Ranking the rankings, Part 3: a way-too-early look at the state tournament field – Class 1A

By Rob Sherrill

Finally, here’s our look at what the Class 1A state tournament field might look like, based on the rankings.

I’m not guaranteeing 100 percent accuracy. You’ll probably see some of these wrestlers competing in their regionals at different weight classes than where I’ve listed them. After all, it’s all about two things: teamwise, winning the regional, which assures a berth in the dual state series, and individually, giving each wrestler the best chance to get to the State Farm Center. Some may even use this list as a roadmap to the most advantageous weight class. That happens every year.

The following list will include the top four wrestlers in each sectional, along with an alternate, at each weight class as things currently stand. At some weight classes, I don’t have enough wrestlers listed in the rankings to fill out the field – which means plenty of opportunities for plenty of wrestlers, at the right time of the season!

So let’s take a look at the state tournament field the rankings would bring us – and good luck flipping those orders starting on Saturday!

Class 1A

106 pounds

                Byron – Brian Hernandez, Harvard; Dalton Nimrick, Alleman; Tharren Jacobs, Riverdale; Ayden Rowley, Dixon; Alternate – Steven Benavidez, Princeton

                Coal City – Aiden Larsen, Yorkville Christian; Kyler Hahn, Seneca; Ryan Hsu, Lisle; Culan Lindemuth, Coal City; Alternate – Julian Decker, Wilmington

                Olympia – Hunter Robbins, Illini Bluffs; Dylan Eimer, Olympia; Ian Akers, Peoria Notre Dame; Aiden Scholwin, Pontiac; Alternate – Hunter Johnson, Knoxville

                Vandalia – Tyson Waughtel, Carlyle; Hank Warfel, Cumberland; Alex Powell, Litchfield; Drew Sadler, Anna-Jonesboro; Alternate – Kaiden Richards, Murphysboro

113 pounds

                Byron – Kaden Harman, Marian Central; Emmett Nelson, Richmond-Burton; Thad Jacobs, Riverdale; Shea Reisel, Somonauk; Alternate – Gunnar Bay, Byron

                Coal City – Max Rosen, DePaul; Andrew Alvarado, IC Catholic; JaVaughn Jossell, Nazareth Academy; John Housman, Coal City; Alternate – Mission Hatchell, Westmont

                Olympia – Keygan Jennings, Farmington; Danny Tay, Ridgeview/Lexington; Kobe Brent, LeRoy/Tri-Valley; Chase Stedman, Tremont; Alternate – Teegan West, Clinton

                Vandalia – Joe Ruzic, Auburn; Tony Keene, Harrisburg; Aaron Niemeyer, East Alton-Wood River; Sophie Bowers, Vandalia; Alternate – Trevor McCarter, Tolono Unity

120 pounds

                Byron – Brady Grennan, Sterling Newman; Charlie Fitzgerald, Marian Central; Ace Christiansen, Princeton; Will Hupke, Wheaton Academy; Alternate – Karder White, Morrison

                Coal City – Saul Trejo/Nick Renteria, IC Catholic; Isaac Bourge, Yorkville Christian; Brant Widlowski, Coal City; Jaden Casey, Seneca; Alternate – Jose Lua, Phoenix Military Academy

                Olympia – Ethan Monson, Mercer County; Holden Brazelton, St. Joseph-Ogden; Brayden Campbell, Ridgeview/Lexington; Bowden Delaney, Tremont; Alternate – Shawn Schlickman, GCMSF

                Vandalia – Calvin Miller, Shelbyville; Kaden Inman, Tolono Unity; Gage Lopez, Auburn; Bobby Rodriguez, Benton; Alternate – Garyson McBride, Westville

126 pounds

                Byron – Phoenix Blakely, Dakota; Carter Rude, Sterling Newman; Matthew Harris, Princeton; Jude Finch, Rockridge; Alternate – Wyatt Doty, Polo

                Coal City – Saul Trejo/Nick Renteria, IC Catholic; Mikekal McClarin, DePaul; Jacob Piatak, Coal City; Sam Begler, Reed-Custer; Alternate – Vin Moreno, Phoenix Military Academy

                Olympia – Trevor Hedges, Canton; Pedro Rangel, Oakwood/Salt Fork; Payton Campbell, Ridgeview/Lexington; Jackson Carroll, Illini Bluffs; Alternate – Curtis Steinkamp, Quincy Notre Dame

                Vandalia – Jason Shaw, East Alton-Wood River; Jason Tieffel, Benton; Carson Bissey, Olney Richland County; Demarious McGill, Cahokia; Alternate – Liam Fox, Murphysboro

