By Ed Muniz- Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill and Morgan Gonzales
**additional photos are available at https://justallsports.zenfolio.com/f84988120 **
Hinsdale,IL-The IHSA began its second round of the State Finals Series on February 10 and 11 with wrestlers vying for one of four spots in 14-weight classes in 1A, 2A and 3A divisions. Each division held four Sectionals throughout the state.
168 wrestlers would vie for 56 spots in 14 different weight-classes in each sectional with a shot at an individual State Championship beginning February 16 through February 18..
Among the teams qualifying wrestlers to this Sectional, Marmion Academy and Chicago-Marist each saw their entire team advance to Hinsdale Central. Chicago-Mt. Carmel saw 13 of its wrestlers advance while Downers Grove South and Naperville Central each qualified 10.
In the end, Marmion continued its winning ways and will see 13 of its wrestlers, which included four Champions, will showcase their skills in Champaign.
Marist will send 11 wrestlers to Champaign including a pair of Champions while Mt. Carmel will send 10 wrestlers while equaling the number of Champions as Marmion.
The Top four place winners at each of the 14 weight-classes will advance to the State Finals in Champaign on February 16-18.
106– Marmion’s Nicholas Garcia (28-5) fought of a gallant effort from Sandburg’s Rocco Hayes (39-7) to claim the Sectional title by decision of 3-1.
Mt Carmel’s Lukas Tsirtsis (22-16) finished third with his 3-0 decision win over George Marinopoulos (32-16) of Marist
113– Mt Carmel’s Seth Mendoza (37-2) captured the Sectional Championship after an injury by Marmion’s Donny Pigoni (27-17) prevented him of continuing. Mendoza looks to capture his second State Title in as many years after his Championships season at 103 in 2022.
Third place went to Ino Garcia (25-9) of Batavia by fall at 1:33 over Tommy Fidler (29-20) of Marist.
120-Marmion’s Zach Stewart (32-6) controlled much of the match and was never threatened by Mt. Carmel’s Damian Resendez,(23-12) after a first period takedown, Stewart allowed just two escapes and cruised to a 7-2 decision for the Sectional title.
Michael Esteban (29-14) from Marist would finish the third-place match by a dominating Tech Fall (24-8) over Morton’s Anthony Lopez (33-5).
126– Jameson Garcia (40-5) added another Sectional Title to the Marmion fold with his stellar performance against Aidan Huck (37-11) of Batavia. Jameson’s relentless attack resulted in a Tech Fall (21-6).
Third place was secured by Bolingbrook’s Aaron Camach with an overtime 6-4 decision over Jairo Acuna of Mt. Carmel.
132– Sergio Lemley (35-1) of Mt. Carmel continued his winning ways in his quest for a fourth state tile. His dismantling of Marist’s Donovan Allen (32-12) by Tech Fall (23-7) now leaves just one step left as he heads to Champaign.
Ryan Hinger (39-10) of Sandburg shutout Marmion’s Brody Kelly (24-16) in the third-place bout by a 6-0 decision.
138-Hinsdale Central captured a Sectional Title with its Champion’ Cody Tavaso (46-4) and his 5-0 shutout of Liam Kelly (24-14) of Mt. Carmel.
Third place went to Glenbard West’s Jacob Lachs (41-14) over Tyler Alters (12-9) of Marmion by 7-3 decision.
145– Marist’s Will Denny (27-8) would take the title at 145 after pinning Dom Serio (34-5) of West Aurora after Serio surged to an early lead. Denny then turned Serio to his back midway thru the second period and concluding with a fall for the Sectional Title.
The third spot went to Cael Andrews (46-9) of Batavia by an 8-2 decision over Marmion’s Santino Scolaro (34-11).
152– Mt. Carmel added another title with the 6-0 decision win by Edmund Enright (19-4) over Marmion’s Colin Carrigan (23-8). Enright’s early takedown set the tone and he carried that lead though the final second for the Sectional title.
Kaden Fetterolf (48-3) of Batavia held on to capture third place with his 8-2 decision over Downers Grove North’s Harrison Konder (41-6).
160– The Sectional championship at this weight went to Luke Swan (39-10) of Downers Grove South. The Mustang wrestler was taken into overtime until the first tiebreaker, where he defeated a difficult opponent in Gunnar Garelli (41-11) of Lyons, 2-1.
Taking the third spot was Ricky Erickson (30-9) of Marist. He shutout Tegan Chumbley (19-17) of Marmion, 5-0.
170– Colin Kelly (26-2) added to the Mt. Carmel tally of Sectional Champions after a bevy of takedowns against Jacob Liberatore (19-7) of Marist resulted in a 22-9 final score. Kelly will head to Champaign looking to add another State Title after last winning one in 2022.
Al Obaidi (38-7) of Wheaton-Warrenville South took the third spot after a solid 10-3 decision win over West Aurora’s Francisco Solis (38-15).
182– Marmion’s Jack Lesher (34-6) secured another championship for the Cadets with his 8-2 decision win over Mt. Carmel’s Rylan Breen (23-11). Lesher Coasted through the sectional and heads to Champaign looking to win a State Championship as a Junior.
Third was captured by Downers Grove South’s Matty Lapacek (35-11) over Conor Phelan (34-16) of Marist, by fall at 57 seconds.
195– Marist’s Peter Marinopoulos remained unbeaten at 19-0 after finding little difficulties in three bouts, including the Sectional final with a dominating 15-5 Major Decision over William Jacobson (25-17) of Mt. Carmel.
Oswego’s Cruz Ibarra (38-8) controlled the third-place bout, winning 8-0 over Jacob Smetters (30-20) of Naperville Central.
220– Marko Ivanisevic (44-3) of Hinsdale Central out-maneuvered Marist’s Luke Liberatore (34-12) during his 4-1 Sectional Title victory. After a scoreless first period, Ivanisevic three-point second period was enough to win the bout.
Marmion’s Ed Perry (39-8) doubled up on Sandburg’s Mike Rydell (32-19), 8-4, to win the third-place match.
285– Downers Grove North’s Ben Bielawski (45-1) took hoke the Sectional Title with a 5-0 controlling win over Marmion’s Sean Scheck (34-9). An early takedown and stellar defense gave the Trojan heavyweight the win.
It took West Aurora’s Tyler Johnston (27-7) just 35-seconds to end the Third-place match against East Aurora Arnold Walker (27-11). A Fall by Johnston gave the Rivals match-up a cross town advantage for the year.
