Althoff, Belleville West wrestlers win IHSA state championships in Champaign
Making his second straight appearance in a state title match, Belleville West junior Josh Koderhandt wasn’t about to be denied Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign
Runner-up in the Class 3A 113-pound weight class at the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament a year ago, Koderhandt defeated Vincent Robinson of Chicago Heights Marian 6-4 in the 120-pound final.
Koderhandt finished his season with a perfect 43-0 record. The title is the fifth in school history and first since DeMechico Spraggins won the Class 3A 138-pound title in 2013.
Joining Koderhandt as local wrestlers bringing home state titles Saturday were Joe Braunagel of Althoff in the Class 1A 182-pound class and Luke Odom of Edwardsville in the Class 3A 160-pound division.
Braunagel, the youngest of four wrestling brothers, thrilled the crowd for a second straight night with an exciting win. Braunagel edged Justin Peake of Johnsburg 5-4 to join twin brothers Danny and Zac as state champions.
Braunagel, who with the win extends the Crusaders years of having at least one state champion to five, finished his junior season at 37-4.
Danny and Zac Braunagel are both two time state champions. Currently freshmen at the University of Illinois, both are ranked in the top 15 in the nation in their respective weight classes. Oldest brother Jarrid Braunagel was a four-time state finals medal winner.
While Braunagel raised the family state championship count with his win, two other Crusaders fell short of the ultimate goal Saturday before the large crowd at State Farm Center.
Seeded second in the 145-pound class, Crusaders senior Anthony Federico dropped a 3-2 decision to Nolan Throne of Taylor Ridge Rockridge.
Throne ends his season at 50-0 while Federico, who was second in the 132-pound class a year ago, finishes 37-3. Federico was also sixth in the 132 pound class as a sophomore.
A third Althoff wrestler in the finals, senior Matthew Minnick, concluded his Crusaders career by placing second in the 106-pound class. Minick (35-6) dropped a 5-0 decision to freshman Saul Trejo of Elmhurst IC Catholic in the championship match.
Odom defeated Bradley Gillum of Dekalb 3-1 in the 160-pound final. Finishing his senior season at 50-1, Odom joins former teammate Noah Surtin as the only state champions in Tigers wrestling history. Surtin won the 113-pound crown in 2018.
A second Edwardsville wrestler, Lloyd Reynolds, fell short in the 285-pound final. The Tigers senior dropped a 3-2 decision to Mike Bosco or Orland Park Sandburg. Bosco finished 44-0 while Reynolds concludes his final season at Edwardsville with a 49-3 mark.
Civic Memorial junior Caleb Tyus saw his dreams of a state title and undefeated season end in the Class 2A 132-pound title match. Seeded first, Tyus dropped a 7-2 decision to Brody Norman of Washington in the final bout. Tyus ends his season at 42-1.
Jerseyville senior Zeke Waltz also fell short of becoming an undefeated state champion. Thornton Fractional North senior Bilal Bailey defeated Waltz (45-1) 6-3 in the Class 2A 160-pound final.
Additional results from the weekend
Other wrestlers earning state medals Saturday included in Class 3A Belleville East’s Adam Thebeau, who placed fifth in the 145 pound weight class; Alton’s Damien Jones, who was eighth in the 170 pound division; and Belleville West’s Dustin Olmstead, who was third in the 285-pound division.
In Class 2A, Caine Tyus of Civic Memorial (third) and Kylan Montgomery of Mascoutah (fifth) placed in the 138-pound class; Garrett Bakarich of Triad was third in the 152-pound class; Caleb Grau of Mascoutah took third in the 170-pound class; Arnold Edwards of Cahokia was sixth in the 182-pound division; and Jordan Sommers of Waterloo was fifth in the 195-pound division.
In Class 1A, Shawn Minick of Althoff was sixth at 120.
