Talent shines at 2023 Dvorak Invitational
By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA
If you randomly tossed a rock inside the gym during the annual Dvorak tournament, there’s a good chance you might hit a state champion, a state placewinner, or some kid currently holding the number one spot in the state rankings.
So winning an individual title at Illinois’ toughest in-season tournament is a feather in any wrestler’s cap.
“I was always here watching this tournament as a kid, seeing all the older guys winning it. It’s cool to finally wrestle in it myself and get the job done. It feels good,” said St. Charles East’s Tyler Guerra, who won the Dvorak title at 138 pounds.
The Dvorak tournament is named for former Glenbard East star wrestler Al Dvorak, who died in an automobile accident in 1988. Glenbard East launched the tournament 35 years ago and it quickly became the toughest regular-season tournament in Illinois.
Guerra’s Saints took the Dvorak team title for the second consecutive year, posting a 214-174.5 edge over second-place Marist. Montini (165.5), Hersey (137), and Hononegah (127.5) rounded out the top five team finishes in the 37-team tournament.
St. Charles East coach Jason Potter got individual titles from Guerra (138), Dom Munaretto (113), Ben Davino (132), and Anthony Gutierrez (165), thirds from Jayden Colon (144) and Gavin Connolly (150), and a fifth from Brody Murray (175).
Potter’s Saints won last year’s Class 3A team state title in Illinois, are currently ranked No. 1 in 3A, and Guerra believes the practice room at East this year is even more intense than it was last season.
“It’s a high standard and we just have to meet it,” Guerra said.
His coach agrees.
“Every one of them has gotten better and that just elevates the room,” Potter said. “Everyone has bought in and even guys that weren’t at that level before are now training at that level, regardless of where they’re at because they know what the end goal is.
“But we’ve been talking about how we’re not defending anything — it’s a new year and a new goal. Everything is different.”
Potter was naturally pleased with his place-winners’ performances at Harlem. He also liked what he saw from a bevy of freshmen and sophomores that include Kaden Potter (106), Liam Aye (120), Gavin Woodmancy (126), Cooper Murray (190) and Matt Medina (285).
“(Woodmancy) is our freshman at 126 and he’s wrestling really hard,” Potter said. “It didn’t go their way for a couple of our younger guys, but they’re wrestling really, really hard when they’re outmatched.
“Our schedule isn’t built to get guys introduced to varsity. We’re wrestling national-level competition so it can be nerve-wracking as a coach to know you’re throwing young guys into that, but I’ve been really proud of the fight that’s in them. They’re out there grinding, moving forward, and wrestling in the style we’re asking them to.”
Second-place Marist and coach Brendan Heffernan got individual titles from George Marinopoulos (120) and Will Denny (157), seconds from Michael Esteban (126) and Conor Phelan (190), a fourth from Donavan Allen (138) and a seventh from Ricky Ericksen 175).
In a resurgent year for Montini with the return of long-time coach Mike Bukovsky, the Broncos’ third-place finish featured titles from Josh Vazquez (126) and David Mayora (150). Montini also got a second from Santino Tenuta (157), a fourth from Alex Marre (175), and a seventh from Michael Malizzio (113).
Other wrestlers winning individual titles were Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi (106), Joliet West’s Carson Weber (144) and Wyatt Schmitt (285), Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens (175), Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeodon Sinclair (190), and Dakota’s Noah Wenzel (285).
Second-place finishes also came from Proviso West’s Jamiel Castleberry (106), Marian Central Catholic’s Anthony Alanis (113) and Max Astacio (165), Glenbard North’s Kalani Khiev (120), Hersey’s Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (132), Lockport’s Justin Wardlow (138), Bolingbrook’s Aaron Camacho (144), McHenry’s Pedro Jimenez (150), Libertyville’s Matt Kubas (175), Loyola’s Kai Calcutt (215) and Round Lake’s William Cole (285).
Individual tournament leaders included: McHenry’s Jesse Saavedra’s five pins in 10:14; Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi’s three tech falls in 10:21 and his 79 total match points scored; Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeoden Sinclair’s 33.5 team points scored; and Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens’ 27 single-match points. The largest seed-place difference came when 29th-seeded Frankie Tagoe of Hersey placed 8th at 150.
