ST. CHARLES — The Rochelle Wrestling Club sent 17 athletes to the 2024 St. Charles Battle for the Shield on Sunday, Feb. 4. Four athletes brought home first-place finishes, while two more secured second-place finishes and one earned a third-place finish in the tournament.

Elias Andronic won the Tots 56-59 Division with a 3-0 record. Andronic recorded a first-round fall over Izzy Style’s Everett Sims before scoring an 11-1 major decision over Suplex Wrestling Club’s Suleiman Boziev in the second round. Andronic clinched the division championship with a third-round fall against Levi Kamp of the Bulls Wrestling Club to conclude the tournament.

Wells Millard won the Bantam 53-54 A Division with a 3-0 record. Millard notched a 17-1 technical fall over Iguana Wrestling’s Gyver McFeeters in the first round and a 4-2 sudden victory in overtime against Mattoon Wrestling’s Leo Hooker. Millard sealed the division crown with a 15-0 technical fall against Lake Zurich Wrestling Club’s Brody Czarnecki.

Nehemiah Andronic won the Bantam 71-73 Division with a 3-0 record. Andronic opened the tournament with two consecutive falls, defeating McHenry Wrestling Club’s Jackson McLean and Lake Zurich Wrestling Club’s Laurance Drish to reach the final round. Andronic earned the division championship with a 6-0 decision over Lawrence County’s Jake Meeks.

Xander Gonzales won the Bantam 115-122 Division with a 2-0 record. Gonzales earned a first-round bye before earning a second-round fall over Arlington Cardinals wrestler Jackson Albright. Gonzales took home the division title with a fall over Fox Valley’s Declan Guleserian.

Teddy Millard took second in the Novice 70-73 Division with a 2-1 record, notching an 8-1 decision over Arlington Cardinals wrestler Ryan Dean and a 6-4 decision over Crystal Lake Wizards wrestler Marshall Rajcevich. Dominic Escatel took second in the Intermediate 81-83 Division with a 2-1 record, receiving a medical forfeit from St. Charles Wrestling Club’s Eli Samaniego before recording a second-round fall over Scorpion Wrestling’s Avery Robelo.

Benjamin Morris placed third in the Novice 148-158 Division with a 2-1 record, securing two falls over Riot Room Wrestling’s Michael Campbell and Morris Wrestling Club’s William Anderson. Ty Johnson finished fourth in the Tots 39-40 Division and Easton Huff finished fourth in the Tots 65-70 Division with a 1-2 record, winning by fall over ISI Wrestling’s Ryder Dearing. 

Andrew Eyster took fifth in the Senior 148-159 Division with a 2-1 record, scoring a 10-5 decision over HFRTC’s Freddrick Walter Jr. and a 3-1 decision over Batavia’s Elijah O’Donnell. Eoghan Good placed sixth in the Bantam 46-48 Division with a 1-2 record, earning a fall over Hawk Wrestling Club’s Cameron Skoli. Elliot Huff placed sixth in the Bantam 66-66 Division with a 1-2 record, notching a fall over Lake Zurich Wrestling Club’s Camden Neil.

Additional wrestlers who competed in the tournament include Joshua Hernandez (Novice 97-102 Division), Landon Leigh (Novice 100-102 Division), Tate Bigelow (Intermediate 74-75 Division), Gwendolyn Good (Girls 2 64-70 Division) and Axel Alsop (Senior 115-119 Division).