April 25, 2024
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2022 Daily Chronicle All-Area Wrestling Team

By Eddie Carifio

Bradley Gillum of DeKalb Jackson Tonkovich of Batavia during the regional championship game Saturday Feb. 5th where Bradley Gillum took the win at DeKalb High School. (David Toney for Shaw Local/David Toney)

Wrestler of the Year

Tommy Curran, DeKalb, sr., 145 pounds

First team

Kaneland's Cameron Phillips upends Daven Casey of Aurora Chritian in 106lbs during the 2A third place match at the IHSA state wrestling meet on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. (Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@shawmedia.com/credit)

Cameron Phillips, Kaneland, sr., 106 – Phillips capped his four-year varsity career with a 40-7 record and a fourth-place finish at the Class 2A state tournament. He won his conference tournament and was second at regionals and sectionals.

Batavia Aidan Huck tries to get out of the hold of Rory Burright of DeKalb during the regional championship round 113 weight class Saturday Feb. 5th. (David Toney for Shaw Local/David Toney)

Rory Burright, DeKalb, sr., 113 – Burright went 19-7 this season and won the DuPage Valley Conference. He was second in his regional and qualified for state.

DeKalb’s Danny Aranda waits for the match to resume against Mount Carmel’s Jario Acuna in the Class 3A 120 pound dual team championship match at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf - gmiddendorf@shawmedia.com/Gary Middendorf)

Danny Aranda, DeKalb, so., 120 – Another DVC champ for the Barbs, Aranda was second in the regional, third at sectionals and finished fourth in the state tournament. He finished the season 32-10.

Kaneland freshman Dyani Torres

Dyani Torres, Kaneland, fr., 125 – Torres went 21-15 and made the first IHSA girls state tournament, finishing a win shy of earning a medal. She took first at the Conant tournament.

DeKalb’s Danny Curran throws Mount Carmel’s Eddie Enright to the mat in the Class 3A 132 pound dual team championship match at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Champaign.

DeKalb’s Danny Curran throws Mount Carmel’s Eddie Enright to the mat in the Class 3A 132 pound dual team championship match at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf)

Danny Curran, DeKalb, sr., 132 – The North Carolina State commit took fifth in the state after a 32-6 season. He was a DVC champ and named outstanding lower-weight wrestler at the conference tournament.

DeKalb’s Austin Martin throws Mount Carmel’s Sergio Lemley in the Class 3A 138 pound dual team championship match at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Champaign.

DeKalb’s Austin Martin throws Mount Carmel’s Sergio Lemley in the Class 3A 138 pound dual team championship match at Grossinger Motor Arena in Bloomington. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf)

Austin Martin, DeKalb, jr., 138 – Martin went 31-12 and qualified for state. He took second in the DVC and at regionals and was third in the sectional.

Sycamore's Brayden Peet has control of DeKalb's Hussein Thahab in their 152 pound match Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, at Sycamore High School. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

Brayden Peet, Sycamore, sr., 152 – Peet went 41-3 and helped the Spartans claim a regional title. He won an individual regional title, as well, and finished second in Class 2A.

Dekalb’s Damien Lopez faces off against Shepard’s Damari Reed in the Class 3A 152lb. semifinals at State Farm Center in Champaign. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Champaign.

Dekalb’s Damien Lopez faces off against Shepard’s Damari Reed in the Class 3A 152lb. semifinals at State Farm Center in Champaign. Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf - gmiddendorf@shawmedia.com/Gary Middendorf)

Damien Lopez, DeKalb, sr., 152 – Lopez took third in the state and finished 34-5. The NIU recruit won the DVC and regional titles before taking third at the sectional.

Marisa Janecek, Kaneland, sr., 155 – Janecek finished the season 10-12 but qualified for the state tournament.

Sycamore's Zack Crawford works to turn Sandwich's Sammy Dale during their 170 pound championship match Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in the Interstate 8 Conference wrestling championships at Kaneland High School in Maple Park. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

Zack Crawford, Sycamore, jr., 170 – Crawford not only won a regional title but qualified for the state tournament. He finished the season 36-6.

DeKalb Lukes Schmerbach tries to keep a hold of Elijah Chiaro of St. Charles East during the regional championship match Saturday Feb. 5th where Luke Schmerbach took the win in DeKalb. (David Toney for Shaw Local/David Toney)

Lukes Schmerbach, DeKalb, sr., 170 – Schmerbach went 36-5 and finished a win shy of a medal at state. He won the regional and the sectional, plus was the DVC champ.

Dekalb’s Bradley Gillum (right) faces off with Libertyville’s Josh Knudten in the Class 3A 182lb. championship match at State Farm Center in Champaign. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Champaign.

Dekalb’s Bradley Gillum (right) faces off with Libertyville’s Josh Knudten in the Class 3A 182lb. championship match at State Farm Center in Champaign. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf - gmiddendorf@shawmedia.com/Gary Middendorf)

Bradley Gillum, DeKalb, sr., 182 – The SIU-Edwardsville commit went 33-4, taking second in the state after winning DVC, regional and sectional championships.

Dekalb’s Bryson Buhk looks to the coaches during while working over Mt. Carmel’s Elliot Lewis in the Class 3A 195lb. 3rd place match at State Farm Center in Champaign. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Champaign.

Dekalb’s Bryson Buhk looks to the coaches during while working over Mt. Carmel’s Elliot Lewis in the Class 3A 195lb. 3rd place match at State Farm Center in Champaign. Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Champaign. (Gary Middendorf - gmiddendorf@shawmedia.com/Gary Middendorf)

Bryson Buhk, DeKalb, sr., 195 – Buhk won the DVC and regional, took second at the sectional then finished third in the state. He finished the season 31-10.

DeKalb v Father Ryan Wrestling DeKalb's Gavin Engh celebrates defeating Father Ryan’s William McGrady with a Fall at 0:52 during a 220 pound match in the Don Flavin invitational in DeKalb on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2021. (Mark Black for Shaw Local)

Gavin Engh, DeKalb, sr., 220 – Engh finished 30-11 and took sixth at state. He was a conference, regional and sectional champion.

Sycamore v Glenbard East Wrestling Sycamore's Jackson Funderburg, right, defeats Glenbard East's Billy Clayton in the 220 pound match with a Fall at 0:14 during the Don Flavin invitational in DeKalb on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2021. (Mark Black for Shaw Local)

Jackson Funderburg, Sycamore, sr., 220 – Funderburg went 32-14 and earned a trip to the state tournament, taking sixth. He was an All-Interstate 8 Conference selection.

Sycamore's Lincoln Cooley pins Rochelle's Jaden Cook during their 285 pound championship match Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in the Interstate 8 Conference wrestling championships at Kaneland High School in Maple Park. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

Lincoln Cooley, Sycamore, jr., heavyweight – After winning his regional, Cooley went on to qualify for the state tournament. He finished the season 38-7.

Honorable mention

Kaden Klapprdot, DeKalb, fr., 106; Caleb Wall, DeKalb, sr., 160; Jacob Luce, DeKalb, so., 126; Ethan Schultz, DeKalb, jr., 126; Trent Dumont, Sycamore, sr., 138; Gus Cambier, Sycamore, jr., 160; Gable Carrick, Sycamore, so., 182; Kamron Scholl, Kaneland, so., 113; Caden Grabowski, Kaneland, jr., 126

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