January 21, 2025
Sports

High school sports roundup: Willowbrook's Matt Rowland reigns at state wrestling

By SUBURBAN LIFE

Willowbrook's Matt Rowland celebrates on Feb. 20 after winning the 170-pound title at the Class 3A state wrestling tournament. It was Rowland's first state title and third all-state finish. (PhotoNews/Clark Brooks for Shaw Media)

Matt Rowland left little doubt about who was the best 170-pound wrestler in Class 3A this season.

The Willowbrook senior capped a marvelous season with a dominant run to the state title Feb. 20. He needed just 23 seconds to pin Deerfield’s Sage Heller in the final, a win that came after a 20-5 technical fall in the second period of his semifinal bout.

The win in the final set the record for fastest pin in a 170-pound match in Class 3A tournament history.

Rowland also won by fall in the first period of his first bout at state before picking up an 8-5 win in the quarterfinals. Rowland, who was second in state last year and fifth in 2014, did not lose to an Illinois opponent this season and finished the year with a 56-1 record.

Sophomore Jack Jessen also capped his state tourney run with a win, taking third at 182 with a 9-2 victory. A first-period pin and 5-1 win sent Jessen into the semifinals, and after a loss he won a backdraw semifinal 10-1 to get to the third-place match.

WRESTLING

Montini

Joey Melendez won big to start his Class 3A state tournament run (22-7 technical fall) and was solid in a tight 2-1 match as he took home the 106-pound title. The sophomore finished with a 46-4 record this season.

Real Woods (113) and Dylan Duncan (132) made their respective state title matches and placed second. Will Lewan won 3-2 in his final bout to take third at 138, and Jimmy Pawelski was fourth at 126.

Caleb Fortuna (145) and Matt Ortiz (152) also were state qualifiers for the Broncos.

IC Catholic

Sophomore Joey Bianchi had a fall and two shutout victories to reach the 106-pound title match at the Class 1A state tournament. Bianchi fell 7-6 against Fulton’s Tyler Fleetwood in the championship bout and finished the season with a 45-3 record.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Glenbard East

Brasia Solid scored 10 points, but the Rams otherwise struggled against a powerful Montini team in a 79-17 loss in a Class 4A regional championship game Feb. 19.

Montini

Lindsey Jarosinski scored 20 points and Nikki Oppenheimer added 13 as the Broncos defeated Bartlett 64-32 in a Class 4A sectional semifinal Feb. 22. With the win, Montini moved on to face Geneva for the sectional title Feb. 25.