St. Charles East had the most pins in the least time of any team present, garnering 20 falls in 37:35; Edwardsville was second with 20 falls in 38:05. St. Charles East scored the most total match points with 388, followed by Hersey (385), Marist (382), Wauconda (374), and Hononegah (369).
Dvorak individual champions:
106 – Rocco Cassioppi, Hononegah
After Proviso West’s Jamiel Castleberry upset top-ranked and previously unbeaten Gavin Rockey of Wauconda in a semifinal match, he was set up to become the story of the tournament. The only hurdle left facing the talented Panthers freshman was a fellow 106-pounder wearing Hononegah purple and gold.
Rocco Cassioppi tore up the script.
Cassioppi proved he’s at another level as the top-ranked 106-pounder in Illinois. He won a 17-6 major decision over Castleberry to garner the first Dvorak title of his career.
“I knew (Castleberry) from kids’ club and I knew he was a really tough wrestler,” Cassioppi said. “He won state last year in kids’ club. I knew I had to watch out for his blast doubles and his ducks.
“Right away I just tried to get to my attacks and I felt like he was a little higher in his stance. He shot that double leg and I felt like ‘I think I can defend that’.”
Cassioppi’s older brother Tony was a dominant state champion, his sister Angelina has won two girls state titles and counting, and his brother Bruno is highly-ranked at 112 pounds.
The Dwyer brothers once set the standard for siblings at Hononegah, but the Cassioppi family has taken over as its family tree continues to produce state champions.
Rocco hopes it’s his turn this season. As the top-ranked 106-pounder in Illinois, the freshman has a target on his back that he’s negotiating as the season moves forward. In learning how to handle such high expectations, Rocco gives an assist to older brother Tony, a two-time Illinois heavyweight state champion and four-time All-American at Iowa.
“I ask (Tony) for help all the time,” Cassioppi said. “He just says ‘it’s your freshman year and it’s all about getting better’. He said not to worry about it that much, it’s not like it’s the end of the world if you lose, but just try your hardest, every time. If you don’t try your hardest it’s a loss, no matter what the score is.”
Hersey’s Daniel Lehman placed third at 106, Lockport’s Morgan Turner finished fourth, Rockey took fifth, and Marian Central’s Austin Hagevold finished sixth.
113 – Dom Munaretto, St. Charles East
Last year’s state champion at 106 won his second Dvorak title and left no doubt about who Illinois’ top dog in 3A is at 113 pounds. A week after wrestling at less than a hundred percent at the prestigious Ironman Tournament, St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto was a buzz-saw in Harlem.
Munaretto had two pins and two major decisions over the tourney’s two days. He won an 11-3 major in his semifinal over Hononegah’s fourth-ranked Bruno Cassioppi of Hononegah, then earned his second Dvorak title with a 16-4 major on the title mat against Marian Central’s Anthony Alanis, the top-ranked 1A wrestler in 1A.
Munaretto placed seventh at 113 at the prestigious Ironman Tournament in Ohio one week earlier, which likely fueled the fire he displayed at Harlem.
“He wasn’t a hundred percent last week but that is what it is,” Saints coach Jason Potter said. “It’s in the past and it’s something he can use and focus on because when you lose, obviously something went wrong. So you fix all the little cracks to make it right.”
Potter also sees the light switching on above his sophomore’s head where his future is concerned.
“The goal is to make him the best wrestler we can, so when he goes off to the next level, he’s having success down the road,” Potter said. “It’s not about high school for that kid and he’s starting to understand that.”
Glenbard North’s Dominick Marre placed third at 113, Bruno Cassioppi was fourth, Plainfield North’s Maddox Garbis was fifth, and McHenry’s Ryan Hansen placed sixth.
120 – George Marinopoulos, Marist
Marist’s George Marinopoulos was dominant in his title match, winning a 15-6 major decision over Glenbard North’s Kalani Khiev.
