CHAMPAIGN — Eight Ogle County wrestlers are still in the hunt for medals in the IHSA State Championship meet at the State Farm Center after Friday’s action. Rochelle, Oregon, Byron and Stillman Valley sent a combined 10 qualifying athletes to the state meet this weekend.
Oregon’s Josiah Perez (41-8) won in the second round of wrestlebacks, earning a 7-4 sudden victory against De La Salle’s Justin Forbes at 113 pounds. Byron’s Brody Stien (44-6) also won in the second round of wrestlebacks, scoring an 8-3 decision over Sterling Newman’s Daniel Kelly at 165 pounds. Byron’s Jared Claunch (40-9) notched a 7-2 decision over Peoria Notre Dame’s Brady Mullens in the first round of wrestlebacks at 285 pounds. Claunch also received a forfeit from Chicago Leo’s Nicholas Armour to move through the second round of wrestlebacks.
Stillman Valley’s Henry Hildreth (40-6) recorded a win by 11-7 decision against Clifton Central’s Gianni Panozzo at 150 pounds during the second round of wrestlebacks on Friday afternoon. Oregon’s Isaiah Perez (37-11) and Nelson Benesh (40-10) each fell in the opening round of the wrestlebacks after falling in the first round of championship-bracket action on Thursday.
Rochelle’s Xavier Villalobos (42-5) earned his way into the state finals for the second time in his career. Villalobos won his semifinal bout at 126 pounds on Friday evening, outlasting Antioch’s Gavin Hanrahan in a 2-1 tiebreaker. Villalobos won two matches on Thursday evening, scoring a 14-0 major decision against Providence Catholic’s Lucas Forsythe in the opening round. The senior followed with a 5-2 decision over Niles Notre Dame’s John Sheehy in the quarterfinals.
Rochelle’s Grant Gensler (47-6) won his lone bout on Friday to remain in medalist contention at 165 pounds. Gensler split his first two bouts of the tournament on Thursday, notching a 6-4 decision against Civic Memorial’s James Wojciekiweicz in the first round before falling against Montini’s Santino Tenuta in the quarterfinals. Gensler returned to the mat and moved further into the consolations bracket with a 7-0 decision against Galesburg’s Anthony Makwala on Friday.
Rochelle’s Kaiden Morris (47-4) also won his only bout on Friday to remain a medalist contender at 215 pounds. Morris opened the tournament on Thursday with a victory, scoring a 5-3 decision over Chicago Brother Rice’s Colin Goggin before falling by 14-4 major decision against Waterloo’s Jaxson Mathenia in the quarterfinals. Morris took the mat on Friday and moved further into the consolation bracket with a first-period fall over Mattoon’s Mitchell Clapp.
Rochelle’s Roman Villalobos (39-11) won back-to-back consolation matches on Friday to remain in the medal hunt at 190 pounds. Villalobos lost against Crystal Lake Central’s Cayden Parks in the opening round on Thursday, but returned on Friday with a 7-6 decision to take out Mahomet-Seymour’s Brock VanDeveer in the first round of wrestlebacks. Villalobos then outlasted Highland’s Ashton Zobrist for a 10-8 decision in the second round of wrestlebacks.
