Recap of Stillman Valley, Princeton, Riverdale, Richmond-Burton Regionals
By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA
Stillman Valley
Lena-Winslow/ Stockton co-op won its eighth regional title since 2012 after collecting 236.5 points, which was 77.5 ahead of runner-up Oregon, at the 11-team Stillman Valley Regional. The PantherHawks had six champs and four other qualifiers for the Byron Individual Sectional.
Title winners for the PantherHawks, who are coached by 2020 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Milder, were Carson Hill (113), Brandon White (126), Arrison Bauer (144), Eli Larson (190), Oliver McPeek (215) and Jeremiah Luke (285) while Keller Otto (120), Mauricio Glass (138), Sam Sikora (157) and John Mensendike (170) took second place. Huntlee Burris (132) lost a 4-3 decision in the third-place match to miss out on advancing to the sectional.
Lena-Winslow/ Stockton, which is ranked second, beat Wheaton Academy 50-21 in Thursday’s Oregon Dual Team Sectional. As a result, it advances to the IHSA Class 1A Dual Team Finals in Bloomington and meets Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley/ Fisher co-op in the quarterfinals on February 27. The team hopes that it will be assured of its fifth state trophy, which includes 1A titles in 2017 and 2019, second place in 2012 and third place in 2023.
Oregon (159) was ranked 12th while Byron, an honorable mention selection, beat out West Carroll 133-125 for third place. Stillman Valley (111.5), Dakota/ Orangeville co-op (88), Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville co-op (65.5), Galena/ East Dubuque co-op (54), Winnebago (54), Durand/ Pecatonica co-op (46) and Boylan Catholic (13.5) rounded out the field.
Additional regional champions were Oregon’s Josiah Perez (120), Jack Benesh (132) and Nelson Benesh (138), West Carroll’s Connor Knop (157) and Jonner Smith (165), Winnebago’s Cam Whitehead (106), Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville’s Kaenyn McCarren (150) and Byron’s Brody Stien (175).
Regional champions
106 – Cam Whitehead (Winnebago) 31-4
113 – Carson Hill (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 28-17
120 – Josiah Perez (Oregon) 39-0
126 – Brandon White (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 28-9
132 – Jack Benesh (Oregon) 24-5
138 – Nelson Benesh (Oregon) 38-4
144 – Arrison Bauer (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 42-3
150 – Kaenyn McCarren (Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville) 22-5
157 – Connor Knop (West Carroll) 26-0
165 – Jonner Smith (West Carroll) 33-1
175 – Brody Stien (Byron) 41-1
190 – Eli Larson (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 42-1
215 – Oliver McPeek (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 41-2
285 – Jeremiah Luke (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 38-3
Additional sectional qualifiers
106 – Carter Paulson (Stillman Valley) 31-7; Aiden Salo (Byron) 30-12
113 – Jordan Lowe (Oregon) 20-10; Carter Mancilla (Dakota) 19-14
120 – Keller Otto (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 31-16; Parker McGlinn (Winnebago) 19-8
126 – Isaiah Perez (Oregon) 33-7; Connor Higgins (Galena/ East Dubuque) 24-5
132 – Hunter King (Byron) 24-11; Jack McIntyre (West Carroll) 29-6
138 – Mauricio Glass (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 32-11; Guillermo Kalata (Stillman Valley) 14-13
144 – Harlan Kinney (Dakota/ Orangeville) 19-14; Jordan Donahue (Galena/ East Dubuque) 19-13
150 – Cole Herrell (West Carroll) 27-6; Cael O`Horo (Byron) 24-15
157 – Sam Sikora (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 34-11; Dylan Dach (Byron) 22-15
165 – Ethan Waugh (Stillman Valley) 30-4; Brannick Alexander (Dakota/ Orangeville) 21-8
175 – John Mensendike (Lena-Winslow/ Stockton) 37-7; Jay Pearson (Dakota/ Orangeville) 24-10
190 – Will Julian (Byron) 34-6; Micah Stringini (Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville) 33-9
215 – Jacksyn Windham (Oregon) 22-15; Dermot Dolan (Durand/ Pecatonica) 14-3
285 – Riley Boyer (Byron) 16-14, Trey Jones (Durand/ Pecatonica) 28-10
Individual statistics
Most team points: Arrison Bauer, Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 28; Jonner Smith, West Carroll 28; Connor Knop, West Carroll 27.5; Jack Benesh, Oregon 26.5; Kaenyn McCarren, Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville 25.5; Jeremiah Luke, Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 24; Nelson Benesh, Oregon 23.5; Oliver McPeek, Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 23; Cam Whitehead, Winnebago 23; Brody Stien, Byron 22.5
Most total match points: Brody Stien, Byron 56; Jack Benesh, Oregon 51; Dylan Dach, Byron 50
Most pins: Jonner Smith, West Carroll 3 (in 4:41), Brannick Alexander, Dakota/ Orangeville 3; Arrison Bauer, Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 3; Dermot Dolan, Durand/ Pecatonica 3; Guillermo Kalata, Stillman Valley 3; Micah Stringini, Polo/ Forreston/ Eastland/ Milledgeville 3
Most technical falls: Brody Stien, Byron 3 (in 7:20)
Largest seed-place difference: Xander Bell, Stillman Valley 3; Gavin Sinkiawic, Dakota/ Orangeville 3
Team statistics
Most total match points: Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 270; Stillman Valley 257; Byron 243
Most pins: Lena-Winslow/ Stockton 18; Oregon 12; Stillman Valley 11
Most technical falls: Byron 5; Winnebago 5
Princeton
Dixon captured its third regional title and first since 2019 when it had five champions, three runners-up and a third-place finisher to help it claim top honors at the Princeton Regional with 221 points, which was 44 points ahead of runner-up Sandwich, who beat out Marquette Academy 177-172 for second place in the 11-team competition at Prouty Gym in Princeton.
