Jefferson Students Qualify for State Wrestling Finals

Two  seventh-graders have qualified for the Illinois Elementary School Association’s state wrestling finals in DeKalb March 9 and 10. 

Zach Muller and Joe Tonoff both scored top-three finishes at their sectional at Hinsdale South High School, earning a trip to state competition. Muller took second at the 185-pound weight class. Tonoff took third in the 105-pound weight class. 

Fourteen Jefferson students qualified for sectional competition based on their performance at their regional meet. 

The following students took first, second, third and fourth places in their respective weight classes: 

Regional first-place finishers: Nick Lonask, Aymen Zekri, Joe Tonoff and Zach Muller 

Regional second-place finishers: Luke Oskvarek and Patrick Azer

Regional third-place finishers: Calum Bonds, Jason Santiago, Evan Strauel, and Harris Salim

Regional fourth-place finishers: Luis Marquez, Eli Brassel, Jeff Gonzales and Michael Losurdo

Jefferson's wrestling team took second in its conference, ending the conference season with an 8-1 record.

Jefferson had four individual conference champions: Nick Lonask, Joe Tonoff, Aymen Zekri and Zach Muller. 

The following are the second- and third-place conference finishers in their respective weight classes: 

Conference second-place finishers: Taylor Young, Lonnie Trent, Luke Oskvarek, Mark Leflore-Chapman and Jason Santiago

Conference third-place finishers: Patrick Azer, Evan Strauel, Lewis Henderson, Harris Salim and Dezsawn Burgess

The state finals will be held at the Convocation Center on the Northern Illinois University campus.

The team is coached by Luis Vargas, a first-year physical education and health education teacher at Jefferson. The team's assistant coach is Don Mancuso. Both Vargas and Mancuso were former varsity wrestlers. Mancuso was an IMEA state qualifier and regional champion.