Invitational roundups for Jan. 22

Galesburg wins Orion’s Bob Mitton Invite

Galesburg had three champions and 12 individuals who finished sixth or better to help it capture top honors with 210.5 points at Orion’s Bob Mitton Invite.

Rockridge took second with 167.5 points while Riverdale was third with 154.5 points. Orion (136), Kewanee (131), Macomb (107.5), Mercer County (106.5) and Clinton (98) were next in line in the two-day tournament that featured 17 schools.

Winning titles for coach Greg Leibach’s champion Silver Streaks were Gauge Shipp (29-3 at 120), Rocky Almendarez (25-2 at 126) and Jeremiah Morris (29-3 220) while Santana Castellano (20-6 at 132) was second. Taking third were Angelo Abdallah (106), Alex Baughman (145), Emilio Torres (195) and Tyler Kemp (285) while Dishon Nolen (220) finished fourth and Jashon Parks (182) and Ryne Straker (220) placed fifth.

Galesburg, ranked 24th in Class 2A, turned in its best tournament showing of the season, improving upon its previous-best of a third-place finish at Metamora. The Silver Streaks entered the week 15-2 in dual meets and needed just one more win to tie the school record. The squad hopes to continue its success on Saturday when it competes in the Western Big 6 Conference Tournament, which will be held at one of the state’s legendary sports settings, historic Wharton Field House in Moline. (Thanks to Matthew Wheaton of the Register-Mail for information on Galesburg).

Leading the way for coach Lucas Smith’s runner-up Rockets were champion Reese Finch (30-3 at 145) and second-place finishers Jude Finch (27-7 at 126) and Sam Buser (24-10 at 285). Taking third were Bryan Blumenstein (132) and Connor Shaffer (220) while Rylan Newell (120) and Zayd Evans (160) finished fourth and Cael Kuster (113) and Sawyer Weinert (138) took fifth.

Coach Myron Keppy’s third-place Rams had four champions, Tharren Jacobs (27-7 at 106), Brock Smith (34-0 at 132), Collin Altensey (33-0 at 152) and Alex Watson (34-1 at 160) and two of them won Most Outstanding Wrestler awards with Smith receiving it for the lower weights and Altensey for the upper weights. Placing second were Eli Hinde (26-7 at 145) and Zach Bradley (26-12 at 170).

Also winning titles were Farmington’s Keygan Jennings (113) and Rese Shymansky (182), United Township’s Kayden Marolf (6-2 at 138), Camp Point Central’s Kyus Mitchell (170), Macomb’s Ethan Ladd (31-5 at 195) and University High’s Hunter Otto (25-1 at 285).

Nine of the individuals who won titles were ranked in the top-10 in the state and 10 of the Mitton Invite champions have now won two or more tournament titles this season.

Smith (first in 1A at 132) won his fourth title in four finals trips and received an OWA for the second time while Otto (third in 1A at 285) also won his fourth title in four finals appearances and Jennings (fifth in 1A at 113) won his fourth title in five trips to the finals. Winning their third titles of the season were Altensey (second in 1A at 152), who has been in three finals, as well as Watson (second in 1A at 160) and Morris (HM in 2A at 220) also won his third title of the season.

Winning their second titles of 2021-22 were Shipp (seventh in 2A at 120), Almendarez (sixth in 2A at 126), Finch (fourth in 1A at 145) and Shymansky (HM in 1A at 182). Capturing their first titles of the season were Jacobs (tenth in 1A at 106), Mitchell (HM in 1A at 170), Ladd (HM in 1A at 195) and Marolf (2A at 138).

Others who took second were Sherrard’s Austin Fratzke (138), Dylan Russell (160) and Ryder Roelf (182), Mercer County’s Kale Stirn (106) and Ethan Monson (120), United Township’s Jordan Pauwels-Whitmarsh (14-8 at 113), Illini West’s Lance Belshaw (22-4 at 152), Clinton’s Kaedyn Sloat (195) and University High’s Isaiah Im (21-4 at 220).

The closest title matches included Shymansky winning 8-7 over Roelf at 182, Ladd beating Sloat 4-2 at 195, Reese Finch beating Hinde 5-1 at 145, Altensey winning 6-2 over Belshaw at 152, Mitchell beating Bradley 8-4 at 170 and Otto winning 6-2 over Buser at 285.

