High school wrestling: State wrestling capsules

Thirty five local wrestlers qualified for the state finals tournament beginning Thursday in Champaign.

Here's a look at their accomplishments this season, their state experience and first round opponents.

Class 1A

Josh Fiegel

Harvard, so.

Weight: 106

Record: 41-2

Rank: 4

Tournaments: Harvard 2nd, Midstates (Wis.) 3rd, Geneva 1st, Rockford Lutheran Regional 1st, Oregon Sectional 1st

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Fiegel vs. freshman Shawn Sparacino (21-5) from Chicago Military Academy-Bronze. Sparacino (21-5) is not ranked and took fourth at the Wilmington Sectional.

Reiss Bielski

Harvard, jr.

Weight: 126

Record: 29-15

Rank: Not ranked

Tournaments: Harvard 5th, Midstates (Wis.) 5th, Geneva 6th, Rockford Lutheran Regional 3rd, Oregon Sectional 4th.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Bielski vs. Roxana’s Dalton Brito (37-5), ranked No. 8, who won the Vandalia Sectional.

Zach Martin

Harvard, jr.

Weight: 195

Record: 21-3

Rank: 8

Tournaments: Harvard 6th, Rockford Lutheran Regional 1st.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Martin vs. Dehen Mulrooney (26-17) from Murphysboro who took third at the Vandalia Sectional.

Class 2A

Jake Szlenk

Hampshire, so.

Weight: 106

Record: 33-6

Rank: 8

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton (120) 1st, Sycamore 4th, FVC 4th, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Szlenk vs. Ethan Harsted (34-4) from Ottawa who placed third at the Sterling Sectional.

Kyle Szlenk

Hampshire, jr.

Weight: 113

Record: 31-17

Rank: 5

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton (120) 5th, Sycamore 4th, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 4th.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Szlenk vs. Rich Central’s Jabari Moody (35-0), the No. 1 seed and returning state champion (106).

Travis Piotrowski

Prairie Ridge, jr.

Weight: 120

Record: 30-0

Rank: 2

Tournaments: Barrington 1st, Prospect 1st, Glenbrook South 1st, FVC 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 1st.

State experience: Qualified 2014, 3rd 2013

First match at state finals: Piotrowski vs. Joey Schloegel from Lincoln-Way West. Schloegel (33-13), placed fourth at the Sterling Sectional and is ranked No. 4.

Lenny Petersen

Crystal Lake Central, so.

Weight: 126

Record: 34-8

Rank: 6

Tournaments: Conant 2nd, Dvorak 2nd, FVC 2nd, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: 6th 2014

First match at state finals: Petersen vs. Sterling’s Isaac Anderson (27-6), ranked No. 9, who finished third at the Sterling Sectional.

Anthony Randazzo

Marian Central, fr.

Weight: 126

Record: 32-7

Rank: 10

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 1st, Lake Park 2nd, Geneva 4th, ESCC 2nd, Hampshire Regional 2nd, Antioch Sectional 3rd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Randazzo vs. Bloomington’s Savion Haywood (33-6), ranked No. 3, who placed second at the Sterling Sectional.

Gavin Sutton

Richmond-Burton, so.

Weight: 126

Record: 17-5

Rank: 11

State experience: 3rd 2014

Tournaments: Harvard 2nd, Palatine 3rd, Hampshire Regional 3rd, Antioch Sectional 4th.

First match at state finals: Sutton vs. Ethan Reel (31-8) from Washington, ranked No. 4. Reel won the Sterling Sectional and placed second (113) last year at state.

Grant Sutton

Richmond-Burton, sr.

Weight: 132

Record: 39-1

Rank: 2

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 1st, Harvard 1st, Palatine 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: 2nd 2014, 5th 2013, 5th 2012

First match at state finals: Sutton vs. Sycamore’s Logan Mathey (27-11) who placed third at the Sterling Sectional.

Branden Peshek

Johnsburg, sr.

Weight: 138

Record: 34-3

Rank: 9

Tournaments: Barrington 3rd, Richmond-Burton 1st, Kaneland 1st, Hampshire Regional 2nd, Antioch Sectional 1st.

State experience: Qualified 2014, 2013

First match at state finals: Peshek vs. Lincoln-Way West’s Kyle Ruettiger (30-5) who placed fourth at the Sterling Sectional.

Michael Petersen

Crystal Lake Central, jr.

