Stateline Wrestling Sectionals Are Wrapping Up

By Al Zipsie

Stateline wrestlers qualified for State this past weekend with the Sectionals. Here is a rundown of those who advance to the State Farm Center at the University of Illinois this Thursday through Saturday. The top four in each weight class qualify for State.

1A. Oregon.

Lena-Winslow/Stockton Coop is already locked into going for a 1A team dual state title.

But first, they can focus on the Individual State tournament. The Panther/Hawks had four qualify. They had two champions in Rahveon Valentine at 170 and Ian Kuehl at 285. Valentine (41-2) had a 16-0 tech fall for the title. Kuehl (46-1) had to earn his. He got by tough foes from Orion in Logan Lee in the semifinal 6-4 in overtime. He then edged Taylor Fleetwood of Fulton 3-1 in the final.

And two runner-up's in Jaden Rice at 106 and Hunter Luke at 138. Le-win/Stockton had nine advance to Sectionals with the four making State. But, their season is not over yet as they will be a part of the run at a second straight team dual title.

An obstacle at the team duals will be Aurora Central Christian who had six champions at the Oregon Sectional and advanced ten wrestlers to state. They won the first four weight classes 106, 113, 120 and 126.

It was wrestlers from Aurora Christian who Rice (6-4) and Luke (7-6) got edged by in the finals.

Byron also advanced four wrestlers in champion Jonah Pearson at 182. And fourth places from Evan Walters at 132, Ricky Messling 170 and Colton Ingram at 195.

Dakota had three get a State berth in champion Maverick McPeek at 220 with a finals fall in 5:11. Lucas Sutherland who took third at 113 with a 14-5 major decision and Connor Elmer fourth at 106.

Stillman Valley also had a trio qualify for State in champions Jared Van Fleet (132) and Drake Jennings (195) who are both now 37-1. Van Fleet who fought off Stone Engle of Mercer County in a 5-4 thriller for the title. Van Fleet (37-1) may see a rematch with Engle in search of the state title. Drake Jennings won a hard fought 4-3 match in the final. Sam Durfey advanced with a fourth place at 160.

Winnebago advanced the duo of Carlos Sanchez at 126 and Tristan Faworski at 160 who both finished third.

Two stateline grapplers faced off for third at 120 as Josh Shrank of Rockford Lutheran got by West Carroll's Ethan Doty 7-4. And Jacob Milliman of host Oregon lost an 11-10 heartbreaker for the title at 113.

2A.Sycamore.

Freeport advanced the duo of Major Dedmond at 170 and Matthew Chavers at 182 to State. Dedmond won 5-1 for the title to go 41-2 on the season. Chavers finished second losing to an undefeated wrestler in the finals.

3A. Barrington.

Hononegah's Anthony Cassioppi continued to roll on now 43-0 will be going to State looking for his third straight 3A state title at 285. He has 99 straight wins and likely will go over the 100 straight win mark. Cassioppi dominated the Sectionals not being pushed past the first round.

Hononegah had nine wrestlers qualify for Sectionals but only two advances to State in the Cassioppi brothers of Anthony and Giovanni who was third at 132.

Giovanni lost a tough 2-1 semifinal and bounced back with a pin to take third place.

Dontrell Johnshon of Rockford East will also advance with a third place finish at 132.