Kewanee had four third-place finishers, Nathaniel Hampton (120), Hayden Davis (126), Kadin Rednour (152) and Jaxson Hicks (160). Also taking third were Macomb’s Cohen Green (113) and Max Ryner (182), Mercer County’s Zeke Arnold (138) and Farmington’s Austin Utt (170).

Orion had four individuals who were fourth, Kaleb Sovey (106), Mason Anderson (138), Phillip Dochterman (182) and Seth Gardner (285). Others who finished in fourth place were Clinton’s Teegan West (113) and Cayden Poole (126), Camp Point Central’s Konnor Bush (145) and Conner Griffin (152), Mercer County’s Bodie Salmon (170) and Ian Willits (195) and Kewanee’s Will Taylor (132).

Orion also had four who placed fifth, Luke Moen (120), Cole Perkins (126), Caden Wegerer (132) and Maddix Moninski (170). Others in fifth were Macomb’s Tyler Shannon (145) and Tegan Perry (285), Monmouth-Roseville’s Caleb Dillard (106), Clinton’s Trevor Willis (152), Illini West’s Shawn Watkins (160) and United Township’s Evan Santilli (195).

Orion Bob Mitton Invite championship matches

106 – Tharren Jacobs (Riverdale) over Kale Stirn (Mercer County), TF 18-2

113 – Keygan Jennings (Farmington) over Jordan Pauwels-Whitmarsh (United Township), F 4:00

120 – Gauge Shipp (Galesburg) over Ethan Monson (Mercer County), 8-3

126 – Rocky Almendarez (Galesburg) over Jude Finch (Rockridge), 11-3

132 – Brock Smith (Riverdale) over Santana Castellano (Galesburg), TF 17-2

138 – Kayden Marolf (United Township) over Austin Fratzke (Sherrard), F 4:43

145 – Reese Finch (Rockridge) over Eli Hinde (Riverdale), 5-1

152 – Collin Altensey (Riverdale) over Lance Belshaw (Illini West), 6-2

160 – Alex Watson (Riverdale) over Dylan Russell (Sherrard), 6-0

170 – Kyus Mitchell (Camp Point Central) over Zach Bradley (Riverdale), 8-4

182 – Rese Shymansky (Farmington) over Ryder Roelf (Sherrard), 8-7

195 – Ethan Ladd (Macomb) over Kaedyn Sloat (Clinton), 4-2

220 – Jeremiah Morris (Galesburg) over Isaiah Im (University High), 9-3

285 – Hunter Otto (University High) over Sam Buser (Rockridge), 6-2

Stevenson edges Libertyville to capture Lake County Invitational title

Stevenson claimed Lake County bragging rights after outscoring Libertyville 196-189 to claim top honors in the Lake County Invitational, which was held in Wauconda.

Antioch (133.5), Grant (121), Mundelein (116.5), Lake Zurich (100.5) and Wauconda (98.5) rounded out the top-half of the field in the 14-team competition.

Leading the way for coach Shane Cook’s first-place Patriots were champions Lorenzo Frezza (29-1 at 126), Cole Rhemrev (30-0 at 138), Thomas Schoolman (29-5 at 145) and Jacob Whiting (28-4 at 195). After recording two wins by technical fall and handing Lake Zurich’s Scott Busse his first loss by a 3-1 score in the 138 title match in a clash of unbeaten competitors, Rhemrev received the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award.

Also for Stevenson, Carter Rand (152) and Themba Sitshela (160) took third place while Andrew Chamkin (106) and Allan Kantor (120) finished fourth and Yash Jagtap (113), Mesh Premanand (182) and Blake Duvall (285) claimed fifth place. The Patriots, who are ranked 17th in Class 3A, won a title at Leyden’s Randy Conrad Invite and were third at Barrington’s Moore-Prettyman and fourth at Hinsdale Central’s Whitlatch.

