Toughest Tournaments in Illinois

[greatt slambino]

List your 5 toughest tournaments throughout the state in order...

[wrestle4life]

1. IHSA State Finals of course
2. Dvorak - Machesny Park (32 teams)
3. The TBA AAA Sectional that feeds Pekin Dual Team Sectional
4. Feutz - Conant (19)
5. Rex Whitlatch - Hinsdale Central (24)
5. Moore-Prettyman - Barrington (34)
6. Berman - Palatine (24)
7. Geneseo (16)

[JAMFISHING]

No way is the IHSA finals tougher than the Dvorak. Look at the past results. Many wrestlers will place higher at State finals than at the Dvorak. Kendall and Dwyer both finished lower at Dvorak than at State. Three classes A,AA and AAA will also dilute the competition.

[mckbln]

I am not going to count the IHSA regionals/sectionals/state tournaments or conference tournaments. The CCL and DVC are usually the two toughest conference tournaments, 1&2 depending on the year. Here are the toughest regular season tournaments:

1. Al Dvorak Memorial
2. Conant - C.O. Feutz Classic
3. Barrington - Moore/Prettyman Memorial
4. Hinsdale Central - Rex Whitlatch
5. Berman Holiday Classic

HM: Granite City & Geneseo

[Southern_Hospitality]

HM: Granite City (only has 8 teams)


Again, Granite has 18 teams and not 8. Illinois matmen only post the 2nd day brackets and this tournament takes the top 8 from the 1st day. Why don't come down south for the tournament before you starting talking about stuff you don't know about.

[mckbln]

Again, Granite has 18 teams and not 8. Illinois matmen only post the 2nd day brackets and this tournament takes the top 8 from the 1st day. Why don't come down south for the tournament before you starting talking about stuff you don't know about.

Sorry, and relax. Did I say anything negative? I really wish I could make it down, especially since OPRF has a good chance of winning the tourney this year.

[Southern_Hospitality]

Sorry, and relax. Did I say anything negative? I really wish I could make it down, especially since OPRF has a good chance of winning the tourney this year.


No, I just said that you are misinformed on the number of teams. Seriously, I agree with you that OPRF is a serious contender in knocking Oak Park off the throne.

[greatt slambino]

This year not counting any IHSA post season I think Granite City and Contant might be tied for second to Dvorak.

[jp157]

what about the Quincy invite that usually has about 30 teams?

[mckbln]

what about the Quincy invite that usually has about 30 teams?

The problem with Quincy and a lot of other tournaments that I didn't rank, is either a weak field (like Quincy) or a really small field. I probably should have ranked Geneseo higher, considering last year it had Providence, Iowa City West, St Rita (when they were still decent), Cedar Rapids, Minooka, Granite City, and Yorkville in it. It's ironic that Iowa City West wins Dvorak, but finishes behind Providence at Geneseo. The more you narrow a field the easier it is for a great dual meet team to win a tournament, vs a better tournament team.
When you compare the line-ups OPRF this year to Iowa City West last year, both teams have top wrestlers than can go deep into a tough tournament field.
Iowa City: Nate and Nick Moore, Dylan Carew, Grant Gambral, and Derek St John
OPRF: Chris and Nick Dardanes, Ellis Coleman, Dan Martin, Sam and Ben Brooks.

I can't help but wonder how well OPRF would have done at the Walsh Ironman this year. They travel to Kansas City next weekend for a real tough tournament.

[boomer58]

the Granite city tourny has added some top teams edwardsville is looking good early.granite is young but they just took on missouri power neosho tied 33-33 neosho won on criteriea at the mo.duals final it was a great match up.

[Blonjuan44]

No way is the IHSA finals tougher than the Dvorak. Look at the past results. Many wrestlers will place higher at State finals than at the Dvorak. Kendall and Dwyer both finished lower at Dvorak than at State. Three classes A,AA and AAA will also dilute the competition.

The IHSA is tougher than the Dvorak. True, some kids did better at State than Dvorak, but some kids did worse - but you are discounting all that were not even at Dvorak.

For example, when the kid from Rock Island beat Munster and everyone else who to win state 2 years ago in the toughest weight class. The larger the tourney, the tougher. Wrestling is not as team dominated as it used to be, there are a lot of off-season wrestlers who's teams do not go to Dvorak...a couple of out of state teams don't make up the difference. Just ask the kids who do better at Nationals than State.

[Formerwrestler]

Yeah OPRF will be at the Granite tourney, and a few real tough Missouri teams.

[qcelite63]

The more you narrow a field the easier it is for a great dual meet team to win a tournament, vs a better tournament team.
When you compare the line-ups OPRF this year to Iowa City West last year, both teams have top wrestlers than can go deep into a tough tournament field.
Iowa City: Nate and Nick Moore, Dylan Carew, Grant Gambral, and Derek St John
OPRF: Chris and Nick Dardanes, Ellis Coleman, Dan Martin, Sam and Ben Brooks.


* Also for ICW didnt the older carew boy (like 135 maybe?) place at dvorak and the geneseo tourny?

[MR TWISTER]

The IHSA is tougher than the Dvorak. True, some kids did better at State than Dvorak, but some kids did worse - but you are discounting all that were not even at Dvorak.

For example, when the kid from Rock Island beat Munster and everyone else who to win state 2 years ago in the toughest weight class. The larger the tourney, the tougher. Wrestling is not as team dominated as it used to be, there are a lot of off-season wrestlers who's teams do not go to Dvorak...a couple of out of state teams don't make up the difference. Just ask the kids who do better at Nationals than State.
I think the pressure is higher at state. Dvorak is very tough but most kids point their season towards state or nationals and the stakes are a lot higher in Feb and March than in December. Still there is no greater tournament to win than the Dvorak prior to state. From a confidence perspective winning or placings eliminates any question on your credentials.

