2026 State Wrestling |
A view from the mat


CHAMPAIGN - Over 250 high school wrestling athletes are in Champaign-Urbana for the IHSA Boys' Individual Wrestling State Finals. The Sentinel is inside the State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus, hunting for defining moments and eye-opening action to share with our readers with our first state final live feed. Check back regularly to get a glimps of the once in a lifetime moments by Illinois' elite prep wrestlers.

Whenever we get a great photo today, you will see here with our live updates.

Live Feed Closed

Added Friday, 1:05 AM
Comet wrestler Steven Uden suffers heartbreaking defeat
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Oakwood's Steven Uden gives his all while wrestling Mercer County's Boston Morford during their 113-pound Class 1A quarterfinal match. Uden lost the bout in a heartbreaking 7-4 decision for the Comet junior. Later today, he will wrestle the winner between St. Joseph-Ogden's Ben Wells and McNamara's Evan Johnson en route a possible third place finish.


Added Friday, 12:50 AM
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Bentley Fields celebrates while acknowledging Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley family members and fans after his quarterfinal victory over Dixon's Riley Paredes. Fields moves on in the championship side of the Class 1A 106-pound bracket to face undefeated Farmington freshman Isaac Showalter in Friday evening's semifinals.


Added Friday, 12:35 AM
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Barrington's Ryan Dorn stuffs the head of Montini's Mikey Malizzio down during the 132-pound Class 3A semifinal match on Thursday. Confident and in control, Dorn won the match 4-2, earning semifinal match Friday evening against Joliet Catholic's Jason Hampton.


Added Friday, 12:20 AM
St. Charles East's Matt Medina suffers a leg injury
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Charles East's Matt Medina suffers a leg injury while trying to avoid a takedown by Montini's Gavin Ericson. Ericson, a junior with a 33-11 record, defeated Medina in fast-paced 5-0 decision. The Fighting Saints' 285-pounder moved into the consolation bracket and wrestles Normal Community's Mason Caraway on Friday for his next match.


Added at 11:59 PM
Sandburg's Brady Ritter is a real head turner
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Sandburg junior Brady Ritter resists an attempt from Hampshire's Michael Brannigan to roll him on his back during a brief shift in the match's momentum. Ritter (left) went on to win the match via tech fall 20-3 at 3:40 in their Class 3A 157-pound match Thursday evening.


Added at 11:44 PM
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Wheaton Academy's Tyler Jones tries roll out of a takedown attempt by Paris' Joshua Lamour during their preliminary 165-pound Class 1A match. Jones went on to win the bout via technical fall, 17-2.


Added at 10:31 PM
Lena-Winslow's Arrison Bauer wrestles Vandalia's Eli Mabry at state
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Lena-Winslow's Arrison Bauer (45-5) lifts Vandalia's Eli Mabry (35-8) for a takedown during their first-round 144-pound match in the Class 1A division. Bauer went on to win the match, advancing to the quarterfinals with a 15-2 major decision. Mabry moved to Friday's wrestlebacks, where he will face 26-11 junior Johnny Conseugra-Lopez from Lisle.


Added at 10:09 PM
SJO's Cameron Wagner
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden’s Cam Wagner prepares for his Class 1A 285-pound match against Murphysboro’s Julien Tanner. Trailing 1-0 after the first two periods, Wagner tied the match at 1-1 with an escape before surrendering a takedown, losing 4-1. The Spartan junior moves into the wrestlebacks, where he will face Clifton Central’s Josh McCurry on Friday morning.


Added at 9:55 PM
Knoxville freshman James Long wrestles at state
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Knoxville freshman James Long lets out a scream while wrestling against Byron's Will Juilian in their Class 1A 190-pound match Thursday morning. Long would later lose the match at 4:44 by fall after suffering two more injury episodes to his shoulder. The Bullets' rising star moves to the consolation bracket where he will face Westville's Ethan Miller on Friday morning.


Added at 8:51 PM
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Heyworth's Tristan Stamp (right) looks for a shot in on Pinckneyville's Jonathan Ramaker during their Class 1A 175-pound match. Stamp went on to win the match, advancing in the winner's bracket after earning a 13-3 major decision over Ramaker.


Added at 8:37 PM
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Canton's Jacob Hardesty shoots in for a takedown on Althoff's Dawson Hawthorne. Hardesty (33-7) fell in a close 5-4 decision to Hawthorne in their Class 1A 132-pound match.


Added at 7:36 PM
Murphysboro's Sergio Garcia
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Murphysboro's Sergio Garcia is overwhelmed while trying to keep his emotions in check as he removes headgear after his Class 1A 126-pound match against Newman Cathoic's Zhyler Hansen. Now with a shot for a third place finish, Garcia (43-11) moves into the consolation bracket to face Peotone's Jonah Young (22-11) Friday morning.


Added at 7:19 PM
Clinton's Briley Carter wrestles at state
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Clinton's Briley Carter tries to escape on a restart during his 120-pound match against Chicago Hope Academy's Nolan Callahan. Carter, who was 13-4 heading into the preliminary match, fell by major decision, 10-1. The Maroon junior moved to the consolation bracket with the loss and will face Vandalia's Riley Hinton in the next round.


Added at 3:58 PM
St. Joseph-Ogden head coach Bill Gallo
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

St. Joseph-Ogden head wrestling coach Bill Gallo checks the time left on the match clock during Spartan 113-pound wrestler Ben Wells' match against Murphysboro's Drevean Bramlett (40-7). Wells lost the match by technical fall at 5:19 by a score of 19-4. Gallo and Wells will have another shot at state medal on Friday in the consolation bracket.

Added at 3:40 PM
Ian Rotramel wrestles Landon Comwell at state meet
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Robinson's Landon Comwell tries to get away from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley's Ian Rotramel during the 113-pound match. Comwell, a senior with a 35-14 record, fought hard but could not gain an advantage at any point to go on the attack, losing by major decision, 14-5. Comwell wrestles again Friday morning when he will face York Christian's Phoenix Senodenos in the consolation bracket.




TAGS: Wrestling photo gallery, area high school wrestlers at State Farm Center, local wrestlers competing at IHSA state tournament, Robinson Maroons' wrestling, SJO Wrestling, Clinton wrestler competes at state, Heyworth wrestler wins preliminary match

Throwback Thursday |
Keeping it close, Minooka finishes second at state


Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Normal, IL - Minooka's Sammi Hermann and Alli Papesh block an attack by Mother McAuley's MaryKate Boland during the IHSA State Volleyball Finals at Redbird Arena on Saturday, November 12, 2016. The Indians pushed the Mighty Macs to three sets in the Class 4A title game, losing 19-25, 25-19, 19-25.

LEFT: Minooka's Isabella Dailey celebrates with members of her team after the championship volleyball match. MIDDLE: Sammi Hermann waves to fans from the podium after receiving her state medal. RIGHT: Minooka's Alli Papesh hammers a shot for a kill between Mother McAuley's MaryKate Boland and Nancy Kane. Papesh finished the match with 20 kills and 10 digs. BELOW: Minooka team members celebrate the moment with their Class 4A second-place trophy.

All photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks


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