Top performers for coach Dale Eggert’s runner-up Wildcats were title winners Caelan Riley (28-3 at 120) and Josh Knudten (28-3 at 182), who both got title wins over undefeated opponents. Second-place finishers were Matt Kubas (13-13 at 160), Austin Gomez (25-9 at 170), Cole Matulenko (25-8 at 195) and Caleb Christensen (19-7 at 285). Taking third were Luke Berktold (126) and Trevor Jean (132) while Anthony McClendon (152) finished fourth and Michael Rocco (145) was fifth. Libertyville, ranked 16th in 3A, also took second place at Barrington and at Prospect’s Mudge-McMorrow Invite.

Other champions were Grayslake Central’s Anthony Alanis (35-4 at 106) and Aaron Cramer (37-1 at 170), Lake Forest’s Seth Digby (25-4 at 132) and Max Terlap (19-2 at 285), Mundelein’s Bryce Durlacher (30-1 at 113), Antioch’s Evan Vazquez (22-3 at 152), Grant’s Justin Warmowski (9-2 at 160) and Wauconda’s Matt Merevick (23-5 at 220).

Also finishing second were Antioch’s Edgar Albino (31-1 at 120), Anthony Streib (27-7 at 132) and Ben Vazquez (26-5 at 145), Lake Zurich’s Luca Poeta (17-2 at 106) and Scott Busse (23-1 at 138), Mundelein’s Benji Albavera (15-2 at 126) and Isaiah Robles (19-8 at 152), Round Lake’s Alejandro Cordova (27-11 at 113), Grayslake Central’s Matthew Jens (37-1 at 182) and Grant’s Cameron Lattimore (21-7 at 220).

Albino, Busse and Jens all suffered their first defeats in title matches. Riley (fourth in 3A at 120) won 9-1 over Albino at 120, Rhemrev (third in 3A at 138) edged Busse 3-1 at 138 and Knudten (fourth in 3A at 182) beat Jens 6-2 at 182. Jens was top-ranked in 2A at 182 and had two titles to his credit while Busse was tenth in 3A at 138 with three title wins and Albino was tenth in 2A at 120 with a pair of title wins. Rhemrev now has three titles in three finals trips while Knudten claimed his second title and Riley collected his first.

Frezza (fifth in 3A at 126) captured his fourth title in four finals appearances while Alanis (third in 2A at 106), Durlacher (eighth in 3A at 113), Schoolman (HM in 3A at 145) and Whiting (ninth in 3A at 195) all won their second titles of the season. Picking up their first tournament titles were Digby (HM in 2A at 132), Evan Vazquez (HM in 2A at 160), Warmowski (sixth in 3A at 160), Terlap (HM in 2A at 285) and Merevick (HM in 2A at 220), who collected his initial title in his fourth finals trip.

Other close title matches involved Durlacher edging Cordova 1-0 at 113, Digby winning 3-0 over Streib at 132, Cramer prevailing 7-4 over Gomez at 170 and Merevick winning 6-4 over Lattimore at 220.

There was a tie for the most team points between Frezza and Terlap with 26 while Riley and Schoolman tied for third with 25, Alanis and Warmowski tied for fifth at 24.5 and Knudten, Merevick, Evan Vazquez and Whiting tied for seventh with 24 points.

Also finishing in third place were Warren’s Nevin Mitrovic (170), Anthony Soto (220) and Reyes Gonzalez (285), Antioch’s Gavin Hanrahan (106) and Caleb Nobiling (138), Grant’s Sean Rogan (120) and Alex Gomez (195), Grayslake Central’s Tyler Weidman (113), Mundelein’s Erick Nova (145) and Round Lake’s Aidan McCain (182).

Lake Zurich had four individuals who placed fourth, Tomas Troutman (145), Nolan Schuetz (160), Nick Costis (170) and Matt Luby (195), Others who took fourth were Wauconda’s Cooper Daun (126), Kaden Hebert (132) and Cole Porten (138), Grant’s Patrick Ketter (113) and Ivan Hernandez (285), Antioch’s Seth Gomez (182) and Mundelein’s Miguel Hernandez (220). Grant’s Ketter had the largest differential between seed and finish with eight after finishing fourth while seeded 12th.

