Top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to individual sectionals. Team champions advance to dual-team sectionals. Rankings by IllinoisMatmen.com or Illini Best Weekly.
Class 1A
AT EUREKA
Field: Illinois Valley Central, El Paso-Gridley, Eureka, Farmington, Illini Bluffs, Knoxville, Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Manual, Peoria Heights/Quest, Tremont.
When: First round, 9 a.m.; finals, 1 p.m.
Outlook: El Paso-Gridley is the team favorite here led by Monte Gregory (36-1, No. 1 by IBW at 106), as the Titans seek their first regional title since consolidating in 2004. Tremont, a regional champ a year ago, could pose a challenge with six returning sectional qualifiers. Manual is led by sr. Desirgeeon Keys (22-2 at 220) and jr. Cody Baker (28-0, ranked No. 8 by IBW at 285). Other ranked wrestler include the Knoxville duo of Rueben Cantu (No. 4 at 138 by IBW) and Kage Leab (No. 7 at 152) and Dee-Mack’s Joey Regnier (No. 10 at 285)
Next: Individuals to Olympia Sectional, team champ to Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley dual-team sectionals.
Elsewhere: Illini West, Macomb, Midwest Central/Havana, Monmouth-Roseville compete in the Camp Point Regional, where Petersburg PORTA coop is the highest ranked team (21st by IBW). … Olympia takes six 24-plus match winners to the Clinton Regional, led by two-time third-place medalist Keaton Fogler (36-3, ranked No. 3 at 220 by IBW). Fifth-ranked Clinton is the team favorite … Princeton hosts a nine-team regional that includes Kewanee and St. Bede. Kewanee’s Lewis Robinson is third-ranked by Matmen at 152. ROWVA competes in the Taylor Ridge Regional.
Class 2A
AT ROCK FALLS
Field: Dixon, Galesburg, Geneseo, Putnam County/Hall, LaSalle-Peru, Notre Dame, Richwoods, Rock Falls, Sterling.
When: First round, 9 a.m.; finals, 2 p.m.
Outlook: LaSalle-Peru, ranked No. 4, finished and unbeaten regular season (20-0) and is the team favorite here, but could be challenged by No. 5 Dixon (21-1) and No. 7 Geneseo (17-3). Notre Dame seeks to advance its top foursome of so. Tristan Daugherty (33-4, No. 2 at 113), so. Grant Peterson (33-4 at 120), jr. Leo Mushinsky (35-3, No. 4 at 138) and fr. Jake Sollberger (27-13 at 145). Richwoods is led by srs. Jamal Jackson (26-5 at 285) and Jason Gardner (27-9 at 220).
Next: Individuals to Sycamore Sectional, team champ advances to LaSalle-Peru dual-team sectional.
AT METAMORA
Field: Limestone, Bloomington, Canton/Cuba, East Peoria, Metamora, Morton, Peoria High, Pontiac, Washington.
When: Session I, 9 a.m., session II, 1 p.m.
Outlook: Top-ranked Washington begins its quest for a state title three-peat as a heavy favorite to win a seventh regional in eight years, with No. 3 Bloomington posing the biggest challenge. The Panthers earned eight state medals last year and have eight wrestlers ranked in the top four of their respective classes, led by the top-ranked foursome of Tyler Delaware (33-3 at 132), Blaize Punke (32-2 at 145), Dalton Jensen (32-4 at 152) and Jace Punke (32-3 at 285). Washington is without third-place medalists Christian Goin, who moved to Bloomington. Also missing from a chance for a state title is 145-pound 2017 state-runner up Mikie Hartnett, who has not wrestled for Morton since December. No other JS-area team has a ranked wrestler but Limestone, Canton, East Peoria, Metamora and Peoria High (Marques Cox is honorable mention at 285) all should advance multiple entries to sectionals.
Next: Individuals to Sycamore Sectional, team champ advances to LaSalle-Peru dual-team sectional.
Class 3A
AT QUINCY
Field: Alton, Belleville East Belleville West, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, O'Fallon, Pekin, Quincy.
When: Session I, 9 a.m.; session II, 1 p.m.
Outlook: Edwardsville, ranked 24th by IBW, is the likely team favorite. Pekin hoping to again move on multiple wrestlers to sectionals, led by returning qualifier so. Ryan Haynes (32-4 at 113), fr. Drake Hawkins (28-8 at 120), sr. Brody Haynes (24-10 at 145) and sr. Mid-Illini champ Ryan Siddles (28-7 at 195).