LEROY — The Oregon High School varsity wrestling team finished first out of 22 schools during the 2025 Randy Bowman Invitational at LeRoy High School on Saturday, Jan. 25. Oregon landed one champion and two runner-up finishers to end the tournament with 205 points.
Josiah Perez (29-4) won the title at 113 pounds, finishing with a 3-0 record. Perez opened with a fall over Herrin’s Brennan Jeralds before scoring a 13-3 major decision against Oakwood Salt Fork’s Brayden Edwards. Perez finished with a 5-4 decision over El Paso-Gridley’s Tom Erwin.
Preston LaBay (21-4) finished second at 126 with a 3-1 record. LaBay earned an 18-5 major decision over Illini Bluffs wrestler Ogdan Parker in the first round before scoring an 11-5 decision against Shelbyville’s Johnathan Kirkbride in the second round. LaBay advanced to the finals after notching a second-period fall against Princeton’s Jaydon Cooke during the semifinal round.
Nelson Benesh (30-6) finished second at 132 with a 3-1 record. Benesh earned back-to-back falls over Peoria Heights wrestler Robert Evens and Knoxville’s Colton Smith before clinching his place in the championship bout with a 6-1 decision against Shelbyville’s Bodee Fathauer.
Oregon totaled three third-place finishers including Jackson Messenger (24-12) at 138. Messenger went 3-1 with a first-round fall over Princeton’s Corbin Brown and a 10-6 decision over Eureka’s Finn Hoffman in the quarterfinals. Messenger clinched third place with a fall against Lawrenceville’s Cale Seitzinger after a loss against Knoxville’s Gage Fox.
Andrew Young (20-5) placed third at 175 with a 3-1 record. Young earned three wins by pin, recording falls over Warrensburg-Latham’s Jarod Krigbaum in the opening round as well as Princeton’s Michael Kurth in the quarterfinals and Pittsfield’s Fisher McEuen for third place.
Landen Elder (20-17) placed third at 215 with a 3-1 record, securing a fall over Rantoul’s Drew Owen and a 6-3 decision over Princeton’s Ian Morris to reach the semifinals. After a loss, Elder bounced back with a fall over Herrin’s Logan Dirden to finish third in his weight class.
Oregon’s fourth-place finishers included Landon Ege (2-2 at 126) and Ethan Mowry (23-11 at 157). The Hawks landed fifth-place finishers including Isaiah Perez (27-7 at 120), Jayden Berry (25-14 at 150) and Briggs Sellers (24-13 at 285). Jordan Lowe (21-14 at 106) took sixth.