106 — Travis Ford-Melton, Marian Catholic, freshman: The first of eight state champions on our list, Ford-Melton (46-1) was untouchable in winning the Class 2A title. His only loss came in the dual team state finals when he bumped up to face Dack Punke, Washington’s 113-pound state champ.
113 — Louie Hayes, Sandburg, senior: The Virginia recruit let out a roar of euphoria after landing a last-second takedown to capture the 3A state title. It was one of the coolest moments of the season. Hayes finished 45-2.
120 — Kevin Stearns, Sandburg, senior: After a few solid seasons, Stearns saved his best for last. Stearns (48-3) rolled to a third-place finish in his first trip to the state tournament.
126 — Jake Silzer, St. Rita, senior: Silzer (35-5) is like quicksand. He’s hard to escape. The Illinois recruit nabbed his third state medal with a third-place finish in 3A.
132 — Rudy Yates, Sandburg, senior: Funny on the microphone and fierce on the mat, Yates (45-0) won his third state championship, beating two-time champion Dylan Duncan of Montini in the finals. Yates is headed to Northern Iowa.
138 — Jimmy McAuliffe, Reavis, junior: McAuliffe (39-5) earned his second state medal with a fifth-place showing in 3A. He added regional and conference titles for the Rams.
145 — Austin O’Connor, St. Rita, junior: O’Connor (47-0) captured his third state title, defeating Lockport’s Shayne Oster 3-2 in a juicy matchup of returning champions. O’Connor is one of the top juniors in the nation.
152 — Jake Tucker, Mount Carmel, senior: The Michigan State recruit returned with a bang after missing time with a torn ACL. Tucker (44-3) became the 2A state champion for the Caravan, who took third in the dual team state.
160 — Jose Champagne, Marian Catholic, senior: The Cumberland recruit capped his career with an undefeated season, placing first in 2A to earn his third state medal. Champagne (35-0) sparked Marian’s surge to a runner-up finish in dual team state.
170 — Kordell Norfleet, Marian Catholic, junior: Norfleet used a late escape to capture the 2A state title. Norfleet (37-1) suffered his only defeat in the dual team state finals, jumping up in weight against Washington’s Jake Warner, a two-time champion.
182 — Patrick Brucki, Sandburg, junior: A physical specimen, Brucki marched all the way to the 3A finals. Also a standout linebacker in football, Brucki (48-3) should be in the thick of title contention again next season.
195 — Eric Schultz, Tinley Park, senior: The Nebraska recruit was a bulldozer, securing a pin or technical fall in 43 of 44 victories en route to the 2A title. Schultz (44-0) joins his father, Eric Sr., as a state champion at Tinley Park.
220 — Diata Drayton, Marist, junior: A dangerous athlete, Drayton (33-6) finished fourth in 3A. The defensive lineman in football gets the nod over Oak Forest’s Nick Graziano (third in 2A) for clipping Lincoln-Way Central standout Jake Dudeck in the state quarterfinals.
285 — Bryan Ditchman, Lincoln-Way Central, senior: A Florida International football recruit, Ditchman (45-3) is a rare three-time state medalist at heavyweight in 3A. The state finalist tops Mount Carmel’s Matthew Reyes, the 2A state runner-up, for the honor.