CHAMPAIGN – Edwardsville Tigers and Belleville East Lancers still have several grapplers in the hunt for a Class 3A state championship after Day 1 of the IHSA State Wrestling Finals at the State Farm Center.
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On Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 106 pounds, Michael McNamara went 2-0 for Edwardsville. In the opening round, McNamara won by fall over Luthor Rajcevich of Hampshire. He followed that up with a dominant 11-0 major decision over Sebastian Gracia of Chicago Mt. Carmel in the quarterfinals.
At 144 pounds, Ryan Richie finished the day 1-1. Richie earned a technical fall victory over Ryan Johnston of McHenry, 18-2, in his first match before dropping an 8-2 decision to Justin Williamson of Chicago Mt. Carmel in the quarterfinals.
Roman Janek also stayed unbeaten on the day for Edwardsville at 215 pounds, going 2-0. Janek won by fall over Lucas Albrecht of Oak Park-River Forest in the first round, then pinned Dan Costello of Chicago Brother Rice in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals.
At 285 pounds, Braylon Hill-Lomax went 1-1. He opened with a 6-4 decision over James Brouilette of Mt. Prospect before being pinned in the quarterfinals by Joseph Favia of Aurora Marmion Academy.
For Belleville East, Jonathan Rulo had an impressive showing at 190 pounds, going 2-0. Rulo won by fall over Ajani Williams of Fox Lake in the first round, then needed just 17 seconds to pin Pierre Nelson of Oak Park-River Forest in the quarterfinals.
Edwardsville’s Tim Swaim, Simon Schulte and Bryson Nuttall, along with Alton’s Brayden Drew and Belleville East’s Jackson Schadegg, each went 0-1 on the day and will compete in wrestlebacks on Friday.