Top performers for coach Micah Hey’s first place Dukes were title winners Riley Paredes (106), Doolan Long (126), Charlie Connors (144), Dawson Kemp (215) and Dylan Bopes (285) as well as second-place finishers Jack Ragan (120), Preston Richards (150) and Blake Dingley (175) and also Seth Shaffer (190), who took third while Adam Staples (165) claimed fourth place.
Dixon, which defeated first-time regional winner Morrison 57-20 in Thursday’s Oregon Dual Team Sectional, advanced to the IHSA Dual Team Finals for the second time and faces Althoff Catholic in the quarterfinals on February 27. Its other appearance was in 2017 when coach Chris Bishop led the program to third place in Class 2A. The Dukes came into the regional ranked fifth while Sandwich was 20th and Marquette Academy was 25th and Kewanee and the host Tigers were both honorable mention selections.
Princeton, which had four title winners, got past Kewanee 145-139.5 for fourth place while the remainder of the field included Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille co-op (63), Mendota (60), ROWVA/ Williamsfield co-op (49.5), Saint Bede Academy (29.5), Putnam County/ Hall co-op (26) and Somonauk/ Leland co-op (18).
Additional champions were Princeton’s Augustus Swanson (113), Kane Dauber (138), Casey Etheridge (165) and Eli Berlin (190), Marquette Academy’s Wesley Janick (120), Koby Clark (132) and Brysen Manly (157) and Sandwich’s Cooper Corder (150) and Joshua Kotalik (175).
Note: Curt’s full story on the Princeton Regional will appear in the next few days with more news about Dixon qualifying for the IHSA Dual Team Finals at Thursday’s Oregon Sectional.
Regional champions
106 – Riley Paredes (Dixon) 33-1
113 – Augustus Swanson (Princeton) 42-1
120 – Wesley Janick (Marquette Academy) 28-2
126 – Doolan Long (Dixon) 30-10
132 – Koby Clark (Marquette Academy) 29-7
138 – Kane Dauber (Princeton) 23-2
144 – Charlie Connors (Dixon) 37-4
150 – Cooper Corder (Sandwich) 36-1
157 – Brysen Manly (Marquette Academy) 24-13
165 – Casey Etheridge (Princeton) 41-5
175 – Joshua Kotalik (Sandwich) 41-5
190 – Eli Berlin (Princeton) 36-10
215 – Dawson Kemp (Dixon) 33-8
285 – Dylan Bopes (Dixon) 27-5
Additional sectional qualifiers
106 – Aden Spinelli (Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille) 25-2; Dakota Harmon (Marquette Academy) 31-11
113 – Connor Eggers (Marquette Academy) 23-13; Kegan Miller (ROWVA/ Williamsfield) 26-9
120 – Jack Ragan (Dixon) 34-5; Connor Blanchard (Sandwich) 22-16
126 – Logan Huenefeld (Marquette Academy) 29-13; Dom Urbanski (Sandwich) 22-23
132 – Max Moreno (Saint Bede Academy) 35-7; Corbin Brown (Princeton) 32-13
138 – Jaxson Blanchard (Sandwich) 30-7; Beau Thompson (Marquette Academy) 29-12
144 – Lain Taylor (Kewanee) 36-7; Caiden Heath (Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille) 23-8
150 – Preston Richards (Dixon) 35-6; Dontel Wommack (Kewanee) 27-12
157 – Gavin Evans (Mendota) 29-8; Jack Forth (Sandwich) 27-18
165 – Reily Leifheit (Marquette Academy) 31-4; Brayden Johnson (Kewanee) 28-16
175 – Blake Dingley (Dixon) 28-15; Ace Lafollette (Kewanee) 30-11
190 – Kai Kern (Sandwich) 26-14; Seth Shaffer (Dixon) 26-18
215 – Alex Schaefer (Marquette Academy) 26-2; Kaden Clevenger (Sandwich) 30-10