Weight: 138

Record: 33-9

Rank: 5

Tournaments: Conant 4th, Dvorak 4th, FVC 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: 3rd 2014

First match at state finals: Petersen vs. Washington’s Ryder Punke (29-12), ranked No. 8, who finished third at the Sterling Sectional.

Logan Lundelius

Crystal Lake Central, sr.

Weight: 145

Record: 37-6

Rank: 4

Tournaments: Conant 1st, Dvorak 7th, FVC 2nd, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 3rd.

State experience: 6th 2014

First match at state finals: Lundelius vs. Rantoul’s Demarius Smith-Terhune (34-3), ranked No. 6, who placed second at the Mattoon Sectional.

Joe Mier

Marengo, so.

Weight: 145

Record: 34-7

Rank: Not ranked

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 3rd, Sycamore 5th, Belvidere Regional 2nd, Sterling Sectional 3rd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Mier vs. Riverside-Brookfield’s Jonathan Szdlo (32-3) who placed second at the De La Salle Sectional.

Nick Remke

Marian Central, sr.

Weight: 152

Record: 21-4

Rank: 4

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 1st, Geneva 2nd, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 3rd.

State experience: 3rd 2014, 5th 2013

First match at state finals: Remke vs. Rich South’s Jaelen Pate (30-7) who placed second at the De La Salle’s Sectional.

Tom Welch

Marian Central, jr.

Weight: 160

Record: 25-8

Rank: 9

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton (170) 2nd, Geneva 2nd, ESCC 3rd, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 3rd.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Welch vs. Geneseo’s Josiah Cropp (36-4), ranked No. 2, who placed second at the Sterling Sectional.

Riley Buchanan

Johnsburg, so.

Weight: 160

Record: 31-13

Rank: Not ranked

State experience: First time

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 1st, Kaneland 3rd, Hampshire Regional 3rd, Antioch Sectional 4th.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Buchanan vs. Washington’s Randy Meneweather (39-4) who won state last year at 152.

Anton Krocko

Hampshire, sr.

Weight: 170

Record: 37-3

Rank: 5

Tournaments: Richmond-Burton 1st, Sycamore 4th, FVC 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: Qualified 2014, 2013

First match at state finals: Krocko vs. Jacksonville’s Dillon Miller (39-7), ranked No. 9, who placed third at the Mattoon Sectional.

Andrew Marsden

Crystal Lake Central, sr.

Weight: 195

Record: 41-0

Rank: 1

Tournaments: Conant 1st, Dvorak 1st, FVC 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 1st.

State experience: 1st 2014, 3rd 2013

First match at state finals: Marsden, the returning state champion at 195, vs. Troy Triad’s John McKinney (36-5), ranked No. 6, who was the alternate at the Mattoon Sectional.

Cody Barnes

Woodstock North, sr.

Weight: 195

Record: 35-7

Rank: HM

Tournaments: Harvard 1st, Sycamore 4th, FVC 3rd, Hampshire Regional 2nd. Antioch Sectional 2nd.

State experience: Qualified 2014, 2013

First match at state finals: Barnes vs. Jacksonville’s Zach Stout who finished fourth at the Mattoon Sectional.

Romeo McKnight

Crystal Lake Central, jr.

Weight: 220

Record: 33-1

Rank: 3

State experience: 6th 2014

Tournaments: FVC 1st, Hampshire Regional 1st, Antioch Sectional 1st.

First match at state finals: McKnight vs. Chicago Lindblom’s Dayton Wooten (19-7) who placed fourth at the De La Salle Sectional.

Class 3A

Ian Mullen

McHenry, sr.

Weight: 106

Record: 37-3

Rank: 11

Tournaments: Prospect 2nd, Sycamore 2nd, Batavia 1st, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Mullen vs. Moline’s Trenton Jackson (42-6), ranked No. 10, who placed fourth at the Normal Sectional.

Zach Spencer

Huntley, fr.

Weight: 106

Record: 36-9

Rank: 12

Tournaments: Harvard 3rd, Granite City 5th, Sycamore 3rd, FVC 2nd, Rockford East Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 2nd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Spencer vs. Plainfield North’s Marcus Povlick (36-4), ranked No. 4, who placed third at the Normal Sectional.

Josh Stenger

Huntley, so.

