Stewart Captures Frosh/Soph Title, and Odiotti’s Stock Continues To Rise
By Illinois Matmen | November 8, 2026
Illinois high school wrestling alumni delivered an impressive showing at the 2026 Michigan State Open on Saturday, November 7, as former standouts from across the state made their presence felt against some of the nation’s top collegiate competition.
Held at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan, the tournament featured wrestlers from 26 programs competing in Open and Freshman/Sophomore divisions.
Ten Illinois high school alumni earned spots on the podium, led by runner-up finishes from Dom Munaretto (St. Charles East/Ohio State) and Connor Diemel (Hononegah/Wisconsin) in the Open Division, along with a championship performance from Zach Stewart (Marmion Academy/Purdue) in the Freshman/Sophomore Division.
Northwestern’s Massey Odiotti (Loyola Academy) continued his steady progression through the collegiate ranks with another third-place finish, while former Mount Carmel teammates Eddie Enright and Liam Kelly each collected bronze medals in separate divisions.
From established college competitors to freshmen making their first impressions, Illinois alumni demonstrated that the state’s talent continues to translate to success at the Division I level.
Munaretto Continues Winning Ways at Ohio State
Dom Munaretto — St. Charles East | Ohio State | 125 lbs. | 2nd Place
For anyone who followed Dom Munaretto’s remarkable career at St. Charles East, his early success at Ohio State should come as little surprise.
The three-time IHSA state champion and two-time U17 World champion established himself as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Illinois history before arriving in Columbus.
Munaretto completed his senior season with a perfect 50-0 record and finished his high school career with an extraordinary 209-4 overall mark.
His ability to consistently perform against elite competition has continued into his collegiate career.
Competing in the 125-pound Open Division at Michigan State, Munaretto opened with a convincing 13-2 major decision over Billy Smith of Findlay.
The competition intensified in the quarterfinals when Munaretto faced Michigan’s Chris Kiser.
In a back-and-forth battle, Munaretto demonstrated the composure that made him so successful in high school, earning a 10-8 decision to advance.
The semifinals presented another difficult challenge against Arizona State’s Damian Moreno.
With a championship appearance on the line, Munaretto found a way to win another close match, securing a 4-1 sudden-victory decision.
The victory sent him into the finals against Michigan’s Henry Aslikyan.
Unfortunately, the championship match was not contested, as Munaretto medically forfeited and finished second.
Munaretto’s Results:
- Def. Billy Smith (Findlay), MD 13-2
- Def. Chris Kiser (Michigan), 10-8
- Def. Damian Moreno (Arizona State), SV 4-1
- Lost to Henry Aslikyan (Michigan), medical forfeit
The runner-up finish was Munaretto’s second in as many collegiate tournaments.
Just one week earlier, he reached the finals of the Clarion Open before falling to Ohio State teammate Vinny Kilkeary, 8-3.
Through his first two college tournaments, Munaretto has demonstrated that he is more than capable of competing with experienced Division I wrestlers.
For Ohio State, his early performances are particularly encouraging.
Munaretto brings an impressive international résumé, exceptional mat awareness, and the ability to win close matches against quality opponents.
The Buckeyes already have a talented collection of lightweight wrestlers, and Munaretto’s continued development could make him an especially exciting addition to the program.
His high school career was defined by consistency and success against the nation’s best. The early indications suggest those qualities are carrying over to the next level.
For Illinois fans, Munaretto remains one of the most intriguing young wrestlers to follow throughout the collegiate season.
Diemel Finds Early Success with Move to Heavyweight
Connor Diemel — Hononegah | Wisconsin | 285 lbs. | 2nd Place
Perhaps one of the most encouraging performances by an Illinois alumnus came from Wisconsin’s Connor Diemel.
The former Hononegah standout is making a significant transition in his wrestling career, moving from the 175-pound weight class, where he placed third at the 2025 IHSA Class 3A State Championships, to the collegiate heavyweight division at 285 pounds.
It is a substantial adjustment, but Diemel’s early success suggests the move could prove beneficial for both him and the Wisconsin wrestling program.
At Michigan State, Diemel demonstrated that he possesses the technique, strength, and wrestling ability to compete successfully against larger opponents.
He opened the tournament with a 4-1 decision over Brentan Simmerman of Kent State.
In his second match, Diemel defeated Northwestern’s Dirk Morley, 7-3, to advance to the quarterfinals.
There, he faced Michigan State’s Josh Terrill in one of his toughest matches of the tournament.
With the match tied late, Diemel delivered in sudden victory, earning a 4-1 overtime decision to secure his place in the semifinals.
Against VMI’s Braxton Lewis, Diemel continued his impressive run, recording a 3-1 decision to advance to the championship match.
The final presented his biggest challenge of the day against Michigan heavyweight Niko Sahakian.
Sahakian ultimately claimed the championship with a 10-2 major decision, leaving Diemel with an impressive runner-up finish.
Diemel’s Results:
- Def. Brentan Simmerman (Kent State), 4-1
- Def. Dirk Morley (Northwestern), 7-3
- Def. Josh Terrill (Michigan State), SV 4-1
- Def. Braxton Lewis (VMI), 3-1
- Lost to Niko Sahakian (Michigan), MD 10-2
Diemel finished the tournament with a 4-1 record, winning four consecutive matches before falling in the championship.
His success at heavyweight is particularly encouraging considering the physical differences between competing at 175 pounds in high school and wrestling at 285 pounds in college.
Heavyweight wrestling requires adjustments in positioning, hand fighting, strength, and strategy. Athletes moving up in weight must learn to manage larger opponents while maintaining their technical advantages.
Diemel appears to be making that transition successfully.
His ability to win close matches, including a sudden-victory quarterfinal, demonstrates that he can compete in difficult situations.
For Wisconsin, finding another capable heavyweight provides valuable depth in one of the most demanding weight classes in collegiate wrestling.
For Diemel, the move could open the door to an exciting new chapter in his career.
A second-place finish in the Open Division is an excellent early indication that the change is working. As he continues to develop physically and technically, Diemel could become an increasingly valuable contributor for the Badgers.
Stewart Captures Michigan State Open Championship
Zach Stewart — Marmion Academy | Purdue | 133 lbs. | 1st Place, Freshman/Sophomore Division
Former Marmion Academy standout Zach Stewart wasted little time making an impact at the collegiate level.
The two-time IHSA state champion entered Purdue with an impressive high school résumé that included three state finals appearances and individual championships in 2024 and 2026.
Stewart was also a key member of Marmion’s back-to-back Class 3A Dual Team State Championship squads.
At Michigan State, he demonstrated the same competitive toughness that made him one of Illinois’ premier high school wrestlers.
Stewart opened his tournament with a narrow 6-5 decision over Alex Denkins of Army Prep.
The quarterfinals provided another difficult test against Iowa State’s Thunder Lewis.
Stewart again found a way to win a close match, earning a 5-4 decision to reach the semifinals.
Facing Army Prep’s Evan Sanati, Stewart continued his winning ways with a 4-2 decision, securing a championship appearance.
His first three matches were decided by a combined four points.
But Stewart saved his most impressive performance for the finals.
Against Army Prep’s Ashton Besmer, Stewart broke open the match offensively and rolled to a convincing 16-4 major decision to capture the championship.