285 – Airies Simmons (Kewanee) 21-5; Justin Doden (Putnam County/ Hall) 19-16
Individual statistics
Most team points: Eli Berlin, Princeton 28; Kane Dauber, Princeton 28; Cooper Corder, Sandwich 26.5; Wesley Janick, Marquette Academy 26; Dylan Bopes, Dixon 24; Dawson Kemp, Dixon 24; Joshua Kotalik, Sandwich 24; Doolan Long, Dixon 24; Riley Paredes, Dixon 24; Augustus Swanson, Princeton 24
Most total match points: Trayvon Rucker, Mendota 46; Cooper Corder, Sandwich 42; Charlie Connors, Dixon 38
Most pins: Augustus Swanson, Princeton 3 (in 2:09); Eli Berlin, Princeton 3; Connor Blanchard, Sandwich 3; Kaden Clevenger, Sandwich 3: Kane Dauber, Princeton 3; Justin Doden, Putnam County/ Hall 3; Caden Heath, Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille 3; Dakota Harmon, Marquette Academy 3; Dawson Kemp, Dixon 3; Joshua Kotalik, Sandwich 3; Brayden Johnson, Kewanee 3; Ace Lafollette, Kewanee 3; Doolan Long, Dixon 3; Kegan Miller, ROWVA/ Williamsfield 3
Most technical falls: Tommy DeRidder, ROWVA/ Williamsfield 1 (in 2:00); Jayden Carreon, ROWVA/ Williamsfield 1; Charlie Connors, Dixon 1; Cooper Corder, Sandwich 1; Connor Eggers, Marquette Academy 1; Landyn Greenhagen, Kewanee 1; Logan Huenefeld, Marquette Academy 1; Maks Niedzwiedz, Saint Bede Academy 1; Kingston Peterson, Kewanee 1; Preston Richards, Dixon 1; Aden Spinelli, Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille 1; Allister Swanson, Princeton 1; Lain Taylor, Kewanee 1; Dom Urbanski, Sandwich 1
Largest seed-place difference: Ty Florschuetz, Amboy/ Ashton-Franklin Center/ LaMoille 4
Team statistics
Most total match points: Kewanee 259; Sandwich 243; Dixon 209
Most pins: Dixon 22, Kewanee 18; Sandwich 17
Most technical falls: Kewanee 3; Dixon 2; Marquette Academy 2; ROWVA/ Williamsfield 2; Sandwich 2
Riverdale
Morrison had five champions to help it capture its first regional title in the program’s long history when it scored 165.5 points at the Riverdale Regional while Rockridge edged Newman Central Catholic 150-149.5 for second place in the 12-team competition in Port Byron.
Coach Tom Drosopoulos’ first place Mustangs were led by champions Cael Wright (120), Eli Modglin (126), Patrick Schaefer (138), Caleb Modglin (150) and Noah Stout (190). Mason Grismore (144) and Caleb Carroll (215) took fourth and fell shy of trips to the Byron Sectional.
Riverdale (135) took fourth place while Rock Falls (124.5), Sherrard (123), Mercer County (110.5), Fulton (105.5), Erie/ Prophetstown co-op (97.5), Alleman (51.5), Orion (42) and Quad Cities Christian School (-1) were the other teams that were in the regional tournament.
Morrison, which was ranked 21st, fell to Dixon 57-20 in Thursday’s Oregon Dual Team Sectional. Newman Central Catholic (22nd) and Rockridge (23rd) were ranked in the top-25 while Riverdale, Rock Falls and Mercer County were all honorable mention selections.
Additional title winners were Rockridge’s Nate Lower (106) and Thomas Sowards (157), Riverdale’s Dean Wainwright (132) and Jake Schradeya (215), Newman Central Catholic’s Landon Near (113), Rock Falls’ Josiah Tarbill (144), Mercer County’s Eli Burns (165),
Alleman’s Jordan Thompson (175) and Erie/ Prophetstown’s Caleb Reymer (285).