[Jaguar]

The IHSA is tougher than the Dvorak. True, some kids did better at State than Dvorak, but some kids did worse - but you are discounting all that were not even at Dvorak.

For example, when the kid from Rock Island beat Munster and everyone else who to win state 2 years ago in the toughest weight class. The larger the tourney, the tougher. Wrestling is not as team dominated as it used to be, there are a lot of off-season wrestlers who's teams do not go to Dvorak...a couple of out of state teams don't make up the difference. Just ask the kids who do better at Nationals than State.
If you think that national tournaments like the Junior & Senior Nationals or Fargo are smaller than the Illinois State tournament, then you need to go take a look at them. The brackets re 2-3 times the size and filled with state placers and champs from other states. I am not sure what you were trying to say by mentioning national tournaments.

[Blonjuan44]

I am not sure what you were trying to say by mentioning national tournaments.

Volume matters: regionals, sectionals, state are all part of the same tourney - there are plenty of examples of people doing better at Nationals than State. I think Mr. Twister mentioned his son did better at Nationals than state. Not saying Nationals is less hard than State - it was an example in my point that State is harder than Dvorak - because not everyone goes to Dvorak but everyone is in the State tourney. The more matches, the more match-up problems. There will be state quality wrestlers not making it out of the Pekin/AAA sectional. Ben Peterson won the Olympics but didn't win state (WI).

[Jaguar]

Volume matters: regionals, sectionals, state are all part of the same tourney - there are plenty of examples of people doing better at Nationals than State. I think Mr. Twister mentioned his son did better at Nationals than state. Not saying Nationals is less hard than State - it was an example in my point that State is harder than Dvorak - because not everyone goes to Dvorak but everyone is in the State tourney. The more matches, the more match-up problems. There will be state quality wrestlers not making it out of the Pekin/AAA sectional. Ben Peterson won the Olympics but didn't win state (WI).
He also didn't win NAIA in college (? or Div II whichever UW Whitewater was at the time). But, I think that there is something to the fact that some wrestlers excel at the international styles, for some reason, more than they do at folkstyle.

[funk em up]

He also didn't win NAIA in college (? or Div II whichever UW Whitewater was at the time).

Ben Peterson was a 3x AA, 2x Champ for Iowa State.

[Jaguar]

Ben Peterson was a 3x AA, 2x Champ for Iowa State.
Actually, you are correct. It is John who didn't win state and didn't win a national championship in college, wrestling Div II (I think).

[mckbln]

Trivia question here. Which Russian all-time great beat BOTH Peteresn brothers, John in Munich 1972 finals and Ben in Montreal 1976 finals?

[Jaguar]

Trivia question here. Which Russian all-time great beat BOTH Peteresn brothers, John in Munich 1972 finals and Ben in Montreal 1976 finals?
Tedishvilli

[Geezus]

toughest tournament hands down in highschool in illinois is the Chicago Catholic League Tournament.

[Lockness]

toughest tournament hands down in highschool in illinois is the Chicago Catholic League Tournament.


Not this year

[Italiano]

maybe not this year, but consistantly over the years it is the toughest tournament

[Althalus]

maybe not this year, but consistantly over the years it is the toughest tournament


Agree that it is one of the toughest on a consistant basis. Every tournament has a low year. I think comparing the number of 4 time champs is telling.

[Geezus]

When you look at the number of schools competing in the CCL there is no question every match is TOUGH. When you have a 32 school tournament and 4 or 5 teams are tough I am sorry but nothing compares to the Catholic League Tournament. There is a reason why they produce the most state champions, state placers, team champions, college blue chips.

[wise guy08]

toughest tournament hands down in highschool in illinois is the Chicago Catholic League Tournament.
tougher than dovorak...huh??

[Blonjuan44]

Ben Peterson was a 3x AA, 2x Champ for Iowa State.

From Ben Peterson's web site: (Camp of Champs)

My dream in wrestling was to win a Wisconsin state championship. I tested my capabilities and lost my share of matches along the way. I continued to work hard to achieve my goal, but missed it by one match.

He sais this on his video also.

Also, how can CCL tournament be more difficult than the IHSA when those same wrestlers plus more are in the IHSA. Nationwide, the CA State series is up there. There are plenty of multisport state wrestling champs and others that don't go to National Events.

[southernillinoisfan2]

PIT????? i think this is a pretty tough tourney always

[mckbln]

Tedishvilli

Bingo! He had one of the BEST single leg attacks in wrestling history...

[Highc95]

Volume matters: regionals, sectionals, state are all part of the same tourney - there are plenty of examples of people doing better at Nationals than State. I think Mr. Twister mentioned his son did better at Nationals than state. Not saying Nationals is less hard than State - it was an example in my point that State is harder than Dvorak - because not everyone goes to Dvorak but everyone is in the State tourney. The more matches, the more match-up problems. There will be state quality wrestlers not making it out of the Pekin/AAA sectional. Ben Peterson won the Olympics but didn't win state (WI).

Some one beat me to it. The state tournament is the toughest by far. You have to include regionals and sectionals because they are apart of the state series. Yes some sectional weights are more stacked than others but the only thing that matters is who is standing on top of the podium in february because that kid can say he is a state champ. Winning regionals and sectionals is great and all but aren't they really just stepping stones to champaign. It's just one tournament wrestled over three weekends.

[gorillagrip]

This year I have to say the Dvorak is probably the toughest tournament in the state, yes tougher than the state series. In previous years AA state was the toughest followed by the Dvorak. However, having gone to three classes dilutes the talent at the state tournaments. Dvorak has most of the best in state teams from all classes as well as nationally ranked out of state teams, and in my opinion is a tougher tournament this year than state.