Weight: 113

Record: 38- 7

Rank: 8

Tournaments: Harvard 1st, Granite City 6th, Sycamore 3rd, FVC 2nd, Rockford East Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Stenger vs. West Chicago’s Emmanuel Garcia (17-10) who placed fourth at the Glenbard North Sectional.

Britches Sikula

McHenry, sr.

Weight: 113

Record: 33-2

Rank: 6

Tournaments: Prospect 1st, Sycamore 1st, Batavia 2nd, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 2nd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Sikula vs. Glenbard North’s Austin Gomez (42-1), ranked No. 2, who placed third at the Glenbard North Sectional. Gomez placed third at state last year at 113.

Michael Cullen

Cary-Grove, sr.

Weight: 120

Record: 36-1

Rank: 4

Tournaments: Dvorak 2nd, Sycamore (126) 1st, FVC (126) 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: 5th 2014, 6th 2013, 4th 2012

First match at state finals: Cullen vs. Alton’s Connor Broyles (37-8) who placed fourth at the Normal Sectional.

Robby Duh

McHenry, sr.

Weight: 126

Record: 34-8

Rank: 10

Tournaments: Prospect 1st, Sycamore 6th, Batavia 2nd, FVC 3rd, Grant Regional 2nd, Barrington Sectional 2nd.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Duh vs. Conant’s Kyle Peisker (36-3), ranked No. 4, who placed third at the Glenbard North Sectional.

Garrett Dziedzic

Crystal Lake South, sr.

Weight: 132

Record: 28-10

Rank: 7

Tournaments: Barrington 2nd, Dvorak 4th, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 2nd.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Dziedzic vs. Bloom’s Datrelle Kozeluh (30-5) who placed third at the Normal Sectional.

Ricky Vigil

Huntley, sr.

Weight: 132:

Record: 31-4

Rank: 12

Tournaments: Harvard 2nd, Granite City 1st, Sycamore 4th, FVC 2nd, Rockford East Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 3rd.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Vigil vs. Oswego’s Jack Pradel (29-9) who placed second at the Normal Sectional.

John Cullen

Cary-Grove, jr.

Weight: 138

Record: 29-10

Rank: 9

Tournaments: Dvorak 9th, Sycamore 5th, FVC 2nd, Grant Regional 2nd, Barrington Sectional 4th.

State experience: Qualified 2014

First match at state finals: Cullen vs. Lockport’s Shayne Oster (35-3), ranked No. 2, who won the Normal Sectional.

Eric Barone

Crystal Lake South, sr.

Weight: 145

Record: 39-1

Rank: 3

Tournaments: Barrington 1st, Dvorak 1st, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: 5th 2014

First match at state finals: Barone vs. Yorkville’s Brody Sharp (35-11), ranked No. 12, who placed fourth at the Normal Sectional.

Brandon Meyer

Huntley, sr.

Weight: 152

Record: 40-7

Rank: HM

Tournaments: Harvard (145) 1st, Granite City 5th, Sycamore 2nd, FVC 1st, Rockford East Regional 2nd, Barrington Sectional 4th.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Meyer vs. Alton’s Nicholas DeLoach (47-0), ranked No. 7, who won the Normal Sectional.

Cam Pait

McHenry, sr.

Weight: 182

Record: 18-1

Rank: HM

State experience: First time

Tournaments: Batavia (170) 1st, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 3rd.

First match at state finals: Pait vs. Lincoln-Way Central’s Jake Dudeck (31-8), ranked No. 10, who placed second at the Normal Sectional.

Christian Brunner

Dundee-Crown, jr.

Weight: 195

Record: 40-1

Rank: 2

Tournaments: Antioch 1st, Harvard 1st, Geneva 1st, FVC 2nd, Grant Regional 2nd, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: 2nd 2014

First match at state finals: Brunner vs. Sandburg’s Cole Bateman (25-17) who placed fourth at the Downers Grove North Sectional.

Michael Gomez

Cary-Grove, sr.

Weight: 285

Record: 31-3

Rank: 7

Tournaments: Dvorak 4th, Sycamore 1st, FVC 1st, Grant Regional 1st, Barrington Sectional 1st.

State experience: First time

First match at state finals: Gomez vs. Waubonsie Valley’s Tyler Caldwell (21-9) who placed fourth at the Downers Grove North Sectional.

Note: All rankings from illinoismatmen.com.

--Rob Smith

[ rsmith@shawmedia.com ]