National high school wrestling news, notes, updates (2/20/2024)

Several more state tournaments took place last weekend across the U.S. as team and individual state champs were crowned. Here is our weekly look at the most compelling competition.

Brownsburg wins three-way race for Indiana state crown

The team race at the Indiana State Wrestling Tournament was one for the ages as three teams vied for the championship with just 3.5 points separating first place Brownsburg from third place Crown Point (124.5-121), with Center Grove sitting between them with 121.5 points.

We have focused on Indiana’s state tournament series so intently because they are one of the few states in the nation that have a single class state tournament, and it is cutthroat, too. You need to win your first match to place. Lose that one and you pack your bags as the No. 24 heavyweight in the nation, Paul Clark (Crown Point), discovered after being upset in his opener versus Dekalb’s James Hartleroad, 13-5, at the Ford Center in Evansville.

For the fourth week in a row and fifth time this season, Brownsburg’s No. 11 Revin Dickman (113) defeated Avon’s Nathan Rioux (honorable mention) in the finals of a tournament, this time, 5-0. The two had a similar arrangement last year when Dickman won all of their meetings en route to the 106-pound title.

Joining Dickman in the winner’s circle was No. 14 Jake Hockaday, who pinned Hayden DeMarco (Chesterton) in the second period of their 132-pound final, 2:27.

Placing second for Brownsburg was honorable mention Gunner Henry (190). Braylon Edwards (126) and Brady Ison (138, HM) earned bronze medals. Caden Brewer was fourth at 215. Parker Reynolds placed sixth at 144 and Jesse Derringer landed in the eighth spot at 165.

Center Grove posted three champs to lead the way on that front. After Clark, who was the favorite was picked off at heavyweight, the door was open for a surprise champion and Nate Johnson stepped up to become that man with a first period decking of Hosia Smith (Indianapolis Cathedral), 1:47.

Also securing gold for Center Grove was No. 22 Wyatt Krejsa with a 13-6 decision of Floyd Central’s Hunter Mays at 150. Charlie LaRocca edged Ty Henderson (Evansville Mater Dei), 3-2, at 120-pounds.

Reese Courtney secured a bronze at 144 for Center Grove, while Eddie Goss (132), Noah Clouser (175), and Kaden Mitchell (190) placed fifth. Silas Stits was seventh at 157.

Crown Point’s lone titlist was No. 18 Will Clark, who locked down his gold by flattening Lawrenceville North’s Brandon Johnson in the opening frame, 1:29, at 215.

Honorable mention Clinton Shepherd secured a sliver for Crown Point. Gavin Jendreas (12) and Kaptur Nowaczyk (150) earned state bronze. Honorable mention Anthony Rinehart tumbled to the fourth position at 165. Sontonio Sessa was sixth at 132 and Teigan Newell placed eight at 106.

Warren Central claimed two titles and according to our national rankings both were unexpected. At 138, Kyrel Leavell, who has spent some time in our rankings pinned Crown Point’s Shepherd mid-way through the match, 2:51. Waylon Cressell sat a few spots back from Rinehart in the honorable mention section at 165, after Rinehart fell to Bellmont’s Duke Myers, Cressell outpointed Myers by a 12-4 major decision in the finals.

A huge upset was pulled off by Avon’s Luke Rioux, who is unranked nationally, and took out No. 14 Isaiah Schaefer (Evansville Mater Dei) 8-5 in the 126-pound finals.

The last of the finals involving nationally ranked wrestlers went to script as Rossville’s No. 22 Noah Weaver downed Brownsburg’s Henry, 10-6, at 190.

Roncalli’s Peyton Schoettle won a close bout over Lake Central’s Mason Jones, 3-2, for the 106lb title. The 144lb gold was secured by New Haven’s Easton Dester with a 6-4 decision of Zar Walker (Mishawaka).

The 157-pound titlist was Western’s Mitchell Betz on the strength of a 5-3 decision against Merrillville’s Adrian Pellott. Chase Leech claimed the 175-pound bracket by a point, 3-2, over Floyd Central’s Bray Emerine.

Marmion’s Nicholas Garcia surprises Dom Munaretto at Illinois States

Illinois has three classifications for their post season. The 3A Division is where most of the big dogs lay, so that will be our main focus. Team scores are not tallied at the Individual State Tournament.

