Team United Brings Home National Championship
7 of our own wrestlers competed in the AAU Elementary National Duals in Kingsport Tennessee this past week.The team (Team United) went 7-0 defeating Tennesse 64-30, Georgia 51-9, Indiana Blue 83-3, Iowa Gold 81-6, Indiana Gold 73-10, Illinois (north Stars) 82-12, and won a thrilling dual against the Powerhouse know as IOWA BLACK 43-40 in the finals. Iowa was trying to win their states 11th title, however this team that was put together by the best kids in Illinois that are in 5th grade or younger had something to say about that. I was honored to be part of this team as a coach and proud of how our wrestlers competed. Here are the individual results Gold All Americans Alex Villar 5-0, Matt Ramos 7-0, Baylor Fernandes 7-0, Silver Kyle Schickel 5-1, Dylan Burnoski 5-1, Bronze Jimmy Pierandozzi 4-2, and Anthony Talaganov went 3-4.
Raiders bring home 2 Asics National Titles
I would like to congratulate our wrestlers who competed in Cedar Falls Iowa this past weekend in the Asics Folkstyle Nationals. Kyle Schickel won the Intermediate 60lb weight class by beating Tulsa Champion Chance Lamer 8-5 in the finals. Dylan Burnoski won the 70lb Novice division beating Tulsa Champion Colt Newton in the semis 1-0 and winning a come from behind victory with 5 seconds to go, and winning the title. Our Club had 4 additional Asics All American including Robert Campos who had a great preformance this weekend taking 5th place. Alex Villar had one of the toughest weight classes in his age division and placed 5th. Jimmy Pierandozzi had a great weekend avenging a semi finals match to Colt Newton and beating him 3-1 in overtime and took 5th place. Ronald Tucker placed 8th at the Hwt.Division in the Novice Division. I am very proud of these wrestlers including the boys who made the trip that wanted to wrestle the best wrestlers in the nation. Go Raiders!
Jr. Raiders "Midget State Champions"
As the season came to and end this past weekend, the Junior Raiders won the Intermediate State Title. The Raiders Edged out King Select by just 4.5 points, sending 9 wrestlers into the finals and placing 11 out of 13 wrestlers. Leading the way was Kyle Schickel who was named Outstanding Wrestler winning the 58lb title. Vince Ochoa claimed his 2nd youth wrestling title by pinning Jalen Lee of the Renegades in the Finals. Anthony Talaganov also claimed his 2nd youth title by pinning Cody Goodman of Buffalo Grove in the Finals. Matt Ramos, Javen Estrada, Alex Villar, Josh Ramos, Jimmy Pierandozzi, and Ronald Tucker all had an outstanding tournament and took 2nd place. David Ochoa placed 5th and Azael Martinez placed 8th at this years event. I was so proud of these boys and the way they battled all weekend long and never gave up. I told these youg men at the beginning of the season that this group had the potential to win the state title…………………congratulatins to our boys!Go Raiders!
Juwan Robinson Becomes 1st Jr. Raider to Win The IKWF State Tournament
Congratulations to Juwan Robinson on winning the 89lb Novice State Title. Jwan Won 9-0 against Brad Gross in the finals in Rockford. Juwan Robinson becomes the 1st Jr. Raider to win an IKWF State Title for our club. Dylan Burnoski made it to the state finals for the 2nd year in a row and came up short placing second losing 2-12 to Michael McGee . Robert Campos improved from last years event by beating Jarod Foiles 13-1 in the 3rd place match, Anthony Schickel placed 4th, Robert Goodwin placed 5th, and Brandon Ramos placed 8th in this years State Tournament. In the Novice division the team placed 6th.I am very proud of our boys and at the level in which they competed. Next stop……………….Danville!
Raiders Qualify 9 to the IKWF State Tournament
Congratulations to our wrestlers that will represent our club this weekend in Rockford at this years state event. The Novice team qualified 7 wrestlers Dylan Burnoski 70lbs, Nick Sullivan 74lbs (champ), Jimmy Pierandozzi 74lbs, Baylor Fernandes 84lbs (champ), Juwan Robinson 89lbs (champ), Gage Goodwin 130lbs, and Jacob Ramos156lbs. The Senior team had 2 qualifiers Brandon Ramos 79lbs (champ), and Robert Campos 95lbs (champ). Congtas to all these boys and good luck in Rockford!