Wrestling: Montini, Lemont advance five wrestlers to state championship matches

Montini advanced five wrestlers to Saturday's state championship matches with wins in Friday night's semifinals at the Class 3A state wrestling meet in Champaign.

At 106 pounds Montini's Joe Fernau won a 4-3 decision over Prospect's Will Baysinger, and will wrestle Sandburg's Sammy Hayes for the title. At 126 pounds Montini defending champion Dylan Ragusin won a 3-2 decision over Oak Park's Jacob Rundell, and will wrestle Lockport's Mike Kaminski in the final. Montini's Joe Roberts at 152 won a 7-5 decision over Libertyville's E'lan Heard, and will wrestle Plainfield South's James Pierandozzi in the final. At 182 pounds Montini's Trevor Swier won a 4-2 decision over Moline's DeAnthony Parker, and will wrestle Pekin's Jared Dowell in the final. At 220 pounds Montini's Josh LaBarbera won a 3-2 decision over Barrington's Evan Roper and will wrestle Sandburg's Kevin Zimmer in the final.

In Class 2A Lemont will have five wrestlers in championship matches.

At 126 pounds Lemont's Drew Nash won by technical fall over Chatham-Glenwood's Garrett Chrisman and will wrestle Washington's Joey Cape in the final. At 145 pounds Lemont's Kyle Schickel won a 3-2 decision over Crystal Lake South's Peyton Timmons and will wrestle T.J. North's Sincere Bailey in the final. At 152 Lemont's Grant LaDuke won a 5-0 decision over Triad's Garrett Bakarich and will wrestle Joliet Catholic's Dean Hamiti Jr. in the final. At 220 pounds Lemont's Apollo Gothard won a 4-1 decision over Bloomington's Josh Brown and will wrestle Glenwood's Conner Miller in the final. At 295 Lemon's Mo Jarad won a 7-3 decision over Freeport's Isaiah Batteast and will wrestle East Peoria's Caleb Collins in the final.

In Class IC Catholic's Saul Trejo Jr. won a 4-2 decision over Vandalia's Jarek Wehrle and will wrestle Althoff's Matthew Minick in the final.