Providence Catholic edges Marist for McLaughlin title
By Chris Walker for the IWCOA
All IWCOA rankings from Rob Sherrill’s Illinois Best Weekly
Providence Catholic and Marist each finished with 10 placers during the McLaughlin Classic on Dec. 6 at Joliet Central, but the Celtics were able to get past the RedHawks thanks to winning four titles compared to Marist’s two, 227 to 221.5. Minooka was third with 197.
Glenbard West (149) was a distant fourth, but comfortably ahead of fifth-place Yorkville Christian (117.5) which just got past Normal Community (115.5).
The rest of the standings include St. Rita (102.5), Homewood-Flossmoor (86.5), Morton (downstate) (82), Belleville East (78), Plainfield East (66), Plainfield South (60), Schaumburg (42.5), Stagg (37.5), Shepard (37), Rich Township (37), Marian (35), Joliet Central (30.5), Bishop McNamara (28.5), Crete-Monee (26), Harvest Christian (25.5), Kennedy (24.5), Romeoville (20), Westinghouse College Prep (2), Bloom Twp. (2).
Nate Ortiz (113), Griffin Heeney (120), Tommy Banas (138) and Justus Heeg (157) won titles for Celtics coach Don Reynolds, who is still waiting for ihis wrestlers who also play football to return. The Celtics just took second place in the state in football in Class 5A, losing a heartbreaker to St. Francis.
Max Mandac (126) and Ameer Khalil (175) placed second for the Celtics, Luke Banas (144) and Jasper Harper (165) took third, Christian Corcoran (106) was fifth and Lucas Forsythe (132) claimed sixth.
Marist’s Axel Rodriguez (144) and Ethan Sonne (165) were crowned champs for the RedHawks. Elio Gil (113), Jonathan Fields (150), Tommy Fidler (157) and Tom O’Brien (215) placed second.
Crue Hatchell (106) and Ronin Haran (175) were third, Tè Jon Beals (138) took fifth and Colin Phelan (126) placed sixth.
106 – Jackson Soney, Normal Community
Soney, ranked fourth at 106 in 3A, won by fall at 6:00 over Glenbard West’s Aidan Ortega, ranked sixth, in an intriguing early-season match as both are among the top wrestlers in their weight class.
After receiving a bye, Soney survived Providence’s Christian Corcoran, 6-5, in the quarterfinals at 106.
Soney pinned Marist’s Crue Hatchell in 44 seconds in the semifinal.
Hatchell responded in his third-place match, earning a tech fall win over St. Rita’s Jack Braun, and Corcoran finished strong, pinning Yorkville Christian’s Davin Torza for fifth.
113 – Nate Ortiz, Providence
Ortiz won a clash between highly-ranked 113 pounders, escaping Marist’s Elio Gil in the second period and holding on for a 1-0 victory.
Ortiz, a sophomore, is ranked 4th in Class 2A at 113 while Gil, a junior, is 7th in Class 3A.
“I was confident in my wrestling today, scoring points, getting takedowns and turns, going right at it,” Ortiz said. “I kept the pace going and it was a fun tournament.”
Earning wins by fall, tech fall and major decision on the road to his title match, Ortiz was part of Providence’s dominating day, as the first of their four champions.
“It definitely feels good to win,” he said. “We had growth as a team and my teammates have helped me and I’ve helped my teammates. We’ve all grown up around each other.”
Minooka’s Jaxon Roberts pinned Bishop McNamara’s Evan Johnson to finish in third place, and Plainfield East’s Brian Tejeda picked up a 15-4 major decision against Yorkville Christian’s Phoenix Senodenos for fifth.
120 – Griffin Heeney, Providence
It hasn’t taken very long for this freshman to feel at home at his New Lenox school.
“It’s really fun, I’m glad to be a part of it,” he said. “I know it’s very exciting, like when we win.”
Heeney pinned his first two opponents, before going the distance in a 12-0 major decision over Minooka’s Julian Hanson in the semifinals. That sent him into the final where he scored an 18-0 tech fall late in the third period against Belleville East’s Jackson Schadegg.
Ranked fifth at 120 in 2A, Heeney displayed why he’s earned such a strong ranking despite just starting his high school wrestling career.
“I’m most happy with my takedowns,” he said. “Usually I don’t shoot a lot, today I felt like I took my shots more than usual, got to my finishes. Been training hard up in the room, been putting in the work since summer, just constant, never stop. Just putting in a lot of work.”
Minooka’s Julian Hanson got to Romeoville’s Pedro Hernandez late in the first period in the third-place match, pinning him at 2:53, and Yorkville Christian’s Ryan Festerling Jr. pulled away with some takedowns early before settling in for an 8-1 win over Stagg’s Javier Corral to take fifth.
