The recent string of success for the IC Catholic Prep wrestling team continued in a big way this past weekend. The Knights’ Nick Renteria, Michael Calcagno and Jadon Mims won Class 1A state titles at the State Farm Center (formerly Assembly Hall) on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
Renteria, a senior, defeated Yorkville Christian senior Isaac Bourge 9-4 to win the state title. Renteria finished the season 28-1. Renteria won four matches in the state tournament. Calcagno, a sophomore, won the 182-pound state title with a 9-0 major decision over Tolono Unity senior Grant Albaugh. Calcagno finished the year with a 21-1 mark, as well as won four matches at state. Mims, a senior, downed Nazareth Academy freshman Gabe Kaminski 5-4 to win the 220-pound title. Mims ended with a 26-3 record thanks to his 4-0 run in Champaign.
In the span of one weekend, IC Catholic Prep doubled the number of state individual wrestling champions it has produced in program history. Joey Bianchini won Class 1A state titles in 2017 and 2018. David Var- gas won a title in 2018, while Victor Vargas won a title in 2017.
IC Catholic Prep senior Isaiah Gonzalez finished second at 285 pounds. Gonzalez lost via fall in 4:55 to Rock Island Alleman’s Charles Jagusah, who finished the year 41- 0. Gonzalez ended up 30-2 on the season. Gonzalez went 3-1 in Champaign. Sophomore Joseph Gliatta finished sixth at 145 pounds. He lost 4-2 to Dakota senior Tyler Simmer in the fifth-place match. Gliatta went 3-3 at state. Andrew Alvarado tied for eighth place at 113 pounds.
Also competing in the Class 1A state meet for the Knights were Brandon Navarro at 170 pounds, Omar Samayoa at 132 pounds and Bryson Spaulding at 126 pounds. Navarro
lost both his state matches. Samayoa lost his first match, won his second and then lost his third. Spaulding also lost his opener, came back to win his first wrestleback match and then lost his next bout.
The fun isn’t done for the Knights. IC Catholic Prep turned its attention to Wednesday’s Class 1A dual-team sectional at St. Laurence High School in Burbank. The Knights, who won a team regional title, faced St. Laurence in the semifinals, while Chicago Phoenix Military Academy and Yorkville Christian squared off in the other semifinal. The two winners met immediately after for a chance to advance to
the dual-team state finals meet in Bloomington.
Friday, May 3, 2024