Regional champions
106 – Nate Lower (Rockridge) 36-2
113 – Landon Near (Newman Central Catholic) 37-3
120 – Cael Wright (Morrison) 39-7
126 – Eli Modglin (Morrison) 40-3
132 – Dean Wainwright (Riverdale) 41-3
138 – Patrick Schaefer (Morrison) 25-16
144 – Josiah Tarbill (Rock Falls) 33-11
150 – Caleb Modglin (Morrison) 39-4
157 – Thomas Sowards (Rockridge) 35-6
165 – Eli Burns (Mercer County) 41-5
175 – Jordan Thompson (Alleman) 25-15
190 – Noah Stout (Morrison) 40-7
215 – Jake Schradeya (Riverdale) 33-13
285 – Caleb Reymer (Erie/ Prophetstown) 35-7
Additional sectional qualifiers
106 – Tyler Grennan (Newman Central Catholic) 25-10; Coltin Hartman (Fulton) 32-9
113 – Boston Morford (Mercer County) 28-10; Hudson Price (Fulton) 33-7
120 – Javen Reyes (Newman Central Catholic) 29-11; Ben Porter (Riverdale) 34-14
126 – Zhyler Hansen (Newman Central Catholic) 31-6; Tennyson Hampton (Alleman) 33-7
132 – Landon Blanton (Newman Central Catholic) 36-4; Clayton Blumenstein (Rockridge) 35-7
138 – Jaqavon Avant-Orr (Riverdale) 12-10; Tucker Ullrich (Rock Falls) 32-6
144 – Noah Wetzell (Erie/Prophetstown) 36-10; Klay Goodnight (Rockridge) 32-13
150 – Tristan Hovey (Erie/ Prophetstown) 24-6; Andrew Knox (Sherrard) 32-15
157 – Eli Boswell (Mercer County) 29-13; Quinn Zimmerman (Sherrard) 30-15
165 – Ryan Lower (Rockridge) 38-4; Kaden Dutton (Sherrard) 32-15
175 – Mason Kuebel (Fulton) 31-7; Gideon Heist (Sherrard) 33-13
190 – Cooper Thomas (Sherrard) 34-10; Matthew Clemen (Newman Central Catholic) 30-17
215 – John Holland (Erie/ Prophetstown) 21-6; Jonathan Weakley (Sherrard) 34-8
285 – Tanner McKeag (Rockridge) 35-10; Henry Schradeya (Riverdale) 19-12
Individual statistics
Most team points: Eli Modglin, Morrison 28; Landon Near, Newman Central Catholic 27.5; Noah Stout, Morrison 27; Josiah Tarbill, Rock Falls 27; Jake Schradeya, Riverdale 26; Thomas Sowards, Rockridge 26; Dean Wainwright, Riverdale 26; Patrick Schaefer, Morrison 25.5; Caleb Modglin, Morrison 25; Nate Lower, Rockridge 24; Jordan Thompson, Alleman 24
Most total match points: Klay Goodnight, Rockridge 52; Tucker Ullrich, Rock Falls 50; Hudson Price, Fulton 46
Most pins: Lane Weber, Mercer County 3 (in 4:33); Wiley Bladsell, Fulton 3; Kaden Dutton, Sherrard 3; Gideon Heist, Sherrard 3; Eli Modglin, Morrison 3; Henry Schradeya, Riverdale 3; Jonathan Weakley, Sherrard 3; Quinn Zimmerman, Sherrard 3
Most technical falls: Excequiel Ocampo, Mercer County 2 (in 9:21)
Largest seed-place difference: Lucas Dunbar, Riverdale 4
Team statistics
Most total match points: Newman Central Catholic 295; Morrison 255; Fulton 234
Most pins: Sherrard 16; Fulton 15; Rockridge 15
Most technical falls: Newman Central Catholic 5
Richmond-Burton
Wheaton Academy had two title winners and nine other sectional qualifiers to help it claim its first regional championship after scoring 184.5 points in the Richmond-Burton Regional while Marengo edged Johnsburg 177-174.5 for second in the 11-team tournament in Richmond.
Winning titles for coach Steve Aiello’s champion Warriors were Lincoln Hoger (144) and Tyler Jones (165) while Elliot Hardy (106), Buckley Kazmierzak (126), Eli Shin (138) and Hezzy Garcia (285) placed second and Zion Kaunley (113), Massimo Chan (120), Joey Guidi (150), Joseph Senneses (190) and Ian De Souza (215) finished in third place.
Richmond-Burton (120), Plano (101), North Boone (70), Harvest Christian (36.5), Alden-Hebron (26.5), Genoa-Kingston (10), Aurora Central Catholic (6) and St. Edward (0) completed the field.
