By Chris Walker For the IWCOA As the weather was beginning to warm up and days became longer this spring, Yorkville Christian coach Mike Vester was looking ahead towards winter as he pieced together the team’s competitive schedule.  As he considered options for the Mustangs, he reached out to Joliet Central to inquire about the… The post Yorkville Christian snares McLaughlin Classic title appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA Vandalia captures championship at Civic Memorial Bradley Invite Vandalia had seven champions and eight finalists to help it score 283.5 points as it captured top honors at Civic Memorial’s 19-team Steve Bradley Invitational in Bethalto by 82.5 points over the hosts, who collected 201 points, while Olympia claimed… The post Boys roundup for Civic Memorial, Glenwood, Seneca, Lawrence County and Sterling appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA Princeton’s 1st Annual Girls PIT Princeton launched its first PIT on the girls’ side of wrestling on Saturday, a 28-teamer that saw Geneseo dominate the competition to hoist the team title. Geneseo won 200.5-94 over second-place LaSalle-Peru. Hampshire (93) was right behind LaSalle-Peru in third, Vandalia (85.5) was fourth,… The post Girls tournament recap: Sterling, Princeton, Granite City appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA Fenton’s 44th Annual Weiss Invitational With four individual champions and 11 total placewinners in the top six, DePaul College Prep laid claim to the team title at this year’s 44th annual Weiss Invitational at Fenton.DePaul won 212-177 over second-place Riverside-Brookfield. The team from Milton, Wisconsin (165) placed third, Saint… The post Boys’ tournament recaps: Fenton, Plainfield N, Hinsdale S, Evanston, Neuqua Valley appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA Evanston’s Elias George Tournament
 Evanston Township hosted both a boys’ and a girls’ 11-team Elias George Tournament this year and when it was settled, Rickover Naval Academy had the highest overall combined team score, 314-296 over second-place Mather.
The Rickover girls finished first on the girls side of the tournament,… The post Girls tournament recaps: Evanston, Waukegan, Larkin, Eisenhower appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Curt Herron – For the IWCOA A year ago, Hononegah made a statement when it finished in second place 7.5 points behind host Barrington in its Moore-Prettyman Wrestling Invitational to open its season and the Indians concluded 2023-2024 by qualifying for the IHSA Class 3A Dual Team Finals for the first time since 2016,… The post Hononegah makes statement at Barrington’s Moore-Prettyman-Dunn Invitational appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Mike Garofola for the IWCOA

 Vernon Hills’ Cougar Thanksgiving Invite Glenbrook South had too much for the 17-team field at Vernon Hills on Saturday as the Titans rode to an impressive victory and lifted the championship trophy at Vernon Hills’ Cougar Thanksgiving Invite. The Titans would collect 247.0 overall points with Grayslake North finishing… The post Boys’ tournament recaps for Illini Bluffs, Vernon Hills, Antioch appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA NCHS Wrestling Girls Invitational Schaumburg hit the ground running this season.The Saxons were dominant at this year’s 29-team Normal Community Girls Invitational, topping the field by 88.5 team points on Nov. 24. Schaumburg won 227.5-139 over second-place Plainfield South, with Joliet Central (128) taking third, Homewood-Flossmoor (126.5) fourth, and… The post Girls’ tournament roundup: Normal, Fremd, Rockford E, Niles W appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Curt Herron – for the IWCOA After having five state qualifiers, three placewinners and two runner-up finishers at the 2023 IHSA Finals, Joliet Township co-op Liz Short was honored by the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association as its first Girls Coach of the Year award winner.  But when others were selected to coach… The post Andrew/Carl Sandburg co-op wins Minooka Thanksgiving Throwdown championship appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more

By Gary Larsen for the IWCOA Mike Gussarson wrestled for Antioch coach Wilbur Borrero a decade ago, finishing fifth in Illinois at 132 in 2013. Gussarson also won an individual tournament title that year, at Antioch’s inaugural Ted DeRousse Invitational. After girls wrestling became an IHSA sport in 2021, Antioch soon began hosting a girls… The post Lincoln-Way girls co-op dominates at Lakes appeared first on Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association ..read more