Ironmen send 4 to IHSA State Wrestling Finals, led by undefeated Correll

Elijah Conda, Staff Writer

Feb 20, 2025

Seven Normal Community wrestlers competed at last weekends’ Joliet Central Sectional, with four advancing to the IHSA State Finals in Champaign Feb. 20-22 Photo Courtesy of: Mr. Trevor Kaufman

Four Normal Community wrestlers secured their spots in the IHSA Class 3A State Finals after battling through the Joliet Central Sectional on Feb. 14-15.

Leading the charge is senior Caden Correll (113 pounds), who claimed his third consecutive sectional title with authority. Correll, who has yet to surrender a loss this season, breezed through his bracket, giving up just one takedown in the semifinals and winning by technical fall against all his other opponents.

The undefeated senior enters State with his sights set on the top of the podium but will have to navigate a challenging field, including No. 2-ranked Caleb Noble and No. 3-ranked Rocco Hayes. Correll split two matches with Noble last season and has yet to defeat Hayes in two previous State appearances.

After back-to-back fifth place State finishes at 106 pounds, Correll heads to Champaign with one strategy in mind: “Be aggressive,” the senior said. “Put as many points on the board as I can, then I’ll find my success.”

Freshman Brayden Manning (132) made Community history, becoming the first freshman to qualify for State under head coach Mr. Trevor Kaufman in his decade leading the program.

Manning placed second at Sectionals but left the tournament unsatisfied.

“I just got my [expletive] whooped,” Manning said of his Sectionals finals performance, “just whooped.”

Jackson Soney (106) upset No. 5-ranked Michael McNamara in the semifinals to earn his first trip to State. Soney, who lost to No. 2 Maddox Garbis in the sectional finals for a runner-up finish, said he wasn’t as aggressive as he should have been.

“I didn’t attack as much as I should’ve,” Soney said.

Despite their frustrations, Manning and Soney enter the State Finals motivated by their sectional losses.

Cole Gentsch (126) rounds out the Ironmen’s State qualifiers, advancing for the third straight year after a fourth-place sectional finish. Gentsch dropped a narrow 5-4 decision in the semifinals before falling to No. 3-ranked Jason Hampton in the third-place match.

Kaufman is confident in all four wrestlers heading into the State Finals.

“I think all four have a shot to place,” Kaufman said. “Be free, attack, and go the entire time. If we do that, we should excel, and we’ll be proud of all of them, no matter what.”

Correll and Gentsch bring State experience, while Soney and Manning make their debut under the spotlight of the State Farm Center in Champaign, Feb. 20-22.

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