Here’s who earned a title or a medal at IKWF state wrestling tournament in Rockford

ROCKFORD — For the first time in three years, the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state tournament was back inside the BMO Harris Bank Center with the state championships taking center stage on Saturday.

After back-to-back cancellations due to COVID-19, the youth state wrestling tourney returned, and plenty of locals came in hungry.

Alber Athletics Wrestling Club star Jimmy Mastny, who placed second after losing in overtime three years ago, the last time the IKWF held its state tourney, was one of only two kids from the area to win a state title this past weekend. The other was Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi, who won the crown with two pins, a tech fall and a major decision.

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“It’s been a long time coming for Jimmy,” said his coach, Josh Alber. “That was tough for him, and then to have to wait so long for another shot is tough, too. But he took care of business when he had to.”

There were 15 total wrestlers that finished in the top eight and earned a state medal. Here are all of the area wrestlers that medaled at this year’s IKWF state meet:

Your 2022 IKWF area medalists

From the Alber Athletics Wrestling Club out of Dakota: Jimmy Mastny placed first at Senior-126; Brendan Nardin placed third at Novice-108; Treyden Diduch took third at Novice-64; Benjamin Nadig placed fifth at Novice-93; Maddux Rabczak earned eighth at Novice-74.

Hononegah’s Rocco Cassioppi got first in Senior-103, but his twin brother Bruno had to miss the state series due to a shoulder injury. Hononegah also got a medal from Brody Sendele, who placed second at Senior-135.

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For Stockton, Eli Larson got second at Senior-144; Jeremiah Luke got fifth at Senior-154 and Aiden Larson took sixth at Novice-134. Lena-Winslow’s The LAW club got medals from Duncan Nevel (fifth at Senior-164) and Gannon Dunker (seventh at Senior-188)

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Other placers were: North Boone’s Isiah Harris who got third at Novice-125; Belvidere’s Diego Martinez who took eight at Senior-74; and Polo’s Taryn Heather who got eighth at Senior-70.

Jay Taft is a Rockford Register Star sports reporter. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @JayTaft. Sign up for the Rockford High School newsletter at rrstar.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Medalists from IKWF state wrestling tournament in Rockford, Illinois