The State Farm Center in Champaign was the setting for this weekend’s action, with the craziest outcome occurring at 113-pounds when No. 15 Nicholas Garcia from Marmion Academy shocked No. 5 Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East), 4-2, to win the 3A state crown. Garcia was joined in victory be his teammate Zach Stewart, who claimed the 138-pound title with a 6-3 win over Lockport Township’s Justin Wardlow.

That was it for upsets that impact the national scene. The rest of the 3A finals played out as the rankings indicated they would. In the 2A Division there were two cases where the No. 2 guy in Illinois Matmen’s State Rankings beat the No. 1 guy.

Mt. Carmel, St. Charles East, and Warren Township joined Marmion with two champions apiece in the 3A Division.

No. 4 Seth Mendoza used a 13-5 major decision against Marist’s Michael Esteban for the top honors at 126-pounds. No. 6 Colin Kelly teched Marist’s Ricky Ericksen, 16-1, at 175.

St. Charles East’s No. 1 Ben Davino used a tech fall of his own at 132, 20-5, versus Hononegah’s Thomas Silva. At 144, Jayden Colon ended an up and down year on a positive note by securing the state crown with a 14-5 win over Fremd’s Evan Gosz.

Warren Township’s two titlists appeared in two of the most competitive finals with No. 7 Caleb Noble beating No. 8 Rocco Cassioppi (Hononegah) for the second straight week, 6-5. Cassioppi upset No. 6 Rocco Hayes (Carl Sandburg), 5-1, in the quarters.

No. 12 Aaron Stewart won one of the more highly anticipated finals showdowns with No. 22 Eddie Enright (Mt. Carmel), coming out ahead of his rival, 5-2, at 157lbs.

Glenbard West’s No. 20 Collin Carrigan has been caught up in a recent back-and-forth scenario with No. 21 Gunnar Garelli of Lyons. Carrigan won their meeting prior to states and broke the recent trend by winning this one, too, 6-5 in the tiebreaker period at 165.

The No. 2 heavyweight in the country, Joliet Catholic’s Dillan Johnson decked Hinsdale Central’s Marko Ivanisevic with two seconds left in the opening period, 1:58. No. 16 Kai Calcutt (Loyola Academy) needed overtime to defeat Joseph Favia (Marmion Academy), 3-1, at 215. No. 10 Will Denny of Marist rolled to a 15-7 major decision in his 150-pound title bout with Barrington’s Rhenzo Augusto.

The last two 3A champs are Maine South’s Teddy Flores (120) and Mt. Prospect’s Jaxon Penovich (190). Flores won a close meeting with Joliet Catholic’s Jason Hampton, 6-5, and Penovich used a 13-5 major for his supremacy over Quinn Herbert (Loyola Academy).

We will touch on the national ranked champions in the 2A and 1A Divisions.

In 2A, Lombard Montini crowned two nationally ranked champions in No. 13 Allen Woo at 106 with a 7-4 victory over Wauconda’s Gavin Rockey and David Mayora (HM) who posted a 3-2 win over IC Catholic’s Brody Kelly at 150.

IC Catholic had two wrestlers earn supremacy at their weights as honorable mention Deven Casey blanked Glenwood’s Drew Davis, 3-0, at 120-pounds. No. 17 Michael Calcagno pinned Rochelle’s Kaiden Morris twelve seconds into the second period at 215, 2:12.

Washington’s No. 20 Wyatt Medlin claimed the 138lb wall chart with a 10-3 decision of Dillon White (Mt. Vernon). Two wrestlers who have spent time in our national rankings in the past earned 2A glory as Civic Memorial’s Bryce Griffin won a 5-1 match with Lake Forest’s Seth Digby at 157. Matty Jens (Grayslake Central) posted a tech fall in the 175final, 16-1, with Rock Island’s Amare Overton.

Two matches involving other wrestlers who have appeared in the national rankings round out our 2A recap. According to Illinois Matmen’s state rankings both of these featured one-versus-two action with the No. 2 guy coming out ahead in both.

At 126, Troy (Triad) saw Colby Crouch down Lombard Montini’s Josh Vazquez, 5-3, at 126lbs. Yorkville Christian’s handled Galesburg’s Gauge Shipp relatively easily putting up an 11-4 tally.

