jalen Byrd (Lincoln-Way Central), F 1:06

190 – Jaxon Penovich (Saint Viator) over Lucas Nance (Fremd), TF 5:49

215 – Cooper Murray (St. Charles East) over Roman Janek (Edwardsville), D 4-0

285 – Aiden Hennings (Lincoln-Way Central) over Gavin Ericson (Montini Catholic), D 4-1