April 25, 2024
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Prep Sports

JCA, Lemont seek sectional success

By CURT HERRON

Joliet Catholic Academy wrestlers and coaches pose after winning the Class 2A Rich East Regional title, which was the first regional championship in the program's history.

When a couple wrestling teams that have been ranked in the state all season advance all of their individuals from regionals to sectionals, there's a good chance those individuals can then make it to the state finals in Champaign.

That's certainly the hope for Joliet Catholic Academy and Lemont, who each sent all 14 individual wretlers to the Class 2A sectionals, which take place Saturday.

Coach Ryan Cumbee's Hilltoppers will be joined by Morris in the Rochelle Sectional, while coach John St. Clair's Lemont team will compete in the Hinsdale South Sectional in Darien. The Indians were ranked No. 2, while the Hilltoppers were No. 6 in the latest 2A state rankings.

JCA has five ranked wrestlers led by Dean Hamiti (38-0), a two-time state champion and No. 1 at 152 pounds, and Jack Finnegan (32-12) at 138, a two-time qualifier and placewinner in 2018.

Also ranked for the Hilltoppers are Gylon Sims (36-5) at 106, Shay Korhorn (35-8) at 113 and Terrance Snapp (32-11) at 160. Others who've won two-thirds or more of their matches are Mason Alessio (26-12) at 120 and Jacob Mumm (22-11) at 145.

Morris' lone ranked individual is Robby Bates (31-1), who's a returning placewinner, who's third at 195. Bryce Claypool (25-9) at 145 is another individual who has a chance to advance.

Lemont had eight individuals who were in the most-recent rankings. Leading the way are Kyle Schickel (33-2), a three-time second-place finisher, who is No. 1 at 145, and Apollo Gothard (38-0), a two-time placewinner and runner-up last year, who is No. 1 at 220.

Also ranked for the Indians are Tyler Bentley (22-8) at 106, Evan Schiffman (15-7) at 120, Drew Nash (11-0) at 126, Grant LaDuke (32-1) at 152, Kyle Zator (31-5) at 160 and Mo Jarad (34-7) at 285.

LaDuke is a three-time qualifier who placed the last two years, Nash is a two-time qualifier who won a medal in 2018, Schiffman placed last year and Zator is a two-time qualifier.

Others state hopefuls for Lemont are Sam Schuit (29-10) at 113, Ray Hernandez (28-7) at 132, AJ Heeg (28-6) at 138, Alex Tagler (12-0) at 170, Mo Khalil (25-11) at 182 and Tyler Wilms (13-4) at 195.

#JHNWrestling