132 pounds

                Byron – Brock Smith, Riverdale; T.J. Silva, Dakota; Vance Williams, Marian Central; Ethan Struck, Marengo; Alternate – Daniel Kelly, Sterling Newman

                Coal City – Noah Dial, Yorkville Christian; Omar Samayoa, IC Catholic; Omar Ramirez, Phoenix Military Academy; Ian Kreske, Peotone; Alternate – Robby Nelson, Seneca

                Olympia – Paul Ishikawa, Illini Bluffs; Reef Pacot, Oakwood/Salt Fork; Mason Mark, Tremont; Austin Grise, Herscher; Alternate – Donavan Lewis, Prairie Central

                Vandalia – Dresden Grimm, Auburn; Owen Miller, Vandalia; Elijah Bishop, Herrin; Bryce Edwards, Murphysboro; Alternate – T.J. Macy, Anna-Jonesboro

138 pounds

                Byron – Maddux Blakely, Dakota; Will Rude, Sterling Newman; Garrett Luke, Lena-Winslow/Stockton; Evan Reilly, Sandwich; Alternate – Seth Stevens, Oregon

                Coal City – Marco Spinazzola, Peotone; Ryan Tribble, Reed-Custer; Braulio Flores, Yorkville Christian; Nathan Brown, IC Catholic; Alternate – Jake Prescott, Wilmington

                Olympia – Dillon Sarff, Dwight; William Winter, Olympia; Bryson Capansky, Oakwood/Salt Fork; Jerome Brown, Prairie Central; Alternate – Zeke Arnold, Mercer County

                Vandalia – Arojae Hart, Murphysboro; Cutter Prater, Vandalia; Elijah Schlessinger, Metro-East Lutheran; Blake Mays, Anna-Jonesboro; Alternate – Jaxon Trent, Monticello

145 pounds

                Byron – Nik Jimenez, Marian Central; Reese Finch, Rockridge; Tyler Simmer, Dakota; Ivan Rosas, Harvard; Alternate – Augie Christiansen, Princeton

                Coal City – Kevin Hogan, Peotone; Landon Markle, Reed-Custer; Mataeo Blessing, Coal City; Joseph Gliatta, IC Catholic; Alternate – Ethan Chaheine, Hope Academy

                Olympia – Andrew Hedges, Canton; Dax Gentes, El Paso-Gridley; Grant Brewer, Oakwood/Salt Fork; Kodey Krumwiede, Clifton Central; Alternate – Treysean Grant, Beardstown

                Vandalia – Tavius Hosley, Tolono Unity; Caleb Mays, Anna-Jonesboro; Jake Schwartz, Carlinville; Patrick Campbell, Murphysboro; Alternate – Will Fox, Shelbyville

152 pounds

                Byron – Collin Altensey, Riverdale; Jack Seacrist, Stillman Valley; Aidan Linden, Sandwich; Max Astacio, Marian Central; Alternate – Jared Dvorak, Lena-Winslow/Stockton

                Coal City – Luke Christie, Bishop McNamara; Zach Finch, Coal City; Carter Watkins, Manteno; Drew Torza, Yorkville Christian; Alternate – Henry Coughlin, St. Laurence

                Olympia – Levi Leitner, Tremont; Lance Belshaw, Illini West; Brayden Barner, PORTA; Kadin Rednour, Kewanee; Alternate – Zach Gross, Normal University

                Vandalia – Eric McKinney, Vandalia; Nick DeLoach, Cahokia; Jon Perry, Effingham; Lane Mills, Murphysboro; Alternate – Nick Mason, East Alton-Wood River

160 pounds

                Byron – Alex Watson, Riverdale; Marey Roby, Lena-Winslow/Stockton; Aiden Livingston, Stillman Valley; Gabe Eckerd, Oregon; Alternate – Dylan Russell, Sherrard

                Coal City – Tyler Martinez, Yorkville Christian; Derek Carlson, Coal City; Brendan Tribe, Reed-Custer; fourth and alternate – not ranked

                Olympia – Joe Lashuay, Oakwood/Salt Fork; Joey Mushinsky, Peoria Notre Dame; Angel Zamora, Hoopeston Area, Gage Sweckard, Deer Creek-Mackinaw; Alternate – Logan Stedman, Tremont

                Vandalia – Dayton Hoffman, Murphysboro; Ryan Kaiser, Vandalia; Jared Hermann, Robinson; Damien Phipps, Cahokia; Alternate – Nat Nosler, Tolono Unity

