Wrestling season has started! how’s your team looking this year? take a look at what some of the coaches had to say about their teams this season.
All teams were contacted for this article. Those who responded are below.
School: Back of the Yards
Social media: IG: @boycpwrestling; Twitter: @BOYCPwrestling
Starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class, honors):
Saeed Ullah, Senior, 144, 2022-23 All-Conference, All-Academic
Axel Correa, Senior, 175, 2022-23 All-Conference
Nicolas Mata, Senior, 165, 2023-23 All-Conference
Eric Martinez, Junior 190, 2022-23 All-Academic
Hida Thomas,Junior, 120, City Champion
Yesenia De Paz, Senior, 140 City Runner-up
Joseline Rodriguez, Junior, 130
Key newcomers (Name, year in school, weight class):
Bobby Applewhite, Soph, 120
Inaky Mata, Freshman, 165
Jesus Gonzalez, Junior, 190
Pedro Rojas, Senior, 144
Key duals/tournaments/tournaments you might be hosting:
Rookie Rumble in the Yards (First year wrestler tournament) – 12/9/23
Red Central Mega Duels – 1/13/24
Coach’s season outlook:
Our goal is to compete for the conference title and send multiple wrestlers downstate for the first time since 2019.
School: Kelly College Prep
Social media: Instagram: KCP_Wrestling
Starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class):
Boys
Steven Onofre, Sr., 113
Roberto Vitela, Sr., 120
Cliffon Johnson, Jr., 126
Leovardo Juarez, So., 138
Awwal Ogunsolu, Jr., 144
Gael Suarez, Jr., 150
Emiliano Ruiz, Jr., 157
Hector Hernandez, Jr., 190
Mateo Lopez, Jr., 215
Girls
Liana Andrade, So., 170
Jaqueline Dimas, So., 125
Natalyn Mahon-Godfrey, So., 115
N’Dyia Mahon-Godfrey, Jr., 190
Carolina Nino, Jr., 130
Non-starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class):
Boys
Daniel Cruz, So., 215
Daniel Gonzalez, Jr., 138
Kevin Pantoja, Jr., 175
Omar Murillo-Hernandez, Jr., 126
Luis Navarro, So., 175
Key newcomers (Name, year in school, weight class):
Boys
Adan Bucio, Jr., 132
Manuel Brown, So., 150
Christopher Gaytan, Fr,. 106
Girls
Leylani Bahena, Fr., 145
Yanjary Hernandez, Fr., 140
Isabell Flores, Fr., 115
Key duals/tournaments/tournaments you might be hosting or participating in:
Boys
Raider Invite
Sarah Goode Tournament
Varsity CPL Wrestling Championship
IHSA State series
Conference Mega Dual
Girls
Larkin Rumble Girls tournament
Girls Conant Invite
Girls CPL Wrestling Championship
IHSA State series
Coach’s season outlook:
This year holds promise for both our boys and girls teams. With the return of numerous starters from the last year’s team and the inclusion of valuable additions, Kelly sees a top 3 finish in the Boys City Championships. Leading the team are two exceptional seniors, Roberto Vitela and Steven Onofre, both having qualified for sectionals in past seasons. Kelly is hopeful for multiple sectional qualifiers at the 3A level this season. Our overarching objective is to expand on last year’s accomplishments and maintain a culture of excellence both on and off the mat.
Similarly, the girls’ team aims to build on the success of the previous year. Growing the team has been a primary focus, with the addition of more girls. Leading our girls’ team is Jaqueline Dimas, a returning city champion at 115, who aims to contribute to guiding the Trojans to a top 3 finish.
School: Mather
Starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class, honors if available):
Jacob Scott 165/175, Senior; 2022 City Champ at 182
Jaxien Jeris-Orr, 215, Senior
Tommy Lam, 120, Sophomore; Sectional Qualifier at 113 last season
John Lopez, 144, Soph
Omobobola Bankole, 150, Soph
Willem Johnston, 157, Soph
Denzel Lockhart, 285, Junior
Non-starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class):
Julian Rios, 190, Junior
Key newcomers (Name, year in school, weight class):
Julian Lopez, 150, Soph.
School: Schurz
Social media (if comfortable sharing): @Schurz Athletics on Twitter
Starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class):
1. Alexis Molina, Sr., 150lbs
2. Stefano Esquive, Sr., 126lbs
3. Andrew Delgado, Sr., 144lbs
4. Adan Margil, So., 132lbs
5. Anderson Rodrigues-Loor, So., 138lbs
6. Kevin Escoto, Jr., 190lbs
7. Angel Alvarado, Jr., 285
Non-starters returning (Name, year in school, weight class):
Oscar Lazaro, Jr., 157lbs
Michael Macias, Jr., 157lbs
Key newcomers (Name, year in school, weight class):
Vinny Enriquez, Fr., 120lbs
Randy Lazaro, Fr., 132lbs
Key duals/tournaments/tournaments you might be participating:
Chicago Public Leagues City Tournament
Coach’s season outlook: We have a few returners who can go far into the State Series!
School: Taft
Social media: Instagram: @taftwrestling; Twitter: @taft_wrestling
Returning Starters:
Boys:
106: Bernardo Roque (So) 22-23 record: 29-10 Sectional Qualifier, City Finalist
113: Miguel Guevara (Sr) 21-22 record: 18-11 Sectional Qualifier
165: Steven Tantchev (Sr) 22-23 record: 16-18
215: Chris Osta (Sr) 22-23 record: 14-19
Girls:
115: Michaela Yu (Jr) 22-23 record: 11-7 Sectional Qualifier, City Finalist
120: Jennifer Arenas (So)
145: Jazmin Avila (So)
Others Returning:
113/120: David Ruiz (Jr) 22-23: JV City Champ, FR/SO State Qualifier
132: Conner Wright (So)
132: Apollo Santos (Jr)
138: Anthony Miller (So)
138: Jierich Uy (Jr)
144: Romeo Moran (Sr)
165/175: Josh Taylor (Jr)
215/HWT: Nicholas Bonelli (Jr)
HWT: Hadley Brucker (Sr)
Boys Outlook
We have a very young team, with a lot of guys ready to step up to a varsity role for the first time. All of our returning starters have their eyes on the state finals and a city championship. In my 9th year coaching at Taft, this is by far the hardest working group I’ve had. We expect to surprise a lot of people, who may think this will be a down year for us.
Girls Outlook
We had only 3 girls on the team last year, which after an injury to Jennifer Arenas, dropped us to 2 girls for the postseason. All 3 of those girls return, along with 12 more newcomers! We expect our girls team to be much more competitive and full throughout the season. We also added two female coaches to the staff this year. Kaila Del Toro Joins two years after graduating from Taft, where she placed 3rd in state twice and was a Fargo National All-American. Jaimie Stephens also joins us, who doubles as the girls head rugby coach at Taft.
Michaela Yu and Bernardo Roque both lost in the “Blood Round” at Sectionals last year. With Full off-seasons and returning to their weight classes from last year, you can expect big things from them. Both not only have their eyes on state, but the podium at state.