126 – Chazz Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor
Robinson, ranked No. 2 at 120 behind St. Charles East Dom Munaretto, took home the 126 title, pinning Providence’s Max Mandac in the title match. Munaretto beat Robinson by tech fall en route to winning the Class 3A title a season ago. That’s something prized, for sure, as Robinson begins his junior season.
“Today I feel it was a little bit, it was ok.” Robinson said. “I felt I could’ve done a little bit better with my shots and stuff and finishing faster, getting my falls faster. I’m still practicing getting ready for Ironman stuff so getting ready for that type of stuff.
“Winning a state title is, of course, the main goal,” he continued. “I also want all my teammates to be there with me like Roan Dukes. I’m also trying to figure out how to win the Ironman and Powerade titles.”
Robinson was one of two Most Outstanding Wrestlers named in the tournament, earning the accolade among the 106-144 weight classes.
Morton’s Noah Harris took third with a tech fall win over Rich Township’s Kyrin King, and Minooka’s Casey Janicki earned a win by fall over Marist’s Colin Phelan for fifth.
132 – Harrison Dea, Morton
Dea didn’t have to wrestle in the finals as his opponent, Harvest Christian’s Brennan O’Donnell was unable to compete due to an injury.
It was fitting for Dea to catch a break after he’s fought back from injuries that plagued him during a fantastic junior season in which he placed fifth at 126 in Class 2A, losing to eventual state champion, Max Cumbee from IC Catholic Prep.
“I had a great two matches today,” Dea said. “I don’t know who (Homewood-Flossmoor’s Ethan Hamilton) I had in the quarterfinals, but the semifinal kid (Minooka’s Maddux Tindal) was ranked in 3A so I knew I had to go out there and wrestle my match. I’ve felt like I’ve gotten a lot better in the offseason in staying in good position. I don’t need to attack, attack and attack. I can kind of sit back and have good positioning and get those one or two good opportunities to score and get my takedown. When I do that I feel like I got a shot.”
Spending a great deal of time at Patton Trained Wrestling in Tolono is helping mold Dea into a college wrestler. He’s committed to Northern State University in South Dakota.
“I love training there,” he said. “But at the end of last season I had a torn meniscus and a partially torn MCL so my knees were completely jacked up and I ended up getting surgery. I think it was week three of recovery and that was freestyle so I was wrestling again in three weeks. My knees still give me fits every once in a while, but I feel great now.”
Overcoming adversity is something Dea learned about at a very young age. It’s helped him bounce back from his knee issues.
“It’s something that you can’t really teach, it’s just something you live by every single day,” he said. “When I was really young, I wrestled for TJ Williams. He instills that mindset in you and every single day you got to work at getting better. I feel like being a team captain this year for Morton, being kind of a leader, leading by example, not a huge shout get in your face kind of guy, but leading by example and I got to back up what I’m saying to the other guys. A big mindset shift is what I have. Mindset is huge at Northern State. Coach Josh Nolan sent a bunch of stuff to recruits about mindset so I’ve been looking that stuff over. It’s a huge part of my wrestling right now.”
Tindal picked up a tech fall win in his third-place match against Belleville East’s Corbin Zeisset, and St. Rita’s Cleto Protti scored a major decision for fifth over Providence’s Lucas Forsythe.
138 – Tommy Banas, Providence
Banas showed why he’s the top-ranked wrestler at 138 in 2A as he wasted little time in getting the win by fall over Glenbard West’s Alejandro Aranda at 0:40 in the final.
“We had to get the pin for the team win, so I got it,” he said. “We are missing three guys too, still getting their wind. Once we got all our guys we’re coming for that state title.”
Banas earned another pin, scored a tech fall win and a major decision in pursuit of his title. He’s coming off a season in which he took fifth in the state at 132 in 2A.
“I liked my takedowns and I got to them really good,” he said. “I got to work on bottom a little bit more, but other than that it was pretty good.”
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Roan Dukes picked up third place after a tech fall victory against St. Rita’s Luke Pappalas, and Marist’s Te`Jon Beals earned fifth with an 11-5 decision over Plainfield South’s Sean Volf.
144 – Axel Rodriguez, Marist
Axel Rodriguez is already impressive as a wrestler in just his freshman season at Marist.
The school is what impresses Rodriguez, and it’s for far more than its wonderful wrestling reputation.
“I had a few names of a few schools in my head, but I ultimately had to choose Marist,” he said. “One, just because the team is really good. I love the coaches. (Assistant) Coach (Ryan) Egan was a really key part of I feel like my success at the start of the season and is going to continue being a really key part of my success. And I just like Marist. A lot of it is not only wrestling but it’s also the academic part. So many good college opportunities, and if I wish to compete at a higher level, I felt as if Marist was the best choice because I could train well on the mat and in the classroom also.”