But it was his semifinal win that opened some eyes and gave Marinopoulos the biggest feather in his cap at Harlem.
Marinopoulos’ 8-6 semifinal over Marian Central Catholic’s Brayden Teunissen offered some cold revenge for the Marist junior. Teunissen is currently top-ranked in 2A, and the two squared off at 106 during last year’s Dvorak.
“I was excited for that match,” Marinopoulos said. “I was hyped before it and knew I could get it done. Last year I lost to him for third and I knew he’d come out hard with his hand-fighting and I just had to get rid of that first and second period.”
The two-time state qualifier is seeking a spot on the podium in Champaign, and the fifth-ranked Marinopoulos also knocked off 3A third-ranked Luke Berktold of Libertyville in his quarterfinals match to get to top-seeded Teunissen, who is ranked second at 120 in 1A.
Marinopoulos believes he has improved in the most important possible area.
“My mindset, honestly,” Marinopoulos said. “Over the summer I trained super-hard and my mindset got way better. I had a lot of confidence here coming into every match.
“If you’re not confident you can wrestle tight and scared, and wrestle not to lose. When you’re confident you’re going to look for your offense and keep shooting and doing your thing.”
Wauconda’s Nathan Randle finished third at 120, Edwardsville’s Ryan Richie placed fourth, Teunissen finished fifth, and Berktold placed sixth.
126 – Josh Vazquez, Montini
Montini junior Josh Vazquez is a two-time state placewinner and he went into the Dvorak ranked No. 1 in 2A as the tournament’s top seed. A tech fall, a major, and a pair of 3-1 decision wins later, he scaled the top step in Machesney Park.
And he did it under less than ideal conditions.
“Josh showed a lot of poise, as he was not a hundred percent (healthy) but he found a way to get the job done,” Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. “A Dvorak title was one of his goals this season, and he has really been pushing hard this year to earn it. He’s a quiet leader and one of the hardest workers in the room”
Vazquez won 3-1 in his quarterfinal over Hersey’s Abdullokh Khakimov, who is ranked No. 4 in 3A. He followed that with another 3-1 decision on the title mat against the No. 2-ranked 3A wrestler, Marist’s Michael Esteban. Vazquez earned a second-period takedown to provide himself the win.
Esteban opened his tournament with a fall and a tech fall before winning 3-2 in his semifinal against Providence Catholic’s Tommy Banas, ranked No. 5 in 2A at 126.
Glenbard North’s Christian Chavez finished third at 126, Banas placed fourth, Khakimov took fifth, and Wauconda’s Lucas Galdine placed sixth.
132 – Ben Davino, St. Charles East
There are wrestlers each year that the entire Illinois fan base views as unbeatable, and three-time state champion Davino is one of those. When someone burns through opponents the way Davino does, it sometimes becomes easy for fans to take what he does for granted.
But any fans viewing Davino’s matches as a chance to check their cell phones or hit the concession stand might want to pay attention; they might miss the chance to watch someone rare and special in the annals of Illinois high school wrestling.
“When it’s all said and done, I think he’ll go down as one of the best, if not the best,” St. Charles East coach Jason Potter said. “And he’s unique, too, because he’s challenging himself within a match. It’s not just about winning, it’s about trying different things. He’s also his own biggest critic and I think that shows.”
The top-ranked, top-seeded, unbeaten senior won his third Dvorak title, posting two falls and two tech falls along the way.
Davino pinned Montini’s Kam Luif in their quarterfinal before winning by tech fall at 4:27 on the title mat against Hersey’s Maksim Mukhamedaliyev, who is currently ranked third in 3A.
Davino won the title at 132 at this year’s Ironman tournament and last year he won a title at the Super 32 Challenge — both nationally prestigious tournaments.
And there were aspects of competing in those tournaments that only the best of the best have to negotiate.
“When everyone in the room erupts when you get taken down, you either fight that and get upset by it, or you embrace it,” Potter said. “Ben felt that at Super 32s, Dom (Munaretto) felt that at the Ironman, and they had to stop being shocked by it. Take it as a compliment. You have to realize it’s a privilege to have the spotlight on you like that, and you have to own it.”