On the 1A side, No. 25 Noah Wenzel (Dakota) defeated Wood River’s Drake Champlin, 7-4, for the 215lb gold.

Southeast Polk and Don Bosco follow up dual state title with state tournament glory

Iowa also has a three-class system for the postseason. On Saturday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Southeast Polk (3A) and Don Boso (1A) added the state tournament crowns to the dual meet state titles they secured in early February. Osage won the 2A tournament, with dual champions Creston finishing in fifth place.

Much like Illinois, the bulk of the competitive power in Iowa resides in the 3A Class, so that will be out main focus here as well.

Southeast Polk used three champions to aid its victory run. No. 18 Nico DeSalvo had an easy time with Lewis Central’s Weston Porter at 106, shutting him out, 13-0. Honorable mention Carter Pearson also blanked his foe at 120, albeit with a much closer 1-0 tally versus Bettendorf’s Jake Knight (HM). At 190, Brent Slade (HM) also used a one-point victory for his crown, 6-5, over Danarii Mickel (Ames).

Settling for silver for Polk were Logan Trenary (150) and Holden Hansen (215). Honorable mention Cooper Martinson (285) grabbed a bronze. Justis Jesuroga was fourth at 132. Placing fifth were Maximus Riggins (126) and Abe Bushong (157). Wil Oberbroeckling was sixth at 138.

Bettendorf was a distant second and crowned one champion in honorable mention Timothy Koester (126). Koester avenged a season opening loss at the Dan Gable Donnybrook to Waukee Northwest’s Koufax Christensen (HM), 4-3.

Fort Dodge equaled Southeast Polk’s three champions with the Ross brothers leading the way. At 215, No. 5 Dreshaun pinned Polk’s Hansen in the first round, 1:39. Damarian got by Carlile’s Asa Hemsted, 2-1 at 175. Hemsted shocked No. 14 Max Magayna (Waterloo East), 7-5, in the semis.

Koy Davidson renewed his season long rivalry with Waukee Northwest’s Carter Freeman that has had each man declared as the victor in various meetings. Davidson won the most important encounter, 6-1 in sudden victory for the138lb state crown.

Iowa City, City High had two champions as honorable mention Kael Voinovich (157) won a 12-3 major decision with Carlisle’s Jaxon Miller, 12-3. At 132, Cale Seaton edged Bettendorf’s Jayce Luna, 3-2.

Other nationally ranked wrestlers claiming 3A titles were No. 25 Tyler Harper (Norwalk) at 113 with a 10-4 win over Alexander Pierce (Iowa City, West). No. 20 Kane Naaktgeboren (Linn-Mar) 9-2 versus JahKari Clark (Valley, West Des Moines) at 144. And No. 12 Daniel Herrera locking down the heavyweight crown for Ames with an 18-6 major of Waverly-Shell Rock’s Caden Wetherell.

Waverly-Shell Rock did crown one titlist in Bas Diaz at 150 with a 5-3 win over Polk’s Trenary. Johnston’s Jacob Helgeson won the 165lb weight with a 12-3 major versus Urbandale’s Gabe Carver.

Osage claimed the 2A title on the strength of four champions amongst its five place winners. Securing those golds were Blake Fox (138), Anders Kittelson (144), Tucker Stangel (157), and Mac Muller (285). Max Gast was sixth at 165lbs.

Fox beat Mount Vernon’s Jase Jaspers, 3-1. Kittelson blanked Central DeWitt’s Royce Butt, 4-0. Stangel won a 2-1nailbiter with Bo Koedam (Sergeant Bluff-Luton). Muller had the biggest cushion of victory with an 8-3 decision of Columbus/WMU’s Russel Coil.

Wahlert, Dubuque’s No. 19 Colin Young transferred in this year from Illinois and won a 6-2 battle with Humboldt’s Broedy Hendricks for the 165lb 2A gold. Webster City’s honorable mention Carson Doolittle went into overtime to gain his edge over Jace Hedeman (Union, LaPorte City), 3-1.

Don Bosco’s 1A title effort was boosted by three champions, two of which are nationally ranked. At 132, Dawson Youngblut (No. 17 at 126) won a 4-2 bout versus Tanner Arjes (North Butler-Clarksville). Honorable mention Kyler Knaack squeezed past Kellen Smith (West Hancock), 3-2, at 157. Kaiden Knaack (175) gained his crown with a 3-1 win over Jace Nelson-Brown (Emmetsburg).

