Individuals from state powerhouses Marist, Mount Carmel and Joliet Catholic highlight first team.
First Team
Will Denny, Marist, senior, 165 pounds: Captured back-to-back state championships, finishing this season with a 42-1 record. Repeat all-area. Committed to North Carolina State.
Nate Elstner, Lincoln-Way West, senior, 215: Reached podium for first time with a third-place finish. Went 45-6.
Ricky Ericksen, Marist, senior, 190: Earned his first state title by topping Joliet Catholic’s Nico Ronchetti 4-1. Went 37-7. Repeat all-area. Committed to Ohio.
Michael Esteban, Marist, senior, 126: Finished as a state runner-up for the second straight season. Went 35-8. Repeat all-area. Committed to Michigan State.
Luke Hamiti, Joliet Catholic, junior, 165: Earned his second state medal with a third-place showing. Finished 26-8.
Jason Hampton, Joliet Catholic, junior, 126: Became a three-time state medalist by taking third. Finished 42-12. Repeat all-area.
Rocco Hayes, Sandburg, senior, 113: Placed third at state for the third straight season, finishing 47-2 this winter. Repeat all-area. Committed to Virginia.
Judah Heeg, Lemont, junior, 190: Scored dramatic 4-1 overtime win over Crystal Lake Central’s Cayden Parks to become a Class 2A state champion in his first season at Lemont. Finished 41-3.
Justus Heeg, Providence, freshman, 150: Followed up his Minnesota high school state title as an eighth grader with another state championship, compiling a 45-3 record.
Ryan Hinger, Sandburg, senior, 144: Improved on a fourth-place finish as a junior by taking third at state. Finished 44-5. Committed to Elmhurst.
Liam Kelly, Mount Carmel, junior, 157: Won his first state championship by edging West Aurora’s Dominic Serio 4-3. Finished 34-5.
George Marinopoulos, Marist, senior, 132: Earned his first state trophy with a runner-up finish. Went 39-7. Committed to Illinois.
David McCarthy, De La Salle, senior, 285: Became school’s first state champion in wrestling since 2012 with Class 1A title. Went 32-2.
Seth Mendoza, Mount Carmel, senior, 138: Became the 16th Illinois High School Association four-time state champion. Daily Southtown Boys Wrestler of the Year. Finished 36-1. A four-time all-area pick. Committed to Missouri.
Austin Perez, Oak Forest, junior, 144: Placed third in Class 2A for his second state medal. Finished 29-2.
Chazz Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor, sophomore, 120: Finished third at state in his first season with the Vikings after moving in from Florida. Went 41-6.
RJ Robinson, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, 175: Took state runner-up honors after moving in from Arizona. Finished 40-7. Committed to American University.
Nico Ronchetti, Joliet Catholic, senior, 190: Earned his second state runner-up finish and led the Hilltoppers to third place as a team, their third state trophy of his career. Went 38-7.
Mike Taheny, Richards, senior, 190: Reached the podium for the first time with a third-place showing in 2A. Finished 43-3.
Justin Wardlow, Lockport, junior, 150: Finished as a state runner-up for the third straight season. Went 45-4. Three-time all-area. Committed to Arizona State.
Honorable Mention
- Donavon Allen, Marist, senior, 144.
- Tommy Banas, Providence, sophomore, 132.
- Xavier Bitner, St. Laurence, junior, 215,
- Jaedon Calderon, Lockport, sophomore, 157.
- Bobby Conway, Brother Rice, senior, 132.
- Christian Corcoran, Providence, freshman, 106.
- Dan Costello, Brother Rice, sophomore, 175.
- Oliver Davis, Brother Rice, junior, 138.
- Sebastian Garcia, Mount Carmel, freshman, 106.
- Nadeem Haleem, Andrew, junior, 120.
- Jasper Harper, Providence, freshman, 157.
- Jeremiah Lawrence, De La Salle, junior, 120.
- Frank Miceli, Brother Rice, sophomore, 157.
- Jacob Sebek, Oak Forest, sophomore, 113.
- Nolan Vogel, Joliet Catholic, junior, 150.
- Jovan Vukajlovic, Homewood-Flossmoor, senior, 157.
- Genesis Ward, Evergreen Park, senior, 215.
- Justin Williamson, Mount Carmel, sophomore, 132.
- Jackson Zaeske, Lincoln-Way East, senior, 175.
- Liam Zimmerman, Lockport, senior, 132.