138 – Tyler Guerra, St. Charles East
Two years ago, St. Charles East’s Tyler Guerra lost in overtime in the Dvorak quarterfinals and went on to place third at 132. Last year, Guerra fell in the semifinals and again wrestled back to take third at 138.
The Saints’ senior has also placed second and third in Champaign the last two seasons.
This year, with the number one next to his name in the state rankings, Illinois’ top dog is a different animal.
“I haven’t seen this version of Tyler,” Saints coach Jason Potter said. “He’s wrestling very well.
“He now knows how good he is and instead of always being focused on being the best kid in Illinois, we flipped his goal to become one of the top guys in the country. He’s been able to really establish himself as that.”
Guerra placed sixth at this year’s Ironman tournament, one week before earning his first Dvorak title in a 10-3 decision over Lockport’s Justin Wardlow.
“I’m so much better on my feet,” Guerra said. “Just my movement, my control, my confidence — it’s all on a whole new level. And I’m putting it all into my wrestling so it’s been good.”
An even more fierce practice room for a team that won last year’s 3A team state title has helped Guerra reach new heights in the way he’s wrestling.
“It’s been dramatic. We changed up our training, it’s gotten a little more intense,” Guerra said. “It’s about constant change and not getting into old habits. We keep evolving.”
Guerra won 7-1 in his semifinal against previously unbeaten Tyson Peach of Milton, Wisconsin, before taking a 4-1 lead in the title match into the second period, then an 8-2 lead heading to the third en route to his 10-3 win.
Second-seeded and second-ranked Wardlow won 13-10 in his semifinal against Marian Central’s Vance Williams, Illinois’ top-ranked 132-pounder in Class 1A. Wardlow placed second in Champaign last year at 120 pounds.
Peach wrestled back for third place at 138 at Harlem, Allen was fourth, Williams took fifth, and Yorkville’s Donovan Rosauer finished sixth.
144 – Carson Weber, Joliet West
The bracket at 144 featured the top three ranked wrestlers in 3A, so the bare bones structure of a potential OWA was there for taking for either No. 1 Jayden Colon, No. 2 Aaron Camacho, or No. 3 Carson Weber.
When the dust settled it was Joliet West’s Weber at the top of the podium with a Dvorak outstanding wrestler award to his name.
After fourth-seeded Weber won a 7-3 semifinal decision over top-seeded, two-time state champion Colon of St. Charles East, he won 7-5 on the title mat over second-seeded Camacho of Bolingbrook.
And then he leap-frogged both to a No. 1 ranking in Illinois.
Where wins and losses are concerned, a wrestler’s memory has to be short. But his long-term memory can be used as a shovelful of coal tossed into the blast furnace of motivation.
“I lost to Camacho in the blood round at state last year and I was looking forward to wrestling both of them in this tournament,” Weber said. “I wanted to get back at (Camacho) and take down the No. 1 guy.”
His title win kept Weber unbeaten at 18-0. And he sees room for improvement.
“I’m happy that for the most of the shots I got into, I was able to finish. But I need to improve my gas tank a little more. I was tired in both of those matches towards the end,” Weber said. “It wasn’t terrible but it’s definitely something I need to work on.
“And I have to come out stronger in the first period. I gave up a takedown in the beginning of that finals match and next time that’s not where I want to be. I haven’t had a lot of competition until now so it’s been hard to get a real feel for where I am.”
Colon went on the take third at 144, Schaumburg’s Callen Kirchner was fourth, Hersey’s Jake Hanson took fifth, and Dakota’s Jason Bowers placed sixth.
150 – David Mayora, Montini
Illinois’ top-ranked wrestler in Class 2A has placed second and third downstate, and this year Montini senior David Mayora feels situated and ready to finish the season atop the podium in Champaign.
For starters, Mayora cites the return of IWCOA hall-of-fame coach Mike Bukovsky to the program as a key element.
(“Bukovsky) is one of the best coaches you’ll ever meet,” Mayora said. “He’s a great motivator and he has so much that he can share.
