Just two days out from the Class 3A Hinsdale Central Sectional, Mount Carmel senior Liam Kelly wasn’t sure if his high-school wrestling career was over.
Blocked from competing at the Morton Regional two weeks earlier because of a non-contagious skin condition, Kelly, his coaches, teammates, family and Mount Carmel support system waited to see if a court ruling would allow him to compete.
It did. After securing an emergency temporary restraining order, Kelly steamrolled through the field at 165 pounds, winning the championship on Feb. 14 via a 16-5 major decision over Montini’ senior’s Santino Tenuta.
“(Three) days ago, I didn’t know if I’d wrestle,” Kelly said. “I kept going to practice and acted like I’d wrestle. That’s what (coach Alex Tsirtsis) kept telling me. Just show up like you’re wrestling. I literally feel blessed to be out here.”
The state finals are set for Feb. 19-21 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
Kelly (30-2) is the defending Class 3A state champ at 157. Bumping up to 165 this year, he’s ready to go.
“I’m grateful to just be out here wrestling,” Kelly said. “I have such a great support system at Mount Carmel. They’re why I’m out here.”
The top-ranked wrestler at 165 in 3A by Illinois Matmen, Kelly was blocked from competing at the Morton Regional on Jan. 31 because of a non-contagious skin condition — granuloma annulare — he’s had since freshman year.
He brings a doctor’s note to each meet and had not previously had an issue over his high-school career.
After a tense week-plus of waiting, the news finally came through.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Alison Conlon ruled on Feb. 11 ruled that Kelly was eligible to compete. The IHSA accepted the ruling, letting Kelly join the sectional bracket at a 13th wrestler.
“We got a last-minute court day on the last possible day,” Kelly said. “Being disqualified, it was definitely devastating. There was nothing I could do about it. Realizing that and not being a victim, it’s not feeling sorry for yourself. I want to control what I can control.”
Kelly won three matches by technical fall and two by major decision at the sectional.
Marist junior Ethan Sonne won the 157-pound championship with a 4-2 decision over Sandburg junior Brady Ritter.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to state.
Area qualifiers who finished second were Elio Gil (106), Axel Rodriguez (138) and Tommy Fidler (150) from Marist; Justin Williamson (144) from Mount Carmel; Dan Costello (215) from Brother Rice and Sandburg’s Ritter.
Third-place finishers advancing were Sebastian Garcis (106) and Brody Koselke (126) from Mount Carmel; Te’Jon Beals (132) and Jaxon Jorgensen (144) from Marist; Griff Powell (138) from Lyons.
Fourth-place finishers were Anthony Hayes (106), Kyle Hayes (113) and Oscar Kalman (138) from Sandburg; Oliver Davis (144) and Otis Davis (165) from Brother Rice; and Landin Carter (285) from Mount Carmel.
Class 3A Edwardsville
Andrew’s Nadeem Haleem advanced by taking third at 138.
Class 2A Hinsdale South
Two local wrestlers won sectional titles: Riverside-Brookfield’s Izaiah Gonzalez (31-3) at 132 and St. Rita’s Jack Hogan (35-4) at 144.
Advancing as runners-up: Ibrohim Mahmadov (113) and Leonel Flores (150) of Richards; and Andrew Lehman (157), Micah Spinnazzola (165) and Mark Kelleher (285) of St. Rita.
Third-place qualifiers were: Brayden Meteja (106), Adrian Cervantes (132) and Michael Chatman (138) of Evergreen Park; Jason Forbes (120) of De La Salle; and Nick O’Connor (175) of R-B.
Moving on after taking fourth: Jayden Cervantes (126) of Evergreen Park; Tony Lombardo (138) of R-B; Jayden Veal (144) of Goode; and Keishawn Triplett (175) and James Bansley (190) of St. Rita.
Class 1A Coal City
Horizon Southwest’s Sami Marrero was fourth at 190.
Girls
Phillips
Area sectional champs were: Curie’s Giselle Arambula (30-1) at 105, District 230’s Jade Hardee (41-6) at 110 and St. Laurence’s Nina Nesci (36-1) at 120.
Advancing to state as runners-up: Ava Enright (120) of Marist, Journey Jackson (130) of Oak Lawn and Sara Martinez Lopera (170) of Kelly.
Third-place finishers moving on: Andaira Marron (100) and Anali Wilson (170) of Morton; Yazmine Garcia (115) of Kelly; Mercedes Carrassoco (135) of De La Salle; Lily Fish (155) of Reavis; and Karrine Jenkins (235) of Shepard.
Qualifying by finishing fourth: Tatum De La Vega (105) and Brynnley Krauchun (120) of District 230; Mila Rocush (130) of Shepard; and Sarah Parker (170) of Marist.