Also placing fifth were Warren’s Jose Ordonez (120), Evan Onstad (138) and Jeremija Hixson (195), Round Lake’s Grayson Kongkaeow (106) and Lewis Daniels (170),

Grant’s Vinny Potempa (126) and Douglas Zimmerman (132), Wauconda’s Nick Cheshier (152), Mundelein’s Ty Murray (160) and Lake Zurich’s Ethan Medina (220).

Lake County Invitational championship matches

106 – Anthony Alanis (Grayslake Central) over Luca Poeta (Lake Zurich), F 3:33

113 – Bryce Durlacher (Mundelein) over Alejandro Cordova (Round Lake), 1-0

120 – Caelan Riley (Libertyville) over Edgar Albino (Antioch), 9-1

126 – Lorenzo Frezza (Stevenson) over Benji Albavera (Mundelein), F 1:44

132 – Seth Digby (Lake Forest) over Anthony Streib (Antioch), 3-0

138 – Cole Rhemrev (Stevenson) over Scott Busse (Lake Zurich), 3-1

145 – Thomas Schoolman (Stevenson) over Ben Vazquez (Antioch), 13-4

152 – Evan Vazquez (Antioch) over Isaiah Robles (Mundelein), F 1:28

160 – Justin Warmowski (Grant) over Matt Kubas (Libertyville), 12-4

170 – Aaron Cramer (Grayslake Central) over Austin Gomez (Libertyville ), 7-4

182 – Josh Knudten (Libertyville) over Matthew Jens (Grayslake Central), 6-2

195 – Jacob Whiting (Stevenson) over Cole Matulenko (Libertyville), 9-3

220 – Matt Merevick (Wauconda) over Cameron Lattimore (Grant), 6-4

285 – Max Terlap (Lake Forest) over Caleb Christensen (Libertyville), F 2:38

LeRoy/Tri-Valley claims title at its Randy Bowman Invitational

LeRoy/Tri-Valley scored 190 points to win the championship of its Randy Bowman Invitational, which was held on Saturday in LeRoy.

Ridgeview/Lexington edged Oakwood/Salt Fork 173-172 to claim second place while Auburn (138), Oregon (125), Illini Bluffs (124.5), Princeton (116), Knoxville (95) and Dwight (81.5) were next in line in the 18-team tournament.

Top performers for coach Brady Sant Amour’s first-place Panthers were champions Ethan Conaty (15-4 at 152) and Tyson Brent (22-0 at 170), second-place finisher Kobe Brent (17-4 at 113) and third-place finishers Brady Mouser (106) and Andrew Moore (220). Colton Prosser (126) and Connor Lyons (132) were fifth while Brock Owens (120) and Tate Sigler (285) took sixth. This was the third title of the season for LeRoy/Tri-Valley, with the others being at Metamora and Urbana, which both featured several Class 2A teams.
“It was a battle back and forth all day between us, Ridgeview and Oakwood,” Sant Amour said. “Our juniors, Ethan Conaty and Tyson Brent, sealed the win with each getting a fall in the finals. Our younger wrestlers fought through some tough matches in the wrestlebacks. It was a great team effort Saturday.”

Leading the way for coach Jeremy Lopshire’s runner-up Mustangs were champions Danny Tay (22-5 at 113) and Gage Kelly (17-9 at 285), while Braydon Campbell (17-4 at 120) and Evan Antonio (28-2 at 220) placed second and Payton Campbell (126) and Connor Feit (182) took third. Anthony Wolinsky (113) and Gray McCue (195) took fifth while Cody Sutter (145), Cal Thomas (170) and Luke Evans (195) were sixth.

And best performances for coach Mike Glosser’s third-place Comets were champion Joe Lashuay (20-5 at 160) and second-place finishers Pedro Rangel (19-3 at 126) and Reef Pacot (27-3 at 132). Finishing fourth were Carter Chambliss (120) and Brysen Vazquez (170) while Bryson Capansky (138) and Grant Brewer (145) placed fifth and Doug Myers (182) and Harley Grimm (220) were sixth.

