ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Hub varsity wrestling team conquered the Interstate 8 last season, winning both the regular season and tournament titles. If Thursday’s conference meet against Ottawa and LaSalle-Peru was any indication, Rochelle will be the team to beat once again.

The Hubs lost only four bouts during Thursday’s triangular meet, with Rochelle cruising over Ottawa 57-17 before dominating LaSalle-Peru 78-6. The Hubs (9-1, 2-0 Interstate 8) extended their streak of dual victories to eight and are now unbeaten to start the conference schedule. Rochelle will travel for a head-to-head conference match against Morris next Wednesday.

“I felt confident in my offense, which set up shots that helped me win these matches,” said sophomore Roman Villalobos, one of several two-match winners for the Hubs on Thursday. “We have a younger varsity group, but we work really hard in the room and we always work on our mistakes so we can get better. We definitely want to make it down to the team state tournament and last year’s dual record will be tough to beat, but I think it’s possible if we keep working.”

Ottawa

Rochelle claimed the first two matches during its battle against the Pirates. Sophomore Deegan Schabacker notched two takedowns and a first-period fall over Wyatt Wheeler in the 132-pound bout and sophomore Frank Nasca compiled three takedowns and a near fall before securing a third-period fall over Alan Amezquita in the 138-pound bout. Sophomore Brenden Voight beat Malachi Snyder with a 20-5 technical fall in the 144-pound bout, compiling six total takedowns.

Ottawa’s first win came during the 150-pound bout, where Malikhai Stayton outlasted freshman Angel Hernandez for a 9-4 decision. Ottawa’s Wes Weatherford then held off junior Matt Lynn for a 6-4 decision in the 157-pound bout. Junior Grant Gensler put the Hubs ahead 23-6 with a first-period takedown and fall against Ottawa wrestler Andrew Ristau in the 165-pound bout. 

Sophomore Roman Villalobos strung together five takedowns during his 18-5 major decision over Wyatt Reding in the 175-pound bout. Senior Brock Metzger followed with three near falls and a third-period fall over Ryan Wilson in the 190-pound bout. Junior Kaiden Morris kept the Rochelle lineup moving, notching a first-period takedown and pin against Hector Valdez in the 215-pound bout. Ottawa’s Ethan Day received a forfeit from Rochelle in the 285-pound bout.

The Hubs won three of the final four bouts of the match against the Pirates. Sophomore Freddie Hernandez scored a first-period fall over Giovanni Hernandez in the 106-pound bout before Ottawa standout Ivan Munoz defeated sophomore Keagan Albers with a third-period fall in the 113-pound bout. After senior Tommy Tourdot took a forfeit in the 120-pound bout, junior Xavier Villalobos concluded the match with a first-period fall over Keagan Duffy in the 126-pound bout.

LaSalle-Peru

Rochelle rallied off six straight pins to open its match against the Cavaliers. Sophomore Brenden Voight scored a first-period takedown and fall over Tyler Witczak in the 144-pound bout and freshman Angel Hernandez compiled four takedowns before a third-period fall over Amadae Ambler in the 150-pound bout. Junior Matthew Lynn outlasted L-P’s Zachary Pocivasek in the 157-pound bout, notching two takedowns and one near fall before earning a second-period fall.

Junior Grant Gensler and sophomore Roman Villalobos followed with first-period falls against Walter Haage and Josh Bickford, winning the 165-pound and 175-pound bouts to give the Hubs a 30-0 lead. Senior Brock Metzger secured a second-period fall over Caeden Small in the 190-pound bout, recording a reversal and near fall. LaSalle-Peru’s lone win came when Jackson Klobucher earned a second-period fall over senior Frank Decena in the 215-pound bout.

Leading 36-6, Rochelle won the remaining seven bouts to cruise for a dual victory over the Cavaliers. Junior Kaiden Morris locked down a first-period fall over Eric Mateika in the 285-pound bout and sophomore Freddie Hernandez hammered two takedowns during his first-period fall over Kiely Domyancich in the 106-pound bout. Sophomore Keagan Albers compiled two near falls in a second-period fall over Austin Herron in the 113-pound bout.

Senior Tommy Tourdot received a forfeit in the 120-pound bout and junior Xavier Villalobos made quick work of Franc Knap in the 126-pound bout, winning with a first-period takedown and fall. Sophomore Deegan Schabacker rallied to upset LaSalle-Peru’s Reegan Kellett in the 132-pound bout, emerging victorious with a second-period reversal and fall. Sophomore Frank Nasca sealed the match with a first-period fall over Zach Znaniecki in the 138-pound bout.