FIRST TEAM
Mason Alessio, Joliet Catholic, junior, 145 pounds: Class 2A state runner-up finished 38-5. Helped Hilltoppers win first team state championship.
Nasir Bailey, Rich Township, junior, 132: North Carolina recruit went perfect 41-0 to become a three-time state champion, including once at T.F. North and once in Texas. First Rich Township athlete to win state title.
Elliana Balderrama, Evergreen Park, junior, 155: Rookie became one of first IHSA girls wrestling state medalists with sixth-place finish. Went 14-8.
Tommy Bennett, Brother Rice, senior, 170: Northern Illinois recruit went 33-1. Won 2A state title and helped Crusaders reach team state for first time.
Andrew Blackburn-Forst, Lockport, senior, 220: After helping Porters win football state title in the fall, Northern Colorado recruit followed up with second individual 3A title and helped Lockport finish third as team. Went 38-5.
Ryan Boersma, Mount Carmel, senior, heavyweight: Missouri recruit went unbeaten against in-state competition and finished 44-2. Won second 3A individual title and powered Caravan to team title.
Gracie Guarino, Lincoln-Way Central, sophomore, 105: Had three straight pins at inaugural girls state meet before losing in final. State runner-up finished 26-15.
Dillan Johnson, Joliet Catholic, sophomore, heavyweight: Completed dominant 38-0 season by pinning all four opponents at 2A state meet.
Colin Kelly, Mount Carmel, sophomore, 160: Pulled off overtime victory against previously unbeaten Chris Moore of McHenry for 3A state title. Finished 41-4.
Dutchess King, T.F. South, senior, 100: Girls state runner-up finished 20-11.
Sergio Lemley, Mount Carmel, junior, 126: Three-time state champion, including once in Indiana. Won 3A individual title and then pinned DeKalb’s Austin Martin in decisive final match of 3A dual team state final. Finished 43-2.
Peter Marinopoulos, Marist, junior, 195: Went 40-1, with only loss coming to New Trier’s Jack Cummings in 3A state championship match.
Seth Mendoza, Mount Carmel, freshman, 106: Won 3A state title and went 43-2. Finished undefeated against in-state competition.
Caden Muselman, Oak Forest, junior, 126: Went 33-4 with third-place finish in 2A.
Ini Odumosu, Homewood-Flossmoor, sophomore, 190: Finished fifth at girls state meet with 24-7 record in first year wrestling.
Ghee Rachal, Marist, senior, 220: Lost tight 3-2 championship match to Blackburn-Forst to finish as 3A runner-up. Went 33-3. Helped Marist reach team state.
Damari Reed, Shepard, senior, 152: Finished 35-1. Was undefeated until 1-0 loss to Conant’s Ethan Stiles in 3A state championship match.
Damian Resendez, Mount Carmel, sophomore, 113: Made surprise run to the 3A finals and finished 33-10.
Vincent Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, 126: North Carolina State recruit’s only loss to in-state competition came to Lemley in 3A state final. Finished 32-3.
Gylon Sims, Joliet Catholic, junior, 113: Two-time 2A state champion finished 37-4. Helped Hilltoppers win first team state title.
Justin Thomas, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, 220: Finished third in 3A with 36-10 record.
Brayden Thompson, Lockport, junior, 170: Oklahoma State recruit completed dominant first season after transferring from Montini. Went 49-0 and won 3A state championship.
Attalia Watson-Castro, Homewood-Flossmoor, junior, 135: Only state champion from Southland at inaugural girls state meet. Finished 17-1. Became school’s first wrestling state champion of any gender.
Jocelyn Williams, Homewood-Flossmoor, sophomore, 235: Went 15-9. Finished fourth at girls state meet.
Kevin Zimmer, Sandburg, senior, heavyweight: Wyoming recruit returned from torn ACL late in season and became two-time state runner-up in 3A. Finished 17-2, with both losses to Boersma.
HONORABLE MENTION
Tommy Boland, Marist, senior, 160; Rylan Breen, Mount Carmel, sophomore, 182; Nathan Chirillo, Brother Rice, senior, 160; Austin Dangles, St. Rita, junior, 113; Michael Esteban, Marist, freshman, 113; Owen Gerdes, Joliet Catholic, senior, 195; Sammie Hayes, Sandburg, senior, 120; Alex Jackson, T.F. North, junior, 195; Paul Kadlec, Lockport, senior, 160; Cha`Anna Kassim, junior, 110; Mickaela Keane, Andrew co-op, junior, 190; Mohammad Khalil, Lemont, senior, 182; Shay Korhorn, Joliet Catholic, senior, 120; Grace Laird, Joliet Catholic, freshman, 110; Elliot Lewis, Mount Carmel, senior, 195; Jacob Liberatore, Marist, junior, 170; Joey Malito, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, 120; Billy Meiszner, Providence, senior, 132; Owen O’Connor, Joliet Catholic, senior, 138; Jaydon Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor, sophomore, 145; Trevor Silzer, Andrew, junior, 113; Dajia Slaughter, Oak Forest, sophomore, 155; Logan Swaw, Lockport, junior, 152; Alex Tagler, Lemont, senior, 170; Skylar Wojcik, Lockport, senior, 235.
Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