Other champions were Illini Bluffs’ Hunter Robbins (23-3 at 106) and Paul Ishikawa (26-1 at 138), Shelbyville’s Calvin Miller (27-2 at 120), Princeton’s Matthew Harris (26-3 at 126), Auburn’s Dresden Grimm (31-1 at 132), El Paso-Gridley’s Dax Gentes (35-2 at 145), Westville’s Rylee Edwards (24-1 at 182), Knoxville’s Dilan Vanbeveran (26-7 at 195) and Dwight’s Samuel Edwards (10-0 at 220).
Gentes (seventh in 1A at 145) and Brent (sixth in 1A at 170) both won their fourth titles in four finals appearances while Harris (fifth in 1A at 126) claimed his third title in four trips to the finals. Winning their second titles in 2021-22 were Robbins (fourth in 1A at 106), Miller (tenth in 1A at 120), Grimm (third in 1A at 132), Ishikawa (second in 1A at 132), Conaty (HM in 1A at 152) while Tay (HM in 1A at 113), Lashuay (first in 1A at 160), Vanbeveran (HM in 1A at 195), Edwards (tenth in 1A at 220) and Kelly (285) all won their first titles of the season. Antonio (third in 1A at 220) suffered his second defeat in 30 matches and was denied a fourth title in his fourth finals appearance of the season.

Also claiming second-place finishes were Warrensburg-Latham’s Mason Hawkins (170) and Walker Allen (29-9 at 195), Knoxville’s Hunter Johnson (26-7 at 106), Dwight’s Dillon Sarff (19-4 at 138), Princeton’s Augie Christiansen (27-5 at 145), Eureka’s Derrick Wiles (20-9 at 152), Deer Creek-Mackinaw’s Gage Sweckard (29-6 at 160), Auburn’s Skylar Fay (26-7 at 182) and Oregon’s Evan Flaharty (19-6 at 285).

Some close title matches were Miller beating Braydon Campbell 6-3 at 120, Ishikawa edging Sarff 7-5 in overtime at 138, Gentes winning 3-2 over Augie Christiansen at 145.

Additional third-place finishers were Oregon’s Seth Stevens (138), Gabe Eckerd (160) and Andrew Young (195), Auburn’s Gage Lopez (120) and Cole Edie (285), Shelbyville’s Will Fox (145) and Aydan Fisher (170), Dwight’s Dylan Crouch (113), Illini Bluffs’ Ian O’Connor (132) and Westville’s Jacob Pyle (152).

Other fourth-place finishers were Westville’s Logan Mahaffey (113) and Hayden Weaver (132), Knoxville’s Mitchell Parrish (138) and William Stowe (285), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin Coop’s Landen Toellner (106), Illini Bluffs’ Jackson Carroll (126), Oregon’s Anthony Bauer (145), Auburn’s Brodi Linn (152), Rantoul’s Rashon Allen  (160), Warrensburg-Latham’s Austin Stock (182), Pittsfield’s Noah Alger (195) and Shelbyville’s Andre Townsend (220).

Also finishing fifth were Princeton’s Ace Christiansen (120) and Payne Miller (285), Illini Bluffs’ Wyatt Knowles (106), Auburn’s Malachi Fitch (152), Eureka’s Dillon Wiles (160), Oregon’s Ethan George (170), Pittsfield’s Tucker Cook (182) and Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin coop’s Nathanael Gnaden (220).

Additional sixth-place finishes were turned in by Illini Bluffs’ Carson Overton (113) and Michael Schabatka (152), Princeton’s Kaydin Gibson (106), Warrensburg-Latham’s Alec Murray (126), Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin coop’s Evan Parish (132), El Paso-Gridley’s Waylon Melich (138) and Auburn’s Joey Barrow (160).

