The first month and a half of the wrestling season wasn’t any fun for Marist’s Jaxon Jorgensen.
The junior wasn’t allowed to compete while his transfer from Mount Carmel was being finalized.
“Basically, it was terrible,” Jorgensen said after winning the 144-pound title at the Class 3A Marist Regional on Jan. 31.
The state’s eighth-ranked 144-pounder in Class 3A by Illinois Matmen, he returned to action in mid-January and has been a valued addition for the RedHawks, who are ranked sixth in 3A.
“It gets a lot of talent added to the room,” 157-pounder Ethan Sonne said. “It’s always great to have that because a lot of guys are pushing each other and we do a lot better as a team, having more experience and chemistry.”
Marist beat No. 12 Sandburg 280-222 to repeat as regional champ and qualify for this week’s Marmion Dual-Team Sectional. The RedHawks had 11 champions and 13 qualifiers for the Hinsdale Central Individual Sectional on Feb. 13-14.
Sonne (31-3), ranked second in 3A, won the day’s marquee matchup 4-1 over third-ranked Brady Ritter (38-5) of Sandburg.
“I love it,” Sonne said. “I want as much competition as I can (get) before the state series. Get the mindset right, the body right, get your goals right.”
Marist’s other state-ranked champs were No. 7 Elio Gil (26-8) at 106, No. 10 Te’Jon Beals (29-12) at 132, No. 6 Axel Rodriguez (33-10) at 138, No. 5 Tommy Fidler (35-9) at 150, No. 12 Ronin Haran (30-17) at 175 and No. 14 Tom O’Brien (31-15) at 215.
O’Brien, a three-sport athlete who also plays football and rugby, won 6-3 against sixth-ranked Dan Costello (19-5) of Brother Rice.
After falling one win short of qualifying for state last season, O’Brien has extra motivation this year.
“It pushes me a lot because I know this is my very last chance to make it downstate and make a name for myself,” he said. “I just want to go out there and give it my all, win or lose.”
Also winning titles for the RedHawks were Colin Phelan (25-13) at 120, Dylan Weber (18-9) at 126 and Jack Watson (28-12) at 285.
Sandburg had 11 sectional qualifiers, led by 113 champ Kyle Hayes (29-11). Hayes is one of five brothers, including three who have been state placers for the Eagles.
“It’s been awesome,” Hayes said of growing up in a wrestling family. “It just makes me want to go out there and perform at the best level I can to carry on the family legacy that we have.”
No. 22 Brother Rice finished third and had nine sectional qualifiers, including a pair of champs: Otis Davis (25-6) at 165 and Colin Goggin (13-3) at 190.
Class 3A Morton
Mount Carmel beat host Morton 247.5-158 for the title to qualify for the Marmion Dual-Team Sectional.
The Caravan had 12 qualifiers for the Hinsdale Central Individual Sectional, including eight champs: Sebastian Gracia (106), Daniel Macatangay (113), Brady Koselke (126), William Grafton-Hodgetts (132), George Hollendonner (138), Justin Williamson (144), Kenneth Seggerson (190) and Landin Carter (285).
Mount Carmel 165-pounder Liam Kelly, a defending state champ ranked No. 1 in 3A, was ruled out by meet officials for medical reasons despite having a doctor’s note clearing him to compete.
Runner-up Morton had three champs: Jose Berrios (120), Daniel Gonzalez (165) and Santiago Moya (175).
Xavier Bitner won the 215 title for third-place St. Laurence.
Class 3A Naperville North
Griff Powell took first at 138 for Lyons.
Class 3A Rich
Andrew’s Nadeem Haleem won the 138-pound title.
Class 2A Ag. Science
Runner-up St. Rita had two champs in Jack Hogan (144) and Mark Kelleher (285).
Goode’s Jayden Veal won the 144-pound title.
Class 2A Evergreen Park
The host Mustangs beat runner-up De La Salle 280-82 to win their own regional and advance to their own team sectional. Evergreen also advanced all 14 wrestlers to the individual sectional, including 12 winners: Brayden Mateja-Bates (106), Ethan Brantley (113), Jayden Cervantes (126), Adrian Cervantes (132), Michael Chatman (138), Lucas Landry (144), Jacob Ruvalcaba (150), Esau Ruvalcaba (157), Owen Brady (165), Zubayr Harris (175), James Templin (190) and Landon Robinson-Gwin (215).
De La Salle was led by 120 champ Justin Forbes.
Class 2A Hinsdale South
Riverside-Brookfield outdistanced Hinsdale South 180.5-171.5 for the title and a berth in the Evergreen Park Dual-Team Sectional.
The Bulldogs had four champs: Riley Cavaliere (106), Izaiah Gonzalez (132), Tony Lombardo (138) and Nick O’Connor (175).
Other local champs were Kennedy’s Christian Vega (165), Kelly’s Leovardo Juarez (150) and Nazareth’s Alex Ramos (126).
Class 1A Sullivan
Horizon Southwest’s Sami Marrero won at 190.