Through four years of wrestling for Riverside Brookfield High School, senior Edgar Mosquera has continually set high standards.
“I feel like I’ve gotten very prideful. My expectations for doing stuff has gotten higher,” Mosquera said. “I always want to go higher than before. I know they’re very far to reach, but if they can do it, I can do it, too. If it was done, then I can do it, too.”
Mosquera became just the sixth multiple all-stater in RBHS history, Saturday, at the Class 2A state finals Saturday in Champaign, but he had higher hopes than finishing fourth at 120 pounds with a 3-2 state record, especially after taking second at 113 in 2024.
Mosquera (40-7) had a difficult third-place loss 3-1 to Wauconda senior Gavin Rockey (46-10) after winning his first two matches 1-0 and by technical fall 16-0. He won his first wrestleback 4-3 in overtime after losing in the semifinals 4-1 to Washington Noah Woods (45-2), who then won the state championship match 2-0.
In the third-place match, Mosquera broke a scoreless tie on an escape with 1:24 left. Rockey won on a takedown with just six seconds to go.
“I still think about my semifinal match, where I could have been in the final if I did something else. I was really upset, too, that I was going to win the third-place match. I don’t know how [Rockey] got behind me so fast,” Mosquera said. “I just wish I could show everyone I was at that level. All they see is that I placed fourth. [Third] would have made me feel a little better.”
Last season, Mosquera reached the finals at 113, losing 11-2 to then Rock Island senior Truth Vesey to finish 41-7 and become the first Bulldogs’ state finalist since 1983. Mosquera first qualified for state at 113 as a freshman and was 0-2.
“I felt like I had so much potential and now I see senior year where I was so close,” Mosquera said. “I’m most proud of placing second in state. That’s one of the things that I loved that I got to do.”
He had impressive state victories this year as well. Just to face Rockey, Mosquera edged fifth-place Yorkville Christian senior Aiden Larsen (43-6) with an escape in the first of two 30-second overtimes.
Mosquera’s opening-round victory over St. Patrick junior Calvin Stahl (36-14) required an escape with 49 seconds left. Mosquera’s only two state takedowns came during the 16-0 victory over Sycamore junior Michael Olsen (39-15), who lost to Rockey 7-0 in the wrestlebacks.
“I felt like I was going to win it, especially when (I won 16-0) in the quarters. I was like, ‘Yeah, I got it,’” Mosquera said.
In 2A team sectionals, the Bulldogs wrestled Brother Rice on its home mat Tuesday with the winner advancing downstate.
Fenwick boys wrestling
Fenwick senior Aiden Burns of Riverside came one victory from 2A all-state honors at 157, finishing with a 2-2 record.
Burns (43-6) lost 4-2 in the wrestlebacks to sixth-place Rockford East junior Ty Smart (40-14) behind a takedown with 47 seconds left after Burns entered the third period leading 1-0.
Burns won his previous match by technical fall 19-3 and his opener 16-15 over Plano senior Caidan Ronning (40-3) and lost 13-3 in the quarterfinals to second-place Highland senior Tyson Rakers (46-3).
Burns trailed Ronning 14-9 with 34 seconds left but pulled off an escape, takedown and three near-fall points with 13 seconds remaining to prevail. Ronning lost the other backdraw match for all-state.
LTHS boys wrestling
With a bit more good fortune, LTHS junior Griff Powell should have already reached the state meet. He took advantage of his first opportunity Saturday. Powell finished all-state sixth in 3A at 132, winning his first two matches impressively.
“It’s just showing that my hard work is paying off, knowing I’m moving in the right direction and more success is going to come along the way,” Powell said.
Powell (35-7) came one sectional victory from reaching state as a freshman. At the 2024 sectional, he had to withdraw after an injury during his first match.
“He got on the medal stand. Very proud of him,” said LTHS coach Griff Powell, also his father. “Overall, it was a great experience. He got on that award stand, which was one of his goals, but wanted to be higher.”
Powell (35-7) went 2-3, winning his opener by technical fall 18-3 and then 11-5 over Oak Park and River Forest junior Zev Koransky (26-10), the No. 4 seed.
In the semifinals, Powell lost by technical fall 19-4 to the eventual state champion, Hononegah sophomore Rocco Cassioppi (47-2). Powell lost for fifth 5-4 to Mt. Carmel’s sophomore Justin Williamson (18-9) after a 4-1 loss to fourth-place Hersey senior Elijah Garza (42-11) in the wrestleback semis on a takedown with 31 seconds left.
Powell had beaten Williamson twice at sectionals and previously lost to Garza.
“I think I wrestled pretty smart those [first two] matches, knew what I had to do to win,” wrestler Powell said.
“I feel I was a little too satisfied with my results before those three [losses] so I don’t think I wrestled as well. [I learned] never to be satisfied and there’s just a lot more to be put in.”
In his state debut, LTHS senior Jack Kutchek (27-16 at 138) lost his two matches by technical fall (16-0) and pin to non-all-staters with a combined 89 victories.
Kutchek was pinned in 3:48 after leading 11-1.
“I should have done better, but it was a really cool experience being there,” Kutchek said. “Hanging out with my teammates and everything, just grateful for it and all of my coaches. The experience was awesome.”
The Lions were joined by freshman Louie King, one sectional victory from state, and senior Roger Martinez, who qualified for but missed sectionals because of a knee injury. Martinez traveled to Champaign after undergoing surgery Feb. 18.
“For all of those guys to experience that weekend together was special,” coach Powell said. “What Jack did at sectionals [to qualify] was exceptional. Three guys he beat had beaten him previously and were all ranked in the top 10. Couldn’t be more proud of the development he had, particularly this season.”