170 pounds

                Byron – Griffin Luke, Lena-Winslow/Stockton; Steven Kitzman, Dixon; Zane Pannell, Fulton; Sammy Dale, Sandwich; Alternate – Zach Bradley, Riverdale

                Coal City – Jackson Gillen, Yorkville Christian; Brandon Navarro, IC Catholic; Mike Gentile, St. Laurence; Joey Breneman, Coal City; Alternate – Wyatt Young, Manteno

                Olympia – Joe Norton, Canton; Lucas Wendling, Tremont; Abel Colunga, Hoopeston Area; Tyson Brent, LeRoy/Tri-Valley; Alternate – Kyus Mitchell, Camp Point Central

                Vandalia – Corron Midgett, Cahokia; Brian Seed, Lawrenceville; Iysten Syfert, Cumberland; Kyus Root, Tolono Unity; Alternate – Mason Davis, Pittsfield

182 pounds

                Byron – Alex Alfaro, Sandwich; Mannix Faworski, Winnebago; Kayden White, Morrison; Nathan Petreikis, Rockridge; Alternate – Ryder Roelf, Sherrard

                Coal City – Michael Calcagno, IC Catholic; Braiden Young, Coal City; Collin Zeppi, Manteno; Oscar Villalobos, Peotone; Alternate – Kiyun Willis, Hope Academy

                Olympia – Keddrick Terhune, Rantoul; Rhys Shymansky, Farmington; Max Ryner, Macomb; Aiden Sancken, GCMSF; Alternate – Joshton Schwartz, Hoopeston Area

                Vandalia – Cory West, Sacred Heart-Griffin; Grant Albaugh, Tolono Unity; Rylee Edwards, Westville; Skyler Fay, Auburn; Alternate – Hunter Eastin, Tolono Unity

195 pounds

                Byron – Noah Wenzel, Dakota; Nathan Rosas, Harvard; Drew Mensendike, Lena-Winslow/Stockton; Mitchell White, Dixon; Alternate – Walker Anderson, Sherrard

                Coal City – Jaylan Lacy, Westmont; Ashton Harvey, Coal City; Chris Peura, Seneca; Chris Williams, Wilmington; Alternate – Gabe Johnson, Manteno

                Olympia – Cooper Wendling, Tremont; Connor Steidinger, Prairie Central; Owen Birt, St. Joseph-Ogden; Trace Shaub, PORTA; Alternate – Ethan Ladd, Macomb

                Vandalia – Nick Nosler, Tolono Unity; Colby Ryan, Cumberland; Hunter Bailey, Roxana; Konnor Dagg, Fairfield; Alternate – Bryant Lester, Harrisburg

220 pounds

                Byron – Brock Wood, Richmond-Burton; Justin Dallas, Dixon; Henry Engel, Lena-Winslow/Stockton; Nathan Schaefer, Morrison; Alternate – Peter Johanik, Wheaton Academy

                Coal City – Jadon Mims, IC Catholic; Donovan Marschner, Reed-Custer; Gabe Kaminski, Nazareth Academy; Dylan Cronk, Coal City; Alternate – Matt Bielski, St. Laurence

                Olympia – Samuel Edwards, Dwight; Evan Antonio, Ridgeview/Lexington; Andrew Moore, LeRoy/Tri-Valley; John Rathbun, Tremont; Alternate – Isiah Im, Normal University

Vandalia – Oran Varela, Tolono Unity; Magnus Wells, Hillsboro; Payton Allen, Fairfield; Drake Champlin, East Alton-Wood River; Alternate – James Herring, Roxana

285 pounds

                Byron – Charlie Jagusah, Alleman; Elijah Friedrichsen, Erie/Prophetstown; Joshua Gaye, Mooseheart; Alex Diaz, Plano; Alternate – Sean DeVries, Dixon

                Coal City – Isaiah Gonzalez, IC Catholic; Michael Esquivel, Yorkville Christian; Blake Shirey, Wilmington; Michael Gonzalez, Coal City; Alternate – Gunnar Berg, Reed-Custer

                Olympia – Hunter Otto, Normal University; Owen O’Hara, Beardstown; Weston Swise, Canton; Giacomo Panozzo, Clifton Central; Alternate – Markus Miguel, GCMSF

                Vandalia – Cole Edie, Auburn; Karson Richardson, Tolono Unity; Noah Carl, Cumberland; Justin Laws, Roxana; Alternate – Berylonte Shegog, Cahokia