Alright, we're finally here. The regular season is wrapping up, and honestly? I'm already nervous about what's coming. The next month is going to be chaos in the best possible way. Twists, turns, bracket busters, and at least a few matches that'll have us all yelling at our phones.
But before we dive headfirst into the state series madness, let's take a breath and look back at what we've seen so far. Specifically, which weight classes have been absolutely loaded this season.
Now, if you've followed Illinois wrestling for any amount of time, you probably know the drill. The middle weights (think 126 through 157) tend to be the most stacked. It just makes sense, right? Normal distribution curve and all that. Most kids fall somewhere in that range. But every now and then, you get outlier years where the depth shows up in weird places.
2025–2026 has definitely been one of those years.
Quick Context Before We Dive In
Here's the thing about Illinois wrestling that outsiders don't always get. 3A typically has the hardest weight classes. Bigger schools, bigger enrollment, more bodies in the room. Plus, most of the historically dominant Catholic schools have either moved up to 3A by rule or just made the jump themselves. The only real powerhouses left at 2A are IC Catholic and Providence.
And 1A? Look, they've got their juggernauts. Coal City and Vandalia aren't going anywhere. There's great wrestling sprinkled throughout that division. But it's just hard to compete with the sheer volume of talent that 3A brings to the table.
With that said, let's break this down weight by weight.
The Weight-by-Weight Breakdown
106 lbs
This one's pretty open and shut. You could make the argument that 8 of the top 10 wrestlers here are from 3A. That's wild. 1A and 2A seem pretty evenly matched, but neither is touching 3A at this weight.
113 lbs
Not quite as dominant, but 3A still runs the show. Their top 4 are arguably the top 4 in the entire state. No real debate there.
120 lbs
Another weight class where 3A just crushes. Dom Munuretto leads the charge, and the list behind him? Nothing but hammers. Absolute hammers.
126 lbs
Yep, 3A again. Though I will say, 1A edges out 2A at this weight. Which is interesting.
132 lbs
Here's where things start getting spicy. Nicolas Garcia and Jason Hampton are clearly at the top of the class in Illinois. But that 3–10 range? It's a mixed bag across all three divisions. The gap closes a bit here.
138 lbs
3A continues its dominance, but 2A is a clear second. 1A trails behind, but there's still some fight there.
144 lbs
3A carries this weight, though 2A has some very legit contenders making noise.
150 lbs
Another dominant showing for 3A. 2A mixes in a few strong guys. 1A... not as competitive here, if I'm being honest.
157 lbs
Okay, now we're talking. This might be the weight where 3A doesn't sit on the throne. Justice Heeg is clearly the number one guy at 157, and he's 2A. They've also got Aiden Arnett and Brock Ross making waves. 1A shows up nicely here too.
165 lbs
Another weight where 2A goes toe-to-toe with 3A. Wyatt Medlin might be the best 165 pounder in the state, edging out a very formidable Liam Kelly. That's a match I'd pay to watch.
175 lbs
Brody Kelly (2A) sits at the top of 175 by a decent margin, in my humble opinion. But then 2A kind of goes quiet after him. 1A fills in the middle of that top 10 nicely, and 3A rounds out the gaps.
190 lbs
And here we go. This class is ALL about 2A. I mean, absolutely stacked. Jimmy Mastny. Foley Calcagno. Marco Casillas. Jaxon Penovich. Judah Heeg. That's absurd depth. 3A and 1A? They stand no chance here. The only non-2A guy mixed into the top of this group is Aaron Stewart, but he's standing alone in a sea of 2A killers.
215 lbs
After Kai Cuculich and Josh Hoffer at the top, 1A actually has a really strong showing here. They've got more ranked wrestlers at this weight than 3A or 2A. Good for them.
285 lbs
2A and 3A split the top 10 pretty evenly, but 3A owns the top two spots. Joey Favia and Jonathon Rulo are a cut above. Then there's everyone else.
So What's the Most Stacked Weight This Year?
Drumroll, please...
If we're taking the top 5 overall wrestlers at every weight class and comparing them, the most loaded weight in Illinois this year is 190 pounds.
- Jimmy Mastny
- Foley Calcagno
- Marco Casillas
- Aaron Stewart
- Jaxon Penovich
That's five guys who could realistically end up on a podium anywhere in the country. The depth is unreal.
My runner-up? 138 pounds.
- Zach Stewart
- Griff Powell
- Adonte Washington
- Tommy Banas
- Erik Rodriguez
Also absolutely loaded. Any of those guys could have a special postseason run.
Final Thoughts
So that's how I see it. But here's the thing about wrestling. The rankings don't always mean much once the whistle blows. Someone's going to surprise us. Someone always does.
What do you think? Did I miss something? Is there a weight class you think deserves more respect? Let me know. I'm genuinely curious what you all are seeing out there.
Let's enjoy this ride.