The Sentinel

Hunter Wahtola earns All-State Honors with bronze medal finish at 285 pounds

DePaul's Hunter Wahtola celebrates his 2-1 decision over Bloomington's David Williams. The sophomore continued his run through the blood rounds in his second state appearance to finish third at this year's state wrestling tournament.

CHAMPAIGN - Representing DePaul College Prep this weekend on Illinois wrestling's biggest stage, Hunter Wahtola battled his way through the consolation bracket for a third-place finish at the IHSA Boys Individual Wrestling State Finals on Saturday. Staying determined and tenacious, he overcame the physically demanding battles from equally motivated opponents in the heavyweight division.

Wahtola entered the State Farm Center with a solid 31-10 record, eager to surpass his freshman year performance where he wrestled at 215 pounds and faced a tough draw in the bracket. This season, with improved technical finesse and increased strength, he left no doubt about his prowess on the mat, finishing the season with 36-11.

Wahtola's season-long journey culminated in a series of victories at state that also earned him All-State honors.

His path to the podium was marked by resilience and smart wrestling. Wahtola's campaign at state saw him triumph in five out of six matches. His pivotal matches included decisive victories over formidable opponents, including an 11-6 victory over Cary-Groves' Lucas Burton (30-5) and a 6-1 decision over St. Rita's Pat Conneely (18-13). Demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure, his attention to detail and strong work ethic in the off-season paid dividends.

Hunter Wahtola wrestles David Williams — Going nose-to-nose, Hunter Wahtola didn't back down from Bloomington's David Williams in thrilling match that ended 2-1 in his favor.

In his bronze medal match against Anthony Sebastian of Elmhurst (IC Catholic), Wahtola used his head and his brawn. Utilizing the first period to assess his opponent, Wahtola scored on an escape in the second period, followed by a pivotal takedown that solidified his lead. With a scoreless third period, he clinched the victory with a 4-0 decision, securing the third-place spot on the podium.

Wahtola did not travel downstate to Champaign alone. Also competing for DePaul College Prep against the top wrestlers in the state were teammates Nabiel Rosario and Max Rosen. Rosario, competing at 132 pounds, concluded his season with a commendable 33-13 record. He dropped his preliminary round match and bounced back to win his first-round wrestleback, getting a tech fall on Waterloo's Konnor Stephens. The senior was then majored in his next match against Deerfield's Jackson Palzet (50-3).

Meanwhile Rosen, wrestling at 144 pounds, finished at 32-11 after going 2-2 at state. His first victory over Matton's Ben Capitosti (45-7) was settled via a 5-2 decision. He picked up a second win after his quarterfinal loss, pinning Civic Memorial's Nathen Herrin (34-17) at 4:36.

Aidan Kenney's strong performance at IHSA state finals earns a fourth-place finish

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Coal City's Aidan Kenney lunges in for a takedown on Roxana's Logan Riggs during their consolation semifinal on Saturday at the IHSA's state wrestling meet.

CHAMPAIGN - In a thrilling display of grit and determination, Aidan Kenney of Coal City High School capped off his junior season with a fourth-place finish at the Boys' Individual Wrestling State Finals. Held at the iconic State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus, Kenney, boasting a stellar 39-12 record, navigated through a competitive field to secure his spot on the podium.

Kenney's journey began with a dominant major decision victory over Alex Carrier of Canton, showcasing his technical skill. The Coal City standout continued his winning streak in a tense quarterfinal match against Arrison Bauer from Lena-Winslow, clinching victory via first-period sudden victory after a hard-fought battle that ended 9-6 in his favor.

Facing tough competition in the semifinals against Unity's Kaden Inman, Kenney battled fiercely but fell short, conceding a 7-2 decision. Undeterred, he rebounded in the consolation semifinals, securing a hard-earned 16-13 decision over Logan Riggs of Roxana, setting up a rematch scenario in the third-place match against Bauer.

In a rematch that underscored the intensity of state-level competition, Kenney, fatigued from his earlier matches, struggled to find openings against Bauer's resilient defense. Despite Kenney's determined efforts, Bauer's strategic takedowns in first and third period culminated led to an 8-0 major decision, securing the third-place spot and leaving Kenney with a well-earned fourth-place finish.

A just peace, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine

Sam Veremchuk on the U of I Quad on Monday

Photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Samuel Veremchuk, a graduate student at the University of Illinois, organized a rally, drawing a small yet passionate group of attendees, predominantly Ukrainian, Eastern European, and supportive Americans. The event, 'Rally for a Just Peace in Ukraine!', aimed to bolster solidarity for Ukraine amidst the Russian invasion and the evolving US foreign policy under the new Trump administration was held on the Quad behind the Illini Union Monday afternoon.

Ukrainian-American Joseph Mosse expresses his thoughts and frustrations at the rally on Monday. Mosse lived in Ukraine for ten years when he was a child. Mosse said, "Ukrainians have benefited greatly from support from the United States, from Europe and from other countries. Frankly even that support was never enough."

On Thursday, four campus departments will sponsor the screening of "Intercepted," a documentary film composed of intercepted phone calls from Russian soldiers on Ukrainian battlefields to their families and friends in Russia. The film combines these recordings with vivid imagery depicting the aftermath of Russia's destructive invasion. Sponsored by the Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center; Ukrainian Students Association; Slavic Reference Service; and Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures, the event will include a discussion featuring REEC Associate Director Markian Dobczansky and Olha Khometa, Assistant Professor in Slavic Languages & Literatures.

The screening is free to the public and will be shown in Room 66 at Main Library, located 1408 W Gregory Dr in Urbana.