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High five! Washington wrestling wins fifth state championship in program history

adam duvall, journal star
·2 min read

One for the thumb.

The Washington wrestling program won its fifth Illinois High School Association dual-team state championship on Saturday, edging Joliet Catholic, 28-27, at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

Washington added the 2023 Class 2A crown to titles won consecutively in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Only four programs in state history have more dual-team state titles: Lombard Montini, New Lenox Providence, Maywood Proviso East and Dakota.

The championship went down to the final match. Washington led 28-24 and its last wrestler needed to avoid a pin to win the title. The Panthers' 120-pound sophomore Noah Woods lost a 6-2 decision to JCA freshman Aurelio Munoz — worth only three points to JCA — and secured the crown by one point.

State finals:Washington wins IHSA semifinal, will wrestle for another dual-team state title

Class 2A championship: Washington 28, Joliet Catholic 27

  • 126 — Eli Gonzalez (W) def. George Hollendoner (JCA), 3-0 dec.

  • 132 — Gylon Sims (JCA) def. Wyatt Medlin (W) 8-7 dec.

  • 138 — Peyton Cox (W) def. Jake Hamiti (JCA) 4-0 dec.

  • 145 — Kannon Webster (W) def. Luke Hamiti (JCA) tech fall 23-8

  • 152 — Cael Miller (W) def. Connor Cumbee (JCA) 3-2 dec.

  • 160 — Mason Alessio (JCA) def. Braden Baker (W) :33 fall

  • 170 — Zane Hulet (W) def. Maximus Vela (JCA) 8-1 dec.

  • 182 — Blake Hinrichsen (W) def. Zach Pomatto (JCA) 21-8 maj. dec.

  • 195 — Nico Ronchetti (JCA) def. Josh Hoffer (W) 5-3 dec.

  • 220 — Justin Hoffer (W) def. Hunter Powell (JCA) 16-6 maj. dec.

  • 285 — Dillan Johnson (JCA) by forfeit

  • 106 — Symon Woods (W) def. Noah Avina (JCA) 8-5 dec. — 28-18

  • 113 — Jason Hampton (JCA) def. Logan Makiney (W) :28 fall

  • 120 — Aurelio Munoz (JCA) def. Noah Woods (W) 6-2 dec.

Help celebrate the Washington wrestling team

The team will arrive back in Washington at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday night, meeting a police and fire escort near Teegarden Veterinary Clinic at 2323 Eureka Rd. The team bus will then proceed to the city, around the square and to the high school.

Washington Community High School, located at 115 Bondurant St., will host a reception for the team scheduled for 2 p.m. in the multi-purpose room at the school.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington wrestling wins fifth IHSA state championship in school history