LeRoy/Tri-Valley Randy Bowman Invitational championship matches

106 – Hunter Robbins (Illini Bluffs) over Hunter Johnson (Knoxville), TF 4:00
113 – Danny Tay (Ridgeview/Lexington) over Kobe Brent (LeRoy/Tri-Valley), 4-0
120 – Calvin Miller (Shelbyville) over Braydon Campbell (Ridgeview/Lexington), 6-3
126 – Matthew Harris (Princeton) over Pedro Rangel (Oakwood/Salt Fork), 11-2
132 – Dresden Grimm (Auburn) over Reef Pacot (Oakwood/Salt Fork), 6-1
138 – Paul Ishikawa (Illini Bluffs) over Dillon Sarff (Dwight), 7-5 OT
145 – Dax Gentes (El Paso-Gridley) over Augie Christiansen (Princeton), 3-2
152 – Ethan Conaty (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) over Derrick Wiles (Eureka), F 3:00
160 – Joe Lashuay (Oakwood/Salt Fork) over Gage Sweckard (Deer Creek-Mackinaw), F 1:04
170 – Tyson Brent (LeRoy/Tri-Valley) over Mason Hawkins (Warrensburg-Latham), F 1:07
182 – Rylee Edwards (Westville) over Skylar Fay (Auburn), 12-5
195 – Dilan Vanbeveran (Knoxville) over Walker Allen (Warrensburg-Latham), F 0:47
220 – Samuel Edwards (Dwight) over Evan Antonio (Ridgeview/Lexington), F 5:17
285 – Gage Kelly (Ridgeview/Lexington) over Evan Flaharty (Oregon), F 1:22

Phoenix Military Academy wins first Sullivan Slam title

Phoenix Military Academy followed up on a tournament title last weekend at Lisle with another championship on Thursday when it scored 241 points to win the first annual Sullivan Slam, which was held at Sullivan High on Chicago’s north side.

Kenwood took second place with 162 points while Kennedy was third with 141 points. Curie edged Taft 116.5-116 for fourth and Rickover Naval Academy (107) and Lindblom (103) were next-best in the 15-team competition.

Top performers for coach Daniel Curin’s first-place Firebirds were champions Jose Lua (17-3 at 120), Vin Moreno (22-2 at 126), Rafael Soto (22-3 at 145) and Jimmy Lua (21-3 at 152) while Adan Bucio (11-6 at 113), Omar Ramirez (20-4 at 132) and Diego Mendez (17-8 at 138) were second. Liam Debates (106) and Freddie Martinez (160) took fourth and Corey Chalmers (170) and Jiovanni Barrios (192) were fifth. 

Leading the way for coach Carlos Latimer’s runner-up Broncos were champion Adam Achebe (21-2 at 220) and second-place finishers Joshua Butler (23-5 at 160) and Dimitri Walker-Hunt (22-9 at 170). Taking third were Cameron Griffin (120), Colin Claffey (132) and Billy Torian (145) while Monroe Evans (113) and Neimiah Pinder (195) finished fourth and Michica Taylor (126) and Christopher Guiger (152) took fifth.

Kennedy had four champions, Victor Alvarado (14-5 at 106), Phillip Lullo (13-2 at 138), Dorian Vaughns (21-3 at 160) and Raymond Begay (23-1 at 285). Also winning titles at the Slam were Lindblom’s Diego Salgado (15-1 at 113) and Zachary Carter (15-1 at 132), Kelly’s Frankie Cruz (19-3 at 170), Mather’s Jacob Scott (10-3 at 182) and Northridge Prep’s Steven Kopecky (9-4 at 195).

Others who took second place were Curie’s John Johnson (8-5 at 126), Emir Walker (6-3 at 152) and Anthony Garcia (7-3 at 195), Rickover Naval Academy’s Nathaniel Sales (13-4 at 120) and Alejandro Olvera (12-3 at 145), Taft’s Miguel Guevara (106), Sullivan’s Orphee Ngimbous (182), Amundsen’s Kevin Olson (10-2 at 220) and Kelly’s Wyatt Qualls (5-3 at 285).

Some of the closest title matches were Lullo edging Mendez 5-3 at 138 and Vaughns winning 3-0 over Butler at 160. Eight of the champions recorded falls in the finals.

Salgado and Scott led all competitors with 28 team points while Lua and Soto each had 27 and Alvarado, Carter, Cruz, Lua and Moreno all had 26 team points. Carter easily had the most match points with 57, which were 31 more than next-best in that regard.

Others who claimed third place finishes were Amundsen’s Matthew Nguyen (106), Lamar Lane (138) and Michael Wojatch (195), Rickover Naval Academy’s Julian Hernandez (126) and Adonai Zora-Awni (152), Curie’s Percy Taylor (170) and Angel Ascencio (182), Taft’s Marcus Regalado (113), Northridge Prep’s Jon Suter (160), Back of the Yards’ Fernando Gomez (220) and Mather’s Tofarati Fatoki (285).

