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Going for gold: 12 Peoria-area wrestlers with the best chance to win a 2024 IHSA state title

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·4 min read

Medal season is upon us.

The Illinois High School Association boys individual wrestling state finals begin Thursday, running through Saturday at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The girls state finals are the following weekend in Bloomington's Grossinger Motors Arena on Feb. 23-24.

Here are a dozen Peoria-area wrestlers with the best shot to win a state championship. The athletes are listed alphabetically with their season record in parentheses and rankings by FloWrestling.com through Feb. 6.

Who's going to IHSA wrestling state? Boys state qualifiers | Girls state qualifiers

Ian Akers, Peoria Notre Dame

The junior (38-5) won a Class 1A sectional title at Olympia. The third-ranked 113-pounder, who finished fourth last season at 106, posted a 4-3 decision in the sectional championship match against No. 4 Hunter Robbins of Illini Bluffs. Akers faces LaGrange Park Nazareth sophomore Charlie Dvorak (21-18) in the first round at state.

Jackson Carroll, Illini Bluffs

The junior (47-2) cruised to a Class 1A Olympia Sectional crown. The No. 4 144-pounder, who is vying for his first state medal, got two falls and a major decision for the sectional title. Carroll takes on Frankfort freshman Lucas Park (35-17) in the opening round at state.

Washington's Peyton Cox, top, grapples with Mascoutah's Santino Robinson in the 132-pound match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
Washington's Peyton Cox, top, grapples with Mascoutah's Santino Robinson in the 132-pound match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.

Peyton Cox, Washington

The senior (23-1) won a Class 2A Sycamore Sectional title. He is the top-ranked 144-pounder with a pair of second-place state finishes (120, 132). He got a fall, decision and a major decision to win the sectional crown. Cox takes on Carmel sophomore Antonio Hinojosa (33-10) in the first round at state.

Jaida Johnson, Richwoods

The senior (22-3) won in her home gym, taking home a Richwoods Sectional championship. She went 3-0 in her 155-pound sectional bracket, getting a decision and two falls. Johnson, who took state runner-up at 155 last season, takes on West Aurora senior Ionicca Rivera (28-9) in the first round of state.

Katelyn Marvel, Canton

The junior (24-4) grabbed a 145-pound title at the Geneseo Sectional. She recorded three falls highlighted by a 4:46 fall in the championship match. Marvel wrestles Charleston senior Mackensie Williams (14-5) in the first round of state.

Mid-Illini gold standard: Washington, Canton wrestlers lead IHSA title haul

Michael McLaughlin, Peoria Notre Dame

The senior (34-6) won his way through the 285-pound bracket at the Class 1A Olympia Sectional with three pins. The fourth-ranked wrestler is looking for his first-ever state medal. McLaughlin faces Clifton Central senior Noah Gomez (16-5) in the first round of state.

Wyatt Medlin, Washington

The sophomore (41-4) was a Class 2A Sycamore Sectional champion. The top-ranked 138-pound wrestler, who last season took third place at 126, posted two falls and a tech fall in sectional action. Medlin faces Lemont senior Carter Mikolajczak (36-12) in the first round of state.

Cael Miller, Washington

The senior (36-10) won a Class 2A Sycamore Sectional champion. He's the No. 9-ranked 165-pound wrestler, knocking off No. 1 Nick Mueller of Dunlap with a 5-4 decision in the title bout. Miller, who is looking for his first state medal, takes on Carbondale junior Thomas Imboden (38-11) in the first round of state.

Galesburg's Gauge Shipp takes the victory over Joliet Catholic's Jake Hamiti in the 138-pound title match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Shipp won with a 15-0 technical fall.
Galesburg's Gauge Shipp takes the victory over Joliet Catholic's Jake Hamiti in the 138-pound title match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Shipp won with a 15-0 technical fall.

Gauge Shipp, Galesburg

The senior (41-0) took home a Class 2A Sycamore Sectional championship. He's the top-ranked 132-pound wrestler, winning a Class 2A 138 championship last season. In the sectional, he had a tech fall and two major decisions. Shipp takes on Troy Triad sophomore Brody Smith (31-9) in the first round of state.

Kinnley Smith, Canton

The junior (24-3) picked up a sectional title at the Geneseo Sectional. She rolled to her crown with two falls and a decision. Smith, who was the state runner-up at 135 pounds last season, wrestles Riverside-Brookfield senior Eleanor Aphay (18-4) in the first round of state.

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Augustus Swanson, Princeton

The sophomore (32-1) won a sectional championship at the Class 1A Byron Sectional. Swanson won his title bout with a 7-5 decision. The No. 1-ranked 113-pounder has been wrestling down a weight class, taking on 106-pound Oakwood freshman Steven Uden (31-16) in the first round at state.

Richwoods' Kaila Williams, facing, bends opponent Taylor Owens of Oakwood over backwards during the 140-pound title match of the Richwoods Girls Sectional Wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Richwoods High School in Peoria. Williams defeated Owens with a 10-3 decision.
Richwoods' Kaila Williams, facing, bends opponent Taylor Owens of Oakwood over backwards during the 140-pound title match of the Richwoods Girls Sectional Wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 at Richwoods High School in Peoria. Williams defeated Owens with a 10-3 decision.

Kaila Williams, Richwoods

The senior (23-1) stayed home and won a Richwoods Sectional championship. She posted a fall and two decisions in the 140-bracket. Williams, who is looking for her first-ever state championship, will wrestle Princeton sophomore Isabella Gibson (19-6) in the first round of state.

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2024 IHSA wrestling state finals preview: Peoria-area title contenders