The Illinois high school season rolls into sectional week across the state this weekend with the top competitors in the Land of Lincoln vying to secure a spot in Champaign for next week’s state tournament. Here’s a look at some of the top potential sectional matchups on tap for this weekend.  

Barrington 

126 pounds — Jackson Olson (Hononegah) vs. Oleksandr Havrylkiv (Hersey) 

The anticipated final features a clash between a pair of fourth-place finishers from the 2025 season. Olson placed at 120 and Havrylkiv at 113. While Havrylkiv has the more impressive record, Olson’s record reflects a tough schedule that includes tournaments such as Ironman. Placement order at this sectional will be key for Champaign, as this is one of the more open weights and a favorable seed can give a clear path to the finals at state. 

Hinsdale Central 

113 pounds — James Morrison (Marmion) vs. Erik Klichurov (Montini Catholic) 

In a state that embraces schematics over seeding, all too often we get semifinals such as this one. Both Morrison and Klichurov are having impressive seasons and both have cracked the national rankings at various points this season. Morrison and Klichurov have met once this year with Morrison taking home a close victory.  The 113-pound class in 3A is one of the deepest weights in Illinois and the winner of this one will put himself in a much more favorable position for seeding in Champaign the following week.

Hinsdale Central 

138 pounds — Zach Stewart (Marmion) vs. Griff Powell (Lyons) 

In yet another way-too-soon semifinal, returning state placer Griff Powell will run into 2025 state finalist Zach Stewart. Stewart will be the favorite coming in, but Powell has already found success against the Cadets with a win over Demetrios Carrera at the Flavin. This is another early sectional matchup that has potential to be repeated in next Saturday night’s state finals.

144 pounds — Demetrios Carrera (Marmion) vs. Kam Luif (Montini Catholic)  

Insane semifinal matchups seem to be the norm at the Hinsdale sectional, and this one will feature Demetrios Carrera, who placed third in 2025 against returning 2A state champion kam Luif. The winner will likely still have to face multiple-time state placer Justin Williamson of Chicago Mount Carmel in the sectional finals. This is one of the deepest sectional weights, featuring three contenders for the title in Champaign, and the winner in Hinsdale will be able to push the other two across the bracket in Champaign.

Conant 

120 pounds — Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East) vs. Ray Long (Niles Notre Dame) 

This semifinal match is a clash between two returning state champions. Munaretto, a two-time U17 World champion and two-time Ironman champion, will be looking for his third IHSA 3A state title before continuing his career at Ohio State. Long will be looking to derail the future Buckeye’s perfect senior campaign en route to his second state title.

Antioch 

190 pounds — Foley Calcagno (IC Catholic) vs. Jaxon Penovich (St. Viator)  

With Jimmy Mastny up at 215 for the state series, this semifinal match up has a good probability of being repeated the following weekend in Champaign in the finals. Calcagno who placed third at 215 in his junior campaign, appears to be the biggest obstacle in front of Penovich, who will be looking for his second IHSA state championship.

Geneseo 

165 pounds — Wyatt Medlin (Washington) vs.Izaac Gaines (Geneseo) 

Medlin, who is highly nationally ranked and will be continuing his career at Illinois, will be a heavy favorite coming into this sectional semifinal. However, Gaines is one of the contenders at this weight, and we all know that strange things happen this time of year. Even if Gaines comes up short, the possibility of a finals rematch the following week in Champaign is definitely not out of the question.

215 pounds — Jimmy Mastny (Marian) vs. Josh Hoffer (Washington)

This is the premier matchup of this sectional and it happens in the semifinals. Both Mastny and Hoffer are returning state champions. Mastny is having a stellar season with a Super 32 championship and high placement at Ironman. Hoffer has had a few more bumps in the road, but has been high in the national rankings at points in the season and will be Mastny’s toughest test as he looks for his third state title. 

Byron

106 pounds — Nate Lower (Rockridge) vs. Riley Paredes (Dixon)

This matchup makes the list because whenever you have two wrestlers with a combined 69-3 record meeting in the semifinals, someone is going to be pushed to the backside too early.  Neither Lower nor Paredes qualified for the big dance last season and both will be looking to improve their seeding come the following week in Champaign.

113 pounds — Landon Near (Newman) vs. Augustus Swanson (Princeton)

This weight appears to have the marquee finals matchup between returning state placer Landon Near and state qualifier Augustus Swanson. What makes this one interesting is that Near is up from last season when he competed at 106 and Swanson is down from 120 a season ago. This is another weight where the sectional finals can be a prelude to what we will get to see next week in Champaign on Saturday.

165 pounds — Eli Burns (Mercer), Ethan Waugh (Stillman Valley), Tyler Jones (Wheaton Academy), Reily Leifheit (Marquette), Casey Etheridge (Princeton), Ryan Lower (Rockridge), Jonner Smith (Carroll). 

This 1A sectional is likely the deepest weight in any class. There are at least three of the top wrestlers in this weight who will not make it out and possibly a fourth if there are any upsets. Though it’s difficult to predict how this weight will play out, the beneficiaries are the wrestlers at 165 from the other three sectionals, as the field will be significantly thinned coming into Champaign.

Illinois has lost back-to-back games for the first time this season, falling 85-82 in overtime at Michigan State on Saturday and 92-90 in overtime at home against Wisconsin on Tuesday.

That led to a notable change in one updated NCAA Tournament projection, despite the NET rankings and KenPom still holding the Illini in high regard.

With six Big Ten games remaining and the conference tournament ahead, a lot can change come Selection Sunday. But here’s a closer look at where Illinois stands in recent projections and updated rankings:

Illinois falls in CBS Sports’ updated Bracketology

Illinois fell from a No. 2 to a No. 3 seed in CBS Sports’ updated Bracketology after Tuesday’s loss to Wisconsin. However, the outlet noted that its model still projects the Illini to climb back up to the No. 2 line come Selection Sunday, so it could be just a temporary setback.

In this scenario, Illinois would play No. 14 seed Winthrop in the Round of 64, followed by a matchup against No. 6 seed Clemson or No. 11 seed Miami (Ohio). Out of the MAC, Miami (24-0) is the nation’s last undefeated team, while Clemson is second in the ACC standings at 20-4 and 10-1.

One of the teams Illinois is battling for a No. 2 seed is Purdue, which moved up from a No. 3 to a No. 2 seed after the Boilermakers’ overtime win at No. 7 Nebraska on Tuesday. Purdue (10-3) is a half game behind Illinois (11-3) in the Big Ten standings and lost a head-to-head meeting to the Illini at Mackey Arena, the teams’ only matchup of the season.