Illinois’ next generation gave wrestling fans plenty to look forward to at the 2026 USA Wrestling Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals in West Des Moines, Iowa. Six boys brought home championships across the grade-school and middle-school divisions, leading an Illinois contingent that finished with 32 place winners.
From a championship shutout to convincing major decisions and a title-clinching pin, Illinois’ champions found several ways to finish on top.
Lennux Mays — 3rd–4th Grade Boys, 77 pounds
PSF Wrestling Academy’s Lennux Mays defeated Micah Duncan 14–2 by major decision. His 12-point championship victory put him in select company: Mays was one of just two wrestlers in the division to win a final by major decision. That is an impressive finish on a national stage.
Paul Flores — 5th–6th Grade Boys, 58 pounds
Cory Clark Wrestling’s Paul Flores defeated Colby Meyer of Sebolt Wrestling Academy 2–0. Flores delivered a championship shutout, keeping Meyer off the scoreboard in Illinois’ closest title-match victory.
Sloan Sears — 5th–6th Grade Boys, 98 pounds
PSF Wrestling Academy’s Sloan Sears defeated Hunter Dong 13–1 by major decision. Sears surrendered only one point while building a 12-point margin, giving PSF a second youth champion alongside Mays.
David Leon — 5th–6th Grade Boys, 108 pounds
Cory Clark Wrestling’s David Leon defeated John Jachthuber of Princeton Wrestling Club 5–1. Leon held his championship opponent to a single point, joining Flores as a national champion for Cory Clark Wrestling.
Vincent Englese — 5th–6th Grade Boys, 135 pounds
ISI Wrestling Club’s Vincent Englese defeated Michael Lencrerot III 17–4 by major decision. The 2025 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner added another national title, producing Illinois’ highest point total in these six championship matches.
Rico Silvestre — 7th–8th Grade Boys, 175 pounds
Harvey Twisters’ Rico Silvestre pinned Casen Sparks in 2:19. Silvestre was one of four champions in the division to win a final by fall, delivering Illinois’ lone middle-school boys title.
Preseason Nationals is a great opportunity to gauge where you stand before the regular season. For those who found success, enjoy the accomplishment and keep it rolling. For those who fell short of their goals, use the experience: identify the positions, techniques, and habits that need attention, then get back to work.
A preseason result is a starting point. What wrestlers do with that experience in the weeks ahead matters just as much.
With six youth champions and Illinois wrestlers reaching the podium throughout the grade divisions, there is plenty of reason for excitement. Illinois Matmen looks forward to following these young wrestlers and an exciting season ahead.
