Five from the Rockford area made it to the finals of Saturday’s IHSA state wrestling tournament — but only one came away a champion.
And now Dakota’s Noah Wenzel is a three-time champ.
More: Rockford-area wrestling Find out who has the most to gain, or to lose, at this weekend’s state wrestling tourney
“It feels pretty amazing,” said Wenzel, who won a state title every year the IHSA held a state tournament while he was in high school, including Saturday. “I just had to wrestle how I know I can wrestle, and I got it… It makes me a little sad that I didn’t get that chance to get my fourth.”
A handful of local wrestling stars stepped up and steamrolled their way into the championship round Saturday night. Hononegah had two of them, as freshman Rocco Cassioppi and junior newcomer T.J. Silva each took second at their weight class in Class 3A. The same happened to Rochelle’s Kaiden Morris in 2A at 215 and to Lena-Winslow/Stockton’s Eli Larson at 175 in 1A.
But it was Wenzel, at 215 pounds in 1A, who was the lone local champ.