Chicago-area wrestlers face brutal sectional matchups

Chicago-area high schools enter the most grueling week of the wrestling season as sectional tournaments across Illinois determine who advances to next week’s state championships in Champaign.

Several brutal semifinal matchups await local wrestlers, with multiple state champions and nationally-ranked competitors facing elimination rounds earlier than expected.

At the Hinsdale Central sectional, Marmion Academy faces a gauntlet of early tough matches. The Cadets’ James Morrison squares off against Montini Catholic’s Erik Klichurov at 113 pounds in what should be a sectional final but lands in the semifinals instead. Both wrestlers cracked national rankings this season, with Morrison holding a narrow victory over Klichurov from their earlier meeting.

“In a state that embraces schematics over seeding, all too often we get semifinals such as this one,” according to the tournament analysis. The 113-pound class ranks among the deepest weights in Class 3A.

Marmion’s challenges continue at 138 pounds where 2025 state finalist Zach Stewart meets returning state placer Griff Powell from Lyons Township. Powell already proved he can handle Marmion wrestlers with a victory over teammate Demetrios Carrera at the Flavin tournament.

Carrera gets his own difficult semifinal at 144 pounds against Montini Catholic’s Kam Luif, a returning 2A state champion moving up to 3A. The winner still must face Chicago Mount Carmel’s Justin Williamson, a multiple-time state placer, in the sectional finals.

The Conant sectional features arguably the weekend’s marquee matchup at 120 pounds between two returning state champions. St. Charles East’s Dom Munaretto, a two-time U17 World champion and two-time Ironman champion, seeks his third consecutive IHSA 3A state title before heading to Ohio State. Niles Notre Dame’s Ray Long aims to derail Munaretto’s perfect senior season while pursuing his second state championship.

At the Antioch sectional, IC Catholic’s Foley Calcagno faces St. Viator’s Jaxon Penovich at 190 pounds. Calcagno placed third at 215 pounds as a junior before dropping down this season. Penovich seeks his second IHSA state championship in what could preview next week’s state finals.

Downstate sectionals feature their own compelling storylines. The Geneseo sectional pits Washington’s nationally-ranked Wyatt Medlin against hometown wrestler Izaac Gaines at 165 pounds. Medlin, bound for the University of Illinois, enters as the heavy favorite but faces the unpredictability that defines sectional week.

The premier match outside Chicago happens at 215 pounds in Geneseo, where two returning state champions collide in the semifinals. Marian’s Jimmy Mastny brings a Super 32 championship and strong Ironman showing into his bout with Washington’s Josh Hoffer. Mastny pursues his third state title while Hoffer looks to rebound from a season with more struggles than expected.

The Byron sectional showcases depth at 165 pounds in Class 1A, where seven legitimate contenders create what may be the deepest weight in any classification. Wrestlers from Mercer County, Stillman Valley, Wheaton Academy, Marquette, Princeton, Rockridge and Carroll all enter with realistic state medal hopes, meaning at least three top competitors won’t advance to Champaign.

At lighter weights in Byron, Rockridge’s Nate Lower and Dixon’s Riley Paredes bring a combined 69-3 record into their 106-pound semifinal. Neither qualified for state last season, making this a crucial opportunity for improved seeding.

The sectional results will determine not just who advances to state but also seeding positions that can create favorable or brutal paths through next week’s championships. With multiple Chicago-area schools fielding nationally competitive wrestlers, this weekend’s outcomes will significantly shape the state tournament brackets.

Sectional action begins Friday evening across Illinois, with finals scheduled for Saturday. The state tournament runs Thursday through Saturday next week at the University of Illinois in Champaign.