He likes being on a team where he can help his teammates and they can help him, and at a high level.
“I feel like Marist really is just a great example of a good lifestyle,” he said. “Everybody’s trying to push each other and everybody’s trying to make everybody else around them better, every day. So I feel like just being in that environment, it just makes you a better wrestler and a better person overall. So I really love Marist.
Rodriguez quieted any doubters. Ranked No. 6 at 138 in Class 3A, the freshman wrestled at 144.
“So as a freshman wrestling up a weight class, I feel like a lot of people were doubting me and kind of looking down on me, but I just kind of, you know, didn’t listen to them,” he said. “I ignored everything and I just went out there, wrestled my match, wrestled with a clear mind. and I really don’t care about rankings. I kind of put all that stuff aside and I really just focused on going out there, being heavy with my hands, being slick, and the rest you really have to leave it to God. So I knew that with my previous training and with, you know, God looking down on me, if I just go out there, wrestle with a clear mind, I can perform at the highest capability.”
Providence’s Luke Banas won by fall over Plainfield South’s Kyle McCormick to take third, and Glenbard West’s Brennan Myra earned a tech fall against Plainfield East’s Nick Polzin for fifth.
150 – Vince Tortoriello, Glenbard West
Now a senior, Tortoriello has reason to have a sense of urgency this season for the Hilltoppers.
He’s also still feeling the sting of last season’s exit at state.
He most certainly is off to a strong start as he picked up a tournament title with a 9-2 win over Marist’s Jonathan Fields at 150.
“I’m a very different wrestler from last year at state. it really motivated me, got me ready to go,” he said. “I just really wanted that title really bad so in the off-season I did freestyle Greco and preseason, I was just like, I was gonna be all-in and I wanted to put all my focus into wrestling.”
The old wound hasn’t faded.
“Losing that last match at state, it was kind of like a hit in the gut, it was like, man, I really got to work harder,” he said. “And now I put in the work and now I’m getting better. Today was a good day. I felt pretty good. They had some good competition. My finals match didn’t end exactly how I wanted it, but I still got the job done.”
Tack on some added leadership responsibilities and Tortoriello is pretty fired up for what lies ahead for the Hilltoppers.
“Honestly, it gives me motivation because, you know, my team looks up to me and it just makes me work harder,” he said. “I wanna be a good example to our team. My teammates motivate me to be a better person and wrestler.”
Minooka’s Mason Vogt earned a 7-1 decision over Joliet Central’s Caleb Dennis for third, and Plainfield East’s Camden McCloskey won by fall over Homewood-Flossmoor’s Henry Maier for fifth.
157 – Justus Heeg, Providence
Although he’s just a sophomore, Heeg is like a seasoned veteran among the Celtics squad. Success at a young age certainly helps and it bodes well for Heeg who won the Class 2A state title at 150 last year during his freshman season.
Heeg currently sits alone in rarified air — he also won a Minnesota high school state title as an eighth-grader before moving to Illinois. It’s early and the road will be rough but theoretically, Heeg could become a five-time state champion.
For now, he’s just enjoying his time at Providence.
“It’s great with this young team we’re all growing together and we just continue to flourish and keep getting better every single day,” he said. “Being around them definitely makes me better. It helps me develop as a leader, especially when we got this new freshmen class coming in. Griffin (Heaney) just won the tournament (at 120) and he’s been seeing the sophomores and juniors pushing the pace in the room and he’s continuing to push the pace as well.”
Ranked No. 1 at his weight class in the state at 2A, Heeg had to get past Marist’s Tommy Fidler, currently ranked 7th at 150, for the title, pinning the senior in 0:59.
Heeg seemingly got stronger as Saturday wore on, having pinned Glenbard West’s Jondelle Malunay in 23 seconds in his semifinal bout. He was recognized as the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler (152-285 weight classes).
“It’s definitely awesome (they have two awards for MOW) because I can come in and do my thing, but then there is also a lower weight who gets Most Outstanding Wrestler,” he said. “We both can get the chance to win this.”
Third place went to Glenbard West’s Jondelle Malunay as the senior earned a tech fall over Homewood-Flossmoor freshman Naijier Morris, and fifth went to Minooka’s Ben Cyrkiel who outlasted St. Rita’s Andrew Lehman, 11-10.
165 – Ethan Sonne, Marist
Sonne, ranked second overall in Class 3A at 157 behind Lockport’s Justin Wardlow, scored a 15-7 major decision over Normal Community’s Carter Mayes for the 165 title.
A pair of major decisions earned Sonne a spot in the finals after he opened the tournament pinning Minooka’s Tommy McClimon.
