Here are all 27 of the Rockford area's ranked wrestlers, led by two No. 1s and two No. 2s
The IHSA wrestling season is already nearing the backstretch, with the area's lone conference meet set for about a week away.
The NIC-10 wrestling meet will be Jan. 27 at Hononegah, and the Big Northern Conference and NUIC wrestling seasons will come to a close around the same time, with no conference meets on the schedule.
Regionals will be held around the state on Feb. 2, and sectionals will be on Feb. 9-10. The boys state wrestling tourney will be held in Champaign from Feb. 15-17. The third-ever girls IHSA state tourney will be in Bloomington on Feb. 23-24.
Here are all of the Rockford-area ranked wrestlers, according to the latest Rob Sherrill Illinois Matmen rankings, as the postseason approaches:
Wrestling: Led by Rocco Cassioppi and 2 other freshmen, Hononegah uses Dvorak to show wrestling talent
CLASS 1A
No. 5 at 144 — Jason Bowers, Dakota
This senior is ranked No. 5 at 144 pounds and he could move up before the postseason arrives. Bowers, who placed sixth at 138 at state last year, is a state title contender, but three of the top five wrestlers at this weight will be in the Byron Sectional.
No. 3 at 157 — Anthony Bauer, Oregon
Bauer moved up to No. 3 at 157 pounds in the latest poll with a strong holiday stretch, and this Oregon senior has only lost to wrestlers in weight classes above his own this season.
No. 4 at 157 — Jared Dvorak, Lena-Winslow/Stockton
Dvorak lost to Bauer earlier this year, but the two could very easily meet up multiple times this postseason, including in the Byron Sectional and at the 1A state tourney.
No. 10 at 157 — Carsen Behn, Byron
Behn is a senior who did not qualify for state last year but is looking to finish strong this year. He is only the fifth-highest-ranked wrestler in the Byron Sectional at 157, but he will be wrestling in front of his home crowd and will be motivated after soaking up the feeling of helping his football team win a state championship.
No. 8 at 165 — Brady Haas, Lena-Winslow/Stockton
This is another senior who has gotten hot at the right time, and he will be only the second-highest-ranked wrestler at the Byron Sectional, if he gets there. Haas did not advance as far as state last year.
No. 2 at 175 — Eli Larson, Lena-Winslow/Stockton
This sophomore has already won two tournament titles this season, and he will be looking for a couple more this postseason.
No. 10 at 190 — Kyle Jones, Byron
Jones, a senior, has had a solid season at 190 after taking third at state at 182 pounds last year.
No. 1 at 215 — Noah Wenzel, Dakota
Wenzel is a two-time state champ, going for three, and he's on track after winning the Dvorak wrestling tourney title and the Princeton invite championship at 215. He is the lone No. 1-ranked local kid we have at 1A.
No. 3 at 215 — Mike Haas, Lena-Winslow/Stockton
Haas and Wenzel have not faced off this season, but that time will come soon enough. That, or those, will be key matchups in the 215-pound championship picture.
No. 7 at 285 — Jared Claunch, Byron
Claunch was another key cog to Byron's state-title run in football, and he's gunning for a wrestling crown as well. Claunch is a junior and was a state qualifier at 220 last year.
No. 10 at 285 — Randy McPeek, Dakota
McPeek, just a sophomore, is still inexperienced in high school postseason arenas, but he will be one to watch coming up. He took fourth at the Dvorak, which, many say is tougher than the state tourney.
CLASS 2A
No. 4 at 126 — Xavier Villalobos, Rochelle
Villalobos, now a junior, took second at state as a freshman two years ago but did not place last year. He'll be looking to get back to the podium, and he will be the second-highest-ranked wrestler at 126 at the Sycamore Sectional.
No. 8 at 132 — Donald Cannon, East
Cannon has two tournament titles under his belt this season, and he got hot around the holidays and has stayed that way. He'll be a force in the postseason at 2A.
No. 9 at 144 — Brenden Voight, Rochelle
Voight has followed the leadership of Rochelle's upper-classmen and is now ranked at 144, and moving up.
No. 7 at 165 — Grant Gensler, Rochelle
Another Hub on the move up, Gensler is a junior who has wrestled solid all year long.
No. 8 at 165 — Malachi Cannon, East
Cannon, a sophomore, will most likely have to wrestle Gensler this postseason, but they could both be in the mix for state bids as things wind down.
No. 3 at 215 — Kaiden Morris, Rochelle
Morris gives Rochelle four ranked wrestlers, and two others (Tommy Tourdot at 120 and Brock Metzger at 190) just on the edge. The Hubs are a team to watch, with a bunch of stars to watch, this postseason.
No. 3 at 285 — Lee Smith, East
Smith is a two-time state qualifier who has yet to place, and this is his last shot. He will have to face the No. 1-ranked heavyweight in 2A, Andy Burburija of Crystal Lake South, in at least the Sycamore Sectional.
CLASS 3A
No. 1 at 106 — Rocco Cassioppi, Hononegah
This Cassioppi twin has been unbeatable at 106 all season when it comes to his Illinois competition. And even as a freshman, he will be the one to beat in the state series.
No. 4 at 113 — Bruno Cassioppi, Hononegah
Wrestling at a higher weight class, Bruno has had his ups and downs, but he will be looking to finish strong.
No. 2 at 132 — T.J. Silva, Hononegah
Coming over from Dakota, this defending state champ at 1A will be looking to transition at 3A. As a junior, Silva already has a state title and a state runner-up finish.
No. 3 at 157 — Brody Sendele, Hononegah
This is the third Hononegah freshman that everyone in the state needs to watch out for (that is, if you are in their weight class). Sendele appears to be on a mission, and the only tournament he hasn't won that he's entered is the prestigious Dvorak, where he took third.
No. 6 at 165 — Connor Diemel, Hononegah
Diemel has only suffered three close defeats to Illinois competitors this season, and he looks to keep his hot streak alive.
No. 7 at 175 — Kurt Smith, Hononegah
This junior has jumped into the state-title mix with a strong season, and he caps off Hononegah's list of ranked wrestlers at six, not counting Angelina Cassioppi on the girls side.
GIRLS WRESTLING
No. 17 in the nation at 125 — Angelina Cassioppi, Hononegah
According to flowrestling.com, Cassioppi, now a junior, is ranked 17th in the country at 125 as she aims for her third-straight IHSA girls state title.
No. 4 in the nation at 135 — Cadence Diduch, Freeport
Not to be outdone, Diduch, a senior, has climbed up to No. 4 in the rankings, and she is already committed to wrestle at the University of Iowa (with Angelina's sister Rose) next year.
No. 6 in the nation at 140 — Netavia Wickson, Boylan
This senior is looking for her second IHSA state title, this time at 140. Valerie Hamilton of El Paso-Gridley (Illinois) is ranked fourth in the nation at 140, however.
Jay Taft has been a Rockford Register Star sports reporter since the turn of the century. Email him at jtaft@rrstar.com and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford high school newsletter at rrstar.com. Jay has covered a wide variety of sports, from the Chicago Bears to youth sports, for over 30 years all together.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford area wrestlers ranked heading into Illinois state tournament