“I finally have everything going for me with my coaches and my team — we’re starting to build something really, really cool at Montini. So being able to just focus on getting better every day in the room instead of worrying about other people, I can be a little bit more selfish this year, and use all my resources in my coaches and teammates.”
Mayora posted a pair of tech falls before winning a 9-3 decision in his semifinal match against Yorkville’s Jack Ferguson, setting up a second-period fall for a Dvorak title against McHenry’s previously unbeaten Pedro Jimenez. Second-seeded Jimenez reached the finals with a major decision win over Lincoln-Way Central’s Jalen Byrd.
It was Mayora’s second Dvorak title. He won the title at 152 last year.
“What changes over the years is just maturity,” Mayora said. “Last year I was looking to win, and this year I’m looking to dominate and show people who I am.
“I’m not content anymore with just getting a win. I want to show what I can do and what I’ve been training and pushed to do. And there’s no reason I can’t show that and at the same time have fun doing it.”
St. Charles East’s Gavin Connolly took third at 150, Byrd placed fourth, Ferguson took fifth, and Wauconda’s Cole Porten placed sixth.
157 – Will Denny, Marist
Top-ranked at 150, Marist’s Will Denny went into the Dvorak with an individual tournament title won at Joliet Central and a fifth-place finish at the prestigious national Ironman tournament in Ohio.
Denny held serve in dominant fashion. Wrestling up at 157, the top-seeded Marist junior opened with two tech falls to set up a 6-2 semifinal decision win over Hononegah’s Brody Sendele, currently ranked third at 157.
A major decision win over Montini’s Santino Tenuta for the title gave Denny the first Dvorak title of his career. Denny placed fifth at 113 as a freshman and did not wrestle in last year’s Dvorak tournament. He left Harlem with an 18-2 record and his lone two losses came in tournaments outside of Illinois.
Third-seeded Tenuta reached the finals with a 5-4 semifinal decision win over Wauconda’s second-seeded Nicholas Cheshier.
Sendele wrestled back for third at 157, Chesier took fourth, Moline’s Zander Ealy was fifth, and Conant’s Tanner Cosgrove placed sixth.
165 – Anthony Gutierrez, St. Charles East
St. Charles East coach Jason Potter was happy with his wrestlers across the board as the Saints won their second straight Dvorak team title. None more so than junior Anthony Gutierrez.
“I’m proud of all of them but his performance this weekend — he had some really gritty matches,” Potter said. “He wrestled a kid in his quarterfinal that he lost to earlier in the year, so it’s about getting tough in those situations and embracing them.”
Gutierrez’s 7-5 quarterfinal win over Hononegah’s Connor Diemel avenged a 4-3 loss to Diemel earlier this year. Gutierrez followed that up with a first-period pin in his semifinal match against Bolingbrook’s Tommy McDermott.
In his title match, second-seeded Gutierrez took on Marian Central’s top-seeded Max Astacio, the No. 1-ranked 1A wrestler in Illinois. Astacio won by major decision over Plainfield South’s Colin Bickett in the quarterfinals, then topped McHenry’s Aiden Fischler in the semifinals by 8-5 decision.
Ranked No. 5 in 3A, Gutierrez gutted out a 4-2 decision to win his first Dvorak title.
“So much of this sport is mental and we’re working through how to handle that pressure because we don’t want it to be easy. We want it to be hard,” Potter said. “And if (Gutierrez) stays composed and wrestles his match — he’s super long and unorthodox, and he can attack from different angles — he’s going to be really, really good. And he’s starting to believe it.”
Diemel went on to place third at 165, McDermott took fourth, Bickett was fifth and Fischler took sixth.
175 – Matty Jens, Grayslake Central
Grayslake Central senior and returning state champion Matty Jens is the top-ranked 2A wrestler at 175 pounds. He had an important message for every wrestler in Illinois, after he stepped off the top step of the podium at Harlem.
“Have some fun because this is the best sport in the world,” Jens said.
The ongoing battles between Jens and Libertyville’s Matt Kubas saw another chapter take place on the title mat at 175. Jens won by 7-4 decision to claim his Dvorak title, adding it to titles won this year at Glenwood and Barrington.