Wheaton Academy, who fell 50-21 to Lena-Winslow/ Stockton co-op in Thursday’s Oregon Dual Team Sectional, was an honorable mention selection in the 1A rankings while Johnsburg was ranked 19th and Marengo and Richmond-Burton were honorable mention selections.
Host Richmond-Burton had four title winners, Lelan Nelson (126), Maxwell Martin (157), Shane Falasca (215) and Breckin Campbell (285). Additional regional champions were Johnsburg’s Tanner Hansen (150), Duke Mays (175) and Jackson Hjorth (190), North Boone’s Drew Patel (113) and Gabe Marella (120), Plano’s Wyatt Crowe (106), Harvest Christian’s Brennan O’Donnell (132) and Marengo’s Mitchell Aukes (138).
Regional champions
106 – Wyatt Crowe (Plano) 29-14
113 – Drew Patel (North Boone) 27-9
120 – Gabe Marella (North Boone) 30-5
126 – Lelan Nelson (Richmond-Burton) 27-5
132 – Brennan O`Donnell (Harvest Christian) 34-2
138 – Mitchell Aukes (Marengo) 38-3
144 – Lincoln Hoger (Wheaton Academy) 39-5
150 – Tanner Hansen (Johnsburg) 32-12
157 – Maxwell Martin (Richmond-Burton) 33-6
165 – Tyler Jones (West Chicago (Wheaton Academy) 39-2
175 – Duke Mays (Johnsburg) 34-6
190 – Jackson Hjorth (Johnsburg) 22-8
215 – Shane Falasca (Richmond-Burton) 27-8
285 – Breckin Campbell (Richmond-Burton) 29-7
Additional sectional qualifiers
106 – Elliot Hardy (Wheaton Academy) 16-9; Elijah Ancog (Johnsburg) 19-14
113 – Kai Surdick (Johnsburg) 22-18; Zion Kaunley (Wheaton Academy) 22-17
120 – Chase Vogel (Johnsburg) 31-6; Massimo Chan (Wheaton Academy) 20-15
126 – Buckley Kazmierczak (Wheaton Academy) 22-18; Grant Price (Marengo) 16-24
132 – Wyatt Franckowiak (Richmond-Burton) 33-9; Chase Davis (Johnsburg) 38-8
138 – Eli Shin (Wheaton Academy) 28-15; Micah Klos (Johnsburg) 22-17
144 – Max Mulhearn (Harvest Christian) 29-11; Owen Ostler (Marengo) 22-13
150 – Logan Boley (Marengo) 23-14; Joey Guidi (Wheaton Academy) 23-18
157 – Kainoa Ancog (Johnsburg) 33-8; Hunter Boley (Marengo) 29-10
165 – Gavin Baros (Marengo) 17-7; Dylan Falasca (Richmond-Burton)) 19-14
175 – Conner Sacco (Marengo) 19-7; Colton Crowell (Alden-Hebron) 12-16
190 – Frankie Solis (Marengo) 35-7; Joseph Senneses (Wheaton Academy) 23-22
215 – Owen Bills (Marengo) 17-5; Ian De Souza (Wheaton Academy) 32-16
285 – Hezzy Garcia (Wheaton Academy) 32-7; Christian Allen (North Boone) 29-13
Individual statistics
Most team points: Breckin Campbell, Richmond-Burton 28; Wyatt Crowe, Plano 24; Lelan Nelson, Richmond-Burton 24; Mitchell Aukes, Marengo 23.5; Lincoln Hoger, Wheaton Academy 23.5; Tyler Jones, Wheaton Academy 23; Duke Mays, Johnsburg 23; Hezzy Garcia, Wheaton Academy 22; Drew Patel, North Boone 22; Maxwell Martin, Richmond-Burton 21; Brennan O’Donnell, Harvest Christian 21
Most total match points: Chase Davis, Johnsburg 47; Hunter Boley, Marengo 46; Gavin Baros, Marengo 39; Isaac Nevarez, Plano 39
Most pins: Breckin Campbell, Richmond-Burton 3 (in 3:25); Colton Crowell, Alden-Hebron 3;
Joey Guidi, Wheaton Academy 3; Micah Klos, Johnsburg 3
Most technical falls: Chase Davis, Johnsburg 2 (in 10:14)
Largest seed-place difference: Gavin Baros, Marengo 4
Team statistics
Most total match points: Johnsburg 258, Marengo 248; Wheaton Academy 208
Most pins: Wheaton Academy 17; Marengo 15; Johnsburg 12
Most technical falls: Marengo 4; Johnsburg 3