Also finishing in fourth place were Lindblom’s Ashton Allen (145), Sergio Ramirez (152) and Erick Arroyo (182), Kennedy’s Gino Alberto (126) and Jacob Sosa (170), Kelly’s Roberto Vitela (120), Curie’s Porfirio Govea (132), Northridge Prep’s Adam Cheaib (138), Rickover Naval Academy’s Osmar Mora (220) and Taft’s Lucas Owen (285).

Others who took fifth place were Taft’s Antoni Turek (138), Grant Hansen (195) and Michael Barretto (285), Back of the Yards’ Emily Perez (106) and Alexis Alvarado (120), Mather’s Arlo Johnson (160) and Jonathonan Alvarado (220), Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy’s Kwan Washington (113), Rickover Naval Academy’s Jacob Pizarro (132) and Curie’s Jermal Ray (145).

Sullivan Slam championship matches

106 – Victor Alvarado (Kennedy) over Miguel Guevara (Taft), F 1:06

113 – Diego Salgado (Lindblom) over Adan Bucio (Phoenix Military Academy), Inj. Def.

120 – Jose Lua (Phoenix Military Academy) over Nathaniel Sales (Rickover Naval Academy), F 1:25

126 – Vin Moreno (Phoenix Military Academy) over John Johnson (Curie), F 0:54

132 – Zachary Carter (Lindblom) over Omar Ramirez (Phoenix Military Academy), 19-7

138 – Phillip Lullo (Kennedy) over Diego Mendez (Phoenix Military Academy), 5-3

145 – Rafael Soto (Phoenix Military Academy) over Alejandro Olvera (Rickover Naval Academy), F 1:02

152 – Jimmy Lua (Phoenix Military Academy) over Emir Walker (Curie), F 1:52

160 – Dorian Vaughns (Kennedy) over Joshua Butler (Kenwood), 3-0

170 – Frankie Cruz (Kelly) over Dimitri Walker-Hunt (Kenwood), F 1:28

182 – Jacob Scott (Mather) over Orphee Ngimbous (Sullivan), F 1:08

195 – Steven Kopecky (Northridge Prep) over Anthony Garcia (Curie), F 0:48

220 – Adam Achebe (Kenwood) over Kevin Olson (Amundsen), 6-0

285 – Raymond Begay (Kennedy) over Wyatt Qualls (Kelly), 10-3

Wisconsin’s Arrowhead edges Huntley at OPRF Invitational

Arrowhead, Wisconsin had four individual champions to help it outscore Huntley 181-172.5 to claim top honors in the Oak Park and River Forest Invitational on Saturday in Oak Park. Crystal Lake Central edged Unity 160-156.5 for third-place in the seven-team tournament.

Leading the way for B.J. Bertelsman’s runner-up Red Raiders were champion Ryder Hunkins (27-5 at 182) and second-place finishers Aiden Lira (19-18 at 113), Sam Henkle (23-4 at 132) and Tyler Cerny (26-15 at 220). Taking third place for Huntley, which is ranked 18th in Class 3A, were Zack Hornickel (106), Jake Jensen (126), Zack Rogala (138) and Markos Mihalopoulos (285) while Ben Wiley (195) was fourth.

Unity, ranked fourth in Class 1A, had four champions, Tavius Hosley (35-1 at 145), Nick Nosler (33-2 at 195), Oran Varela (26-2 at 220) and Karson Richardson (30-10 at 285). Crystal Lake Central, which is ranked tenth in 2A had two champions, Payton Ramsey (18-10 at 106) and Dillon Carlson (34-4 at 160) and Dakota, which is ranked eighth in 1A, also had two champions, Phoenix Blakely (24-3 at 126) and Maddux Blakely (26-1 at 138). And the host Huskies received a championship from Jalen Dunson (14-1 at 120).