Kubas, ranked second at 175 in 3A behind Mt. Carmel’s Colin Kelly, has only lost twice this season — both in finals matches to Jens, at Barrington and Harlem.
“We’ve been partners since we were four years old,” Jens said of Kubas. “He’s one of the best in the state and I hope he goes on (in 3A) and does well. I wish him the best.”
When wrestlers know each other as well as Kubas and Jens know each other, it can become increasingly difficult to gain separation. Jens went into his Dvorak title match without focusing too much on his familiarity with Kubas.
“Stay strict with how I wrestle and just don’t overthink it,” Jens said. “Just sticking to my game plan and just wrestling smart the whole time. I know with my technique and how I wrestle, good things will happen. And that comes with not going out of my way to do anything special.”
Jens posted a fall and a tech fall before winning a 7-2 semifinal decision over St. Charles East’s Brody Murray. Third-seeded Kubas won by fall and major decision before winning a 6-3 semifinal decision over Yorkville’s second-seeded Luke Zook.
Jens is chasing a second state title this season, devoid of concern for what the future might hold.
“A big thing is I don’t want to worry about college coaches and all that kind of stuff,” Jens said. “I just want to stay focused, and that other stuff will come.
“Last year it was my goal to win a state title but five minutes after I did it, I wanted to go work out and wrestle again. And while I want to win it again, there are also bigger goals in line. It’s not just this year, it’s my future.”
Zook wrestled back for third place at 175, Montini’s Alex Marre was fourth, Murray finished fifth, and Hononegah’s Kurt Smith took sixth.
190 – Aeoden Sinclair, Milton, WI
Nobody was any more dominant than Milton, Wisconsin’s Aeden Sinclair at this year’s Dvorak. The Milton senior was an unbeaten Wisconsin state champion at 220 pounds last year and nobody could touch the Missouri-bound, No. 1-ranked 190-pounder in the nation at Harlem.
Sinclair posted three pins before winning by tech fall on the title mat against Marist’s Conor Phelan, who is currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois at 190 pounds. Third-seeded Phelan had three falls to reach the finals, including a second-period semifinal fall against Plainfield North’s second-seeded Leo Tovar. Tovar went into the semifinal match with Phelan unbeaten and ranked No. 3 in 3A.
Tovar wrestled back for third at 190, Loyola’s Quinn Herbert was fourth, Libertyville’s Caleb Baczek took fifth, and Moline’s James Soliz placed sixth.
215 – Noah Wenzel, Dakota
One year after placing second on the Dvorak title mat at 220 pounds, Dakota’s Noah Wenzel was hoping to leave no doubt who the top wrestler at 215 was at this year’s tournament.
Top-ranked in 1A, as a two-time state champion and the tournament’s top seed, Wenzel set himself up for that goal with a pair of pins and then an 11-2 major decision win in his semifinal against Plainfield South’s fourth-seeded Matt Janiak.
Wenzel did, in fact, win his Dvorak title match against Loyola’s Kai Calcutt, but it didn’t happen the way anyone wanted; Calcutt suffered a leg injury in the first period and had to injury default in the final.
“You never want to see that happen,” Wenzel said.
The good news for the Dakota faithful is that Wenzel is back wrestling again after missing two months due to injury. His dominance leading up to the finals was never a sure bet, considering how much rust Wenzel is shaking off.
“I’ve only been wrestling for a week or two. I came in here with only five matches,” Wenzel said. “It feels good to come back from such a long break from the sport and still be able to perform at such a high level.
“I was able to maintain a decent gas tank throughout. I was able to keep running, and keep exercising. Sharpness has started coming back throughout the last week or so.”
Third-seeded sophomore Calcutt went into the tournament ranked No. 2 in 3A at 215 pounds. Calcutt cruised into the finals. He had a fall and a major decision win before winning by major decision in his semifinal against second-seeded Yorkville’s Ben Alvarez. Returning state champion Alvarez went into the Dvorak as the second seed.