No. 19 Hayden Schwab was second for Don Bosco at 106. Earning bronze were Ethan Christoffer (138) and Andrew Kimball (165). Landon Fernandz was fourth at 190 and Kyler Sallis placed eighth at 215.

Schwab was upset by Wilton’s Liam Adlfinger, 9-8, in the 106lb final. Columbus Catholic’s No. 19 Mason Knipp claimed heavyweight supremacy with a 5-2 decision of West Branch’s Logan Wright.

A spin around a few states and how ranked wrestlers fared in their state tournaments

Colorado

Four 5A wrestlers litter our national rankings and all four won state crowns over the weekend. Ponderosa claimed two of those championships with Thomas Verette (HM) and No. 8 Tyler Eise (175). Verette posted a 14-4 major decision in his bout with Poudre’s Nico Bekkedahl. Eise rolled to a 16-0 tech fall against Pomona’s Emmerson Claeys.

Pomona’s No. 10 Ignacio Villasenor defeated Eaglecrest’s Adonias Cantu, 15-2, at 113. Regis Jesuit’s Garrett Reece (HM at 144) earned his title with a fall over Grandview’s Jonathan Montes, 3:46.

Two honorable mention grapplers round out the Colorado ranked wrestlers who won state crowns. Isaiah Harrison (Mountain View) used a first period fall, 1:06, for the 4A 113lb title over Loveland’s Dominick Ortiz. Dale O’Blia (Mullen) won a 3A title at 120 with a 6-0 win versus Severance’s Jonathan Morrison.

Georgia

Most of Georgia’s national power resides in the 7A Class and that is bore out here as seven of their eleven ranked wrestlers appear in the 7A brackets.

Mill Creek had two champs in Antonio Mills (120, No. 8 at 126) and No. 13 Dom Bambinelli (175). Mills posted a tech of Buford’s Rayn Ibold, 23-8, as did Bambinelli over Harrison’s David Rudd, 21-5.

Buford’s No. 6 Drew Gorman dropped a 49 second pin on Camden County’s Waylon Rozier in the 138lb finals. Colquitt County’s Logan Paradice has returned from missing time and won the 150-pound title with ease, 16-8, over Emil Necula (Walton). Paradice will move back into the rankings with this week’s update.

No. 14 Jacob Levy won an 8-2 bout with Colquitt County’s JaQuavian Daniels for the 7A heavyweight glory.

The 190-pound weight class in Georgis is strong with five nationally ranked wrestlers spread across four divisions. In the 7A portion, No. 18 Ryder Wilder (Camden County) won a tight one, 1-0, with Harrison’s honorable mention Landon Jones.

Columbus’ Tyler Secoy (HM at 175) secured the 3A 190-pound crown with an 18-2 tech fall against Adairsville’s Jaimen Long. The 1A title went to No. 6 Hoke Poe Hogan of Commerce with a 3-0 win over Toby Maddux (Trion).

The 6A 190 gold was picked up by Brunswick’s honorable mention Anthny Lowe by fall over Newnan’s Jackson Waters. Veteran’s No. 12 Latrell Schaefer posted a 15-0 tech fall in the 6A 175 final with Luke Hayes (South Paulding).

Utah

Like most states, the majority of Utah’s national representatives in the ranking reside in the big school’s division, 6A in this case.

All but one of said wrestlers are in the 6A brackets. Two featured upsets, one major, one mild.

The major upset occurred at 126 when Lyton’s Geronimo Rivera won a 3-1 decision in his finals match with No. 16 Israel Borge (Westlake). The minor was Corner Canyon’s Leimana Fager, who has spent some time in the rankings, pinning honorable mention Trevyn Gates (Pleasant Grove), 3:20.

Other national ranked 6A champs were No. 22 Mason Carlson (Syracuse, 120), honorable mention Layne Kleimann (Mountain Ridge, 138), Brayden Robison (Westlake, 157 – No. 18 at 150), and No. 19 Cayaen Smith (Pleasant Grove, 215).

No. 15 Cash Henderson (Wood Cross) won the 215-pound 5A gold.