The wave of success for Riverside Brookfield High School senior boys wrestler Nick O’Connor, Saturday, began by winning the 175-pound title at the Class 2A Glenbard South Regional.
“That was my first varsity tournament win,” exclaimed O’Connor (28-5) after his pin in 3:14. “It’s always been second, third, sometimes fifth. I’m proud of myself. I always come up short in the finals.”
Moments later, O’Connor was informed that his title all but mathematically clinched a third straight regional team title for the Bulldogs (180.5 points), who won by nine points over Hinsdale South while advancing eight individuals to the Hinsdale South Individual Sectional, Feb. 13-14, with top-three finishes.
Senior Izaiah Gonzalez (28-3 at 132), junior Tony Lombardo (25-4 at 138) and sophomore Riley Cavaliere (18-14 at 106) also were regional champions.
Seniors Jayden Tulian (10-13 at 126) and Gerald Evans (24-12 at 190) were second and seniors Aiden Veltman (14-13 at 150) and Joe Alberts (15-14 at 215) were third. One victory from advancing were fourth-place senior Miles Russell-Barnes (18-16 at 113) and sophomore Elijah Rambis (7-22 at 157).
With its sixth regional title in seven seasons, RBHS also advances to the 2A Evergreen Park Team Sectional Thursday. A sectional victory means a trip to the state team quarterfinals, Feb. 27-28, in Bloomington.
“We talked about that. You’re not just wrestling for yourself. You’re wrestling for your teammates and to continue the tradition we have,” RBHS coach Nick Curby said. “I was really happy with the way the guys responded.”
In their title victories, Lombardo (2:46) and Cavaliere (2:46) won with second-period pins and Gonzalez had a 15-0 technical fall. With third place and a sectional berths on the line, Alberts had a 41-second pin. Veltman won with a pin 14 seconds into the third period with the match scoreless.
Veltman nearly competed at regionals last season but was injured. Battling injury again, he had just one practice before regionals. He also overcame his headgear strap breaking in the first period. When Curby couldn’t repair it, Veltman borrowed Evans’ headgear.
“A few weeks ago, my goal was if I make it to sectionals I’m happy. And if I make it to state, I’ll be even happier,” Veltman said.
Tulian is excited to return to sectionals after finishing fourth last year while battling nausea. He just missed qualifying for state as a sophomore, and recent illness and injury isn’t going to stop him from trying to advance.
“[Last season] motivated me a lot,” Tulian said. “Now that it’s my senior year, I have to go and give it my all and leave it on the mat.”
Nazareth Academy was seventh (82). Junior 126 champion Alek Ramos (29-5), second-place junior Richie Gulli (21-7 at 120) and third-place junior Emilio Fortiz (22-10 at 113) and freshman Joaquin Fortiz (22-10 at 132) advanced for the Roadrunners.
LTHS boys wrestling
Lyons Township senior Luca Ligammari didn’t know his overall wrestling record this season before or even after the 3A Naperville North Regional.
“I don’t follow it because it doesn’t really matter,” Ligammari said. “Once you get to the state series, it’s all its own thing.”
All the No. 5 seed at 106 pounds knows is he’s elated about advancing to the Hinsdale Central Sectional after finishing second following a pin over the No. 1 seed in the semifinals.
“I’m really just excited. It kind of shows once the state series starts, anything can happen,” said Ligammari, now 12-21. “Coming in against a No. 1 seed, semis, but got it done, never stopped wrestling.”
The Lions advanced five with top-three regional finishes and were fourth (107.5 points). Senior Griff Powell (25-3 at 138), an all-state sixth in 2025 at 132, won a regional crown. Seniors Jimmy Hillmann of Brookfield (33-13 at 285) and Cornell Fennessee (30-18 at 165) and sophomore Jesse Nunez-Garcia (30-15 at 150) finished second.
“We lost a couple of close matches, but to get five guys into the finals, this is a very tough regional. I’m really proud of their effort,” LTHS coach Griff Powell said. Powell won his title match by technical fall (23-7 in 5:45) over Montini Catholic senior Jermey Huf (22-11).
In their championship matches, Nunez-Garcia lost by technical fall 19-4 and Ligammari and Hillmann were pinned in 2:16 and 1:39, respectively. Fennessee took an injury default in 4:56 after aggravating his shoulder injury while losing 10-0. Hillmann and Fennessee also were 2025 sectional qualifiers. Nunez-Garcia joins Ligammari in making first trips after only a few varsity matches as a freshman.
“I really feel like I want to prove myself,” Nunez-Garcia said. “As a sophomore, I want to go as far as I can and reach my full potential so I think reaching sectionals in another step toward the big goal of state in the future.”
In one of the tougher brackets, senior Luke Wilhelm (32-15 at 190) was fourth. Wilhelm led in the third period but was pinned in 4:41 after losing 4-3 in the semifinals.
In 1:16, Ligammari pinned Hinsdale Central freshman Bryce Enway (22-12), who finished fourth to also advance. Was that Ligammari’s greatest victory so far?
“If I went all the way back, I’d find some contenders but definitely up there. One of the most pumped up wins I’ve ever had for sure,” he said.