Libertyville’s Owen McGrory placed third at 215, Janiak placed fourth, Alvarez took fifth, and Hononegah’s Isaak Smith finished sixth.
285 – Wyatt Schmitt, Joliet West
The Dvorak ended with the most epic finals match of the tournament with Joliet West’s Wyatt Schmitt and Round Lake’s William Cole taking their heavyweight match to overtime before Schmitt won 2-1 on an escape in the tiebreak period.
Schmitt improved to 11-0 with the win, and is currently ranked No. 4 at 285 in 3A.
“Wyatt is having an exceptional career at Joliet West, and he’s writing quite the legacy for himself,” Joliet West coach Chuck Rumpf said. “Last weekend he earned his 100th career win and he had a good weekend at the Dvorak. He had to defeat a very tough opponent in the finals.
“He placed fourth at last year’s state tournament and has worked relentlessly to improve upon that finish this season.”
Top-seeded senior Schmitt opened the Dvorak with a fall and a major decision before winning by fall in his semifinal match against Conant’s Harley Stary.
Cole was second-seeded and ranked fifth in 3A heading into the tournament. The Round Lake junior opened with a fall before winning a 6-0 quarterfinal decision over Loyola’s Joey Herbert. Cole then used a second-period semifinal pin over McHenry’s Jesse Saavedra to reach the finals.
Saavedra wrestled back for third place, Dakota’s Randy McPeek was fourth, Stary placed fifth, and Huntley’s Markos Mihalopoulos finished sixth.
Dvorak championship match results:
106 – Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah) MD 17-6 Jamiel Castleberry (Proviso West)
113 – Dom Munaretto (St. Charles E) MD 16-4 Anthony Alanis (Marian)
120 – George Marinopoulos (Marist) MD 15-6 Kalani Khiev (Glenbard N)
126 – Josh Vazquez of Lombard (Montini) D 3-2 Michael Esteban (Marist)
132 – Ben Davino (St. Charles E) TF 4:27 Maksim Mukhamedaliyev (Hersey)
138 – Tyler Guerra (St. Charles E) D 10-3 Justin Wardlow (Lockport)
144 – Carson Weber (Joliet West) D 7-5 Aaron Camacho (Bolingbrook)
150 – David Mayora (Montini) F 2:52 Pedro Jimenez (McHenry)
157 – Will Denny of Chicago (Marist) MD 20-7 Santino Tenuta (Montini)
165 – Anthony Gutierrez (St. Charles E) D 4-2 Max Astacio (Marian)
175 – Matty Jens (Grayslake C) D 7-4 Matt Kubas (Libertyville)
190 – Aeoden Sinclair (Milton WI) TF 2:40 Conor Phelan )Marist)
215 – Noah Wenzel (Dakota) Inj. 1:29 Kai Calcutt (Loyola)
285 – Wyatt Schmitt of Joliet West) TB-1 2-1 William Cole (Round Lake)
Dvorak 3rd-place match results:
106 – Daniel Lehman (Hersey) D 1-0 Morgan Turner (Lockport)
113 – Dominick Marre (Glenbard North) D 4-3 Bruno Cassioppi (Hononegah)
120 – Nathan Randle (Wauconda) D 2-0 Ryan Richie (Edwardsville)
126 – Christian Chavez (Glenbard N) D 7-4 Tommy Banas (Providence)
132 – Kam Luif (Montini) D 6-2 Liam Zimmerman (Lockport)
138 – Tyson Peach (Milton WI) SV-1 4-3 Dona, van Allen (Marist)
144 – Jayden Colon (St. Charles E) F 2:15 Callen Kirchner (Schaumburg)
150 – Gavin Connolly (St. Charles (E) D 6-0 Jalen Byrd (Lincoln-Way C)
157 – Brody Sendele of (Hononegah) D 5-3 Nicholas Cheshier (Wauconda)
165 – Connor Diemel (Hononegah) D 7-1 Tommy McDermott (Bolingbrook)
175 – Luke Zook (Yorkville) D 4-3 Alex Marre of Lombard (Montini)
190 – Leonardo Tovar (Plainfield N) D 3-2 Quinn Herbert (Loyola)
215 – Owen McGrory (Libertyville) M. For. Matt Janiak (Plainfield S)
285 – Jesse Saavedra (McHenry) F 1:07 Randy McPeek (Dakota)
Also placing fifth were Wauconda’s Gavin Rockey (106), Plainfield North’s Maddox Garbis (113), Marian’s Brayden Teunissen (120), Hersey’s Abdullokh Khakimov (126), Lincoln-Way East’s Tyson Zvonar (132), Marian’s Vance Williams (138), Hersey’s Jake Hanson (144), Yorkville’s Jack Ferguson (150),Moline’s Zander Ealy (157), Plainfield South’s Colin Bickett (165), St. Charles East’s Brody Murray (175), Libertyville’s Caleb Baczek (190), Yorkville’s Ben Alvarez (215), and Conant’s Harley Stary (285).
