A look ahead at the boys wrestling postseason in The Herald-News area

The boys wrestling postseason begins this weekend with individual regionals in all three classes. As always, the Herald-News area is loaded with quality wrestlers. Several are hoping to either return to the medal stand at the state finals at the State Farm Center on the University of Illinois campus or to reach it for the first time.

CLASS 3A

Joliet Central Sectional

Normal Community Regional: Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet Central, Joliet West, Lockport, Minooka and Romeoville will take part in the regional. West’s Carson Weber finished third in the state last year at 144 pounds but will wrestle at 150 this year, where he is ranked second to Lockport’s Justin Wardlow by Illinois Matmen. Wardlow finished second at 138 last season.

“My personal goal this year is to win a state championship,” Weber said. “I came up a little short last year, and I want to go out on top my senior year. For our team, I would like to see us close the gap between JCA and Lockport. I feel like the program is knocking on the door. That’s a big step to take, but I think we can get closer than we have been.”

Another area wrestler looking ahead to a strong finish is Joliet Central’s Charles Walker at 215. Walker, ranked third in the state, has lost only twice all season, one of them to the No. 1-ranked 285-pounder, Jonathan Rulo of Belleville East. Walker did not place at the state finals last year and would like to correct that this season.

“I feel like I can come home with a medal,” Walker said. “I would like to be a regional and sectional champion and get a medal at state. I know I can do it. I wrestled close with the top-ranked heavyweight, and I have beaten some of the other guys that are ranked. My confidence is pretty high.”

Other area wrestlers in the sectional that are ranked in the top 10 are Maddux Tindal of JCA (9th, 120), Jason Hampton of JCA (4th, 126), Liam Zimmerman of Lockport (8th, 132), Nolan Vogel of JCA (6th, 150), Luke Hamiti of JCA (6th, 165), Kaden Meyer of Minooka (8th, 165), Nico Ronchetti of JCA (2nd, 190) and Jamir Thomas of Romeoville (7th, 285).

Moline Regional: Plainfield Central, Plainfield East, Plainfield North and Plainfield South will take part in the regional. Ranked area wrestlers are Maddox Garbis of Plainfield North (2nd, 106) and Colin Bickett of Plainfield South (10th, 175).

Rich Township Regional: Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East and Lincoln-Way West will compete in the regional. Ranked area wrestlers are Brady Glynn of Lincoln-Way West (8th, 113), Shane Stream of Lincoln-Way West (10th, 126), Tyson Zvonar of Lincoln-Way East (9th, 132), Jadon Zimmer of Lincoln-Way Central (6th, 138), Jalen Byrd of Lincoln-Way Central (7th, 157), Jackson Zaeske of Lincoln-Way East (5th, 175), Colton Zvonar of Lincoln-Way East (6th, 190), Jimmy Talley of Lincoln-Way West (7th, 190) and Nate Elstner of Lincoln-Way West (10th, 215).

Hinsdale Central Sectional

Naperville North Regional: Bolingbrook is the lone area representative in the sectional, with Tommy McDermott of the Raiders ranked seventh at 165.

CLASS 2A

Hinsdale South Sectional

Richards Regional: Lemont and Providence Catholic will compete in the regional. Ranked area wrestlers are Christian Corcoran of Providence (7th, 106), Lucas Forsythe of Providence (10th, 113), Tommy Banas of Providence (4th, 132), Cory Zator of Lemont (10th, 132), Justus Heeg of Providence (1st, 150) and Judah Heeg of Lemont (3rd, 190).

Washington Sectional

Kaneland Regional: Morris is the lone area representative in the sectional. Ranked wrestlers for Morris are Owen Sater (6th, 106), Paxton Valentine (7th, 113), Brock Claypool (4th, 126) and Carter Skoff (9th, 144), who recently became the 15th wrestler in school history to record 100 career wins.

CLASS 1A

Coal City Sectional

Herscher Regional: Coal City, Reed-Custer, Dwight, Peotone, Seneca and Wilmington will compete in the regional.

Ranked wrestlers are Raiden Terry of Seneca (1st, 106), Colton Drinkwine of Reed-Custer (5th, 106), Owen Peterson of Coal City (5th, 113), Cooper Morris of Coal City (3rd, 126), Luke Munsterman of Coal City (9th, 132); Brody Widlowski of Coal City (2nd, 138); Jeremy Eggleston of Reed-Custer (5th, 138), Aiden Kenney of Coal City (8th, 144), Dylan Crouch of Dwight (4th, 150), Mason Garner of Coal City (5th, 157), Brock Finch of Coal City (6th, 165), Landin Benson of Coal City (1st, 175), who won the state title at 165 last season, Logan Van Duyne of Wilmington (4th, 190), Cade Poyner of Coal City (5th, 190), Josh Keigher of Coal City (6th, 215) and Dominic Alaimo of Reed-Custer (7th, 215).