Providence’s Jasper Harper took third place, earning a tech fall win against Shepard’s Joey Massey, and St. Rita’s Micah Spinazzola defeated Plainfield East’s Robert Vogel for fifth.
175 – Kaden Meyer, Minooka
Meyer held off another of Providence’s talented young wrestlers to claim the 175 title.
Freshman Ameer Khalili, ranked 6th at 175 in 2A, helped the Celtics win the team title, but fell short against Meyer, who received honorable mention notice in the rankings at 175 in 3A.
Meyer’s three other tournament victories were all via tech fall.
Marist’s Ronin Haran defeated Belleville East’s Myles Greenfield by tech fall for third, and Yorkville Christian’s Tyler Gleason pinned Shepard’s Aiden Hill for fifth.
190 – Daniel Bourbulas, Normal Community
Bourbulas helped Normal Community go 2-for-4 in championship matches, joining teammate Jackson Soney in bringing home a championship bracket poster for the lengthy trek home.
The junior won by fall in 1:19 over Marian’s Adrian Esparza for the 190 title. His other wins included a 24-second pin over Yorkville Christian’s Kenny Fox and a 7-2 decision against Minooka’s Santino Capodice.
Capodice battled back to win third, beating Kennedy’s Nicolas Malgioglio by fall, and Plainfield South’s Chase Pierceall beat Belleville East’s Killian Rauch by fall for fifth.
215 – Jackson Allen, Yorkville Christian
All Allen does when he comes to Joliet is pin, pin, pin…
For the second straight year, Allen, ranked 7th at 215 in Class 1A swept through his opponents, pinning all four of them while picking up a tournament championship.
Last year, he did it at 190. This time, he did it at 215, finishing off Marist’s Tom O’Brien in 0:55.
“That guy was ranked 9th in 3A so it’s nice to make a statement here,” Allen said. “I had to put the team on my back. It was good to beat that guy.”
Aggressive on the attack, Allen wrestles with purpose.
“I just went out there with an intent to execute and didn’t feel like losing,” he said. “I just didn’t want to let him breathe, keep up the pace a hundred percent. I think I’m wrestling well. There are definitely some areas I can improve on. I just got to do it through practice and through the season, but I’m definitely climbing, steadily climbing throughout the season.”
It’s been said that you are what you eat, and Allen’s diet is most certainly packed with the essential nutrients and healthy fats that his body needs to dominate.
“My diet has definitely changed a lot,” he said. “I think that’s a big part of it. The training I do, the intent, how you train, it all leads up to it, and then at the end of the day it’s all mental.”
Now with back-to-back titles at the McLaughlin, Allen will look to make it three straight this weekend when the Mustangs compete in the Plano Reaper Classic.
Plainfield South’s Mason Bucon earned a 11-4 decision over Minooka’s Elliot Dahlberg for third place, and Glenbard West’s Devin White pinned Morton’s Benjamin Chaffer for fifth.
285 – Robbie Murphy, Minooka
It’s not just about winning for Murphy, it’s about how he’s looking to do it this winter as he continues to grow in a sport he’s loved since he first took the mats as a kindergartener.
Now a senior, Murphy got his season off to a fantastic start, winning the 285 title by earning a 7-0 decision over Normal Community’s Mason Caraway after three pins en route to the title match.
“My biggest goal is obviously a state championship – that’s the ultimate goal,” he said. “My smaller goal being I really want to get to my offense this year. I won a lot of matches last year 1-0, 2-0 with a good escape and maybe a stalling point or something like that. I want to expand that lead instead of barely getting by, dominating and scoring some points.”
A year ago, Murphy fell to Joliet Central’s Charles Walker here. Walker went on to win the Class 3A title at 215, becoming the Steelmen’s first state champ since 1998. Murphy also dropped a match to Romeoville’s Jamir Thomas at last year’s invite but proceeded to bounce Thomas later in the year during a conference dual and again in the postseason.
“This being our second time wrestling, because our first meet got canceled, was great,” Murphy said. “After a hard off-season and coming off of the football season, it’s nice seeing it paying off.”
Wrestling is Murphy’s biggest passion, but he was a key contributor to the football team going 6-3 and earning a playoff berth. The 5-foot-10, 275-pound guard even got some touches, scoring a touchdown during a 74-7 win against Plainfield Central during Homecoming.
“Wrestling’s always been my favorite,” he said. “I’ve been wrestling since I was five years old.”
Crete-Monee’s Dominic Jackson got past Belleville East’s Darrell Bibbs, 5-4, to take third and Glenbard West’s Marc Tchapda won 4-1 against Yorkville Christian’s Hayden Wheeler to place fifth.