CHAMPAIGN — Rudy Yates isn’t just one of the most fun-loving state champions in Illinois history. He’s also one of the most dominant.
The state’s all-time leader in technical falls capped an illustrious wrestling career with a third state championship Saturday at the State Farm Center, defeating two-time champ Dylan Duncan of Montini 3-2 for the 132-pound title in Class 3A. It marked Yates’ 88th straight victory.
“To beat a kid (ranked) No. 9 in the country three times in under two months, it feels really good,” said Yates, a Northern Iowa recruit. “A lot of people said there was no way I could do it at 132 pounds — that I was too small — and I did it. That’s what I live for.”
Yates, a state champion at Brother Rice as a freshman, knows how he’ll celebrate.
“Ice cream, pizza, milk shakes, all that,” Yates said.
The 145-pound finale was another buzzworthy bout featuring returning champs as St. Rita’s Austin O’Connor bested Lockport’s Shayne Oster 3-2.
“I want to break every kid I wrestle so that they never want to wrestle me again,” O’Connor said. “I don’t think I did that in that match. He’s a tough kid.”
O’Connor (47-0) will go for his fourth state title next year. Oster (34-4) is headed to Northwestern.
The state’s most dominant run arguably came from Tinley Park’s Eric Schultz, a Nebraska recruit making his third trip to the state finals.
Schultz (44-0) pinned or teched all four opponents en route to the 195-pound title in 2A. He joins his father, Eric Sr., as the fourth state champion in program history.
“I thought about it every morning I woke up and every time I went to bed,” Schultz said. “I had a lot of support from my family and I had great coaches.”
Sandburg’s Louie Hayes was another champion earning redemption after losing in last season’s finals. In the 113-pound finale, Hayes (44-2) landed a third-period takedown to hand Montini’s Real Woods (40-1) his first loss.
“It was surreal,” said Hayes, a Virginia recruit. “I didn’t even know I had the takedown, to be honest. When I saw the score was 2-1, I was just relieved. It’s a one-of-a-kind feeling.”
Marian Catholic turned in one of the better team performances with five 2A finalists and three undefeated state champions: Travis Ford-Melton (106, 43-0), Jose Champagne (160, 31-0) and Kordell Norfleet (170, 34-0).
“I’ve been working hard for the past few years and I always came up short,” Champagne said. “The hard work finally paid off.”
Champagne’s brother, Carlos, took second at 126, as did Donnell Washington at 120.
“Three out of five, that’s pretty good,” Norfleet said. “Wait, that’s a ‘D’ actually. But you know, it’s something to build off for next year.”
Mount Carmel came home with the 152-pound title in 2A behind Michigan State-bound Jake Tucker (42-3), who missed last year’s tournament with a torn ACL.
“It was nothing but motivation sitting out the end of the year,” Tucker said.
Lincoln-Way Central heavyweight Bryan Ditchman (45-3) placed second in 3A, as did Sandburg’s Patrick Brucki (182, 47-3).
Lemont’s Egan Berta (145, 43-3) and Mount Carmel’s Matthew Reyes (285, 36-4) were runner-ups in 2A.
Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Daily Southtown.
STATE WRESTLING
A list of Southland wrestlers who placed third through sixth at the state wrestling tournament:
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Class 3A
106: 3. Hassan Johnson, Brother Rice; 4. Domenic Zaccone, Stagg; 5. Jake Lyndsey, Providence.
120: 3. Kevin Stearns, Sandburg; 5. Abdullah Assaf, Lockport.
126: 3. Jake Silzer, St. Rita.
138: 5. Jimmy McAuliffe, Reavis; 6. Christian Robertson, Sandburg.
152: 5. Cole Smith, Providence; Trevell Timmons, Lockport.
160: 4. Ben Schneider, Sandburg.
170: 4. Brian Krasowski, Sandburg.
182: 6. Brian Burns, Lincoln-Way East.
195: 3. Lavall McNulty, Crete-Monee.
220: 4. Diata Drayton, Marist; 5. Jake Dudeck, Lincoln-Way Central.
Class 2A
106: 5. Chris Kennedy, Lincoln-Way West.
113: 3. Kevin Radcliff, Rich East. 5. Brandon Muselman, Oak Forest.
126: 3. Yahya Thomas, Mount Carmel; Gehrig Simon, Lincoln-Way West.
132: 4. Josh Jones, Marian Catholic; 5. Kendall Coleman, Mount Carmel.
138: 3. Jack Mulay, Mount Carmel.
145: 5. Kyle Ruettiger, Lincoln-Way West; 6. Ceasar Clark, Tinley Park.
160: 3. Cameron Lopez, Mount Carmel.
170: 3. David Riojas, Mount Carmel.
182: 3. Cody Ralston, Rich South; 6. Johnny Drozd, Mount Carmel.
195: 3. Dru Worker, Mount Carmel.
220: 3. Nick Graziano, Oak Forest; 4. Leo Ortiz, Mount Carmel; 5. Chuma Ifezue, Rich South.
285: 5. Solomon Smith, De La Salle.
Compiled by Logan Malloy