Other second-place finishers from Illinois were Dakota’s Tyler Simmer (21-6 at 145), Adrian Arellona (14-11 at 160) and Noah Wenzel (23-3 at 195), Oak Park and River Forest’s Ruben Acevedo (106) and Joe Knackstedt (7-3 at 120), Lyons Township’s Gunnar Garelli (26-9 at 126) and Cooper Schodrof (17-3 at 170), Crystal Lake Central’s Connor Lezama (24-15 at 152) and Leo Diaz (30-10 at 285) and Unity’s Grant Albaugh (19-2 at 182).

There was only one close title match, which was at 195 where Nosler (fourth in 1A) edged Wenzel (second in 1A) 1-0 in a clash of two of the best in Class 1A. Ten of the title matches were decided by fall, one was a major decision and another was a medical forfeit with only one other decision. There was one title matchup which featured a pair of Huskies with Dunson beating Knackstedt 14-3 at 120.

Four ranked individuals from Class 1A schools won their second tournament titles of the season. They are Phoenix Blakely (first in 1A at 126), Maddux Blakely (first in 1A at 138), Hosley (second in 1A at 145) and Nosler (fourth in 1A at 195). Others who are ranked who won their initial tournaments of 2021-22 are Dunson (ninth in 3A at 120), Carlson (fourth in 2A at 152), Hunkins (ninth in 3A at 182), Varela (fourth in 1A at 220) and Richardson (HM in 1A at 285).

In another top showdown of Class 1A competitors at 145, Hosley, who’s ranked second, pinned Simmer, who’s ranked fifth. And in a matchup of top-10 Illinois individuals in different classes at 182, Hunkins (ninth in 3A) pinned Albaugh (seventh in 1A). 

There was a six-way tie for the top team points scored with 26 with Maddux Blakely, Hunkins, Ramsey and Varela joining Arrowhead’s Wyatt Duchateau (32-0 at 132) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (26-0 at 152) in that company. Phoenix Blakely and Hosley each scored 25.5 points. 

Also claiming third place finishes were Lyons Township’s Patrick Jesse (113), Ben Zeman (145), Willy Takash (160) and Ricky Cavaliere (220), Dakota’s TJ Silva (132) and Case Rockey (152), Unity’s Kyus Root (170) and Crystal Lake Central’s Joe Barrick (195).

Crystal Lake Central had five fourth-place finishers, Aiden Frankowski (113), Tommy Hammond (132), Cayden Parks (145), Ben Butler (170) and Aiden Lowell (220) while Oak Park and River Forest had four who placed fourth, Tej Menon (106), Reid Butterly (138), Benny Bellmar (160) and Allyn Johnson (285). Unity’s Kaden Inman (120) and Braxton Manuel (152) and Lyons Township’s Kellan Knop (182) were others from Illinois schools who finished fourth.

Oak Park and River Forest Invitational championship matches:

106 – Payton Ramsey (Crystal Lake Central) over Ruben Acevedo (Oak Park and River Forest), F 3:26

113 – Collin McDowell (Arrowhead) over Aiden Lira (Huntley), F 0:30 (pool)

120 – Jalen Dunson (Oak Park and River Forest) over Joe Knackstedt (Oak Park and River Forest), 14-3

126 – Phoenix Blakely (Dakota) over Gunnar Garelli (Lyons Township), F 1:00

132 – Wyatt Duchateau (Arrowhead) over Sam Henkle (Huntley), F 1:53

138 – Maddux Blakely (Dakota) over Nate Druckrey (Arrowhead), F 2:33

145 – Tavius Hosley (Unity) over Tyler Simmer (Dakota), F 4:33

152 – Mitchell Mesenbrink (Arrowhead) over Connor Lezama (Crystal Lake Central), Med. Fft.

160 – Dillon Carlson (Crystal Lake Central) over Adrian Arellona (Dakota), F 3:29 (pool)

170 – Noah Mulvaney (Arrowhead) over Cooper Schodrof (Lyons Township), F 2:40

182 – Ryder Hunkins (Huntley) over Grant Albaugh (Unity), F 1:10

195 – Nick Nosler (Unity) over Noah Wenzel (Dakota), 1-0

220 – Oran Varela (Unity) over Tyler Cerny (Huntley), F 2:44

285 – Karson Richardson (Unity) over Leo Diaz (Crystal Lake Central), 5-0 (pool)

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