Ironmen boys wrestlers aim for State at Quincy Sectional

Strong showing at Joliet Central Regional propels 6 to sectionals

Inkspot Staff • Feb 8, 2024

Senior Cooper Caraway was the lone first-place finisher at regionals. The veteran is looking to return to State after finishing 6th last season, despite medically forfietting with a broken bone in his hand. Photo Courtesy of: Ironmen Wrestling Instagram // @Ironmenwrestle

Six wrestlers advanced from Feb. 2’s Joliet Central Regional, moving on to compete in Friday’s Quincy Sectional, where they will vie for a shot at the IHSA 3A State Wrestling Tournament.

Senior Cooper Caraway is looking for a third consecutive trip to the State meet after taking first in the regional’s 215-pound class. Caraway improved to 41-2 on the season after winning both matches by pin.
Also looking toward a return trip to State are Caden Correll, at 106 pounds, and Cole Gentsch, at 120.
Correll (32-5) took second in the regional, losing by a 6-5 decision to Joliet Catholic’s Luke Foster (33-12) in the championship match.
In the third-place match, Gentsch (37-4) won by an 11-0 major decision over Minooka’s Noah Avina (27-7). After falling to Joliet Catholic’s Jason Hampton (27-15) in the tournament’s semifinals by a 4-1 decision, Gentsch defeated Lockport’s Anthony Sutton (19-16) by fall in the consolation semis.
Taking seconds were Jackson Soney at 113 pounds, improving his season record to 40-2, and Mason Caraway (26-15) at 190 pounds.
Sophomore Victor Reyes (25-15) took third in the 165-pound class.
The six must finish in the top four of their weight class to advance to next weekend’s State Tournament in Champaign.
The Ironmen finished third in the regional as a team, behind last year’s State runners-up Joliet Catholic and Lockport, who took third at the State in 2023.
Contributing to the team score but unable to advance past regionals were sophomores Cole Kretsinger and Ethan Cavallo and junior Jaren Frankowiak.

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Inkspot Staff

Stories published under Inkspot Staff are unattributed to a single reporter because they: have been produced through a collaborative staff effort; individual staff member contribution is not easily distinguishable; and/or the story was disseminated from announcements or press releases.