Champaign – After winning his third Straight State Championship, Mount Carmel Junior Seth Mendoza took time to absorb on Saturday night.
But the discovery of Mendoza’s 4 -for -4 going was not far from his mind.
Mendoza said, “Three is a strange kind of kind – well, I don’t want to say strange, but interesting feeling.” “When you get your first, you are not really looking towards your fourth.
“I am now thinking that I have found third.
Mendoza did his job at the State Farm Center, defeating Michael Estaban K Michael Estaban with a major decision of 13–5 in the 126 pound championship match of Class 3A individual state meat.
Jolit Catholic Heavyweight Dillon Johnson became a four -time state champion, while Mendoza team partner Colin Kelly (175) won his second title for Caravan. Marist’s Will Denny (150) also became a champion in class 3A, while St. Rita’s Sean Larkin (144) won the Class 2A state title.
Johnson and St. Charles East’s Ben Devino, who won in 132 on Saturday to become a four-time state champion, inspired Mendoza (42–2).
Mendoza said, “There are many great four-time.” “I remember (St. Rita) Austin O’Coner in his fourth place. When I was younger, wrestlers in my school, Williams Brothers, two four-timer (Joe and TJ) and a two-time (Steve).
“In one of our gyms, we have the ring of champions, and all the state champions have all the names, so it only has something to look forward.
Mount Carmel’s Seth Mendoza, Right, Michael Estabon of Marist meets 126 pounds in 126 pounds in the state farm center in the champion on Saturday, 17 February, 2024 in the championship match of Class 3A in 126 pounds. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Johnson (39–1) was generally prominent in becoming a four-time champion.
The recruitment of Wisconsin Football and Wrestling ended for the first time in the last second of the championship match to all four of their opponents in the state, Marco Ivanisevik of Hansdale Central.
Johnson showed rare spirit after his final victory, jumped into the arms of Jolit Catholic coach Ryan Kumbe.
“It’s the last,” Johnson said. “Why didn’t you celebrate the previous one, you know that I will come here for the last time, so you have to enjoy it.”
In other championship matches, Kelly (43–1) defeated Marist’s Ricky Ericasen with a technical decline, Denny (42–4) topped Renzo Augusto of Barrington with a major decision of 15–7 and Lerkin (22–2) pulled the 9–77 Thrler against Dowstate Washington’s Pitan Cox.
Estabon, Ericseen, Jason Hampton (120) of Jolit Catholic, Justin Wardlo (138) of Locport and AD Enterite (157) of Mount Carmel were runners -up.
Colin Kelly of Mount Carmel reacted by defeating Marist K Ricky Ericasen for 175 pounds in 175 pounds in the Class 3A State Meat Championship match at the State Farm Center in Champagne on Saturday, 17 February 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Meanwhile, Kelly, returned to the podium. After winning a state championship, as a Sophomore, he came in the last season with a runner-up Finnish.
Kelly, also the recruitment of Wisconsin, said that in a car accident before this winter, there was no good luck, which gave him a new approach.
Kelly said, “It was opened to my eyes not to worry about small things and enjoy every day, enjoy every day.” “Every day is really a blessing.
“The next day you can’t just go.
Kelly, who said that a car got out and hit the car, which he was driving in an icy night in this winter, it seemed as if he put less pressure on himself this time in the state this time.
He said, “Last year, it was stuck in a very time, working like the state’s final was the end of the world,” he said. “Like if I do not win, I don’t wake up the next day.
“It is feeling that it is a big tournament but it is a small thing at the same time.