Sixth-placers included Marian’s Justin Hagevold (106), McHenry’s Ryan Hanson (113), Libertyville’s Luke Berktold (120), Libertyville’s Orion Moran (132), Yorkville’s Donovan Rosauer (138), Dakota’s Jason Bowers (144), Wauconda’s Cole Porten (150), Conant’s Tanner Cosgrove (157), McHenry’s Aiden Fischler (165), Hononegah’s Kurt Smith (175), Moline’s James Soliz (190), Hononegah’s Isaak Smith (215), and Huntley’s Markos Mihalopoulos (285).
Also placing seventh were Grayslake Central’s VInce DeMarco (106), Montini’s Michael Malizzio of Lombard (113), Round Lake’s Alejandro Cordova (120), Prairie Ridge’s Mikey Meade (126), Wauconda’s Brian Hart (132), Lincoln-Way East’s Brayden Mortell (138), Glenbard North’s Rylan Kradle (144), Lincoln-Way East’s Domanic Abeja (150), Wheaton North’s Thomas Fulton (157), Wauconda’s Zachary Johnson (165), Marist’s Ricky Ericksen (175), Hersey’s Anthony Cambria (190), Lincoln-Wa East’s Caden O’Rourke (215), and Lockport’s Wojciech Chrobak (285).
Eighth-placers included Edwardsville’s Bryson Nuttall (106), Prairie Ridge’s Jake Lowitzki (113), Conant’s Luis Flores (120), Lincoln-Way East’s Kaidge Richardson (126), St. Rita’s Nino Protti (132), Edwardsville’s Logan Hiller (138), Edwardsville’s Blake Mink (144), Hersey’s Frankie Tagoe (150), Huntley’s Radic Dvorak (157), Libertyville’s Charlie Clark (165), Lincoln-Way East’s Jackson Zaeske of Frankfort (175), Yorkville’s Luke Chrisse (190), Crystal Lake Central’s Tommy McNeil (215), and Bolingbrook’s Isaac Amoh (285).
Final team scores: 1. St. Charles East (214) 2. Marist (174.5) 3. Montini (165.5) 4. Hersey (137) 5. Hononegah’s (127.5) 6. Marian Central Catholic (119) 7. Wauconda (117.5) 8. Lockport (116) 9. Libertyville (105) 10. Glenbard North (104.5) 11. Yorkville (102.5) 12. Edwardsville (102) 13. Lincoln-Way East (99.5) 14. Joliet West (88) 15. McHenry (87.5) 16. Lincoln-Way Central (85.5) 17. Dakota (82) 18. Milton, WI (79.5) 19. Loyola Academy (78.5) 20. Bolingbrook (72) 21. Moline (69.5) 22. Plainfield North (62.5) 23. Plainfield South (55) 24. Huntley (53) 25. Schaumburg (51) 26. Crystal Lake Central (47) 27. Round Lake (47) 28. Wheaton North (45.5) 29. Conant (44) 30. Grayslake Central (40.5) 31. Providence Catholic (40.5) 32. Prairie Ridge (28) 33. Proviso West (25) 34. St. Rita (24.5) 35. Harlem (18) 36. Freeport (14)