Usually, IHSA dual-team boys wrestling sectionals are hard-fought and competitive, with the outcomes often not decided until the final match or two.
The Class 3A dual-team sectional at Oak Park and River Forest High School, Feb. 5, was an aberration. Against Conant, the Huskies won their first 12 matches en route to an impressive 63-6 victory that punched their ticket to the dual-team state finals.
“I’m really proud of the team,” said OPRF coach Jason Renteria. “The growth of the boys this year is really big.”
The dual with Conant started with the 215-pound weight class. Lucas Albrecht got things rolling for OPRF with a victory via fall in 1:48 over Jaden Thorney. Pierre Nelson followed up at 285 by pinning Evan Mueller at 3:13. Jordan Dezara notched a technical fall victory at 106 over Jax Bryson, then Michael Rundell pinned Brian Hoffman in just 16 seconds at 113.
“It’s good to see the boys not only dominant, but also get pins,” Renteria said. “For the most part, we don’t pin a lot of people. So to see them pick up on the dual format of getting six [points] instead of five, those little differences are what it’s going to take to get a team trophy.”
Oak Park and River Forest’s Jamiel Castleberry tries to turn Conant’s Connor Willis in the 126-pounds bout during the Class 3A OPRF Team Sectional Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Oak Park and River Forest’s Isaiah Gibson takes control of Conant’s Oscar Luberda in the 138-pounds bout during the Class 3A OPRF Team Sectional Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Oak Park and River Forest’s Zev Koransky works to roll over Conant’s Jake Gizel in the 144-pounds bout during the Class 3A OPRF Team Sectional Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Oak Park and River Forest’s Zachary Chasson takes control against Conant’s Andres Justicia in the 120-pounds bout during the Class 3A OPRF Team Sectional Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026 in Oak Park, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal)
At 120, junior Zach Chasson got a 10-7 sudden victory in overtime over Andres Justicia. Next, Jamiel Castleberry won at 126 via fall (1:48) over Connor Willis. At 132, Alex Cohen defeated Emmett Arens 9-2. Isaiah Gibson got a technical fall victory at 138 over Oscar Luberda. Zev Koransky pinned Jake Gizel in 70 seconds to win his match at 144. At 150, Jack Skoglund got a technical fall win over Elliott Kang, and David Ogunsanya made really short work of Jaewon Willhite at 157, notching a pin in just seven seconds.
Jeremiah Hernandez pinned Sultan Imanaliev (1:33) at 165 to extend OPRF’s winning streak to twelve matches. But the Huskies fell just short of a sweep as Zach Michaud (175) and Daniel Solano (190) dropped close decisions in the final two matches.
“Things didn’t end the way I’d have liked,” Renteria said. “But the efforts from Michaud and Solano were good.”
OPRF now turns its attention to the Class 3A individual sectional. The Huskies’ 13 qualifiers will compete at Conant, Feb. 13-14. The top four placers in each weight class advance to the state finals in Champaign.
Girls wrestling
The Fenwick High School girls wrestling program is just 2 years old. But the Friars made history at the Rickover Regional, Feb. 7, as senior Valerie Franco became the program’s first IHSA sectional qualifier. Franco (16-4) defeated OPRF sophomore Eliana Martinez in the third-place match at 190 on a fall at :53.
“I was so pumped for Valerie,” said Fenwick coach Seth Gamino. “She had a tough match in the semis, losing by a last-second takedown, but bounced back well in the wrestlebacks. Then she took third place and she was so happy, smiling from ear to ear.”
Gamino added that Franco’s approach to the sectional will be no different – one match at a time.
“Wrestle our best, take every match as your first or last,” he said. “Prepare and execute on the mat and good things will come our way.”
Despite losing to Franco, Martinez (16-16) also qualified for the sectional as OPRF advanced four wrestlers to the Phillips Sectional, Feb. 13. The top four regional placers in each weight move on.
Senior Isabella Miller qualified for her second consecutive sectional. She improved her record to 22-3 by pinning America Cabrera of Phoenix Military Academy at 3:50 in the 140-pound final.
Senior Caliyah Campbell (20-6) finished second at 170, losing to Sara Martinez Lopera of Kelly via fall (1:12) in the final. And senior Michelle Kpekpe (24-15) placed third at 125, defeating Trinity I. Kinsey of Clark via fall (2:13) in the third-place match.
